Forever Damaged
Prologue
By: Efra
…They left me here…Winter was in its full peak as it descended on the land of Airyglyph. It had been three years after the death of Luther and all had been a little to quiet. Today wasn't just a normal day…it was a day that everyone would remember. Life carried on as usual with everyone carrying out his or her duties. King Arzei stood staring out the frost-covered window with a look of worry. The snow fell gently over the land covering it in endless white.
But nonetheless its beauty couldn't bring a soft smile to the King's face. It had been nearly a month since the disappearance of Albel Nox. You would think Arzei wouldn't worry so and should be used to it…but something in his gut was telling him something had gone terribly wrong. Arzei turned slowly to his desk and sat down, he looked at the various papers that covered the desktop. He was very much behind on his duties. He examined them for a moment the tossed them back and looked toward the window again. Albel…where could you have gone?
There was a soft knock at the door that snapped Arzei out of his trance like state. "Enter…" He muttered mournfully not bothering to greet the person properly. The door opened with a small squeak and shut softly and the click of the lock ripped the silence. Arzei continued to stare out the window as the sun began to set over the horizon. The silence that followed was rather disturbing. Arzei looked toward the door slowly.
One of Albel's Black Brigade soldiers was standing with his helmet tucked under one arm. Arzei watched him carefully. "What is it?" He asked a small bit of excitement washing over him. The solider remained quiet and not very lively. Arzei stood up slowly noticing how the solider was just staring blankly at the back wall. "What is the matter with you?" Arzei asked gliding over to the solider. Just as Arzei reached him he finally saw the ring of blood around the soldiers neck.
Arzei gasped and backed away and the soldier fell forward and hit the ground with a loud echoing clank. Arzei continued to back away until be hit the bookshelf. "Hello Arzei." A cold sadistic and dead voice called to him softly. Arzei looked to the doorway again with wide eyes. What looked to be a man stood in the doorway draped in a huge black cloak that fell to the floor. The only part of him that could be seen was from the evil grin of his lips down to his chin. Arzei stared in shock at the being his whole body becoming cold and stiff. "Don't bother calling for help. I've killed ever single guard in this castle." The man said stepping softly forward the cloak moving about around him.
Arzei forced himself to remain calm and stood straight. "What is it that you want?" Arzei asked his voice sounding shaky. The room suddenly became very dark and the being stepped closer two small red glows could be seen under the cloak that shielded his eyes if he had any. Arzei's lips went dry and his hands trembled. "I…" The creature began and sped forward with great speed and clasped its long fingers, which ended in sharp pointed tips, around the Kings neck. "Am…" The creature said once again it's cold breath licking at Arzei's cheek. The creature moved next to Arzei's ear. "The Messenger." The creature whispered in a snake like tone into Arzei's ear. "What do you mean?" Arzei muttered trying to control his fear that seemed to be working on it's own.
"My message to you: Albel is nothing but a rotting pile of flesh, organs, and bones." The creature carried on his long cold fingers gripping Arzei tighter. Arzei's heart stopped for less then a second then pounded on his chest again. "W…what…what…did you…" Arzei began but was cut short by the long fingers gripping tighter again around his neck. "I'm not finished you arrogant fool!" The creature hissed dangerously the glow of red grew brighter then disappeared and the smirk on his face grew wider. "And now…it is your turn." The creature continued.
Arzei then felt a searing pain in his chest like a sword passing through him it caused his flesh to scream in pain a burn. He felt his rib cage collapsing and a lung pop. His heart was racing to the point of blowing out. Arzei's mind was confused and clouded. He thought of Albel. He thought of things he had long forgotten. He remembered feeling like such a fool when he believed Vox over Albel and locked him in the dungeon for a crime that wasn't committed. His heart filled with grieve knowing that he had betrayed Albel and stabbed him in the back.
Arzei felt himself being laid down on the cold floor. Why? Why would the man that was ending his life for him still have the need to lay him to rest and not to let him fall? Arzei stared up at the cloaked body kneeling before him. His smirk had been replaced by a small frown. Arzei could see his eyes though they were shadowed. Arzei's consciousness was fading away. Yet the only thing he wanted to do was to tell Albel that he was truly sorry from the bottom of his heart. "Please forgive me…" The cloaked man said. His voice was different though it was soft and serene and untouched by dishonestly.
Arzei blinked a few times as the surroundings around the man blurred. But why didn't the man blur as well? The man suddenly jumped back to his feet the grin reappearing and the soft glow of his eyes returned. "You deserve this pain and I'm going to make sure you live with it." The man said in the same cold dead voice as before. He left out a hollow laugh and Arzei's world became black
…They left me alone…