Soon winter set in and it was a winter almost like any other only this particular winter there was an ominous air that I couldn't shake. A strange feeling that had never been there before.

  Aside from the strange feeling everything was normal. I had just sat down to eat supper with my family.

  “I just completed this huge order for the king, he will be so happy. It’s the biggest job that I’ve had in sometime “ said dad as he munched on the roast and poured himself some more beer.

  Oh that's great. I just finished walking the dogs for the neighbors. I do enjoy pet sitting now and then. “ Mom said as she sipped on some wine and nibbled at the food on her plate.

  “When I was out this evening I noticed that it’s another red moon tonight, come to think of it, wasn't the moon red when Milo was born? “ mom said.

  “Oh now that you mention it yes the moon was blood red like it is tonight. This calls for celebration. I wonder though if that makes Milo a special child. Perhaps he will outshine me one-day! “ dad said and looked over at me. “You hear that son? You're gonna be better than your old man” He said and poured me a glass of beer. “ I found this to be rather exciting, dad never let me drink. I quickly guzzled it.

  “ I helped out with those swords we made for the king, I already think my blades are almost equal to yours, there’s no way you could have finished that order without me!. “ I said as I felt the alcohol starting to kick in inflating my ego and pride.

  “You did a great job on those swords son, I'm still amazed that you became so skilled so fast. “

  Just then there was a knock on the door.

  “Now who the devil would interrupt our supper like this? Honestly if it's one of my clients I will not hesitate to black list them. “ Dad said as I watched him get up from the table and go to answer the door.

  The knocking continued as my father approached the door, it actually picked up in intensity like they were trying to break the door down prompting my father to yell

  “Hold your damn horses and wait for me will you? “

  He opened the door and three men stood outside. Two of them were knights and behind them was a man who seemed to radiate some kind of light that made me really uncomfortable.

  “You're the town black Smith? “ The guard asked

  “I am, is there some issue with the kings order? “ dad asked.

  “We are here on urgent business, let us in! “ The Knights said and pushed their way into the house. They sat on the seats in the living area making themselves quite comfortable. I Felt excitement because I had never seen knights before but that third man was not a knight. I couldn't place my thumb on it but there was something horrifically evil about him. He radiated some kind of power that inflicted pain on me that I couldn't describe.

  “Bring everyone in the house into this room. “ The armored knight said and my father brought me and my mom into the sitting room.

  “Is this the boy? “ The knight said and pointed at me causing my stomach to sink.

  “I don't know what you mean by “the boy” this is of course my esteemed son who will be taking over my work for the king someday. “ Dad said with a smug look.

  “Let me tell you why we are here. Exactly thirteen years ago there was a child born somewhere in this village under the blood moon. We don't think much information reaches this far from the empire but children who were born on the blood moon are the stock that the next demon lord will come from. The prophecy says that from the lands of the goodly empire a demon lord will be born under a blood moon on the exact date your son was born thirteen years from today. “

  “That's nonsense my son is fourteen and was born on a regular night. “ Dad said

  “Please allow me to finish good sir. “ The knight interrupted and continued. “By decree of the emperor all children born on the blood moon thirteen years ago must be put to death. That is the only way to prevent another demon lord from arising and destroying our great nation. The emperor takes census of all births throughout the land regularly, or perhaps I should say the inquisition keeps strict records of every child birth in every part of the empire to determine which ones could become witches and snuff out their lives. We know of your child Milo and we know exactly when he was born even if you try to lie to us you can't lie to him. “The knight said and pointed at the man who radiated pain.

  “So you brought a damn hero to kill a defenseless child? You people are monsters, have you no shame? “ My father said and grabbed a sword that was mounted on the wall and struck the knight before he could even react. The knights head rolled to the floor and his lifeless body fell over spewing blood from its neck like a broken fountain.

  I threw up. I had never seen violence like that in my life and felt myself starting to black out. How could this be happening when everything was going so smoothly. Why was I at the center of this! I hadn't committed any crimes.

  The other knight shouted and threw himself back out of my father's reach as he drew his sword but the man who radiated pain, with the piercing eyes and the long black hair put his hand on the knights chest and shook his head.

  “Stand back” He commanded the knight as I watched him approach my father.

  “We can't risk another demon lord being born and that boy reeks of magic. I will take care of this. “ He said. He then drew a sword of crimson steel and his pain aura increased seven fold as he calmly approached my father with his sword held at his side slightly raised leaving himself open to attack.

  “Come at me however you wish” The dark haired man said as he looked my father in the eye.

  “Cassie, Milo, this man is a hero sent by the empire to kill us, they are MONSTERS! RUN RUN RUN! “My father shouted and raised his sword letting out a battle cry and charging charged at the wicked hero.

  Something happened, it happened so fast I couldn't follow with my eyes. I watched my father's sword shatter and he seemed to split in half down the middle from top to bottom but the man standing there all the while, he never moved.

  I closed my eyes replaying the scene, the man's shadow came out of him and cut my father in half, then went back into his body… This man was no hero, he was a demon!

  The shock wore off and panic started to set in. Disbelief filled my mind, my body shook, I closed my eyes and there I saw a grid of blue lines. I had seen this once before.

  When I was in my mother's womb I close my eyes and there was a grid of blue lines just like this one. Instinct took over and I reached out and grabbed the lines, I started bending and twisting them when….

  There was an explosion like nothing I had ever herd before. I screamed and opened my eyes to find that I stood alone in a creator where my house used to be. There was no sign of my mother or my father's body, there was no sign of the Knights or the man with the aura of pain, One thing remained and one thing only, the red sword the knight had used to… To…

  I walked up and lifted the sword and examined it, as a black Smith I was impressed by the craftsmanship but the depth of the terrible calamity just started to sink in.

  Somehow I had caused an explosion? What else could it have been….

  “Mom! “ I called out and looked around for my mother. “mom” I called out and started digging through the debris. I found where she had been standing, her shoes were still there but her body was… Missing? I looked carefully and saw that her feet were still in the shoes. They were charred beyond recognition.

  I started to scream but instead I held it in. I had killed my mother and the knights, the hero too. I had killed them all. I held in that scream and started to run. I just kept running and never looked back.