An Immortal's Mortality: Prologue

Prologue
River...Poison...Voices...

''I can't see a thing. Where am I? W-who am I? '' Why am I here? Take me home...I'm frightened. I don't know everything around me. Am I blind? I can only see darkness. I can only feel cold. I sense no safety in here.

Voices! I can hear voices. Have someone I know come to my aid? I began to hope. But there is no footstep. I waited. I waited in vain, wishing to break free from this black prison. But only voices. No one came to approach in the place where I lay.

I strain to hear the words that are being spoken from afar. A man. The speaker was a man. He was talking in a grave tone to someone, maybe a friend of his.

"She's not dead, thankfully. But she is still in danger." The man said. I had the feeling in my bones he was talking about me. He knows me! But why is he not coming for me? Maybe he's an enemy....Maybe I was being held captive. I could not feel trust at all in his voice. It is familiar, but still...I cannot remember. And I will not trust until I do.

A different voice answered him. His companion. It is a female. H ''er voice shook with fear and worry. '"Make sure you keep her secure in here. I don't want Zeus to kill her just because of her '' unusual sight. Promise me, Fox! Promise by the River Styx you will keep her safe from the gods!" After her words, I can hear her sob.

The man spoke again, trying to assure the woman. "I promise. I promise by the River Styx. You should go now, my lady. You do not want Zeus suspicious of your actions here."

''"Fine. Just....please." The woman begged. ''

''"I will protect her from harm and from Zeus until I die." The man assured. Thunder rumbled from outside.''

''"I guess I'll be going, then, Fox." There was a sound like a powerful gust of wind and a pinprick of light filtered through whatever boulder was blocking the way. ''

''I heard the man muttering to himself, then footsteps. I froze. The footsteps echoed against stone, coming nearer to me. The man...he's coming. Coming for me. I panicked, but I have no choice but to stumble a few inches backward out of fright, still shrouded in darkness. ''

''The footsteps stopped ten feet away from where I was sprawled. My heart beat faster, my breath held. There was a creak, and a frame of grayish light burst forth. A man was silhouetted against the blinding whiteness, tall, buff and terrifying. His shadow fell upon me and I shivered. ''

''"Stay away from me!" I managed to squeak out, squinting from the sudden light. ''

''The man closed the door, and regardless of my pleas, he approached me. He was quiet and I could feel his gaze on my face. He came to a standstill two feet away from me and crouched down to sit.''

''"You know who am I, child?" He asked in a gruff voice but with a hint of gentleness. "My name?" He added, to clarify that he only wants me to know the name, not his whole identity. ''

''His name...of course. It was mentioned by the woman. I answered, blinking back tears. "F-Fox, isn't it? Your name is Fox."''

''As soon as I said the last word, the man's name, I entered a different world. ''

''I was in a vast field ringed with thick forests. Ripped battle flags fluttered in the cold wind and the skies above were ominous and gray, like any minute it's going to rain. Bloodstained weapons and lifeless bodies littered the ground. A battle. A battle had been fought in here.''

''I walked slowly around the battlefield and saw a lone figure standing beside a red flag. His soot-stained face was serious, staring at the carnage. He was holding a long, bronze sword dripping with blood. ''

''"It is done." He declared to himself and I paused, surprised. His voice...Fox's? He...he had the same height, the same built body. It's really him, Fox, the man who I faced awhile ago. But why is he here in this field? And why is he holding a bloodstained sword? Maybe he took place in the battle that happened. Maybe he murdered all of the people now cold bodies on grass. ''

''"The enemy is dead, my king." He turned his head up to the skies. "I have done your bidding! Now, grant me freedom from this blade." ''

''I gasped, my eyes adjusting from the battlefield back to the darkness where I sat with Fox. I let all the air out of my lungs, trying to calm myself. ''

''"Child.." Fox said. I felt his hand on my shoulder. 'His touch made me return to my senses. I swatted his hand away from me and scooted back a few feet away from him. ''

''"Murderer!" I screamed. "Get away from me!"''

''I heard Fox shift in his seat. "So, it's true. You have your father's......gift."''

''"W-what gift?" I asked, groping for some object for self-defense. ''

''He spoke, "I am not who you saw in your vision. I am a pawn of the gods once. But I am free from their service, now. Except for..." Fox paused, maybe thinking he had said too much. He changed subject. "I am asked to protect you. You can trust me." He tried to convince me.''

''I stopped groping around. "If..if I can trust you then, answer me. Who asked you to protect me? Why am I in the dark? Why did you murder about a hundred people on the battlefield in the vision that I saw?" ''

''Fox became silent. It was a full two minutes before he spoke again, sighing. "I am sorry, but I cannot answer your questions right now. In due time, my dear."''

''I frowned. "Then, can you tell me....who I am?" I pleaded. ''

''I heard Fox stand and walk over to me. He leaned down until we were face to face. "Your name is Riyah. And you're a special girl."''