The morning air was dark with the smoke of burning goods.
The old dry wood and countless layers of paint and varnish blazed with a fierce hungry light. Heat rose shimmering through the chill air; behind, the gargoyles and stone dragons on the castle walls seemed blurred, as if Moriah were seeing them through a veil of tears. Or as if the beasts were trembling, stirring . . .
"An ill thing," Hadassah declared, though at least she had the sense to keep her voice low.
"Silence," said Moriah. "Remember where you are."
They were heading to the Garden.
Hundreds had come to the battle gates to bear witness to the burning of the Battle of Blood. The smell in the air was ugly. Even for soldiers, it was hard not to feel uneasy at such an affront to the gods most had worshiped all their lives.
Moriah was thinking about his ancestors. They had overturn
Lynn VandestineHe pushes the door open of his new studio. Painting has always been his hobby, but it is his first time to open a workshop like this. When he was in his adolescence, it wasn't one of his pleasant times. In order to lighten his mood, he used to climb up at the top of his favourite mountain, with papers and paints in the backpack. Often, he brushed colors gently on the canvas, while thinking if a girl would appear in front of him just like that drawing.Now, the place can catch a plenty of natural light, one of the reason why he bought this. The layout is flexible, it's enough big for his work. The paintings around the studio are mostly portraits, but he drew some landscapes, too, tried to do another genre."Hi, Tom!" he greets the guy, who is moving his brush with so much attention, benting towards the easel. Tom is a local artist and a student of art college, once Lynn helped his big brother with a mission, so he k
Nrikawn took her hands in his, staring right into her gorgeous black eyes. Every time when he saw her, she looked like she didn't even age a day, still looked the same. Her eyes were still pretty as the waves of ocean, twinkling in the light and her long hair was as smooth and soft as before. His hand reached up and gently tucked a lock of her red hair behind her ear. She slightly pulled away from his touch, but found the courage to look up at him. The very moment she saw him, the first thing she saw was his eyes, those were sharp and filled with emotions and at the same time she was trying to figure out the depth of them.Ten years of struggle. It wasn't that easy, it wasn't something that he could pay back. He couldn't come back after ten years and still want to reconcile, it never should've been like that. Yes, life still went on, but they couldn't erase the past, they could just pretend to put it aside. Ten years
At the same night, Hadassah had started a big fire at the middle of the Battle of Blood, while she was in the possession of little Celandine's body. The large vessel on the fire was filled with the sacred water for witches from Black Lake. It was an inaccessible lake inside a forest, only who had witch blood in their veins, could approach there. Beside the pyre, there were some ingredients which she would need to return back to her true self."Bonesbane," she muttered and picked up the tiniest bowl contained with a few bone shaped dark green leaves. She stared at the boiling black water for a while, then dropped the leaves into it and chanted, "Confundo." The flames exploded around the pyre when the leaves touched the water, her ragged breath quickened. She took a sharp intake and knelt in front of the pyre and picked up the next ingredient."Blood Soil," she muttered and poured the brown soil and tiny pebbles into t
Moriah was gazing at his reflection. His tight black armor was made from iron, the breastplate was lined with transmuted thin craft of gold, the symbol of his army Wolf was carved in the left side of the plate. He saw his gesture in the mirror, as cold as always, two piercing and cruel eyes, small stubble around his chin. He blinked, slightly wondering why he was looking at himself, it was unlike of him.It was also a big day for him. He moved to corner of his room, stooping beside the giant bed. There was a mark on the golden wall, just like a small scratch of nails, it couldn't be shown if someone didn't look carefully. He took a deep breath and pressed his palm over the scratch, to reveal his secret chamber under the ground. Since, it was going to be a great day for him, he would want to have a talk with his Lord. With a buzzing sound, a passage emerged behind the wall, there were dusty staircases going down. Moriah picked u
Olgarias was leaning his back on the pillow, his eyes were closed. Fever was burning through his skin all the day and at night, it had been usual for him to have nightmares lately. He would scream after midnight while sweating crazily and his whole body was shaking uncontrollably, the servants had to take care of him. The Master of Health was observing his health condition and giving him medicine for cure, also trying to figure out the disease.But only Ran knew what it was. And he felt terribly guilty. His head was a complete mess and his feelings were heightened, wishing he could do something to help his master. He even thought of escaping from the capital, but he couldn't bring himself to imagine what would happen next. In Leafstone, he had somewhere to live, he had someone's protection on his life, but outside Leafstone, he was nothing. It would get harder to live his life there as a Night Walker.He led Elijah his way to his master's cha
Somebody is brushing hairs from my forehead. Then nudging my shoulder."Sam, wake up," a voice tells softly.A Male voice.I am feeling confused. There's no male person in our home. Then who is it?I try to open my eyes, but can't, because sunlight is hitting me. Who the hell opened the damn curtains of the damn window?I raise my hands to cover my eyes, but something is in them. Something muddy.Wait...I'm not in home, am I?"Sam," that voice tells again.I snap my eyes open.A strong face welcomes me.I adjust myself in a seated position, glancing around. Who is this guy?Shit!I fell asleep on the mountain top.All the night.I squint at the sunlight, not feeling as panicked as others should be."Who are you?" I look at his blue eyes."I can ask you the same question," he replies.I yawn, staring at my hands which a
San Diego, USAMahone covers his head with the black hoodie, then steps briskly to the small house. He sniffs, the irritating heat of the sun causing him fever. He's not so sure of that, but he can feel it, his head is light-weighted, everything he sees, seems blunt and bright. He climbs the stairs and rings the bell three times, the first two was quick, the last one was differently long. Actually it was a code, but who knows if his friend still remembers it.The door opens fast.An innocent looking boy, has thin beard at his jaw, wearing loafers, is standing at the doorsteps, watching Mahone suspiciously."Assalamu Alaikum," he finally greets him in Arabic. "How can I help you, Mister?"Mahone removes his black sunglasses, then smiles at him, "Lays alyawm, Musa."Musa stares at him in disbelief for a while, then shrieks, "Lays alyawm! Holy shit, Mahone!" he tightly embraces him. "Is that really you? How many days
I uncontrollably sit on the ground.Apparently I fall."Hey, hey, you okay?" Edwin hurriedly sits beside me."I'm fine." I answer shakily, closing my eyes. Actually I wasn't fine. I haven't seen my psychiatrist for almost a month, haven't taken my medication. Now, the flashbacks are gone, but I still have the headache.I am breathing hard.I wonder what caused the flashbacks."C'mon," he wraps my left arm around his shoulder and lifts me up. "The lake is near. You need some fresh air."I walk with him, dropping my head in his shoulder. I feel a little surprised by my act, because I don't even know him.Or maybe I do.His body scent seems familiar."Don't try to think too much. When you apply pressure to remember a thing of your past, which was maybe painful, it affects your neuron cells.""It wasn't painful. Perhaps," I stop walking.And I open my eyes.Sudd