Author’s note: Well here it is, the second prequel to Days of Darkness and yet another insertion in the Guardian Saga. This takes place five hundred years before Last Stand and depicts the original finding of the Guardians and the Demon Wars. If you like Cassandra and Marina, the new guardians in Last Stand, then this is the place to find more of their history. Have fun reading ^_^!
A scream echoed through the silent night. In the dim moonlight, a figure holding a limp body could be seen. At the sound of a cracking branch, the figure dropped the body and fled. Two more figures moved swiftly through the trees carrying scythe like weapons. They knelt at the limp body. One shook his head while the other lifted the body over his shoulder. In a flurry of dust, the two figures dashed off into the night.
A burning fire in the center of a small village was surrounded by townsfolk. An older man sprinkled a mixture of herbs and liquid over the fire while muttering words in an incomprehensible language. Beside the old man stood two girls with a teenage boy behind them with his hands on their shoulders. At first glance one would have easily guessed that the young girls were twins. Both were dark haired and blued eyed, a rarity among those of their village. They clasped each other’s hands tightly as if in fear as they watched the fire burn.
Dawn. A cock crowed. A young, dark haired girl ran through an open field, her eyes shown a dark mahogany.
“Anne wait!” yelled another, similar looking girl, her golden eyes flashing. The girl Anne stopped and looked back. She smiled, turned and continued running threw the barely lit field.
Another girl stared at the rising sun, her dark brown hair floating behind her in the light wind. A dark green vine twirled around her wrist, making her smile. In the distance could be seen an old cottage.
A pale brown haired girl sat on the fence of an old farm, letting the gentle breeze caress and play with her soft hair. A woman in the distance called out to her. The girl turned and jumped off the fence. She ran to the woman who grasped the girl’s hand and led her off into the distant field.
An older man grasped the hand of a young, shorthaired girl as the body of a woman was led out of their small cottage home. The blond girl leaned against her father, her golden brown eyes reddish and damp with tears.
“Mama,” she whispered. Her small, unheard voice caught the wind and floated along the breeze to nowhere.
A blond girl stared out the window of and old stone palace, a picture book in her lap. A bird fluttered past, making her smile. A small creature, like a tiny blue skinned human with pointed ears, cat-like eyes and near transparent fairy-like wings, appeared out of thin air and sat on the girl’s shoulder and twined her tiny fingers threw her hair. The girl’s smile grew brighter and her blue-green eyes twinkled as she gazed out over her family’s lands.
Two children, a girl and a boy, stood in a small shallow stream. Shrieks and giggles sounded through the air as they splashed each other with the cool clear water. The young girl tripped over a rock but was caught by a wave of water that lifted her to her feet.
“Hey no fair Abby!” yelled the boy. Abby crossed her arms and a wave of water tripped the boy. They continued playing in the water, both soaked.
“Caitlin hurry up! We’re going to be late,” called a girl from the edge of a field. Caitlin stood up from where she had been collecting plants and waved.
“I’m almost done Cass, just give me another minute!” she yelled back. Cassandra frowned, twining her near black waist length hair in her fingers.
“The festival’s already started! Come on!” she yelled. Caitlin grabbed one more berry off the plant and brushed her own mid-length mahogany hair over her shoulder.
“Alright I’m coming!” she yelled, bounding threw the long grass to her twin. Neither of the girls had ever quite understood how people always could guess they were twins. Not only did Cassandra have longer, darker hair, she was also a couple of inches taller. Still, it wasn’t as if two sixteen year olds would really care.
Colin stood as the entrance to a small cottage at the edge of town. He was tall, far taller than his two sisters, with dark brown hair and the blue-gray eyes that all three had seemed to inherit. Ten years ago the three had lost their father, their only living relative, and he, at only nine, had been forced to care for his twin siblings. Colin smiled as Cassandra and Caitlin came over the horizon.
