The Seeking

A King waits for his guest--his guest is darkness.

The Seeking

Darkness Waits,

Darkness Lurks,

Darkness Stalks and Seeks the Light

 

Henryl, third Scavian King of the line of Alisti, watched the dancing yellow flames of the candles lining the long, dark oak dinning table. He dined alone having given strict instructions to his advisors that he be undisturbed the entire evening. Not even Lorind, his trusted cupbearer, was permitted to remain--the King wanted solitude. The banquet laid forth was fit for a party of Princes and Lords but he ate alone, and cloaked by shadows of the room, he waited for his guest. 

 

Behind his left ear he felt a cold whisper blow across his face. He jolted his neck backward in a halt of fear--nothing but shadows moved behind him. Turning back towards the table, his eyes widened as the candles on the table blew out one by one as if someone were putting them out�"all the windows and doors were shut. Before he could blink, his trembling frame and room entire was enveloped by sheer black darkness.

 

Henryl tried to steady his heart, but he had never felt darkness so cold, so alive and then flaming hot. From underneath his feet a surging heat pulsated, moving its way across the large wooden floor boards, up the walls and colouring the entire room with a deep crimson red. The faint King knew he was no longer alone; his guest had arrived.

 

“Can you hear that incessant roar of the mad man drumming? Can you feel that viral itch beneath your skin, too deep to scratch? Can you see that crimson blood river, rushing, submerging? Can you taste the sulfur and fire…can you smell the rot of death? You summoned me, King of man, and I am come. You cannot run, you cannot hide�"my eyes are always on you. Be afraid of the crimson dark, son of man, for I am Darkness.”