© 2013 by the author of this book, Jasmine Dubroff. The book author retains sole copyright and ownership to her writings in this book.
Author's Note: Here it is! For those of you who did not get to read what I had up, and even everyone who read the original version, I like to think this will be a treat to read the rewrite of this story! Of course it is already written, so with any luck it will not be very long before I have part one up for your reading pleasure.
As always, I would love to hear your thoughts!
Jasmine Dubroff.
Preface
"What makes a life worth living, is worth giving your life for."
Jasmine Dubroff
I looked up to him, trying to understand what was happening as Ariston rushed us to the exit. He opened the door and quickly brought us outside. He released me from his hold only to grasp my arms and look into my eyes.
"Stay here and whatever you do, do not come near me, or them." Ariston said, his eyes a different kind of intensity than they were a minute before.
He leaned down and kissed me once then in a movement so quick that my eyes could hardly make out more than a blur, he turned away from me and ran a hundred feet away, standing in the moonlit field where most students play soccer behind this dorm. Ariston's eyes were closed, in a flash two swords of a glowing metal appeared in his hands. The night grew darker as thunderclouds rolled in, hiding the light of the moon. The ground shook with the deep rumble of thunder that resounded throughout the field with a sound that could shatter eardrums with ease. Things lit up in brilliant flashes from the lightning so that every few seconds the field would be as bright as day.
"I have been waiting for you." Ariston said in a low, dangerous voice. I knew that he was not talking to me.
Ariston opened his eyes but they were different. His eyes were no longer the sky blue I know so well, they were white and glowing like the lightning itself. In his hands the two short swords shone as brightly as his eyes.
When the lightning flashed I saw shadows take form around Ariston. They were as tall as a man, with eyes that were somehow darker than they were, like black holes that promised to pull all light into them. Their mouths opened up twice as large as a humans could, their teeth like razors, like a piranha's teeth. Instead of hands, three claws made out of wisps of darkness grew from their arms, the claws looking as sharp as Ariston's glowing swords. All together they made a fearsome sight. There looked to be about twenty of them surrounding Ariston.
I feared for the man I love, seeing those dark creatures surrounding him, my heart pounded, but at the same time, I got the feeling that Ariston could handle himself.
"This is all you bring?" Ariston asked in a low voice. "I am insulted." The creatures screamed back at him, their voices like fingernails on a chalkboard.
A lightning bolt shot down from the dark clouds above and destroyed two of the creatures, their darkness dissipating before the light that engulfed them and with that, the fight began. Two attacked; Ariston fought them with ease. They screamed when his swords touched them. It looked like light was taking them over, seeping into their darkness through their wounds and spreading. The only way to defeat darkness is with light, a voice whispered in my mind. My hands grew hotter as I watched the fight with wide eyes, it was all I could do not to rush over and fight.
A bolt of lightning came down then branched out into three different streams of light and destroyed three more creatures as Ariston fought two others off. Ariston continued to fight, he spun in a circle with his two swords held out, slicing more of the creatures with his swords of light while simultaneously blocking their attacks.
Ariston moved with amazing grace and even though I feared for him, I could not deny the beauty of this sight. His swords were an extension of his arms, moving with him as they were meant to.
There were still ten dark creatures left. Ariston pointed one of his swords at a creature that was charging him and a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, went through Ariston and burst forth from his sword, destroying the creature. Then Ariston swung his right sword over his head to build up momentum before slicing the sword through the neck of one of the dark beings. It went right through and the creature disappeared, turning into nothing more than ordinary darkness.
I watched in amazement as Ariston fought off the rest of the beings. Not once did the creatures touch him. Lightning continued shooting from the sky and Ariston's swords did not cease their movements as he fought until every single one of those cold, dark beasts were vanquished. I could feel that none of the dark beings remained.
Ariston stood there and closed his eyes. The clouds dissipated and the moon shone brightly once again. Ariston's swords disappeared and when he opened his eyes, they had returned to sky blue.
Ariston looked at me for a moment then began walking towards me as I walked to him in a kind of daze. The earth was scorched where the lightning had hit. I was grateful to see that he was unharmed, not so much as a scratch on him. We stopped a few feet away from each other.
"You are the light." I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I fear I have not properly introduced myself." He said. "I am Ariston, son of Zeus."