“Hurry up! They aren’t going to wait for us,” he called to them. The two girls ran down the hill towards their brother. Both stopped, gasping for air, at his feet. Caitlin handed him her basket, which he quickly went to dispose of. He came out buckling his sword belt around his middle and the three headed off into the center of town, not noticing the dark clouds that began rolling over the sky.
The center of town was alive with brightly colored decorations and people dressed in their finest. The shops were open and displaying their wares as the shop owners greeted the people who came threw the doors. Colorfully dressed children ran through the streets carrying ribbons and candy that they had gotten from the council house. Caitlin smiled. She loved the colors and fun of the annual mid-summer festival.
Beside her, Cassandra grinned at the mischievous children running amuck. She too enjoyed the festivals but she loved the nights after more when the happy townsfolk returned home and she could be alone with only the stars to listen to her thoughts. A gathering of people and loud shouts caught the attention of the two girls. With their brother following close behind, they made their way into the crowd. The village wise woman grabbed Cassandra’s shoulder.
“Come with me girls,” she said. Without a word, Colin and the two girls followed her. She brought them into a small bare cottage.
“What’s going on?” asked Colin.
“Regent’s demon army has been spotted less than a mile away. He’s coming here,” said the old woman.
“Regent? On mid-summer? Why would he come here?” asked Colin.
“Why does he attack anywhere?” asked the wise woman. “His attack is not important. More urgently, we must get these two girls out of the village.” Cassandra stared at her.
“Why us?” she asked.
“Because you two are the only females of celestial descent in the village. It was prophesized three hundred years ago that nine women bearing the celestial powers of the elements would save this world from the demonic creatures that have raped and tortured it for ages on end. There for it is our duty to protect all female descendants of the old celestial race,” said the old woman.
Caitlin blinked as a bundle of cloth was shoved into her hands. She could hear sounds of fighting outside. “Go now, escape and find the others so you can save this world.” With that the old woman pushed them out a back door into the alley. “The bundle’s contents can help you. Use them well.” Colin drew the sword at his side.
“Come on, I’ll get you out of here,” he said, pushing them towards the street. They ran for the town’s boarder, the sounds of screams and fighting following them. As the fields came into view, a demon soldier noticed them and gave chase. Colin stopped at the boarder and turned to face the demon.
“Colin!” yelled Caitlin. Cassandra grabbed her free hand.
“Caitlin we have to go,” she said. Caitlin looked back at their brother, who was desperately trying to defend himself against the demon.
“Caitlin, Cass, get out of here!” he yelled.
“Colin,” whispered Caitlin, tears gathering in her eyes. One fell to the ground as she allowed Cassandra to guide her into the forest and out of sight.
Anna stood on the road watching the two small figures coming towards the village. She was a strong young woman with short, dark blond hair and golden-brown eyes. As the two figures came into view, she could make out two young women around her age wearing tattered clothing and looking completely exhausted and scared. Anna turned and ran to find her father.
Caitlin and Cassandra reached the next town around mid-day. It was quiet and the people on the streets watched them cautiously. Caitlin clutched the wise woman’s bundle close.
“I don’t like this,” she whispered to Cassandra. A tall man, probably the town’s council leader, stepped in front of them.
“What are you doing here? Outsiders aren’t welcome,” he said. Cassandra stood tall.
“If we’re not wanted here then you may as well let us pass so we can leave,” she said, her voice as cold as death. (Bad pun for her…)
“Why don’t you girls go home?” asked the man. Caitlin glared at him.
“We don’t have a home to go to,” she said. The man’s eyes darkened.
“Where are you from?” he asked. Cassandra crossed her arms.
“We’re from Calis (pronounced Say-lis) about half a day away,” she said. The man nodded. Behind him, leaning against a house, was a young woman about their age with short blond hair. While Cassandra continued arguing with the man, Caitlin slipped away and walked towards the girl.
“Who are you?” asked the blond girl. Caitlin frowned.
“You could be a little more civil,” she muttered.
“What if I don’t want to be civil? Now who are you two?” asked the girl. Caitlin glared.
