The Shadow Of Magic(first draft)

Chapter 20

Eiran made his way back up the large staircase, Eliza's book still in hand. The bright blue lights shone on his face, the brightly colored books being illuminated.

Eiran walked towards the table, finding Vincent's book laying on the table once again. ' Didn't I put this up?' Eiran thought to himself, slowly approaching the book.

He reached out his hand, and when he had just barely played a finger on it,the cover flew open. The tinted pages flew by him, only stopping when it landed on a page in the back of the book.

Dear diary,
It read,

Today may very well be my last day to write in this journal. Today I make the decision to inact my curse. I may be killed for this, but that is just the price of justice. Filthy nomadges don't deserve to walk the same Earth as me. They don't deserve to walk the same Earth as my ancestors did. The other Shadows all disagree. Well, all but one. She thinks the same as me and encourages me. I'm glad to be aided by someone like her. She is the one who guides us all, in a way. There has never been a situation she hasn't been able to get out of. I just hope she can aid me one last time and make my last breath worth it.

Goodbye,                                                                                                                                                                     Vincent Carson

Eiran slammed the book shut on the table. 

"She. Who is she?"he thought aloud,running a hand over the large book, debating what he was about to do. Eliza's words ring in his ear like a siren, "Just because we aren't alive, doesn't mean some of us aren't dangerous. You don't need to be able to feel to touch someone with darkness." 

He grabbed Vincent's book and climbed back down the spiral staircase once more. His steps seemed to echo more than before, the red light was gone and replaced with a light orange one. The room he walked into was completely different from the deserted ruin that was the old room. This new room had book cases lining one wall, an extravagant fireplace, and furniture suited for a king. Vincent did not wait in the shadows like Eliza, but was front and center in this setting, the bright blue light illuminating him seemed brighter than Eliza's.

"I didn't expect you to speak to me so soon, little Shadow. Most here lately avoid me completely. Raellyn didn't even want to speak to me after hearing my story."He said, voice smooth and low.

"I thought you weren't able to tell me anything that wasn't written in your diary. Which Shadows have talked to you definitely wasn't in there."Eiran questioned, backing up into the staircase.

"You've talked to Eliza haven't you?"He asked, sitting in a bright red velvet chair facing the fireplace. "Yes. I have. She warned me that you would try to manipulate me into being like you."Eiran stated, granting him a laugh from Vincent.

"What's so funny? You tried to wipe out half the world because you thought you were better than them. I don't want to be like that."Eiran stepped closer to the chair. Vincent went silent. 

"You know nothing about me. I did what I had to. Did you know that back when I was the Shadow, nomadges were cruel and greedy. They treated magic users like they were filthy. The way they saw it, we were dangerous and uncontrollable. Something they needed to exterminate. Much like how they are treated now. I was protecting the victims in that situation, that's my job. The world isn't all black and white you know? It's a whole world of different colors. Different people see them differently. I was painted red by everyone in your generation and feared for it, but back then, it was seen as powerful and the sign of a leader. People choose to see us how they want. Eliza isn't as pure or trustworthy as you think too. Actually, she's probably worse than me. You and me are pretty similar too."Vincent explained, not daring to look back at Eiran.

"I am nothing like you. I would never do what you did. You stopped nomadges from treating magic users the way they did, sure. But now we have the opposite problem. You didn't solve the problem, you just made someone else the victim to save yourself. That's not our job. Our job is to protect everyone!"Eiran screamed at Vincent, who wasn't responding anymore.

"How naive can one person be? Do you really think that? If you keep that mind set, you'll end up upsetting everyone. Someone who works so hard to not upset anyone is doomed to be hated by everyone. You can't please everyone, just the majority. There will always be someone who has a problem with you. The trick is finding enough people who love you to influence the people you can't."Vincent finally stood up again and faced Eiran. "You can't protect everyone. So my advice to you, is to protect the ones you know won't turn on you. That was my fault."His eyes glued to the floor.

"who was she? The Shadow you mentioned in your last entry. The one who agreed with you. The Shadow who supported you and could always get out of a nasty situation?"Eiran finally asked what he came down here for.

Vincent's outline started to become fuzzy and he was now hard to see. "I don't think you need me to help you figure that out."He claimed, now looking Eiran in the eyes.

"There are over 1,000 other Shadows. How am I supposed to find her? At least give me a name."Eiran was getting impatient. Vincent was running out of time.

"She won't let me Eiran. She has a hold on all the Shadows. What we say is restricted by her. She won't let me say. I'm sorry."His voice got quiet and frantic. He knew he couldn't talk much longer. "Eiran listen! She is known by many as the holder. She holds all the memories of every Shadow. You can only talk with me again after 48 hours. Ask any other Shadow who the holder is. They can't give you a name, but they will all give you a clue. Eiran you need to listen to me very carefully now. If you find out who she is, you can't listen to a word she has to say. You will end up like me if you do so. You need to liste-"Vincent was gone. Vanished as Eliza did.

There he was again, alone, in a dark room with only a dust book. Only this time, he now had to choose who to listen to, Eliza or Vincent.