Free Chronicles of Darkness: Shadows and Dust by Andrea F. Thomas, Taylor Fierce

be present."
             "Little
one, we are at a festival and are supposed to have some fun. Mama will tell us
everything, I'm sure," Kyrian reminded his sister and dragged her along.
"Come on. Let's see if we can't find something interesting. Look, there
are musicians and dancers. And, if I'm not very much mistaken, there is a
puppet theater."
             At the words
'puppet theater', Skylar's eyes brightened with happiness. "Well, what are
we waiting for?" Radiant with joy, she stormed ahead.
             Kyrian
followed right behind her.
             During the
puppet show, his stomach was making itself known, loudly. He leaned over to his
sister and whispered into her ear, "I'm going to look for something to
eat. You will stay here, and you won't go anywhere. Understood? Not even when
the show is over. You will wait for me, did I make myself clear?"
             Skylar
nodded, absentminded. "Uh huh." She was completely engrossed in the
story.
             Amused,
Kyrian patted her head and left the theater in search for some nourishment.    Excited
by the play, Skylar listened intently to the final words of the puppeteer.
             "And the
moral of our story, may you be a beast or not, real beauty is found within.
    Love is the greatest
force on earth. Don't let it run dry in your heart and you will always be able
to beat evil."
                The
puppeteer bowed on the stage, to the thundering applause of the audience."Well,
my good people.That was the show for today.Thanks for
listening."
             Skylar turned
to speak to her brother, only to discover that he was no longer sitting next to
her. Wrinkling her forehead, the girl let her gaze sweep, unable to find him.
"Where could he have gone?" She rose and left the theater. "This
is just great. How am I supposed to find him in this crowd? Maybe I should start
with the food tents."
     
     
             Kyrian was
horrified upon his return. Not one soul remained at the theater. "Damn it!
I told her to wait for me!" He dashed into the crowd, searching for his
little sister."Skylar! Skylar, where are you?" Panic gripped his
heart, his eyes darted around, desperately searching for the small blonde head
somewhere, anywhere, but it seemed to be all in vain. "Damn it, damn it,
damn it! Mama will be furious if something has happened to Skylar. I shouldn't
have gotten so distracted by the female dancer. Then, I would have been back
before the show was over," he reprimanded himself.
             Frantic, he
forced his way through the crowds, asking again and again, if somebody had seen
a little girl with long, blonde hair and green-brown eyes. Nobody could help
him.
             Finally, he
reached a little tent, set aside from the others. A feeling of uneasiness rose
inside him. But something seemed to pull him to the tent. Kyrian entered and
was surprised. On the outside the tent had looked very shabby and old, but on
the inside, it was heavily decorated with carpets, silk and velvet. In the
middle, hanging from the ceiling, was a little vessel made of metal, with
light, blue steam floating out of it. The air carried the pleasant scent of
incense. Most of the room was taken up by a big, round, wooden table. A crystal
ball sat on a tablecloth of dark-blue velvet.
             While Kyrian
was taking in his surroundings, a voice croaked behind him, "Well, my boy?
What can I do for you?"
             He whirled
around and came face to face with a wrinkled, old woman.
             She coughed
strongly and limped to her chair, where she sat down, moaning and groaning.
"Dear God, but my back is aching."
             Kyrian
couldn't help but stare at her.
             "What is
wrong, boy? Didn't your mother ever tell you that it is impolite to stare? Or
is it that a cat got your tongue, or that you have never seen an old woman in
your life?" She chuckled, which ended with another