Chapter 18 - THE SHADOW
991 Words
I do feel sorry for them. I do. The grief-stricken girl with the tiniest bit of optimism in her eyes. The Witch who chose death willingly because she couldn’t bear to hurt others…In a way, I admire them. I admire their ability to cling to goodness in a world where goodness is punished in the most brutal manner possible.
“Can you get us into the Dreamscape?” The question from the girl almost makes me laugh. If I had that kind of power, I don’t think the mighty Siren would be in her palace of mirrors right now, enjoying the t*****e of a girl who was dying either way.
“Please…” The Witch joins her in the pleading, her huge eyes fixed on me.
“You have to talk to him. He will get you inside. He will do it.”
Instantly, the girl’s eyes light up in anger. “He delivered my little sister to Siren on a silver platter! I will not beg-“
“You won’t need to beg,” I say with a smile. “He will walk in here. He will offer his help. He will bow down before you and beg for forgiveness because he is desperate.”
“Because Rosa is going to die unless someone gets her out.” The girl scoffs. “And all he cares about is getting her safe.”
“If you had the option, my dear,” I say. “Of killing this little Witch to get your sister back right now…Wouldn’t you do it?”
“NO!” The girl’s reply is instant. “As much as I love my sister, I am not selfish enough to kill another child for her!”
“We will see.” My gaze shifts to the Witch, whose lower lip is quivering. She starts to say something but decides against it. It would be very interesting indeed to see how these two will fare in the trials ahead. Noble ideals are one thing…Whether they would be able to hold on to it as the world crumbles into chaos and madness is another. Some bonds are doomed from the start. Betrayals and heartbreaks are inevitable.
I move away from them to find him. And I do so quickly. He is still there, in the Sacred Wood. Sitting in his place, his hands pressed to his face, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs. All his good intentions…All that he did so many terrible things to protect…
“Knight…”
He jerks his head up and stares at me. His wide eyes were red-rimmed. I can feel the disbelief in him. It lasts for a moment and then fear sets in. For the noble soldier that he thinks he is, the fear isn’t for his own life. It is for the world he has dedicated himself to protect. I would admire him for it if his loyalty didn’t compel him to do vile things.
“What…” He finally speaks and immediately lifts his hand. A brief flash of blue fills the forest. The colours brighten. Some buds bloom and a pleasant scent fill the air. Of course, nothing happens to me. I’m…I’m a bit too powerful to be overcome by a simple purification spell.
“Look at you, trying to ward off evil like a kid.” I laugh.
He reaches for his sword next, the beautiful gleaming thing that had been coated with blood too many times to count. He rushes towards me, the sword positioned to pierce me through the chest. He probably blames me for what is going to happen to Rosa. The monster from the stories who causes bad things to happen…Maybe he blames me for the death of Celeste too. That would be funny. Should I tell him how absurd it is?
The sword passes right through me. For one second, Knight looked shocked, and then he lowered his head, his eyes focused.
“They will not hear you.”
He lifts his head and for the first time in our meeting, I sense true terror. He takes a deep breath, lifts his sword, and points it at himself.
“I will die rather than let you use me for the destruction of my kind.”
“How very noble of you,” I say. “But that is not my intention at all.”
“Of course, The monster wants Dreamscape o flourish.”
“No. The ‘monster’ wants Rosa to live.”
The fear in his eyes intensifies at my word. Then sorrow ripples through it. “I was mistaken then. Siren doesn’t want her to die. She is…” He shakes his head and sighs.
“She is not, you fool!” I say. “You have a good instinct. It’s a pity you allow stupid loyalty to choke it.”
‘Forgive me if I don’t trust the words of a creature of the shadows.”
I chuckle. “You do have the imagination of a child.”
“It’s not that I want her to be cursed. I want her to-“
“Do you think, Rosa, noble-to-a-fault Rosa, can be cursed? I hate to use the clichéd expression but she is too pure for this world. If there is anyone immune to the effect of evil here, it is her. You do believe in her goodness, don’t you?”
He stares at me but doesn’t say anything. I can almost hear the wheels turning in his head.
“She is going to die because she dared to stand by her principles. How is that justice? Also…why did you sentence two children to die to protect her if you are going to let her die anyway?”
“HOW-“
“The more important question is, my dear soldier, is… How dare you call yourself noble and good after you tried to murder two children?”
“I didn’t-“
“Don’t bother conjuring excuses for your detestable actions. I wonder what Rosa would think…”
“Don’t tell her. She doesn’t need to hear that before…”
“She doesn’t need to die. You can save her.”
“You don’t understand. Siren wouldn’t let me near her.”
“You aren’t the only friend she has. Some people want to help her. The only thing you need to do is let them in.”
- Writer
