Prologue Saraya's POV

Dead, winged creatures and crows – lots and lots of crows, dropped from the heavens like flies.  My heart lunged into the wall of my chest as I watched from the kitchen window. 

"This can't be good," I muttered. 

The first thing that drew my attention from my comfy couch a moment before was the unusual clap of thunder and the over-bright lightning, flashing in the sky and illuminating the grounds as clear as day. It was quite awe-inspiring and um... frightening.  And that was saying something for a powerful witch like me. But right now, I wasn't thinking as a witch, but as a lone woman in her home up a mountain in solitude. I couldn't be certain, but I thought I saw a massively built half-man, half-beast far bigger and taller than a giant. He had two horns, springing from his head, and was riding a pegasus, a four-winged horse. He held a thunderbolt, waging it like a sword and descending mightily into the woods. And then another one rushed after it. 

"Wait, what?! Great! Just what I need! They better not destroy my farm!" I thought aloud. Then I felt the ground shake. My indignation evaporated as I gasped and quickly reached out to grab my kitchen counter. My eyes darted with trepidation.  

My curiosity evidently outweighed my sense of self-preservation. I mean, what could possibly explain me gingerly heading out of my cabin and to my front porch? Any normal person would have gone down to the basement and stayed there until whatever madness was happening here ended, but I wasn't a normal human neither was this a normal realm. Besides, there was a reason I live in solitude after all with nothing but woods for miles and animals as neighbours.  I have seen and met all kinds of creatures in this realm but nothing like these ones. I wondered what they were. And since they have horns and ride horses with wings, the first thing that came to mind was that they must be a crossbreed or offspring of Hades. But then if they were, I shouldn’t be able to see them. I was powerful but not that powerful. Only someone of the gods’ bloodline could be blessed with such a gift of sight. 

Now, the ability being termed a 'gift' was debatable in my opinion. I doubt having the power to see strange happenings and the horror hidden in the tapestry of realms could be healthy. 

The unusually loud cries of crows made me focus on my surroundings. The sight that greeted me made me pause. The grounds were littered with dead winged creatures with oversized skeleton skulls -- burnt to crisps. My heart raced and a cold brush of dread passed through me. Something inside me warned me of the danger I was in but something much stronger urged me forward.

I took a step down the first staircase and then another, swallowing hard. Like a moth drawn to a flame, I found my way into the woods. 

And all the while, I could see the giant creatures engaging in a frightening fight: one was with a thunderbolt the other with a three-edged fork. It was glorious! Sparks were literally flying and everything they stepped on rotted.

When I got close enough, I saw they have made clear ground in the dense woods. It looked like a patch of burnt and decayed plants. 

Whatever it was that was happening, it was clear one of the fighters was at a disadvantage. Aside from engaging in a fight with the other creature of similar build, he was also fighting off the smaller dark-winged creatures. And the deftness at which he did it was enthralling. It was clear he was a skilled swordsman or should I say swordsgiant? If there was any such thing.  

The two were clad in warrior-like garb. Their hair was long and drawn back from their faces into a hipster man-bun. They have the same height, and the same build, and the colour of their hair was pure white. Their skin was tanned in a bronze-like, honey tone. Their chest was bare, showing off their well-toned frame. A one-arm leather strap adorned their left arms and Spartan leather pteruges – a leather warrior skirt, covered them from the waist to just a few inches below their bums. They were something to behold. 

Although terrified of the sight they posed, I couldn't help noting how magnificent they looked.  I let out a gasp when they both shapeshifted and their noses elongated into a snout. Their teeth grew like that of a vicious dog and the canine teeth were massive. They snarled, gnashing their teeth dangerously. 

Blood splattered as they tore at each other. They both looked battered but neither seemed to want to relent. One yelled a word at the other and he angrily snapped back a response. Then the one who yelled first, slash at the other making him grunt -- a loud sound that emitted like a rumble of thunder. 

The language they spoke was alien to me. The one who cut the other repeatedly yelled one word. Then the other one stopped fighting, seeming to have come to a decision. He regressed back to the giant human form with no snout or horns, grimacing and with chest heaving, lowered to his knees. He lifted his chin, and slowly bared his throat. 

