Author’s Note: Children of a Dying Sun belongs to me, Crystal Child, and solely to me.  Do not use any of the characters here.  I can take any and all uses of characters without my consent, to court.  Please, don’t use them without my permission.  Please????  I’d love you forever!!  Now then, past all that illegal stuff, here’s the first story of mine that I’ve ever let anyone besides my closest friends read.  This isn’t my best work so far, and I think that’s due to the fact that I have never written a story from a male perspective.  But I think this will turn out at least semi-decent.  Enjoy!

 

~*~Children of a Dying Sun: Prologue: Damn Him~*~

 

Somewhere in the shadows, he waits for me.  I can sense him.  He does not know I have arrived already.  He expects me much later.

 

A fire flares in an old brick fireplace.  I see him now.  He sits in an old red leather chair, staring at the fire.  He sits tall, wearing a black business suit, with one leg crossed over the other.  He is a mystic, damn him.

 

I pull the gun from where it's stored.  The fire shifts slightly, as does the man.

 

"Come, boy."  He says to me, "No weapons may be drawn in this room."  He raises his hand.  I feel the gun fall from my grasp, and fly across the wide span of empty space, to reach his hand.  He is magical, damn him.

 

"Why am I here?"  I ask.  He does not look at me.

 

"Sit."  He moves his hand towards the empty chair across from him.  I move to obey.  Watching him, I suddenly feel foolish.  I am dressed so much worse than him.  I feel as if I should be a servant, merely filling the glass on the table next to him with warm tea.

 

But he makes no note of what I wear.  He never has.  He stares at the fire for a long time.  He seems to have forgotten my presence.  He does that.  For a long time, I watch him; the way the fire reflects his long black hair.  He knows I watch him.  But it doesn't bother him, damn him.

 

He slowly turns his head to me, "Boy, I have forgotten your name."

 

"You have never asked for it."  He nods, indicating he wants it now, "Call me Blade."  I whisper.

 

"Blade."  He says carefully, "It does not suit you."  I stare silently at him, "Blade could not be your name."

 

"It is what I am called.  It is the only name I offer."  I reply.  He nods, his dark eyes dancing with the light of the flames.

 

"Blade you shall be called, then."  He reaches over and takes a sip of tea.  He puts the cup down, then folds his hands neatly, "Blade,” He pauses, shaking his head, he doesn't like the name, "You are one of us."  I don't know what he talks of, "You belong to us, however, we are a dying kind.  There are very few of us left."

 

"Us?"  I finally ask.

 

"Children of the Dying Sun."  He says.  I still don't understand.  He knows that, I can tell.

 

"Who?"

 

"The last of a planet from long ago.  The few of us who where born from those who came from that planet."

 

"But I was born on this planet, as were my parents, and my grandparents."

 

He nods, "And before them?  They were Children also.  All of us with Terrian blood are Children.  But pureblooded Children are becoming scarce.  We have become attached to this world now, melding into this different society. You are one of the last of the Children's children.  There are only five Children now, who are under 20."

 

"Five?"  I am still lost, but things begin to make more sense now.  He nods, "So, there are 5 of us left, but why is that important?"

 

"You are the only ones who can go back.  Who can start over.  Who can make a new start for the Children."

 

"Go back?  Where?"

 

"Earth.  Far away, somewhere too far for the rest of us Children to return.  But you are all able.  You can do it.  If you leave soon."

 

"But the sun is dying there.  That is why we are called the Children of the Dying Sun, is it not?"

 

He shakes his head, "No.  The planet you reach will not support you long if you think like that, if you wait for the end.  We are the Children of the Dying Sun, because we made it that way.  The Sun is dead there.  It cast it's self into a supernova many years ago, not long after we left.  What is there is a black hole.  One that will take you to a new Earth.  One where you can start over, make a new beginning for all of mankind."

 

I stare silently at him.  He speaks in riddles.  Damn him.

 

"You will understand when you get there.  But you must take the others with you.  You must find them.  I can offer you only hints as to who they are.  That is all I can offer to you about them."

 

"Why do I have to find them?  Why can't they find me?"

 

"Because they too are looking.  You will all meet, that is destiny, but you sometimes, you must give destiny a push."  He leans his head back to rest it on the back of the chair for a moment, letting the fire light his face.

 

"The first," he finally says, breaking the silence that has settled, "is a girl, a child really, who thinks she has nothing left, but has everything.  She carries her belongings on her back, and on her wrist her name is engraved.  That is how you will know her."  He paused as I nodded, "The second, is a man, who you will find is a powerful ally, especially while on a ship in the middle of nowhere.  You will know him when you meet him by his eyes."

 

I'm getting more confused by the moment, but he continues, "The third and fourth, you shall meet at the same time.  This meeting will be of no concern to you, Blade.  You will know them when you see them.  I will tell you nothing more of these two."

 

"The final one, a boy, shall need your help very badly, if you are to take him with you.  He is the youngest, he is also the wisest and most powerful.  Fear him, yet do not.  Trust him, but don't.  Let him lean on you.  You shall be the leader.  But do not lead too strongly.  Children are wanderers, as you know.  Children do not need to be led on a leash.  They will not stray far if they can trust you."

 

He settles back in his seat again, taking a sip of his tea, "Now, boy.  You must hurry.  Destiny is not a patient person.  Leave now, from my house.  I am tired."

 

"Will I see you again?"  I ask, as I rise.

 

"Yes.  But we shall not meet here, on this plane.  My time grows shorter with each breath I take.  I will see you again, but not here, not here ever again."

 

I bow to him, feeling I owed him at least that much.  He nods, excusing me from his presence.  I start for the door.

 

"Boy,” I pause, and look at him over my shoulder, "your gun is waiting for you at the front door.  So are two of the last three gifts you will receive from me ever again."

 

I give one final nod, and a wave, and leave the room.

 

The hallway is dark, compared to the fire-lit room.  I move slowly.  There are tables lining the right side of the hall, I move to make sure I don't hit them.  How can he live in such a dark place?  How can he ask me to do something so drastic as leave this place behind?  To take care of 4 other people?  I'm only 17, for Heaven's sake.

 

I see the front door now.  It's glass window lets in little light from the street beyond.  On a table next to the gun, rests a bundle of dark cloth.  I reach it, and brush it aside.  There is a necklace, a silver chain with a silver charm in the shape of a pentagram.  I slip it around my neck.

 

There is something else buried in the cloth.  A handle pokes out over the edge of the table.  A sword.  Not one of those contemporary beam swords, but an actual sword, with a metal blade.  I pick it up.  There is a cover of black leather, protecting the blade.  I smile.  Blade.  How interesting, seeing as Blade is my name, I shall call this sword Blade also.

 

I tie the sword to my belt.  It feels good to have the weight resting on my side.  I open the door.  It is raining.

 

I step out and feel the cool wet against my skin.  There is nothing more for me to do today.  Tomorrow, I will begin.  Tomorrow.  But for now, I stare at the mansion.  And only two words cross my mind.  Damn him.

 

~~@~~

 

There was the prologue, did you enjoy it?  Please, give me reviews at [email protected]!  I love them, and it’s the only way I know if someone out there likes it, and for me to finish it!