The darkness dissipated slowly and the reddish glow of the sunset glimmered gently through his eyelids. Sol opened his eyes slowly. He hadn’t moved. He was still where he had found his brothers. Still deep in the forest. The sun was still setting, almost no time seems to have passed. He sighed heavily, body trembling, soaked in his own sweat it was as though he had been submerged in ice water. The giggling voices of his brother could be heard in the distance, they called to him to catch up to them through the thicket. What exactly had happened? As he sat there on his hands and knees, he desperately tried to recall what had just happened. His breathing was still unven and his body heavy. It was a sudden rustling from the bushes that snapped him back to reality. With barely time to react, he slammed his body forward to hide himself in the undergrowth, praying whatever it was wouldn’t see him. Shit!!...he thought, this wasnt the time for this, who knew what lurked in here. When nightfall came he would be as good as dead, he had to get up, get up and run, back, back home where it was safe. But his body wouldnt listen. His screaming muscles refused to budge, he had no strength left.

“Are you alright boy?” a gruff voice inquired “why are you hiding there? Who are you? Are you hurt? How did you come here?”

This voice was rougher than the whispers in the dark and somehow that thought was oddly comforting. Even though this was a stranger he had never met before he felt safe and reassured.  Sol hazarded a glance at the figure who stood infront of him. Trembling he took in his appearance cautiously. Here stood a handsome man, he was short possibly only a head taller than Sol himself. He was broad shouldered and muscular; he had a few scars that covered his forearms and two on his face giving him a rough look. One of his horns was completely snapped off and his skin was tanned. Despite his rough and dangerous look he had a soft and gentle gaze. His kind grey eyes for searched Sol roving over his body to determine if he was injured or for any clue as to why this child, who was lying in the mud with tears streaming down his face, was so desperate looking. After confirming he wasn’t hurt, the man kneeled before him and reached out his hands, gently raising im off the ground and to his feet. He placed his rough hand on his shoulder and spoke to him as if he was encouraging some small frightened animal out of its hiding place.

 “If you’re not hurt, I can take you with me out of here, I have a friend who lives nearby his name is Asmodious he’s a good man. It's not much but he could give you shelter for the night, a place by his hearth to warm yourself and even a warm meal to fill your belly. Would you allow me to take you there? I could help you find your way home tomorrow once the sun rises but it would be best to leave now before the beasts come out.” he coaxed him gently

Sol didn’t know if it was his kind words, or the fact that he was willing to help a stranger he just met, or maybe it was the fact that he was a friend of his fathers but he lowered his guard completely he desperately clung to the front of his shirt. He sobbed, quietly, choking back his tears he felt his muscular arms wrap themselves around him pulling him into a warm consoling hug. Sol felt himself being lifted from the ground. His eyes closed tightly as the cold air stung. He gripped tightly to the man who was holding him. feeling embarrassed. It didn't matter, he could barely move let alone leave the forest if it meant he could safely leave, then he could endure a little embarrassment. Moving through the forest he could hear crackling of leaves beneath heavy boots and the thumping of the man’s heartbeat in his chest filled his ears; the smell of the forest from the mud to the musty smell of dead leaves, and the sounds of the animals skittering through the trees and bushes. A murmuring sound could be heard, a warm familiar voice sounded though Sol couldn’t make out the words it sounded worried. He was far to exhausted and drained. A pair of slender arms hooked him out of the other man’s hold, taking him into a slender yet toned chest. This warmth was familiar. It was father. The two men were talking, their voices anxious but Sol couldnt make out the words nor open his eyes, weariness and exhaustion overtook him and in his fathers arms he drifted off into a peaceful sleep.  Looking down at Sol in his arms Asmodious brow furrowed with worry and he let out a sigh.

“Shhh…there there, shh it’s okay child I'm here, don't worry you’re safe,” he soothed him gently.

 He wiped the lingering tears from his eyes. He must have cried himself to sleep Asmodious thought.

Asmodious sat him down on the couch and knelt before him lighlty brushing his hand against his cheeks.

Groggily Sol opened his eyes.

“What happened child? Why are you crying? What's wrong?” He asked worriedly

“I don't know. I don't know what happened. One minute I was playing happily with my brothers, the next minute it was dark there was nothing and no one, .... just darkness.” HIs head drooped; he didn’t know how to explain what had just happened.

“We should let the boy rest and gather his thoughts, talk to him in the morning.” said the man who had found Sol appearing beside Asmodious.

“I agree. Come Sol let me take you to bed.” he held out his hand to Sol and smiled gently at him as he grasped it.

He escorted him to his room, tucked him into bed and gently stroked his head affectionately, until he fell fast asleep once more. He softly clasped his hand in his. With a worried expression upon his face he pressed his hand to his forehead with a sigh and set it down gently beside him. As he got up to leave something caught his eye, a dark shape that wasn’t there before. It was the shape of a Crescent moon completely black. 'Where did this come from?...' Asmodiousmuttered to himself as he reached out his long slender index finger and gently brushed it against the mark. He snatched his hand away violently as an electrifying pain coursed up his arm filling his body, it was excruciating; it took his entire willpower not to shout out in agony lest he wake up Sol. As quickly as the pain came it was gone again but the lingering phantom of that sensation tingled throughout his body making it tremble. Traces of the mark clung to his fingertip darkening his pale skin almost as if he had a bruise. Asmodious looked down at Sol seeing him sleeping soundly it was clear he hadnt experienced the same pain, with that Asmodious swiftly left the room closing the door behind him. He checked in on the twins Sam and Michael who were also sound asleep, they had already tired themselves out and had practically passed out as soon as the got home, their snores echoing. Asmodious left them be, as he stood at the top of the stairs, he had a curious thought. Bracing himself, he cautiously touched his fingertip to his thumb anticipating the same pain again. Nothing happened. He looked at his finger and thumb he had certainly touched them together, but nothing had happened. Looking closely at this finger where the mark should have been it was no longer there. Perplexed, he rubbed his forehead this was going to need further investigation. Slowly walking down the staircase; pondering to himself about what had happened. The after effects of the pain from touching Sol still coursed through his body as a painful reminder that he wasn’t imaging things. What was going on? It had been nearly eighteen years and so far they had managed to avoid anything bad happening to him, but these events had an omnious feeling to them and gave Asmodious a sense of foreboding. Was this the beginning? Had it started already? It was too soon... Still it seemed like it was time to finally begin taking action.