1 1-How it all started

The stench of rotten meat, old urine and other foul things stabbed him in the nose. But even though the stench itself was almost unbearable, the complaining voices and screams of pain were even worse.

Each time he went down the long spiral staircase, he always felt a sense of regret and mistrust. Thoughts were spinning around in his head and he was doubtful whether this was the right way to go.

He walked past the cells where the prisoners sat, paying close attention to their praying outstretched arms, whom so many times earlier had tried to grab him.

Instead, he hurried to the large heavy oak door that led out of the torture chamber and into the hall where he hoped his new-found friend had gone.

"Master!"

The words echoed across the bare room, his voice and the damp sound of his shoes against the hard stone floor was the only thing heard in the surprisingly large hall that he entered.

"Crown Prince Sethius! I'm here."

He remembered his reaction when he heard his master's voice for the first time. It was squeaky and weak and had he been blind he probably would have thought it belonged to a little girl. However, his first impression of the man had changed and in some strange way, these past months it had gone from love to respect and now into a growing fear.

From the darkest part of the room, he heard the unpleasant sound of groaning and pain mixed with anxious exclamations and the hair on his neck rose involuntarily.

The room had a green light and flowing like ocean waves spread a thick unnatural mist, rinsing against him like waves against a beach edge.

Again doub hit him and in order to get rid of the dark thoughts he pulled fiercely in his striped hair. He took no notice of the strings of hair that loosened from his scalp and stuck between his fingers as he shook his head hard and began to punch himself on the forehead with his palm. Such thoughts were not allowed and the anxiety began to grow within him as he thought about the consequences he would suffer if his master would see the doubt in his eyes.

Slowly he made his way through the mist to the table where his master was standing.

Stuck on the table lay a dead naked woman with a wide opened mouth and terrified eyes. She had probably been dead for days and the corpse had already begun to rot and stink.

The skin of her body was carved with various runes and symbols, the mouth filled with fluids and the chest was opened, stuffed with something and then sloppily sewn together.

"Have you made any progress, Master?"

The little man in the cloak turned slowly then taking a step forward to caress the young crown prince's cheek.

"It's too early to say."

A cold shiver went through his body but he did not allow himself to show what he felt, instead he changed the subject of the conversation to eagerly explain his case.

"I- I have good news."

"Really?"

"They've found my sister."

An hissing giggle was heard from the darkness of the hood.

"Then we will gather the initiates, we should leave tonight."

"Yes, master."

He bowed deeply and followed the hooded as he left the room.

It was time.

Soon, everything they fought for would become reality. A sense of well-being spread within him and a faint smile gleamed on his lips.

Finally, he would-... The thought was interrupted by a hissing sound from the corps and he suddenly felt nauseous. He hurriedly took a few steps from the table where the dead woman began to move. The chains around her wrists and ankles rattled by her jerky movements as the body tried to get loose.

Then suddenly she stopped and the body was completely still. Curious he took a step forward and studied her.

Was it another failure?

In response to his question, the woman slowly turned her head and opened her pale eyelids.

His heart rushed as he met the look of a pair of brilliant red eyes.