The Heart of Fire ~Book 1~

Prologue

       The war against evil had been going on for many years. It seemed like nothing could stop it, but to a man known as Nukosha Storm, he knew it had to end somehow. He thought he could make peace with the monsters out in the world... but he was wrong. No monster would listen to him. He was a leader to mankind, but nothing to the monstrous things out in the world.

        One day Nukosha was out on the battlefield when his horse, Flash, was panicking in the stables just across from the field. Nukosha heard his horse neighing and kicking.

       "Nukosha, I think you better go see what's the matter" said a soldier, handing Nukosha his sword.

       "Is it safe to go?" he asked the soldier. He nodded.

        Nukosha ran across the field to his horse. Before he could open the gate, Flash kicked it down, which caused Nukosha to fall on his backside, "Flash! stop it right now you silly creature!" and with that, the horse calmed itself down and came out from the stable. 

        Flash nudged Nukosha to help him up. "Thanks. Now, what the hell is wrong?" Nukosha asked Flash. The horse looked at a village not too far from the stables and then looked back at his owner. He snorted and pawed at the ground. Nukosha heard footsteps coming from behind him.

         It was a stable boy. He turned to him, "What is it, young man?" 

       "It's time for you to go, Mister. Flash wants to take you," the young boy said. 

         Nukosha looked confused. It took him a minute to get what the boy was saying. "Oh, right! It is time to go!" Nukosha put Flash's saddle and the reins on the horse. He mounted and they rode off into the village. Nukosha found his house to the far end of the village and he got off his horse and ran inside and shut the door. 

         He found his wife, Kathy, laying in bed beside a crib. Pauline, the maid, got a cool cloth and put it on Kathy's forehead. 

         Pauline looked at Nukosha with a worried expression on her face, "You're late."

        "I know. What's wrong?" Nukosha put his hand on her shoulder. 

         She said, "He's not human. He is forbidden." 

         "What do you mean?" he asked her. 

         "I mean he has powers. Forbidden powers. A storm brews within his heart. He's cursed with dark magic. The baby is half-elf! Remember 5 years ago that one Dark Elf cursed your wife?" 

          "It can't be... that's impossible," 

          "Look, I know you don't believe in magic, Nukosha, but it is all around us. Those monsters you're fighting? They are made from dark magic."

          "What's taking so long?" Kathy shouted jokingly to get their attention. 

            Pauline pushed Nukosha to the side and walked out of the room. Nukosha walked over to his wife with a serious expression. 

            "Are you mad at me? You know I was joking right?" Kathy questioned.

           "No, I'm not mad at you. I want to see our son." Nukosha kissed his wife on her lips and smiled. He glanced Pauline who returned and stood in the entryway with a glass of water in her hand. He turned to his wife and she gestured towards the wooden crib next to her bed.

             Nukosha stood over the crib and he saw his son. Nukosha's eyes watered. He was terrified. 

           "His name's Mesa," Kathy said. He shut his eyes closed and turned away. His eyes shot open. He glared at Kathy. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Pauline was right. He didn't want to believe it. 

His son was a monster. Forever cursed. 

Forbidden and dangerous. Nukosha stared at Kathy.

"Get rid of it."