“That’s our business. Now if you want us to leave so bad you could just tell your father to step aside so we can go,” she said severely. The girl blinked.
“How did you know he was my father?” she asked. Caitlin stared.
“I… I don’t know,” she said. She turned towards the street and ten stopped still, her eyes wide. Drumbeats echoed in her ears. She ran towards Cassandra.
“Cass, we have to get out of here!” she yelled, catching her sister’s arm.
“What’s wrong?” asked Cassandra.
“They’re coming, we have to run for it,” urged Caitlin. Over the sounds of the crowd, a horn blew in the distance. Caitlin tugged her sister down the street.
“We can’t just leave these people,” Cassandra hissed at her.
“What can we do?” asked Caitlin. Cassandra looked at the panicking crowd.
“Give me the bundle,” she said.
“What?” asked Caitlin.
“Give it to me,” repeated Cassandra. Caitlin handed her the bundle. Cassandra unwrapped the old burlap revealing nine glowing crystals. She moved into one of the alleys and laid out the crystals. Caitlin hovered over her sister’s shoulder as Cassandra placed her hand over each stone in turn. A blood red stone glowed like an ember. Cassandra picked it up.
“What are you doing?” asked Caitlin. Cassandra grabbed her wrist.
“Can you feel the magic?” she asked. Caitlin nodded.
“It feels warm,” she said.
“Focus until you find one that feels ‘right’ to you.” Caitlin closed her eyes and focused. A glimmer of white light flickered behind her eyelids. Cassandra gasped as a white crystal began glowing brightly and lifted off the ground. A sudden pillar of light formed around Caitlin, hiding her from sight. Cassandra stared at her sister as she reappeared wearing a silver lined white robe. From her back extended a pair of slender, silver white angel wings. Cassandra kept staring. “How did you do that?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I concentrated, then I saw a light and felt myself transforming. When I opened my eyes, I was like this,” she said. Cassandra frowned and held her blood red stone out in front of her.
“We have to protect the people. Death’s hand shall not touch innocent blood today,” she muttered. The stone glowed a deep red and formed into a tall black and silver scythe. Blood red ribbons tied to the base of the blade flowed down the silver entwined ebony handle. The scythe began to glow and a swirling sphere of blood-like liquid appeared around her. Cassandra reappeared in a blood red lined black robe. Angelic wings of pure sliver lined black feathers extended from her shoulder blades. Caitlin grinned.
“Let’s go,” she said. The two ran out into the street, forgetting their wings and new flying ability. At the boarder of the village the first screams began sounding. Cass, we aren’t going to make it on foot. Let’s try out these wings.” Cassandra nodded to her sister and secured the bundle of crystals to her waist. She spread her wings and followed her sister into the air. The village gates had been broken in and the first demon soldiers began entering the city.
Caitlin focused on her newfound power. A line of light appeared in front of her. She raised her hand to the now darkened sky and a bolt of pure white light appeared. Caitlin drew the light-arrow against her arm and the line of light. She released the bolt like an arrow into the chest of one of the demons. The creature screamed and turned to dust.
Cassandra also concentrated on her power. Red edged black lightning crackled along the blade of her scythe. She swung the blade in an arc, shooting the lightning at the group of demons coming at the gate three of the exploded on contact. The two newly awakened guardians hovered over the village. One of the demons, a pale skinned creature with bat-like wings and a red cloth stripe across his chest glared at them.
“Who dares oppose us?” he yelled. Caitlin and Cassandra smirked.
“The Angel of Light,” spoke Caitlin.
“ And the Goddess of Death,” interrupted Cassandra.
“Dare,” finished Caitlin.
“Angels? Goddesses? I’ve never heard of them. Attack!” yelled the demon. A horde of demon soldiers flew at the two girls, weapons in hand. Caitlin shot another bolt of white light at the demons and Cassandra’s red-black lightning tore apart a set of the creatures.
Caitlin screamed, a demon had come up from behind her and slashed her across the back. Cassandra moved fast, not noticing that three of the crystals from her bundle had fallen to the ground. She caught her sister and formed a crackling red-black shield around them.
