The Shadow Over Lockland

Damien's P.O.V

I woke up on the morning of Thor’s day, I couldn't help but smile knowing that tonight would be full of fun and excitement. But I had all but forgotten about the vision that I had four nights before. Though I was in too much of a good mood to let it worry me at the moment. Plus two days ago I told Rose’s parents about this, along with my own. All four of them were determined and willing to help, and promised to keep it from Rose, for the time being.

After trading out some of my usual outfit to something a bit different. In which I only traded my usual brown tunick for a gray one.  I headed out, to see the entire village helping each other set things up. I even saw Mr. and Mrs. Brown setting up what I assumed to be the sheaf toss. And that’s when I spotted Rose, she  had also changed her outfit for the occasion, she now had a yellow cornsilk colored long sleeve off shoulder dress on, with a bright red corset and a wide light brown belt at her middle and finishing her outfit was a warm looking cloak. To protect her from the early fall chills. She had also changed her hair, she had it in a Viking braid. 

We both quickly went to work setting up for the festivities that were to come that night. We even had time to go into the forest to visit Glory, the now full grown Griffin Rose had helped months before. Rose had proven to me a few weeks ago that Glory herself was not a threat, and so we visited her regularly without anyone knowing. But soon enough we went back to the village to engage in the festivities.

The atmosphere was filled with excitement and laughter, but as the time grew near for the dance and I became on edge. I kept feeling a dark presence near and couldn’t help the urgent need to stay practically glued to Rose’s side. She gave me a few confused glances but didn’t seem to mind. 

Not long after, the village headman rang a bell and informed us that it was now time for the dance. I tensed up a bit knowing what might be to come next but I was not going to let it happen. The ‘shadow people’, were not going to get Rose and were never going to get the enchanted item they seeked. Rose and I took our place ready to start the dance, I quickly looked around and made eye contact with both Rose’s and my Parents. We nodded at each other signaling we were ready for what was about to happen, if at all tonight.

About midway through the dance I began to see a dark gray fog incircle the market and I was trying not to panic. But that’s when I spotted people who were standing in the fog began to slowly pass out. I knew I had to get Rose out of there but she seemed to be oblivious to what was happening while she was caught up in the dance. Without me noticing it, the fog crawled around our ankles, and I saw tiredness grow in Rose’s eyes. Do to my special gift the fog didn’t affect me, and that’s when I decided it was time to get her out of there as the band became victim to the fog as well.

“Rose we need to go now.” I said stopping the dance and leading her quickly towards her house.

“B-but why?” she asked in a slow slurred voice. ‘She is about to pass out ' I thought as she began to slump down.

I quickly picked her up bridal style and moved at a faster pace toward her home. As I neared I could also hear rushed footsteps from behind us, I looked back to see both our parents following me. 

Not too long later we were in the safety of Rose’s home, our parents were down stairs and Rose and I were up stairs that way I could keep an eye on her. I stayed up all night watching over her. Tiredness from dancing made my eyelids heavy but I pushed through not wanting anything to have a single chance to get to her.

Before I knew it, the sun was rising and it seemed that the shadow people that had come had retreated back to the island from which they had came, but I could still feel a dark presence. And it was close, I just couldn't put my finger on it's location.

“D-Damien?” I heard from behind me from the direction of Rose. I quickly turned around to see her looking blankly toward a dark corner of her room. I went to her bedside and grabbed her hands.

“Rose I'm here. Right in front of you” I said in a confused tone. I observed her look at the direction of the corner move, to somewhere down next to me, not directly at me. And that's when I noticed her eyes. They were glazed over white with the same dark gray fog radiating from them. I was immediately worried that the fog had done something to her vision.

“Damien… how?... How you can be in front of me holding my hands when your over there? And why is it pitch black in here?” she said this and I immediately looked to the corner focusing my eyes in the shadows, that's when I finally made out a shape that was there.

“I told you she would be mine if you didn't give us what we wanted, Damien” A familiar twisted voice came, it was my shadow version and I immediately stood up and gritted my teeth as I reached for my knife.

“Ah ah. You do that, and things will get a whole lot worse for your little girlfriend before the blade even gets an inch from my face” he said waving his finger mocking me.

“What did you do to her!?!” I almost yelled but not wanting to have our parents down stairs to hear. Still having one of her hands in mine.

“I only blinded her to everything except us shadows. I heard her internal wish of wanting to know what that warning you gave her the first day you all met meant and wanting to know what your ‘bad dream’ was about. I only gave her what she wanted.” He said with a snarled grin.