Renart the Unseelie (special preview)

The night was dark, and the air was thick from the rain and overwhelming heat. Sweat trickled down your skin as you tried to keep your composure. You were bored out of your mind while your father read aloud from one of his supposed holy books. The words droned on and on, and his monotonous voice neither helped nor enhanced anything he read.

You tried fanning yourself with one of the smaller boks, but your mother forced your hand down and gave you a disapproving look. You frowned, leaning back in your chair and facing forward. Your father stood behind a podium, his hand upon the open book, and a vast glass window behind him. But the darkness was all the stood out about that night. And it was so dark, not even a candle seemed to be able to peer through it.

Turning your head, you looked around the room. Others from the village had come to hear your father proselytize, and you wondered how they could stand it.

“Look forward,” your mother hissed under her breath at you.

You looked her in the eye, giving her a sarcastic sneer before you faced your father again. There seemed to be no end in sight, so you prepared yourself for an uncomfortable evening of heat and holier than thou blathering.

There was a small flash of light outside, people noticed, even your other sat up in alarm. But it had been raining all day, so a lightning storm would not be surprising. A cold chill clawed through the air, ripping shreds into the thick heat.You glanced around briefly again, only to see if the sight got anyone whispering. Your mother grabbed your hand and you looked forward with a scowl.

Red glowing eyes peered through the darkness behind your father. You sat up in alarm and others began to take notice.

“Dear! Behind you!” Your mother gasped.

Your father barely stopped talking as he turned. Once he saw the glowing red eyes, his jaw dropped and he exclaimed. “Holy mother!” He ran as glass rained down upon him. A great sword slashed through the entire window, shattering every inch of it. The visitors began scattering and running from the room. You stood up from your seat, watching the armored behemoth who stepped in through the broken glass.

The knight stood almost as tall as the ceiling, and the monstrous horns at the top of his helmet did scrape against the roof. He walked in, lifting his sword up. A cold followed him that filled the room and turned your breath into thick, white clouds. You faced him, breathless and heart beating rapidly.

The sword tapped under your chin and you raised your eyes to meet the hellish glow under his helmet. A soft chuckle escaped the devilish knight’s throat.

Behind you, your mother and father were screaming. Why they hadn’t rushe you out of the room immediately, you didn’t know. Your father tried rushing in, but a force exuded off the knight, knocking him over and blowing him back like a leaf in the wind.

“Don’t hurt him!” You fussed.

The knight breathed. “I don’t think you get to be choosy, little girl,” his voice was a deep rasp, snarling at you with a husky growling.

“That’s enough,” your voice quivered only slightly.

The knight chuckled again and he lowered his sword. “Make as many commands as you want. It doesn’t matter here.”

You swallowed and continued to stare him down. “Fine then. Do what you want.”

“Fine then,” he said and sheathed his sword. “I will.” He grabbed you up with a hand of three very long prongs and he threw you over his shoulder.

“Careful!” You hissed at him.

“Go ahead, keep on bossing me around. Just see where that gets you,” he snarled wickedly.