Prologue

I have never known freedom.  I have never known equality.  And I have never had the luxury of living in a time where those two words actually had a meaning.  

In my world, there are three types of people.  There are the Seraph, the genetically flawless elite who rule over all others.  Then there are the Obscures, the flawed commoners who are the Seraph's subjects.  And then there are my people, the Paladins.  We are a hybrid of the Seraph and the Obscures.  We look like Seraph, but because we have Obscure blood in our veins, we are not the equals to the ruling elite, although we are higher in status than those whose blood taints us.  So we Paladins have a very special, and extremely dangerous, job; to guard and protect the ruling Seraph.

The Seraph took control a long time ago.  How long ago, I don't know.  Nobody knows.  Nobody, except the Seraph, of course.  They claim to be those chosen by God to rule the weaker, flawed people.  And the Obscure follow them like sheep, never questioning their rule.  I know better.  Since my entire life has revolved around the Seraph, I know their secrets.  I know their lies.  They used tools, strange tools, to wipe the minds of all they decided were Obscure, flawed.  They rewrote history, and started teaching their own twisted truth.  They force feed all the flawed people to accept their lies, and serve them.

The Seraph have everything handed to them on silver platters.  They have hordes of slaves, and they destroy any who find the truth or object their laws.  I am a Paladin, one of the few that are specifically bred to root out those who suspect or rebel against the Seraph.  And I do it without objection.  For although it goes against everything I have learned and believe, I do it with one purpose and one goal; self-preservation.  I do it to keep myself alive.  For if they found out I know the truth, they would put me to death and my knowledge would do the Obscure no good.  I long for the day the Obscure can overthrow the Seraph and restore the world to the democratic way I know it used to be.  But until then, I am trapped in my duty to kill the ones who would be able to help me.

So I wait.  For the day when balance is restored and words like "freedom" and "equality" once again have meaning.