August, watches sweltering heat of summer slowly dissipating into the chill of fall gradually. It was particularly chilly this August evening as Jason Fortune closed some windows to keep the chill out.

"The girls all bedded down Zeek?" asked Jason as he set out some small trays of finger foods.

"Yep, gave them a glass of milk, brushed their teeth, gave them both a quick bath and finally dressed and into bed. I have to say this night was pretty easy considering I escaped with a few bruises both physical and mental." said Zeek as he pulled out some drinks. At that time Kevin Wolfbane stepped in, he was tall with wheat gold hair and soft green eyes, a gold beard that gave him a wise man look. An a voice that just made you feel as if you were talking with your grandfather. Jason was a eighteen year old boy, with coal black hair, eyes like muddy puddles and had a personality that could split in two at will. One moment he's a happy go lucky boy who looks like he hasn't a care in the world the other side of him is a strong leader.

"Ok what are we playing?" asked Kevin pulling up a chair.

"Crazy eights." said Jason.

"Ok, I'll deal." Zeek began to deal out the cards.

"How long did you say your landlady was gonna renovate the boarding house?" asked Zeek.

"Two more weeks if the contractor doesn't find anything wrong."

Kevin picked up his cards and began the game, as they played they began talking more serious matters then current events.

"How has Primus been doing, is he still weak?" asked Jason placing a card down on the table.

"He's pulling threw, Titiana has been nursing him back to health. The Wise one isn't very happy, he's growing more concerned about the growing corruptions on other planets."

"Zeek any news from Lotanis?" Jason turned to Zeek.

"No unfortunately, I haven't gotten any word from home." said Zeek placing a card down.

"The Wise one informed me that Lotanis is still safe and keeping control of the corruption, but...he's calling a meeting soon." Kevin's tone grew more ominous as he spoke.

"Is it about the prophecy?" asked Zeek.

"Yes, the Wise one is going to choose who will bare the savior and the saviors guardians."

"When's the meeting taking place?" asked Jason.

"After the night of winters blue moon, at that time the Wise one will see clearly who the barer's shall be."

Kevin sipped a cup of warm green tea, Zeek looked back and forth at the two before him. Kevin was always a benevolent soul, Jason seemed to enhance that kindness. Jason came into Kevin's care many years ago when he was only eleven years old, Jason was one of the rare human beings chosen to be trained to become a worrier known as a hybrid, half werewolf half vampire. The catch is that only one is chosen every so often and it's a very high honor, Jason unfortunately turned down his offer to become a hybrid. The elders who chose him were confused, they asked Jason why and he responded with that leader like persona. He said his mother and father had just passed away leaving him and his little four month old sister Serenity without guardians. He wished to leave so he would take care of his infant sister, the elders understood and left the position open if he so chose to return. His selfless act earned him the right to speak to the elder dragons, that and gave him a place at the great meetings they would have. Jason seemed strangely quiet this night not even paying attention.

"Jason?" Kevin's voice broke the silence Jason was emitting.

"Huh? What- oh sorry I was just daydreaming." Kevin's eyes became narrowed on the boy.

"Jason I've known you for a long time to know when something is up with you, what's wrong?"

Jason was never good with excuses, his eyes looked down at his cards before him. Looking back at Kevin it felt like telling his father about a problem that he wouldn't really understand.

"I've...been having visions."

"Visions? What kind of visions?" asked Kevin

"Not sure there all the same vision...I'm in like a dust storm of sorts, I can barely see a thing until I get inside this shelter. Warn down all corroded in rust, every last bolt and knob coated in rust."

"Huh, dust wouldn't make things corrode like that, dust doesn't form rust. Oxidation is the only thing that creates rust." said Zeek placing down another card.

"That's another thing, when I got out of the storm I began to dust myself off but it wasn't dust, it was rust. When I finished cleaning myself off I went further into the shelter." Jason placed a few cards down and sipped his drink.

"Then what?" asked Zeek.

"Well it wasn't normal, there were robots everywhere. It was like a waist management place, then in a blink of an eye I'm somewhere else...a dieing city made of nothing but metal. I'm walking threw it, no humans anywhere just robots. As I'm walking threw this sea of dead robots I see something...two figures, two glowing figures. They were female from what I could see, one bathed in silver while the other in an otherworldly gold. The image of these two brought tears to my eyes...I looked down and saw they're abdomens swelling and being gently caressed by their own hands then my vision ends."

Kevin stared at Jason, not with anything but curiosity and admiration as he always does. He would take things like this seriously, never turning a blind eye to these situations.

"How long have these visions been appearing?" asked Kevin.

"Since last week after we took the girls to the cultural festival, in fact it started that very night."

"I'll speak with elders and see if they can make sense of these visions." said Kevin, out of no where came the sound of giggling.

"Girls are up, and it's not even midnight." said Jason looking at the clock seeing it was only ten o clock.

"I'll get them-"

"No Kevin I got them besides I won this game." Zeek and Kevin gave him a confused look.

"What are you saying?" asked Zeek.

Jason smiled and lifted a card, he flipped it on to the pile and started to the door. Before leaving the room he looked to his friends and gave a strange smile.

"Funny...I end up playing the deadman's card." with that he started for the girls room upstairs.

"What did he mean...deadman's card?" asked Zeek with a bit of concern in his voice. Kevin picked the card up and looked at it, it was the king of hearts. Reason it was called the deadman's card was because out of all the kings in the card deck the king of heats was the only one who appeared to be stabbing himself in the head. Hence forth the king of hearts was known as the deadman's card, Kevin felt a his blood run cold...he didn't like this no not one bit.

End ch 1