Shadow Cursed

Chapter 8: Ethelyn

I was stuck in bed by Alric's orders. I wasn't allowed to do anything that would put me in anymore danger than I was in. Being stabbed by a dagger did take all the energy out of me so I wouldn't have done anything but sleep anyways.

I woke up standing in a field alone. I doubted I was even in a dream. The only thing reminding me it was a dream was I had no dagger wound on my side and the wound site was perfectly clean like it never happened.

My hair was black and covering my back under a dark colored velvet winter cloak. The ground was covered with snow and I had warm boots on my feet. Snowflakes fell from the sky and landed on my cloak. I couldn't have crossed realms, I was still in my bed. Taking footsteps I wandered into the forest in front of me, there was no where else to go.

The forest seemed too familiar, had I been here before? I walked for hours until I saw a familiar landmark through the snow. The cliff was there in front of me, I was in the woods again but this time I was alone. Making my way up the cliff, I looked across the forest when reaching the top. It was beautiful.

A voice surprised me, "You're back I see." I turned around to face a giant wolf creature. I recognized it as the one that chased me and almost killed me, I said nothing.

Speechless I looked down at my warm boots, "Do I know you?"

"I've missed you Ethelyn, you have been gone for so long." The creature came closer to me. I could feel it's warmth as it breathed.

"Ethelyn?" I stuttered, "I don't know who she is... You must have the wrong person."

He didn't say anything, he was more surprised and in shock. Suddenly, he grew aggressive in response, "Who are you then. What have you done with her!" He started getting closer to me.

The sudden change in attitude signaled a sign to run. Starting to run I found I was trapped in a forest I was lost in. "Please! Spare me! I know nothing of who Ethelyn is!" I found myself standing over the cliff in the end. Looking down, it was a long drop.

"You bear her amulet and cloak, where did you find it!" He was angry and didn't listen to anything I said now, "Did you kill her for it?No don't even answer that. I won't hear your cry of help! I won't let anyone hurt her, even though she left me for him." There was bitterness in his voice, yet sadness. A lost daughter? Lover?

Trying one last desperate attempt, "I swear! This was given to me as a child, I had no idea where it came from and they never told me either!" Looking behind me, I was getting closer and closer to being pushed off the edge.

I had to stall for time, if he kept pushing at the rate he was I would be on the edge in seconds. Seeing rocks on the ground, I quickly threw them at him. It only made him more mad. How do I get out of this place? Surely I could escape before the unfortunate death about to happen if I could teleport but there was no time. "Can't we talk this out over tea?" I got a growl in response, "No tea then? Okay. Hot chocolate?" Another growl but louder, this wasn't getting anywhere. "Look, we don't have to do this. Please listen to me."

He didn't hear me at all or just ignored me as he launched himself at me and I fell off the cliff after losing my balance with my back facing the ground. Is this how I was gonna die?

I braced myself for the landing. A few minutes passed as I was falling through the sky and I fell against the fresh snow on the ground, my body hurt all over. A growl came through the woods, after 4 paws landed minutes later. I could see him coming towards me, but my body wouldn't move I quickly discovered.

He came up beside me and stood there. He knew I was still breathing and came to finish me. This was the end.

He whimpered after looking in my eyes and turned away from me. A tear escaped his eyes it fell. Who was Ethelyn, did I remind him or her?

I laid there unable to move. "If you are gonna kill me, kill me then. I am no use to anyone even Alric, all I do is cause trouble." A tear escaped my left eye at the thought of him. "I've never been anything useful, always hurting myself, and getting myself almost killed. No wonder he feels the need to protect me more than anyone." More tears fell from my cheeks as I realized the truth. I didn't notice he came up to my body while my eyes where closed. He nudged my lifeless arm with his nose as if he was imagining that he was here with her."

I laughed at myself, "How am I supposed to make it in this world when all I am born to do is die. Is there anymore to live for?" Death must of been close, I was losing any sanity I had left.

"I loved Ethelyn, she was my world. One day she was taken away from me and I never saw her again. I never forgave him." He wouldn't look at me anymore. "Seeing you wear her amulet and the cloak, and your eyes look just like hers, reminds me too much. It hurts my old heart."

What was I supposed to say? Sorry for looking like your lost lover? Keeping my mouth shut before I fucked up badly, "I'm sorry about upsetting you. I would leave but I can't exactly move cause I fell off a cliff."

He didn't say anything back for minutes. What was I supposed to do? Finally he responded with, "Leave. I don't want to see you ever again. If I do you won't get a second chance."

A feeling came over me, as if my body had been healed. Before leaving I have a small history about myself. "My name is Isabella, that's the least you should know. My mother was human, she died when I was young. My father, I don't know who he is cause I was raised by foster parents. They told me he was dead also. All I know is I was thrown into a mess with the power of one stupid choice." With that done I left the forest area by teleporting and found myself in my room again with my eyes open staring at the ceiling.