Shadow Cursed

Chapter 34: Flirting with Darkness

Shortly after he left, I retreated to the Victorian style canopy bed. Only problem was I couldn't really sleep. I kept tossing and turning and stuck in this nightmare I couldn't escape, it felt too real. Lately all my nightmares felt real, like I was part of them.

I was standing in a crowded town square surrounded by people in dark cloaks. I blended in with my own cloak I had bought quite some time ago. Everyone was silent, no one spoke a single word or make a single sound. All I could hear was breathing, you could hear a pin drop in the silence.

I tried not to seem out of place as I walked away from common area and out of everyone's view. Walking slowly but with a meaning, no one seemed to care I was here. Once safely in the trees of the forest from all their soul less eyes, I took my satchel out from under my cloak and lay out all the contents. A map, spell book, empty vials, some random seeds, and other useless junk. I stuffed everything back in and observed the trees. Almost all of them had scratched marks deep embedded in the bark, I shivered at the thought of what creature had claws long enough for to make them.

Suddenly I sensed a dark presence in the area, and looked around. I spotted a stranger leaning against a tree watching me. It just stood there watching. My heart was racing in fear now. In a hurry I turned around and tried to run the opposite direction but the shadow only appeared at another tree a few feet in front of me. Shadows could teleport?

A branch cracked from behind me, too nervous, I didn't look back to see what had done it. I had a pretty good idea of who was watching me. "You don't scare me," my voice cracked.

The voice responded back, "Brave indeed, but how brave and blind are you?"

"What do you want from me?" I turned around to face Him again, his cloak covering his face as usual.

"Join me, my Daughter of Shadows. You belong in the Shadowlands." He reached out his hand for me to take.

I shook my head, "Never, I won't turn against everyone for selfish reasons."

"I promise you a spot in my future, a spot right beside me. You could be a princess, and have real power."

"What about Anna," I questioned, "what will happen to her?"

The voice responded, "She is nothing but a puppet on strings, she just doesn't know that."

I wanted to kill the demon under the cloak but I didn't know how I was going to. Picking up a sharp branch off the ground I held it as a stake. "So you lied to her for your own personal gain?"

He took a few steps back, "She came to me begging to take her in, I couldn't turn down her poor soul. She turned out to be more useful than I had imagined her to be."

"She will come to her senses, you won't have her fooled for long!" I yelled back in defense for my sister.

He teleported away, I looked around and didn't see him but I could hear his voice. "Oh but you see, she is trying everything she can do to capture you. Congrats, you've navigated your way out of all her traps." I finally saw him materialize a few feet away from me.

"It's all set up for me, of course." I face palmed at how naive I had been. With all my anger building up I threw the stick at the tree, he disappeared before the stick lodged itself in the bark.

Chuckling a little at the attempt, "It's a bit late to realize that don't you think? When time is almost here." He paused grinning, "The full moon will be here soon, and the marriage must take place during the full moon."

My eyes widened at the word, "What marriage?"

He explained, "The Daughter and Son of the Darkness will join their hands under the light of a full moon. Together, their powers creating a magik bond not even the most powerful love can break. And I will take the power from that bond to rule the Realms."

"That's your plan?" I questioned. "It seems too simple for a take over the world plan."

Something in him snapped. He was glaring at me I could tell even when his hood was on, "You will fall into my hands, and when you no longer serve a purpose I will dispose of you like your sister."

"No, I will save her. She won't become another one of your victims."

"I'm afraid you stand alone, I have your precious angel and father in my clutches, and what do you have? Soon nothing left."

I was defeated, he was right. My father and soulmate were captured, no one could help me. "I have a friend, and we will stop you."

"You have a friend?" He laughed mocking me, "I highly doubt that. Imaginary friends from the elementary school playground don't count."

I growled in anger, "Get out of my head now."

His grin widened in interest, "Make me leave your mind. I always am here, you just never knew."

The distance sound of someone calling my name caught my attention. It was faint but audible. Cerin, he was trying to wake me up. Moments later my eyes fluttered open as I was breathing heavily.

He was relived, "Oh my goodness, you're awake. I thought something was wrong."

My hands were itching. I looked at them, the marques of fire on the palms of my hands changed. They now had become black flames and a permanent part of my skin. I was the Daughter of the Shadow, and he was planning my wedding. I looked at him, looking for an answer. I had noticed it, his hands had identical marques as mine. It all made sense. He was my groom, the Son of the Shadowlands. The Shadow Prince saved my life and was bringing me to safety.