"Ebonwing - Chapter 1" by Stephanie ´Pegacorna´ Nichole Small

He had been known by many names, but now they called him the Watcher. He was the Watcher....he who dwelt in the shadows....Scion of Martik, Lord of Horzath. There were other names...but they were not important. Only the Watcher was important right now. Until the bridge was built.... It was he who understood what would happen if the Triadem came to be. Beside him stood the white wolf, that unnamed hound of winter. The spectre stirred and he understood its desire to return to the wintery home it had emerged from. But, the wolf had promised to be the messenger and the Watcher had need of him still.

Anticipation. It drew him into the street lamp's light...betraying him to anyone who could be watching...but no one was. Ebony shadows stooped closer to the figure attempting concealing his lithe form. The shadows would always protect him. The pale wolf beside him gazed at the glass windows of the softly glowing shop. Plumes of frozen breath furled from the alabaster wolf's muzzle, the wolf that had eaten the essence of winter so many years ago. The wolf turned its gaze towards its master and pressed with its mind. The dark figure nodded, more to himself than to the animal at his side.

*Yes. They are in there. Two of them, congealing with one much like it, those creatures often gather, like moths to a flame. They will be Awakening soon, and our time is drawing near.* He grimaced to himself as he sent the psychic message to the wolf. The wolf nodded and let his ears fall. The animal knew his master’s desire, and this was a great setback, as time was a precious commodity as of late. The watcher looked toward the wolf. *If they Awaken, then they shall learn of their magical talents and we will be hard pressed to face them at that point. It is too late for your powers to affect them. Go, return to Winter and come when I call you next.* Leaning a little into the shadows, the wolf looked towards the silvery vortex of the nearby portal revealed by his enchanted eyes. The work he could have done here was only possible days ago. The wolf would return to the silvery place where it was called from. The animal stepped into the silver vortex which was soft and silent. The watcher lowered his hands to the wand at his side and fingered the ancient beads, his mind racing.

The dark figure would not be so easily thwarted. He had a secret, but he also knew what must have occurred in the building. He knew his presence and his power had been betrayed. He turned his attention back to the store and glared into its confines. Inside, old books pressed against each other and huddled in dark masses. Inside, he saw his quarry. She was moving in the store. He was angry that she had eluded his capture, but it was not unexpected. Her elusive kin were known for their skill at hiding and avoidance. He looked at the building itself to see if there was a way he could pierce the store’s facade.

The old bookstore's delicately ornamented outer walls pushed back the being's mind. There was some sort of ward worked into that wall, but he was not working to attack the walls. Therefore, it should not bother him. He lowered his eyes and descended deep into his mind. Spiraling into the intricate workings of his mental magic he drew out the single dark, pallid line of energy emanating from the store. He ignored the more vibrant, brilliant energies and let his mind quiver down, down, down into the caves beneath the store.

*Awaken, dead one* spoke the dark figures mind into the trembling mind of the dead thing. The dead thing struck at the dark figure's mental tracings and forced him back.

*Be gone. Our work here is finished* pierced the dead thing's mind. The dark one recoiled. Impossible, he had chosen this dead thing for its weak will. The power to overcome its inner barriers had been its best use. No matter, he would find a way past the dead thing. The dead thing was protecting them.

The dead thing was the spy. The betrayer, he was protecting the ones it was to watch and inform the dark figure about. The dark figure hissed under his breath and channeled a hateful energy at the dead thing. Retaliating, the dead thing swung back with its own mental magic. Suddenly, the facade of the aged building warped and murmured under itself. Angrily, the dark figure approached quickly. The building....it was.......alive.......

....impossible....