Tyrant in the Shadows

Part 3

The girl was fine. She was a bit confused still when they left but she quickly got her bearings and went home. She didn't tell her family about the incident. If they thought they were in danger they would pack up and leave again. She didn't want to have to leave. She liked it in the forest. As she walked in the door, she tried to not appear shaken up. It was a bit hard considering she had almost just been eaten by an evil shadow. 

"Miriam!" Her little sister cried when she walked in the door, "I miss you."

Miriam smiled at her little sister. She was only three, cute as a button, in Miriam's opinion. "Hey there Julie! Did you miss your big sister?" as she spoke she picked her little sister up in a hug.

"Mhmm!"

Miriam smiled again. Julie's excitement was so contagious, and she was always excited.

"You're out later than usual," Miriam's mom said, raising a brow at her oldest.

"I know... and I'm not really sure why. It wasn't really a very pretty day. I just wanted to be outside."

Her mom nodded, "Well it's time for your little sister to go to sleep and she's being infuriatingly restless. Do you mind going to sleep with her so I can get some sleep tonight?"

Miriam nodded in response and looked at Julie's small, bright face, "You being troublesome?" she asked.

"Nooo," Julie responded, grinning.

"Yes you are," Miriam grinned back, "Let me change and then we're going to sleep."

She set her sister down and went to their shared room, trailed by her chatty shadow. Miriam couldn't understand everything her little sister was saying. Usually she could but when she got overly excited like she was now and started talking fast, she stammered a lot and her words were slurred. The red eyed girl finished changing and set her still chatting sister on the bed.

"Go to sleep, dear sister," she said, kissing her little sister's forehead. 

"Ok, Miri."

That one's new.

Julie curled up on the bed and Miriam sat on the side, brushing her hair to braid it before bed. When she finished braiding it, she turned off the kerosene lamp and lied down. Juliet was already asleep, her breathing more even than her excited breaths ever were when she was awake. She was always so excited. Excited about the rain, about the sun, about fire, about rivers, when it got cold she was excited about the ice. Miriam preferred to stay calmer. Juliet was excited enough for the both of them. And their brother, who was in town with their dad at the moment. 

They were supposed to get home tonight. But late, so Miriam didn't bother staying up late to wait for them. 

She drifted off, unprepared for the unexpected visit the next day.

...

There was another surge of power that night. This boy wasn't so lucky. The shadow was stronger, and it took over more than his mind's control of his body. It took over everything. The light weaver barely saw the boy because he looked like a shadow. But he did catch him. And when he did, the boy screamed. When shadows took over a body, covering the skin, they left welts and blisters wherever they touched. This poor boy was in so much pain even the shadow couldn't stop his cry of pain when the injuries were hit against so roughly.

"Hurry up," he muttered to himself, watching the shadow weaver fight the shadow. She was struggling. "Sofia! Hold him," he told his student, "Be careful."

When she grabbed the boy, he left, running to his partner's side, "Step back, Delaney," he commanded, and released the glow of the sun.