Chapter 1

Excerpt of Chapter 1

In the deep woods of Sardis, Arkansas lives a woman named Jade. She is about 5’ 8”, 140 lbs, and has dark brown hair that is almost black, with brown eyes to match. She lives alone with only her cat to keep her company.

On the first day of October 2004, Jade awoke from a deep sleep, with an urge to go for a long walk in the crisp morning air. Jade liked to go for walks in the woods as often as she could. On this morning as Jade was walking on the path she normally took through the woods, she saw out of the corner of her eye a small path off to the side of the road that she had never noticed before. She was curious as to where this path went, and since she had time to explore that morning, she turned down the unknown path that would change her life forever.

This new path that Jade took was much narrower that the paths she usually took. It looked as if it hadn't been used in a long time. Grass and weeds were grown up almost covering most of the path. Jade had been walking down this path for 15 minutes when she came across something very unusual. It looked like two twin stone pillars that were side by side and 4 feet apart. As Jade got closer she noticed that something was carved on them. She tore the vines off one pillar so she could see the carving better. It was a Gargoyle that looked as if it was guarding something. Jade had always loved the Gargoyles in buildings and artwork she had seen. She reached out and touched the face of the Gargoyle.

0 Instantly she was in darkness and felt as if she were falling. Only seconds later she landed on a steep hill and rolled down it head over feet. After what seemed an eternity to Jade, she stopped rolling when she hit something. She was very disoriented and hurting all over, as she looked up to see where she was. Staring down at her with his knife drawn was a real live Gargoyle!

As soon as Jade hit the ground in front of his feet Rastin drew his knife out of a defensive reflex. Because Rastin drew his knife the rest of the hunters did too. They were all surrounding Jade with their knives pointing at her.

"What is your name?" Rastin asked.

Jade crawled backwards away from the knives that were pointed at her. Jade was still stunned by all that had just happened to her and didn't understand what the Gargoyle had said. So she said weakly, "I can't understand you".

Slasher, one of the other hunters quickly bent and put his knife to her throat and said,

"Why are you here in our territory? This forest is forbidden to humans"!

Rastin pulled Slasher back as he lowered his own knife. Rastin realized that the woman had come through the Gate that was up on the hill. Slasher should have known that too, but his hate of humans was so strong that it made him not think clearly when close to a human.

"All of you put away your weapons, NOW", Rastin commanded of his hunters as he sheathed his own knife.

Rastin reached out and touched the woman's arm. She tried to pull away but he had a firm hold of her. Rastin was using some of the magic he as the Clan leader had for trading purposes with those who didn't speak his language. With his touch and a little concentration He magically gave the woman his full language. He let go of her arm and again asked,

What is your name?"

Now able to understand the question the woman answered,
My name is Jade."

Rastin reached out his hand to help Jade in standing up. As he did so he said,

"Hello Jade, I am Rastin leader of the Clan of the Gatekeepers." Rastin helped steady Jade on her feet and supported her with his arm.

"I am sorry for drawing my weapon on you. Your sudden arrival at my feet just startled me a bit. I am afraid my hunters are so used to following my lead that they drew their weapons on you just because I did. Please, don't be frightened. I will not hurt you, nor will I let them." He said pointing to the other hunters, then continued speaking.

"Slasher has a great hatred of Humans, most Gargoyles do. On this world Humans are the enemies of Gargoyles". Rastin explained.

Copyright ©2005 Countess Demetria 

 Countess