DISCLAIMER: All of the characters and settings are from the Guardians of Time series by Marianne Curley

A/N: I am so excited to start this story, just bare with me though I’ve never done a fanfic for this series before.

Prologue

I tear through the woods unable to look back at the dark shadow that threatens to overtake me. My legs pump hard with adrenaline, but even at this pace I know it won’t be long before I’m caught. The fear I feel shakes me as I run. I stumble and fall. This is it, it won’t be long now. It’s closing in behind me.

I try to get to my feet and continue running but I am stuck to the spot. My legs aren’t working. Tears slide down my face as I realize the hopelessness of the situation. The shadow falls over me and I scream. I look up and see Marduke staring down at me. How is this possible?

He reaches a deformed hand to my face; I tremble as I feel the callousness of his fingers against my skin. He cups my chin and brings my eyes to meet his. I let out a soft gasp. The pure malice and anger I feel radiating from them terrifies me.

“Such innocence.” He says as I whimper softly. I find myself unable to speak; it’s as if he has some powerful hold over me. “Such beauty.” He takes his large disfigured hand and runs it through my long sun kissed hair.

“I can feel your power. I can feel it flow through you. The goddess was right.” His voice sounds like gravel as he taunts me. “Eliminate the healer and the rest will fall.”

The next moment I feel sharp pain course through my body, and I am thrown back to the ground. I feel myself scream, my throat becomes raw. My body convulses with pain that threatens to tear my body. I can feel something try to hold me still but the pain is so intense that I find myself unable to cease thrashing my limbs. Marduke’s face hovers low over mine, “Goodnight young one”