Prelude
In the world of Parados, a war wages between two immortal beings ─ the Aleedim and the Rivenulous. The Aleedim, able to manipulate the elements of fire, water, earth, and air at will, reign over four of the five kingdoms in Parados. Raquira, the Water Kingdom, is ruled by Lady Mora and Lord Beckham in the eastern wetlands. The Southern Crimson Dunes house the Fire Kingdom, Krios, which is ruled by Lady Elena and Lord Brodian. Terros, the Earth Kingdom, is located in the northern woodlands and is ruled by Lord Kadaar and Lord Kren. At the heart of Parados, the Air Kingdom, Cerulea, is situated in the Ethereal Mountains and is ruled by Lord Thoulyn. The Aleedim, confident in their elemental mastery, have long believed themselves invincible. Each of their kingdoms thrives under their rule, with the people enjoying the bounties of nature and the protection of their immortal leaders. However, the last kingdom, Disas ─ the Land of Shadows ─ is ruled by the Rivenulous.
Five master sorcerers, though hidden away in the shadows of Disas, are not idle. They envision a world where they reign supreme and the Aleedim are nothing but a distant memory. Harnessing the dark energies of their kingdom, the Rivenulous draw power from Disas’s darkened aura, awakening monstrous daemons from its depths in their desire to take complete control of all five kingdoms. War escalates between these two powerful beings. The Aleedim send their champions, the Sentinels, to defend their realms, while the Rivenulous unleash their daemons to wreak havoc and attempt to gain power. However, with no weapon strong enough to kill an immortal, the Rivenulous are forced to take refuge deep in the catacombs of Disas, where they experiment with forbidden magic to create a weapon that can rival the Aleedim’s immortality.
In the midst of this eternal conflict, the balance of power teeters precariously. Will the Aleedim’s elemental powers prevail, or will the dark sorcery of the Rivenulous finally tip the scales in their favor? The war for Parados is far from over, and the echoes of destiny resonate throughout the land.
(Karina POV)
Karina stared up at the cavern ceiling as she listened to the echoing screams of the other women further down her corridor. Her heart hammered heavily against her chest at their agony filled cries. Soon, her own cries would fill the chamber as it drew nigh for her to deliver. Karina took in a calming deep breath and stared vacantly at the cavern’s rock formations above her as questions and regret swirled around in her head.
Why had she and the others been so willing to trust the Rivenulous? Why hadn’t they questioned their motives sooner? As sheep led to the slaughter, her people had willingly allowed themselves to become chess pieces in the never endless immortal war between the Rivenulous and the Aleedim. The two immortal races were locked in a nonstop battle for absolute power and they didn’t care what strings they had to pull in the name of their great conquest. Karina was terrified for her kind because mortals were trapped in the middle ― considered expendable creatures.
As a sharp constricting pain wrapped around her abdomen, Karina was brought out of her thoughts. Her breathing quickened while the two nurses stationed by her bed like vultures at the ready, leaned in closer to give their aid in some way. The nurse with a piercing in her lip began to rub circles on her back, attempting to ease her pain. The empty gesture did nothing to soothe Karina and only made her anger rise as she jerked away from the touch.
“Breathe. Don’t fight. It will only make it worse,” said the nurse.
Karina ignored her words while she rode out the wave of pain that was brought on by another contraction. Her contractions were coming faster, a sure sign her labor was progressing. When the restricting pain finally subsided, she took in a deep breath to calm her racing heart while wiping away sweat that had accumulated on her forehead.
With pain no longer clouding her mind, anger filled Karina. If she had known the Rivenulous’s plan to use her and the others as human incubators for their daemon spawn, she would have taken her own life. Yet here she was, along with ten other women giving birth to their abominations.
Karina’s breath hitched when another contraction struck. She fought back a groan and gripped the side of the bed when the contraction grew in intensity.
“Your contractions are coming faster. Soon you will need to push,” the other nurse with red hair informed her.
Karina wanted to keep fighting, but she knew the nurse was right. She could already feel the pressure of the creature’s head pressing downward. It was time for the thing to be delivered. Just as the contraction subsided, another one was quick to follow. Karina groaned out with this contraction as its intensity grew too much for her to bear.
