Shade's Background - Prologue
Prologue
The sun appeared to bleed as it began to set behind the jagged purple peaks on the distant horizon. The great forest below glowed with an orange sheen, dulling the usually vivid greens on most of the trees. The wind blew steady and warm, gently pushing a small branch or two. The birds were all flying home to their nests, singing softly for the night which was about to come.
She walked quietly towards the small house, cradling something in her arms. Her eyes were dark and sad as she searched the forest surrounding her, her steps determined but unsteady. The dress she wore glimmered as if it was made of dew itself and made her appear as but a shadow created by the dying light. Finally, she was before the small home and she stopped, looking at the black egg that she carried. She silently cried, closing her eyes as if wishing to deny everything, and opened them again, now bright with tears. She kissed the egg softly and set it before the Elven house, wrapping it warmly in a thin blanket. She sighed shakily and looked around again, hoping that no one would ever see her like this, especially "him." She couldn't even think about him now without growing angry, but she contained those emotions for now. She waved her hand once, speaking softly the words which were second nature to her now, and a midnight blue aura surrounded the covered egg. Satisfied that at least the egg would now be safe, she wearily entered the deep forest again. A wraith of what she used to be and a wraith in appearance now, she just faded away into the coming night.
As soon as she entered the dense ring of trees she ran. She didn't really know where to, but she knew she couldn't turn back. Celeste... her name used to be a reflection of her beauty, her calmness. She had had a wonderful childhood, surrounded by friends and family of all ages. When she reached adulthood she began to grow curious about magic. Sometimes when she had been walking at night she could feel the raw power surrounding her and she just closed her eyes and shuddered. She hoped that one day she could harness that power, know it better and thereby be able to use it. But her hopes quickly dwindled when she realized that there was no one to teach her. Her days became melancholy, her nights spent wandering in the woods, hoping, searching...
But now Celeste searched for something else, not because she wanted to, but because she had to. Her soft gray wings billowed behind her as she continued her fast journey through the night, her feet barely making a noise. Her mind raced through so many thoughts, all of them slowly getting stirred up and feeling like they were all about to explode. She was running out of options, and she knew it. It wouldn't be long until he returned and then what would she do? Celeste was a practiced magician by now... few other purebred gargoyles could say the same. But he was different... a demon that seemed to know her every weakness and who seemed to avoid confrontation, at least with her...
She shook her head hard so that the tears didn't begin to flow again and ran a little harder. She reminded herself that the point was she wasn't sure of what he was capable of and that fighting would be the last resort. Her breathing became harder and a bit more ragged before she finally stopped in front of a huge lake nestled deep within the woods. Only a small part of the sun reflected in its wind-blown surface as she kneeled down before it, hiding her face and covering herself with her wings. Only now did she allow herself to remember Fenil, the great gargoyle who shined like the sun itself, his sandy brown hair disappearing into the golden sheen of his skin. Only two days ago they had sat at the edge of this very lake watching the moon rise. He was the only gargoyle she had trusted anymore to protect her; he had been the only one who had never forsaken her when the demon came. And more importantly, he had been her mate, and the father of her child. Her entire body shook with pain as she remembered finding him, blood covering his once smiling face, his once strong body crumpled on the forest floor. She didn't know how she could go on, but she had to be strong. One day she would return to her child and they could be together. But first, Celeste had to beat him...
"So here you are, Celeste..." He spoke her name as if he were a snake risen from the earth itself and now could walk. His dark, unfocused form lay at the edge of the vale, his evil grin lit only by the soft glow of his eyes.
Celeste quickly stood up, her hands clenched in tight fists, her eyes turning blood red. She slowly turned to face him, hoping that he didn't notice her shaking. "Why do you continue to haunt me demon... haven't you taken enough away from me?!"
The demon came into the vale, taking on the form of Fenil, an exact duplicate save for the fact his golden skin was now as black as the night that was quickly approaching. "I only wish to help you know... just like Fenil. Why would I ever want to harm you..." A sly grin crossed his face and he stood there defiantly.
"Lies!! You only continue to hurt me and the ones I care about! Leave me alone now." Her defiance was slowly dying again, not sure how she would ever find the strength to fight him again.
"You only THINK they care for you... but they don't. Fenil never did... your family back home never did... but I do. Please... come to me. Let me help you..." He stretched out an arm to her, the sly grin and mocking form never wavering.
"No! You're the one who doesn't care for me! You know I never asked for this!"
"But you're wrong" the demon quickly interrupted. "You were the one that made me. You were the one who first created me when no one else did care. You can't just toss me aside-- not now, not ever..."
She growled at him and brought her hand to her dagger. "I was foolish then... I was alone. But then I met Fenil. Then I understood what I didn't before. Your uses are done and I regret the day I even met you." The red gleam in her eyes continued to brighten and her form slowly stopped shaking, as she believed in herself more and more.
"And Fenil's use is done now too... I mean, you have your child now. Oh wait... no you don't..." He just grinned more and more evilly, gaining strength in his manipulation.
"No!! Leave my child out of this!! It's all I have left now that you've taken Fenil from me..." The words choked her and she almost fell to her knees, but tried to show no sign of weakness.
"You mean had, don't you? I mean come now... you really think those poor elves could protect and care for that egg properly? No. I made sure that your child would never know that misery." As he said those last words he tossed a black shard at her feet, it's dull, ebon surface reflecting in the last rays of the sun.
The cry she let out shook the woods, and she fell to her knees, grasping the dark object to her chest, the tears falling involuntarily down her face. Her heart was finally broken and she had nothing else to lose now. The midnight blue flames erupted throughout the vale and she cast herself at the demonic creature before her. Her eyes could have been bleeding fire and the demon actually stood dumbfounded as she came at it.
And it was said a great beam of bright blue light flew from the lake that night, as the last rays of the sun set, signaling that night had finally arrived. Stories of that night were passed on throughout the Elven community that lived nearby. One speculation was that a great fairy ceremony took place that night and that the lights were just a great fireworks show. Another story told of how a great artifact was created at the edge of the lake, its waters the final component in the process of the great Elven blade. And ironically there was the tale of a great demoness, destroyed by her own manipulations and evilness. Sadly enough, no one would ever truly know what happened... what sacrifices had been made that night.
Not even her child...