The Next Step

 

            “No father, no!”

            Silver was shocked awake by a nightmare of his father’s death. It was the same every night; the murder of his father would always haunt Silver. Silver took a quick glance across the bed to his lovely wife Sapphire. She was still asleep; thankfully his screams did not wake her. The two of them were a classic case of love at first sight; they were married mere days after they met. Their love had only grown stronger since than.

            Silver carefully slipped out of bed, hoping not to disturb his lovely wife. Silver quickly dressed in a simple white outfit; in fact it was one of his father’s outfits, tailored to fit him. Silver quietly tiptoed towards the door and grabbed his father’s sword on the way out. It was a dangerous world outside; you had to bring protection if you wondered outdoors alone. Thankfully Silver was quite a skilled swordsman, taught by the best ever, his father. Even without the sword Silver was blessed with fire magic just like his father. Only difference was Silver controlled a light blue flame while his father’s was white in color.

            Silver didn’t get very far in his walk in the secluded forest before he heard footsteps behind him, probably another foolish thief, who unluckily picked the wrong target to rob. With one swift motion Silver turned, and stroke at his attacker. Clang! Silver’s sword was met by the steal of the thief’s sword.

            “You have to be faster than that to beat me,” a cheerful female voice said.

            It was only than silver focused on the so-called thief, it was none other than his beautiful wife Sapphire, still dressed in her blue nightgown. She must have rushed after him after he left suddenly, only having enough time to grab her sword.

            “You are gonna get cold dressed like that, out her,” Silver teased.

            “I’ll be fine,” Sapphire said with a smile that always melted Silver’s heart.

            Silver had to take a closer look at Sapphire to see what she meant; an air current was circling Sapphire. She must have been using her wind magic to surround herself with a warm wind, keeping the cold air out.

            “Another bad dream,” Sapphire asked.

            Silver nodded.

            “You know it’s not your fault.” Sapphire knew what Silver’s dream was about, and was trying to comfort him.

            “I should have been there…” Silver trailed off.

            “Awe you miss your father, how sweet,” a male voice said from behind Silver.

            Silver turned to see a large man in crimson red armor emerge from the shadows of the trees. “Who are you?”

            “The names Crimson, and if you miss your father so much, I can arrange a meeting between you two,” Crimson paused to laugh to himself. “In the afterlife.”

            “I guess it’s a good thing we brought our sword.” Sapphire stepped next to Silver, ready to fight by his side.

            “I don’t know how you know me or what you have against me,” Silver readied his sword. “But I swear by my father’s sword I will defeat you.”

            “Good, I was hoping you put up a fight,” Crimson pulled out his sword. “It be no fun otherwise.”

            Crimson charge the married couple, and it didn’t take long before Silver realized Crimson was much stronger than both him and his wife put together. But it was still two on one, and Crimson was no match for their teamwork.

            “Enough Crimson, I take it from here,” a voice said from the shadows.

            “But Raven, I can handle this,” Crimson protested.

            “The first thing to do is to get rid of this troublesome girl,” Raven said from the shadows.

            Silver quickly stepped in front of his wife to protect her, but what came out of the shadows was defiantly far from expected. A group of ravens appeared from the shadows, and headed straight for the two of them. The ravens rushed by Silver and grabbed the unexpected Sapphire, lifting her high in the sky, and carried her off into the blue.

            “What did you do to her,” Silver yelled.

            “I wouldn’t worry about her,” Raven said still hiding in the shadows. “My business is with you.”

            “Come out and fight like a man,” Silver demanded.

            Raven laughed. “There’s no reason to fight, when I know your worst nightmares.”

            Silver was puzzled. Soon the morning sunlight faded away to blackness. Out of the blackness stepped a lone figure, it was none other than his father.

            “You let me die,” his father said.

            Silver was speechless.

            “You weren’t there to protect me. Why?” Hi father took a step forwards. “Why?”

            “But…”

            That was all Silver remembered.

 

            “Grab the body Crimson, we are done here.”

            Boss will certainly be pleased with our speedy work.”

            Raven remained silent.

 

            What are they doing with Silver? Who is this boss Crimson speaks of? Find out next time…

 

                                                                                                                                                To be continued…