Forlot - Books 1-3 {Completed}

Chapter Thirty-Five

My face twisted in confusion. "What? You used to be a human?"

"You find it hard to believe that I was a human in the beginning," the shadow stated. "However, it is true. I was human."

"But...how? You are a shadow."

She took a step forward. "Nigel, have you forgotten what happens when a Nerian kills a human? That when the human is killed, he or she transforms into a shadow and goes to Nerquina?"

Maxine gasped and covered her shadowy mouth with her shadowy hand. She could not believe it.

I could not believe it either. "You were killed...by a Nerian."

I noticed a thick, black line spreading across Katherine's face.

A sickening smile.

"I knew that you were smart," she said, flashing her creepy smile. "You are putting the puzzle together."

"You were killed and turned into a shadow," I said. "Like Maxine."

"Wait, I was what?!" Maxine exclaimed.

I turned to her. "You did not know?"

"No! I had no idea! Karla never told me!"

"But Karla told Nigel," Katherine informed. "And I overheard the whole story. That is how I know that Nigel knows the truth." She put her hands on her hips. "I also overheard your argument with Karla. Well, I should not say that it was an argument. After all, she was only trying to speak the truth and clear the situation."

"Karla...entered my dreams," I said softly.

The shadow slapped her hand against her head. "Did you not hear what I stated when I showed myself to you guys?"

"You...you are the daughter," Maxine spoke up.

Katherine glared at her. "Correct, shadow. At least someone is paying attention, and it is obviously not the hero."

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to figure this all out. "I...I thought that I had everything in one piece...but...but nothing about this situation makes any sense."

"Oh? And what is not making sense?" The shadow took another step towards me and Maxine, looking straight at me.

"Karla admitted to Maxine that she was the daughter of Oberious. However, she admitted to me that she was an orphan. And...here you are...telling us that you are the daughter of Oberious."

Katherine suddenly burst out laughing. Her laughter was like nails on a chalkboard. Possibly worse than that.

My friend quickly got up and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me ever so tightly. I hugged her back and tried to keep my body from shaking.

I did not want to be a chicken. Not now. Not in front of Maxine. I would never hear the end of it.

"You are naive, Nigel," Katherine stated. "So naive indeed. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe, just maybe, that King Oberious has two daughters? One of the daughters is good, and the other daughter is bad?" She whispered in my ear. "Guess which one is the bad one? Because I am responsible for entering your dreams."

I stared at her, and my mouth dropped open. "You..."

"Correct." She played with my hair. "I am responsible for giving you those nightmares, not Karla. She only wanted to help you. The little fool."

I looked down, not saying a single word.

"I just loved when you accused her of nonsense that she would have never done in her lifetime. She is always kind - blah! - to everybody. That is why my father made her a tour guide. She is a useless person."

"Karla is not useless!" Maxine exclaimed angrily. "Not if she is willing to help people!"

"She is useless to the Nerians and other shadows who join the Nerians' side. The Nerians are all about killing and controlling."

"Which is a bad message! Especially when people are reading this book!"

"Not my problem, princess. I do not care if the book goes down the sewers because of my message. The hero will lose, and Emperor King Oberious will win."

"Not if our fans have anything to say about it!"

Katherine growled. "I have had enough with you!"

I looked up and saw Katherine grab Maxine.

"Let me go!" Maxine cried out.

"Not until I get rid of you once and for all!" the shadow proclaimed.

"No!" I yelled. "Maxine! No!"