Darkness Falls
Prologue
Smoke encased the burning village as cries from its people echoed through the night. The warriors of the village struggled against the dark creatures that attacked and killed everyone in sight. One Huntsman stood his ground, slashing at the Grimm who charged towards him. He held his scimitar above his head and decapitated the Beowolf that lunged from the right.
The Huntsman raised his head, wiping the sweat and blood from his brow, seeing the villagers in panic as they desperately tried to flee from the Grimm attacking them. A woman's shriek caught his attention and he turned to see a large Ursa stalk towards his wife, who held their young daughter in her arms.
"Mala!" he yelled, gripping the hilt of his weapon as he charged. He put himself between his family and the beast, cutting it down, but not before sustaining a fatal injury.
The woman known as Mala tried to help her husband to a side alley where there was little smoke and flames. "Zure, my darling, please, you have to stay with me." she pleaded, the pair collapsing on the cobblestone ground.
Zure pulled his hand from his wounded abdomen, blood covering the skin. "I'm afraid my time is at an end, my dear." he looked up into the dark green eyes of his wife. His gaze then drifted to the small girl clutching her mother's cloak. "You must take Selena and flee. Hurry."
The young girl turned her head to face her father, tears falling from her eyes. "Daddy." she cried out, reaching for his hand. Zure took the cross-shaped pendent from his armor buckle and placed it in his daughter's hand before he kissed the top of her blonde hair. "I will always be with you, my darling daughter." he promised, tears falling from his own blue eyes.
Mala bit back her tears as she kissed her husband for the last time, squeezing his hand until it went limp in her own. She took off her pink cloak and wrapped her daughter up tightly. "Just hang on to me now, Selena. Mommy will protect you." she whispered, taking her husband's weapon as she ran into the smoke-filled village.
The woman almost made it to the forest but was tackled by another Beowolf. The force sent her stumbling to the ground, her daughter falling from her arms, the child ripping the winged heart necklace from the woman's neck. Selena's eyes widened when she saw the large creature towering over them, raising its claws. Mala raised the weapon to block the creature's attack.
The young child took a few steps back, her eyes wide in shock at the carnage around her. The Beowolf tossed Mala aside, its focus shifting to the child. Selena let out a terrified scream as the world went white around her and she fell into unconsciousness.
As the sun rose over the destroyed village, two figures walked through the charred remains. One was a female of average height, with pale white skin and crimson red eyes with jet black sclera, wearing a black gown with a small train. Next to her was a Huntsman with golden blonde hair and a small goatee.
As they ventured deeper into the village, they saw that what few Grimm remained were motionless and turned to stone. The Huntsman, known as Vester, heard the soft whimpers coming from a torn cloak in the middle of the street. "A survivor?" he questioned, staring down at the covered bundle in the middle of the road. He pulled back the fabric, revealing the messy blonde hair of a young girl clutching two metal objects in her hands.
"My Queen, it appears she's still alive." Vester informed the woman behind him. She was an immortal being known by the name of Salem.
When the child stirred and her eyes fluttered open, Salem was intrigued, for the child had silver eyes, a rarity in the world. A part of her wanted to finish the child off, knowing that those with silver eyes were destined to become great and powerful warriors, and had the power to destroy her creatures of Grimm. However, she instead reached out and picked up the child, holding her gently against her chest.
"Your Majesty?" Vester questioned.
"There, there, now." she spoke softly, stroking the girl's hair. "It's alright."
Selena sniffled as she looked up at the pale skinned woman holding her. "Mom-mommy? Da-daddy?" she sobbed, tears staining her cheeks.
"I'm afraid they're no longer with you, dear child." Salem informed, wiping the girl's tears. "But do not worry. I'll be your mother from now on." She carefully caressed the child's forehead, watching the silver eyes flutter closed. The immortal woman turned the Huntsman standing beside her, "Vester, we will take this child with us. You will train her. She could very well be a powerful warrior for us."
"Of course, my Queen." the blonde Huntsman bowed, taking the child from the woman as they left the village.
The years passed and under Vester's training, Selena became a more than capable Huntress. Impressed by her progress, Salem shared a portion of her magic with the young girl and giving her title of Princess.
When she was sixteen years of age, Selena was given orders by her adoptive mother to go to the kingdom of Vale and gain the trust of a man called Ozpin, a Huntsman and headmaster of Beacon Academy. Due to her training and conditioning, Selena obeyed and became a spy for Salem within Ozpin's Brotherhood, gaining the trust of every member.
A few years after obtaining her Huntress license and with some help from Ozpin, Selena took a position at Haven Academy as a professor. It was during this time; Selena began to experience things she was denied in the Land of Darkness. She was shown kindness and compassion from both her colleagues and students. She even began to care about her students, in a similar way that Vester appeared to care for her. However, there was one feeling in particular that felt foreign to Selena, a feeling that began to stir deep in her heart whenever she went on missions another member of Ozpin's Brotherhood.
Of course, despite these new and growing feelings, Selena kept reminding herself of her mission and her loyalty to the woman who saved her. More years passed and Salem kept on planning, gathering more followers to do her bidding within the kingdoms. Once all the preparations were in place, she began moving her pawns into position. The 40th Vytal Festival was soon approaching, and this is where everything is set into motion.