Prologue

The jaws of Pre'zual closed around her and Raven was trapped in total darkness.

A terrible, dragging sense of hopelessness tried to find its way into her heart, but Raven had been prepared for the demon's unusual digestive system. She had planned everything out weeks in advance and so was already in a state of meditative calm before entering the creature's throat. The tendrils of despair were unable to penetrate her shield for now, but it would not hold forever; she had to be quick.

Before her, stood the only light source: The Gem of Azar.

Even in her calm, meditative state, the jewel made Raven's heart race as memories flooded her. Memories of a time before her father, memories of a time of piece and serenity. Memories of Azarath.

The gem had resided on the forehead of the statue of Azar back then, in the centre of the Temple of Azarath. It had seemed so small, nestled on the brow of the huge marble face.

But now she saw it up close, she realised that the aspect ratio had just been playing with her perception. It was large: the height of a man's torso and the width of two hands.

The ancient crystal had been sacred to her people; it had provided Azar, the Mother of Azarath, with an environment free from other living beings, where she could meditate and achieve enlightenment in complete solitude. It was a symbol of serenity and peace and was the only thing left of her people. And Raven was about to defile it in the worst of ways.

In her detached state, Raven held up her hands before the gem.

"Norak ani rakutah," she chanted. "Norak ani rakutah, norak ani raku …"

A violent trembling beneath her feet cost Raven her balance. She pitched to the side, barely managing to stay on the tiny floating island hanging above the endless throat of Pre'zual.

There was another jolt and Raven felt panic and fear rippling through her. She could not afford to give in to negative emotions, not here, not now. She took a deep, calming breath even as the ground heaved and lurched around her.

A horrific gurgling shriek suddenly rent the air apart, the noise echoed off the fleshy walls around her, bouncing back upon itself until it was the only thing in existence.

Raven clutched at her ears and screamed into the madness. Screamed as the whole world moved and she was falling, falling down into the depths of an ancient demon's throat. It was over.

And then, the noise stopped.

It took Raven a while to realise that now it was her own screams filled her head. But as she ran out of breath, the sound died away and was replaced with a ringing silence.

Well, that was to be expected, she supposed, after all she was falling in an endless void of despair.

Only, was she falling? She didn't feel like she was; there was no wind in her face, her body was not cartwheeling like a leaf descending from a tree.

Slowly, tremulously, Raven opened her eyes.

Red, all she could see was red. She knew the colour, it was as familiar to her as the hair on her head. And it made her heart sink.

She had failed.

It was only now that the ringing silence, that had engulfed her senses after the screams of Pre'zual had stopped, began to dissipate and once again the familiar, horrible sounds of her father's Hellish dimension re-asserted themselves.

Screams of despair and mystery. The wailing of the helpless and the hopeless, and all the emotions that went with them. Raven's empathic shield had been compromised and she had no way of stopping the agony of the countless damned souls ripping her apart.

"It was a nice try, daughter," the voice, deep and cruel and evil permeated the air. "But next time, you might want to use a distraction other than your brother's foolish antics before attempting to imprison me."

The words barely registered in Raven's mind. The despair had crushed her and she was curled into a tight ball on the palm of her father's hand. Despite her apathetic state, she could feel the terrible burn of her father's eyes on her, searing her soul.

Trigon made a noise of annoyance that set fissures in the world's surface spitting out noxious gasses.

"What am I going to do with you, little bird?"