Those of Cloaked Blood

Prologue

~⚜~

The shadows were reaching out for me, with clawed hands and needle teeth. But they were the least of my concerns. The soulless were catching up. No matter how fast I ran, they just kept getting closer.

The world around me was pitch black, not even the moon would provide me light that night. In my hand, I clutched a heavy metal lantern, in the other I held onto the warm bundle. Our last hope.

My cloak caught on a branch, but I yanked myself forward, listening to the unpleasant tear. But I didn't worry about it. They were catching up.

The sounds of heavy hoof beats were like thunder behind me. There was no point of glancing over my shoulder, I would never see them coming. No one ever did.

The wind blew behind my back, causing my mane to blow in my face. I sniffed the air... I could smell them. Sour and bitter. Like their souls. That is, if they had souls.

The soulless' sleek black horses with burning eyes were close, I could sense them like an incoming storm, preparing to rain down upon me.

It's impossible to run away from a storm, I knew that. But I had to keep moving. Everything depended on the life in my hands. I owed Ephila. I had to deliver the bundle to safety. Where that was, I had no idea.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

My time was up. The storm had arrived.

A black form blocked my path. The horse, with eye like fire, snorted in my direction, puffs of steam shot out of each nostril. There was no colour on its coat. Only blackness.

Snort! Snort! Snort!

I looked up, squinting my eyes and holding my lantern high to see the rider better. But I didn't get the pleasure of seeing the soulless one's face. Its whole body was covered from head to toe with heavy, black armour.

A long black cloak, with a fearsome blood red bear in the centre, hung over its shoulders.

On its back, a long metal morning star sat strapped just under its cloak.

"Bowen, The Great." The soulless' voice, deeper than humanely possible, echoed from deep within its helmet.

"Valgera." I replied, letting my own cloak cover my entire body, concealing the bundle as much as I could. The soulless' head was tipped down in my direction, but I had no proof as to whether he was staring at me, or even if he had eyes to stare with.

"In the name of his majesty the King, I order you to hand over what you have stolen and turn yourself in." The midnight horse stomped its large hoof firmly on the dry ground.

"Stolen!" I didn't bother denying anything. "You're a fool to believe I will ever hand it over to you!"

The knight's hand reached behind its back, pulling out the morning star from under his cloak. I stared at the weapon uneasily. "I was afraid you'd say that." Valgera spoke, his voice dull as if my retaliation bored him. His armoured hand clutched the large metal shaft above his head, raising it high above his head, the spiked ball hanging dangerously off the end by a long chain.

I tipped my head up to the starry sky, closing my eyes for the split of a second and speaking softly. "Forgive me." I hoped my apology would reach the Goddess as I threw my hand down. The lantern shattered. Glass and fire exploded at my feet.

The demon horse reared up on its hind legs, jumping back from the flames.

I watched with a tear in my eye as the fire devoured the earth between us. Valgera's head was still bent down in my direction from upon his stead.

My hand, which had been raised towards the flames, lit up and created a bright light that blurred both our visions.

The fire spiralled upwards and the out. It circled the black knight, trapping him in a burning ring. Valgera gave me no reaction, his horse snorted loudly, thumping its hooves repeatedly on the small patch of unsinged land.

But the knight remained silent and distant.

We stared at each other for a time. My hand ceased glowing and I once again pulled my cloak to cover the object in my arms that'd begun to wriggle furiously. A sharp yowl in the distance broke the silence and I ran past the burning circle.

The bundle was wriggling furiously now, tugging at the hem of my cloak with surprising strength.

"Easy. Easy. We're almost there." I panted; my energy almost drained after the magic I'd performed.

Finally, the forest ended, and I was running down a long stretch of grass. In the distance I saw specks of light. A village. My head flicked over my shoulder. I saw no movement behind me but that didn't mean danger wasn't on its way.

The streets were empty and quiet when I arrived. I pulled up the hood of my cloak as I walked down the dirt road, looking down every street I passed. A small squeal escaped from the object in my arms.

Panicked that she might be hurt, I held her out in front of me.

Little amber eyes gazed back at me, like embers, glowed in the dimly lit street. Her mouth was open in a high-pitched cry. "Shhh, it's okay." I tried to soothe the child, brushing a tear from her cheek. It was as soft as peaches. From her head, two locks of copper curled upwards.

She didn't stop crying. She wanted her momma.

"I miss her too." He sighed.

A sound, like nails against a chalkboard, screeched through the air from the forest. The child screamed louder. "It's okay." I whispered as I walked as quickly as I could down one of the long, dark streets.

I gritted my teeth when it led to a dead end.

I spun around in the centre of the pathway, my tail swishing at my side. She spotted it and reached two small hands in its direction. I flicked it up, allowing her to play with it while I searched for a way out.

The ear shattering screech came again, only much, much closer.

The light at the end of the street flicked irritably on and off. I looked up at it and my eyes widened. I quickly read the words on the sign that the unstable light illuminated.

'Miss Worthington's Home for Orphaned Girls'

"Where We Aim To:
Prosper. Perfect. Protect."

My heart thumped heavily in my chest like a drum, getting faster with every passing second. But the creature's cry was a reminder that I didn't have seconds to spare.

Making sure she was properly wrapped up in her blanket, I set the child down on the doorstep. My tail slipped from her hands and she made a small noise, reaching out for it with tiny fingers. Carefully, I lower her arms, touching her cheek one more time.

"I wish you the best of luck. May Ephila light your path."

From my cloak I pulled off the small, golden clasp holding it together around my neck and pinned it to her blanket, being careful not to accidentally poke her. My fingers ran across the name sewed into the soft fabric.

"We will see each other again, Harper."