All heads turned when a high pitched scream came from downstairs, followed by shouting.

[color=aba000]"What in the hells..."[/color] Began king Sallas, but before he could even finish Kallain and Reinoldus were running to investigate. They could hear the shouts coming from the castles kitchen, were an errand boy was cowering outside the door. Reinoldus shouted at him fetch the guards while he and the prince stepped into the kitchen.

What they discovered was a scene of horror, chef's and servants lay crumbled on the floor either dead or dying, while scents of dinner mixed with that of blood. In the corner of the room the surviving staff huddled while Drevala stood in front of them chanting protective prayers. [color=00a651]"Spaldi, guardian of humanity and of the pure body, protect us, hide us, and save us from the darkness! And beg of you, help us safe guard the sacred spark granted to us from all who would wish to snuff it out!"[/color] Kallain had never seen such a serious and dangerous look on his normally carefree sister's face, as she stared down her approaching doom.

[color=9e0b0f]"By the gods!"[/color] Reinoldus swore starting at the intruder. When the apparition stood in the light all that could be seen of it was a shadowy, barely visible hooded figure, devoid of even an outline of a head or face. Upon hearing the knight and prince enter the room it turned away from the it's victims and walked away from the well lite portion of the room and into the darker regions. As it did so, slowly it's image faded away and a floating porcelain white mask came into focus. When it fully entered the shadows it's body disappeared completely leaving only that blank expressionless mask, with a jagged crack running down it.

[color=9e0b0f]"What is that thing!"[/color] yelled Reinoldus reading himself for battle. A quiet terrified voice spoke up from underneath a table startling the two men. [color=00aeef]"It's... It's one of the faded."[/color] squeaked Serell the scribe from his hiding place. [color=00aeef]"Their a group of people who believe that they by depriving themselves of contact and even existence in this world they will slowly fade into the next. They use their ritual masks to seal themselves away."[/color] The scribe spoke in a quiet nervous voice but now it rose in volume and hysteria. [color=00aeef]"But something's wrong your majesty! It's mask is cracked! Its been spitting gibberish as he slaughters the staff! Help us Kallain! Please!"[/color]

[color=630460][i]I can see you[/i][/color] The voice radiated from the still Faded, but Kallain senses that the others couldn't hear, or at least understand what it was saying. [color=630460][i]I can see you. I can see you in this world, in the world beyond, and in the twilight in between[/i][/color] The creatures voice was dull and unemotional, yet it didn't drag its words. It merely spoke with no infliction or notable tone.

[color=630460][i]I'm trapped. I can't see this world. I can't see the world beyond. But I can hear the twilight. It wants you to die. But this world is silent. Maybe if I kill you the twilight will free me. [/i][/color]
[color=9e0b0f]"What do you want to do lad?"[/color] whispered Reinoldus, tense and ready for action.