Shatter - Sins of the Sidhe Read Free Page B

bury his family. What cares had he for such petty things as family and love? Druids were few and only barely more than human and certainly not as superior as the Fae. Lorcan did not think they were worth the trouble that the Gods put into helping them all the time. Fools. All of them are weak and stupid fools.
     
    Never looking back, Lorcan stepped into the abandoned realm and looked around. The place was dark, hard, and as cold as his soul... if he had a soul. “This will do for now.”
     
    Walking around the cavernous dwelling, Lorcan had to come up with a plan to gain his powers back. It took much time and risk to figure out how to gain energy, but eventually Lorcan figured it out. He started collecting the weak souls left wondering the moors by luring them with promises of light and peace – a simple ploy that worked time and time again for the desperate and needy spirits. They’d come to him for help and peace, and he’d suck them dry of their energy. Every soul added a precious bit of power to his stripped magic. Soul by soul, Lorcan slowly started to build his powers again. Each one he drained turned into shadows and eventually demons.
     
    That was the beginning of The Darkness .
     
    As time passed, Lorcan grew stronger with every soul he snared and brought back to his dominion. It wasn’t long before he created a small army of his own. Scouring the countryside, Lorcan ordered his shadows to have the remaining Druids in Scotland brought back to him dead or alive in his hasty attempt to get rid of the one who gave him entrance to his realm. It was something he should have done immediately, but was too distracted at the time to think clearly. Stupid and eager, greedy and short-sighted, that’s what Lorcan had been that day. The little twerp had no doubt run to tell whatever Fae was helping him about what had happened. Lorcan was sure that the boy’s misuse of magic would cost him is life. The Gods did not take kindly to rule breakers and trespassers. Not wanting to risk the chance of the Druid’s survival, Lorcan captured or slaughtered all Druids he could find in Scotland over the next few years and feasted on their souls and sucked in their power and energy. Twas a glorious feast indeed.
     

     
    It was all Adam’s fault. Adam had been charged by the Goddess Morrigan to tutor the Druid fledgling in the ways of Fae magic but had not explained the necessary precautions against their trickery. Sidhe and all other Fae are generally cunning and self-serving. Adam had barely started on his lessons with the boy before realizing it was going to be nothing short of a miracle to tame his youthful curiosity of small trivial magics. It had only been a few months since Adam was sent to the young boy, and getting him to pay attention was harder than getting a hobgoblin to bathe. The child was hard-headed, young, and preoccupied with thoughts of battle and bravery. Adam had sympathy for the boy, left alone to care for his mother and younger sister while his father and older brothers fought a battle far from home – twas tough to be left behind. Being a warrior himself, Adam still craved the sensations that came with battle: bloodlust, adrenaline and rage. ‘Tis a fine wine that should be enjoyed drop by bloody drop.
     
    And now instead of fighting a war with men, like he was created to do, Adam was fighting another type battle with a wilful child. Truly, the boy had the attention span of a gnat and was more interested in lighting candles and chatting with the animals in the wood than learning the deeper arts. But Adam reminded himself time and time again that it was a beginning, and they had time to train. Or so he thought.
     
    Every Druid had the same duty, but is given a special gift that was unique to them. Some Druids could manipulate time, others could control the weather, and some, like this boy, could talk with animals. There were several other powers and gifts that the Gods bestowed upon the Druids for their