Anna watched the fight, fascinated by the two beings fighting the demon hordes. As the three crystals fell to the ground, she reached out and caught that burned a bright flame red. It was warm to the touch, almost welcoming. A demon fell to the ground near her, one wing cut by Cassandra’s shield. Anna stepped back frightened. The crystal in her hand shone brightly, as if encouraging her. For some reason she felt that she had to help the two celestial beings in the sky and protect the other two crystals that had fallen.
Another demon came up next to the first. Anna swallowed, gathered her courage and charged at the demons. The second creature grabbed her from behind. The crystal in Anna’s hand glowed brightly and both her and the demon were engulfed with flames. Anna reappeared in a bright scarlet robe with wings that burned with flames. A fan of fire evaporated the demons that now surrounded her. She launched herself into the air, fighting off the demons surrounding the two celestial beings.
Pale hands dusted off the two remaining crystals. One, a pure black gem, glowed with a violet-black fire. Anne stood up, staring at the fist sized jewel she had found. Her sister, Marina, picked up the second bright emerald crystal. Both gems glared brightly. Above them, a battle of flaming brightness waged. A scream made Marina jump and turn. Anne was kneeling on the ground grasping her wounded shoulder while a tall dark skinned demon stood over her, sword ready.
A bright nova of emerald light encompassed Marina and blinded the demon attacking Anne. Above, Cassandra watched this strange green light. It seemed strangely familiar and yet distant to her. Caitlin, whom she was still holding, had fallen unconscious from blood loss. Around them, Anna burned every demon that came near. The green tinted light finally faded revealing Marina in her new form. She was dressed in a bright emerald green robe with translucent green-tinted fairy wings. A blast of green light turned her sister’s attacker to dust.
Marina held her hand in front of her as if grasping an unseen handle. Green light turned gold as spread into a thin ornate golden staff. At it’s top was a small setting as if it was meant to hold something. Fierce green light washed over the village turning every demon within to dust. She turned to the landing beings from the sky and glared at them, her golden eyes completely devoid of life. Cassandra glared.
“And here I was thinking that I was the guardian of Death,” she muttered. She turned away from Marina and laid Caitlin down on the ground. “Hey Pyro, can you help?” she asked Anna. Marina glared at the two young women as they ignored her and proceeded to bandage Caitlin’s wound. Anne staggered to her feet, watching her sister carefully.
“Who is she? Why do you care if she lives?” Marina asked Cassandra. Cassandra didn’t turn to face her.
“She’s the only family I have left,” she said calmly. Marina’s eyes flickered with life once again, realizing her mistake. She moved toward the two other girls. Cassandra stood and faced her, eyes showing anger beyond anything Marina had seen before and wings extended to intimidate her even more. Anne approached the group, her shoulder still bleeding sluggishly.
“Can… can I help?” Marina asked, her voice shaking with uncertainty. Cassandra’s eyes widened, then darkened again.
“If you hurt her I’ll hunt you to the ends of the earth until I show you the true meaning of pain,” she said coldly. Marina shivered.
“I… I think I can heal her,” she said. Cassandra moved aside cautiously, watching the green clad guardian’s every move. Marina kneeled at Caitlin’s side and raised a hand over her. Soft green light, much gentler than the light she had previously wielded, filtered out around the group.
The light died shortly after and Marina turned to use the same magic on her sister. Cassandra kneeled at Caitlin’s side. She was astonished to find that her sister’s wound was completely healed. Since the white clad girl was still unconscious, Cassandra gathered her into her arms.
“It’s our fault this village was invaded. I’m going to get my sister out of here. You can join us if you like, I won’t force you to come,” she said, turning towards the road and walking away. In her arms, Caitlin moaned and began to awake. Her bright eyes flickered open.
“Cass? What happened?” she asked, her voice quiet.
“Nothing Caitlin, don’t worry about it,” said Cassandra. Caitlin turned her head to look at the three stricken guardians behind them. She gasped.
