Shadows Of The Past Novel: Stolen Heart (Jakovi Poza)

Chapter 8

The next day, Foxy sat on the speaking boulder, waiting for all members of his group to arrive. Foxy wondered who the two apparitions that met him in the Void. He wanted to go back there someday to find out where The Sisters are now. Only so that he can learn about each power and learn it. Finally, Gold and Sting entered the Tall Tree area, Gold seemed to be calm but also impatient. She ran over to Foxy with a questioning look.
"Why did you call the meeting?" Gold asked immediately, not hiding her curiosity.
"You will soon find out."  Foxy replied, then he signaled Gold to take a seat next to Sting. Gold didn't say anything then, just gave him an unsure look, she climbed down from the boulder.  Foxy already felt a slight satisfaction that he would punish Dark for what he had done, he would regret it for the rest of his life. The rest of the members arrived a few minutes later, Dark was walking towards Sting and Gold with his head down. Roxanne was talking to Alex who looked curious, Ella was walking right next to them smiling. When suddenly Roxanne's eyes fell on Foxy, Foxy stopped looking at his beloved.  When everyone were ready, Foxy made a serious face.
"Welcome to another meeting, I'm sure you're wondering why I called a meeting without explanation." Foxy started to say, "The reason is an accident that happened yesterday."
Foxy then heard his members whispering around him, only Dark was staring at Foxy silently with a menacing expression.
"Dark, step forward."  Foxy ordered, watching Dark's every move.
Roxanne was surprised but she didn't move. When Dark was standing close to Foxy, Foxy straightened up.
"You're the reason Roxanne nearly got killed." Foxy said loudly.
Dark was about to say something but Foxy managed to speak first.
"Therefore I am forced to punish you." Foxy said.
Whiteflower stepped forward, standing by Dark's side.
"No! He can't be punished now, I'm still waiting for his wound to heal, then he can be punished." Whiteflower protested quickly.
"Thank you, Whiteflower, but..."
"Dark shouldn't be punished at all."  Alex interrupted Dark with a calm expression on her face.
Foxy, furious, slammed his foot hard against the boulder to silence everyone.
"Your opinion is worth nothing here, I'm doing this because those are my rules." Foxy replied through gritted teeth.
"And mine?"  Roxanne asked suddenly, stepping forward.  "My opinion is also not worth here?"
Foxy hesitated, then he shook his head.
"Understand me it's for our own good."  Foxy said.
“Dark needs to get better!" Whiteflower screamed.
Dark grabbed Whiteflower's arm and shook his head as if it didn't make sense. Whiteflower was surprised at this, but with his head down, he returned to where he was standing.
"Okay, if that's how I can prove my loyalty, I'll do anything."  Dark said with a hint of determination.
Foxy smiled and nodded his head.
"In that case, we've run out of wood for the fireplace."  Foxy said, already seeing the fear in Whiteflower's eyes.
"I...it's dangerous!"  Whiteflower protested again.
"Silence!" Foxy shouted furiously, then he took a deep breath and exhaled. Whiteflower stopped glaring at Foxy with fury.
"Bring as much wood as we need," Foxy said, adding,
"there is good wood in the marshland."
Roxanne looked worried, but she looked at Foxy seriously.
"I was the one who devoted myself to Dark." Roxanne reminded him. "Then I think I should go with Dark as well."
Foxy then jumped down from the boulder and grabbed Roxanne's hand pulling her towards him, Foxy now wanted Roxanne to stay away from Dark.
"I have a different punishment for you." Foxy replied more calmly, he kissed her lightly on the cheek.
Dark stopped looking at it as if he was ashamed of something. Foxy approached Dark with a defiant look, and when their eyes met, Foxy raised one eyebrow.
"What are you waiting for, Dark? I'm sure the wood is waiting for you." Foxy growled.
Dark sighed heavily, wordlessly ran east, as Dark disappeared from sight, he looked at Roxanne.
"I'm the one who should be punished." Roxanne said.
Foxy ignored her and walked over to Gold who was slightly scared.
"Keep an eye on him, if you see him gathering wood in the marshes, tell me." Foxy whispered to Gold.
Gold then looked awake before running towards where Dark had gone. The rest of the members watched Foxy in confusion.
"What about us?"  Ella asked.
"The rest are going back home." Foxy mumbled, not looking at the members.
He listened for footsteps that slowly seemed to disappear as he looked towards the forest, he noticed Roxanne. Foxy approached her with a smiling face.
"Why are you so strict with Dark?" Roxanne asked suddenly.
"I want to know if he wants to stay here, if he wants to live here he has to work for it." Foxy replied as he headed towards the forest, Roxanne blocked his way.
"No, I'm sure it's something else!" Roxanne called.
"Don't be a fool, be a deputy who supports the leader in every decision he makes."  Foxy ordered.
"I'm trying to be a good deputy, not for myself, but for everyone." Roxanne began to say, "But what you're doing makes me not feel like a fair deputy."
