Of Shadows and Darkness

Chapter 3

We froze for a second and then pushed each other off. Gregor walked towards the kitchen and combed his messy hair with his fingers. My lips felt numb and tingly. I got up from the couch and walked down the stairs.

"Hey Gran," I said when I found her in the back of her potion shop. She kept her cauldron, pots, jars, herbs and ingredients here. She looked up from her potion book, it was huge and the pages had turned yellow from age and use.

"Hello dear, how was the harvest?" asked Gran.

"Not well," I muttered. Gran looked at me and smiled. Her hair was loose in smooth waves down her back. It was shinier and a darker grey than usual.

"You hair looks nice," I said. She tucked a stray lock behind her ear.

"Thank you dear. What would you like to have for dinner?" she asked.

"Um... Gran today in town something happened," I said looking down at my feet.

"I know. Rosy called me today while I was at the salon. She said you got into a fight with a demon."

"Were you not worried at all?" I asked. She was taking the news of me being attacked a bit too casually.

"Well you are fine aren't you dear? I wasn't too worried, my grandson can fight off any demon."

"Ha..." I sighed, "about the before mentioned demon."

"Is he still after you? He wasn't outside when I came so he must have given up," said Gran as she turned a page of her book.

"Hello," said Gregor from behind me.

"Who is this?" asked Gran. There was a certain inflection in her voice I could not decipher the meaning of, was she amused or angry?

"This is Gregor," I said moving out of the way. Gregor nodded at Gran and smiled.

"Hello Madam," said Gregor politely.

"He is the demon that was... chasing me," I added.

"I see," said Gran, she narrowed her eyes at him. "And what is he doing here?"

"It seems when I stole his shadow I stole his magic as well," I replied. Gran pressed her lips together and glared at Gregor. I don't think she liked him very much. I'm not sure I liked him very much aside from all the kissing.

"I was- we were wondering if you knew a way to reattach his shadow. We have it with us but I don't know how to put it back," I said, my words getting softer and softer as I spoke. I could see Gran losing interest as I spoke.

She closed her eyes and sighed loudly. "I'm sorry dear. I'm don't have any interest or knowledge in dark aligned demon magic. Just tell him to go home and fix it there."

The way she spoke felt really dismissive of dark aligned magic and especially of demons. I felt annoyed at her for being rude and guilty for subjecting Gregor to this.

"About that," said Gregor, he looked like he was feeling uncomfortable. "I don't really know how to go back home by public portal."

"How did you get here then?" I asked. The public portals were the only way in and out of Market town.

"I can usually make my own portals," said Gregor.

"With just magic? Or do you have to use those portal machines?"

"Just magic," replied Gregor.

"Wow really?" I exclaimed. Opening portals is some really serious magic. Most people take years to learn how to open portals between realms that are near each other.