This is a Teaser for the Dura's Tale "The Dying of the Light" that takes place in the Stalker's universe. These characters are written with the permission of their creators.
The full tale should be available soon.
The demons of air are fantastical creatures. Much like the modern mortal envisions fairies to be they have wings of gossamer wind and they live in a city in the sky that floats on the clouds themselves. They have animals from earth called griffins that now no longer live on the mortal plane that take those who cannot fly to the city. While all demons can float it is a matter of courtesy not to just appear at the gates of a city; it makes the guards very nervous.
Upon arriving in the city of Windyhome, I made my way to the grand palace of the North Wind. Inside the palace lived the Lady of the North Wind. She was thought to be the oldest of all the demons and was the self appointed guardian of the last known Unicorn, Fatimah. Creatures such as Dragons, Unicorns, Sphinx, and Griffins had all once had a place on the mortal world. Humans through out history had systematically wiped them off the face of the planet and only those who were saved by the demons lived on in the immortal plane.
I asked for a audience with the Lady and was granted one on the dawning of the next day. The eldest son of the Lady, Nodin, lead me to place where I could spend the night and sent for food and a bath when I identified myself as a child of the Rivaina clan. The next morning I was provided with the highest quality golden silk tunic cut dress. Nodin , himself brought me sandals and jewelry fit for a visitor of some high standing. He then escorted me to the audience chamber where I met the Lady of the North Winds, Kiwidinok, herself. She was very noble, with golden eyes and hair the color of a stormy sky. Like all of the elder first generation demons she appeared to be young, but her eyes spoke of her age. I walked up to the dais sitting in the center of the room and bowed deeply to the Lady. I stood to talk to her only when I was given permission to do so.
"Young Lady Rivaina, your request to see me has been allowed. What can I do for you?"
"I would ask a great favor of you Lady, one that would leave me forever in your debt and at your disposal."
"I doubt that there is anything you could want that would cause that type of payment to be necessary," she said smiling at me. I noticed that it was not a very happy smile and that she was straining to be polite to me. I wondered for the first time if all the talk of her being a seeress was true and she knew what I would ask or if she really just did not like fire demons.
"My Lady, I need to speak with the knowledgeable unicorn, Lady Fatimah."
"That, child, cannot be done. It never has been and never will be. She is the last of her kind and it is for her own protection as well as for the protection of the moral races."
"Please, I have a friend who is dying. The only chance he may live is if I can talk to Fatimah. She may hold the cure that I seek for the illness that he is dying from. It means everything to me that I should gain an audience with her."
"It cannot be done. You are welcome in my city, but I will not see you here in audience again today. Tonight we celebrate the festival of the Full Moons. You will stay the day and celebrate tonight and forget the young mortal. It is my will." I bowed deeply again and allowed myself to be lead away by Nodin. As commanded me I went out to the city and spent time amongst the revelers. When the sun set and the thirteen moons of the demon plane were visible I returned to the palace and the celebration that I had to attend. Kiwidinok herself greeted me at the door and bid me to enjoy what all the celebration had to hold. Several hours passed and with each I fell deeper into despair.
Alvin had become a dear friend in the short time that I had known him and now he would die. When Lai found out that I did not push harder to find a possible cure she would abandon me again. I doubted that like before she would take me back. I could not have forgiven if it was me in her place. I had been put back in my place by the eldest of all demons as sure as if my father had come up with the cure first.
I could not return to the mortal plane after his death, it would place my life in jeopardy. I hoped Lai would not confirm the suspicions that the other Stalkers had about the existence of demons, when she learned of my part in Alvin's death. It would only serve to punish those who still lived on the mortal plane in peace.
Home :: Writings :: LiveJournal :: Links :: Feedback
Abstract Dementia © 1998-2002 Dementia Productions
Mantained by Mandy