Failing of the Light

Prologue

         Will Evertee blew the door off its hinges with a swift push of air. Like his parents always said, better safe than sorry. Looking inside, Will could see the room was torn apart. Books were thrown from the bookcase, pages torn from their spine. The bed was overturned; blankets and pillows were ripped apart. The dead-wolf was looking for something in particular. A cold breeze carried the smell of copper, and wet animal. It appeared as though the heat had been sucked from the inside of the room. It was then that Will noticed the paintings missing from the wall.

         Will’s family kept a secret inside that wall, hidden behind a painting of their family. A soft, but sturdy conjuring of air held a book inside. The magic protected its pages from the elements, and the creepy crawlies that sometimes lived there. Plaster littered the floor beneath each painting. It looked like something had scratched and ripped its way through the wall several places along its length. Will's eyes immediately shot to the place where his family portrait should have been hanging. Oh no, Will thought. A feeling of dark forbidding encased his heart. The Book was missing. It just simply can't be, but it was undeniable. The dead-wolf must be seeking the Book of Wisdom.

         There was a sudden movement from the right side of the doorway. Will dashed through the door and spun around narrowly avoiding the creature’s jaws. He stood face to snout with the beast. The dead-wolf was bent over staring at him, mere feet away. Its black, lifeless, eyes reflected the shock and horror of Will's face. If the beast were standing erect, it would have easily been seven feet tall. It wore leather armor covered by a green tattered cloak. The armor seemed to be of expert artisanship. The arms were thin, but well muscled, hanging down to the creature’s knees, and Will could hear its blood covered toenails scraping the floor as it moved. Rips in the leather armor revealed flies covering the beast's open, bleeding wounds. Its body seemed to be throbbing.

         “So boy... where is the little one?” the beast said.
         “Whom are you referring to?” Will said.
         “Your younger brother... where is he?”

         Will took a step back, attempting to put a little more distance between them.

         “I believe your quarrel is with me, death-bringer.”
         “No elf," the creature seemed to spit after saying the word 'elf,' "…it’s with your entire family."

         Will could feel the sweat gathering on his upper lip. The source was broiling inside of him; taking most of his strength, and concentration, to keep the magic under control. The beast circled to the left, placing itself between the young elf and the door; flexing his arms, and wiping his hands on the black, blood stained fur of his legs.

         “Why are you here death-bringer?” Will stepped a few more feet back. The beast began to growl.

         “I’m here for your blood wood elf. I’m here for your death. I’m your ending, and another’s beginning. I’m here to retrieve the Book of Wisdom, and I’ve found it.”

         He pulled a book from his cloak. The tome was two inches thick, and leather bound. Will could see the familiar gold lettering on the cover of the book and gasped. The creature drew back its lips to reveal its many teeth. By the bows of Leandorin, the monster looked as if it were trying to smile Will thought.

         “What do you think you possess, death-bringer?” Will said.
         “I have the key that unlocks my master’s prison-”
         “-No, beast.” Will fought back the urge to run. “You hold death. You’ll never escape the borders of this forest alive with that book.”

         The dead-wolf began to laugh a dreadful, guttural sound.

         “Who’s going to stop me, you?”

         Will attempted to distract the creature with another question, hoping to buy more time.

         “Where are my parents, death-bringer?”

         Again, Will heard that horrible laugh.

         “They’re gone boy...gone.”

         They can’t be gone, Will thought. He needs our entire family to use the magic contained in the book. The magic responds only to Tom Evertee's bloodline. Any one else attempting to use the magic contained within would encounter only disappointment.

         “What did you do to them?” Will whispered.

         The creature leaned in closer to Will. “My brothers have taken them East to unlock my master’s prison.”

         That was the information Will had been waiting for. He let the source burst free from its dam; letting the anger surge to the surface, a river of fire spiraled through his veins. Ashes, it burns. The look of shock on the dead-wolf’s face, if you could call it a face, was brief.

         The death-bringer seemed to be held fast, as if he couldn’t move. The combination of air and magic held him. The beast appeared to struggle, but with little result. Will dissolved the pocket of air around the death-bringer’s mouth so it could talk.

         “-lood and Ashes. So, wood-elf, your kind remembers how to wield the source…Interesting.”
         "Be silent foul creature. You will answer my questions now. How many are escorting my family--”

         “I am done answering your questions boy. Time… to… die.”

         The beast broke free of its magical bonds; lowering it's arms slowly. How could this be possible? Its eyes turned from black to blood red, and then became luminescent. The creature let out a long, ear-splitting howl, and charged.