The Knight in Dark Armor

Chapter 9

"Caden?" Cam was asking. "Hello! What are you doing here?"
I could only stare at her. She had a toothbrush in her hand and was in pajamas. Her hair was up in a bun and she clearly had just taken her makeup off.
"I'm... uh." I said slowly. "Your mom let me in." I then stood up. "I was just gonna ask you about the homework."
"So you ran into my wall?" She asked with her arms outstretched.
"I wasn't paying attention." I shrugged and feigned ignorance.
"Okay what did you want to know?" She looked up at the clock. "Also it's pretty late."
I glanced up at the clock quickly and then back at her. "Sorry I know." I had to think quickly. How the hell could I tell Cam what I had been through. "Umm... what was the question to answer three?"
"You mean the answer?" Cam was looking at me very confused.
"Yes!" I said. "The answer sorry." I was happy that there even was a question three on a homework.
"Let me go look." She said and walked off.
"Whew." I breathed out, feeling as if I had dodged a bullet. Cam and I had been pretty friendly the past few years, it was still weird for me to just show up at her house though. I was happy my quick thinking had saved me from awkward questions.
Suddenly it became very warm and the world turned to fire. My eyes shut against the blinding light and when I opened them again I was staring at... breasts?!
My first reaction was to reel back, instead I just pushed out in front of me.
"Hey!" Merimidon shouted. "Play nice."
When I saw who it was I grew angry. "What the hell!" I shouted at her. "You can't just pull me out of a conversation with someone."
"I was just hugging you..." Merimidon was saying while looking strangely hurt.
"What for?" I asked. "I didn't need a hug. Especially at that moment!"
"You're alive." She said. "I couldn't find you for a long while. I feared the worst."
"Why do you care?" I didn't know why, but for some reason I couldn't help but be rude to her.
"You're not just my subject. I care for you now, I can't lose you so soon Caden." She said solemnly.
I felt very confident and brave that moment and so I stepped towards her. "I don't care how you feel. Stop pulling me out of my life and give me a damn break!" I could tell I was being dramatic but I didn't care. "Put some clothes on for gods sake! Also when I want to talk to you I'll make an appointment as you put it." I growled at her. "Leave me alone!" I could feel something burning inside me and the world turned orange and fire like once again until I was standing in Cam's house again.
Cam came out to me and handed me the homework sheet she had been looking for. "You can just take it and then bring it back to me on Monday."
"Oh yeah." I said. "It's the weekend huh?"
"Yeah...?" Cam looked at me concerned. "You okay Caden?"
"Yeah I'm okay." I smiled at her. "I'll see you Monday okay. Say hi to Ethan for me!"
I walked towards her front door and out to the cold night. I started sprinting home. Hoping, almost daring to reach my bed and sleep off this nightmare. I clutched the homework sheet Cam had given me and raced home.

