Chapter 11

0 0 0
                                    

I ended up working much later than I had intended. By the time I left Blaze's headquarters the moon was already in the sky and the stars were brightly shining. I looked up at the moon, it was a full moon and something about it drew me in. The wind blew a cold breeze across the snow breaking my trance.

I dropped off the dishes at the tavern but the tavern was packed full of people. I stopped for a moment to grab a drink and enjoy the view in front of me. Leon was weaving between people and tables, music was in full swing with many off key, drunk people singing along. Everything was good yet something deep inside me made me feel out of place. I began to feel claustrophobic. The music became too loud, people were bumping into me. My breath began to quicken as the walls began to pulsate. I grabbed my cloak in my hand and staggered out of the tavern to the fresh air.

Leon had his eye on me the moment I stepped in the tavern. He noticed my demeanor change and watched as I left the tavern. He made a motion to follow me but Chris called him to the kitchen for help. Leon was torn but he knew I could take care of myself. He made a note to check on me after his shift.

I pushed open the tavern door and stumbled into the snow. The cold brought back feelings to me and I was able to bring my breathing to a calming breath. I sat in the snow for a good minute before picking myself up and walking away from the tavern. It wasn't until I was deep in the woods that I realized I had not taken the path home but rather I was heading towards the falls. Not turning back I continued on the path letting the moon guide me.

I sat along the bank downstream watching the melting river flow freely. I sat by the bank till the moon had fully risen in the sky. A small breeze picked up and along with it a woman's whisper was heard.

"Rose"

I turned my head, canvassing the area but no one was there. The breeze blew again.

"Rose"

I get in a defensive position and draw my daggers. "Show yourself!"

Once again nothing. I was just talking to the open sky. I sheath my daggers and turn around. As I do a blue, fiery figure is standing right before me. I stumble backwards. No one could have snuck up on me especially when I was on high alert. I stared at the figure. It was an outline of a woman. The air around her was calm with no intention of harm.

"Who are you?"

Nothing.

"Are you a spirit? Why are you here?"

She says nothing, just stands there. A much colder breeze picks up.

"What you know is not all. The tree lies but the lily speaks the truth. Not safe. Dark forces transpire. Remember or the shadow will never let go. She lies! Fight the thoughts, find the truth, take a leap, trust the hand that extends."

"What! Who lies?"

"You are not alone. Kill the parasite in the tree, listen to the lily.

The wind picks up causing the snow to form a tornado around us. The woman figure becomes angry. "THE TREE LIES! SHE LIES...SHE LIES….SHE LIES!" Then she disappears making everything stop. The river is no longer flowing and the snow from the tornado is still in the air, frozen in place. It is almost beautiful. I reach out to touch one of the snowflakes causing it to shine purple and glimmer. I touched a few others, gold, blue, pink. The wind rustled behind me. I turned my head to find that the snow in the sky had parted and purple glittering snowflakes led deeper into the woods. 

The trail led to a wall of vines. I brushed the vines aside to find that there wasn't a wall but rather a cave. The cave was a short walk that led to a clearing with a large hole in the ceiling that let in the moonlight. The purple snowflake trail ended at a single tree that basked in the light of the moon. The tree was in the center of the clearing but a quarter of it was in full blossom and the rest was dead with purple flames.

"The parasite feeds on the tree."

The woman stands under the blossom side of the tree.

"She hides like a coward. Bring her home."

The woman touches a dead branch causing the tree to blossom just for it to die again and spread even further up the tree. Only one blossom remained.

"Death is inevitable."

She reaches up for the last blossom.

"Wait!"

But it was too late. The figure disappeared, almost drawing all the light from the cave. As the blossom slowly drifted to the ground, the air became cold and sad. I stepped towards the tree now in full purple flame. Against my better thought I touched the tree. The flame didn't burn but it felt like it placed a heavy weight upon my shoulders. I pull away, turning my attention to the blossom. This time I reached for the blossom but once my fingers touched the petals the world turned black and I fell to the ground with a heavy thump.

----

I couldn't get Rose off my mind while I worked. I knew that something was off. No one else seemed to notice so maybe it was a familiar thing. My shift ended around 11:30 but instead of heading home I was heading to her house. I know it was late and she was probably asleep but I wouldn't feel at ease till I knew she was safe.

*knock knock*

Silence. Not even the pitter of footsteps or the crackle of a fire. 'She's probably asleep, Leon. Stop worrying.´ I turn for my house when I'm struck with a sickening, dreadful feeling like before in the tavern. Home was not where I was supposed to go.

"The woods."

----

I find myself once again lying on the dusty floor somewhere in the void. 'Okay, why am I here now?´ I sarcastically think to myself. 'She hides.´ She never left.

"Reveal yourself you coward. I know you are still here. Hiding in the dark, waiting for me to bend and give in."

My energy pulsates out as I say this. A horrible screech is heard in the distance.

"There was nothing ever here that could take over me except for you. You lie!"

"Noooo. I never lied."

Out of the shadows appears the shadow figure.

"You were never me. You are what blocks my memories. I admit that you are bound to tell the truth but that doesn't mean that you haven't bent it to your will."

My energy pulsates stronger causing the figure to drop to its knees.

"I was only trying to protect you. Remaining naive is for the best. Just stay with me. Let me live."

It was as if the curtains were raised. I could see the figure for what she really was, a parasite worthless scum creature. Feeding on me.

"No. You are no longer welcome here. GET OUT!"

I feel my energy at its full potential and release it. The creature screams as it entraps her body and disintegrates her. Peace followed her departure. The world around me also seemed to become clean from the parasites' grasp. Green grass appears as well as a beautiful lake with the sun shining down. I knew that she was truly gone this time.

----

It might seem like a silly thing but I let my heart lead me deep into the woods. I felt very silly when I was standing in front of a wall of vines. 'Good going Leon. Hey Rose last night I thought you weren't sleeping like a normal person and so I went out into the woods at midnight only to wind up at a vine wall in the middle of nowhere.´ As I'm internally beating myself up I feel a breeze on my face. 'That's odd.´ I feel through the vines to find that there wasn't a wall like I had thought. Parting the vines I make my way through them and into a dark cave. At the end of the cave I see a stunning cherry blossom tree practically glowing in full bloom. No, it was glowing. I look down to see Rose laying in the snow.

"Rose!"

I run to her. She was cold to the touch. Her lips were purple but I could see steady breathing. I wrap my cloak around her and pick her up in my arms princess style.

"Don't worry I have you. Just keep fighting it."

Shadow KnightsWhere stories live. Discover now