The Demon

Chapter 1-Phaemoria

I hate this. I have always hated this. I hate how the village smells when the fires burn bright at night, I hate the sound the mothers make when they wail as their children are taken away from them to become Druids of the Moon. The elders of my village say there is no greater purpose than to belong fully to the Moon. The Moon Goddess protects us, shelters us, keeps us hidden from the demons outside the village, and in return, we offer her children to become Druids.

I never wanted to be a Druid. I never wanted to set the fires and dance to the sound of the wailing. I was happy playing with my friends, daring each other to venture into the woods just to see how far we were willing to go. There were so many stories and legends about the demons that lived beyond the brush. I never believed the stories. I had never seen a demon, so why would I believe they existed? I would not have believed that other races existed had a human not wandered into our village once.

I needed to escape. I needed to stop hearing the mothers cry and the sounds of the father's trying to comfort their mates. The hushed voices stating that all would be well and it was the Goddess' wish that their child be taken to become a Druid and learn magic. I pushed my way through the crowds gathering at the altar, ignoring the whispers demanding to know where I was going. We were all supposed to be together at the Taking. We were all supposed to rejoice and celebrate the new lives that the selected children would experience. I couldn't, I wouldn't. I would not celebrate someone's choices being removed from them. If the children fought or argued, they would, in turn be sacrificed to the Moon. They would be deemed as impure, unworthy of breathing if they refused to receive the Moon's gifts.

Phae! Phae, stop!" I heard a familiar voice call from behind me. The voice was always behind me, it would follow me into the dark if I asked it to. I paused my movements and turned, now free from the crowds and the judgmental eyes.

"Tate...go back. Go be with the others. Enjoy the festivities." I tried to sound hopeful for him, I tried to soothe him and make him believe that everything was okay. That I would be returning to celebrate the children's new lot in life.

"Phae? Where are you going? Why are you leaving?" He ran his fingers through his long hair, his elven ears twitching a bit as he spoke. His teal colored eyes were full of concern and worry.

"Oh love, I...I can't do this anymore. I can't pretend anymore. There has to be more to life than, well, this." I moved my arm towards the festivities. "This is cruel, this is not fair. I don't want to be a part of it." I tried to explain, my voice more full of pain than I intended for it to be.

What do you mean? This is all we know. Where will you go? You will die if you cross the barrier. The brush keeps us safe from the creatures beyond from the Demons. Phae, you cannot go." he begged. Tate was my childhood friend, my dearest friend. The man I would have married had my wants and needs been different. He reached forward and took my hands, squeezing them with urgency. "Please."

"I'm sorry, Tate." I pulled my hands free and rushed towards my home, needing to pack the essentials and a bit of food. I could hear Tate calling after me, begging still in his voice but my mind was made up. I was done, I was going to leave. I would forge my own path, whatever that may be.

I opened the door to my bedroom, the house empty as my parents were at the celebration. They hadn't even noticed my sudden disappearance. It wouldn't be long, though, until Tate found them and told. I knew that he would do whatever it would take to keep me here, to keep me close to him. I shoved a few clothing items into my bag and food to last at least a few days before I rushed out the door. I could see my parents coming, my mother's face covered in worry and fear, my father's long strides bringing him quickly in my direction. Biting my lip, I took off running towards the woods. I knew that once they met the brush, they would stop. They were afraid. Everyone was afraid. The only ones who weren't were the Druids. They knew the truth of what lay ahead of me, but none of them spoke the truth of the forest or what lay within.

I could feel my skirts being snagged on the brambles as I entered the darkness of the forest, my head low as I ran. I refused to look back even as I heard the pain in my mother's voice as she called for my return. I felt a tear slide down my cheek, but that would be the only one I would allow to fall. I made this choice. I wanted it. I wanted more than what my small, secluded village could offer me.

I ducked beneath some low hanging tree limbs and let out a loud cry as I slipped and tumbled down a small hill, landing hard on my chest, the wind getting knocked from me. I let out a groan, rolled onto my back, and stared upwards. There was nothing to see but leaves and branches. The forest wasn't nearly as frightening as we were lead to believe, but it did appear a bit foreboding when you were completely alone. I sat up and rubbed my chest, feeling small scratches where my clothes had not protected my skin. "Well, this is off to a great start." I drug myself to my feet and appraise my surroundings. I could no longer hear my mother's voice nor any sound from the village. My running had taken me deep into the wood, away from everything I knew, and while slightly fearful, I was free. Free. Free. I was free. This was a new feeling, terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time.

Dropping my bag, I began to gather small pieces of wood and twigs, dry things in which to start a fire. I knew little of survival in the woods and on my own, but I would do my best to survive. I had to. There was no going back. How could I? How could I run away and then return with my tail between my legs? I had way more pride than what would allow such a thing. I began to hum to myself, trying to soothe a little bit of my hurt pride. I didn't know what I expected to happen, not really. Did I just think that I would run into the woods, find a little hut already prebuilt, and a warm fire just waiting for me? A warm fire, warm food, and a warm bed? Then it hit me. The gravity of what I had done. The consequences of my decisions. I felt my knees quiver and soon found myself back on the ground, my fingers clutching what few dry pieces of wood I could find, and the tears came. Not even tears, sobs. I was alone, I was alone in the woods, away from everything I had ever known, anything I've ever loved. I was away from my mother, my father, my sisters, my Tate. I clutched the pieces of kindling to my chest and sobbed hard, oblivious to anything around me, absorbed in my self-inflicted pain. What would I do? How could I survive this?

I did not hear the soft noises behind me, I did not feel the presence that was soon close to me. "Why are you crying?" The voice was velvet, husky, and full of charm and danger. I scrambled to my feet, dropping the kindling and backing away. What appeared to be a man sat on his haunches staring at me. His skin was not natural, it held a grey hue to it, his eyes black, red rims where his irises should be. He smiled, surprisingly softly.