Midnight Rose [prologue: revised]

There was smoke; this thick, black, acrid smoke that burned your eyes and stung your throat. Carolina watched in horror as her people were slaughtered. She had not yet been found, the elders had told her to stay hidden. If she stayed out of sight, she'd have a chance at being safe. From her hiding place, she watched as her life was destroyed.1

Kita had survived nine cold seasons before a dark skinned village had taken her in. As a child, Kita had wandered through the mountains, valleys, and jungles. Finally, and the end of the ninth season, she had been found by a farmer who brought her to the elders. Since she was young and without a family, they decided that she would stay in the village leader's house. Soon, she became the adopted daughter of the people and she became highly respected. She had eventually grown used to the role of 'princess'.  Still, she could not help but feel different.  While at first glace she appeared normal, there was one small detail that set her apart: her eyes.  While everyone had dark brown or black eyes, Carolina’s were a light gray.  It was said that when she got angry, her eyes flashed silver.  Besides that Kita had the same dark complexion and jet-black hair as everyone else in the village.2

Now, at seventeen, Carolina was considered a woman.  She had trained with her brothers in the art of fighting; she was as capable as any warrior with a dagger, sword, or arrow and that was why she couldn’t understand why her father and the elders had ordered her to hide as the attackers came.  The dark wizards with light skin were known throughout the land as a growing threat.  Their powers were increased by the dark magicks that they practiced. 3

Kita pulled herself out of her thoughts when she heard a cry.  Peaking out from behind the stable where she hid, she saw her eldest brother fall.  Without hesitation, Kita burst from her hiding spot and rushed towards the form of her brother.  Rei did not move when she called to him.  As she grew closer, her sensitive nose was assaulted by a copper smell: blood - Rei’s blood.4

The smell of burning flesh and blood was overpowering.  Kita could see that her village lay in ruin.  A burning sensation overtook her body.  As she made her way towards the outskirts of town, she could hear the sounds of battle approaching.  She would avenge her brother’s death.  She would kill all those who got in her way.  She would make sure that the wizards would pay.5

She was instantly noticed as she reached the battle-field.  The enemy rushed towards her with alarming speed, and Kita was knocked to the ground with an enemy soldier on top of her.  Silver eyes flashed before a scream of terror and pain was lost in the surrounding sounds of battle.  As if by instinct, Kita sunk her teeth into her enemy’s neck and took out a piece of flesh.  Everything turned red. She lashed out with what she thought was a dagger as attacked the next closes wizard.6

From across the field, the elders watched as a wave of darkness cloaked the land.  The moon hid from view and the stars sobbed as men died.  Blood rained down as a creature of pure darkness glided across the field taking life as it saw fit.  Vaguely, Kita noticed a burning sensation at her upper back.  Slowly, the sensation spread across her body.  Finally, she passed out as the pain peaked.7