Endless Enchantment: Secret Of Shadowvale

CHAPTER-8-THE SHADOW OF DEATH

VIANA'S POV~

I always hated bars. Felt like puking everytime I smelled that awful odour of somebody's nasty armpit. I have never been a girl like that but here I am, amongst a bunch of youngsters who will probably hookup with someone random and will end up regretting the next morning. 

I stir my Negroni which reminds me of my first day out with Kai. It's still amusing to even think that we hit it off after the most disastrous date anybody could ever have. He brought me here, the loudest place on this planet. I was feeling we had nothing in common. He loved football, action movies, photography, painting, partying and even politics. On the other hand I loved staying at home, eating something spicy and watching SEX IN THE CITY or THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on reat!! (team Katherine btw). I thought we had no similar interests other than this particular drink. We both had something special towards Negroni and cosmopolitan (still reminds me of sex in the city). We were so drunk by the end of the date that we actually fell asleep in his car and by the time we woke up, a different and closer bond had already developed between us which we were well aware of. 

I wish he was here. I wish I could make up for the time we lost. I wish, things didn't end that way they did. I relentlessly drop back on the couch feeling completely distressed. I am at a fucking dead end and all I want are answers. Lucius, that son of a gun is pulling me further down but is not giving me any information regarding Kai. Why is it all so fucked up!! Why lord??? I whine a little more in my mind. 

"Hey chica" the unwanted attention spikes my meter of anger even higher. I stare up with a grumpy look on my face. who the fuck even says chica! A boy, probably in his 18s is sitting next to me wearing a blue shirt with some abstract design on it. He is wearing a few rings and a silver necklace. His hair is kinda ruffled and he reeks of alcohol. Surely 18. 

"Hey boy" I move a bit far, trying to avoid his over flirtatious gaze. 

"Wanna go somewhere more private" he scooches closer to me. "We could have some fun" he licks his lips in the most sluttiest way possible. I am so damn sure that he is the fuckboy every school or college has. 

"Excuse me Mr Chica boy" I lift my hand as a sign to make him stop coming any closer to me. "I am too old for you. Find someone more of your age. Goodnight" I pick my bag up and walk out of the bar. His eyes followed me as I left. He surely is wondering, how could someone refuse to sleep with a hot shot like him? He was kinda smoky but I don't wish to hook up with a child and end up being called a pedo for the rest of my life. 

I walk back home with the one and only thought hovering my goddamn mind, "what if I gain nothing from helping Lucius? what if it's all a game?". As these thoughts  flood my already tipsy mind, I realise I am home. I ring the doorbell twice before I hear Mateo shouting "I am coming!!"

He sprungs the door open. He looks kinda vexed but he always looks like that I guess. I move past him as I crash on the couch. "Is Lillian asleep?" I ask. 

"Yes and food is on the counter. Help yourself " he washes his hand and stomps upstairs. I know he is mad but he won't be for long. He is an incredible friend who has been taking care of me since day one. He stays here half of the nights, watching over Lillian and me. He says, I am a lot reckless nowadays and he is worried. I am worried about me too. I am scared. The mess I am getting into, is it worth it or just a big mistake? 

THE NEXT MORNING~

My head feels like it's going to explode. Why did I drink so much? I can barely open my eyes. I'm still sprawled on the couch, wrapped in a warm, cozy blanket. Mateo must have covered me up when he checked on me late last night. He must have noticed I was shivering.

"Buenos días, viana."

"Yeah," I yawn, rubbing my eyes vigorously.

"You'll pop your eyeballs out, Mom," Lillian comments as she emerges from her room, ready to eat her favorite Sunday breakfast: pancakes.

"Yeah," I smile. My daughter is just as witty as I am. My little pancake.

"Pancake day, right?" I say joyfully.

"No... just toast," Mateo replies bluntly. It seems strange. Lillian is calm, too calm. She loves Pancake Sunday and usually gets upset if it's skipped. Why is she suddenly okay with it? An uneasy feeling settles in my stomach. I must be overanalyzing things.

I jump off the couch and head to the washroom. My vision is still blurry, but a few splashes of water on my face should clear it up. The hallway feels unnaturally quiet, and the shadows seem to stretch longer than usual. The air is heavy with an unspoken tension, as if the house itself is holding its breath.

Splash~ splash~

It finally feels refreshing. I grab my towel to wipe the trickling drops of water off my face. I glance at myself in the mirror when something felt a bit... weird. At first I try to avoid it but I cannot. My relfection looks strange on the mirror. 

I move closer to my mirror as sweats of fear trickle down my forehead. My reflection....its.... growing. I gasp on my breath and move back. I open the door of my washroom and run outside, screaming for help. I take a glimpse back and there It was, a tall, black, omnious shadow following me as I ran for my life. 

"Mateo" I crash on the kitchen counter. Panting and huffing, pointing at the shadow following me. "We need to run" why aren't they moving? They don't seem to care. Lillian is busy eating her toast and Mateo is simply not listening. 

"Guys!!!" I scream louder than ever. "We need to go!!" I grasp onto Lillian's hand when a sharp surge of pain arises in my body. My eyes are protruding out as Both Mateo and Lillian lift their fingers and point out on something behind me. Their faces break into a monstrous grin as my body slowly starts to twist. Their loud chuckles keep on increasing as my bones crack one after the other. I can feel the immense pain in me but am helpless. I try to shout but my voice is lost somewhere. I slowly look behind me and there it was, the shadow of death, sucking the life out of me. 

I lay on the floor quivering in agony. "YOU CAN'T RUN VIANA" a voice echoes in the entire room as a shrill sound pierces me ears. It was so intense that the widows, tables, everything shatters into millions of pieces and so did I. 

"NO!!!!!" I wake up screaming. It was 3:30 am. I immediately got up on my feet and took my shirt off. I covered my mouth in disbelief as several tear and cut marks appeared on my belly. I kknow what to do. I leave a note for Mateo, grab my keys and drive towards hotel Elysian where Lucius was staying.