The Beast

Greengrove, a village not too far from Hollow's Kingdom. It was a small village only four families lived there. They were Ashdown, Bennet, Rofle and Ward. Bennet happened to be the biggest family there. The families in the village never talked in the day oddly. Only at night they would gather around a fire and talk.

The Ashdown family is the smallest, a father and a son. Achard and Alis Ashdown. Achard possesses extraordinary skills with a sword. His son Alis is a master blacksmith, providing the king's guards and on one occasion the king himself with armour. Achard never discussed his wife's disappearance, some say he murdered her.

Bennet the less fortunate family, also the biggest. Had one boy and two girls. Janet, Etheldreda and Audrey, and of course Alister (father) and Gorda (mother). Gorda had the vision of an eagle, she hunted for the food. The rest of the family lacked in qualities.

The Rofle family or commonly known in Hollow's Kingdom as the cursed ones because of their white eyes. They don't have any skills in combat or blacksmiths. Oh, no with the knowledge  Beval (father) and Silas (daughter) learns  from the elders (ancestors) they can call on the elements to aid them when they are in need of help.

The Ward family possessed multiple qualities. Edgar was taught how to hunt by Gorda. Holden lacked qualities but had a strange obsession with books. Aura (mother) had been blessed by the gods themselves granting her powerful abilities. The king titled her "Aura - Protector of kingdoms".

