Chapter 1

Prologue

The darkness of the crossroads was broken by the flickering torchlight held aloft by three women. They strode forward with confidence, faces set with purpose.

The women's ages were hard to pin down, but the one on the left was obviously the youngest, her red hair in a plait thrown over one shoulder. The eldest stood on the right, her snowy white hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun, small lines forming as she frowned. The third stood in the middle, her hair in waves of red curls framing her face. The women bore a strong resemblance to each other, their eyes a startling blue.

A tall man with long black hair shot liberally with silver stood waiting at the center of the crossroads, seemingly unconcerned at their slow approach. In his hand he twisted a small white flower absently.

The women halted at the intersection, their expressions ranging from wary alertness to outright fury.

"Greetings, Elus, god of cunning, strength and pain," the eldest said, her voice firm.

"Greetings, Ladies Hecate. Kitty, Kate, and Kathryn, goddesses of fate, magic and the spaces between. You have called me, so I have come. Why have you summoned me?"

He stepped forward until he was only a few feet from the three women, his blue eyes roaming icily over each of them in turn, evaluating and dismissive.

The woman in the middle, the one he called Kate, stepped forward. Across her face emotions ran like water: anger, regret, sadness, determination.

"We summoned you to put an end to your interference with the mortals and order you to withdraw to your realm. You have caused untold damage to the earth, and it needs to stop. Now."

Elus smiled at her slowly, the small sprig of hemlock rolling between his fingers.

"And if I say no?" he asked, nonchalantly.

"Then we will summon the other gods of the Pantheon to support us as we remove you from power," the older woman said, stepping forward. "We have long abided by the accords that kept all from meddling in the realms of man. We will end you, if we have to."

To their obvious consternation, he laughed.

"You and what gods, Hecate? The Pantheon are all but wisps of power, save me and you. No one knows them. No one remembers them. No one worships them. My Elusians have made me powerful beyond measure. Alexandria will soon rule the world."

"But at what cost, Elus?" The younger woman cried, stepping forward. "Your use of power is tearing apart the fabric of reality! You already destroyed parts of the world when you began your interference with the Alexandrian bloodline. Whole countries were destroyed! If you continue, the world will end!"

Elus reached out and stroked the young girl's face. Her eyes were bright with fury.

"Ah, Kitty. There is nothing so empowering as the righteous indignation of the young. You know little of power, though, young one. I could teach you so much, if you should choose to join with me."

"As if, asshole," she hissed, jerking away from his touch.

"It's not so farfetched," he said, turning his attention to Kathryn. "Kathryn and I were lovers millennia before either of you joined the Hecate."

"I was young and stupid," Kathryn snapped, sniffing disapprovingly at him. "And you were a silver-tongued devil. I should never have allowed you into my bed."

"Ah, but our union brought forth such fruit, my dear! The first of my Alexandrian kings, born with both our blood flowing through their veins."

"If I had known what you intended, I would have strangled him at birth," the older woman hissed.

"Tsk, tsk. You wouldn't want to bring the Furies down on your heads, would you? Oh wait! The Furies no longer exist! They, too, have diminished and faded over time ."

"Elus, please, listen to reason," Kathryn said, stepping forward and laying a gentle hand on his arm. "You love your children; I know you do. If you continue interfering, the fabric of the world will shred, and nothing we do will be able to save it!"

He looked at her tenderly, laying his hand over hers. For a moment hope bloomed in her eyes. He returned her look with a gentle smile that slowly turned menacing as he began tightening his grip on her hand.

"What if that's exactly what I want, Kate? This world needs to be broken and reborn. Once the mortal weave of power has shattered, I will be the only god left with the power to take up the strands and create a new world where I, and I alone, reign supreme."

His grip had tightened to the point of pain, but the woman refused to release him or break their stare.

"I have endured the birth of countless children, Elus. Any pain you attempt to inflict, I can survive."

His eyes bore into hers, but he slowly released his hold on her.

"It doesn't have to be that way, Kate. You could join with me. Together we could create a world of magic and wonder."

"You mean slavery," Kitty interrupted. "You would take away the mortal's free will and force them to worship you. It is wrong, Elus!"

He snorted and backed away from them.

"Consider my words, Hecate. I am well aware of the steps you have taken to attempt to counter my influence in the world. What I take, I can give as well. Your Mageia will serve me, or they will perish, and so will you. There is no alternative. "

His image slowly faded, and the three women stood alone in the crossroads.

Kate finally allowed the agony to show on her face as she dropped to her knees cradling her injured hand with the other.

"Let me see," Kitty said as she kneeled down next to her.

Kate uncovered her hand and the other two women gasped. Where only moments ago her skin had been smooth and full, it now lay withered, the knuckles bent and twisted as if by extreme age.

Kathryn looked on in alarm, her eyes narrowed and thoughtful.

"What I take, I can give…" she muttered.

"How is he doing this? He shouldn't be able to harm you!" Kitty exclaimed.

"I don't know," Kate gasped, cradling her injured hand to her body. "But we have to stop him, or this world is doomed."