The Shadow Of Magic(first draft)

Chapter 13

Eiran, Lola and Felix quickly got settled on the ship. They made friends, learned how to do new things, and saw things they never would've otherwise.

Eiran quickly realized how close Lola and Captain Josephine were. Lola seemed to be very good at befriending just about everyone, despite being locked up for so long.

One day, Eiran was making his way to Captain Josephine's office to ask about something but noticed Lola already there. "Josephine. I'm concerned about something." Lola asked, standing with her arms wrapped around her. She was also stiff as a statue.

"What is it?" Josephine asked, calmly. "Where are we going? The only thing we've seen the past two days is ocean. Did Felix tell you where to go? I have no idea where we are going and... I'm afraid of my father finding us. If he got ahold of me he would no doubt..." Lola didn't finish her sentence but Captain Josephine got the message. Eiran did too. He knew what happened to her mother and he would no doubt do the same to her.

"He won't find us. If you're really so concerned you should know we are heading to The Amethyst Caves. Lots of strong spiritual power there. Plenty of the Shadows have used it as a sort of safe house if you will. They can channel the spirits of past Shadows to guide them. I've seen it done before. The Shadows are linked through magic. When the Shadow dies, their soul gets sort of manifested into their magic, which is then passed to the next person in the world to be born." Captain Josephine explained to Lola, who gave her a blank stare.

"Then that means there has been a Shadow in the world this entire time? Even before Eiran was born? How many have there been?"Lola was asking tons of questions now, but was stopped by Captain Josephine lifting up her hand.

"Yes the Shadows of the past have stayed hidden for years. That is how they got the name "The Shadow".  The whole point of them was for there to be a protector for the world at all times. No one knows how or why they came to be, but they did. They watch from the shadows, waiting for something, even something small to tip the scale of balance in the world. Your father was that thing but he had just come to power when Eiran was first born. Your father was always Eiran's problem to solve as the Shadow, but he didn't know it until recently. And from what I know, there have been eight Shadows since the Shadow has been known."Captain Josephine knew a whole lot more than most people did with the Shadow's history, but then again, she did live with one of them.

"How do you know all of this?"Lola asked, clearly very confused. "I knew the last Shadow. She died right here. In this room"Captain Josephine looked away from Lola and instead focused on the dagger on her desk. "I've known her since I was five years old. She was always there. No matter what. Eiran seems to have picked that trait up from her. Did you know most of the Shadow's personality traits come from the Shadows before them. So the next Shadow could have one of Eirans qualities. You may live to see that."She still kept her eyes on the small dagger, now picking it up.

"Well, she had a good friend. You stuck around too. Until her last moments. She must be proud, seeing you now."Lola stated, thinking it would comfort her. Captain Josephine gave her a smile. "Thank you. Why don't you go find your friends now. They must be looking for you."The captain said, motioning to the door.

Eiran hid behind the open door, letting Lola walk by without being noticed. "You know...You aren't very good at hiding."Eiran nearly jumped out of his skin, hearing captain Josephine's voice. "Come in here."She said, almost amused. Honestly, she probably was. "You heard all of that didn't you?"She asked Eiran, not looking at him.", Eiran didn't say anything, but nodded.

"She can't can she?"Eiran asked, turning his attention to the floor. "No. Raellyn hasn't been able to see me since she died. What you were seeing earlier. My scars. The ones on my back. That was her memory. I guess being back on the ship triggered her memories. She can't see me, but she can feel me. She knows I'm close. She knows where she is. Where you are."She never looked up once, eyes glued to the shiny, dagger with a beautiful green handle.

"Why? I thought everyone got to look over their loved ones after they died."Eiran asked. He knew exactly why, he just didn't want to fully accept the fact that, not only was that Raellyn's fate, but his too. "She was a Shadow. Shadows don't get that. They still have a job, a role here on Earth. With you."She answered, finally looking up, eyes filled with tears. Eiran saw the scars on her face wrinkle once more. Her face changed. Only for a second, but it did. Her scars were gone, she was smiling, and she looked younger. Eiran didn't know how he could tell this was when she was still a teen, but he just knew.

"What's so special about that dagger?"Eiran questioned, wishing he hadn't. A tear finally fell. "It..It was the one that..this is the dagger...that...killed her."She choked out through sobs. "She..she said she was going to see me again. She'll never get that. I'll never...No. We'll never get that."She squeezed her eyes shut, turning away from the dagger. Who knew something  so beautiful could cause so much damage? So much pain? So much suffering?

"You know what? She would want you to have this."She looked back at Eiran, who finally looked up, meeting her eyes again. There it was again. She was so much happier when Raellyn was still alive. He could tell. "I don't think..."He started then was cut off. Captain Josephine held it out to him, facing the dagger's handle at him. "For me, this is just another reminder of her. Of what I can never have again. For you this is the mark of the ending of one Shadow, and the start of a new one."She smiled. She smiled again. Eiran reached out a cautious hand, grabbing the dagger. Up close, he could see the lines of gold fragments in it and the silver lining. It really was a beautiful dagger. Sometimes the perfect disguise is one that is painfully obvious. Looking at it, you almost forget it's a weapon. Something made to destroy, to cause pain, to kill.