Into the Dark
Prologue
The lightning flashed brightly, illuminating the edge of the dark storm clouds above Sarmont Village. The rain pounded the dirt packed ground, creating large pond-like puddles. Another lightning bolt struck down followed by a definite boom and crackle of the sound catching up with the lightning. The storm raged on, and a figure pushed his way through the forest path, flanked by a German Sheppard, heading from the Telling Cave. The figure made its way across the field to the small village ahead.
"Elder Salem!" A young female cried from the door of Sarmont Castle, being followed by a Lynx She ran across the field and stabilized Salem so he wouldn't fall. "What are you doing in this torrential weather?" She demanded, worry in her voice. The two animals toughed noses in greeting.
The elderly man was quiet for a while until he spoke. "Giselle, you must stop worrying about me and focus on helping the village through these harsh times." Salem replied in an old raspy voice. He looked at Sarmont Castle and heaved a heavy sigh. "There was a telling." He told her.
Giselle's eyes widened and she quickened her steps, coming to the large oak doors of the castle. "You must tell me everything." She demanded, pulling out her wand and pointing it at the door. "Uliclous" She murmured, flicking her wand at the door. A purple light emitted from her wand and the doors swung open. Stepping into the castle, Giselle led Salem to a grand dining room and sat him down in a chair.
The animals charged in after the two, following them to the kitchen and sitting side-by-side beside a chair.
She went to the kitchen and put some hot water on the stove to boil for tea. She hurried to the closet in the hallway just outside the kitchen and fetched some blankets for Salem. Walking back to the kitchen, Giselle's mind was racing with questions.
Back in the kitchen, she wrapped Salem in some blankets to warm him and fetched a teabag and two mugs. "What do you want in your tea?" Giselle asked Salem, her voice rushed and barely understandable.
"Just a wee bit of milk please. Thank you, dear."
Giselle nodded and pulled the boiling teapot off the burner and poured it into a mug. She put the teabag in along with some milk and prepared her own tea. She picked up the two mugs and made her way to the dining table, setting Salem's tea in front of him.
Giselle sat and sipped her tea, flinching as it burned her tongue. "Please explain the telling, Salem."
Salem looked at her; his grey eyes sparkled with worry. "There will be a war with Carmando City"
Giselle dropped her mug; shattering it on the marble floor. The lynx sprung to it's paws, her ears perked. Giselle was immediately filled with surprise and immediate worry. "W-War? With the vampire-wizard city?" She gasped. "Why? What have we ever done to them that would make them want to forge a war with us?" Giselle cried in worry.
"Well," Salem began. "King Theodore refused to give them Sarmont Field about a half year ago. They claimed to need it for their livestock to feed them." He scoffed. "They probably would've used it to teach their children war."
Giselle shuddered. "It will be an impossible war to win!" She exclaimed. "Their numbers are nearly double ours!"
Salem held up a finger. "That was not all the telling said. It said of two who lived in the non-magical world who were descendants of wizards. They will help us win the war. When the Jay lands on the Lilly, they said" He finished, waving a finger at the shattered mug. "Clona" He mumbled, and the mug morphed back together like a puzzle and floated back up to the counter.
The German Sheppard barked in alarm at the floating cup.
"Achilles!" Salem called, pointing a bony finger at the dog. The dog's ears fell back and he sat, his head bowed.
Giselle slammed a fist onto the wood dining table. "How will these two help us?" She demanded. "They won't have had any magical training whatsoever. They will be as useful as a rag." She finished, clenching her teeth.
"Even a rag has its purpose." Salem retorted in an even tone, reflecting Giselle's anger. "I was going to ask my grandson to find them and bring them here to train."
Giselle was going to reply, when the creaking of the grand stairs stopped her. She pulled out her wand and pointed it at the open kitchen door. The lynx stood up and hissed, crouching as if ready to pounce on it's prey. "Who's there?" She called.
A slim male figure appeared in the doorway, a large tiger prowling beside him. "No need to point wands Giselle, it's just me." The boy remarked.
"What are you doing up so late Max?" Salem inquired, casting a glance at the clock hanging from the wall. "It's nearly 1:30."
Max looked from Salem to Giselle, then back to Salem. "I came to see what all the commotion is all about." Max contested "What's going on Grandpa?"
Salem sighed and motioned Max to a chair. "Max, take a seat."
Max's icy blue eyes met Salem's and he took a seat opposite Giselle. The tiger sat with the German Shepherd and the lynx and licked it's paws. "So what's all the ruckus about?"
Salem sighed and looked at Giselle. She gave him a nod and he looked back at Max. "I went to the Telling Cave, and I received a telling." Salem began in a rusty voice
Max was quiet, but his eyes gave away his fear and terror.
Tellings were never good. They usually foretold of bad things like losses, deaths and hardships to come. Readings were more for good things like births and victories.
"Continue." Max insisted fidgeting with his bangs.
"There will be a war with Carmando City in the next few years." Salem replied.
A gust of wind blew the kitchen windows open as if the spirits were upset about their telling too. Rain flew through the windows, soaking the table and everyone in the dining room. The German Shepherd leapt to his paws in alarm and the lynx and tiger roared.
"Hey! Kujo! Stay quiet!" Max yelled at the tiger, silencing its magnificent roars.
"Kea! You too!" Giselle yelled, rising to her feet, she flicked a finger at the windows. "Locious" She whispered, and the windows locked shut.
Max ran his fingers through his hair, sending water droplets at the marble floor. "So, what else happened at the telling?" He asked Salem, his voice worried
"Well," Salem began, "the spirits told me of two humans in the non-magical word that are descendants of great wizards that would save us from death in the war."
Max stiffened. "We haven't had a telling in years." He mumbled. "So why are the spirits telling us that non-magical humans will save us? Surely the spirits have gone mad." He insisted
Giselle looked at Max, disappointment in her eyes.
"But that's where you come in." Salem explained. "We need you to go to the non-magical world and find the magical aura of these humans and bring them here so they may begin training."
Max froze. "You want me to go to the non-magical world? I could be discovered as a wizard! It would blow our secret!" He burst angrily.
Giselle gave max a stern look. "Would you rather go to the non-magical world, or watch your village crumble around you?" She spat in disgust.
Max fell silent and shot and evil glare at Giselle. "Fine. I'll go." He sighed. "But if I get discovered, it's not my fault."
Salem smiled and stood. "You leave at dusk."