****
On Saturday Aidan came home. He looked a lot like me only not as tough. He had black hair, blue eyes and a sharp jaw as well. He ruffled my hair as he came in. "Hey Cad, how's it going."
"Fine till you showed up." I said jokingly. "Have fun at your girls?"
"You bet!" He winked at me. "Mom and dad home?" He walked past me from the front door and walked around the house.
"I'm going out to buy a new phone today!" He shouted from across the house. "Maya broke mine on accident." He walked back towards me. "Want to come?"
Suddenly Merimidon appeared behind him only this time she looked slightly transparent. This time she was also clothed much to my relief. I wished then I could have gone with my brother instead of keep the appointment I had made with her.
"I can't, there's some stuff I got to do." I said sadly.
"Okay...?" He said. He then took my hand and placed his phone in it. "You can have my old one. I'm sure you will work out something with mom for it. It still works it's just a little bit busted. You can't really call but you can text." He smiled sheepishly.
"She broke the speaker?" I asked him.
"Something like that." He smiled again. "I'll see you around Cad, let mom know I was here when you see her." He patted my shoulder and then was out the door. I closed it behind him and stared at the now fully visible Merimidon.
"I remember." I said. "Let's go to my room."
She nodded and followed to me to my room. I motioned for her to sit on the bed and I sat on a chair across from her. "I appreciate the clothing." I said to her.
"Yes well, you did kind of demand it." She retorted. "Listen Caden I'm not out to make you upset. Most dark ones like it when I'm naked. They even fantasize about it... you seem to shy away from it."
"Yeah well clearly I'm not like the other dark ones." I said while folding my hands.
"Such confidence." Merimidon sounded impressed. "It's been so little time and yet you've changed a lot." She smiles. "You even talk back to me."
Even though she had decided to wear clothing it was a very small black top with black shorts it was the most basic thing you could wear and of course it showed off her assets.
"Listen I have a lot of questions." I started. "I would really like them answered."
"That's what this appointment is for, is it not?" Merimidon asks. "I do have one question for you though." She sat forward. "Were you able to find the light one?"
Remembering Kisens deal or Joss or whoever he was I decided to lie. "I couldn't find him." I growled at her. "I walked all around that damn city and didn't find a thing."
Merimidon only smiled. "Nonetheless, you did what I asked and you shall be rewarded, though I think it would be better after the appointment."
"I don't want to have sex with you." I said bluntly.
"Of course not." She smiled again.
I shook my head. "First question."
Merimidon sits back patiently and waits.
"What is a dark one?" I ask finally.
"Where to start." Merimidon said. "Well, think of yourself as a dark angel sort of that kind of does my bidding. Not in a horrible way mind you, I think it's quite fair."
"Uh-huh." I said sarcastically. "Why me?"
"It's not just you." Merimidon sounded drained for some reason. "Anna, why don't you handle the poor boy." Merimidon fell back on the bed. "I'm exhausted."
I sat there patiently for a little while sort of fidgeting as I was a bit restless. Finally Merimidon sat back up but this time with a different expression. When she smiled it didn't seem like there was anything behind it, anything that could have been of a deceiving like.
"Anna?" I asked her.
"Hi again Caden." This time Anna speaks and it's clear Merimidon has left. Anna glanced down. "You got her to wear clothes?"
I smiled at her. "It was a struggle."
She laughs a little. I find talking to Anna so much easier as she seems more human like me more than the confusing Merimidon ever did.
"So Merimidon is a bit tired of you." Anna starts. "You do have a job as she technically saved your life and that's to do the things she asked. All the dark ones have to do this as they are saved one way or another."
I simply nodded and let her continue.
"Don't worry, you did what she asked and that's all fine. It would really be in your best interest to let her reward you."
"What if I don't want it?" I ask.
"You might find you do Caden. Don't you like the feeling of the new power you have?"
"No..." I said softly. "It kind of scared me. It's like it took over, my thoughts weren't my own."
Anna got up and put a hand on my shoulder. "It's new to you Caden. Some of Merimidon's rewards will help you become even stronger and you will learn to control it."
"Just like all the other dark ones?" I asked her. She takes her hand off my shoulder before replying. "Yes, they all in time learned how to use it to the best of their ability." She went to sit back down. "Though it's different for everyone. Sometimes it's some form of energy. Sometimes it's a weapon of some kind, for you it seems to be an armor."
Her voice got very low of all a sudden. "Or sometimes it's the power of persuasion." For some reason when she said this I felt like I had to listen to anything she said even though her voice slightly scared me.
"I can make people do things." She continued. "All by talking. Don't worry I won't use this on you." She glanced down at herself. "Merimidon didn't pick much to wear did she."
A little taken aback by her change of subject I decided to ask a different question. "Okay, what's a light one?"
Anna's calm smile went away. "Think of them as the opposite of you, they are not evil... they just operate on their own terms. Cermon their leader, is it a lot like Merimidon in that she operates them the same way."
So basically a light versus dark. Was what my thinking was.
"Okay lastly how about a chained one?" I instead asked. Anna's smile completely faded. "They are what light and dark ones choose to become if they want to betray their master and sometimes even try to take their life." She looked very serious. "If a chained one comes up, the opposite force must try to destroy them. In addition to this, say a light one defects then a new one must be chosen and same with the dark ones. That in itself takes awhile as it's sometimes quite random the qualities someone must have."
"What qualities did I have?" I asked her solemnly as I didn't think I had any special things about me.
"In time we all will learn this. You were one of the random ones Caden. I'm sure you will earn the reason you became a dark one." She answered me with another smile.
I shook my head. "This is a lot to take in."
"It's not all bad." Anna said comfortingly. "Merimidon just wants to create a bond with you for now and it doesn't seem like she's gonna try to make your life harder." Her voice sounded much happier now that she kept trying to comfort me. "You can live your life normally you will just sometimes have to do things for her. Think of her as your friend in a way and the same with me. You can call on anyone of us anytime you want for guidance and maybe just to talk." She stopped talking now.
"It's just... so different." I said.
"Give it a chance Caden okay?" Anna once again tried to comfort me. "I have to go Merimidon wants to return but I'll talk to you later."
"Goodbye Anna..." I said solemnly.
Her expression changed and I can tell Merimidon has returned. "I will leave you be for now Caden." She started. "I will ask your assistance though, so just be prepared and you still have your reward if you want it."
"I understand." I simply said.
"Goodbye for now." Merimidon said and then she was gone disappeared in a small flame.
As soon as she left I tried to think about everything I had learned and what my new responsibilities were. Finding myself to have a headache I decided I needed to lay down.
I laid down on my bed and instantly fell asleep as the darkness washed over me.