“They’re just like us. Young, frightened and alone.” Caitlin’s eyes fell on the third, untransformed guardian. The girl’s power, though unawakened, felt familiar and yet very different.
“They’ll join us if they want to,” said Cassandra. Caitlin nodded.
“I guess you’re right,” she said. Cassandra let Caitlin down and the two continued on their way.
“Wait!” called Marina. Caitlin turned, but Cassandra continued walking. Marina ran up to the young light guardian with Anne close behind her.
“We want to come with you,” said Anne. Caitlin smiled sadly at them.
“It’ll be a long road, especially with the demon hordes after us,” she said. Anne grinned.
“It’s not like we have anything else to do,” she said. Caitlin smiled.
“Then let’s go, but leave Cass alone for a few hours. She’s a little pissed off,” she said. She turned to Anna. “You’re welcome to join us. I think we have a better chance of surviving together.” Anna approached them carefully.
“I’ll come then. If only to keep you out of trouble,” she said. Caitlin grinned.
“Then we better catch up to my sister before we loose her,” she said, skipping backwards and then turning to run after her annoyed twin. The other three girls followed her at a run.
Two young women looked out at the darkening sky. The clouds that had often blotted out the sun in the past three hundred years since the demon and vampire lords had taken control of the land rolled across the sky in an intricate dance. Since that time, the human population had been repressed and those young women who displayed any sign of magical power were quickly massacred before they came of age.
Liesl and Heather had fled their village when a unit of demon soldiers had come through and killed three young women only a year older than they were. Heather was by far the taller of the two, with dark brown hair. Liesl was small and almost delicate seeming at first glance. Her pale brown hair fluttered in the wind and blue eyes surveyed the scene around them with acute perceptiveness.
“We should head east,” said Liesl. Heather glanced at her friend.
“Why?” she asked.
“I think we’ll be safer there,” Liesl replied.
“Then let’s go. I don’t know if we’ll be safe anywhere but we can take our chances,” said Heather. Liesl grinned and the two headed east over the dying hills.
Battles, hopeless massacres of innocent beings. Caitlin’s heart sickened further as the ruminants of such were passed. She shuddered inwardly. Even with the powers she and her companions held, they were still far from strong enough to change the wretched world. Did the ancient prophetess foresee such trials, such hatred between creatures? The five guardians knew far to little of their purpose to follow any path. Four crystals remained in Cassandra’s bundle, one pale yellow, one sapphire, one amethyst and one deep earth green. Caitlin could only guess and what they meant.
The group had been traveling for five days, passing the charred remains of villages and battlefields. No one spoke much, all were to disturbed by the horrors they encountered for light conversation. Cassandra had stayed deliberately distant from Marina, avoiding even the smallest contact with her.
Anne, Caitlin and Anna had quickly become friend, spending their time in fantasy realms of the mind as if to ignore the pain surrounding them. Anne had completed her transformation the day before when the group hand met up with a contingent of gargoyle like creatures controlled by a demon lord. The new guardian of Darkness had been visibly concerned by her powers until Caitlin had reassured her that Darkness was no more evil than light was good. Caitlin sighed.
“I wonder where we should go next,” she muttered. Anne flopped down on the ground beside the light guardian.
“Who knows,” she said. She looked up at the darkening sky.
“We should head west,” said Anna, leaning against an old dead tree that projected from the earth around them.
“Why west?” asked Anne. Anna shrugged.
“Just a feeling,” she said.
“We might as well try it. We don’t have anywhere else to go,” said Caitlin. Anne and Anna both nodded at that.
The five young women entered a small village a few days later. Men and women wandered the streets like senseless zombies with no place to go. Before them, on a hill above the village, even the small castle looked drab. It was as if all color had been washed from the place and replaced with dim shades of gray. A slight twinkle of color caught Caitlin’s eye. Up ahead, a young blond woman was trying to help an older, gray haired woman to her feet. She seemed to be the only piece of life in the dim village. Marina shivered.