My heart lunged when the other made a loud angry cry, raised his pitchfork with one paw, and raised the other paw menacingly with claws drawn. He jabbed his fork downward and swiped his claws at the same time. I need not be told what was about to happen. Without thinking, I yelled, “No,” holding my hand forward in reflex. 

A ball of flame, a swirl of wind and water vapour formed from the energy emanating from my fingertips, each in its protective shield, and shot forward. 

Normally, I could only use one elemental power at a time but there was something swirling inside me, insistent on not allowing what was about to happen. I could feel my blood rushing, fast in my veins as a result. 

I wondered what the grand witch would say now if she was witnessing this. I suppose she would start devising a way to have me locked up somewhere for good. 

I couldn't help noting the creature accepting defeat seemed tortured by something. His face was lined with anguish. And I figured he, kneeling in surrender, was enough display of defeat. For a creature that looked so powerful. That must not have been an easy decision Surely the victor could at least show mercy! 

This was one of the reasons I always get in trouble, interfering with something I deemed unjust. This was a repeated habit that got me thrown out of my coven. They thought I was the epitome of insubordination. Okay, that was a refined way of putting it. I believe the grand witch had called me 'an unrepentant arrogant little shit'. The memory made the corner of my lips tweak in amusement. Venturing out alone wasn't as fun though. What can I say, I have always rooted for the underdogs, and people rebellious enough to challenge the damning status quo? 

The air swirled around the victor, encasing him in a form of prison, the water formed a barricade between him and the other one, and the ball of flame engulfed his three-edged fork and claws, slowing the descent, but it was not of the fiery kind, like that of the colour of the sun, but a blue flame which depicted my kind of witch. 

I figured my actions would give the creature surrendering a moment to rethink his decision and perhaps run. But that didn't happen. 

Instead, he jerked his gaze in my direction, and the feeling that rushed through me was profound. He had the most beautiful hazel-coloured eyes I have ever seen. They were exotically shaped as that of a lion or an exotic cat and the depth of emotions in them drowned me. I could feel them all, the pain, regret, anguish and hopelessness, and then confusion. His thick white eyebrows pulled together in a frown. I was certain the last part was caused by my interference. I may be wrong, but I thought I saw his lips tweaked in a smile -- perhaps a self-mocking kind or a snarl.  I couldn’t imagine anyone in his position smiling right then.  And why he was still on his knees was beyond me. Perhaps I didn't quite think this through. Wait! Is he 'the' bad guy?

However, when the victor looked my way, I realised I may have made a mortal error that may likely end me this time. I compounded it when I gazed directly at him and the sense of safety woven in my head by the other creature evaporated. This one’s eyes were a furnace of flaming fire and beyond them were an abyss of darkness and tormented souls. Chilly energy whooshed in my direction and my head grew as if it was going to pop. I broke out in a sweat. My breathing became laboured and the blood coursing through my veins pounded in my ears in the most bizarre way. It almost seemed as if he was using my powers against me, channelling it all back at me. I let out a loud scream and dropped to my knees. My entire form bellowed with smoke. The pain was excruciating.

Fortunately, it didn’t last because I figured I would have died from the attack. I could barely breathe now. The grounds shook again and then I found myself picked up and then in motion. I was engulfed in protective arms emanating high heat that could be likened to that of a furnace. And surprisingly it comforted me. I drew quick breaths into my lungs, beyond happy I could draw in the air again. Whatever that was was extraordinary and I never wanted to be at the receiving end again. I doubt I would last a second of that attack again. 

"Daughter of Gala saving their executioner … You must be one of the incredibly stupid ones or a very brave human. You dare to interfere in the execution of a full-blooded Lycan prince?" a very deep gruff voice said over my head, and the surface on which my ear was pressed shook as a rumble of laughter broke out.

Noting now that my rescuer was the one I had tried to save, I muttered, “Did I do the right thing? Are you ‘the’ good guy?” my voice was weak and barely audible. 

“Technically, we are both ‘the’ bad guys,” he replied, imitating me, “And depending on whose perception we are to examine things, you could say I am one of the worst kinds of mistakes created by the gods but fortunately choose to be the writer of my own path ... not that it matters,” he added as if talking to himself,  “rest now little mortal … we must not let him catch up to us. You have been too brave to let him feed on your soul now. I, on the other hand, am a lost course.”

"Wait, what? Feed on my what?!" the thought resounded in my head right before darkness took me.