A Taste of Dark...

Here is a little taste of WITCH DARK, my work in progress...

 

Not even the full moon or the scattered stars could pierce the blackness of the dense woodland and the heavy mists that settled in around it. The darkness was overwhelming. Even the animal

s, accustomed to nature’s changing moods, seemed to fear the very source of these shadows. And it was quiet; it was all too quiet...

 Twigs snapped somewhere off into the distance, the echoes growing louder and louder with each passing second. Animals, already unnerved, cowered, hiding in their dens. A young man, hooded and cloaked, emerged from the undergrowth and stopped to look at his surroundings. He was displeased. This was not the path he should have been taking and he was late; it was nearing midnight. A frustrated breath passed his lips and he gazed up at the sky, searching for the moon. Even if he couldn’t see it, he knew it was full.

 It was time.

 Ignoring the leaves and dirt that had covered his clothing, the young man continued on his way, working through the gnarled trees and undergrowth with confidence, sure of his direction, following the ancient pathways. As the trees thinned, excitement began to course through his body. At last; he could join the others. His pace increased but his breathing remained steady. He had to remain calm; it was important to him, to his mission, to their mission.

 They had to complete the ritual. If they didn’t, the witches could never take their rightful place. The dark power that was theirs by right could never be obtained. For centuries they had cowered in the darkness, hiding their true potential from the mortals, despising them, despising themselves; the mortals had to be told. The ritual had to be performed.

 And it would start tonight.