Epiphany: Reminiscence

XII. His shadow

"My Lord, are you alright with the Lady not knowing about this?"

"Yes, it is fine. Berenice doesn't need to know everything about what I do. I trust you will know your interests and not tell her any of this."

"Yes, of course. My loyalty is eternally yours, Lord Gregory."

These words were accompanied by a deep bow, full of respect. She who showed this loyalty to her master was a young woman with an austere look defining her, the only trait making her seem more sociable being her freckles. Her chestnut hair was tied in a low ponytail at her back, reaching her waist. She parted her gaze from the man near her and this time looked observant to the church in front of them, frowning a little as her small black eyes fell on the cross atop of it. Her clothes, as well, warned the beholders about her stringent demeanor and nature. Only a dark, heavy cloak could being seen adorning her body, showing her silhouette, the hood of the cloak being pushed against her back.

The man, however, looked more natural in his appearance. He was tall, fair skinned and blonde. His hair was worn back to reveal a wide forehead. He had beautiful traits, amongst which were his angular cheekbone, his pointed chin and most of all, his vivid emerald green eyes. He looked forward in a steady yet sorrowful gaze, but the air of authority he had was nonetheless undeniable. Black also seemed to be his colour, since he was all dressed in it, except for the grey shirt he had under his jacked, barely visible under the black scarf snaked around his neck.

"How shall we proceed?" She asked, looking again towards him.

"Patience, Carina..." Gregory whispered, never taking his eyes off the church in front of him. Now that the sun was setting, the building took over an eerie atmosphere, obeying the darkness of the night and its power.

"Eight hundred years..." He nonchalantly said, but his murmur was carried off by the wind, not reaching even his own ears. He sighed, closing his eyes.

In his heart there was nothing more than darkness, and yet, this ardent wish he nurtured over time without realising came to haunt him now.

"I have waited for eight hundred years..."

He seemed to not be able to believe it himself, as he opened his eyes, a perplexed shine in them.

"It is done, my Lord. The time of waiting has long since passed. We were just blinded until now," Carina said, trying to fully understand her Master's heart.

Truly, she thought, eight hundred years have passed since the day she became his shadow. All this time, she remained by his side, remembering even now the day when he, immediately after taking the title of the King he was now, ordered her to become his, to pledge her eternity to him and to serve him and only him before anyone else. Even if she wanted to forget that say, she couldn't just hid that precious memory away, for this whole time she spend serving him was nothing but bliss to her.

She felt that she had a purpose in this chaotic world...

He let another sigh, but this seemed to be his last. As if he put on a mask, his expression twisted immediately from sadness to determination. He looked at the church in front of him and even further, to the small house hidden after it. Pouring through the window, orange light indicated that people were at home.

The church itself could be considered grand, build in gothic style. Rising up from between multiple archways of cold stone were two towers, carrying the cross of Christ. A grand set of wooden doors stood tall as an entrance, although now they were old. And alongside the walls, plants begun to climb, but this only enchanted the aspect of the building, instead of ruining it.

This was in discordance with the house behind, which was much simpler. It was a two store cottage, with a small terrace in front of the house, where multiple hotchpotches overflowed with greenness. Light could be seen from what seemed to be the kitchen, but the two couldn't agree if it was the kitchen or not.

They were simply too far away from it to clearly which one of them was right about that statement.

The church and its annexed house were, after all, hidden by trees. Not to add that it was build on top of the hill, while Gregory and Carina stood at the crossroads, facing the building.

Carina awaited her Master's order, but it seemed to not come anymore. She grew impatient by the minute, but didn't dare tell hi that.

Yet, at least, Gregory stepped forward, opening his eyes as he reached a final decision.

"Play all you want, Carina," he said, a cruel smile with which Carina was used to appearing on his face.

As she heard his words, Carina couldn't help but grin, her blood boiling, thankful for the freedom granted to her. She put on the black hood, but her eyes still shone excited beneath the shadow.

She didn't spare another moment.

Her figure disappeared together with the wind, only a shadow alike black mist trailing on the ground towards the church, proving where she disappeared to.

Not soon after, sweet screams echoed into the skies like a symphony, making Gregory laugh as he looked to the heavens. A sly look could be seen in his eyes, but it danced together with a deep hatred. That hatred was alike a flower, which, having rooted in his heart for so long, was finally blooming now in the shape of a black rose.

"Eight hundred years, was it? Then... I should also please myself with this aperitif!"

And with that, he also headed to the church. But unlike Carina, he took slow steps on the country road, enjoying the screams his servant caused...

To him, this was the first card he laid.

Now, he would only have to await for her move...