Her King Of Shadows

Chapter IX.

He could notice the lights even from a distance. He didn’t know what type of celebration to expect, but this one surprised him more than he was willing to admit. Boris used this opportunity to invite all members of his world who stood for something. He even saw Victoria's escort. Other families responded to the invitations as if they knew that something important was about to happen that night. But the explanation was very simple. They were led by his traces. Rumours spread that the leader of the world of shadows is spending his time in this home. And they all wanted to know what attracted him to it. Boris always wanted to make profit on the sacrifices of the past. He only stepped into the lobby and saw him whispering with other leaders. They just looked at each other and Boris knew he didn’t want to come any closer to him. Araphels mood was not on a level.

Gifts were displayed by the giant fireplace they talked before. And he just remembered that it was a birthday celebration. He didn’t bring any present. And he didn’t care. These strange rituals were not part of his world and this was probably the last birthday celebration Shana would ever have. He took a glass of wine and drank. He needed a couple of moments to control his rage. He hadn’t been calm since their last conversation. She was so sure of herself. She was so convincing in her words that she made him doubt everything also. After all these centuries which he spent as a leader, he had let a simple child grow doubt in his heart. Victoria went to him as if she could feel his unrest. She didn’t say a word at the first moment. Just look at him. He finished his wine and put away the glass a little too strongly.

-What are they expecting to see?-he asked her loudly. Her wise eyes watched him. There was flute and violin music coming from the hall.

-They want to see Alexandra's daughter.-she answered. He waved his head.

-There is nothing hers left in this world. Boris took care of that long time ago. Everything you will see when that poor child makes her appearance will be offered to those who have a bigger influence than him.-He was bitter.

Victoria didn’t want to argue with him. She knew something was happening. But she didn’t have all the details. Many things were left in the shadows. Music has stopped. All eyes were turned to the stone steps. There was a person dressed in white at the top of them. Her dark hair was a perfect contrast to the silk of her long silhouette. She slowly descended towards them, escorted by the light of hundreds of candles. Araphel knew that this moment he would remember for centuries. He will remember even the slightest detail of it. The seriousness and the vulnerability of her dark eyes. The soft glow of her long hair falling on her shoulders. Sparkle of dozens of diamonds on her forehead. That smell of jasmine and hope she always had. And her every light step which she would take at the last moment. Each step leads him closer and closer to him. And he wasn’t the only one to notice this perfection. Gone were the conversations and whispers. They all looked towards her as she approached them like a thing from fairy tales.

Her pale skin shined brightly under the lights of candles and torches. She carried with herself memories of some long-forgotten times. When warriors such as her can start wars. Calm fears. Create feelings like storms in a cloudless sky. She was already on the last step and Boris was there to offer her his hand. He found himself wanting to kill him just because he wanted to be in his place. The magic was over. Shana passed him on her way to the library. She passed him without even a look. And he caught himself drinking another glass of wine, losing his patience much faster than he expected. He felt Victoria's hand on his shoulder.

-I am afraid this is not a place for people like us. It is better to let Shana enjoy her celebration. A child such as her doesn’t have much to be happy about.-she tried to make him leave. But he pushed away her hand, not caring and insulting her.

-She is promised to me.-he whispered. She showed surprise at those words. But he refused to explain further. He didn’t want to say out loud he had to threaten lives to get what he wanted. It would not be a success by their standards. He didn’t care about means anymore.

-We are not part of this world anymore. You should let Boris take care of his daughter's future himself.-she reminded him. He didn’t want to waste time talking to her. Shana promised to talk to him tonight. He saw her standing in the library. Boris stood by the door looking at him. This was the moment he was waiting for. The moment which will decide their lives.

He crossed the lobby and entered the library. He closed the door behind him, not wanting to be disturbed. Shana stood by the windows looking at the deserted garden where they had talked only yesterday. Moonlight played with diamonds on her forehead. Stars were hiding in those dark eyes as she watched him coming closer. There was a polite smile on her face. She was only a child. That thought he never let himself forget. -I was afraid you would not come.-he heard her voice as a whisper. He stood beside her looking through the same window. But he understood that his eyes could not see the beauty she lived in. There was so much darkness in this child. So much power she wasn’t aware of. As all the abilities Alexandra longed for found their way to this frail body.

-I am returning to my homeland tomorrow.-he told her. If it meant anything to her, he could not see it in her dark eyes. For her, he was a giant in a black uniform. With his emerald eyes which looked at her as if they knew her best, as if there was nothing to be hidden from him.

-Father has been worried more than usual. I know that something important is about to happen. And I feel that you are a part of the change which is coming to us. Warriors are always so mysterious.-she talked to him. He turned towards her.

-Did he tell you that you must leave this place?-He wanted to know. The girl looked at him curiously.

-This is my home.-she said simply. There was so much warmth in her words. So many untold feelings, he found it was hard for him to speak in fear of causing her pain. But he had to. Time was running out.

-If you stay here, the killer will be back.-he reminded her. He felt a beat of fear in that weak heart. Was he so desperate to try to scare the girl standing in front of him? Those were not actions worthy of a warrior.

-What do you want?-even though there were the words belonging to an adult, they belonged to a child that night. And the answer was simple enough for her to understand.

-Come with me.-he ordered. She waived her head. Calmly looked into his eyes. Tried to explain to him why she had to refuse.

-This is my home. This is where I was born. This is my place and my life. If you try to take me away, things will happen which will hurt us both.-she could tell him as much. He turned his back to her, looking around the room they were in, as if wanting to see importance in these walls and books. It was a fort like hundreds of others he had seen. He sat in an armchair turning into a leader which could not be refused.

-The decision had already been made.-he told her. Those words hurt her. He watched her fight with tears in her eyes. Trying hard not to cry. Not to show that, despite it all, she was still only a child.

-I don’t believe you.-part of her was still hoping. Part of her had to believe that her own father would not do this to her. She was his only daughter. He must have valued her more than this warrior in front of her. He could hear her heart breaking in the darkness of the library. That heart that he wanted for himself.

-Ask your father. He will tell you the truth.-he was almost mocking her now. Sorrow turned to despair. Her hands were trembling while she stood in her silk dress. And all her jewelry. She made a step towards him. A small but significant step. Enouth to show that she was not afraid. He would not bring an end to her.

He will not defeit her. She brought her face closer to his. He sat in the armchair and there was no space for him to pull back, but he didn't even want to. He wanted to keep looking into those dark eyes forever.

-My mother was right for running away from you.-she spoke to him in a broken voice full of sorrow. A voice he dreamed of hearing each night of his life. -You are a monster.-she whispered. She stepped away from him. He could hear doors opening behind him. The smell of jasmine and hope was gone. Something told him it would be a long time for him to feel them again. He sat in the library drowning in the whispers she left him with. He was a monster. Everybody knew it. And no matter what they thought about him. No matter how much she hated him, Shana would be in his home. After everything, he was sure that he had to have her.

He stood up calmly after taking twenty minutes to think and returned to the lobby. Nobody looked at him except Victora. But one look at his dark face and she didn’t dare to ask anymore questions. When Shana passed by her in tears she didn’t try to stop her. Those were problems of Boris' family, she told herself. She just watched as she was climbing the same steps as before. Now her head was bowed and not proud as before. Her shoulders were defeated. After her conversations with Araphel as if all hope was gone. She wished to say a couple of words of comfort to her but it was not her place. That child did not have a mother to comfort her. And her heart told her that maybe there were no words out there to make her feel a little better. This child had to grow up fast.