The Darkness— Käpture Ïune

The summer clouds hung over the mountain range of Hēilö like the terrifying creatures of Ūndöryē. Her pulse quickened as she sensed another presence in the vicinity.

There had been raiders in the area these past months and they would not to hesitate in killing every male in the house to claim their sweet prize.

A voice emanated from the shadows. 'You really should keep your windows closed at night.'

She stiffened and slowly put her hand out to her blade. The voice chuckled as if amused.

A figure stepped out from the shadows, dressed in black.

'Aye lassie, 'tis me.'

She relaxed as she caught the ragged tones of her old friends' voice. She dropped her guard.

'Forgive me, for I am not myself. I fear I am becoming something...different than I was before. I did not recognize you'

'My apologies little miss, I didn't mean to startle....' his head jerks to the sound of someone else in the house... 'you'. The hood falls back to reveal what was once an slightly attractive face, now made less pretty by 3 scars running parallel down his left cheek. 'We've all done some growing lil miss, I just dropped in to see you before I head out again. I may be away for some time...there's a certain deamon problem that's getting worse.'

She flinched when she heard the word. 'Deamons?' She gasped. 'But I thought they were all gone!' She bowed her head and thought for a moment. 'Will you be coming back this way?' She concluded hopefully.

'Someone thought it would be a great idea to bring back one of the old ones. Abaddon himself was borne unto this world last night, and so far has a soul count of 137. If someone doesn't do something....' his voice trails off as he sniffs the air....'shit! I gotta go' he shouted as he bailed out of the open window.

'Wait! Please! Maybe I can help you!' She yelled into the still night air. Perhaps the desperation in her voice would convince him to let her go too.

A voice echoed in the part of her mind that still thought very fondly of her old friend; 'I'll be back.'

I'll make sure I have a pack waiting. She thought. Gathering supplies, she turned and her gaze fell upon a small wooden box. The intricate markings reminded her of a place once upon a time where humans and deamons reined side by side. A time when she was so much more than this. A time when she was beautiful. A time when the one she loved the most had betrayed her. A tear rolled off her cheek and she slammed her fist down on the table, bowing her head as she did so. 'Fuck!' She whispered. Pain. Unconscionable, unbound and unwanted. And there, right in the middle of it. That's where she saw him. She smiled as she remembered how he had lifted her out of the darkness. She would not fail him again, she vowed. Grabbing the key she unlocked the box. Inhaling sharply, she lifted the lid. The amulet. She never had understood the significance of the runes lain into the gold-rimmed edges.