### ** sinner **
** [Scene: Journey to the capital - Dawn] **
*(The sun rises slowly and throws the golden shade over the foggy landscape. The dirty path winds through a dense forest and leads to the distant silhouette of the capital. Elara, Lucian and Serraphine walk in tense silence.
** Lucian: ** (grinding) "I still can't believe we're traveling with her*."
** seraphine: ** (grinned) "We are here."
** Elara: ** (tired) "enough".
** Lucian: ** "You don't have to say" enough ". No when just*murdered*that thing last night. "
** serraphine: ** (ridicule) "Murder is such a strong word."
** Lucian: ** (Glowering) "Oh, forgive me. What would you rather?*Ruthlessly erased from the existence*?"
** serraphine: ** (grinning) "He has a nice ring."
*(Lucian curses under her breath, fingers twitch towards the dagger. Ela sighs and wipes the temples.)*
** Elara: ** "I said*enough*. We don't have time for that."
*(Lucian exhales sharply but sticks up, his jaw clenched. Seraphine hums amusement, but she seems to feel Elar's exhaustion.)*
** Seraphine: ** (curiously) "So, what is the plan, fearless leader?"
** Elara: ** (focused) "We get to the capital, find out where the king holds the hearts of the shadows and take it back."
** Lucian: ** (sarcastic) "Oh, is that all?"
** Seraphine: ** (laughs) "Darling, I admire your*self -confidence*, but do you realize that the capital is crawling with guards, bloodshed and, yes, the king's personal hunters?"
** Elara: ** (firm) "then we don't just catch."
** serraphine: ** (grinning) "I like you."
** Lucian: ** (mumble) "Of course you do it."
*(They continue to walk, the weight of their mission is pushing on them. Then Seraphine suddenly stops.)*
** serraphine: ** (Low Voice) "We are watched."
*(Lucian stiffens. His hand goes to the blade.)*
** Lucian: ** (Whispering) "How much?"
** serraphine: ** (grinned) "At least three. Maybe more."
** Elara: ** (grim) "Watch us since last night."
** Lucian: ** (mumble) "fantastic".
*(Before they can react, arrow*whistle*air.
** Unknown voice: ** "Place your weapons!"
*(Four figures emerge from the trees, masked in black. Their faces are hidden under the masks, their weapons drawn.
** Lucian: ** (Mumming) "I*I hate*the truth."
** Elara: ** (calmly) "We don't want trouble."
** Lead Lunter: ** (cold) "Too late."
** serraphine: ** (grinning) "Well, that's exciting."
** Lucian: ** (Whispering) "For once in your life, shut up."
*(The leading hunter enters forward, his dark eyes locked on Elar.)*
** Lead Lunter: ** "Elara Valen. Is you ordered to surrender to King Aldric."
** Elara: ** (stable) "And if I refuse?"
** Lead Hunter: ** (grinned) "Then we'll take you to pieces."
*(Lucian times beside her. But Elara remains calm. Her fingers twinkle on her sides, magic buzzing just below her skin.)*
** Elara: ** (quietly) "You don't know what you are doing."
** Lead lunter: ** (laughs) "I know*exactly*what I'm doing."
*(He nods at his men. They fall out. Everything explodes into chaos.)*
*(Lucian is moving first, his blade flashes when a parria incoming blow. Elara retreats and raises the barrier just like arrows to her. But Seraphine doesn't move - simply smiles.)*
** Seraphine: ** (amused) "Oh, those poor things."
*(With the movement of her wrist, shadows of growth from the ground, wrapped around two hunters.*Screams*when the darkness around them tightens like living chains.)*
** Lucian: ** (Gruling) "Try not to kill them this time*!"
** serraphine: ** (false) "No promises."
*(Elara avoids another attack, her magical cracking when she knocked down one hunter back. But the lead hunter is fast - too fast.
** Lead Lunter: ** (Whispering) "Giving up".
*(Elara clenched his teeth. Then at once -)*
*(A*roar*trees trees.)*
*(Everyone freezes. The ground shakes. And then - something massive bursts trees.)*
*(An animal - drive black, his eyes shining crimson -*charges*into a clearing.
** Lucian: ** (in horror) "What in the names*gods*is*, right*?"
** serraphine: ** (pleased) "Oh, now*it's interesting."
*(The animal does not hesitate. He slams into the main hunter and sends him*flying*to the tree. Other hunters barely have time to react before creatures change his fury.)*
** Elara: ** (brass) "It's a shadow animal."
** Lucian: ** (grinning teeth) "Why is he here?"
** serraphine: ** (grinning) "Better question - who*convened*?"
*(Elara has no time to answer. An animal look at her* - and something inside*recognizes*.)*
** Elara: ** (Whispering) "No…"
*(Creation growls. Then to the shock of everyone - speak*.)*
** Shadow Beast: ** (Deep, Rumbling) "You're the one."
*(Elara's breath catches. Lucian moves closer to her, tense.)*
** Lucian: ** (Low Voice) "Elara… What is it talking about?"
** Shadow Beast: ** (to Elara) "You hold the key*sinful*."
*(Silence heavier than death itself falls over Clearing. Elara swallows hard.)*
** Elara: ** (quietly) "I don't understand."
** Shadow Beast: ** (Low Growl) "You'll be."
*(Before it can be doubted, the animal*disappears* - passes into black fog. Hunters, battered and unconscious, lay scattered on the ground. The battle ended but the questions remain.)*
*(Lucian turns to Ela, his eyes dark.)*
** Lucian: ** (quietly) "What did that mean?
"Elara: (whispers) "I don't know." (Looking at her hands, shaking with magic.) "But I think ... I think I'm going to find out."
(Seraphine leans his head and follows Elara with an unreadable expression. Then she smiles - a fight, they know.)
Seraphine: (quietly) "Oh, it will be fun."
[Continue…]