Chapter One

For every evil deed, three good ones must be done in it's place. But if no good is done, then the world of the mortal will be left in an eternal imbalance. These very thoughts echoes loudly in my mind every day at every waking moment. It is the motto I live by.

I lift my head while still kneeling in front of the statue Tanin, goddess of passion. Today, I've placed a bowl of rose water in front of her alter, in the hopes that her moon will come shining brightly in three days' time. It will be my birthday and I want to show my gratitude for guiding me to do the work I enjoy. It is her that I thank for having my mother notice how much I love this temple.

Raising I look around to see that the temple is empty, the sun is setting, and everyone has gone home. Perhaps for the best; lately the streets at night have not been the safest. Knights on their horses ride around more often after sundown, no one walks the streets, shops close earlier than usual, and the temple clears out just before sundown. I often wonder, what poor soul lingers in the shadows and what do they do these things?

A voice calls me out my thoughts from down the hall. Folding my hands in front of me I smile when I see the face of Sir Thomas. He is the aging persist who runs this temple. His hands are clasped behind his back, his face veiled in a poised manner; but his eyes are a light. "Staying late again, my dear Adara?" His eyes spot the bowl of rose water at the alter and chuckles to himself.

I feel my cheeks burn, "Yes sir, but I will be leaving soon." The sky has gotten darker and the other apprentices have come to light the torches in the Prayer hall. They wear plain white tunics and pants and I am the only other female amongst them.

"Perhaps someone should walk you home," He nods his head over to a boy I know all too well. His name is Victor. Victor runs over to us eagerly, I smile politely. "Victor, please make sure that Adara makes it home safely."

"Of course, Sir Thomas," He nods to me making his overgrown bangs flop into his eyes dark eyes. "Shall we go?" He offers me his arm, I don't take it.

"Yes." I keep my hands folded in front of me as I proceed to the exit. Once outside I breath in the fresh air, cleansing my senses from the days praying oils and incense. I hear Victor laugh as he falls into step with me.

"One might think that you hated it in there."

"I don't, I actually love it in the temple." My arms drop to my sides.

"Not a fan of the incense then?" I give a small nod. Despite how much I may love being inside the temple, often claiming that I could live there, the smells often leave me with a sore nose and my head feeling heavy.

"Have you tried rubbing a salve made from Tupa under your nose?" He pulls out a small metal container from his pocket holding it out to me. "The smells bother me too, so I always keep this on hand."

I take the salve opening it. I am surprised that there is no aroma coming from it. "Thank you, but I couldn't take this away from you."

He shakes his head. "No take it, I work in the Temple gardens, so I can always make more." He folds my hands over the small container. I feel my cheeks burning again, I am grateful there are no people on the street. He holds my hands a moment longer before moving away, his bangs hiding his eyes once again. "We shouldn't linger here for too long."

We walk in silence, following the path of illuminated street lights. Victor keeps beside me, often checking around particularly dark corners or relaxing when we pass a knight on watch. Despite his caution I still feel uneasy, the feeling of darkness enclosing around us. Something shifts in the shadows, I latch on to Victor's arm and my moonstone necklace muttering a prayer. "Begone demons of the night, you will not taint my light. I shall not be compelled to your shadows." I repeat this over and over. Now alert, Victor pulls me over to the nearest light post.

I see his lips move but I don't hear words, I just keep repeating my mantra. The grip on my necklace becomes tighter and my words faster with each passing moment. The darkness has so many foreign sounds, unnatural. Another moment passes, the sounds have quieted but my unease grows. Victor has yet to return. My thoughts spiral out of control, him laying in a pool of his own blood and I'm just standing here. Taking a breath, I move from the light then I see a shadow again. It stands just mere feet away from me.

My mind keeps screaming at me to run, every muscle within my body is rooted in place. An unsettling chill runs up my spine and I grip my necklace so hard that I might rip it off my own neck. Please let the gods be with me, let the gods allow me to survive this night. However, if I do not, then it was in their will.

The figure moves towards me slowly, I shrink back trying to find my voice. Alert a nearby knight Adara, run to one if you must but, just don't stand here. Yet my feet are planted firmly. "Stay away from me! "

"Adar-"The figure falls to the ground, I run over to it before my mind tells me not to.

"Victor?" I turn the figure over to see that it was indeed him, he is shaking and clutching his arm. I pull him close to me looking around frantically until I found my voice again. "Help, someone help!"

Last night was probably the most frightening experience I have ever had in my entire life. A knight did find us and helped me bring Victor back to the temple where he immediately received treatment and I was escorted home by the knight. Mother was worried and thought the blood on me was my own. I never even noticed any blood on my skirts, I don't remember him bleeding. Maybe he was. I couldn't sleep, so I prayed until sunrise. Through the grace of the gods Victor did wake up.

I watch as Victor digs with one hand, I stand close by holding a handful of seeds. They are surprisingly Tupa seeds, the temple garden is overflowing with the yellow flower. I smile at the strange plant, eight curled golden yellow petals, growing in clumps often two buds per stem. The sun god Polis has a strange sense about him, but he makes strangely beautiful creatures. My eyes shift back to Victor and wonder about who attacked him last night. He hasn't said a word about it not even when I came out here to help him. Sir Thomas says that he is fine, but something tells me that he saw the very evil that I felt surrounding me. I feel my heart clench at the thought.

"Mind grabbing the water?" His eyes stare at me worriedly, but his tone tells me that he has asked me more than once. His dark eyes soften, the sun hits his hair turning it into a copper halo. I feel my shoulders sag then smile, he doesn't return it. His good hand rests on top of mine, the heat raises to my cheeks again and I yank my hands away. Something flickers in his across his features, but it is quickly covered by concern. "Are you still frightened?"

I turn my head to the sky and close my eyes allowing the wind to blow through my hair. The wind carries the sweet smell of the rich dark earth. "Everything seems brighter, cleaner," I turn my attention back to him, he is watching me seeds long forgotten. "Beautiful." He nods.

"I never knew the sky could be so blue, or the sun be so welcoming. It's funny isn't it?"

"Last night, I am eternally sorry." For the first time in hours my words reach him. This morning I relentlessly apologized but they were just lost on him.

"No need to apologize I should be one apologizing. I was the one wo gotten injured and frightened you." He allows the soil to fall between his fingers.

"You should not be sorry for getting hurt," I gently lay a hand on his shoulder. "You did what you could to keep me safe." I watch as he touches his broken left arm. It is bound in bandages resting in a cloth sling.

"I could have done more, but what I saw in the darkness." He shakes his head. "It is not something of the gods. It does not compare to a storm made by Metais when he is savage." Now there is something wild about his eyes, terror. Victor gently takes my hand and squeezes it. "Be careful while traveling at night, for the gods do not have domain over this creature"