When they returned she was missing. They all noticed the absence of the ever looming shadow of death itself, gone from its pretty perch. They realized something was wrong when the screaming started.
He screamed for three days, almost continuously. Those who were sent to the Keeper's quarters during the time, ordered to appease him, never returned. His voice rang through the corridors, it bellowed through the grounds, it even howled through the depths of the castle's deepest dungeons! Fear consumed all that heard.
Everyone was jumpy during that time, nervously trying not to gain his ire or attention. As a 13 year old man in the starting ranks I tried to be nothing less than perfect. I worked myself raw, which turned out to be the correct decision since anyone who did not meet the bar was sent to the Keeper as a live sacrifice.
When the screaming finally stopped he passed out for two days. I heard he was covered in the blood of his victims.
While he remained unconscious, terrified silence gave way to whispered, frenzied rumor. "The shadow is gone."
"His beast has fled from his side, lost to the remote corners of the world where she will never be found."
"She is the first...ever!"
I never said a word, knowing that if I did it would come back onto me. Besides, I didn't believe any of it. I couldn't believe it! No one escapes the Keeper. Not ever!...but, as time went by and I kept my head down one thought kept nagging at the back of my mind. The Keeper only screamed one thing the entire three days he rampaged. "SHE IS MINE!"
So, wow….. this has been a long time coming. I have decided to re-write my story "Land of the Rising Sun: Phoenix of the Storm". This was one of my first ever ideas for a fanfiction that to this day still holds my heart as a writer. Looking back on what I did I realized I hadn't thought out the original so now I'm recreating this into what I truly want out of it. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I will enjoy writing it. Let me know what you think -JMichelleW
