The Darkness Effect

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Just recently," Selene bites her lip a bit harder, but that doesn't hide its slight quiver," I was told by a good friend of mine, Michael is his name, that he had heard tell of a man who could control the wind roaming the west of Almidia.". Tears start to roll down her cheeks. "Of course, there is only the one," Selene finally broke down.

In between her blubbering fits, she managed to speak. "I...looked...into...it...tried...to find...him...but DID!" She crumples to the ground in tears.

I get onto my knees and pat her back reassuringly, "That's good though! You found him!" I say optimistically. This sends her into a sequence of more tears and sniffles.

"I found his body, alive, but what was inside him is gone. The shadow controls him now." She sits up, her tears wiped away and replaced by a tone of pure hatred and malice.

"Oh my gods, Selene, I am so sorry." I whisper, able to make little sound due to fear of her breathing fire on me.

"I tried to free him. I tried so very hard Brooke." She becomes sad again, "But I couldn't. I cannot enter the shadows. I know he is in there. I know it."

I stand silent, not knowing exactly how to respond, or why this random queen of the fucking earth decided that "Hey! Why don't we save Brooke from falling to her death and instead bring her to my mega earth castle! OOH, and we can kidnap her in the process!". After a few moments of wondering, I work up the nerve to ask,"So, I get that you're sad and all, but where exactly do I fit in?".

She looks up from the ground, "Oh yeah! So, the reason that I cannot enter the shadows is because I am the goddess of the earth. My light magic is equivalent to the dark magic inside Jake, causing a stalemate in battle. I cannot get in, the shadows cannot be gotten rid of."

"And soooooo, I am here, why?"

"Brooke, I am about to tell you something very shocking. You may want to sit down.". Her expression is serious, so I know she means it. I sit onto the floor, and she promptly transforms my spot into a concrete chair. "I have known you since you were an infant. I know you were in the foster system. I know you have no idea who your parents are. I also know that you never belonged in any of the foster homes you were in. You ran away from all of them. You were stuck in a cave running from your most recent one and you fell. That's where Lyn found you."

I gape at her. There is NO WAY she could possibly know about this unless she was stalking me. But, why me? She also said she knew me since I was an infant, is this woman... my mother?

"No." she says bluntly. "I am not your mother. "But, I did know her."

I gasp. she knew my mother? Knew?

Words come spilling out of my mouth all at once. "What was she like? Was she nice? Did you know my father too? Was he nice? What did they look like? Why did they give me up?" I hesitate before the last question. "Are they still alive Selene?"

She looks at the floor. "I will answer those in order. Ok?". I nod. "Your mother's name was Lily. She was so kindhearted and gentle. In the Old Days, she rode upon a massive, golden dragon. That was, of course, before they were hunted to extinction. I also knew your father. His name was Kyle. He was not so gentle. He was brutal and forceful, but in his core, he was a good man. They both loved you a great deal. Your mother had light blonde hair that shone in the sunlight. She was the only of my friends without a realm. She simply was a woman with godly powers. She had emerald green eyes," I touch my face lightly, my jade eyes begin to water, "and lips that when parted were the shape of a heart. She was not awfully tall, but not awfully short either. Your father had dark brown hair with subtle highlights in it. His eyes were a hazel color. He was very tall. He ruled the realm of light. He was the strongest of my friends.". She stops for a moment, carefully planning what she said next.

"They didn't ever intend to give you up. Your parents died for you." she chokes a bit on her words.

Suddenly, I am very thankful for the chair. My mind gets foggy. My biological parents... they're dead?

"When Jake defeated the threat of the shadows, their followers still remained. They broke into your parent's castle. You were only a baby. Your parents ran to your nursery. They put you in a basket and sent you to the realm of earth. They sent a note with you. It read 'Please Selene, they found us. We cannot escape. Send her to the earth realm and let her live there. Allow her a normal life. When she is old enough or ready, bring her home.' When you were about to die, I sent Lyn to get you. She made it just in time." Selene looks heartbroken. I can understand why. So far, all of her friends are dead or possessed.

"Why didn't you get me?" I ask.

"I cannot travel to earth without risking death. Jake is my brother. I nearly died trying to save him. I am still recovering." She lifts her sleeve up to
reveal burns up her arm. I can only sit there. Completely silent.