Prologue
6th June, 1896- Felicia Johanna Ortella
Old Nick’s Lascaux
1st
Beautiful darling, all gorgeous and bright
Let us know of your true light
We will hold you till last breath
We’ll lay you down on your last bed
I stood on the edge of the cliff as the wind blew through my ebony sheet of hair. Black crows circled above, their caws muffled by the wind. In the sky, the grey clouds swirled angrily as if someone or something was trying to push through them. Tears fell soundlessly from my eyes and down my cheeks as I stepped forward. The sweet rhythmic melody played repeatedly in my head as the ground disappeared from beneath my feet.
Come here closer, let us in
Give us secrets, you don’t live
We will take them from your heart
And tear them to pieces part by part
Gravity took over my body as I pummeled downwards. My soul screaming while the earth protested. The crows got louder as the pointed rocks underneath me came closer. Waves crashed into them repeatedly and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the terrifying sounds around me. A horrifying peace spread through my whole being as the wind howled even louder, already mourning a loss of life. At the impact, I opened my golden eyes to see the pointed rocks as if they were gloating at me, encouraging me of my decision to leave this earth and this life. The rocks pierced through my skin and a sickening sound floated to my ears as I looked up at the sky, its gloomy aura giving me terrifying peace while the sweet song faded away slowly, aware that its job had been done. The cold water washed over me yet I didn’t feel it. My own blood covered my skin and the grey rocks that marked the death of me yet I felt no pain, only numbness.
Oh dear child, don’t you fret
We have not made it painful, not yet
Seize the moments you have left
We are coming for your death
“Felicia!” a young feminine voice screamed and my eyes fluttered close, catching the last sight of earth I’ll ever see as I faded into the black abyss, welcoming death to take me, to end the enchantingly terror inducing musical notes which had haunted me for all my life. They had finally won; they had driven me to self-destruction.
Heed this as one final warn
You were destined for this since born
As I laid there, I thought of everyone I knew, everyone who thought I was a mad woman or a witch who should be burned at stake. I remembered the orange and yellow tongue of the flame almost licking my body until my uncle had stopped the people, people who were only trying to defend themselves against the dark arts of this world. The hidden poisons of the earth, seen and survived by few.
You cannot escape from us
Time will come when all is done
Another wave crashed into me, taking away my life force with it. My name was Felicia Johanna Ortella and I was seventeen years old when I let one of the poisons of this earth steal my life away.
