Chapter 1

Gardens could not grow in the gloom, but the magic of its mistress sustained it. It did not exist in the material world so it did not need the light of the sun. It was a world of grey but only for those who did not have the imagination to see it for what it was. Those who dwelt in the strange world could see it filled with color and vibrant energy, but only if they were invited in.

The Mistress of Shadows only invited a select few to join her in this paradise, and to one, they were all children. Orphans, waifs, or children she decided needed her protection were brought to the realm to live in safety. None of them wanted anything while in her care.

Gliding through her domain, the Mistress of Shadow stopped by a small grove of grass where a group of children played. One of them had wished for rings of wood that they rolled around and chased after, trying to control them. A smile splayed across her pale skin as their laughter caused her tortured existence to grow a little brighter. Dark shadows played across her skin as her black hair hung limply over her face. She looked like an average frail woman, but in this land, she radiated power.

Just then, she heard a call, a small cry on the wind that seemed to reverberate in her mind. It was a child crying out in terror and fear, a sound that always drew the Mistress’s attention. Chanting in her soft voice, the apparition summoned the magic that allowed her to leave her realm and step out into the shadows of the night. It was effortless for her to travel back to the town where her pain began and often, she found the air of the material plane to burn her lungs. It was an odd experience to be sure, because she normally felt little, no pain and little emotion.

Before her, sitting alone in a dark alley, a child cried with his face in his hands. He sat between two crates and was barely noticeable to anyone passing the alley. Crouching down, the woman took his head in her hands and lifted it up to look at her. At first, the boy looked frightened at this strange woman who knelt before him but as their eyes connected, peace came to his face. The tears stopped falling and he stopped whimpering. In a moment he was enchanted by this being, she was unlike anyone he had ever met before. Suddenly the dark alley he crouched in seemed safe and he knew everything was going to be alright.

With the crying subsided and the boy's face revealed, she saw the black and blue skin on his cheek. Rage began to grow inside of her as she saw the clear sign of abuse on the innocent child. Why… why… why was this allowed in the world? What could the child have done to deserve that punishment? It did not matter to her, she knew that he needed protection and she would not leave him in the town.

The words of the spell came to her lips once more, but instead of just slipping between the worlds, she opened a swirling portal of light. She was able to slip back and forth at will but in order to bring someone with her she would need the magic of a portal. Looking inside, the child saw that the world was no longer dark as if night had just gone away. The flowers, plants, and gardens were inviting and the warmth that emanated from the portal drew him in. With no resistance, the boy allowed this strange woman to lead him from the alley and into the magical portal.