SHADOW

The Pact Beneath Moonlight

It was late at night when Sha heard voices in the garden below the windows of her room. She could not believe her eyes—two white shadows darted through the garden. From time to time, she spotted them, and women's voices tinkled through the night silence.

Sha pressed her face to the window, trying to see what was going on. To her dismay, most of the lights in the courtyard were off or dimmed. From what she could discern, two naked women ran along a dark path toward the forest at the horizon. To this peculiar sight was added a white pillar of smoke drifting against the deep blue sky under the golden round moon.

She pressed her nose against the glass, watching as more figures emerged from the castle and moved toward the woods.

What is going on? It seemed like a secret party was being held in the depths of the forest.

"One that I'm not invited to," sighed Sha and stepped back from the cold glass just as frost began forming on its surface.

"Enjoying the view?" asked a male voice.

She shuddered and looked around, but there was no one in the room. She checked the shadows, but nothing moved.

A long sigh, followed by a faint scratch on the glass, echoed in front of her.

"I'm here. Enjoying the night sky and fresh air. Want to join me?" the voice chuckled, and goosebumps rose along Sha's arms.

"No, I don't. Do you think I'm stupid? Whatever is going on, I don't know, but I'm sure you're not allowed inside. So I have nothing to be afraid of while I'm in the castle," Sha replied, stepping away from the window.

"Well, sometimes I will catch you alone in the dark, and then we shall talk, my lovely Sha," the voice replied, chuckling again.

"Who are you, and what do you want from me? You know very well I can't give you back your essence—or whatever it is you're looking for. If I could, I would," she said, watching the frost dance along the glass.

"In this, you are wrong. You can give me back my essence, and I will spare your life," replied the velvety male voice.

Sha looked down at her hands, placing them in her lap, trying to stop their trembling. As brave as she wanted to appear, this voice unnerved her.

"How can I trust you? If I do what you say, how do I know you'll actually spare me? Maybe you can't even harm me—you might just be a pesky ghost."

The voice growled. "Then come outside and let me show you how pesky I am, you insolent woman. I bathe in your—"

The glass rattled violently, and Sha jumped out of her chair, running toward the door.

"Wait! Don't leave the room. Let's talk like civilized people," the voice said, its tone softer now.

"You just said you'd bathe in my blood—or whatever dark thought you had. Nothing in that phrase sounded civilized. And you expect me to believe you?" Sha asked, gripping the door handle, ready to bolt. If this ghost could physically affect the window, it could possibly harm her. She wouldn't test that theory.

"If you won't listen to me now, you'll live a miserable existence—always wondering when I'll get you. And I'll remain trapped in a miserable shadow form, doomed to pursue you endlessly. Option two: you listen to me, and we work together. A better outcome for both."

Sha narrowed her eyes, but slowly released the door handle.

"All right. You have five minutes to tell me how I can get rid of you—and you of me."