The Prime Elementors

                                                                              Prologue





         Deep in the dark depths of the underground, tunnels twisted, never - ending paths steering either to a painful death or to a fortress. The fortress was erected of black stone and hate. Dying painfully, you had your choice, but some are too gruesome to mention. The tunnels were not called, but called themselves The Darkness Maze.

         At the end of the winding paths, the dark castle loomed.

         Inside, a dark figure sat in a black throne. It appeared transparent - almost… alive. The blackness writhed and hissed, seeming restless to do something, something ruthless and vengeful. A shadow throne.

         The man’s anxiety filled him; his face was rigid and strained. He had a midnight head of hair and a similar beard, and was built like a Roman gladiator. He wore an entire outfit of black, threads and all, almost blending him into his throne, if it wasn’t for his utterly pale face… entirely white, just like a ghost’s, except for his shadowy, dark eyes.

         The man looked up as the throne room door creaked open. A short, plump man strode forward and bowed so deeply his head touched the floor.

         “Your most honorable Majesty,” he squeaked, “it is the greatest honor of all honors to be in your service, for nothing is greater than serving King Malok the courageous and bold, for he is indeed the most powerful being on this earth, a most humble and gracious one, the one saving us from these despicable Elementors - ”

         “Silence!” King Malok’s voice echoed on the black stone of the room. The man immediately obeyed, looking slightly terrified.

         “Just get on with your message,” the king snapped, tapping the arm of his throne, causing the darkness to squirm even more.

         “Yes, sire. Of course, sire. We have located the girl.”

         “The Prime One?”

         “Yes, my lord.”

         Malok’s tense face relaxed, but his angry demeanor did not lighten. “Is she as foretold?” he growled.

         “She does not seem to realize her abilities yet, my lord.”

         “Good. Then do not harm her.”

         “Do not, your Majesty?” the little man spluttered, perplexed.

         “Yes. I want to see this girl’s potential. I think I’ll try a different tactic,” he said, and laughed, a laugh crueler and more corrupt even than his anger. Then, very quietly, he told the man his orders.