The loud blare of alarm bells rang out through the castle as soldiers sprinted through the corridors. Loud bangs reverberated through the throne room from the doors at one end of the hall. The wood rattled with each attack, and splintering cracks formed in the bar. The few soldiers left had gathered in the room, their swords drawn and pointed at the only entrance. Behind them stood the young prince, and soon to be king. He too stared at the doors, as if waiting for something to happen.
The two braziers by the door were the only source of light in the room, casting long shadows that put most of the room in darkness. The pitch black windows seemed to devour the light that flickered onto them. A cold wind blew through the hall, causing the fire to flicker and dim. The soldiers glanced around nervously at each other.
“Maybe there’s a window open somewhere?” One of the soldiers suggested, breaking the nervous silence. The soldiers didn’t respond and only shifted around nervously, all seeming to suspect something none wished to be true.
“So, the crown prince of Ocelin. Oh, I’m sorry, the king of Ocelin.” His voice echoed around the room ominously as he spoke. Shaken from their surprise, the soldiers hurried to form a circle around the prince.
“Who are you? Why are you here?” The prince called, stepping forward within the circle.
“Who am I?” He laughed, cackling as he stepped into a shadow and disappeared. “I am the darkness.” His voice echoed from a few yards to the left. The soldiers spun, pointing their swords wildly into the shadows. “I am the killer in the night.” This time his voice came from the far right.
“You cannot defeat me, you cannot see me, and most of all, you cannot escape me.” His voice echoed, seeming to come from all sides. The shadows seemed to loom around them, threatening to swallow them up. The barrage on the doors had been forgotten.
“Show yourself!” The prince shouted, spinning around trying to find where the figure had gone.
“I will, and when I do it will be too late.” The voice came from above them, and sounded as if it were right on top of them. The prince and the soldiers glanced up and saw the figure only a few feet above them, a long black sword outstretched and a wide grin plastered over his face. One of the soldiers shouted and dove at the prince as the black blade of death fell down toward him.