“It’s so cold…” she murmured. Cassandra’s face betrayed a worried look for no more than a second before her cold mask fell back into place. Caitlin moved away from the group and towards the blond woman. She placed a pale freckled hand on her shoulder.
“Do you need help?” she asked. The woman looked back at her. The gray haired woman that the blond was trying to help watched Caitlin cautiously.
“If you’re a healer. This whole village needs help,” said the bold woman.
“What’s your name?” asked Caitlin.
“Aria,” said the woman.
“What happened here?”
“Famine,” muttered Aria. “Famine and disease. Lord Regent’s been collecting heavy tolls from this town for years now.”
“Well I can’t heal, but maybe I can help in other ways,” said Caitlin.
“What the people really need, is hope,” said Aria, gazing up at the dark sky. The other four guardians finally approached.
“Caitlin, we should move on. Death’s whisper has become a howl here,” said Cassandra. Caitlin closed her eyes and clenched her fist.
“I just wanted to help,” she said. Cassandra placed a hand on her sister’s shoulder.
“We should go,” she said. As they turned away, one of the crystals slid out of Cassandra’s bundle. Aria picked up the violet gem and started after them.
“Wait!” she yelled. Marina turned and stopped, staring at the glowing amethyst gem in Aria’s hand. She yanked on Cassandra’s sleeve.
“What?” snapped Cassandra. Marina just continued watching as Aria came closer. Caitlin, Anne and Anna turned around.
“Here,” said Aria. “You dropped this.” Cassandra’s eyes widened at the amethyst glow. Aria held out the violet gem to the death guardian. Cassandra shook her head and pushed it back.
“No, take it. It’s yours. You’re welcome to join us,” she said. Aria’s eyes widened.
“But the people. They’ll die,” she said. Cassandra nodded.
“Whether you stay or come, they will die. If you stay you’ll forfeit your life, but if you come with us you’ll have a chance to live and avenge them,” she said. Aria sighed.
“Alright, I’ll come.”
“Lord Regent, the catalysts have added a new member to their group.” Regent frowned at his shadow-spirit spy’s message. He was a tall creature, very human like for a demon. Half of his face was that of a pale, green-eyed man while the other half was black skinned and red eyed. The rest of his body was black, making the human half of his face seemed like a mask.
From his back extended two jet-black, bat-like wings. They were torn and covered with holes, but oddly still able to bear him in flight. His shaggy black hair ran down to the end of his neck. Scarlet claws extended from his hands, sharpened to deadly points. His feet were like a wolf’s, with three clawed toes and a fourth running higher up the heel.
Hundreds of years ago, as legends said, Regent had over run the earth with his armies of demons and vampire-lord vassals. He was the lord of the demon underworld, second to none. His cruelty and temper were so renowned that they inspired instant obedience in his underlings. The foolish humans who dared to oppose him were crushed instantly and the rest of the pathetic population was his slaves, to do with what he pleased.
But now there was a problem. The impossible prophecy spoken by the last of the celestial angels as he had tortured the being to death had been realized. Eighteen years ago, the first of nine multi-colored stars had appeared in the dark well before Regent’s throne. They had been distant at first, but now they clustered together, their colors merging slowly into a prismic pattern.
Nine descendants, that was what the angel had spoken of. Nine women; earth, water, wind and flame; light and darkness; life and death; spirit. All were coming together, their power shinning bright. And now Regent’s absolute rule was being threatened. Nine women, nine girls, were thwarting his plans and giving the human creatures hope.
“Stop them at all costs,” Regent spoke in the cold, deadly voice of evil itself. The shadow nodded its formless body and faded into the darkness.
“We’re getting close,” spoke Liesl. “Soon we’ll be safe.” Heather sighed.
“I still don’t think we’ll be safe anywhere, but we can at least try,” she muttered. Liesl nodded as the two continued their journey east.
Author’s note: So, what do you think? This is going to be far longer than Days of Darkness was, I can already see it. Well, have fun reading… I hope you like the new characters!