Free With Love

Prologue

Once upon a darker time, where respect was not an option and abuse was fine...

There existed a village, secreted away by forests and hidden away by mountains. Within this village lived people who were as normal as you and I could possibly be. They worked together, children played together and everybody grew together. Theirs was a life that appeared happy on the outside, but was filled with terror...a terror held secretly and never revealed to visitors or travelers.

For in their nearby forests, stories were told about forest nymphs, creatures who appeared so beautiful and alluring, that those who saw them were said to be lured into the forest and never to return. People rarely ventured too deep into the forest and children who wandered too far received a harsh scolding from their mother. The people lived in fear of these strange creatures and wished so deeply for protection.

As it happened, a wealthy family lived within the village. This family had promised protection to the village, but only if the village agreed to allow the family to become the "mayor" and rule over the village as a monarchy. It was agreed and for a while, the village people believed they were safe.

Until the mayor and his wife had died from a sudden illness. The eldest son had taken over the duties of his parents, but went far beyond what he was suppose to do. For this man possessed a black heart and cared nothing for the village or their safety. The only one he was concerned about was himself. He quickly got his brother and sister...and even his sister's lover...to see things his way and believe the village was a fruit that could be reaped over and over again. Food, taxes and offerings were ordered and anyone who resisted was either tortured or executed. Fear loomed over the once peaceful village once more.

No one was brave enough to challenge the four sadistic leaders. Only four ever dared to oppose them. These brave souls went to challenge the cruelty, one at a time...

...but they never returned.

Now adding on to the terror of the village, screams could be heard from the mansion. To silence the village, the four sadists threatened to burn the whole area up if anyone leaked the truth to outsiders. The screams were all told to be "beasts" who were being punished for their misdeeds.

No one could possibly save them now. The village was too scared to act and outsiders were forbidden from knowing the truth. As outsiders had put it, who could ever love or care for a beast?