Chapter Eight
It was a full moon. Jennifer had told Catie the process would be easier then, since the Shadows were strongest during new moon.
Jennifer and Catie had brought the giant cauldron into the main hall and placed it under the great stained glass window. Jennifer had summoned a Daemon who had wanted to watch the process.
The Daemons were the masters of magic. They had made the bargain with the first Shadowsmith long ago. The Daemons were Jennifer's masters, and she was their servant in the world, watching over the current Shadowsmith.
The Daemon Jennifer had summoned for Catie's ceremony had chosen to look like a tall, red-skinned man with a grim face. He stood behind the cauldron, arms crossed before his bare chest.
In the cauldron, Shadows in their liquid form were whirling around. They did not reflect the light of the moon shining through the window above; no, they seemed to suck in all the light around instead.
Catie stood trembling next to the Daemon, who frightened her. Her face was white with fear. But she did not give in. She had made the Shadows in the cauldron herself, under the grim eyes of the Daemon and Jennifer. She could do this.
The Daemon turned to Jennifer and said: "You are sure she is ready? She only studied the Art for a few days."
He rolled his "r"s and had a surprisingly melodious voice.
Jennifer smiled a gorgeous smile, but the Daemon was not impressed. He did not seem to care about Jennifer's sky-blue eyes, her shining blonde hair, her beautiful face. Jennifer's smile fell off and she said: "I know Miss Catherine is ready, Lysander. She is a fast learner. And we have to hurry. Mr Illuminon's Shadows have already killed too many people. And what Miss Catherine doesn't know, I'll teach her. We will have time once she is Shadowsmith."
The Daemon looked into her eyes and laid his finger gently on Jennifer's neck. She gasped and went on her knees. Catie watched horrified.
The Daemon seemed to listen to something. Jennifer put her hands on her ears. Both made no sound. After some seconds, Lysander released her.
"You seem to be very sure about this", he said. "You can trust me. I will never betray you; your goal is my goal." Catie did not understand; what was he talking about?
Jennifer managed a smile and stood up slowly, as if she was not sure how to bend her knees.
"Let us start then."
Catie froze.
The Daemon took her left hand and the Shadows in the cauldron whirled faster.
Catie focused on the technique Jennifer had taught her.
She did not even scream as her hand touched the Shadows and they cut her hand and united with her blood.
The first thing Catie felt while she floated through unconsciousness was fear. She felt the power of the Shadows in her blood, they tried to defeat her, to make her ill like Ignatius. She was afraid. She did not want to die. She wanted to cry for help.
But if she did, the Daemon would think she was not ready. She had to conquer the Shadows. Only then would Ignatius be healthy again.
Ignatius. The necklace. It was so beautiful. The nicest thing he had ever done for her- and probably for every other woman he had had.
YOU ARE READING
The Lightning Thief
Fantasy(I was younger when I wrote this (2013). Grammar may be wrong in a couple of places) An ambitious young man, Ignatius Illuminon, lives in a world where Shadows are currency. Because of his dark secrets, he's got quite the reputation as a jewellery...