Oh, it was a glorious morning at Greengrove. The birds singing, the smell of eggs being fried. A door slams back making a loud sound out runs young Edgar with his bow running towards the Bennets
"EDGAR WHERE IN THE BLASTED HEAVENS DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING!?" Yelled Aura from the window.
 "Hunting MOM!"
"I'm not holding you as a prisoner!" said Aura.
 "I know mum!"
 " THEN STOP ACTING LIKE ONE. Every morning you do it."
Edgar lets out a laugh "Just you wait till you get home"
 "Oooooh! someone's in trouble" said Holden.
"Shut up and go read your books!" said Edgar with a grumpy look on his face.
Holden looked at his brother and took a breath "Please be safe Edgar"
"HA! Don't worry kid I have arrows to defend myself, you have books so you stay safe!"
Holden smiled at his brother. They always poked fun at each other.
Gorda is frying her eggs while whistling. Edgar notices Gorda distracted and decided to creep up on her
"BOOOO!" shouts Edgar.
Gorda had almost knocked her eggs over "EDGAR. You scared me half to death, why would you do that?"
with a cheeky smile on his face, "Light footsteps remember?"
Gorda laughs "I've taught you well."
"Yeah, yeah!" said Edgar.
He was in such a rush to go hunting "Come on, hurry it up!" says Edgar with whilst aiming his at a tree with his tongue sticking out and one eye closed.
 "Can I at least have my breakfast?"
 "Hmmmm....NO.," says Edgar.
 "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't have my breakfast"
 "Because.....if you're hungry you'll want the hunt more!"
Gorda stares at Edgar with a smirk on her face and eggs dripping from her bread.
"Whats with the face?"
"You know what, you're right. Let's go hunting" Edgar jumps with joy "Let's go women!" and runs ahead.
With no company but his books, Holden was curious what books the Rofle family had.
"Mum!"  
"Yes, Holden?"
"I'm going to ask Mr Bevel for a book!"
Aura was confused because Holden never leaves his room "O, Ok Holden, try not to bother him for too long."
"I won't mum!"
as Holden walked towards Bevels home Aura shook her head and thought "Boy, something new happens every day."
Holden headed towards Bevels home with a straight posture and an emotionless face. Holden tried his best to not display public emotion. He get's to the door and knocks on it
"Mr Bevels are you home? It's me, Holden."
Bevel opens the door "Ah young Holden. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I've read all of my books and I was wondering if you have any?"
Holden looks at Bevel with a blank stare
"My you are a strange one." said Bevel."
"I'm not strange. I just don't want people to know what I'm feeling is all."
 "Ah, smart. But still strange."
"Have you got a book or not?" asked Holden.
"Of course, step inside," said Bevel
Holden closes the door behind him and was greeted with the smell of Ashroses and Cherrieleafs. As Holden followed Bevel he saw paintings on the wall. One was a map of the kingdom and the other of his late wife Solionis.
"Who is that?" asked Holden.
"My wife." "What happened to her?"
Bevel looked at Holden with sadness "That is not a story for children."
"I might be a boy but I'm much tougher than you think," claimed Holden.
"You're mum wouldn't like me telling you such a story. Here, a book I use to read when I was your age"
 the title of the book was "The Cursed Ones".
Holden looked at Bevel with confusion "You won't tell me about your wife but you give me a book about the cursed ones?"
"It's the story of my people. It explains why our eyes are white" said Bevel.
"Huh, I always wanted to ask you about that. I guess this will answer any questions I have."
"If it doesn't, come ask me."
"Thank you!"
"Run along back home now."
As Holden is walking back home he thought to himself
"Darn it, I forgot to ask him for a Ashrose!"
Holden gets's home and walks up to his mother "Mom, how did Mr Bevel's wife die?"
Aura clutches the broom she was cleaning the floor with so tight that it almost snapped in her hands. "Tha, that's none of your business Holden. Stop being nosey."
"But when I asked Mr Bevel about her he said you wouldn't approve of him telling me such stories."
Aura kneels down to Holden with the broom still in her hand. "What happened to Solionis was evil. You have no need to know. Please don't ask Mr Bevel about it again. I'm being serious about this Holden!"
Holden see's the worry in his mother's eyes "Okay mother."
"Promise?"
Holden shrugs his shoulders "I promise."
Aura smiles and then she sees the mess Holden brought in on his shoes "Honestly Holden how hard is it to walk on the dry part of the ground and not the wet part?"
Holden rolls his eyes and heads up to his room where he can read the book that Bevel had given him.
Laying on his bed Holden opened the book up and saw the first chapter "The Protectors". He heard stories but never had he saw them mentioned in a book. The thought that the book might answer questions he had made him very excited because the stories that were told gave very little detail and gave no answers. He read the first paragraph: "The Protectors were unmatched in battle no one could rise against them for they were sent by the gods themselves. They were sent to protect those who could not protect themselves from the evils of the world. Once each of them was born the gods granted each with a gift. Seven Protectors so seven gifts. Strenght, Elemental Powers, Huntress and the power to control the light." Holden became ecstatic from the thought of having one of these blessings. He continued to read "Wizardry, Telekinesis and Resurrection. These were the blessings the gods had given to The Protectors for they knew the battles which they would face would be great."
"Holden, Audrey is here!" shouted Aura.
"Coming mum!".
Holden rushed down the stairs with the book in his hand "MUM! This book is about The Protectors!"
"No way!" says Audrey.
"GIVE ME THAT BOOK. NOW." yelled Aura with anger in her voice
"BUT MU"
"HOLDEN NOW!"
Holden was so upset and was confused why his mother was so angry at him for reading the book.
"Was this the book Bevel gave you?" asked Aura
"Yeah, that's the one."
"Run along with your friend now, go!"
As the boys walked out Audrey said "Oh wow! What did you find out?"
Aura was worried about how much Holden knew. She was furious.
Aura rushed over to Bevels banging on his door really loud
"OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR!!!"
Bevel opened the door and Aura quickly pushed him up against the wall with her hand around his throat
"HOW DARE YOU GIVE THIS TO MY SON. YOU OF ANYONE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT WAS A BAD IDEA."
 Bevel taking short breaths "The boy is old enough to know the truth. He NEEDS to know the truth!"
Aura makes a tight grip around his neck "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't break your neck!"
