PROLOGUE A drop of blood in each of the children’s marks. Forever this will bear a curse on her. She knew it. She closed her eyes as if having second thoughts on what she is about to do. She took a deep breath. A very deep one. Then a sudden surge of fear enveloped her trembling body as she glanced around the sacred room of her masters. It was a dark, circular room made of gold. She shivered. She knows she should not be here. And she knows… she should not have brought with her the sacred ones. The sacred ones. But they are all so innocent! She looked at the six little faces in front of her. She could not bear to see them accept the second mark of the beast because she knows what that will mean. No escape. Eternal subjection of their souls to the dark side. She does not want that. She had known the mothers of these children. She had taken care of them when they were still carrying the sacred ones with them. Oh how beautiful the mothers of these children were! Innocent Marquees....
