Chapter 1: Prologue: The Night of Shadows
Seraphina 'Seraph' Valen awoke with a start, the low rumble of thunder vibrating through her bones. Her room, usually a sanctuary of warmth and comfort, was now a chamber of shadows, each flash of lightning casting the familiar shapes of her belongings into eerie, distorted silhouettes. The storm outside was unlike any she had ever experienced. The wind howled like a living creature, rattling the windows in their frames, and the rain lashed against the glass with a ferocity that felt almost personal.
She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of a restless sleep. Storms had always unsettled her, the chaotic energy in the sky mirroring the unease that sometimes gripped her heart. But tonight was different. There was a tension in the air, a sense of something malevolent lurking just out of sight.
"Mom?" Seraph called out, her voice barely more than a whisper, swallowed by the roar of the storm. She strained to hear a reply, but there was nothing—only the relentless pounding of the rain and the growl of distant thunder.
Feeling a growing sense of dread, Seraph slid out of bed, her bare feet hitting the cold floor with a soft thud. She wrapped her robe tightly around herself, the fabric offering little comfort against the chill that seemed to emanate from within the house itself. The door creaked as she opened it, the sound almost lost in the cacophony outside.
The hallway was dimly lit, the flickering candlelight casting long, wavering shadows that danced along the walls. Each step Seraph took felt heavier than the last, the floorboards groaning under her weight. As she moved through the house, the shadows seemed to shift and warp, as if alive, twisting into grotesque forms that disappeared when she tried to focus on them.
She called out again, louder this time, "Mom? Dad?" Her voice echoed down the empty corridor, but still, there was no answer. The storm was growing louder, the thunder now shaking the very foundation of the house, and with it, Seraph's unease turned to fear.
Rounding a corner, Seraph's breath caught in her throat. There, in the middle of the hallway, stood a creature—a thing pulled straight from a nightmare. Its body was a twisted amalgamation of sharp angles and grotesque, writhing limbs, its teeth bared in a snarl that dripped with malice. Its eyes, glowing with an unholy light, locked onto Seraph, and in that instant, she knew—this was no ordinary storm.
Time seemed to slow as the creature lunged at her, its claws outstretched, ready to tear her apart. Seraph screamed, stumbling back, her arms instinctively rising to shield herself from the inevitable blow. But before the creature could reach her, a burst of light erupted between them, so bright it forced Seraph to close her eyes against it.
When she dared to open them again, she saw her mother, Lady Elara Valen, standing between her and the creature, her form radiating with a fierce, protective energy. Elara's face was a mask of determination, her normally gentle eyes blazing with a fury Seraph had never seen before.
"Get away from my daughter!" Elara's voice rang out, cutting through the chaos with a clarity that seemed to command even the storm to pause. She raised her hand, and a pulse of energy shot forth, slamming into the creature with such force that it was thrown back, its body convulsing as the light seared through it.
The creature shrieked, a sound that pierced the very air, before it dissolved into nothingness, leaving behind only a faint wisp of smoke. Elara turned to Seraph, her expression softening as she knelt beside her. Her hands, still warm from the magic she had wielded, gently cupped Seraph's face.
"Are you alright, my love?" Elara's voice trembled with concern, her eyes scanning Seraph for any sign of injury.
Seraph nodded, though her body was still shaking. "Mom, what's happening? Why are there monsters in our home?"
Elara's face tightened, the worry lines around her eyes deepening. "We're under attack, Seraph. These creatures… they're drawn to something here, something powerful. Your father is holding them off, but we need to get you to safety."
She stood, pulling Seraph to her feet. The two of them hurried through the halls, Elara's grip on Seraph's hand firm and reassuring. But the storm outside seemed to intensify with every step they took, the house groaning under the onslaught. The shadows in the corners of the room seemed to writhe with malevolent intent, and the air was thick with the smell of ozone and something else, something darker.
As they approached the grand court at the center of their home, they could hear the sounds of battle—the clash of steel, the crackle of magic, and the guttural growls of something inhuman. Seraph's heart pounded in her chest, fear gripping her as they burst into the court.