Foxy growled under his breath, he did not hide his irritation, he was fed up with Roxanne defending someone he knew less time.
"It won't change anything, I just want us to be as safe as our future." Foxy explained desperately.
"We're safe here."  Roxanne snapped sharply.
"I mean our future, think about our family, think about eternal security."  Foxy said.
Roxanne snorted, she lowered her head as if she surrendered. Foxy was about to do something, but Roxanne expected it.
"Are you thinking of creating a family now? Please, for now, we must take care of our valley and members." Roxanne whispered, "But haven't you thought that showing our 'kids' of the future that the world is safe is a good idea?"
"It is a good idea because they'll never cross the border of our valley." Foxy said quickly.
"Live in the present!" Roxanne screamed.
Foxy was surprised at this, he felt as if his world had collapsed. He felt like the future he dreamed of with Roxanne would never be, but why? When Roxanne noticed Foxy's surprised face, she calmed down and grabbed his hand.
"I'm sorry, I mean it's worth thinking about our friends now, not... about our future kids." Roxanne stuttered uncertainly.
Foxy fell silent, he didn't know what to answer, he just hugged Roxanne to him. He tried to stop himself from crying, luckily he succeeded.
"We'll see what I can do." Foxy said calmly.
I just want to have children with you and watch them grow up. Foxy thought proudly.  He then imagined himself as a father teaching his children to walk, or even teaching them magic. Roxanne released herself slowly from Foxy's grip, giving him a friendly look. Foxy blushed slightly and nodded respectfully.
"Are we going home?" Roxanne asked.
"I...I'll be back soon, I have to run some errands." Foxy informed her with a serious face.
Roxanne raised one eyebrow.
"Shall I come with you?" Roxanne suggested suddenly.
"No, it will take a while." Foxy said.
Roxanne shrugged, she headed toward the forest. Foxy then looked at the Tall Tree and again began to wonder about the world of the Void and The Sisters. He has to find out if the witches are mad at him. I need to get back there. Foxy thought. But how? Foxy tried to remember how the dark magic had taken him to the Void world. Is it because of negative emotions or his powers? Foxy then concentrated under the Tall Tree. A spark of magic appeared in his hand, he began to lose control of it and hit the Tall Tree, before Foxy realized it, he was surprised.  So he closed his eyes preparing for a loud explosion of the tree, to his surprise he heard nothing but the sounds of a spark, Foxy opened his eyes. He saw a black portal in the tree, mist was oozing from the portal. Foxy jumped into the portal without hesitation, making a hard landing afterwards. Foxy clumsily quickly stood up and adjusted his scarf. He was back in the same dark world he had been dreaming about. Foxy couldn't believe he made it back here, he was proud of himself for making good progress. When he stopped thinking about himself, he looked around and noticed in the darkness the man he had seen earlier.
"What are you doing here?" the man asked calmly.
Foxy straightened up and walked closer to the figure hiding in the shadows.
"I want to know more." Foxy replied shortly.
"You promised you'd never come back here." A new voice growled, then green eyes appeared in the darkness beside the man.
"I know, but that's not the end of my questions." Foxy said.
A man with a mask on his face emerged from the shadows.
"You think we trust you? You've threatened my world with destruction before!" The man snorted as he approached Foxy.
"This world doesn't deserve to live in the shadows anyway." Foxy then said with a calm expression on his face.
Another man came out of the shadows hearing what Foxy had said. He was the first person without a mask.
"I agree with him." Said the boy.
“Silence, Jack! Only Levis and I are supposed to deal with problems like this man!" The man growled.
The boy with the glasses looked nervous and embarrassed.
"My name is Foxy, I came here to learn more about The Sisters." Foxy introduced himself, nodding his head. Jack and the man exchanged uncertain glances, then Jack shrugged and disappeared into the darkness.  Foxy looked at the man with pleading eyes.
"I am Zack, leader of the Void world." Zack replied menacingly.
Foxy gave him a nice look, he had the impression that Zack would trust him from now on. He told himself it is a good start.
"I didn't know I was dealing with a leader." Foxy said. "It's an honor to meet you."
Zack nodded, then turned his back on him. Foxy raised one eyebrow and took one step towards Zack.
"Follow me." Zack mumbled darkly.
Foxy vigorously followed him with a serious face, Zack seemed cold and quiet. This disturbed Foxy, he looked around the dark world where there was no end in sight.  He wondered if he would be able to live in such a world without light and without friends. It's so empty, like nobody lives here. Foxy thought. Foxy caught up with Zack seeing that he was behind when he didn't notice Zack stopped and collided with him. Foxy clutched his neck feeling stupid. Zack paid no attention to Foxy, he just stared ahead with unfamiliar emotions. Foxy stood by his side, he shivered when he noticed two apparitions that were looking at a familiar figure. Foxy started walking towards them, leaving Zack completely behind. To his surprise, he noticed among the two apparitions Alfa who seemed to be in better shape than before. Foxy's eyes widened in shock as he watched Alfa in disbelief. What is he doing here? Is he dead? Foxy asked in his mind.
