BOOKS
PROLOGUE
The sky above the lake was darkening fast. Black clouds, heavy with foreboding, hung low over the three hooded figures chanting around a stone altar on the island below. Not a sound emanated from the shadows of vine-covered trees ringing the secret ceremony; not a breath of air stirred the long robes of the solemn group. In the eerily oppressive atmosphere, one of the figures moved to light a candle against the encroaching gloom.
The chanting intensified and a sense of expectation filled the air as a purple mist slowly began rising from the ground behind the altar, followed by a nauseating order that caused two of the participants to flinch despite their fervor. The third figure looked on eagerly at a huge, worm-like creature thrusting its pallid body up through the steamy earth. Within seconds, it towered over the group, writhing back and forth, transfixing the acolytes with terror, until the head priest stepped forward. Only then did the creature bow its head and open a cavernous mouth lined with jagged teeth to reveal a shiny metal band resting on its colorless tongue. The priest took the object offered him. Relieved of its duty, the unholy monster swiftly retreated back whence it had come.
The acolytes, regaining their composure, gathered round respectfully to marvel at the band lying in the palm of their leader’s hand. They admired how skillfully strands of unidentifiable metals had been woven together to form a beautiful circlet topped with a cleverly-engineered, spring-lock compartment. But it was the alluring force of hypnotic energy pulsing out of the object that made them gasp with longing.
Although the temptation to slip it over his wrist was strong, a jolt of pain in his temples quickly reminded the priest the band was intended for another. With a twinge of envy, he turned from his companions and beckoned to something waiting on the fringes of the clearing. At his command, a toad, the size of a basketball, hopped forward.
“Take it to the one Our Master has chosen for this task.”
Without hesitation, the deformed amphibian turned, hopped through the underbrush to the lake, and jumped in. It struck out westward, headed for the opening of the river, and swam upstream toward the town of Riverhaven. The sky turned brighter as its distance from the island increased. Reaching the town, the toad left the water and zeroed in on its destination. It hadn’t gotten far when nearby squeals of laughter from children at the local nursery school diverted the courier from its task. Dedication giving way to desire, the toad diverted its course for a brief visit to the playground. It was drooling at the tasty-looking young things when whap! everything went black, and the toad found itself trapped under a cardboard box, the jubilant word—”Gotcha!”— ringing in its ears.
© T. D. Reid
