1 Prologue
Kingdom of Loradel, Nyrin Forest, Thirteen Years from the Present
The night sky was a marsh of black with small pearls of light in the distance. It was the month of the Ebony Moon—a moonless night. With every passing minute the blanket of fog that was draped over the forest thickened, making the surroundings a challenge to see. The only light for miles was the village in flames and the red glowing eyes of those things that attacked without warning.
Roxas' muscles strained as he stopped for a breath between a collection a widened trees. He looked down to the unconscious boy in his arms, he was like a small depiction of himself; brown hair and round face. "I'll get you out of here, little brother," he said between teeth chatters, a combination of the night's cold bite and the shrill of fear that ran throughout his body. He promised himself wouldn't look back, but again he found himself breaking that oath as his eyes landed on his home in the distance. He swallowed as the took in the sight. A large collection of trees was between him and the village but he could still see the chaos unfolding. Flames crawling from wooden home to home, consuming everything like a starved beast. He couldn't hear the screams of his people, was is because he was too far now? Or was it because they were all dead, consumed either by the flames or by the demons that had attacked them?
There was an eerie howl in the distance, it echoed through the forest like a warning call.
Roxas' chest heaved up and down, every breath brought the taste of copper from his chest. His body begged for air but was given only thick fog and smoke. A wave of horripilation ran across his body as he saw it.
Six crimson glowing orbs staring from the shadows of the forest. Were they eyes? More of those demons?
The answer to the question didn't matter as instinct took over. Roxas dashed through the unknown darkness. He tightened his hold on his kid brother every time he leapt over a thick root that threatened to have him meet with the forest floor. The upcoming scenery resembled the area he had just passed. Am I running in circles! I have to get out!
"Kill them both," said an unnatural deep voice.
Roxas looked up into the canopy as he came to a halt. The same red eyes looked down at him like grim stars. He was able to make out the figure of what appeared like a man. He swallowed his growing fear as he quickly dashed in the opposite direction. His chest bounced as fast as his heart thumped. His eyes found their way on the clam-faced boy in his grasp. Sleeping without a care as his hair fluttered in the wind. He was only five season of age and Roxas wouldn't let his life end here. Not here in the middle of dark forest torn apart like a helpless animal by demons. He would get his brother out of this nightmare if it was the last thing he did with his time alive. He gasped as something caught his ankle. Before he could turn he tumbled into the dirt. He rolled on his side making sure not to harm his brother.
A loud cackle surrounded him as a figure formed before him as if from nowhere.
A sudden green flamelight came from a lantern in the figure's wrinkled hand. The eerie emerald light revealed the figure for what a was. A wrinkled old woman with long dry grey hair falling down the sides of her head. Her robes were tattered and she wore bones like ornaments around her body.
ᶜˡⁱᶜᵏ ᶠᵒʳ ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ
Roxas tried to stand but was stopped as a skeletal hand emerged from the ground and took hold of his ankle. Within a blink a second hand emerged and gripped his other leg.
"Tsk tsk tsk." The hag wagged her boney finger. "I didn't give you permission to leave. What a rude boy you are." Her voice was laced with pleasure.
Roxas mouth was agape as he shuttered. "P-please don't…" Roxas froze as he looked down at the small boy, he remembered the day of his birth, how happy his mother was to show him his baby brother. Finally, he would have someone to spend time with and play games together…why were these memories returning now?
"I believe he was just about to beg for his life," said the deep voice from before. A second figure stepped into the light. This robed thing held more elements of a nightmare than his female counterpart. Under its hood it had a long silver-boned face that looked like a skull with six red glowing eyes in dual rows of three.
Was this a man? Or was it just a monster?
ᶜˡⁱᶜᵏ ᶠᵒʳ ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ
"Go ahead, boy. Beg." He pointed down with his skeletal hand. "Something the matter?" He cackled aloud again, causing the chain of human skulls on his waist to bounce.
"Master Boltrick," called the hag. "I've heard enough begging from all of the others we've killed. Let me have some fun with this one." She licked her parched lips with an unnaturally long black tongue. "I think I'll cut his tendons and see how far he can drag himself—wait. No no…I'll rip out his eyes and watch him flaunt around like newborn." She grinned widely, adding more wrinkles to her horrid face.
The six-eyed demon chuckled at both suggestions. "He can't be more than twelve seasons old." He turned to his companion. "And they spoke as if this boy was going to be a threat to me."
Roxas kept his unsteady eyes at their feet. This was the moment in the nightmare where one would wake. He blinked and blinked and blinked. Nothing. His lip quivered as his tears threatened to escape. "Please—he's just a little boy. Don't kill Xeto…. don't kill my brother." He rocked himself in place as he felt his brother's light breaths reach his chin.
"Enough of this, I tire of begging!" The hag's voice carried rage as she stepped closer to them. "I'll cut out his eyes and feed the fawn to my rodents."
Roxas finally shot his head up, meeting their lurid gazes. "I'll do anything! Please! Please!" His voice croaked as tears fell without warning, turning the dirt to mud. An unsettling feeling rose from his gut.
"Wait," said Boltrick as he stepped in between them. He met eyes with the witch. "You want to be entertained? Correct?"
"Of course, my lord."
"Then I have a fitting game for this one."
The hag nearly danced in place from excitement. "Oooh. Do tell, do tell."
Boltrick knelt down beside him.
Roxas gulped as the stench of rotting flesh invaded his nostrils, urging him to gag.
"You'll do anything?" asked the demon, a tone of joy behind his words, the same joy a child would have when receiving a new toy.
Roxas nodded slowly as he didn't know which eyes to focus on. "As long….as my brother lives."
"Well then…we have a deal…"
