Prologue: The Dark Covenant
Long before mankind walked the earth, before cities rose and civilizations flourished, a dark realm lay hidden from the eyes of the living. This realm was inhabited by the shadow people—twisted entities of darkness, born from the fears and nightmares of humanity. They thrived in the void, feeding off despair, anguish, and the secrets that whispered in the dark.
Legends speak of their origins, a time when the boundary between light and dark was thin. The shadow people, shapeless and hungry, roamed freely among humans, tempting them with promises of power, knowledge, and forbidden desires. Many succumbed to their allure, forging pacts with these malevolent beings, trading their souls for a taste of the dark power that lay beyond.
Among those who fell prey to the shadow people was a woman named Mara, a figure shrouded in mystery and grief. Once a devoted wife and loving mother, Mara's life was shattered when tragedy struck. Her husband fell terribly ill with no doctor or specialist to provide a cure to his illness, leaving her alone to care for their young son, Alex. The weight of her grief turned into her being desperate to save her dying husband at all costs.
In her darkest hour, she was drawn to the shadow people, whose whispers danced through her sorrow like a dark lullaby. They promised her power, the ability to cure her husband and to manipulate the very fabric of reality. The promise too tempting, and Mara found herself standing at the door of the abyss, walking on the edge of a decision that would alter her life forever.
Underneath the bright watch of the moon, she made the deal—a dark covenant sealed with blood. In exchange for her loyalty, the shadow people would grant her the power to cure her husband and also to protect Alex from the cruel world around them. She envisioned herself as a guardian, wielding the shadows like a cloak, able to keep danger at away. But the shadow people had their own plans for her and her family.
As Mara grew deeper into their dark magic, she became increasingly tuned to their whispers, her will slowly fading away under the weight of their influence. Just like they say that the devil's gifts come with a deadly price, the same applied to the shadow people. The shadows promised her strength, but each gift came with a cost. She began to notice changes within herself: moments of absolute rage, visions of darkness that clouded her judgment, and an insatiable thirst for control. The shadows fed on her despair, transforming her into a vessel for their twisted power.
Unknown to her, the shadow people had a plan──and a bad one. A prophecy spoke of a child destined to become their king—a boy born of darkness who would unite their fractured realm. They yearned for Alex, sensing the potential within him, a potential that could tip the balance of their world and unleash a reign of terror upon humanity.
When Mara realized the true cost of her pact, it was too late. The shadows had already set their sights on her son. In a moment of clarity, she tried to sever the bond, to protect Alex from the fate that awaited him. Desperate to reclaim her son's future, she sought to break the curse she had unwittingly placed upon him.
But the shadow people retaliated. They warped her husband's mind, forcing him to commit unspeakable acts against the one he loved. Mara was powerless to stop it, and in a fit of madness, he took her life, believing he was freeing them from the darkness. In the end, Mara was taken into the dark realm, her soul forever entwined with the shadows, leaving behind only a fractured promise: she would watch over Alex, even from the depths of despair.
Now, the shadow people linger, their laughter echoing through the corridors of time. They are patient, waiting for the day when Alex turns eighteen, ready to reclaim what was promised. As the shadows gather, the dark legacy of Mara and the covenant she forged will awaken, binding Alex to a destiny he never sought, where the line between protector and predator blurs in the encroaching darkness.