Darkness Be My Hero

Belief and truth are two different things

Clary eyes opened to a small fragile woman leaning over her, eyes filled with concern. She had a maid’s outfit on; long brown hair tied into a tight bun behind her head and rags tied to her dress. In her hand she held a glass of water and an icepack. Realisation spread over her face as Clary awoke, trying to figure out her surroundings.

Clary had a pounding headache and her thoughts and vision were blurry. She tried to speak but all that came out was a tumble of words, that couldn’t be understood.

“Shh, it’s okay,” she reassured her and pressed the icepack to her head, reliving a little bit of pain from her aching head. “Drink this, it will help” She said lifting the glass to her lips, tilting it slightly so a trickle of water fell down her throat, quenching her sudden thirst.

“Who are you?” Clary croaked. Looking around she realised they were still in the room under the stairs, which was now illuminated, revealing it was quite large and has a couple of rows of shelving, stacked with cleaning products, mops, rags, buckets and brooms. Beneath her,  a blanket had been laid and a pillow placed under her head

“I could ask you the exact same question” the woman replied, her voice was very quiet and a thick English Accent shone through.

“Why haven’t you locked me up, and killed me?” Clary asked trying to sit up.

A small grin, tugged at the maids mouth as she chuckled softly, holding Clarys back so she could regain her balance.

“Now why would a maid like me, hurt a poor girl like you?” she questioned “My name is Sophia by the way”

“My name is…” Clary didn’t know whether she sound reveal her name or not. She looked up into Sophia’s warm eyes. “Clary, Clary May”

“Why what a lovely name, now...” But Clary cut her off midsentence.

“Why haven’t you given me to the crazy people, so they can lock me away for trespassing? I didn’t mean to I swear!” Panic rose in her voice.

“Crazy people? Locking away?” Confusion clouded Sophia’s eyes. Clary was just about to tell her about what Olivia had said, when Sophia turned and stared at the door like she had heard a noise. When she turned, her face had turned a deathly white.

“You have to go, I believe what you think may be true, but there’s also a lot you may not know.” she turned again. Clary now could hear the thud of footsteps from above, like her death approaching. Light dust fell into her hair, reminding her of the first Harry Potter Book.

“What are you...?” Clary tried to ask, but Sophia hushed her and led her to the back of the room behind a row of shelving. Sophia bent down in front of her

“Once I leave, run. Run as fast as you can and don’t come back, or tell anyone of this encounter. I will guide my master away and leave the front door open.” Clary nodded in agreement the footsteps had stopped. Sophia turned and grabbed a mop, as a males voice bellowed from outside the door.

“SOPHIA!” **********

Sophia exited the room, leaving the door open slightly. Just enough for Clary to see the owner of the angry voice.  He looked quite young, with black hair, tipped with gold; spiked upon his head. He wore a white short sleeved shirt with tight black jeans and bare feet. He wasn’t very attractive, but power radiated from him.

“What on earth are you doing? Did I hear voices?” The man demanded.

“No sir, I was just simply getting the mop to clean a spill on the floor from dinner.” she said curtly.

“Well I heard voices” He stared into her eyes, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Oh I am terribly sorry; I must have been humming to myself.”

“Well that explains that, now I need you to come and assist me in my room.” he spoke, hand extending, lightly stoking her face.

He then spun on his heel and left, Sophia following behind. Opening the large oak door, before retreating. Once Clary could hear the footsteps no more she ran through the cupboard door and then sprinted out the oak door, fresh air whipping her face. It was even darker now, but Clary still ran, letting the moonlight guide her through the forest. She didn’t stop until she got home collapsing on her bed from exhaustion.

The days pasted very quickly after the incident at the mansion. Clary didn’t speak of it to anyone. Olivia questioned her in class but Clary just ignored her and changed the topic.

Clary had many questions she had wanted to ask Sophia, but she had left too quickly.

Who were the people living in the mansion?

Were the rumours true?

Where did they keep the people they kidnapped?

She knew that she couldn’t go back, but a part of her still had that curiosity lurking inside.

She had promised herself to do what Sophia had said, until one night when she was eating dinner with her mum.

They were having her mums famous homemade lasagne and chips. Normally the conversations would be cut down to the normal;

How was school?

Make any new friends?

Have you got any homework?   

But tonight her mum asked her something she wasn’t expecting.

“Where did you go the other night?”

“Oh just out.” Clary replied, trying to cut off the conversation.

“Where?”

“Just to the library.”

“Clary May I know you are lying to me, you know you can tell me anything right?”

Mum never asked this much. “Yes mum” Clary replied.

“Clary, are you being bullied?”

“No mum! I went to visit the neighbours up the hill that’s all.”

“Oh, well maybe I should make them a welcoming gift, an apple pie perhaps?” Clary’s mum got up and started to clear the dishes.

“No don’t go up there!” Clary got up out of her seat, pushing the chair back, making a screeching sound against the floorboards.

“Well why not?” she questioned.

“Because..,” Clary thought for a moment. If she went up there, maybe they would let her in and she could find out what was up in the mansion “I want to go up there for you. You might hurt yourself walking up that big hill.”

“I was going to drive, and darling I’m not that..”

“It will be good exercise for me too!” Clary cut in “You’re always saying I don’t get enough exercise, so this will be great.”

This put a smile on her mother’s face.

“I shall make it tonight and you can take it tomorrow morning” she said embracing her daughter in a hug.

“Now where did I put that pie dish..?”