Sons of the Dark 4:Night Sun
 

Prologue: 1000 B.C.

Yaolt climbed the stone steps toward the summit of the pyramid.
For the past year he had played the role of his god Tezcatlipoca, anticipating this day. The flowers strung around his neck scented the hot tropical air, and the seashellstethered to his arms and legs clattered noisily. The eight Toltec warriors, who had until this day been his attendants, now marchedbeside him as his guards, ready to seize Yaolt and drag him to the waiting priests. In the past, others had tried to escape. Some had even fainted and had to be carriedto the altar in shame, but Yaolt intended to prove himself worth of the sacrifice. He was the chosen one.

He paused to smash a clay flute beneath his foot, just as he had done at each previousstep. A fragment cut into his heel and broke off under the skin. The pain didn't stop him; he crushed the next flute with an unrestrained stomp.

Praise for his courage rose from the crowd below. Every broken piece of pottery meant another blessing for his people, and he planned to give them good fortunebefore he died.

When he reached the summit, five priests escorted him to the altar.
Yaolt didn't struggle or plead for his life as he had seen the others do.
Instead, he bent backward over the jutting rock until his chest arched toward theheavens. The world survived only if people pleased the gods, and human sacrificewas the offering Tezcatlipoca desired most.

The high priest rose from his jaguar-shaped throne. He chanted a prayer as he walkedtoward Yaolt. When the priest raised his flint knife, Yaolt lifted his head, straining to watch. He wanted to see his own heart ripped from his chest and held pulsing to thesky before his spirit left his body and journeyed on.The knife came down. Its tip pierced Yaolt's skin, and blood spattered his forehead.He tensed, expecting an explosion of pain. But before the cutting edge sliced deeper,a thunderclap shook the pyramid. Lightning streaked across the sky and shadowy hands tore Yaolt from the priests.

At first, Yaolt thought Tezcatlipoca had come and taken him to the land of the dead.But he soon realized he had been kidnapped and imprisoned in another world.He hid his identity from his captors and veiled his secret knowledge with lies,fearful the ancient prophecies had come true.
 

Extract

The next day, Berto walked down the breezeway at Turney High, toward
the quad. The lunch period had started, but no one seemed to be leaving
campus. Students were restless, and they had gathered in small groups, talking about the coming solar eclipse. Berto even overheard some of them making wild speculations about satanic cults or alien invasions.

Like everything that happened in L.A., someone had already figured out
a way to make money from the recent scares. Most kids had purchased
protective charms and crystals from street vendors, and they wore these around their necks. Many had on T-shirts featuring the picture of an eclipsed sun with a caption beneath that read: HAVE YOU BEEN ABDUCTED YET?

Berto found Samuel sitting at a picnic table with Maddie and her best
friend, Emily. Samuel was eating a sandwich he'd made from pepperoni and cheese picked off someone else's leftover pizza.

Berto handed him a breath mint. "You have got to find a job," he
teased.

Maddie scowled at him.

"What's up?" Berto asked, surprised by her ice-cold reception.

"I can't believe you don't know," Maddie answered. Dark circles were
visible beneath her usually vibrant eyes.

"So, tell him," Samuel said, and popped the last bite of sandwich into
his mouth.

"Another guy from Turney is missing," she said, in an accusatory voice.
"He went to Quake last night and never came home. His mother tried to call
him on his cell phone, but all she got was a recording that said he had
travelled out of area."

Berto knew she was talking about Pete but he didn't let on.

"His car was found parked on a side street near the club," Emliy added.

"Where were you?" Maddie demanded. "I thought it was your
responsibility to-"

"Pete wasn't the only one abducted," Samuel interrupted, gently resting
his hand on Maddie's.

"Seven more kids are missing," Emily put in. "Everyone thinks the
abductions are related to the solar eclipse, like some cult is involved. My
parents won't even let me go out after dark now...Not that I care." She seemed to shudder, as if from a sudden chill, in spite of the warm sunshine.

"I know it's going to turn out to be something even wore than some
crazy group with bizarre ideas about satanic rites," Maddie said, and he gaze settled on Berto.

Emily snapped the lid closed on her plastic lunch container. "Whoever
it is, I wish the police would catch them soon. I'm scared to sleep alone in
my own bedroom."

It's not like something the police are trained to handle," Maddie said
with authority.

"Then why aren't you afraid?" Berto asked.

"Maybe you should be the one concerned," Maddie shot back.

"Why should he be?" Samuel asked, becoming defensive on behalf of
Berto.

"Because I'm finally going to have the opportunity to prove that
there's more to universe then we perceive with our five senses," she answered.

Berto stared at her blankly. Her tone implied a threat-but what did he
have fear from her?

"You make it sound like Berto is responsible," Samuel said. "Why would
you even think that?"

Maddie stood up suddenly, crumpling her lunch bag. "Because..." She
looked from Berto to Samuel, and back to Berto again.

"Maddie?" Samuel tried to take her hand, but she turned and walked
away.

Thanx to Purple Gerbil for sending this in!