Author’s note: Well here’s the prequel to my original story Days of Darkness. Hope you enjoy. And don’t forget to read the sequel Juri-chan is writing.
-Cat
A woman sat at a bench overlooking a wide green courtyard. In front of her lay a slightly yellowed sheet of paper. The paper was covered with spidery black writing in a language lost to modern knowledge. It read: Before light, before darkness, before wind or wave, before fire and earth, life and death, and spirit herself. Worn was the world, vengeance a friend, pain and suffering knew no end. Then came the light, then came the dark, then came life. Death’s reign began with flame her friend. Wave caressed the shore, earth healed the land, and wind sheltered the world with a glass-like sky. Spirit’s rule began here, her power strong her plan to guard the world from harm… The words ended there. The dark haired woman sighed. If these people knew Aria they wouldn’t praise her so much, she thought. A black cat with a white star on her forehead and one white paw jumped onto the desk. The woman rested a hand on the cat and petted it.
“Hello Shadow. Are you bored too?” she asked. The cat looked up at her with wide emerald eyes. The woman smiled, her own bright crystal blue eyes twinkled. A knock sounded at the door. “Come in!” shouted the woman. A second woman with dark brown hair and dark eyes entered.
“Caitlin, there you are. Aria’s been spazing for at least an hour. Where did you put her romance novels?” she asked. Caitlin sighed and smirked.
“Anne would I do something like that?” she asked innocently.
“Yes,” said Anne. Caitlin fake pouted. “You realize that some of those books were Liesl’s right?” said Anne. Caitlin winced.
“They’re in the closet,” she said. Anne cackled evilly.
“I was just kidding, all of them are Aria’s,” she said. She grabbed the books and ran for the door.
“Damn you!” fumed Caitlin. A bolt of light hit the door as Anne hastily exited the room.
Anne waltzed down the stairs, precariously balancing the stack of books.
“I found them!” she yelled. Four women turned to her. One, dressed in violet, bounded up the stairs.
“Yay! Thank you Anne!” she yelled, glomping Anne. The stack of books tumbled out of Anne’s hands and spilled down the stairs.
“Aria! Get off me!” yelled Anne. Aria jumped back, tripped over a book and tumbled backwards down the stairs. Another woman with pale brown hair walked up the stairs, stepping carefully over the collapsed and swirly-eyed Aria. Books began floating towards her on a gentle wind. They rested in a new stack in the woman’s hands. The woman set the stack down and looked at the top book.
“Hey I’ve been looking for this one,” she muttered.
“You mean some of these WERE yours?” asked Anne. The woman nodded. Aria sat up at the bottom of the stairs.
“But Liesl! Heather said I could have it!” she whined. Liesl smirked.
“Aria, never touch my books again. This is mine, not yours. Deal with it,” she said. The two other women at the base of the stairs laughed.
“Heather, Cassandra, you’re mean,” pouted Aria. Heather was by far the tallest of the women, with dark brown hair. The woman next to her, Cassandra, was smaller than Heather. Her hair was very dark, nearly black and her eyes were a stormy blue-gray.
“You should know better than to take one of Liesl’s romance novels,” chuckled Heather. Cassandra grinned. Another woman walked into the room, than started backing away.
“Uh oh, Cass is smiling, run!” she yelled in mock fear.
“Marina, shut up,” said Cassandra. The new girl, Marina, was the same height as Anne. In fact she looked exactly like Anne, only with golden eyes. Two more women walked into the room. One had shoulder length, dark blond hair and golden-brown eyes. The other had longer and slightly darker hair tied back in a braid and ocean blue eyes.
“What’s going on?” asked the shorter haired girl. Heather grinned.
“We found the novels and a couple of them happen to be Liesl’s,” she said.
“That explains it. Where’s Caitlin?” she asked.
“I’m right here Anna,” said Caitlin from the top of the stairs. She held Shadow in her arms. She smiled and walked down the stairs.
“I’m guessing that you hid the books,” said the woman with the braided hair.
