In the beginning

The world as we know it is far different that what is shown to us, Creatures that seem more animal than man roam the world, some for evil some not. Yet all outside the sight of most humans. And yet there is even stranger darker things happening and beings that seem to be comming from that which is never named, and then yes then there is the realm of man.

Tis in the year of the Great Darkness that on a stormy night came a pounding upon the great oak doors of the Winterbourne Cathedral. There a girl was found upon the steps, the small form was naked, sodden and shivering with cold as the rain kept up its relentless deluge. Father Lex the Cathedral's Priest brought the petite female into the Church, finding a blanket and covering her nakedness, he also brought her a warming cup of hot chocolate to help the poor frozen waif. The Priest's questions was unable to pry anything from the semi frozen creature, she knew nothing of where she had come from before appearing upon the steps of the Cathedral.

Much strife was brewing within the community factions, the law makers were turning not only against each other but against the locals, many shopkeepers were forced to pay the thugs money so that they could continue to trade if not they would find their shops in ruins or even their families were not spared harm if that is what the thugs chose. It was within the Cathedral during this time of strife that the girl lived and learn't from the kindness of the old Priest. He clothed her, fed her, taught her how to read and write, taught her the joys of flowers, how to appreciate music and basically how to 'live'. The old man and the girl would spend many hours strolling through the woods talking about the books they read or what new things she had learn't, the girl genuinely loved the Priest and would have done anything for him. She would often help him with his services making sure that everything was on hand for him, the girl in the old Priest's mind was the daughter he was never able to have.

Then one night terror struck within the hallowed halls of the mighty Cathedral. Father Lex and the girl were having their supper when all of a sudden a commotion was heard outside the small rectory where the Priest and the girl lived. Father Lex told the girl to remain indoors whilst he went to find out what was going on, he made her bolt the door after him this was something that she had never had to do before, this sudden action terrified her. He was gone for what seemed an eternity, much shouting reached the girls ears, she could hear Father Lex's voice pleading for the intruders to leave when all of a sudden there was no sound, nothing, all that was left was the frantic sound of the girls own breathing. For the longest time she stood frozen to the spot, then, 'slam' the door nearly flew from its hinges and strangers flooded the room shouting instructions at her, she called out for Father Lex but received no reply.

The strangers grabbed her and roughly shoved and hustled her out of the rectory and there not far from the doorway lay the lifeless body of Father Lex, she knew he was dead and that his throat had been slit as the front of his cassock was tainted with bright red blood, she tried to break from their grip and run to him but they held steadfastly onto her and ushered her into a waiting carriage and into the night.

The strangers never answered any of her questions of where they were taking her or what might her fate be, but for 4 days and three nights they rode in the stuffy carriage she grew sick with the smell of the men and yearned to stretch her legs. The next leg of their journey took the girl and her captors upon a steam train across many boarders until finally the train pulled into a large, grand station. Her captors told her to behave and she would not get hurt but if she did not behave then because no one knew her or knew that she was there then she would never be missed.

They walked quickly through the crowded station and out into the street, a black carriage was there to meet them, the driver gave the leader of the men a curt nod and leered at the girl, his look made her skin feel like it was crawling. Again the carriage ride seemed to go on forever, she could smell a change from the air outside no longer did the air smell like the city but it now reminded her of the fresh country air that she and Father Lex would walk in, these thoughts brought a tear to the girls large round eyes. The carriage was finally reined in and the horses brought to a stop, the door opened the girl and her captors stepped out into the night, the moon was full so she could see the outline of a huge castle. The men hustled her through a side door and into a large room, the leader spoke to the men in some strange language that the girl did not understand and most of them remained behind in the room but she, the leader and what she assumed was his second in charge proceeded down a hallway, further along the long expanse the men took lit torches from the walls. On and on the girl was marched along until they came to a large metal door, the leader took out of his pocket a key which he then opened the door with, there once inside she was horrified at what she saw. Cages, whips and many other things of torture filled the room, she began to sob and beg her captors to tell her why they were doing this, why was she here, just why. The men ignored her pleas and threw the sobbing girl into a metal cage and slammed the door closed the sound of the the metal lock slipping into place was only the beginning of her horror.

Not only had she lost her home, the man she had come to think of as her father, she knew that given time she would also loose her mind.