Prologue
The grassy fields of Wiltonshire County swayed under the press of the wind from an approaching storm. Night storms were not common for this time of year, but there was nothing common about this night. A cloaked figure ran nonsensically through the nearby fields carrying a small cloth satchel. Falling to the ground, the figure removed the hood of its cloak to reveal the daunted face of a young, raven-haired girl.
“Mother said to keep moving.”
She sprang back to her feet and ran, lightning blazing above her in a spectacle that illuminated the night sky with ferocity.
The panic-stricken girl peered behind her and knew. “He’s coming.”
Her panicked flight drove her toward a small wooden shack in the open field.
She began to stumble.
Staggering up the hovel at last, she struggled to unlatch the door, but her hands were shaking with pure fear.
Mindlessly trying again and again, the girl finally managed to unlatch the door and entered. She fell to her knees and crawled to a fallen wooden post.
“Please!” she pleaded, “Goddess, forsake? me. I do not wish of this.”
She rocked back and forth, praying frantically. The storm outside grew. She gasped deeply when the door to the rickety old shack slammed shut frightening her enough to crawl to the far wall to try and break through the wooden boards to escape. She prayed repeatedly, “Goddess, forsake me.”
A dark figure stood silhouetted in the doorway. Lightning in the distance only furthered the menacing appearance. “I am truly sorry for what I must do.” muttered a deep, male voice. The shadowed one walked toward the girl.
As he approached her, she shouted, “Goddess! No!”
From the outside, the interior of the shack lit up, instantly bringing day to the night. A powerful glowing light seeped through the cracks between the wooden planks of the aged wooden shack. Inside, the shadowy figure screamed, and the air crackled.
Moments later, darkness returned to the night, and winds returned to a calm evening breeze. In the night breeze a feminine voice whispered, “Blessed Goddess.”
