A Flame in the Shadow

s. Thousands of large leathery wings flapped blocking out most of th

one who was unfortunate enough to be on the streets. People screamed in

and the creatures arrived. One day they were happily going on with their

red from the mountains like a sickness, crawling down through the trees dragging darkness behind them. Crops r

r mercy; none came.

ri

as the city writhed in what would have been its final hour. The skies split

he air turned to ash. The demons screamed, shadows peeling from their forms as they dissolved into not

mple. Her skin untouched, her eyes black as the void between the s

er and wept in gratit

I offer my protection to this city. I will keep the da

ffering would be made. Every hundred years, on the blood moon, one man

eing it as an honor. A war orphan who believed her to be a goddess. He kissed he

d to run. The city guard

ho believed he could pra

ne, but with blood and sacrifice. The monsters never returned; the

years. No one spoke of what she did with them. Until the tenth offer