"We don't have to do this,"
but Aura's grip got tighter so Bevel had to do something to defend himself from her. He whispers "Shal-oruia"
roots raised from the ground wrapping around Aura's body and slamming her up against the wall. Bevel now had Aura by the neck for he could control the elements.
"Holden came to me and asked for a book, he then started asking questions about my wife. A woman that loved him, she loved him so much that she DIED FOR HIM."
It was real anger in Bevel's voice for all this time he has held a grudge against Aura.
"He's just a boy!" cried Aura
"Please Bevel don't take him of his innocence, please I am begging you it will destroy him! PLEASE,"
Aura was in tears. The sheer thought of her son finding out the truth sent her into madness.
"You can't hide it forever. One day he will return for him. ONE DAY HE WILL NOT BE READY AND YOU WILL LOSE HIM. HE WILL HAVE THE SAME FAITH AS MY SOLIONIS!"
Aura with her head down looking at the floor, crying uncontrollably
"I will tell him, I will tell him tonight, but please you must be there with me. I fear the worst might awaken in him."
Bevel agreed and let Aura out. As she was walking back to her home she saw Holden playing and laughing.
"I'm so, so sorry Holden," said Aura in a quite voice.
She walked in home and closed her door where she would cry alone. As Aura cried and begged the gods to free her son of his faith she began to hear a happy voice
"Mum, mum! Look what I killed!"
Edgar and Gorda had returned from hunting with a rabbit
"Oh, how charming of you Edgar!" says Aura while putting her hand over her nose because of the smell.
"Can we cook it tonight mum, please oh please!?" begged Edgar with blood and muck on his hands.
"Okay, Edgar we will cook it tonight. Now go clean up you're beginning to smell worse than the rabbit!"
Edgar tosses the rabbit onto the table and runs outside to clean up like he was told.
"He will be a great hunter one day," says Gorda whilst looking out at Edgar.
"Yeah, one day." says Aura, wiping her eyes.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine" claimed Aura in a shakey voice.
Gorda was no fool she knew something was wrong she, hasn't seen her friend Aura cry since the death of their dear friend Solionis.
"I know something is up, I am not stupid." Gorda reaches out to Aura placing her hand on her shoulder letting Aura know she is there for her.
"Tell me Aura...what is bothering you?"
With pain in her heart, she raised her head and met eyes with Gorda
"I'm such a fool" cried Aura.
"Bevel is right." says Aura.
"Right about what?"
"Holden. I can't keep him from the truth. Bevel gave him a book about The Protectors"
"What's wrong with that? It tells of the great battle we fought."
Aura is starting to get angry
"What's WRONG with it? Have you forgotten what happened, have you forgotten what was sacrificed?"
The children of the protectors did not know of their parents past. They did not know they were protectors.
Gorda sighs "I haven't forgotten"
"If Holden finds out about th-"
Gorda interrupts Aura "He will not find out about it."
"Bevel thinks I am going to tell him tonight..."
Gorda and Aura knew if Holden finds out it will awaken a demonic malevolent beast which sleeps in Holden. If this beast was to be woken the world once more will suffer a great cost.
Holden, Silis and Edgar rush in
"Mum, can we go to the hut that Edgar found?!"
"Of course sweety. Don't be gone too long."
"Thanks, mum! We just need to ask Mr Bevel if Silis can come too!"
Silis runs up to her father breathless for running up a hill
"Easy Silis, breathe," said Bevel
"Dad, Edgar found a hut while he was hunting and he said it had Volixes in it! Can I go with them please dad, please!?" Volixes are fairy-like creatures. Much kinder than fairies.
"Where is this hut at?"
"It's just across the lake Mr Bevel," says Edgar with a smile on his face and such adventure in his eyes.
"Okay, why not?"
"Thank you, dad!"
As they ran towards the lake Bevel looked at Holden with so much anger and hate. If someone stood beside Bevel they would smell his hatred. He decided to follow the children, he knew he could get his revenge on Aura.
"It would be a shame if something happened to the boy" a voice whispered.
The voice sounded familiar it was Solionis's voice. Bevel knew what had to be done and so he followed the children.
"Ha, I'll be the first one inside and I'll be the first one to be granted a wish" says Edgar.
"Not before I get in" says Holden.
Silis saw her father behind them
"Dad?"
"Everything will be alright Silis just stay back," says Bevel with such anger and hatred in his voice. Silis did not recognise her father.
"NO DON'T GO IN!!!" Shouted Silis trying to warn the boys
Roots wrapped around her mouth to keep her quite
"I don't think it's a good idea to be here Edgar let's leave," says Holden
"Aww, you're such an idiot Holden! She's only saying that so she can get a wish before us!"
Holden sensed something very, very bad and begged his brother to leave.
"PLEASE EDGAR. Let's go home!" pleaded Holden.
Edgar felt the worry in his brother's voice
"Ugh, okay fine! Let's go home"
It was too late.
"FIRE...." says Bevel while focusing on the hut the boys were in.
The boys felt the floor beneath them heat up rapidly but before they could get to the door the hut was up in flames. Gorda and Aura saw the smoke and rushed out to only see Bevel and Silis standing.
Gorda and Aura were horrified to of noticed the boys were inside of the hut.
"NOOOO!" Screamed Aura from the top of her lungs falling on her knees to the ground for she did not lose 1 son, she lost two.
"WHY?" cried Aura, looking at Bevel.
"YOU DID THIS!!?" Roared Gorda
"It had to be done. She or you wasn't going to do it! We agreed that Holden would have to die."
"We did NOT agree to this Bevel and don't you DARE say we did!" says Gorda
Aura was on the ground in pain knowing that her two boys have just been burned alive.
"I will never see them again..."
Aura looked at Bevel with such anger it could crush the very soul of a person. Aura stood up about to strike Bevel down. An unspeakable force froze them in place. They could not speak. Outwalks Holden with Edgar in his arms. He walked through the fire, it did not affect him in any way. It did not burn his skin nor his hair the fire moved when he approached it, it was if he controlled the fire. Holden drops his brother's corpse at his mother's feet smiling. This was not Holden. Their fears had come true the beast had returned. Eyes blood red and skin ash black with scars of energy on his body. It approached Bevel gripping him by the neck Bevel's body shattered into ash before his daughters very eyes.
"You will all burn" claimed the beast as his body turned into ash and travelled with the wind.