Read Online Dark One Rising by Leandra Martin - Free Book Online

here?”
    “The time has come, My Master. It’s time for me to start my campaign to power. It’s time to solidify my place in this kingdom, my place as ruler over all. The woman from the prophecy is growing stronger. The sword of the elves has sung. I have made my move with her father. Now is the time for me to move forward with my plan.”
    “What is it you need from me?”
    “I need more bargaining power in order to get the people of this kingdom to bend to my will. The Kings: Randor and Dainard, will be difficult to manipulate unless I have something to guarantee my success. My power has grown strong, but I need more resources at my disposal.”
    “Indeed you have grown in power. I can feel the energy flowing through you. You are right, the people of this kingdom are not easily swayed, and the leaders are formidable. You need something to bargain with. Very well, I will send my servant to help you, a powerful being to control the minds of your adversaries. A being that can take many forms. You humans call him a wraith, but this wraith is special. All humans know about wraiths will prove wrong, and he will be the extra push you need. We call him…” The Dark One said his name, which was undecipherable to the human ear, then enlisted a human name, one that would be easily translated in man’s tongue. “But you will call him Jaron.”
    The steam danced in the air, and flashes of light were seen from the pit in the floor. The sounds were eerie, and then a ribbon of smoke emerged from the pit. It had a human form, but shriveled and deformed, and when it took its solid shape, Fallon had to turn his head away.
    The creature looked as if he had burned in fire, skin scaly and black. His eyes which were not present right away, then gave off a red glow in the darkness. His hands were wrinkled and long fingered, with yellow nails, and there was no hair on any part of its body. It was neither male nor female in distinction, and it stood hunched over and stooped.
    Fallon finally found the courage to turn toward the creature, needing to see for himself the image it would take when needed. Fallon felt himself shiver before the horrible disfigured creature, then watched as it transformed into a human.
    As quickly as it had emerged from the pit, it morphed into a man, tall and lean, with a raw power that emanated from its skin.
    Jaron bowed to his master and said, “I am here to serve you in any way you require. Our master has sent me here to do your bidding.” It wasn’t entirely true. The Dark One did not answer to man, but he needed Fallon to carry out the ultimate plan. If placing Jaron in service would help Fallon obtain the goal, he would sacrifice pride for the time being and allow things to unfold. Soon, Fallon would not be needed either, and the Dark One would finally rule over this world once and for all.
    “I need help getting obstacles softened in order to get them to do what is necessary for my rule. I need you to bend the minds of the strongest so that I can present my plan and put it into practice, without high ideals interfering. This world will be mine, and I can only do it with the old rulers out of my way. I need you to help me start a war.”
    “I am here to serve. Tell me what you want from me, and it will be done.” He bowed.
    “Good, very good.” Fallon smiled evilly. Soon, everything would belong to him. Soon, the world would know a new leader, a new power.
     
    ***
     
    Melenthia went straight to her room and slammed and locked the door behind her. She tore off her dress and threw it across the room. She flopped onto the bed and buried her head in her pillow, crying so loudly now she thought for sure someone would hear her. In just a few minutes, her make-up was running down her face and staining the silk case that covered the down filled pillow. Her thin shift that she had been wearing under her dress was getting wrinkled. She crawled under her covers and curled up in a ball. She couldn’t believe