“Abby that should be obvious,” muttered Anna. Abby sighed.
“True,” she said.
“So are we having a meeting or something?” asked Marina.
“Maybe we should,” muttered Caitlin. Anne turned to her.
“Why?” she asked. Caitlin shrugged.
“Well I’ve been thinking lately that there’s really no purpose for us in this world now. It’s been five hundred years since the Demon Wars and nothing has happened since then. The vampiric lords and demonic immortals are all but extinct. I guess I’m just feeling kind of useless,” she said. Cassandra frowned.
“There is a point to what my twin says,” she noted.
“True,” said Abby. “The celestial bells no longer call us to battle. The waves are silent as well.”
“So are the winds,” said Liesl. A ball of flame floated above Anna’s hand.
“I can’t see through the flames anymore. My visions are clouded,” she said.
“The earth doesn’t speak like it used to and the trees are silent,” said Heather.
“The astral plane isn’t as close to this world anymore and there are few humans born with magical gifts,” said Aria.
“The light of day no longer needs my direction,” said Caitlin.
“Same with the night,” said Anne. Cassandra and Marina frowned.
“Death isn’t as common as it used to be and the spirits of the dead are not as restless,” said Cassandra.
“People live longer and I no longer need to guard the gate of rebirth,” said Marina.
“Like I said, it’s like we aren’t needed anymore,” said Caitlin. She looked out through the large window opposite the stairs. “If only the bells would chime once more.” A single sound, like a whispering flute echoed through the hall. It was joined by the sounds of a drum, a harp and finally a bell. Caitlin gasped.
“Speak of the devil,” muttered Anne. A man ran into the room. Seeing everyone there he sighed in relief. Marina ran to catch him as he fell to the floor.
“What is it Fiore?” she asked.
“A rebellion has broken out. The have been numerous worldwide attacks. Please come quickly,” he said. Caitlin nodded to the other guardians. A pillar of light surrounded her, the blinding light obscuring her from view. Around Anne swirled a globe of pure darkness. Both light and darkness disappeared, revealing Caitlin in a silver-white robe and Anne in a black robe. Wings rose from their backs, Caitlin’s being white, angelic wings and Anne’s being black, demonic wings. The other women followed with their own transformations. A glowing yellowish ball of wind obscured Liesl and dark vines surrounded Heather. A pillar of fire appeared around Anna and a globe of water encased Abby. Sparkling violet magic surrounded Aria. The five reappeared in their guardian forms. Liesl was dressed in a pale yellow robe with multi-colored butterfly wings and Heather was dressed in a dark brownish-green robe with delicate fairy wings and deadly long claws.
“Stupid fairy wings,” muttered Heather. Anna reappeared in a bright flame red robe with wings that seemed to be made of fire and Abby appeared in a pale blue robe with grayish-blue gargoyle wings. Aria was dressed in a pale violet robe. Her wings were similar to Heather’s but completely transparent. Cassandra and Marina grinned at the group. Cassandra snapped her fingers and a black and silver scythe with blood red ribbons appeared in her hand. A spiraling pillar of blood-like liquid swirled around her. As silver crystal, glowing with bright green magic appeared in Marina’s hand. A swirl of sparkling green wind surrounded her. Cassandra appeared first. She was dressed in a black robe lined with blood red and held her scythe in her hand. Her wings were like Caitlin’s, only black and lined with silver. Marina appeared dressed in bright kelly green. Her wings were transparent like Aria’s and she was carrying a golden staff with her crystal attached to the top.
“Well let’s go,” she said. The window above swung open and the nine guardians took to the air. Anne hovered back for a moment and watched the bright sun. A dark shadow fell across it.
“Caitlin!” she yelled. Caitlin turned in mid air and saw the shadowed sun.
“An eclipse?” No… everyone get down!” she yelled. The group dove for the trees, chased by bolts of black lightning. Only a sliver of sun remained as the dark shadow blocked the light from the world. Anne and Caitlin were the last into the trees. A bolt of lightning hit near them, tearing a gash in Anna’s shoulder.