"Something happened?"  He heard Zack next to him.
Foxy then looked at Zack in shock.
"Who is he?"  Foxy asked.
Zack looked carefully at the two misty apparitions and Alfa.
"Don't go into the dark spirits, these are the spirits that already live here permanently." Zack said.
"And who is that one among these apparitions?" Foxy asked, looking at Zack.
Then Alfa looked in their direction, he looked surprised to see Foxy.
"This is Alfa, he's new here." Zack replied.
Foxy wordlessly strode towards them with a menacing expression, Alfa took one step back. When he was close enough to Alfa, Alfa straightened up. Foxy was surprised that Alfa was a bit taller than him, but he didn't want to show that much surprise.
"Hello." Foxy said calmly.
"What do you want?" Alfa growled dryly.
Foxy gave him a hostile look, he was a little happy that Alfa was here now and would never return to their valley.
"Do you know Alfa?" Zack said.
gave
Alfa gave Foxy a special push and walked over to Zack.
"It's pretty complicated, boss." Alfa answered quickly.
Foxy pulled Alfa's hood and they both walked a bit further away from Zack and the confused apparitions.  When they were a bit further Foxy showed how furious he was.
"How did you get here?" Foxy asked sharply.
Alfa snorted with laughter.
"I fell into oblivion, I told myself that I don't want to live as a mortal." Alfa growled.
"Are... are you dead?" Foxy replied grimly.
"No, the mortal part is still in me, but I have left this life behind." Alfa snorted, he walked away from Foxy and disappeared into the darkness. Foxy stared in disbelief where Alfa went, how can he live in a world that is for dead creatures? But he realized that thanks to this, Alfa would never come back.
"He's not one of us yet, but his ceremony will be held soon." Suddenly he heard Jack behind him.
“Did you follow us?" Foxy asked uncertainly.
Jack smiled innocently and shrugged. Foxy snorted, he was about to go back to Zack but he was nowhere to be seen. Foxy frantically looked around, but it was no use.  When he was about to ask Jack where Zack was, Jack was gone as well. Great, now I don't know where I am.  Foxy thought irritably. As he stamped his foot hard on the ground, he heard footsteps behind him. Foxy spun around to see a man wearing a feathered bowler hat and wearing a cape and mask smiling.
"Are you lost?" The man asked sarcastically.
Foxy tried not to get mad, he faked a smile with clenched teeth, he was tired of everyone treating him like an intruder.
"I guess so." Foxy replied.
The man laughed menacingly and appeared next to Foxy, Foxy noticing that he could teleport in the dark.
"I see you've come back, even though you promised not to come back here." The man said in a calm voice.
"Yes, but I've lost control of my power." Foxy mumbled softly.
"I respect your talent for being a magician...Foxy, right?"  He asked for his name.
Foxy nodded.
"Great, I'm Levis." He said, straightening up.
Levis extended his hand to Foxy in greeting, and Foxy shook it.
"Few mortals learn magic, except when it comes to The Sisters." Levis said in disgust.
Foxy was confused, does Levis hate The Sisters? If so, why?
"Do you know The Sisters?" Foxy asked, trying to start a topic about witches.
"Who wouldn't know them here? They come here every now and then for some meetings.” Levis replied in a hostile tone.
Meetings in this world?  Foxy thought curiously.
"But you know what I'll tell you," Levis was saying, "I don't trust them even though we're in agreement."
"Why?" Foxy asked. "The Sisters are powerful, they sure know every detail of magic."
Levis snorted in annoyance.
"Maybe they know, I believe that's what makes them think they're powerful." He growled impatiently.
"Are the Sisters still alive on earth?" Foxy asked.
He hoped Levis would tell him all he needed to know.
"Yes, they often visit us here, actually only their leader visits us." Levis replied.
There was silence then, Foxy was afraid to ask for more lest he arouse suspicion, but he couldn't help himself.
"Do you know where they can live?" Foxy called back.
"Why do you want to know?" Levis answered bravely, but when he looked at Foxy he hesitated. Foxy probably already knew that Levis was thinking about the threat he had told them yesterday. Foxy felt a sudden satisfaction that the apparitions believed what he was saying.
"They live in Starforest, a bit further west of Blox Town."  Levis said.
Foxy realized that the book he was reading about magic was true, but how was he to know if it was true?
"Sounds interesting, thank you." Foxy mumbled grimly.
Then he thought it was time to go home, what would Roxanne say if he won't come back?
"It was nice meeting you, Levis. I have to go home now, see you later."  Foxy said.
Levis nodded, then ran into the dark mist and disappeared. Foxy smiled and forcefully created a portal, then entered it. Once back in the Tall Tree's territory, he started walking quickly towards the forest. Now that he knows where The Sisters are, he will be able to find them, he doesn't know how yet. But he's not going to give up now that he's closer to his goal.