Shadow

Home Again

As I walked toward the throne room a sense of dread had settled over me. I didn't understand why or how I knew something was up but I just knew. I started walking with a faster pace almost running past the guards stationed around the throne room.

When I reached the giant doors that told me my father was just beyond I took a second to steady myself. Once I felt more stable and less likely to pass out I motioned for the guards to open the doors and announce my presence. The moment I set eyes in the room the sight I saw was most likely the most disturbing thing I had ever seen.

My father was face to face with Shadow, and he was whispering to her. She looked insanely delighted. She had a big grin on her face and was listening with her full attention to my father. I never thought I would see anyone so...... Happy to be talking with my father. Was this why he wanted her? Because she would listen to everything he said.

After a couple of minutes of my father whispering to Shadow and her nodding enthusiastically he finally noticed my presence and said to me, "Killian, my son, why are you standing around? Shoudn't you be doing something actually productive?"

" I.... I...."

"You what son?"

"I thought you would want to see me after being away for a couple of weeks."

"Why would I need to see you? You brought the girl. You actually did something that wasn't a complete waste." For a moment those words were the kindness words I had ever heard him say to me until he spoke again," You could have been a little faster. Such slowness on your part almost ruined everything, but no matter you may leave."

And there it was. My father had not once let me enjoy a compliment from him. Before I left the room I remembered Shadow. I moved my gaze from my father to her. She looked happy. Her eyes held no more clarity that I had seen the last couple days of my journey. Like she had been completely wiped clean.

I thought before I left her there to suffer the torment of which my father would sure give her I had to ask," Forgive me father for speaking out of turn. But I have just traveled a very long way in a very long time. May I understand why you want her here?"

My father's rupturing gaze held me frozen in my own skin as he spoke," If I had wanted you to know you would have! Get out of this room and leave us be!"

Walking as fast as I could without running I went straight to my room, not knowing when or if I would ever see her again.

***

"Oh sweet Shadow, how I have missed you." A voice said next to me. Wait. I know that voice.

"Daddy?" I whispered as I turned to the man.

"It's me darlin' " Daddy said to me in that deep comfortable voice I had so missed so much.

"You are dressed funny Daddy. You look like those rich people you always used to talk about to me."

"Darlin' I havn't been very honest with you."

"Daddy?"

"I am the King. Darlin' girl I didn't want you around this palace to be influenced or judged by others. You know how special you are." I nodded at that. I didn't know why Daddy was explaining himself to me, he knows I can't stay mad at him.

"Daddy I missed you so much. I did what you said. I did it word for word like you taught me but.... Why are you still dressed like them rich people."

"Darlin' stay focused. Tell me what happened."

" I followed word for word. Nothing should have gone wrong. You always told me nothing would go wrong. And.... And.... It did Daddy. I.... I.... I got caught and they took me away. Away from you. I tried my best but it was like they were expecting me. I got to the kill zone then all of a sudden a bunch of lanterns turned on then they all grabbed me at once. You always tell me I'm special but I wasn't special enough for you Daddy. There were dozens of them and.... and... They knocked me out. Daddy oh Daddy don't get mad. I woke up in the mines way down south. I chirped, and chirped, and chirped for them.

" I thought you were coming. I was a good girl Daddy. I didn't run away. I know that was what you were thinking. You always told me to never run away from you. I thought maybe you, you wouldn't save me because you thought I had run away. Then prince boy came oh yes he did. He told me that the King wanted me. I didn't know what to do Daddy. I never was good with the idea planning. You always told me that you would take care of that. I said I'd go to his King. I... I didn't know that the king was you. You never told me.

" Prince boy took is own sweet time getting me to the castle. I would have run Daddy. You know how fast I can run. They chained me down Daddy. With iron. I didn't know what to do. So I just sat on that horse. Oh Daddy the clothes they gave me.... These clothes. It's so itchy Daddy can you get my old ones back. Wait. No... I'm sorry Daddy I didn't mean to ask for something. I have forgotten our rules over the years. I must be punished oh yes. I must.

"That wasn't even the worst. While chirping in the mines, I remembered everything, all our rules, all our promises. Then Prince boy took me outside. We rode in the forest the whole time. Oh Daddy I can only barely remember. I was slowly losing my mind Daddy. I knew I had to get to you as fast as I could. Oh Daddy...." After all this time, after all these years,once I finished talking I rushed to Daddy and hugged him.

"Oh my Darlin' girl. What an experience you went through. Now you understand why you must never be away from me again. Isn't that right Darlin'" He spoke to me in a kind whisper.

I leaned away from him and stood next to him. I told him that I would never even think of anything but him, not like I can think anything else anyways. Just how I like it. Daddy then started explaining to me, that all those times he told me he was going to work for the king. He was actually doing work as the King. Now that I knew we could be together all the more. As he was explaining this to me I heard prince boy walk in. Apparently I wasn't the only one who noticed. Daddy then turned to talk to him.

Oh Daddy.... His voice sounds mean when he talks to Prince boy. Maybe If I eliminate prince boy Daddy will be happy. Yes. Oh yes. For the rest of the time Daddy was talking with Prince boy I was fantasizing different ways to kill Prince boy that would make Daddy happy. Oh what fun...

I did not notice when prince boy left but I noticed when Daddy turned his gaze to me. I looked into his eyes once more and knew I was home once again.