The Shadow Festival (Book One)

Chapter Five: Shadows Of The Past

Scylla

That was the name given to her when she had first came into the dark lands. Scylla. One simple name.

But it was more than just a name. It was a reminder, a scar from her past to remind her of everything that they took her away from. The years she suffered trying to heal the scars, the days she spent trying to forget the past and the time she wasted believing it was all her fault.

The longing and regretful memories from that name drove her into a vengeful frenzy, each letter reflecting her messed up past. Every utter, every sound from the name was a reminder of what she could have had.

A family. A friend. A home. A mother who could bake cookies that don't taste like demon chicken eggs.

But she was never destined for that.

She was destined to lose everything she had without a choice, forced to believe it was all her fault. She was forced to live in a life knowing she didn't have a choice back then. Engulfed in anger and envy was she, and the heart she used to have died with the remains of her mother.

The shadows that called her, sometimes in painful grunts, other times singing the dreadful Macarena. The pain that embraced her developed her in a hug that made her want to puke a rainbow. And the stinging pain of longing that killed her. Was molding her to who she should be. A vengeful leader, ready to lead her army of to the front door of her worst enemy.

"Scylla? "

The blade in her hand that she was staring at vanished into her white billowing cloak in a flick of her wrist and she whirled to find a shadow of a man stare at her with fierce glowering eyes, flashing menacingly in the dark.

"Hector", she muttered, surprised by his sudden appearance. "What is it? Give me the full report"

She saw him flash her a sickening grin that made her heart skip. Scylla may never admit it, but she
liked the shadow people, an ancient race of talking shadows that dwelt in the dark lands and unnoticed and forgotten.

They hated a lot of things. But for some reason, they seemed to have a strange liking for her grandmother's demon cookies.

They hated the light, but hated the darkness more. In the light, they were gone, in the dark, they were invisible. The shadow people were not rare in the dark lands, but they mostly kept to themselves. They were secret, so most considered them a myth, but she knew they weren't.

But they had only one wish. To be finally noticed. To finally be relevant. Not something to be feared, but something to appreciate.

Also her great grandma's demonic cookies. So she had to steal from the dungeon to feed them, causing everyone to dub her as 'the weird demon cookie eating girl'.

"She's here, Scylla", Hector said in a raspy voice,. She felt the lace of her heartbeat quicken. "She just entered the gates"

A grin came over her face, a malevolent expression crossing her face. "Thank you, Hector"

The shadow managed an awkward bow, before pausing and raising it's glowing eyes at her. Shadow people always have uniquely colored glowing eyes. Hector's was a glowing azure blue. The shadow people's body was the same figure of a human, but like a shadow, cannot be touched, except for her, that is.

"My lady, I do not intend to be rude, but... ", he trailed off, looking at her uneasily, she gave him an expression, telling him to continue his unfinished statement. "Why do you hate this girl so much?"

Hector stared at her, the mysterious azure glow from his eyes fading slightly as he examined her face, which was trying to stay locked like a door with a 'DO NOT DISTURB OR DIE' sign.