Sinister Secrets

The Dragon, The Witch, and The Cave By the Sea

I sat at the dining room table, my knee bouncing uncontrollably as I sifted through the different images in my head that the moonstone showed me. Not to mention the odd factor that the necklace had somehow reappeared. Sitting on the table in front of me, waiting for me to clasp it around my neck again. It was there when I got home. Like it was waiting for me and knew I'd venture into the kitchen first. I bit down on my lip and stared at the metal sword in front of me. It was like a drug, it called to me and I wasn't sure why. I reached for it, running my finger along it and I swear it whispered my name. 

I stood from the table, shook out my hands, and poured myself a glass of water. I returned to the table, sipping the water as I stared down at the necklace. After a few moments, I slipped back into the seat and eagerly lifted the sword from the wood. Though it had caused me pain and though it had led me to some strange magical occurrences I couldn't quite figure out and had literally no answers to, I felt like I had to put it on. I didn't have a choice. I quickly clasped the necklace around my neck and closed my eyes as the electric current pulsed through my veins, filling my body completely. Once the feeling subsided, I opened my eyes and sighed like I regretted giving into the temptation. I ran my finger over the sword at my neck and for some reason, though it had brought me a lot of chaos, I felt at home with it on. I felt whole.

I couldn't stop thinking about the images the moonstone had shared with me. I couldn't stop thinking about him. The Dark Lord. Somehow, someway the necklace was connected to the Dark Lord. Reginald was the Lord of the Dark before I was born. He was terrible. He was known to be cruel and vile. They called him the Bloody Lord because he killed everyone. He was a sensitive and mean man and was known to take the eyes of a person who looked at him wrong. The stories I've grown up with state that Erebus can be just as cruel. They said he loved a good execution and wasn't afraid to take it too far. But, he seemed to be well-liked. The creatures of the Dark seemed to listen to him and according to Amos, this was the quietest the Dark has been since Reginald died. It seemed whatever the Dark Lord was doing, it was working.

I thought about The Silence. The time in the Dark where there was no leadership. There was no Lord. There was a whole section of our history books dedicated to that terrible time. And now I understood. There was a hesitancy on Erebus's part to take the throne, he was afraid to rule. Although, with a father like Reginald I could see why he was nervous. What if you found out you were a lot like the person you have always hated? What if you found out that you're nothing like them and that you can't rule? There was a lot to be considered before stepping into such a big role. What if Erebus would have said no? What if he chose not to rule? Would the Dark have been in The Silence forever?

The images of the Dark Lord were engrained into my brain. I couldn't stop recalling his face and those moon-colored eyes. There was so much more information, but still no definite answers. I had more questions, to be honest. The Dark Lord had my necklace, but for what reason? I recalled him whispering while holding the sword up. He had to have been the one who enchanted the necklace, but for what reason? Why did it sometimes hurt me? Why did it get hot? I had to talk to Amos. He was the only one who could help me.

I pushed away from the table and crossed the room for the front door. I yanked the door open and Jovie almost fell inside. I stared at her as she stumbled, righted herself, and cleared her throat. I slid my eyes from her to Relm. 

I lifted my brows, still glancing between them.

"I just got here." Jovie said to me. "And Relm," she smiled back at him, "he was," she shook herself, "he was just looking for you."

Relm's gaze met mine and I tilted my head to the side ever so slightly.

While Jovie seemed to be having a hard time, Relm looked unphased. The silence surrounding the three of us was heavy and uncomfortable.