Peace to the Dead: Prolouge

   Lennox tore through the woods.  She could hear the townsmen following behind her as air fought to get in her lungs as she ran from those which hunted her like an animal in the night.

   Abrumptly dropping to her knees, Lennox crawled under a fallen tree.  Sweeping branches aside, Lennox came to a small opening.  Lennox pressed herself inside and slid down the dark tunnel until she came to a large underground cave.

   A fire crackled in the hearth, creating a warm glow.  Lennox collapsed on the floor, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to regain her breath.  Cool water was pressed against her lips.  Lennox opened her eyes and looked at the beautifully hypnotic face of Nasiri, a gypsy who had lived at the edge of Salem for almost a full turn of the moon.  Sighing when Nasiri smoothed a damp cloth to her forehead, Lennox closed her eyes again as her heart slowed to a normal rythem.  When she tried to push herself into a sitting position, Nasiri simply put a hand on her shoulder to keep her down.

     ” You should rest, child,” Nasiri murmered.  “It will be a long night.  More than angry spirits wander the darnkess now.”

   Nasiri rose to walk to the fire where she had kept food to warm.  Kneeling next to a cauldron, Nasiri scooped a bowl of broth and returned to Lennoxs’ side.  “Drink this.  It will chase away the chill.”

     “If I was what they believe me to be, I would lock them in ice,” said Lennox bitterly.

   Nasiri smiled.  “I know what you are, Lennox.  And you are a very special girl.”

   The peacful fire behind Nasiri flared when Lennoxs’ head snapped up.  Nasiri merely raised her eyebrows and the fire banked down to embers.

     “Perhaps I should burn the town.  No amount of prayer or holy water would be able to stop it,” said Lennox as she scowled at the bowl.

     “Would you sacrifice innocents to stop the reverand?” Nasiri asked.

     “They seek to burn me!  The whole town conpsires for my capture.  Not one of them is innocent.” Lennox spat.