There, amidst the wreckage of shattered furniture and torn tapestries, was Lord Thalor Valen, locked in combat with a monstrous beast that dwarfed the creature Seraph had encountered. This one was a hulking brute, its skin a patchwork of scales and jagged protrusions, its eyes burning with an insatiable hunger. Thalor's sword flashed as he struck, but the creature was relentless, its claws slashing through the air with a deadly grace.
"Thalor!" Elara's voice rang out, desperate but commanding. Thalor glanced toward her, a mixture of relief and urgency in his eyes.
"Elara, take Seraph and go!" he shouted, his voice strained with effort. But even as he spoke, the creature seized upon his momentary distraction. With a sickening crack, it delivered a blow that sent Thalor crashing into a nearby wall, his sword clattering to the ground as he collapsed.
"No!" Elara screamed, rushing to her husband's side. She dropped to her knees, her hands trembling as she tried to rouse him, but he lay still, his breath shallow and labored.
Seraph felt her world tilt, the sight of her father crumpled and broken tearing through her like a knife. Her mother turned to her, eyes filled with tears and fear, but also a fierce resolve. "Seraph, you have to hide," Elara urged, her voice breaking. "Stay hidden, no matter what you hear. Do you understand?"
Seraph hesitated, torn between the need to obey and the overwhelming urge to stay and help. But the desperation in her mother's voice left no room for argument. Nodding, Seraph ducked behind a massive, toppled pillar, her heart hammering in her chest as she crouched in the shadows.
Elara stood, her hands glowing with a fierce light as she turned to face the creature that had felled her husband. Her voice was steady, but there was an edge to it, a desperation born of love and loss. "You will not take my daughter," she declared, the words a vow as she gathered her magic, the energy crackling around her like a storm of its own.
The battle that followed was brutal, each strike from Elara met with equal ferocity by the beast. The air was thick with the smell of scorched earth and the sound of clashing power. Elara fought with a strength and determination that Seraph had never seen before, every spell cast with a precision and fury born of desperation.
But the creature was relentless, its attacks unyielding, each one more brutal than the last. Elara's strength was waning, her movements growing slower, more labored. Seraph watched, her breath caught in her throat, as her mother was pushed further and further back.
Finally, Elara stumbled, her magic flickering as the beast lunged forward. In a last, desperate act, Elara drew upon the last reserves of her power, chanting an incantation that seemed to pull the very air around her into a vortex of light and energy.
There was a brilliant flash of light, so intense that it blinded Seraph for a moment. When the light faded, the creature was gone, its form obliterated by the sheer force of Elara's magic. But as the dust settled, Seraph's eyes fell upon the spot where her mother had stood.
Elara was still there, but her figure was weakened, her face pale. She staggered, her breath ragged, and Seraph ran to her side, catching her mother as she faltered.
"Mom," Seraph whispered, tears welling up as she held onto her, feeling the life slipping away from Elara.
Elara's hand trembled as she cupped Seraph's cheek, her eyes softening as she gazed at her daughter. "My sweet Seraph," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You must be strong now… stronger than you ever thought you could be."
Seraph shook her head, unable to comprehend what was happening. "No, please, don't leave me. I can't do this alone."
Elara smiled weakly, brushing a tear from Seraph's cheek. "You're not alone, my love. We will always be with you… in your heart. You have a great destiny ahead of you, Seraph. Find your strength… and protect those you love. Promise me… you will."
Seraph nodded, her tears falling freely now. "I promise, Mom. I promise."
Elara's smile lingered as her eyes began to close. "I love you… so much…" she whispered, her voice fading with her last breath.
And then she was gone.
Seraph clung to her mother's body, sobbing as the storm outside finally began to die down, leaving behind a silence that was deafening in its finality. The darkness that had come with the storm lingered, wrapping itself around Seraph's heart as she knelt there, cradling the lifeless body of the woman who had given everything to protect her.
The storm had passed, but the devastation it left behind was profound. Seraph was alone, her parents taken from her in a single, brutal night. The once grand and vibrant home was now a mausoleum, filled with the echoes of the past and the unbearable silence of loss.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Kristen_404
Kristen_404 how as it? INTICING?? ENTETAINING YOU ENOUGH.. part 1 of 2 for the prologue
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone