The Fallen (Chains of Fire #1)

Chapter One

She opened her eyes to a view from on top of a mountain. By the looks of the place, she is in a foreign country, one that has seen involuntary hardships and dismay. Below is a terrain full of obstacles and an ominous fog settling on the ground. There's singing coming from the beyond, a melodic lullaby that plays in her head and caresses her thoughts. Everything dissipates as she searches for the source, wanting to know more.

Through the shadows steps a woman and the singing gets louder. Her eyes are the first thing she noticed. They are a piercing, electric blue and her smile is warm. She walks with an air of confidence, jet-black hair flying in the wind, hitting her well tanned face. Her features are distinct, that of an Egyptian Goddess, her clothing remnants of a better time, but have been torn and withered. Every step she takes has a purpose. A purpose she only knows of.

She continues at the same pace regardless of the dangers that lie ahead. She emanates power, it's so seductive, almost mesmerizing. She wants to be near. She could hear her calling her soul to come closer. She needs to be obedient.

Right before her eyes, the Goddess changes into someone that is vaguely familiar. She couldn't place her, but the feelings inside of her said she was important, special; she loved her. Her mind was too jumbled to fully remember, yet faceless, hazy memories tug at her. She knows this woman.

The Goddess stops walking, arms spread wide, beckoning. Without realizing, her feet began to move toward the open invitation, her eyes never wavering from her goal.

The smell of pine is strong as she steps through trees and brush. The overpowering stench is heady and her eyes tear up. She blinks and catches herself before going over the edge of the mountain to tumble down and drop to her death. She shakes her head to try and clear her mind then leans over to look at the rocks below. She backs up slowly as pieces of dirt fall away from the plateau.

Some invisible force is pulling her again. She can't get it out of her head. The sound of rushing water clouds her thoughts and a whisper that rises above it to once more call out to her. She's looking at the Goddess, who is closer now, face hard yet graceful. The pine scent is replaced by a sweet toxin. She has lost her will and wants the warm feeling of the Goddess' embrace.

The Goddess is motioning for her to come. She never says a word, but she's still understood. The sweet toxin has taken over and it feels like her body is floating, as if someone else is giving the commands.

The Goddess grins then starts to fade as her surrounding burst into flames. It was too late, she's falling and the ground is unforgiving. Pain spreads throughout her body as it hits every tree and rock, still nothing broke her fall. She tumbled endlessly, long enough to realize she was about to die. No one was there to save her. And even more, she didn't want to be saved.

Finally, a forceful river takes her. She is reaching for anything to grab a hold to as the river drags her. She is pulled under the current and fights to come back up for air. She breaks through the surface and takes in a deep breath before being taken under again. She has no tactics, no skills; there was no way she would survive this.

Its hard to find her footing, but she searches. She reaches once more for something to pull herself out and this time it wasn't in vain. She held onto the unknown objective while the water trampled her. She is still gasping for air, but she won't let go.

Within seconds, the rushing river goes silent. The water level drops and she can breathe again. Something pulls on her arm. She is now lying on the bank, coughing, with someone hovering over her. She rubbed her eyes and looked up. The man was a giant. He wore bronze and black armor with eyes the color of a gray sky morning. His hair was platinum and even without sunlight, it shimmered. His face was stern, but with angel like qualities. He was built like a soldier, one who had seen many battles. He stood with his arms folded over his chest, guarded. His energy was one of compassion and understanding. She felt safe and secure.

She slowly tried to get up to get a closer look at her rescuer and was suddenly aware of her bruised body. Her brain pounded against her skull sending pain down the side of her arm. She touched her eye and winced; her eye was swollen shut.

She managed to pull herself up to lean on a nearby tree when she noticed her company had vanished in thin air.

Frantically, she looked around. He made no sound, she saw no movement, he was just gone without a trace. The only thing she could see, as she searched, was the electric blue eyes that lurked between the trees, blazing. The shape of the eyes showed anger. A wail went out like a wolf baying at the moon, a cry that came from within, pain cutting deep, then the eyes were gone. She'd never felt so alone or afraid in her life.

She had to get out of there. It was all on her to save her own life. There was no room for tears, she would have to do that later. Right now, she had to muster up some strength to get home, even though she didn't know where home was.

She crawled back to the river, which was still eerily calm, and drank some of the water. She washed her face then put water on her wounds. She ripped part of her shirt and wrapped it around her leg and one around her arm. After some self motivation, she stood and began to walk.

She couldn't tell how long or how far she traveled, but it looked like she was getting closer to a village. She picked up the pace, hoping to find another person and get some help. The village seemed to be getting further and further away. She started to half limp, half run when she stumbled upon a grave site. Markers were placed everywhere. The field was filled with dead people. She fell to her knees and put her head in her hands.

The ground began to tremble. The rocks bounced around to a chaotic rhythm and was followed by a forceful wind. It knocked her over.

She lie there in the dirt as a tidal wave rose in front of her. The trembling increased as the once desolate field was bombarded by a flock of animals, two by two, coming straight for her.

She closed her eyes and let go. She couldn't outrun it, so she embraced it.