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Dark Worlds

Book One

Chapter 1: Tul'Bular

"The walls are so beautiful" Said a charming female voice. Her soft tone could run shivers down the spines of any man she conversed with. Aramis on the other hand, had many years of hearing the sweet chorus sung by her words, and still they affected him so.

Aramis peered to the top of the ramparts, ramparts which no being has stepped foot on for as long as anyone could remember. "There is a whole world of beauty out there, out past those walls."

"How do you know? The King says everything out there wants to harm us and kill us at any chance, you call that beauty?"

"No one has been out there, what if it's not what the King has told us?" Just the thought of the benevolent King misleading the whole city made Aramis slightly regret his words. Only hope that there is life to be had outside the confined space of Tul'Bular allowed him to say what was on his mind.

"That is horrible! How could you say that about the King? He is keeping us safe here, if what he says is true I am grateful." Rose didn't like how the conversation was going. If anyone caught their conversation they could be brought to the King for treason. Although, that did not stop Rose from thinking, even for a brief second, about walking freely outside the walls. "My parents aren't doing too well." She finally decided to change the subject to prevent any further conflict between the two.

Aramis disliked how she put aside the subject, but knew not to pursue it further. "Has their condition worsened?" Aramis loved her parents like he would have loved his own. He never had any real parents, only sent away with other children that had lost their own to a weird plague, the same plague that must be ailing Rose's parents.

"Not much on the sickness' side, but the water rations is hard for them." The city had water rations for a good cause; Rose knew this and still felt like the sickly should be getting more than what was allotted to them.

'They stopped accepting portions of yours when they found out you were sacrificing for them, huh?" Aramis already knew the answer, he just felt talking about it would settle her mind. "Maybe its time to stop sitting around and do something about it? I'll meet you back at your house in an hour, I have an idea."

Before Rose could interrogate him he gave her a light kiss on the cheek and bolted down the street. A rare smile filled her face, a smile that she only found around him.

When Aramis returned the sun could no longer be seen over the ramparts. The sky was still lit slightly. This reminded him of being trapped down in a well, with no escape, no plans of action other than waiting for rescue. Any situation that could not be controlled filled Aramis with a sense of uselessness.

"Where have you been? You scare me to death when you just run about not telling me what you're doing!" Rose let out a giggle and proceeded to embrace him. He did not remove his hands behind his back. "What do you got there?" She questioned him.

"Oh nothing, just a little gift for your parents." Aramis produced a wooden bucked tightly bound by leather. The contents of the bucket alarmed Rose.

"How did you get water? Did you steal it from someone! Aramis you must put that back!" Water was rationed out by city officials who gathered it from the caverns bellow which held small rivers of fresh water. "If you stole that from the caves do you even know how much trouble you could be in?"

"Look, no one saw me; there is plenty of water down there. Do you want to help your parents are not Rose?" Aramis grinned when Rose sighed and snatched up the bucket.

"Just this one time, thank you"

Life was so simple yet so dull; I would have never imagined the adventures which awaited me ahead. The events escalated so quickly, now that I think back on it, I wouldn't have had it any other way. Rose, why, so ignorant, damn that girl. Is love weakness, I could afford no weakness. My thoughts can't stray from the task at hand or I will fail. My world is not just Rose and the City anymore.