“On the next contraction, you need to start pushing,” instructed the nurse with the piercing.
Karina quickly nodded her head in understanding. The nurses helped her get into position at the end of the bed and placed a braided rope into her shaky hands. Then they took stations at her feet as the creature’s birth drew nigh. Karina panted and gripped the rope tightly in her hands as she waited for the next contraction to occur.
When the contraction ended and another followed on its heels, Karina sucked in a deep breath and began to push. Each push brought the creature closer causing Karina to clench her teeth to hold back a scream as an unbearable burning ripped at her insides.
“Keep on pushing, you’re almost done,” one of the nurses shouted out.
With one final push, Karina beared down, using every ounce of strength left until she felt the creature leave her body. The nurses quickly cut the cord and carried it away to a table in the corner of the chamber.
With all her reserves used up, Karina fell back against the bed wringing wet with sweat. Her eyes drifted shut from both mental and physical exhaustion.
It wasn’t until she heard one of the nurses scream, “It bit me!” that her eyes snapped open.
Her eyes widened in dismay as she watched the red-haired nurse collapse to the floor, foaming at the mouth.
“Dayla!” the nurse with the piercing hollered when she bent down to aid her fallen friend.
The nurse jerked wildly on the floor for a few seconds before finally going limp with death.
What on earth? Karina slowly glanced up at the creature and found it staring back at her with the most vibrant, amethyst eyes. A velvet wing the color of the darkest of violets was draped across the top half of its body like a blanket. Its hair was ombre with peculiar shades of deep purple that transitioned to a light pastel tone. Honey skin so smooth and flawless made it resemble an exotic porcelain doll. But more captivating than its beauty was the aura surrounding it. The compelling impulse to go over and take a closer look had Karina rising higher in the bed, but her weak body prevented her from moving more than that, so instead she held the creature’s stare ― fixated.
The nurse’s blood stained its lips, yet the creature conveyed a harmless persona as its exotic beauty left Karina transfixed. However, the longer Karina continued to peer into its eyes she saw a hidden danger that ran deeper than its appearance. Its stare, one of curiosity, wasn’t what gave it away, no, it was the calculating way its eyes assessed Karina. The Rivenulous had created this creature as a weapon against the Aleedim, but as Karina stared into its amethyst eyes, she couldn’t help but think that they had inadvertently created a new player.
“What happened here?”
The male voice broke Karina out of her trance as her head swiveled to the cloaked figure standing at the entrance of her chamber.
The nurse with the piercing quickly jumped to her feet at the Riven’s appearance.
“What happened?” the Riven asked again in a hushed tone.
“Forgive me, Master. We were cleaning the child, when...,” the nurse paused briefly before continuing, “the child bit Dayla. She collapsed and started convulsing on the floor before. . . dying.”
The nurse quickly bowed her head in respect, but her hand came up to wipe away tears. The dark red hood of the Riven’s cloak concealed his face and eyes so Karina was uncertain where he was looking, but she sensed his attention was on the creature.
Karina’s assumption was proven right when the Riven walked into the room towards the table where the creature lay. As he approached, the creature tore its gaze away from her and looked up at the Riven. An intelligence far beyond that of a newborn’s studied the Riven.
“A female. How intriguing,” responded the Riven.
At the Riven’s announcement, the nurse raised her head and replied, “Yes Master, I was about to inform you when Dayla. . .” she sniffed, trailing off again.
“I understand,” the Riven said, finally addressing her. “I know you two were close; I’m sorry for your loss.”
The nurse’s body shook with fresh sobs at his acknowledgment, but she quickly composed herself before answering, “Thank. . . you, Master.”
Their conversation puzzled Karina. Was a female not expected?
“Why is a female intriguing?” Karina questioned, her voice coming out a little shaky.
The Riven’s hood slowly turned away from the creature and in her direction.
“Karina. How are you feeling?” He asked with what sounded like genuine concern.
How was she feeling? Was he serious? The question was so unexpected that it caught her off guard. But she quickly regained her train of thought. Ignoring his comment completely, Karina repeated her earlier question.
“Why is a female intriguing?”
“Karina, you must be weary. I think it is time you rested.”
