Alright people I am still alive whoot whoot! Your attempt on my life has been in vain, though you have traumatized the happy little chibis that live in my mind. Beware the chibis.

Ok. This is my next sorry attempt to please my nagging editor, who will be replaced if said person does not review, you know who you are… I hope.

So plz feel free to read and review with comments, questions, and flames (pulls out marshmallows)

Any attempt on the author's life will be interpreted as an attempt on her characters who all have various terrifying powers… one of which is controlling the minds of all those who try to read this.

You're still here aren't you?

P.s. - anything in bold is telepathy… ever read the Twilight series? Yeah kind of like the werewolf pack thingy…

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Unknown-

Pain engulfed every inch of my body. Darkness swirled around, softly whispering sweet nothings that did not ease the burn. Fire stabbed at my chest and a soft blanket crashed into me, numbing my mind and sending me into blissful unawareness.

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I blinked and sat up slowly, groaning as my muscles protested.

I looked around blankly- at the moment not really caring where (or who) I was. I just felt like going to sleep- my mind was sluggish.

A fly buzzed past, landing on the ground before me. I watched as it cleaned its thin black legs, its gossamer wings shimmering in the fading light. I was fascinated. I reached out for it, pausing as I caught sight of my arms.

There was something off about them; something wasn't right. They were smooth, creamy white, and completely unmarred. I ran my fingers over them hesitantly, marveling at the cold flesh.

Deep red light splayed across the back of my hand as I turned it over inspection. Delighted in my discovery, I continued my search for the mysterious light. Dusty gray bricks, both on the floor and wall, were dotted with the winking light.

Delight coursed through my veins, and curiosity filled my mind.

I stood slowly, trying not to fall back over; my head light, my teeth clenched in determination. Pressing my hand to my sore chest, I took a deep breath, willing the world to stop spinning.

Blinking, I crooned softly as the walls stayed where they were supposed to stay.

I leaned tiredly against the brick wall behind me, the rough bricks pressing through the thin black shirt I now realized I wore.

I paused a second to trace the red material that pooled over my left shoulder and ran in thin lines over my chest and stomach. Light fell on my shirt, causing the red to deepen.

I looked around excitedly, hunting for the mysterious light that had somehow become my only friend, and the ones over my head on the wall caught my eye.

I ran my hand over the bricks, marveling at the warmth: the world was a strange new place filled with curiosities and mysteries; and I was a part of discovering it.

Curiosity abated, I looked around, at a loss of what to do: the sun had set a few minutes past and the pinpricks of light had faded away into nothing. My silent lament was short-lived as I decided to continue my exploration.

Unsteadily, I walked through narrow hallways, pausing to marvel at the high domed ceiling, up winding stairways, and eventually paused to look out a stone window.

The pale moon shimmered on the horizon, yet the earth still remained as black and lifeless as an old fire.

I blinked in surprise when I found myself on the thick stone ledge gazing down into the night that stretched on for who knew how long. My breath fogged the air in front of me and goose bumps raised on my arms as a breeze dug its fingers into my chest.

I crouched, grabbing the cold bricks of the ledge between my feet firmly, and peered down into the endless abyss, the height making me giddy. For a second I felt like stepping off into the night, of falling into everlasting slumber.

Taking a deep breath, I eased myself back into the stone castle, not daring to open my eyes until solid ground met my feet and hard wall pressed against my back.

I let out a shaky breath, casting murderous glances at the evil hole-in-the-wall, then, following a butterfly that happened by, I promptly forgot my fear and continued up the dark staircase.

I bounded down a corridor at the top of the stairs, humming tunelessly and nonchalantly, having lost my butterfly friend.

The air slowly grew more oppressive, shadows became long clawed demons. Each bend in the hall filled me with fear; I expected to meet my doom at each turn; each breath seemed to be my last.

The walls were charred and everything was covered in soot. Each hesitant step sent up a thin layer of ash.

I came to the next set of stairs and froze, trying to comprehend what it was I saw.

Corpses were piled on top of each other. They stared up at me with their cold, lifeless eyes. I saw their mangled bodies, anger, fear, and disgust bubbling in my stomach. Their blood crawled toward me; dripping from the fingers of a severed arm, pouring from the top half of a mangled torso, oozing from between crushed in armor.

I closed my eyes, fighting off the bile I felt rise to my throat. I clenched my fists; fighting off the rage I felt at the injustice I was witness to.

Soft laughter echoed around me.

