Elementis: The Darkness Awakens

Chapter 3, The Monster Beckens

Nick walked through each hallway and corridor. Every place he went, he felt as if he was being watched. He looked behind him and saw nothing there. Then he continued his walk through the palace.

It was falling apart. There were pieces of stone scattered about the floor. Scratches on the wall. Paintings torn apart. Then he noticed one thing in common with all the ruined paintings. It was the same person scratched out. That’s when he heard something.

He followed where the sound had come from. The figure kept running. Nick chased after. The figure was quick. Then he finally cornered it. All the curtains were blocking out the light. He couldn’t see it clearly. He pulled them back and saw the figure before him.

The figure held its arm up over its eyes. He finally saw the being before him. A girl with wings on her back and horns on her head. Her skin looked pale. Her fingertips were black. Her hair was a very dark purple and long. Her clothing was the same colors. She was in a very bad condition, “Don’t look at me.”
“I’m sorry. You scared me.”
“Well that was the idea.”
“Did you kill those people in the moat?”
“What do you think captain obvious?”
“Are you okay? Your wings look like they’re in pain.”
“Don’t touch me!” she replied. Her arm moved away from her face. Her eyes were a deep brown. Her eyes were surrounded by the same black on her fingers. She had fangs in her mouth, “Woah.”
“What? Did you come to mock and stare at the monster?”
“You’re Ashlyn. Aren’t you?”
“Josh sent you to kill me too.”
“Jack sent me. He just wanted me to talk to you.”
“You don’t want me dead?”
“I hardly know you. Why would I want you dead?”
“Well. They probably left you here to die. They’re not coming back.”
“Oh…”
“I’ll let you stay here. I’ve been alone for quite some time.”
“You’re not going to…”
“You have no intention of killing me do you?”
“No.”
“Then follow me.” Ashlyn replied. Nick did as she said. Ashlyn walked through the castle. Nick walked a good distance behind her. He wasn’t sure what Ashlyn made of him.

As they walked she was oddly quiet. The castle was already quiet enough with only two people inhabiting it. Nick had noticed her similar appearance to Jack and Josh. That’s how he knew, “I know it isn’t too polite but, how old are you?”
“Fifteen. I also have two sisters. We’re triplets.”
“Your brothers didn’t tell me that.”
“We’re also royalty.”
“What else…?”
“Just stop.”
“I’m just…”
“I know what you’re trying to do. Just stop.”
“Well you could tell me where you’re taking me. I know it’s probably a dungeon but…”
“I’m showing you to your room. If you have to stay with me you might as well be comfortable. I might seem like a monster but I’m not entirely one.”
“You’re different then Josh described you.”
“Don’t listen to Josh. He hates me.”
“Surely you don’t believe that.”
“It’s true. Fifteen people he sent to kill me. All of which never harmed me. They were idiots to not use their magic.” Ashlyn explained. After that a thought entered Nick’s head, did she not know they were human? Did she not know that he was human? At first glance you couldn’t tell that Jack and Josh weren’t human. I guess there were very few indicators to show the difference.

After their conversation more silence followed. He looked at the girl in front of him. What did she look like before the dark magic? She was probably the person scratched out in the paintings. As they walked he noticed broken and covered up mirrors. Ashlyn clearly didn’t want to look at herself. When he saw her eyes he didn’t think what she had thought. He thought they were beautiful. Those eyes held a bit of fear and sorrow. Those eyes belonged to a person who needed help but refused to ask for it.