EVERDUSK: The Lightslayer- Prologue (Patreon)

Three Years Ago…

Deep within a dark and foreboding forest, where the gnarled fingers of trees twist toward the clutching clouds, strangling the light of the moon above, the air begins to distort and fizzle. A thunderous rumble shakes the forest floor, sending tremors through the earth. Creatures of various shapes and sizes scramble for safety, trampling over decayed auburn leaves and faded flowers, their frantic cries splitting the air as they flee.

Something is coming.

Where there was once only fog, the air begins to shift and shimmer. Sparks of crimson energy crackle and spit, cascading to the ground and igniting small flames that dance over the dry terrain. The scarlet hues bathe the area in their vibrant glow, casting an otherworldly light over the lifeless scene. A swirling vortex groans into existence, its epicenter radiating a blinding glow that pierces through the red haze. The strange magic spreads outward, touching the shattered branches and withered flora, saturating the forest with an unnatural energy.

From the strange portal, heavy boots stomp out the cinders crawling across the dirt. A figure emerges, silhouetted by the blinding light that spills into the darkness. He pauses, his movements deliberate and cautious, as his burning gaze sweeps across the unfamiliar surroundings. Though his features remain obscured, his eyes blaze like molten coals, cutting through the shadows with an unrelenting, bloody-red intensity.

“Where are we?” he mutters, his voice low and rough. His head tilts, sharp and alert, as more shapes flicker and materialize from the portal behind him. Turning slightly, he casts a glance over his shoulder at the shadowy figures taking form, their details cloaked in darkness save for the eerie glow of their eyes, each shimmering in different hues.

“Stay here,” he commands in a growl, the sound reverberating with quiet authority. “Ensure everyone makes it through.” Without waiting for a response, he steps forward. “I’ll get an idea of our surroundings.”

He strides into the murky forest with long, deliberate steps, his clawed hands swaying at his sides, the tapered obsidian tips grazing the dark fabric of his pants. Behind him, a long burgundy coat flows like liquid shadow, its frayed edges trailing as though once seared by flames in battles long past.

The forest closes around him as he weaves through twisted branches and skirts hollowed trunks. His boots crunch over brittle debris until he breaks through the treeline, stepping onto soft, manicured grass. He halts, his burning eyes narrowing as the moonlight finally reveals his face.

Pale and angular, his visage is both muscular and strikingly beautiful, framed by cascading waves of raven-black curls that scatter violently across his shoulders. For a moment, confusion flickers across his features as he stares ahead, taking in the sight before him.

An old and weathered manor stands against the horizon, its façade cracked and marred by the relentless passage of time.

“Well,” the being snarls, his lips curling into a wicked grin. “Looks like we’ve found something after all.”

The smile deepens, sharp and predatory, like a dagger slicing through flesh. His fangs glint as they peek from beneath his full, inviting lips, and his eyes darken, an ominous gleam flickering within their crimson depths.