PROLOGUE
The creature sat, crossed-legged on the ground. It had been a long time since it first came to this realm. A very long time. It had enjoyed killing many humans throughout the centuries and planned to continue savoring the taking of life for a long time. They were so easy to break down and destroy. Finding someone that thought they were a pure, good soul and then watching that same pathetic human kill and eat a fellow captive... The creature shivered in pure pleasure. It took months to wear down the strongest of them and the creature enjoyed every second of it.
Time was meaningless to it. It couldn't die; not naturally. It could be killed, however, and was forced to move from one land to the next when its pursuers were too close.
There were others like it and if they banded together, they could conquer again but so many things were different. They hid themselves out of fear: fear of each other and fear of what might happen if they gathered en masse.
So, he hunted alone. Quietly. He'd been in this new place for nearly a year, building up his base of power. The longer he corrupted the land, the stronger he became. He killed periodically but mostly captured and tortured.
He had a few lesser beings with him -- demons he found over time. He bound them to him with blood and rituals. Dark magic. He was strong and growing stronger.
Someone was hunting him - a foe from another time. He was not afraid. A single enemy meant nothing. The ones that were powerful enough to take him alone were long gone.
The fire pit in front of him spit and crackled. Part of the last human's leg had fallen into the fire. He'd give the rest of them the remains and they would eat it or live off of what they could in their pen underground. Some were starting not to care any longer.
The creature lay back against the tree, savoring its dead coolness. His eyes closed as he thinks back to the many battlefields and spoils of war he'd enjoyed over the years. Centuries ago he was on the frontlines of the assault, boiling the blood of his enemies where they stood against him. Times were different now. The original host was scattered with no way back and no way to call for reinforcements. Only one method existed to reopen a portal but the cost was too high.
Suddenly, his eyes flew open. The fire had gone out, snuffed out by no natural breeze. The black lines on his face are pulled into horrendous figures and shapes as he frowned in concentration.
The creature reached into the pit to pull out the leg. His black, jagged fingernails scrapped off the bits of flesh and fat remaining. The bone breaks easily across his thigh and he casts the pieces on the ground next to him.
It takes a moment to read the bones. What he sees there makes his own flesh crawl. The bones can't say clearly what is happening but they never lie. Something in the way they were arranged tickles a memory at the back of his head but he can't remember why. Whatever it is, it terrifies him.
Something else was coming for him. After a moment, the creature whistled shrilly through decayed teeth and a high pitched cry answered him. He would find the source of this and deal with it before it found him.
CHAPTER 1
I work in a small office as the IT guy - mainly programming and grunt work when it comes up. It's a pretty good place and I enjoy the work. I've been a computer nerd since I was a kid and I taught myself everything computer related: fixing computers, programming, some networking... everything. I never seemed to bother with college and I only have vague ideas about trying it out some time. I just find that I can teach myself better with real world issues.
I liked to read a lot and played tons of games (yes, I was a D&D nerd) when I was growing up so I was pretty chunky. The ugly glasses and bad fashion sense didn't help my image but I blame growing up in the 80s and not having parents that really cared one way or the other. I mean, seriously. Parents shouldn't let their kids out of the house in a tent for a t-shirt and glasses larger than their face.
Now, though, I keep in shape by running occasionally and eating somewhat healthy... ish. I got tired of being fat when I was out of high school and decided to do something about it. Along the way I learned I enjoyed it. I really like the feeling of running flat out until I'm exhausted. It's like I'm testing my limits and finding out how far I can go... and then if I can go further the next day. I could still stand to lose a little extra weight but I'm doing well.
Once most of the fat went away I learned that I inherited my parent's good looks. I'm no show stopper but I do well and I'm told I have a boyish face. I'm thinking of growing a beard but I had a traumatic experience with "face pubes" when I was younger so I'm a little reluctant. What if it looks like I rolled around in pubic hair with my face slathered in glue?
I'm keeping in shape and I enjoy my job. I think I'm pretty smart as far as that goes. I know enough to get by but mostly I understand there is so much I
don't
know. I also have a healthy sense of curiosity. Most of the times I will actually look around me when walking -- up at tall buildings, on the ground around me, at other people walking, everywhere. You'd be surprised at what's around you. Case in point - walking up a steep sidewalk I noticed a half-naked creepy old guy standing at his window (slightly below street level because of the incline) staring at people walking by.
So, I'm happy except for one thing - relationships. I'm shy. No getting around that - remember me growing up a nerd? I don't faint when a woman looks at me but I also can't build up the courage to start a conversation. When I was younger, I once spent 20 minutes at a bar, goading myself into asking a pretty girl if I could buy her a drink. That didn't work out so well. I've gone out on some dates and have had some experience with women but I never seemed to find what I was looking for - or she didn't and the relationship never started.
