I hope you enjoy my story. Please read it and tell me what you think. Thanks.

Regions of Benevolent Darkness

My power has been taken. The same thought had plagued my mind since the night I was elevated from an apprentice.

A round of applause to wizards Ferynon, and Marile, our newest 3rd rank wizards!

That was the evening which brought me more pride and joy than any other occasion in my life so far. My happiness, ruined by a man who can only be thought of with hate in mind. What about my friends; Where are they?

I opened my eyes to the darkness surrounding me. I saw nothing. I moved my arm, and met with searing pain, as my muscles tensed. I could taste and smell the coppery attributes of my own blood. After that, I tried my best not to move. From that experiment, I found that I was lying in a shallow puddle of foul-smelling water. I lay there on my back in the grimy water as time passed by slowly. I was not fully sure how long I had been here, nor even where I was. Shocked, I realized that I could not even remember how I arrived.

I knew I would have to rise eventually, but I didn’t have the strength to yet. My slow breathing was all I could hear in the dark silence of the cave, except for the occasional drip of water from the ancient stalactites. I knew(even though it was too dark to see) they were protruding down from the ceiling of the cave like the fangs of some wretched beast, ready to swallow all hopes of my escape whole.

A rustling sound from my right brought a barely audible moan from my throat as my mind searched frantically for a reason something would rustle in a cave void of any life but me, some insects, and more than likely some bats sleeping between the imaginary teeth of the cave. I didn’t dare blink, breath, or move an inch as something nudged my leg.

“Now what the blazes could this be about, then?”

My eyes went wide with the surprise of a humane voice coming from the direction of the thing that was touching me.

“Hello now, are you alive, creature?”

I contemplated my chance of escape. They weren’t looking too good, as the thing was holding my right leg now, and it felt rather strong. I mustered up the courage to speak to it instead.

“Yes I am very much alive.”I said slowly.

“Dear me, it talks!”

I noted that the voice had a feminine quality to it.

“Were you sent by Feir Luc?”I asked, wishing it to say ‘no’.

“Who?”

“Never mind.”

My body shivered in relief.

“Are you cold now?”

The creature grasped my collar and stood me upon my feet. Fire spread along every nerve in my body, as slowly healing wounds were reopened. My screams seemed so far away as my skull threatened to crack against the pressure.

“Shh. I’m going to get you out of this place.”

I started to pull away frantically, and my stomach heaved dryly.

“No . . . You don’t understand . . . I can’t . . . let them find me.” I mumbled incoherently.

“Calm down, hun, I’m just going to take you out of here. I’m going to get you some help.” She said in a hushed sort of tone.

She held my arm firmly, but gently, so that I couldn’t pull away. It was bemusing that the creature didn’t seem to know the extent of my pain. She hoisted me upon her back, and began to walk off, my bruised limbs dangling

Wha-what do you think you’re doing?!? I thought frantically, my mouth unable to utter a comprehensible syllable.

It, she strolled through the darkness(in a direction I could not specify), against all my willing of her to let me down.

She walked on through the eerie silence. I fell asleep at some point during the harsh ride. Suddenly there was a flash of yellow-green light, and I was dropped into a puddle of the freezing water, which seemed to coat the whole length of the cavern. I could feel the blood pumping, as my brain was pounded with pain. I saw, between sluggish closing and openings of my eyes, that we were being confronted by a pair of young men with the Luc coat of arms tattooed to their bare chests. One of them, the smaller, was holding a small torch with its yellow-green flame lighting the area. I swallowed hard, tasting small traces of blood. I prayed that these people did not wield magic.

“Can I be of help to you sirs?” My rescuer said, folding her arms across her chest. Finally being able to see her, though my vision was distorted, I regard her features for the first time. She was very tall, taller than any human, and shapely, her rich cerulean hair framing her face. She had a bluish tinge to her skin.

“We want him,” said the smaller man.“Hand him over and you won’t be killed.” Running his grubby fingers through his dirty dark brown hair. My rescuer’s dark green eyes shone with defiance.

“Really now? You intend to kill me?”

“I won’t, but he will.” He pointed to the other person, who stepped forward in confirmation. He was a man with fiery red hair, and an angry scowl. He flexed his large arms at my rescuer.

“Oh no!”she cried, holding her hands to her cheeks in feigned terror. “What do I do now?”

“You hand him over that’s what.” Said the smaller man who obviously had never been approached with sarcasm. The female creature studied their faces, eyes gleaming with voiceless laughter. She reached into a pouch, which rested on her hips. She pulled out her balled fist.

“Whas’ that you’ve got there?”said the big man taking a step closer. My rescuer walked to him, opened up her hand and blew a silvery powder into his eyes.

“Sleep . . . ”she cooed into the man’s ear. He slumped to the ground.

“What did you do to him?!” the other man shouted, wide-eyed.

She reached back into her pouch with a sly grin on her face. The man took a step back.

“I’m not letting you get me!” he shrieked as he ran straight toward her and pushed past, running deeper into the cave and taking the only source of light with him.

“That was strange . . . ” said the woman somewhere to my left. I was again dragged up by my collar and hoisted upon her back. Since I finally knew she wasn’t some horrific creature of the cave, I decided to ask a few questions, even though my parched throat begged me not to.

“Excuse me miss, but would you mind giving me your name?”I whispered softly, my voice cracking in mid sentence.

“What was that? Oh, yes well, my name is Taubey.”

“That’s a nice name....I guess.”I told her.

“And what’s your name then?” she huffed at me.

“I am the wizard Ferynon of the 3rd rank.” I told her proudly, though it actually came out in a squeak.

“Ferynon . . . ”she grumbled. “What kind of name is that?”

I was going to retort, but a sharp pain in my side prevented it.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Out of this cave, where did you think?” she said as I felt her shaking her head.

“Why?” I asked as I started to slip down her back.

“It’s my job, I keep this cave clean of garbage that shouldn’t be down here.” she chuckled.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked with uncertainty. She stopped walking and laughed hysterically.

“It’s my job to keep you humans out.”

“Oh.” There was a short silence.

“Then, why did you let that tough go?”

“I’ll send someone for him when we get out of here, but you need some help.”

“Oh, I guess that makes sense. If you don’t mind, could you tell me exactly what you are?” I whispered.

“I am one of the Cerupel, a race of aquatic daimons that reside in a lake near this cave.”

Just as I thought! I’m not on my region . . . but, that’s impossible!

“Okay.”I answered, though I’d never seen, or heard of, anything like her.

“Take a nap or something. We’ll be out in a little while.”

I laid my head on her back. I knew that I had little time left to live if Fier was sending out people to find me.