Prologue
Edinburgh, Scotland
It was a cold, bleak, evening in Scotland.
Michelle Darrow walked near the windows.
It was raining heavily.
She didn't need to tell her parents what was the trouble. She closed her eyes, and imagined robes figures near the freezing woods; she knew they weren't wearing umbrellas, like the humans did.
The fact was she wasn't human.
Suddenly her black cat, Tobias, purred.
'Come here. It's alright', Michelle smiled.
She smiled, as thunder boomed in the blackened sky.
***
Chapter One
'Michelle'.
'Yes, Mother'.
She hugged her cat, and gave it some cold milk. Then she saw her father was reading the newspaper. 'Are you always in your bedroom, Michelle?', he asked her. 'No', she answered.
'If you want to have a walk after dinner, you can'.
'Yes, Father'.
She nodded, and sat down on the white seat.
The aroma of haggis, and Scottish pie was cooked in the oven. Chairs were around the small room, as the rain continued in its fury.
***
By six-thirty, the Scotland weather tempered slightly.
Michelle waited until there was a clear blue sky in the darkness of the house. 'Get the coat, Michelle', her mother said.
'Okay, Mother'.
She grabbed it, and opened the door.
And went inside towards the woods.
***
The woods were dim.
Michelle hadn't imagined that something was wrong.
There was a campfire nearby.
She focused on the group of hunters.
'What are you doing here, lassie?', Ian Bryce asked her.
'I heard there was some elves around here', she answered.
'No, lassie. There's no elves here'.
'And why not? The woods are full of magic'.
'Aye, that is so. You're Anna Darrow'.
'Nay, she's my sister. I'm Michelle Darrow'.
'Oh, I heard you were at school'.
'I was. But she is always missing'.
'That's the problem'.
'What do you mean by that?', Michelle asked him.
'She is in the Sorceress's castle', Ian answered.
'Where is it?'.
'There...to the far end of the woods'.
Michelle nodded, and decided to save her sister.
***
The Royal Elven Court was full of regal magic folk.
Queen Isabella sat on her throne.
She wore a silver tiara, and wore a green, blue, and white, colored gown. She face was young, as she commanded everyone. Her blue eyes was like the ocean. 'Someone's near the ancient castle, my Queen', Lord Oswald, her Advisor, said. He bowed as he said it to her.
'Who is it?', Elf Queen Isabella asked him.
'A girl. She is human', Lord Oswald answered.
'She is not to be harmed. Let her speak', Queen Isabella said.
She waited, as Michelle was stopped by four elven guards.
'Halt! State your business, girl'.
'I seek an audience with the Elf Queen, please. I'm Michelle Darrow'.
'You may pass'.
Michelle smiled, and walked through the Iron Gates, that led through the majestic arches, and towards the Royal Elven Court of Scotland.
***
Michelle Darrow bowed.
'My Queen. It is an honor to be at the presence...'.
'And who are you?', Lord Oswald asked her.
'Michelle Darrow, my Lord', she answered.
'Why are you here?'.
'I was exploring the Scottish woods'.
'The woods are out of bounds', Lord Oswald stated.
'I didn't know that', Michelle admitted.
'Only those who are loyal to my Court shall enter it', Elf Queen Isabella said.
'I don't mean any kind of harm, my Queen. And I am loyal to the Court, since it is my first time here'.
'Is she loyal, my Queen?', Lord Oswald asked.
'Yes, my Lord. She is not a spy', Daniel Patterson said.
The other members of the Royal Elven Court gasped.
The bell rang.
Michelle waited.
'She is not a spy, my Queen...'.
She turned around, and saw a elf watching her.
'Please come with me, Michelle Darrow'.
She nodded, and bowed in front of the Elf Queen, before the matters of the Royal Court was addressed formally.
***
Chapter Two
The weight of the World descended on Michelle Darrow.
She gazed at the darkness, and knew it was late.
The Elven Royal Court was in session.
She yawned, and went to sleep in one of the straw beds.
It was dark in a matter of seconds.
***
Chapter Three
The man gazed into the Mirror.
He shivered from the biting cold; he saw the petite Sorceress of Time. Her long, black hair gleamed in the shadows; her face was youthful due to the Elixir of Immortality she was drinking. For others, she was older than she appeared. 'Sykes, are you insane?', she asked him.
'No, my Sorceress. Others are preparing for doom', Eldritch Moore answered. She looked at him, and glided towards her throne. Shadows were looming around the blackened chamber; shadows that swirled and swirled until the fear gripped the servant.
A scar was on the left side of his face.
'There's a girl at the Elf Queen's Royal Court'.
'Who is she?', the Sorceress asked him.
'Michelle Darrow', Eldritch answered.
'Keep and eye on her', the Sorceress demanded.
'Aye, my Sorceress', he said.
He bowed, and left her alone.
***
Chapter Four
The darkness of the hour.
By seven o'clock, Michelle waited.
'What's the matter, dear child?', an old woman asked her.
'Nothing is the matter...', Michelle answered.
'It's about the Sorceress of Time'.
'How do you know of her?'.
'She's my sister. She is evil'.
'Tell me about her'.
And she did.
***
Chapter Five
M. Fred Harrow looked at the dark hall. He smoked a pipe. The embers flickered in the cold, Scottish air; the group of wizards travelled to Edinburgh, eager to deal with the Festival of the Fires. 'What's going on? Who are you? And what do you want?', a wizard asked, angrily.
'Mike Fred Harrow, Sir. Master of the Arcane'.
'Indeed, Sir. But why are you....?'.
'The Sorceress of Time is dangerous'.
'I don't know of her'.
'You do! She is here because she is powerful, and dangerous'.
'Look, what is the matter...'.
'The matter is that there's no time left before she strikes again', Burt Hass said. The wizard sighed, and left Mike alone.
***
Chapter Six
Michelle watched the grey skies.
She ran to the house, where her cat meowed.
'It's alright, Tobias. Time for dinner'.
It purred, as it drank the cold milk.
***
Chapter Seven
The last time Edward Night stood near the Scottish lochs, he was thinking about the fiasco concerning the Eyries. The birds were eagles and had sharp talons. He knew they were imported from America; he was sure of it. Edward looked at the darkness; he stared at the gilded mirrors. He looked at the time. Seven o'clock PM. He yawned, and slept soundly after dinner.
Epilogue
Michelle waited.
She held onto her favorite cat, Tobias.
'The Sorceress of Time shall wait for us', she said.
And she patted the animal, as the gloom surrounded the city of Edinburgh.
***
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