Unto the Breach - Prologue
By Amira Di Abeo
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011 Amira Di Abeo
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Prologue
The Soloist gasped as his last breath escaped his lips. He tried to block the blade, but was powerless as it sliced through his body, the cut so clean that he felt nothing until the hot blood began to pour out of his insides. On the verge of death, he reached out towards his killer.
Laertes grinned behind his mask. Another Soloist slain by his very own hand.
“Things won are done...” he whispered, “...Joy’s soul lies in the doing!”
With a sharp motion, he quickly removed his blade from his victim’s body, sending drops of dark blood splattering in all directions.
The Scribe laughed and moved to sheath his blade. But as he did so, he felt a cold hand touch his. The piercing cold of its grip shocked him. He looked down to see the dying Soloist, the blood drained from his face. The corpselike figure lifted his head and stared directly into Laertes’ eyes. He returned the gaze.
It was then that the Scribe knew he had made a mistake.
The eyes that Laertes met were filled with contempt and fear. They burned with misery and affliction. As tears fell, those eyes stripped Laertes of his pride, his courage, and his self-righteousness, hollowing out his conscience until there was nothing left but a shell of empty sorrow and self hatred.
Those eyes. The eyes of an Auditor.
And then came the music.
The beautiful, heartbreaking music.
Softly at first, like a whisper amongst the breeze, came the eerie strum of a single violin, sounding out a single note. But soon it was joined by the unmistakable sound of a piano’s keys, each tone pounding sadness into the Scribe’s weakened mind. The music heightened as more instruments joined in unison, becoming a symphony of eternal despair, every note strung together in flawless harmony, its sounds so bewitchingly stirring, overwhelming the Scribes’ mind with emotions indescribable. Unbearable. Irresistible.
Laertes could not look away from those tear-glistened orbs, nor could he withstand the haunt of such transcendental music. He had lost his will to resist. Never before had he felt such mighty sadness, never before had he had such an urge to cry out to the heavens and curse them for inflicting such pain upon his mortal heart. As he cried freely, he knew he had succumbed to Melody - the ultimate weapon of the Order of Beethoven.
The dying Soloist tightened his clutch on Laertes’ blood-soaked arm, letting the emotions overwhelm him. Wave after wave of agony flew into the withering soul of his enemy. After every last inch of his crumbling strength was forced into the mesmerizing stare, the Soloist released his grip and fell to the ground, expired. There he lay, completely still, amongst his fallen brothers.
The music stopped.
A final tear escaped Laertes’ eyes. He breathed a sigh of relief, for it was at last ended. The misery was no more.
But feeling still gripped the Scribe’s heart. He dropped to his knees, landing with a squish in a puddle of blood. He looked at his hands, covered with mud and grime. Reflecting his heart. Why was he still feeling? It was not sadness within him, but something else. Something that had been growing within him for quite some time.
I have that within which passes show, these but the trappings and suits of woe....
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This was a preview of an upcoming novel. Feel free to comment and review; the author appreciates your feedback! If you enjoyed this author’s work, please visit her page at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AvocadoPolymath