Where The Wild Roses Grow.
Prologue: Two Blue Lights.
The nights were colder, the sun was brighter, the wind was wilder. Everything had become more intense than before. Police tried to investigate crimes that were too horrid to imagine, but to no avail. All of the people in town were terrified. Something was out there and they knew it. But no one knew what that something was and no one was willing to find out. Well, almost no one.
There were a few fearless people hiding out in run-down buildings, forgotten houses, underground tunnels, places anyone would expect to find people with a secret. Necromancers, warlocks, and others banished from today's society. Anyone who practiced, learned of, or was involved with ancient arts was welcome in these shunned lairs.
Those few understood that times were changing back to what they once had been. Times when things were better for some and worse for others. There were two others, though, who understood what was happening, but they didn't normally associate with the exiled.
One lived in an upper-class, expensive mansion nearly out of town, while the other lived in an old building that rested in the middle of everything. One was a scholar, but agile and quick in battle. And the second was a pure fighter, having roots in the evil that was conquering the land. The first was Faith Evans, a female beauty, well-versed in the ways of magic. The second was Dante Sparda, a handsome man, well-versed in the ways of evil.
"I have heard legends, Father, but never more. Some say he does not even exist."
"Oh, but he does, my dear. It is your duty to find him." The old mage took his daughter's arm as she led him through the mansion to their extensive library. "Even your mother would have wanted it this way, for there is no other."
"There is always another way and I shall find it. He cannot exist, pure myth is all that he could ever be. Something that outstanding could never be real." Faith glided down the torch-lit hall with her purple velvet coat flowing behind her like a ghost.
Luthien Evans stopped and released Faith. "I have seen him. Here in this very town and I am sure he has not left. Indeed, I have met him once, a few years back. Quite a warrior. I shall prove his being to you."
He hurried down the hall and underneath an archway that led into the vast library. Inside were more than two thousand books. Everything from the works of Tolkien to ancient recipes and spells. It spanned two floors with a grand staircase directly in front of the entrance. Luthien walked up those stairs and turned left, followed by his daughter.
Faith suddenly halted and peered out of the enormous, open window at the top of the staircase. Her small form shivered at a chill wind escaping through the open glass that blew back her coat and brown curls. Luthien looked back at her and paused, sensing uneasiness and something close to fear. The same feeling he got when he saw the man Faith was to find. Amid the darkness she saw light. Two blue lights that stared as would eyes and then she knew. They were eyes. Eyes of a demon, but no ordinary demon bore eyes of blue...
Luthien raced up and slammed shut the window, bringing back his daughter's attention. He locked it tight and drew the curtains together, hiding her from fate. "Come. The matter at hand waits for none."
Prologue: Two Blue Lights.
The nights were colder, the sun was brighter, the wind was wilder. Everything had become more intense than before. Police tried to investigate crimes that were too horrid to imagine, but to no avail. All of the people in town were terrified. Something was out there and they knew it. But no one knew what that something was and no one was willing to find out. Well, almost no one.
There were a few fearless people hiding out in run-down buildings, forgotten houses, underground tunnels, places anyone would expect to find people with a secret. Necromancers, warlocks, and others banished from today's society. Anyone who practiced, learned of, or was involved with ancient arts was welcome in these shunned lairs.
Those few understood that times were changing back to what they once had been. Times when things were better for some and worse for others. There were two others, though, who understood what was happening, but they didn't normally associate with the exiled.
One lived in an upper-class, expensive mansion nearly out of town, while the other lived in an old building that rested in the middle of everything. One was a scholar, but agile and quick in battle. And the second was a pure fighter, having roots in the evil that was conquering the land. The first was Faith Evans, a female beauty, well-versed in the ways of magic. The second was Dante Sparda, a handsome man, well-versed in the ways of evil.
"I have heard legends, Father, but never more. Some say he does not even exist."
"Oh, but he does, my dear. It is your duty to find him." The old mage took his daughter's arm as she led him through the mansion to their extensive library. "Even your mother would have wanted it this way, for there is no other."
"There is always another way and I shall find it. He cannot exist, pure myth is all that he could ever be. Something that outstanding could never be real." Faith glided down the torch-lit hall with her purple velvet coat flowing behind her like a ghost.
Luthien Evans stopped and released Faith. "I have seen him. Here in this very town and I am sure he has not left. Indeed, I have met him once, a few years back. Quite a warrior. I shall prove his being to you."
He hurried down the hall and underneath an archway that led into the vast library. Inside were more than two thousand books. Everything from the works of Tolkien to ancient recipes and spells. It spanned two floors with a grand staircase directly in front of the entrance. Luthien walked up those stairs and turned left, followed by his daughter.
Faith suddenly halted and peered out of the enormous, open window at the top of the staircase. Her small form shivered at a chill wind escaping through the open glass that blew back her coat and brown curls. Luthien looked back at her and paused, sensing uneasiness and something close to fear. The same feeling he got when he saw the man Faith was to find. Amid the darkness she saw light. Two blue lights that stared as would eyes and then she knew. They were eyes. Eyes of a demon, but no ordinary demon bore eyes of blue...
Luthien raced up and slammed shut the window, bringing back his daughter's attention. He locked it tight and drew the curtains together, hiding her from fate. "Come. The matter at hand waits for none."