PILLARS OF FLAME

Rating: PG
Genre: action, vague bit of detectoring
Setting: an island
Main Characters: Darc, Kharg, Lilia, Samson

Note from the authoress: I know that Samson has died. But I love him so much so I performed ritual and brought him back from the dead. Just so he could join the others in this story

Part 1

It was a day like any other. But most day that are about to go horribly wrong start out like any other. it's a fact of life. Darc had travelled to Yewbell that day. It was what may be called a reunion in the small town. He entered the town and was greeted with the usual attitude. Although the humans had started to accept Deimos, the sight of a half human and half Deimos still had the effect of disturbing them. He felt a wave of jealousy as he looked across the square and saw his twin brother Kharg. Kharg had it easy, he looked completely human. Except for one time when he sprouted wings from his back he was never shunned, insulted and rejected, as Darc had been. He swallowed his jealousy though. Nafia, his mother had requested as she died that Darc shouldn't hate Kharg. He didn't know why he wanted to carry out her last wish; in his mind she had deserted him. But some part of him couldn't help it. If he was truly honest with himself he would admit that part of him wanted to allow him to be accepted by a mother who, he assumed, had abandoned him because he didn't look human himself. He walked across to Kharg, treating a couple of villages to an evil look as he went. He nodded in acknowledgement to Kharg, who forced a smile. Kharg hated Darc as well, in the end. Nafia had insisted that he try to get long with the Deimos, saying that not all of them were bad. Kharg had tried to get along with his brother. But no matter what they tried they ended up in conflict. Before either of the brothers could address the other, a voice shouted out happily.

"Darc! You're here!" before Darc could respond someone had run up and embraced him. He hated being in positions like this. He had no idea how to react. The woman who had hugged him was Lilia. She had saved his life before, when Delma had attacked him, seeking revenge for the death of her brother. Darc liked Lilia, even though she was a human. He would never admit it if he was asked though, and he went out of his way to prove that he didn't like her. He gazed across the square, embarrassed, when she let him go, eyes fixing on a man wearing a hat. And a long coat, both coloured brightly in blue with red and yellow trim. It was Samson, Lilia's father. He was paying little attention to the three. Lilia now spoke to Kharg.

"Have you told Darc yet?" Darc turned to Lilia.

"Told me what?" Lilia was obviously happy, she glanced at Kharg, then immediately, without waiting for a sign to allow her to tell Darc, launched into the reason why she was so happy.

"We're having a party! It was Paulette's idea, she thought it would be fun since you and your friends were visiting again! Its tonight, up in the church ruins!" She hit hi arm playfully "Aren't you excited?" Darc gazed at the entrance to the ruins. That was where his mother was buried. Where he had buried her. He smiled vaguely.

"Sounds like fun" he said.

It was later that night. The party was in full swing. Everyone was having fun. Lilia had sung several songs for them, and there was plenty of food and drink to go around. It was nearing midnight. Lilia was chatting animatedly to Kharg and Darc. She ran her hand through her hair and excused herself suddenly.

"I just have to go to the pub. I promised a friend that I would meet him there." Kharg immediately showed suspicion.

"At midnight? That's a bit late isn't it? Maybe one of us should go with you." Lilia laughed.

"You boys worry too much! Its ok, I'm meeting a good friend of mine. He couldn't make it much before midnight." Kharg and Darc felt uneasy. Lilia had been the target of abduction before now, yet this time she wouldn't allow them to join her to meet her friend. Darc watched her leave the ruins, heading back into town. The party was starting to break up now, people starting to get tired, and the night turning colder. Kharg spoke, almost as if trying to reassure himself,

"Well, its not like much can happen to her in the middle of town." Darc agreed silently, as they headed back to Nafia's house.

The door nearly fell off its hinges with the force Samson threw it open. It made Darc, who was standing in the small kitchen, jump.
"Where is she?" Samson demanded. Kharg came out of his room yawning.

"Wha's goin' on?" he muttered sleepily. Samson looked from one to the other.

"Lilia's missing. She never went back to the inn last night." This statement woke up Kharg completely. Darc spoke.

"She headed to the inn just before midnight." he said. Samson shook his head.

"Well, she never arrived." Kharg and Darc exchanged uneasy glances. This didn't look to good.

END OF PART 1