“Tell me, I want to know why,” she demanded.
Karina instantly regretted her tone, but it was too late to return her words as the Riven walked over to her.
His cloak parted, and a gloved hand reached out and landed on her shoulder as he answered, “Don’t worry, everything is as it should be. Now rest.”
Karina wanted to protest, but her memory became foggy, and what she was about to say dissipated. Then everything started to blur as she drifted to sleep.
(Roth POV)
With Karina asleep, Roth walked back over to the child. The child’s gaze was unwavering as her diamond shaped pupils held his steady gaze. Her dark aura was strong and it flowed off of her in waves like a siren’s song. Her amethyst purple eyes and alluring features beckoned to be touched.
“Like a moth drawn to a flame. You are truly exquisite.” Roth stated.
Unable to help himself, he ran a finger down her face.
Her mouth opened with the touch, revealing four needle-like canine teeth.
Roth smiled under the shadow of his hood. Unlike her male counterparts, who were born with only their top canines, she had been born with both.
“Finish cleaning her, then bring her to the meeting chamber,” Roth ordered.
“Yes, Master,” Aileen responded then bowed.
“And do try to be careful, we don’t wish to lose you as well.”
Aileen nodded before resuming her care for the child.
Roth left the room and walked down the labyrinth of corridors. Using telepathy, he reached out to the others beckoning them to join him in the meeting chamber. As he came upon the meeting chamber, Panthos, Qadira, Valtor, and Talin were awaiting him. He took his seat around the circular carved out table placed in the middle of the room that had once been a massive trunk of an Elder tree. Once they were seated, Roth lowered his hood and addressed the room.
“My brothers and sisters, I have news to report on the new arrivals. As you all well know the ten Chthonians were born today. I was making my rounds, checking on the children and erasing the mothers’ memories, when I walked upon a scene in the last mother’s chamber.” Roth momentarily stopped as he recalled the encounter.
After walking upon the scene of Dayla lying dead on the floor and listening to Aileen’s explanation. He had gone over to investigate the child further. On first inspection, Roth had expected another male but was considerably surprised to find a female. Her exquisite features and the profound intelligence in her eyes stunned him. Unlike her male counterparts when Roth peered down at her, he knew the weapon they had sacrificed so much to create was before him.
“Brother Roth, what is it?” Pathos asked.
Coming out of his thoughts, Roth responded, “Out of the ten Chthonians born today, the last child was a female.”
Silence descended on the others as they took in his words.
“How is that possible? They should have all been male,” Qadira finally spoke up.
“I do not know how, but I assure you a female was born,” Roth replied.
Before any of the others had time to weigh in, a small knock came at the door. Roth flicked his wrist, and the door swung open to reveal Aileen holding the bundled child.
“Pardon me, Masters. Here is the child you requested.” Aileen said, laying the child down in the middle of the table.
“Thank you Aileen. You may leave now,” Roth said, his eyes glued to the child.
Aileen bowed, then walked back out the room, closing the door behind her.
“Not only is her reason for being here a mystery, but she made her first kill today within moments of her birth,” Roth declared as he unfolded the child from the brown terry cloth blanket she was wrapped in.
Her long velvet wings were pulled in close to her body while her eyes ―keen and focused― returned each of their observing stares.
“And how did she do this?” Talin questioned.
“She bit the wet nurse that delivered her,” Roth answered while he used his index finger to expose her four protruding canines. “The nurse died within seconds, so I suspect the child’s bite is venomous.”
“You believe this child’s bite is venomous? If so, do the others have the ability?” Valtor asked.
“Yes, I believe her bite is fatal. As for the males, I do not know if they have this ability, but there are ways of finding out. If her bite can kill a human, I wonder what effect it will have on the Aleedim or one of their Sentinels,” Roth suggested while pondering over the thought. “There is no way to know the capabilities that she has or the ones she might grow into.”
“That is true, there are too many unknowns for my liking, Brother. There are nine other Chthonians to aid us in our battle with the Aleeds, let us destroy this one,” Valtor broke in.
Roth looked around the table at the others, seeing if they mirrored Valtor’s stance, before responding, “That is why I have brought her here. Let us pass judgment on her life this day, what shall it be?”
