The World Beyond the Shadows

Prologue

Devon jolted into painful consciousness. I every inch of his body screamed. Deep lacerations covered his body, at least his legs were broken and twisted at angles. He smelled earth mixed with blood. The air was frigid and transformed his shallow breaths into vapor. He turned his head and opened his eyes. He tried to sit up but the pain overpowered his efforts. He saw nothing but blurred silhouettes. He blinked twice and his vision slowly sharpened. Devon let out a voiceless scream as he recognized the almond shaped eyes of his 10 year old sister, Leela, staring lifelessly back at him, her body laying in a pool of her own blood. He failed. All these years as her guardian and it was over. She was dead.

With great effort he rolled onto his stomach and pulled his mangled body over to her, he touch her bloody cheek, and placed his finger over her lips, hoping for to feel a hint of life. Nothing.

Tears blurred his vision. His arms buckled under the weight of his despair and pain and he eased himself on to his back at Leela's side. The night sky above glittered with stars, indifferent to the carnage had just been unleashed on their small village, and the hell that would be let loose in a years time.

Devon knew death was near. Tears streaming down his cheeks, he grasped for Leela's tiny hand and interlocked his fingers in hers. "I'm...sorry...." He breathed. His eyes fell shut, hiding the unfeeling stars. The sensation of pain and sadness began to fade as death tugged at Devon, pulling him soul from his body. "Wait for me Leela, Leela," he whispered. " We'll cross over...together."

Slap!

Death released his grip and Devon was painfully conscious once more.

Slap!

He gasped and opened his eyes, cheek stinging. Perched above him was a women in black robes, arm raised for a third slap, but hastily lowered at the rudely awakened Devon. Her piercing green eyes held his gaze. Her face was pale, framed by thick brown curls that were tucked under her hood with a few stray locks dangling in front of her face. She had strange blue marking across the left side of her face that ran down her neck, giving off a faint glow. Anger flashed in Devon's eyes. In a burst of strength his arm shot up and he grabbed her throat and squeezed. "You!" He yelled. "You're one of them! I'll kill you!" A flash of panic crossed the woman's face but quickly faded as Devon's arm went slack and fell weakly to his side.

"No! I'm not! I swear! He hissed."I'm not one of them- only pretending to be. Devon, we don't have much time- do you want to stop the monsters that murdered your family?" She asked.

He winced in pain as his attempt to laugh failed. "Woman, you are mad! I'm a broken beyond mending. Not exactly fit for battle." Devon grunted.

"I can save you!" She insisted, looking anxiously from left right, then back at Devon."Hear me out- we don't have much time!"

"How?! "Devon asked angrily. Do you not see the state of my body!? I'm beyond repair!"

"I have a potion." She continued. "When you drink it you will die and then return, stronger and more powerful than ten soldiers. I've been watching you for weeks- you have skills that we need. You will join army of warriors with power to stop this force taking over this land." She continued, "Hurry Devon! You need to decide quickly. We're running out of time! Do you want to avenge your village? Your family? Your sister? Or do you want to die a useless death and leave thousands to experience the same fate?" He turned his head once more to face Leela. His face contorted in pain at the sight of her lifeless body.

"No," He choked. "I'll do it. Give me your potion."

The woman's eyes brightened. She shot a pale hand into a pouch around her waist, fumbled around until her fingers wrapped around a cold, blue vial. She whipped it out, hurriedly popped the lid and held it to Devon's lips. She tilted the bottle and poured it into his mouth. The liquid was sweet and made his mouth tingle. It flowed down his throat. In a few seconds the anxious, concerned face of his strange rescuer as the world and its pains faded once more. Devon slipped into nothingness.