“Anna are you alright?” asked Abby, hovering next to her. Anna nodded, wincing in pain. A second bolt of lightning blasted the two apart.
“Anna! Abby!” yelled Caitlin. She tried to fly towards them but was blasted into a tree. Bolts of lighting tore up the area around Anna and Abby. A deep cackling echoed through the air and a dark figure appeared in front of them. He was carrying Anna’s torn and broken body. The flames of her wings had died and her robe had become a dull, dusty reddish-brown. The man grinned evilly.
“Foolish girls, you should have stayed in your palace where you were safe,” he said. Liesl gasped.
*Flash Back*
“Lady Liesl, I’d like to introduce you to Lord Damar. He has asked a favor of you,” said Fiore. The man he spoke of nodded his cloaked head.
“Lady, I would like to request a portrait of you and the other guardians as a gift to my wife. She has recently given birth to a son,” said Lord Damar in a dark voice. Liesl nodded.
“That can be arranged. Six of us are here now if that is enough,” she said. Damar smirked under his cloak.
“Perfect,” he said. The scene flashed to another.
“It’s a beautiful painting. So life like,” said Caitlin. The painting displayed before them showed six of the nine guardians. In the foreground stood Liesl, Anna, Heather and Abby, each holding the celestial globe that had given them their powers. Behind them, Anne and Caitlin stood back to back. Each held their globes of light and darkness. The background behind them showed clouds and shadows. All six were dressed in their guardian robes but were lacking their wings. Cassandra smirked.
“I’m glad I missed this,” she said. Marina smacked her.
“You don’t like it?” she asked.
“Oh I like it, I just hate standing still,” said Cassandra.
“I’m sure your wife will be pleased,” said Caitlin, smiling at Lord Damar. Damar nodded.
“I’m sure she will. Thank you, but I must be going now,” he said. The man left so abruptly it was almost rude.
*End Flash Back*
“You, you bastard!” yelled Liesl. “What did you do? Show your wife the painting and then kill her? Did she even know what you are?” Damar smirked.
“Actually I did kill her. She was to weak a vampress and was getting in my way. All I needed was the son she gave me,” he said. All six remaining guardians glared at him.
“Bastard,” muttered Heather and Cassandra. Damar cackled quietly.
“What are you? Afraid you can’t defeat me without your precious friends. Your strongest warrior against the darkness is already down,” he said.
“If you touched one hair on Caitlin’s head I’ll kill you,” said Cassandra.
“Die,” said Anne. Two dark attacks, one of dagger-like black energy bolts and the other like a wave of burning blood-like liquid, flew towards Damar.
“Fools, I live off of darkness and death. You can’t kill me by those means,” laughed Damar.
“Then maybe this will work,” said Marina, shooting a blast of green energy at Damar. He blocked the blast with a shield of shadows and sent a whirling blast of shadow at Aria who was completely unprepared and knocked unconscious. “Aria!” yelled Marina, kneeling beside her friend. As Damar chuckled at his success an arrow of white light shot through his shoulder. Caitlin smiled weakly, leaning on a tree.
“Caitlin!” yelled Cassandra, trying to help her twin.
“Stupid girl. You’re supposed to be dead!” Damar shot a bolt of black light at the light and death guardians. The blast reflected off of Cassandra’s blood red shield and hit Anne dead on. Anne slumped to the ground, clutching her side.
“Anne!” yelled Marina. She knelt at Anne’s side.
“Marina… don’t let him win,” whispered Anne. With that, the guardian of darkness fell unconscious.
“Anne! Anne! Don’t die!” yelled Marina. Anne’s arm fell limp and her glossy black robe turned dull and lifeless. A tear fell down Marina’s cheek. She turned to Damar. “You killed my sister, now I’ll kill you,” she said, her voice cold and devoid of life. The crystal on her staff began glowing a dark golden-green color.
“Marina don’t! Marina!” yelled Cassandra.
