Prologue
Through the darkness a man saw his target, a creature that didn’t even deserve the air that he breathed, let alone the piles of money that he held above everyone else. Readying his sword, he tested the blade, perfectly sharp. He didn’t expect anything less. He had sharpened it the night before. But before he could attack, his target said, “You might as well come out with it.”
Walking out of the shadows, the man sheathed his sword, but didn’t lower his defenses. His face was one that might have once caught the hearts of women, but it was now ruined by the nose that looked like it had been broken at least once. He had ragged black hair the look that it was cut with his own knife and piercing brown eyes like a hawk that were so dark they looked black. His outfit was simple but practical with blacks and greys that blended into the night better that pure black. The man opposite to him had flawless features that had caused him to be accused of being a warlock more than a few times. Holding women’s hearts with almond colored, perfectly shaped eyes and white-blond, shoulder length hair. All the young men in the city wished that they had his features to attract girl like he did.
“Where is she.” the man demanded.
“Is that how you greet me, my old companion.”
“Don’t call me that Cormac. You were never a companion of mine.” cut in the other man before Cormac could finish.”Your words are filled with poison.”
“Tsk, tsk Allister. It seems that you really are a slow learner. I obviously didn’t teach you a good enough listen last time.” At these words, Allister unconsciously rubbed the inside of his arm where he still had a prominent scar where Cormac had “taught him a lesson” only a year ago.
“Just tell me where she is.” He said, almost with remorse.
“ Why should I tell you. That would take all of the fun out of it. Watching you chase your tail around an obvious answer. Give me a very good reason and I might even give you a slight hint of where she might be.”
“What kind of deal is that! Do you really expect me to play along with your twisted game?”
“It is the only offer you’ll get.” Cormac said with smirk that only enhanced his features.
“I won’t betray her. Not like you and everyone else did.” Allister said softly, looking down and his feet, beaten.
“A very legit answer, Allister.” Cormac said and he was rewarded with a surprised glance from the other man.
“You mean you’ll tell me!”
“Of course. I am a man of my word.” Cormac said while his form started glistening as he was started to use his powers to leave the city in a blink of an eye.
Allister looked up and saw Cormac in his final stages of teleporting.”No!” he said, with his eyes wide,”You promised!”
“And I also promised all of you sentimental ‘heros’ that I would be your brother and never betray you. You should have never trusted me, you fool.”
“Cormac, you filthy piece of scum! I swear on the souls of my fallen brother that fell beneath your feet, I will kill you and scatter your ashes in the lowest pit of the Shadow Rider’s Domain.”
Cormac laughed, chilling the bones of every creature that had every heard it. “Allister, making deals with the Lord of Death is dangerous. I should know, I have made my own deals with the Shadow Rider and his Dark Champion. You are too narrow-minded and it causes you underestimate me. That is why the others died. But I will give you a hint and watch you dance” He said, almost completely translucent.
All Allister heard was a faint name riding on the wind but it was unmistakably Cormac’s whispery, cool voice. It said,”William.”
