Chasing Darkness Part I

Chapter Two

One long year had passed since Alisia's transformation. The war between the spirits and mankind was still going and had become worse; there was no peace or happiness in any realm. Unfortunately for mankind, Alisia was one of the ones causing the unhappiness. Since her transformation, she had become something new. And she had learnt new things. And she goes by a new name. This name was The Witch of the East. She was feared by empires and whole kingdoms. But the Witch of the East had a mission: To find the Spirit of Darkness and destroy her. Alisia was travelling around kingdoms unnoticed by many but feared of her whereabouts. She hadn't even tried to remove the curse that was set upon her, and it was slowly growing and soon, it would be ready to kill her. The bruising had spread up to her elbow and was working its way up the rest of her. She now wore a long hooded cloak and gloves to hide what she was and her fate.

Alisia was currently returning to a village that she hadn't been to in a long time. She was returning east, to a village near to her home town. It had been years since Alisia had been to this village, the memories were slowly making their way back, they were happy. That feeling hadn't been felt in Alisia's heart in a long time.

Alisia walked through the brass gates of the village. But as soon as she stood in the village she didn't feel the same feeling of joy and happiness that she did a year ago. There was nobody in the marketplace. The windows of all the houses and shops were closed and so were the shops themselves. There were no children running around with smiles on their faces. To Alisia's right was a pub named 'the Lion's Head' there was a man who was leaning against the door frame of the pub. He was rather scruffy and his clothes were shabby and tatty. he had a small deck of cards in his hands and was continuously shuffling the cards. Alisia walked up to the man with the cards to see if she could find out anything.

"Hello, I was wondering if you could help me?" said Alisia as politely as she could, trying to be friendly. She hadn't really properly spoken to anybody in a long time. The man raised his head slightly. Alisia could just see his blue eyes from under his rather large black ragged hat and brown shaggy hair.

"You're not from around here, are you?" said the man. Alisia wasn't sure how to answer that. What would be the consequence if she said no?

"No, I'm not, but I really need some help," Alisia tried to explain as best she could.

"I'm not meant to be talking to you just get out of here, our village has policies! Leave!" demanded the man in a quiet whisper.

"Please! As soon as I get the information that I need I'll leave," begged Alisia.

"NO!" said the man louder this time.

Alisia sighed "I'm sorry," she said and opened her cloak and took out a small sack out of a choice of several sacks. The sack contained silver coloured dust. Alisia took a pinch of the dust and threw it in the man's face. Within an instant he fell to the floor. "Don't worry, it's just sleeping dust, hopefully you'll forget this conversation ever happened when you wake up. At least this won't kill you," said Alisia to the sleeping man.

Alisia took a deep breath and walked into the pub. When she walked the pub was brightly lit with lanterns and candles. It seemed like the entire village was in the pub. There were children, old people, everybody.

"Excuse me, why is the whole village in here?" asked Alisia quietly to a barmaid.

"You should ask David May, he's in the back just there," directed the barmaid. Alisia looked to where she was pointing.

"Thank you," said Alisia respectfully. Alisia made her way to the back of the pub. As she did a particular voice began to become louder and clearer. When Alisia got closer to the back of the pub there was a man, he seemed to be quite close to Alisia's age. He was surrounded by approximately seven young children. Alisia assumed this was David May. She had overheard some of what he was telling the children and he continued to tell them what appeared to be a story.