Title Pending (Prologue)

The double moonlight cast its shadows through the window, black figures dancing across the floor. The woman sat on her glamorous bed; head hung low, jet-black hair falling into her eyes. At first glance, she was a troubled person, filled with grief from past experiences. Those that knew her knew that she simply suffered from a special case of depression, which the magic of the races of Calador had ceased to cure. 1

She lifted her head, and looked out the window at the moons. She had never seen them from the ground, so the view from the city above the clouds was the norm to her. Like the rest of Senil’s residents, she had long, beautiful wings protruding from her back like an angel. But tonight, like most nights, they slumped against the wall, with her arms wrapped around her knees in a fetal position.2

Shadows slowly began to obscure the glamorous sight of the two moons, which was odd in itself because clouds formed below them, not above. But these shadows weren't clouds, she noticed. Pure darkness shrouded not only the moon, but her window too. It poured in like water and mist, forming a black puddle in front of her on the floor. The puddle quickly solidified, rising from the ground and taking shape. It had cleared the window and was fully in the room now, allowing moonlight to quickly illuminate the quarters once again.3

Still forming, the darkness took the form of a man. Like a splash of water, the black covering fell from the man, falling into the floor and disappearing. His face was pale, but yet flawless. His hair was short and black as the darkness that provided his flamboyant entrance, and blood red highlights accentuated the spiked up ends. His robes were of that same black, but in cloth form, and his eyes were that same blood red with the darkest pupils she had ever seen. He smiled devilishly, and when he talked, his voice was soothing, in control, and made one feel comfortable. Fear would have aroused in the weak minded from seeing this stranger, then to be exterminated as a stupid thought. “Greetings, Aisling.”4

Aisling looked up at her visitor, meeting those calm eyes with her own dark ones. “Who are you?” Her voice was filled with resentment, generally translated as a response to breaking into her room. “What do you want?”5

The intruder laughed. “So pushy! I figured you would be as such.” He walked around the room, gently pulling his gaze away from her to examine her things. “I go by many names, but you can call me Abaddon.”6

She couldn’t help but feel safe around him, but she knew she must not give in. “So…what do you want?”7

Abaddon shrugged. “Nothing. Can’t I just drop in to say hi?”8

Aisling retreated inwards to herself, pulling her knees tighter. “Old friends and family drop in to say hi. I have no friends, and my family thinks I am crazy.”9

Putting down the only happy looking doll in the room, obviously given as a gift, Abaddon turned around to face the young girl on the bed. “Friends?” His voice was sympathetic and filled with a sense of love and care. He sat down on the bed next to her, gently placing his pale hand on her knee. “I can be your friend.”10

It was her nature to pull away from social connections, and that’s exactly what she did. “That has got to be the cheesiest line. And anyway, what kind of friend can you be with an entrance as dark and sinister as yours?”11

Abaddon shrugged. “I cannot control that. It is how I am. Even though you can make your wings disappear, can you control the fact that you still have them?” Before she could answer, in a fatherly, loving way, he responded for her. “No, no you can’t.”12

Once again, he attempted at physical contact, but Aisling pulled away. “So tell me, all you have come to do is be my friend?” she asked. “Is that what I am supposed to understand?” Great suspicion presented itself in her voice.13

Abaddon smiled. “You caught me. While making a new friend is my prime motive, it is not my only.”14

Still depressed and withheld, she replied, “Then get on with it and whatever you have to con me of.”15

He allowed the comment to pierce him, and hurt him. His impaired voice showed this. “I feel insulted that you would consider this a con. I want to give you a gift! A magnificent gift of greatness!”16

Intrigue took over. “And this gift would be?”17

Abaddon clasped his hands together in thought. “It’s more of a deal.”18

Her eyebrows rose up. “Ah, so it goes from being a gift to a deal in a matter of seconds. Shouldn’t a business man such as yourself try to persuade me subtly?” Her tone was sarcastic, leading away from her introverted nature.19

“Do you want to hear this deal or not?”20

Aisling rolled her dark eyes. “Fine, go ahead.”21

Abaddon smiled, that devilish smile stretching across his face. “I would very much enjoy if you would work for me.”22

The young woman laughed for the first time that night, and the first time in a while. “A job offer? This is what this is all about?”23

“Not just any job!” Abaddon quickly said in defense. “This is a very rewarding job!” Before she could respond, he continued. “I need you to help people find the path to true enlightenment. Ya know, a little push in the right direction.”24

“True enlightenment?” Skepticism filled her airy voice. “So you want me to harvest souls for you?” This time it was her turn to cut him off. “Don’t try to defend that statement. You know it’s true.” The argument was pushed back down his throat. “Anyway,” she continued, “I’m intrigued. What would I get out of this?”25

Abaddon’s face took a U-turn, that devilish smile returning. “Besides that fact that you be able to live practically forever in this world, and you would have great power over these people, anything else you want.”26

Her mind wandered, and her eyes looking upwards just imagining what she could profit from such an offer. Finally, she looked at him, ready to give him her request, a request which had been decided on long before now. Her eyes looked directly into his, and she gave him her wish. “I want the world.”27

Taken aback, he pondered the request, but for the most part he was just recovering from the unexpected answer. He had never been so perplexed by an individual in his long life. “No can do. This world is not up for sale.” His look had gone from a friendly salesman to a very serious disposition, who was trying to protect his valuables. “I rule this world.”28

She had predicted a rebuttal to that answer, and she knew she would not receive it, but it was worth a shot. “Very well. Then give me any world.”29

Immediately, the gears in Abaddon’s mind began to crank. He was considering it, and that was all Aisling needed. “Well,” he said. “There is one other world that you have most likely heard of.”30

The young girl sighed. “Oh?” She broke the eye contact and lied back, playing with her hair.31

“Yes, and like this world, I cannot have a physical effect on it. But you,” he was thinking about it hard, and it was obviously very straining. “Yes, yes! You would have a physical impact on the people there.”32

A few moments passed, filled with Abaddon silently contemplating with himself, and Aisling fiddling and scratching at her long, white wings. But finally, Abaddon looked up into Aisling’s black eyes.33

“This could work, but you must understand there will be limitations.”34

“Limitations? What is that supposed to mean?”35

Abaddon placed his arms behind him, and began to pace. “To start off, I can give you a small group of warrior-demons. Unfortunately, that’s about all. I am limited not only to sending you to this other world, but also telling you of its whereabouts. You’ll have to find the way yourself.”36

A small setback in her diabolical plan, but with immortal forces she could easily get the answers out of someone. “Very well, I accept.” For the first time, she got off the bed, and stood to full height. She extended her hand out to her new boss.37

Abaddon took it, grasping the forearm as she returned the gesture, and they both leaned in and touched foreheads. “Just to let you know,” Abaddon whispered as their foreheads stayed connected, “I’ll be watching you. Any slick moves, and those demons will just as easily devour you as they will have devoured your enemies.” It was the first time Aisling had heard a sense of anger and power in his voice, and she let the faux fear show on her face.38

They hadn’t even separated when Abaddon began to leave dissipating into a black mist, which left through the open window. As it all disappeared, the room seemed lighter then before as the moonlight poured in. At that moment, Aisling felt an invisible knife stab her chest, and she grasped at the air.39

He had claimed ownership of her soul, for now.