Chapter 1 ~ Chapter 1 ~ Chapter 1 ~ Chapter 1

Bethmoora sometime in the 1800s

A young woman stood on a balcony as the wind blew the few kinky coils that fell and framed her face before stopping just past her breast. The remainder of her hair was braided in an intricate design and pinned on top of her head where a gold crown drowning with diamonds and other gems caught the moonlight slightly illuminating her peaceful expression. Her cream colored gown trimmed in gold contrasted against her bronzy mocha complexion but it was far from harsh. The sweetheart neckline tastefully displayed her ample chest as the gown hugged her down to her waist before flaring out around her causing her to appear to float as she walked. A pair of strong arms the color of fresh fallen snow wrapped around her waist before pulling her to a strong chest.

"Cad Trioblóidí tú?" A voice asked as warm breath tickled her ear causing her to smile.

"What makes you think something troubles me?" The young woman questioned turning so her warm honey colored eyes locked onto a pair of dark brown nearly black eyes.

The dark irises shined with mischief as a smirk tugged on the man's dark lips which he lowered to capture her full lips that were tinted a deep mauve color. The woman smiled happily as she wrapped her arms around her husband's neck.

"Is breá liom tú" I love you. She whispered against his dark lips.

"Tá a fhios agam mo chroí" I know my heart. He replied gently as he laid his forehead upon hers.

"It appears to be time for our walk" The woman smiled.

Her husband nodded in agreement as he pulled her inside before pulling a silk type of fabric over his shoulders and sliding a short sword with a slightly curved handle into the sash around his waist. He extended his hand as his wife wrapped her fingers around his forearm. Two tall creatures stood guard of the chamber doors until the two exited. One of the guards followed behind the couple at a respectable distance. The guard was a couple of feet taller than the husband and more massive. He was dark green with dark armor on his shoulders and chest. One of his eyes was stitched shut as he breathed heavily through his mouth which held large, thick teeth that were far from white.

The young woman continued to talk as her husband glanced lovingly at her from time to time to offer his response. The two stopped near a bush that held an intriguing looking flower. The man bent down and cut one as he stood and handed it to his wife. She smiled with happiness and appreciation. He gently cradled her chin between his fore finger and thumb as he raised her head slightly and claimed her lips again but more chastely than the kiss they had shared earlier on their balcony. Once he looked back into her beautiful honey colored eyes he was surprised to see confusion and a hint of uneasiness.

"cad atá cearr?" What is wrong? He asked turning his attention behind him to see what had captured his wife's attention but did not find anything.

"Must have been a rabbit" She shrugged slightly before smelling the flower between her fingers. Her husband's smile faultered as he turned back towards the direction she thought she may have seen something with a determined look as one hand rested on his weapon.

"Nuada?" The woman questioned nervously.

"Fan i mo dhiaidh" Stay behind me. He said as he unsheathed his weapon from his sash and in a matter of seconds it extended into a dual arrow ended lance.

The bodyguard moved closer to the two balling his hands into fists as he surveyed the area carefully. There was a slight rustle in the opposite direction and the bodyguard turned towards the sound. Seemingly out of nowhere a shadow darted out from all the rest and charged at her husband. Nuada pushed his wife back as he blocked the attack. Rustling could instantly be heard from all around them as more shadows came at them. The two men were engaged in battle as the sounds of footsteps could be heard as more soldiers came to assist.

"Nuada!" The woman screamed in pain as one of the shadow creatures wrapped a hand around her arm burning her flesh.

"Adharéal!" Nuada cried out as he rushed to his wife's side using his enchanted lance to slice the creatures arm off. Another shriek of pain raised in the night as his shadow brethern were being slain. Nuada swiftly swung his lance beheading the creature as his remains disappeared.

Falling to his knees Nuada raised his wife's arm to get a better look when her cry of pain caused him to release her instantly. The wound did not appear to be fatal and Nuada silently sighed in relief. Ripping his shirt off he wrapped the silky material around her injured arm and tied it securely. The bodyguard materialized by his side giving Nuada the grave news in his language which sounded like a bunch of grunts. Nuada's eyes fell on his wife's which were wide in despair as she gently shook her head side to side. Nuada captured her lips in a deep kiss before ordering the bodyguard to take her and run.