“Marina you’ll kill us all!” yelled Caitlin. She broke free of Cassandra’s shield and sent a bolt of light at Marina’s staff. At the same time, the guardian of light was hit with one of Damar’s bolts of black light and fell to the ground, lifeless. Caitlin’s blast shattered Marina’s crystal into nine shards, each turning a different color. A silver white crystal rolled next to Caitlin’s head. Marina slumped to her knees, shaking.
“Caitlin?” Cassandra pulled Marina into a tight hug, fighting tears herself. Heather and Liesl looked on, helpless from where they were guarding Aria’s unconscious body. Damar chuckled and took the opportunity to strike at Heather and Liesl. Heather was struck by the blast and fell.
“Heather!” screamed Liesl. Heather smiled weakly at her and then went still. Liesl stood, shaking with fury and shock. “Die you bastard!” She shot a flurry of violent winds at Damar, which he banished easily. A blast of dark light shot her into a tree.
“Liesl!” yelled Cassandra and Marina in unison. Liesl never stood up from the place where she fell.
“It’s just us three,” murmured Cassandra.
“Abby might still be alive,” said Marina, her voice weak and trembling. Cassandra shook her head, a tear running down her cheek.
“I can see all of them. They’re standing at the gates,” she said. Marina clasped her hand.
“Then we have nothing left to loose,” she said. Cassandra nodded. One of the nine shards of Marina’s crystal glowed violet as both it and Aria disappeared. “She’ll be safe in the spirit world. Someone will need to guide the guardians when they return,” said Marina. Cassandra smiled sadly, desensitized to the death around her.
“You really think she’ll be able to guide them?” she asked.
“She’ll have to be,” said Marina. She squeezed Cassandra’s hand lightly and their weapons began glowing with blood red and bright emerald lights.
“Two more to go,” muttered Damar, cackling semi-insanely.
“No Damar, this ends here. We won’t allow you to harm anyone else,” said Cassandra, her long near black hair floating in an unseen wind. The eight remaining crystal shards floated and twirled around the two guardians. Cassandra and Marian’s clasped hands began glowing white as they linked their powers, binding the cycle of life and death.
“To each her life,” said Marina.
“For each her death,” said Cassandra. The light around them grew to a blinding radiance.
“To the souls of the living,” said Marina.
“To the souls of the dead,” said Cassandra. The light shrunk to hover around the two like a second skin.
“To each a future,” said Marina.
“To each a past,” said Cassandra.
“To each a new life,” said Marina. Cassandra smiled at her.
“And to each a soul that will last,” she said.
“Be sealed!” cried the two guardians, their voices resonating as one. “Be sealed, be saved and be reborn!” The light expanded in a rush of magical wind and the bodies of the six dead guardians, along with their shards vanished. Cassandra and Marina slumped to the ground, the light of their spell dying.
“Foolish girls. You destroyed yourselves for a futile attempt at reviving your friends,” said Damar.
“No Damar,” said Cassandra, gasping for breath. “You’ll see them again. Their souls are eternal.”
“When they are reborn, they’ll come for you and bonded to the crystal shards of Gaea (technically the Greek word for Mother Earth) they’ll hold more power than you could ever imagine,” said Marina. Both fell to the ground, their power spent and their bodies to damaged to repair. Two spirits rose from their bodies, clasping each other’s hands. In their free hands lay two crystal shards, one blood red and one bright green.
“Come on Marina, we’ll see them again soon,” said Cassandra’s spirit.
“Yes, the gates of eternity are waiting for us,” replied Marina. The two disappeared in a cloud of sparkling dust, floating off into the heavens as the first rays of light from the hidden sun appeared. Damar stood in the clearing, gazing at the place where life and death had made their last stand.
“When they return, I’ll be waiting. And I will finally crush the legend of the guardians forever,” he said. He turned and walked off into the dark forest.
Author’s note: Well, that’s it. Short I know but hey, the characters write their own story. Sorry about it being so depressing. Hope you liked it.
-Cat