SINNER
[scene: a dark forest far off Valderia's border]
With bony fingers stretched out, the wind screams over the old trees. Walking alone in the darkness, a solitary figure has a dark cloak flying behind him. Lucian Draven, the man cursed by the gods, shines his silver eyes under the pale moon light. The sound of quick steps resonating through the quiet causes him to stop. From the shadows, a lady appears with wide emeralds eyes full of fear and resistance and her breath raw.
ELARA: ( panting) "Stay back! I will not let you take me.
LUCIAN (composedly): "Little witch, if I wanted to take you, you'd already be in my arms".
ELARA: (clench fists);"I am not afraid of you".
LUCIAN: (laughs sadly) "You should be. Others are all but gone."
Elara takes a slow back step and clutches the dagger stashed under her coat. Lucian surveys her with humor and a head slightly cockamam.
Lucian is quoted as saying, "You ran from the palace. This means they hope you will return. An outofcontrol healer? Not really... traitor?"
ELARA: (definitely); "Neither. I run since there was no other option."
LUCIAN: (mocking) "And always a choice, little dove".
ELARA: xThen why do you live in exile? Why does your name strike fear into the hearts of men?"
Something illegible flickers across Lucian's face, but he covers it fast with a grin.
LUCIAN: "Because I made my decision. Furthermore, I would do it again."
Though not from the cold, Elara shivers. Something sinister about him calls to the very core of her being. She knows running is required—yet she doesn
ELARA: (gently) "Are the stories true?"
LUCIAN: (raising an eyebrow) "Which ones? "
ELARA: "That the gods once loved you … and now you're under their spell?"
Lucian's smirk fades first. His voice a whisper of something ancient and damaged, he steps closer; his face is dark.
LUCIAN: "Certain narratives should remain untold."
ELARA: "And yet… I want to know. "
There's a strained quiet about them. Lucian then does something surprising; he reaches out to brush a stray hair from her forehead. Even though his touch is cool, it warms her blood flow.
LUCIAN: (softly) "You are little witch running with fire."
ELARA: (whisper) "Maybe I want to burn."
Their eyes meet, the night waiting eagerly. Something changes in that instant—something neither of them can change back.
The story of the sinner and the healer started.
[Continuing on…]