The man stood there, completely at ease. The glare of the lantern overhead made his black hair shine, but his brown eyes were dull as a starless night. Tonight was a starless night. For some unknown reason the stars had decided not to shine upon the world for a night. Maybe they, like many others, sensed the coming of something far beyond a normal evil. Maybe they sensed the coming of the one who could bring around the destruction of not only the world, but also the very universe that they shone upon.
The man did not pay much attention to the absence of the stars. With the power to heighten his power of sight, this dark night was as bright as day. Every nook and cranny of the empty street before him stood out. Every shadow was like a stain of evil against the walls of the shops. Even the one that was moving towards him. Not one to leave anything to chance, he summoned the essence of light and molded the light of the lantern around himself, making it impossible to see him.
The shadow soon reached the outer edge of the ring of light from the lantern. It walked around the edge, not daring to go into a place where it could be seen. After it was sure that the place was empty, it slowly came forward and materialized onto the shape of a woman. Unlike the man, her hair was light and her eyes shone with even the smallest amount of light, giving her a greedy, evil look. Her skin was pale, almost transparent. She slowly stalked towards the lantern post and leaned against it, as if she were waiting for somebody. She did not have to wait long.
A hand suddenly covered her mouth stifling her scream of surprise. A knife pressed against her throat as a voice hissed out of the darkness behind her, very close to her ear.
“Now what would a beautiful young woman like yourself be doing out on a night like this? Surely you’re not planning to meet someone. On a night like this only the evil would dare venture from the safety of home and even then only if they were more courageous than the others.”
The woman laughed to herself. He had always been like this, acting as if though life was only a big joke to be played on all others. She reached up and removed the hand covering her mouth and pushed away the blade.
“You are most observant, Harcus. Why, if I had not known it was you that summoned me I might not have dared to come out myself. Such a dreadful occurrence. The stars have not decided to hide since the attack on the city of Sapphire. It must be a terrible thing that is about to happen. Why is it that you have summoned me tonight?”
“All will be explained in due time, Shania. I find it quite ironic that you should mention the attack on Sapphire, for much of what I am going to tell you tonight revolves around that power. First, I must have your word that you will not tell anyone else about what I am going to speak of. Remember, I can see into your mind when i wish, so any hint of treachary, and i will destroy you."
" You have my word that I will not breath a word of what goes on tonight to any other in the world."
Harcus hesitated. In her voice was a hint of some other feeling. He reached out to her mind and found that she spoke truth, she was only nervous in his presence. He did not blame her. There were few who could stand before him without feeling...diminished.
"Come with me. This is not the place for such a disscusion."
Shania hesitated. She did not exactly trust Harcus, but she did not want to anger him. Fear started building up and panic started to set in. "Hold it together, Shania," she told herself. "It will all be alright."
"Let me choose the place. I have agreed to meet you here, so know you must show some measure of trust."
Harcus smiled causing shania to shudder. She knew through experience that the only time he smiled was not when he was amused, but when he was receiving or giving a challenge. Now it was a test of determination for her. she knew that in order to get his respect she would have to prove to him that she would not back down, no matter what the cost. She drew herself up to her full height.
"What is the matter, Shania? Don't you trust me? I have never betrayed you and yet you choose to dihonor me by insisting that you get to chose the place where we have a converstion I asked you to have. I am warning you, i am not one to be trifled with."
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, I'm new here as well.
