2Prologue
The sullen crispness of the night air clung to his cloak like the sultry dew that stuck onto his pale flesh. His long strides had him moving quickly, yet not quickly enough. His muscular but lithe frame came upon the large oak doors. He smirked and with the gentle flick of his palm against the cold wood it flew open, yet what he saw left him aghast.
"Thought you smarter Lucarius," the woman in front of him murmured, her long thick blond hair framing her ironically innocent features. He looked solemnly around his feet and noted the harsh crystals that held him captive. They started off as beautiful stalagmites on the floor but within seconds they had his feet bound. Never had he witnessed such a contraption.
"Witch," he laughed. "This going to kill me?"
"Kill you? No, dear you are the very last of your kind so...very important. We're just going to preserve you, and mayhaps sometime in the future you will be displayed in our children's museums as a monster defeated with good rites."
"...So you're not going to kill me? Pathetic witch. If my kind had you, you would be a bloody pulp that we brought back again and again from the grave just to torment your wretched insufferable body," he growled.
"That is exactly why we had to get rid of the Adamnas, thank you for proving my point Lucarius."
The green crystals, the same shade as his vengeful eyes, reached his long neck, clinging to him. He laughed one last time as the crystal covered his face. He screamed none, struggled not one bit, but as the cold crystals preserved his body he vowed, one day he would get out...and wreak havoc upon this new world.
"...and so the government has decided to put a strict ban on magic use before the age of eighteen, Minister Geraldine has ordered that all practical magic sessions at schools be terminated and..."
I groaned banging my head on the kitchen top.
"Karita! Have some conduct!" A plump woman around her fifties admonished me in the harshest of tones, yet I smiled and nodded. The other girls at the table were giggling at me as they ate their breakfast in peaceful silence.
"You know Jenny, they're just taking away everything," I sighed.
"Now now dear, the government does what it feels is best," Jenny spoke softly. I looked at the woman who had taken me in so many years ago and felt a flutter in my chest. A mother. Not mine, but a mother nonetheless, and she was the closest thing I ever had.
My eyes locked onto the window pane witnessing with sudden excitement the torrents pounding outside. How I longed to run and dance in such weather, feel the freshness of god's new life wash my frame, free and cleanse my mind.
I shivered involuntarily as the water in my cup started to rock back and forth as if shaken from a tumultuous earthquake. The pure sanctity of water held me captive, alluding airs of mystery, faith and misfortune akin. Jenny glared at me then glanced at the children. I sighed and stood, ready to head out into the rain.
"Where are you going?"
"School Jenny, or have you forgotten I don't mind a day-off," I laughed.
"Me forget?" here she scoffed and with her ladle directed at me she said, "I was wondering why you were not taking the others with you."
I rubbed my neck and laughed. "Right," I quipped. "Follow me guys! Bring your raincoats, it's darn heavy showers up ahead," I sang in a weatherman's voice.
One by one the little girls came lined up behind me and we proceeded to their school.
Half of an hour of travelling took us to the Northworchester Elementary School where most of the girls left with huge toothy grins directed at their little friends. I laughed as I observed them dash onto the schoolyard happily. The one time they'll ever be happy to go to school, I thought with a chuckle.
After dropping the rest of the girls to their respective schools I entered The Northworchester High School, or prison as I liked to call it, and made my way to the first class of the day...that eventually melted into the last class of the day.
"Ms. Althea, I'd like to see you," called from the front of the class right after the shrill tones of the bell pierced the otherwise tranquil air.
I sighed and walked over. She was my favourite teacher and the fact that she taught Biology had nothing to do with it.
"Your grades thus far have been impeccable and the ministry has offered a scholarship program for young people like yourself. You would get an internship in the medical factor of the country and of course eventually work your way up. Mind you this is a very prestigious award...one I am most certain you can attain," she smiled, "And it helps that the salary is nearly two hundred aeros per month. I'll let you think this over, but I'm sure you'll take it up. It starts as soon as you graduate which is in the next two months."
I nodded unable to process words and left. My mind was reeling, all I had to do was do well in my exams and the scholarship could be mine... A giddy feeling pooled within me as I jumped and let out a little scream. My dreams were finally becoming a reality. Two hundred aeros...god damn...that could feed my entire home for a year!
My scruffed jeans dragged on the rough pavement as I trekked back home in utter excitement. Jenny was going to have a ball. A crow flew past me and landed on my shoulder his inky black feathers providing a sense of calm and imminent disaster all at once.
"Jenny," I called as soon as I entered the house. I heard a muffled reply from the kitchen and headed there in enthusiasm.
"Guess what?!" I chirped like an ecstatic bird.
"What child? And hurry I ain't got whole day," she said from practically inside of the oven.
"My Biology teacher talked to me today...and she said I had a more than likely chance of getting a scholarship...to work for the government," I grinned.
Jenny immediately stood up and frowned. "But you hate the government child!"
"So? The pay is two hundred aeros, that could feed us for months!" I laughed. Jenny sighed and gave a half smile.
"You should be doing something you're happy with rather than something you hate."
"It's not a job I hate, I would be working in the medical field...I just hate the people I will be working for, it's not that bad of a decision..."
"The crystals aren't going to hold up for much longer Madame," a man in a white coat said to the blond haired woman.
"Of course not...It was never a permanent thing..." she cooed. "Have you sent out information of the scholarships yet?"
"Yes but the students will only receive them after they have graduated..."
The woman growled deeply, "Never mind that...Make them come here as soon as possible...graduation or not..."
"B...But how are we to know that we have the most intelligent students without having tested them in the examinations?!" The man croaked, shocked.
"Do not give them the examinations of course, Lucarius is getting testy in his confinement." Her long manicured nails tapped against the crystal that held the man before her. She took time to admire the hard planes of his body and smiled to herself. Maybe it would not be that bad having him released... She imagined his strong muscular body above hers and shuddered. She bit her lip, preening herself as if he had already awoken and was coming after her.
Would he be angry with her for locking him up? God...she hoped so...he was always that much more arousing when angered.
"Just a little bit longer...darling," She whispered against the crystal.
Feedback please? :) Not sure if to continue this...