Lightning struck the great oak at the far end of the field with a deafening crack of thunder. Gray clouds twisted in the sky, spiraling closer and closer to the earth until they touched the ground.

"Is it another tornado?" I asked, my heart pounding in my ears.

"No," Papa murmured. "This is no natural occurrence. Perhaps you did see a vision, Helena."

My heart leaped into my throat as a terrifying boom resounded and the funnel collided with the neighbor's fields. A furious gale blew across the plain, and I grasped Papa's arm to steady myself.

"What is it, Papa?" I asked. "What do you see?"

Papa clasped his hand over my mouth.

Twelve galloping horses emerged from the raging storm and raced towards our farm. My father squinted in the distance with a perplexed expression before his eyes widened with shock.

The ground trembled as the frightening steeds approached. An otherworldly whinny pierced through the air, one that struck awe into even the bravest men. I cowered in shock behind my father's strong frame and shivered as ice crawled down my spine.

Shadow Riders.

To my shock, Papa stood his ground. Was he going to fight them?

The Riders advanced on us, bringing unsettling darkness with each gallop until the sky above us turned obsidian. A howling wind swept through the plains and whipped dust into the air, blinding us and making it impossible to breathe.

A deep voice rolled through the air like distant thunder, chilling my soul to the very core.

"I ... see ... you," the voice boomed with an angry hiss. "We've found you, at last, child of Gatál."

"Papa!" I screamed. "They've come for the Falcon!"

Papa turned to me. "Go, Helena. Find your mother--she'll protect you."

"I'm not leaving you," I insisted as I tried to take his dagger from his side scabbard. "Give me a weapon! Let me fight with you!"

"Run, Helena!" he said in a frantic whisper as he gave me a shove towards the fields. When I looked back, he'd snatched his sickle with one hand and drawn a broadsword with the other.

As quickly as my short legs could carry me, I raced into the tall stalks of corn and hid behind the giant plants. I peeked in between the husks and watched the Shadow Riders gallop through the front gate towards my father.

I didn't even dare to breathe.

"Stay back, Lord Hesse," Papa demanded as he wielded his broadsword. "What business do you have here?"

The dark noble's voice boomed across the plain, augmented by some unknown dark magic. "Where is the device, Andreas?" he growled in reply.

"What device?" my father growled.

Clad in dark armor from his black metal helmet to his black leather boots, Lord Hesse exuded authority and strength. As Protector of Halcia, he wore black ceremonial robes that billowed in the breeze behind him. Bile rose in my throat as I watched him.

Lord Hesse looked like the devil himself.

His voice crept into my mind in a clash of guttural, harsh consonants and hisses. Come ... to ... me, Helena.

Although Lord Hesse simply sat on his black stallion in silence, his dark magic urged me towards him like a magnet towards metal--compelling me to follow his command.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I resisted his power. Don't listen, I told myself. Fight him.

"We have heard about your killing machine," Lord Hesse said to my father. "Master de Moravia betrayed you this morning to save himself during a raid."

"You are both mistaken as you can see." My father gestured around the farmland. "I'm but a simple farmer who serves you in accordance with Gatál law."

"Lies!" Lord Hesse's voice boomed with such a deep, ominous rumble that my eardrums hurt. "Give us the machine, and I'll let your family live. Fail, and I'll kill them before your eyes."

"Leave them out of this," Papa sneered as he brandished his weapons. "They know nothing."

"You can keep your wife if you follow my orders," Lord Hesse said, "but the girl belongs to us."

"My blood may not run through her veins, but Helena is my daughter," Papa roared. "We raised her as our own. You have no right to take her."

I stifled a gasp. What did Papa say?! And what do these riders want with me?

"I'm your lord and master--I have every right," Lord Hesse hissed. "The law decrees that no Gatál blood shall reside among Halcían filth. Either give me the child and the device, or we will take them by force."

The dark lord whipped his gaze in my direction, and I stifled a gasp. He extended a long, skeletal hand clad in a black leather glove, and his voice tempted me as it curled and twisted through the air like a serpent.

