1 Prologue - Unassuming Nights

It was perfectly normal evening. As most unassuming nights are. Stars glittered in the night sky with a cool breeze that made the late summer weather become bearable for its inhabitants. Of course, that is, were it not for the sea of fire that glowed against the dark, lighting up the sky and scorching the earth. Screams and growls echoed in the distance and the frantic clanging of weapons replaced the silence of sleep. The salty scent of blood and the charred, burning smell of wood and flesh poisoned the air, making it hard for any creature to breathe.

Standing amongst this burning, bloody village were two figures; one a young man, full in stature with a head of silver waves and bright blue eyes specked with dark red. The other, standing across just 20 paces from him, a young woman with a slim frame hugged by identical silver waves that fell to the small of her back was glaring at him with watery midnight blue eyes. The chaos surrounding them unnoticed, falling into the background as they entirely focused on each other.

The young man yelled first, "Sister please, you know I do not want to hurt you or our family. I never wanted any of this. But you must see reason! We have lived such pitiful lives as our inferiors sit upon thrones leading this land to ruin!"

His sister smiled sadly before replying, "See reason brother? I ask that of you. What you are trying to accomplish goes against everything we've been taught, traditions and promises made ages before our time! You must know why I cannot side with you."

"I do not. You must know how weaklings have plunged this family's honor and power into the ground," he answered angrily, the red in his eyes glittering dangerously.

The young woman looked into them with sadness and said, "Dear brother, your eyes have been infected by the color of blood and your heart has been shadowed by arrogance and pride," before continuing she swept her arms across the scene beside her and suddenly exclaimed, "Look! This is what your ambitions for our family have cost our village! Cost us!…Cost..me," she trailed off with a pained expression.

Seeing her pain, for the first time that evening the man looked hesitant and uncertain and he turned his face from hers in guilt. The woman saw hope for his soul as he said, "I did not mean for this bloodshed. Nor would I have wished such a fate for him. I loved him like a brother and I was happy for you."

"You know he would want you to stop, that he would be begging you like I am to remember yourself. In his name, in the names of all of those who have lost their lives for your desire, end this empty pursuit Julian. Admit your sin. We can leave this place together - all of us - and leave this tragedy behind. Lucy and I will always love the man I know you still are. All you need do is stop," she pleaded with him.

He looked up at her and she was relieved to see his eyes flash a familiar bright and clear blue. But just as quickly he blinked and with a painful cry he knelt to the ground with his head bent over and a hand pressed to his chest.

"Julian...Jules? What's wrong?" the woman asked with concern as she moved quickly towards him. Suddenly, an uneasy feeling filled the air and she abruptly stopped steps away from his bent over frame. Slowly a laugh escaped his lips that chilled her to the bone and she feared that whatever darkness, whatever madness, that had infected him had finally won over his heart.

Her brother's body stood and he lifted his eyes. This time they glowed a bright, deep red, all traces of blue vanished. Filled with malice and an evil that did not belong to him.

He smiled coldly and reached out his hand to touch her face as he replied, "My dear Sera. So good and beautiful…and so weak. Blinded by the love that you were raised in."

She took a step back in horror and whispered, "What are you? What have you done to my brother?"

"Ah but love, I am him, he and I are as one," the imposter said. He took a few steps toward her and gestured to the remains of the village.

"You know how to make this all stop sister. You can take the remaining survivors and leave to start anew. I would rather not have to kill you. All you need to do is hand it over," he paused reaching out his hand before continuing with a sadistic smirk, "You will give it to me or I will personally see to it that all of our family and their descendants are killed. Of course including your precious—"

"You will not touch any of them," the young woman's dark blue eyes glowed with power and she spoke every word with purpose, "I will stop you imposter, even if I have to give my life to do so."

"Then you will die," he answered coldly.

"Pity. I do not like senseless bloodshed. What can you do without the power of the others? You are weak from your chosen isolation sister. Your meager power does not scare me," he shrugged and commented in a detached voice before raising a hand to stop this last act of rebellion.

She only shouted in response, "Seal!" A spell circle formed and glowed below her feet and beside her a bright blue light in the form of a young man took shape.

She shouted something inexplicable and another bright light surrounded her brother's body. As the imposter looked up in disbelief with a face flushed from fury, she smiled and whispered her last words, her last spell, as tears flowed down her face.

For one moment, the combined lights overpowered the flames, the blood, and the cries and clanging that echoed in the night and encompassed the whole village before vanishing entirely. Soon after, the night returned to one of unassuming bliss. This time, without the interruptions of battle, the melodic chirps of crickets and the flowing water of the stream could be heard. This time, without the scent of blood and burning, the smell of dewy grass and flowers filled the air. This time, the night was joined by a beautiful young woman lying on the ground with her eyes closed. On several other normal evenings this woman had slept in these fields. Enjoying the serenity and beauty that only summer nights could give.

Of course, this was no average and unassuming night. And hers was no normal sleep.