Amsterdam,

9th November 2012,

3:00 A. M.,

It had been raining heavily all night. Most of the city had either drifted off to sleep, or into a drunken stupor by this late hour. On this silent, moonless night, on a deserted bridge overlooking a canal stood a man clad all in black. " You have kept me waiting", he said, as a short man clad similarly in pitch black robes approached him.

" I have been busy completing the preparations. I had to be thorough, as we seem to be running out of time" , the newcomer said.

A palpable silence hung in the damp night air for sometime, finally broken as the taller black clad man said, "This might be our last opportunity. If we fail this time, it might be the end for us all."

"Did you receive a vision or something ? " the short man in black asked.

" No, the fog has clouded the Road, the future remains invisible to me. But the tree spoke to me", the tall man said.

"What did it say? " the short man asked.

" As you know, the tree always speaks in riddles. It is nearly impossible to discern the true meaning of its words. But according to my understanding, there might be some changes on the Other Side", the tall man in black said.

" So early? But that's impossible, the cycle hasn't even begun yet! " the short man exclaimed.

" I cannot be sure. But we must be prepared for the worst. Are the others ready? " the tall man asked.

" Yes, everything is in position for the game to begin anew, " the short man cackled gleefully.

"Very well then, it is time", the tall man whispered, as he lunged towards the short, black clad man. There was a flash of silver, as the blade ran through the short man. A yelp of pain rang out, as he collapsed, facedown on the bridge. Golden ichor pooled around his writhing form, as his screams rang out breaking the serenity of the night.

" You will not survive that. An Aetherium blade cursed by the Witch of the Wastes herself, it will rot your organs from the inside, unless you bleed to death first, " the tall man said.

" Why? " the other man croaked out in a hoarse, raspy voice.

"Do not feign ignorance! I know that you have sold your soul to the Other Side. To think my own blood brother would be a traitor. " the tall man spat at his brother's writhing form.

"You disgust me. To sign a pact with those demons, against your own kin. You certainly deserve the terrible death I have inflicted on you. May your soul burn forever in the flames of Gehenna! " the black clad man said, as he jumped off the bridge.

Disappearing into the darkness of that placid winter night, leaving his once blood brother dying in a pool of golden blood.