Redemption - Prologue. Prologue

This is not simply one story, it is in fact three separate stories that tie together, tightly, as they grow towards a single, unified climax. These stories are set in the same universe as my other story, The Guardians, but several years down the line, so the events which will be told in future chapters of The Guardians have already occurred. However, whether you have read the The Guardians or not, don't worry. While several characters carry over, these stories are separate tales. While reading The Guardians may enrich these tales, and possibly provide you with information you might not otherwise have, you should be able to read these completely separately. What information you need from The Guardians will be provided, and conversely, I anticipate very few spoilers to ruin any future reading of The Guardians you may choose to do.

Once again, I owe a thanks to my editors and to Lord Roland. Without my editors, this work would be far, far harder to read as, quite frankly, I'm horrible at spelling and punctuation. While my grasp of spoken language is great, the difference between 'your' and 'you're' is one I screw up far to often, much less using 'it's' for the possessive form and 'its' for a contraction of 'it is' (or is it the other way around?). Lord Roland has graciously put up with my many... eccentricities... and agreed to host this story; thank you again for being a wonderful friend as well as my webhost.

I bring you three stories (and please forgive the melodrama):

Jer and Billy, best friends from birth, face trials they cannot imagine. For Jer, a father injured in heart and soul years ago. He must be healed, for they will both play a role in events to come. Billy faces horror beyond his dreams. His parents, seeking to protect him, have told him a lie of unbelievable cruelty. After finding the truth, he must place together the scattered shards of a life, shattered beyond repair. Both shall find strength within the other, though they are doomed to break each others hearts.

Hector and Eddie have never met, but their destinies grow closer to each other. Eddie's love for his parents will be tested to the limit as they are taken from him by Hector's father, and Hector will participate in the horror of 'enlightening' Eddie. But not all will go as planned, and they shall find in their relationship a friendship neither could have imagined, and a strength that might save or destroy all they hold dear.

The love Dillon and Brian feel is doubly damned in the south, where racism though dieing remains a force to be reckoned with, as is homophobia. Dill's riches are targeted by a group willing to strike at Bri's little brother, and events will spiral out of control as Dill and Bri fall farther and farther apart. Driven by the love for each other, they will face the trials ahead and emerge with power beyond their wildest dreams... but power corrupts.

Prolouge
Years have passed. The "Mage War" ravaged an entire city, but the people of that city survived. The four surviving Guardians and their immediate families are hidden. By Presidential Order backed by Congressional Resolution they are lost even to the federal government, hidden by witness protection then erased from its databases. The Guardian Order is no more, disbanded as it's members chose to give up, having "given too much and too freely of ourselves to continue."

Governments, suddenly aware of the power of magic and the danger it poses tirelessly seek ways to combat it. While the Mage War proved that soldiers are far from powerless against those who possess magic, without a solid core of mages to support them they will be at a tremendous disadvantage against any force who can field mages. Though with the Guardians gone, and the Arch destroyed, there seems no way to bring that force back, forewarned is forearmed. So governments seek, prepare, and plan, for what if someone, somewhere, does have mages?

Cloaked in black, a man strode down the street careful to keep to the shadows. No one would recognize him, and nothing would incriminate him, but he'd rather not be seen anyways. Better safe than sorry, and it wasn't like he was keeping as low a profile as he really should be. His hand strayed down to his side, where his weapon hung. The axe was clearly handcrafted and spoke both of lethal power and hard use. The man didn't know why he had it with him, he never carried it anymore. There was no need, and it was hard to hide. But instinct prompted him, and after all these years he'd never unlearned the habit of listening to it. Even if the Guiding was lost to him now.

A strangling cough from off to the left startled him, and he spun to face the alley he was pacing as his hand grasped the axe strongly just below the head. "No need to worry youngster, I'm not here to cause trouble," an old man rasped out.

"Forgive me, sir, I didn't see you there," the younger man replied, shifting backwards a little. There was no reason to be perturbed, but instinct was screaming.

"Oh, I know you didn't. I wanted to talk you, young man," the older man rasped out before coughing again. "I have an offer for you. One that you should consider very, very carefully before rejecting."

"An offer?" the younger man asked warily.

"Yes. But first a little preliminary," the older man said. "This deal, should you take it, will be binding upon all of us. And by us, I mean those that stand with the Dark Eternal."

"The Dark Eternal?" the younger man asked, eyes widening. "I haven't heard that name since..." his shocked whisper trailed off, eyes staring into the past. "What is your deal?" he asked, stance shifting subtly.

"Step aside. Continue if you must these charitable side trips, we will not begrudge you them," the older man stepped a little into the light, standing taller and strong. "But when you feel our hand on a situation, just stand aside and let events occur as they will."

"And if I do?" the younger man asked warily.

"You and your family will be off limits and protected. No harm shall come to you and yours. There are limits on that -- your son has chosen his friends poorly, fallen in love with one who... we have plans for. And should another of our plans go awry, he shall meet and fall in love with another boy who we cannot allow to live."

The younger man's jaw clenched. "All this for the low, low price of my soul. Oh, and no warranties included, much less guarantees," he sneered.

"Hardly. Simply step aside and do not act. Keep to your supposed retirement, and the deal will be held. And I speak directly for the Dark Eternal, my word binds all of his minions."

"All of his minions, yeah ri- Wait... what did you say about my son?" the younger man asked. "He shall fall in love with... He's gay?!"

"A father does not know his own son, hrrrrm?" the older man laughed. "Consider our deal... And know that my word truly does bind all of the Dark Eternal's minions. The darkness shall not seek to bring harm to you and yours unless you seek to oppose us."

"Strangely enough," the younger man said with a sigh, "I do believe you. But I already have your answer for you."

"Oh?" the older man asked, curious. "So quickly have you decided! What is your answer?"

"Get thee behind me, Satan!" the younger man growled.

"A poor choice... remember, your acts shall protect your child, or doom him. Are you certain of your answer?"

"You threaten my child," the younger man roared angrily, drawing his weapon and raising it into the air. "I am Paul Koken! I am a master of the martial arts, adept of the mystic arts, and a survivor of the final battle with the Sentinels! You dare threaten me?!"

"Indeed," the older man hissed, drawing back into the shadows. "Attack me not, Child of Light, for I possess power you cannot counter! The Dark Eternal shall answer my call and you cannot strike me down!"

"I am a Guardian. And we know but one way to deal with scum like you." Roaring, Paul swung his axe with all his might as he charged forward, bringing it down on the defenseless head of the older man.

But a flash of red-orange fire erupted and tossed him back, rolling to regain his feet. As he rose, the old man held in his hands a sword crafted of dark orange fire and swept it at him. From inside instinct again prompted Paul, but this time he felt the difference. It was no longer instinct from inside him, but a veritable battering ram of external prompting. "Jesus Christ stand with me!" he roared, as his axe suddenly came aglow, a brilliant white light consuming the head as he swept it around in another strike, deflecting the old man's sword.

For the first time in millennia, the forces of Light and Dark dueled directly with each other upon the surface of the Earth. For those few with the senses to feel it, the entire planet shook with the force of that conflict.