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Tyro-

The dark air was thick with warning, tainted by the scent of freshly spilt blood. Blood spilt in welcome of my coming.

Enraged I dashed up the stairs, ignoring the startled cries of my pack.

I shifted in mid-stride, the great black dragon landing heavily on the slick floor.

The pack's mental shouts made me stumble, but the red blanket over my mind blocked out all hope of rational thought.

They were following me.

Cold sharp daggers bit through the scales on my neck and I growled as I found myself pinned between cold floor and the burning body of the black panther that had me pinned.

I struggled and squirmed, trying to escape the ice that seeped through my veins.

'Tyro,' a voice echoed through my mind, growling a warning as the panther tightened its hold on my throat.

I stilled, struggling to rid myself of the blood lust that choked my mind.

'What the hell were you thinking,' the pack leader roared, his teeth sinking deeper into my flesh.

'I apologize Kyros,' I whimpered for shows sake still simmering as I allowed our mental link to deepen.

Through my eyes, the truth was clear. No life stirred in the dark halls, no hearts beat in the stillness, and it was all my fault.

'It's not your fault Tyro,' a quiet voice spoke, 'you didn't kill those people, Tynan did.'

I growled at the young wolf, 'But who let Tynan escape, Zarak?'

'But why would he-'

'I do not pretend to understand the mind of a madman, Kyros.'

It was around said time that a certain madman decided to attack.

The air pulsed and the castle trembled. I cursed loudly, broke free from Kyros and was already on the other side of the hall before they had time to react.

But it was too late. Tynan was halfway through his summoning spell and the demon army was starting to materialize.

I felt his smirk as Tynan finished hid summon and I growled as his presence vanished.

I shifted back to my human form, summoning my sword. The black blade glinted as green flames ran down its edge.

Black demons stared hungrily at me. I raised my sword and let the rage and blood lust cloud my thoughts.

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Zarak-

I shook my head, wrapping the bandages tighter around Tyro's arm. He flinched as my hand accidentally brushed the gash.

"That's what you get for being a stubborn idiot," I mumbled.

'So this is the thanks I get for slaying an entire demon army?' he thought, too weak to talk.

'Believe me, once the pain meds wear off you'll wish you hadn't,' I chuckled darkly.

'Cruel sadistic medic…,' he growled.

I put on my best innocent face (having the appearance of a five year old helping somewhat), 'I'm only sadistic when someone does something stupid and I have the fortune of putting them back together.'

He growled and I was forced to sedate him as his eyes darkened.

Being a healer had its perks.

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Kyros-

With the rest of the pack practically useless, it fell upon me to explore the castle.

This should have been Zarak's job- the kid was a healer and would be better suited to deal with any survivors- but he was still patching up Tyro.

Tyro- I growled and kicked the wall in frustration- I could do nothing with him. He was stubborn as a mule and had a temper that flared up at the slightest provocation. He came from good lineage, that much I give him, and when his brother ran him out, I jumped at the opportunity to recruit him. Too bad I didn't look to see whether I would land.

I skirted around what was once a person and continued up the castle

Don't get me wrong. It wasn't only the fact that Tyro was filthy rich (though that might have had something to do with it); I could feel the power running through the kid's mind.

That power was, sadly, still locked away from me.

A whimper brought me back to the present.

There was a little kid clinging to my waist. I blinked. Well, I was wrong; obviously someone had survived Tynan's rage.

"No one's going to attack you," I whispered patting the kid's head soothingly.

He reminded me of Zarak when I had first found him. Both of them were rather clingy. For good reasons, no doubt. This one had seen all his comrades killed, poor kid… and I didn't even want to know what hell Zarak had been through.

The kid clung tighter. He looked to be around Zarak's age, but that didn't tell me much as Zarak was over a hundred years old.

I pried the kid's hands loose and stooped down. Blue- grey eyes brimmed with tears bore into my soul. I brushed back his black bangs, quickly looking him over.

He had on a short sleeve shirt that seemed to be stained in thin red lines of blood that stemmed from his left shoulder, but other than that, he seemed to be stunned.

My theory was proven when the kid threw up at my feet. Apparently the last few hours had just caught up with him.

It was then I noticed how still everything was.

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Yay! The prologue is done! Next up, *drum role* tada! Bringing back our favorite characters!

Please review; it makes me feel like writing and not letting Tyro torch my other story…

P.s. - Tyro's allergic to cookies so plz don't give him any *glares pointedly* they all end up under my bed and then I have to pay for a fumigator… meh no likey bugies…