"Come to me, Helena."

An invisible force prodded me, nudging me towards the dark lord. Clenching my jaw, I willed myself to stay hidden. At that, the dark noble leaped from his steed and hit the ground with a thump. Lord Hesse towered over my father by at least a foot and brandished his sword.

"Bring her to me, peasant."

"Never!"

Papa took advantage of Lord Hesse's proximity and whirled his broadsword to slit Lord Hesse's throat. To my astonishment, the blade didn't even bite the dark lord's skin.

"A valiant attempt," the dark noble hissed. He drew a second sword and spread his arms wide. "Would you like to try again?"

My father roared in frustration and slashed at his opponent's midsection. Papa damaged Lord Hesse's leather armor, but the man hadn't shed a single drop of blood.

With an evil cackle, the sinister Rider slashed my father's leg, and he dropped to the ground. My blood curdled in my veins.

My father could never defeat them.

Papa was just fighting for time in a vain attempt to save us. My thoughts flashed back to our argument in the basement.

If the Gatál find the Falcon, they'll kill us all.

Adrenaline coursed through me, and I tried to run. Tearing through my resolve, Lord Hesse reached his hand out to me. His spell gripped my body like an invisible hand and tried to draw me nearer. Although I could fight his power, I couldn't move.

"I can feel your presence, Helena," he hissed. "Do not resist me."

"You see," Papa said in a defiant tone as he rose to his feet with a grimace. "She's stronger than you think, and she hasn't even been trained yet."

The dark lord roared in frustration and lowered his hand. Advancing towards my father with slow, deliberate steps, the Rider whipped his sword up to Papa's neck.

"Helena, you have one last chance to save your father. Come out now."

Papa shook his head as though he could see me watching him. "Never give in, Helena."

My father took a metallic device out of his pocket, pressed a button, and our house exploded in a huge fireball. Stifling a yell, I stared at the wreckage. Putrid smoke billowed from the smoldering ruins and shrapnel thudded to the ground as though a giant fire drake had destroyed our home within seconds.

Lord Hesse ducked and whipped around towards the conflagration.The black stallions shrieked with terror and reared up on their hind legs as the Riders struggled to control them. A nearby Rider grasped the reins of his master's frightened steed. With a single touch of his hand, the steed stood as calm as a statue.

I wished I could calm myself like that. My heart was racing, and my insides turned to jelly.

The machine did run on liquid fire. What else could explain that level of immediate destruction?

"You fool!" Lord Hesse roared once he'd regained his composure. "What have you done?"

"You'll never get the plans or the machine now," Papa said with a wry smile.

"You're so naive." Lord Hesse cocked his head and observed my father as one would a wayward pet. "And to think you used to be the pride and joy of the Halcían monarchy."

Papa scoffed. "To think we used to work together at the science academy," he retorted.

"My, how far you've fallen, you filthy peasant. Just admit that you supported the wrong side."

"Has the darkness corrupted you that much?"

"I've tolerated your betrayal long enough," the dark lord sneered. "This time, you've gone too far. Now give us the girl!"

"If you want to get to Helena," my father said, "you'll have to kill me first."

"As you wish."

Without another word, Lord Hesse crossed both of his blades and chopped off Papa's head in one deft swing. His head fell to the ground, and his body collapsed with a sickening thud.

"Traitor!" the dark lord hissed as he spat on my father's body.

"No, Papa!" I screamed. I slapped my hand over my mouth, but it was too late.

The Shadow Riders whipped their heads toward me. To my surprise, the dark lord's iron grip over me faded, and I ran for my life.

___

A/N: Thank you for reading. I have placed this in a separate chapter because I thought it deserved a chapter of its own. Please let me know if you think this works. Thanks in advance. :)

If you enjoyed the chapter, please vote and/or comment. I also appreciate any constructive criticism you may have.

Picture URL:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/fb/f7/e2/fbf7e28f4335e920af5e1dbb8c7bc09c.jpg