Proctor: Angel of Death (Part 3)

Story Seven: The Rules of Enforcement
Story Eight: Belief
Story Nine: Awakening

**

Part of the Proctor Series by Lucy Anne Grey

Proctor walked with confidence into the throng of Enforcers. She was years older in age and experience and had amongst the ranks had become something of a legend.

A path opened up before her as she looked into the faces of those who before today had been comrades - she wondered whether they could see into her heart and know the turmoil that spun there.

"Well, the conquering hero returns once more ensuring that another prey fulfils their sentence and thus their destiny!" Meldor put back her head and laughed, a throaty deep laugh, white teeth glinting, black eyes as cold as the very pit of Hell while her ebony skin glowed in the lamp light of the great hall. She came closer to Proctor as if she were about to embrace and kiss her in a hug of pure effection.

Proctor had watched, intrigued at the lengths Meldor had gone to, to make it abundantly clear that there would be no friendship between them and for her part, Proctor tiring of her, simply chose to ignore her.

But today, Meldor was difficult to ignore. She held a knowing smile on her face as if she knew what lay ticking in Proctors head and it caused a flicker of unease to crawl across Proctors neck.

"You may be The Elders pet for now but it cannot and will not last Proctor," she whispered the threat, a sickening smile remaining fixed on her full pouting lips.

"One day even the legendary Proctor will slip up and I will be waiting for that day - indeed planning it."

Proctor gazed at Meldor knowing exactly why she was the subject of so much hate when once there had been so much love. Once, long ago they had been as sisters.

But this close connection had broken when she had destroyed a sacred trust.

Proctor had told a Senior Elder that Meldor was a liability because she was ruled so strongly by emotions and the Elder had agreed with her but refused to intervene.

Only later did it become clear why. Meldor was the pupil of the Leading Elder, Damane, said to be one of the last descendents from the Valley Kingdom. Damane’s word was law and for the past forty years she had ruled The World with tight iron. Meldo had been a new student, picked for her strength and beauty. For Damane liked to be surrounded by others who were mirror images of herself without being a threat, and Meldor was one such image - an image that had a weakness. Her emotions.

Meldor, despite her weakness had flourished and been protected, her excesses hidden.

But now Proctor was vulnerable, weak for the plucking many believed.

Proctor could no longer be a student. Why? Because her Elder was dead having chosen the glorius path of sleep leaving Proctor as a graduate of his knowledge. A loner and a legend.

Soon it would be time for her to select her own pupil and then she would become an Eldor. A fact that many in and without the Great Hall feared deeply. Particularly one above all others.