Chapter 1 Prologue

Naked trees line my path like beacons showing the way. My breath rises in visible puffs that swirl around me before fading into the clouded night sky. The icy wind whistles through the air, pinching at my skin with its chilly fingertips.

The night air brings crispness to the fallen leaves, bejewelled with frost. They crunch loudly under my feet, the sound echoing around me. The distant hooting of an owl makes my skin crawl, adding to the dire situation I now find myself in. The smell of death lingers in the air like rotting meat left in the sun, causing my stomach to churn and burn.

My heart thumps wildly in my chest like a drum, the rhythm fast and unsteady, the sound vibrating in my ears. Cold sweat drips from my head, brought on by anxiety as my nerves take complete control. I can’t move.

Six men, all wearing black cloaks, surround me, their silhouettes black shadows against the dark and gloomy backdrop, leaving only their eyes visible. They begin to circle me like lions, studying me, waiting for the right moment to pounce on their prey.

Red eyes lock onto me. Hatred and anger radiate from their glowing embers like sharp daggers cutting deep into my soul.

I recoil. A woman with raven black hair and sharp blue eyes steps out of a cluster of trees. Her arms wrap around me tightly, like a warm comforting blanket, protecting me from the evil darkness and cold that permeates all around us.

The men begin to chant cult-like, slowly at first, before becoming more urgent as their voices rise, becoming louder with each word they utter, their heads tilt back to stare at the midnight sky.

Fire leaps from the ground, making us stumble backwards in surprise. The glowing embers jump and twirl in a fiery dance, crackling and hissing their own deadly tune, showing their colours: red, orange, blue and yellow flickering brightly, lighting up the pitch-black sky. The fire melts and burns the ground. The autumn dry leaves shrivel up until nothing remains.

Giant flames rise into the air, circling us like the fires of hell. Thick plumes of smoke fill the crisp clean air. The smell of burning wood and soil hangs heavy on my lungs and makes it difficult to breathe.

My eyes burn in their sockets. They itch as my vision blurs. A lump rises in my throat. It cuts off more of my air supply. I take deep gulps. My chest burns with each breath I take. Stabbing pains attack my lungs, forcing me to my knees. My whole-body twitches and jolts. An unpleasant warmth creeps over me, eating at my stomach. Pain sears through my abdomen better than a branding iron, heat rushes through my veins as if my blood is on fire. I feel as if I am burning within.