"No! I will not leave you!" She cried out in agony.

Nuada turned away from her as he blocked two shadow creatures from striking his bodyguard and wife before yelling at them to leave. The woman tried in vain to struggle against the vice grip of the bodyguard as tears streamed down her cheeks slightly blurring her vision.

"Is breá liom tú" I love you. Nuada whispered as he saw his bodyguard and brother at arms run off into the night with his heart. If he survived this there was nothing and no one that would stop him from finding who was responsible and finding the woman he loved.

The bodyguard ran through the palace through various secret passageways until he came to a room within the palace. The room was minimally furnished and smelled of inscents. A woman draped in a deep blue dress emerged from thin air as she looked to the guard questionably. He grunted apparently explaining the situation.

"Then we do not have much time" The woman said in alarm as she used her powers to make various bottles, herbs and a large bowl float towards her.

In a matter of seconds a dark purple smoke emerged from the bowl. The sorceress reached in and grabbed an amulet throwing it at the young woman. Instead of hitting the ground it flew and secured around her neck before the clasp to open it disappeared. The sorceress began chanting and a bright white light appeared in the full length mirror near the sorceress.

"Quickly!" The woman yelled grabbing Nuada's wife around the wrist but before she could take a step towards the mirror the door to her room blew open as a man similar in complexion to Nuada entered seeming to bring more shadows and darken the room.

He was tall with the same pale winter complextion except his hair was darker than her husbands and his eyes seemed to radiate maliciousness.

"Hello Adharéal" He said with a sinister smile.

The woman chanted some words and the pale creatures eyes narrowed in fury as he took a step towards the two only to be stopped by an invisible barrier. He cried out in an ear splitting howl of anger.

"Go!" The sorceress cried as she dragged the young woman to the mirror.

"Goodbye my lady" The sorceress said with a smile and pushed the woman through the mirror before she could utter another word. Quickly she murmured a few words in a different language and the glow faded as the mirror returned to its original appearance.

"NO!" The pale creature yelled managing to break through the barrier but it was a second too late. The bodyguard raised his fists to strike the creature but was sent through three walls with just a flick of the pale creatures wrist. His eyes snapped back to the sorceress in front of him.

"What did you do? Where is she?" He said too calmly.

The sorceress did not answer and used her magic to strike him but he disappeared into the shadows only to materialize behind her. The sound of a painful gag cut through the air as the pale creature pierced a long blade through her back and out of her stomach.

"Shame but you have only delayed my plans my dear Draíochta" He said kissing her collar bone before she fell lifeless onto the stone floor. The dagger disappeared into shadows as the sound of people approaching caused the pale creature to disappear.

In the doorway stood Nuada with his crow like soldiers behind him. His eyes seemed to take in everything including the dead sorceress drowning in her own life's blood. He knelt near the lifeless body as he turned away trying to push down the grief when he noticed a deep hole in the wall. Rubble could be heard falling and moving as some of the soldiers came in to protect their prince when his trusted bodyguard stumbled through the opening.

"Wink" He called in concern as the bodyguard stumbled and fell to his knees in exhaustion.

"Are you alright? Where is Adharéal?" He called out reaching another level of panic.

Wink opened his mouth to answer when his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed.

"A healer quickly!" Nuada yelled.

Somewhere in Present day New York

A woman dressed in a beautiful cream colored dress trimmed in gold groaned in pain as she rubbed her head and opened her eyes. Once the dizziness wore off she stood to get a better idea of where she was. She gasped in shock and confusion as the sound of voices shouting and singing filled her head along with loud screeching and horn like sounds. She covered her nose as the stale smell of body odor and chemicals burned her nose causing her to cough. She turned in all directions in confusion sinking down to the grimy ground as the loud roar of thunder cut through the night sky and rain fell soaking the young woman curled up in the alley.