Darkness Within the Light

Chapter 6: Who is The Fellowship?

“No!" I quickly leaped from my seat as I waved my hands in surrender. “Not at all, Shadow. Please believe me. It's just," I hesitated as I fought to collect my thoughts, “my mother said some disturbing things to me after she picked me up from school, and I was hoping, well," I was stuttering like a dumb fool now, “I mean, I felt more comfortable asking you… I felt like you would give me honest answers."

“She said disturbing things about me?" He mumbled through gritted teeth as his hurt eyes lingered on the floor.

“Well, yes, she said some things about you, but that's not what I'm referring to." I massaged my forehead with my fingertips. “She said disturbing things about this town, and she wouldn't answer any of my questions about it."

“Well, that shouldn't be a shock to you. You are aware of how strange this town is."

“Yes. Yes. I know that, but she said something about The Fellowship?" My last words flowed into a question as I watched his eyes relax with realization.

“Ah, I see," he nodded.

“Yeah, and then she said they're the ones that demanded our return. Whatever that is supposed to mean," I mimicked with air quotes as I noticed I was uncontrollably pacing back and forth.

“Well," he folded his arms as if he were contemplating his next words carefully, “no one can leave this town and The Fellowship makes sure of that."

“What? Why?"

“That's just the way things are," he shrugged nonchalantly as if I were a fly that simply needed to be shooed away.

“So, everyone follows this rule? No one leaves to visit family or go to the city?" I retaliated.

He rubbed his bottom lip with his fingertip as his dark eyes caressed my body. His glare was intimidating, and the intensity amplified my adrenaline, but it was also invigorating and arousing. It was a push and pull of fear and desire. “If the people don't follow this rule, there will be consequences."

“What kind of consequences?"

“Life threatening consequences. Either they threaten you with your life, the life of your loved ones, or anything close to your heart. They use your weaknesses to persuade your return."

“That's why I always taught my sons to keep their hearts guarded and closed. The less they get attached to meaningless things, the less likely The Fellowship can use anything against them." A woman's voice echoed from the entrance of the den causing my eyes to quickly flutter towards the sound. Her voice was haunting with just a splash of charm.

“Hello, mother," Shadow acknowledged as he jumped from the couch.

She bowed her head to him and said, “I didn't expect company so early. I would have changed into something more appropriate." Early? It was pushing midnight.

“I'm sorry, mother. This is my friend from school. Katie Anne Willows. Katie, this is my mother, Nova Dark." Shadow introduced as Mrs. Dark elegantly glided towards me.

Nova was painfully beautiful. She had silky chocolate brown hair that flowed to her hips and it shimmered underneath the light. Her almond-shaped eyes were a soft charcoal grey that twinkled with specks of emerald green that matched her long satin nightgown. She had an emerald green shawl wrapped around her thin shoulders. She was taller than me, at least five foot nine, and her skin was enchantingly pale.

“It's a pleasure," her green painted lips lightly stretched into a small smile as she placed her pointy and perfectly manicured fingers into my hand for a shake.

“Nice to meet you," I nervously stammered. “I didn't mean to come over so late, Mrs. Dark. I just needed to talk to Shadow."

“A simple phone call wasn't good enough?"

“No," I choked, “I was afraid of my mother listening."

“So, you snuck out instead?"

“Possibly," I nervously laughed as I dug my hands into my pockets.

“I like her already," she smiled at Shadow. “Let me make you some tea."

“No thank you, Mrs. Dark. I really should get going before my mother notices I'm gone."

“I understand. Rain check on the tea then?" she suggested and I nervously nodded.

“I'll walk you home," Shadow suggested as he nudged me towards the front door.

“Be careful, dear," Mrs. Dark shouted behind us as we escaped from the mansion.

I timidly curled myself into my sweatshirt as we walked down the street to Aunt Verna's house. Now that my adrenaline had calmed, my girlish teenage feelings rose to the surface. Thankfully, it was pitch black outside or Shadow would be able to see my hot cheeks greeting him with each bashful smile I presented.

“Are you alright?" he whispered as his eyes twinkled underneath the crescent moon.

Oh, goodness. He noticed my lustful nerves spilling out of the surface.

“Yes. Why? What do you mean?" I rambled uncontrollably as my heart pounded.

The corner of his lips twisted into a grin. “You seem flustered."

Sh*t. He's onto me.

“Yes, I'm fine. It's just I came to you for answers and—"

“I didn't provide you with any."

“No offense, but yeah," I giggled and then bit my bottom lip to hush my girlish tendencies.

We stopped at the edge of Aunt Verna's property and we both glared at the hideous house. It looked just as distasteful in night as it did in the day. We lingered around each other for a moment as I tentatively twisted my black sneakers into the concrete.

“I hope no one is awake waiting for me," I said as I narrowly glanced at the house behind my shoulder.

“Would you like for me to check?"

“I don't think that's a good idea. What if you wake them up trying to sneak in?"

He smiled, “Trust me. I won't." Suddenly his skin became translucent, and he began to fade into the air. Then, with a snap of a finger, he was gone from my sight.

I peeked through my bedroom window from the sidewalk as I watched my night light cast Shadow's figure.

How in the h*ll did he do that? He literally just teleported himself into my bedroom!!

The thought of him being in my bedroom gave me longing chills before it was replaced with utter panic as I remembered the catastrophic state I left it in.

I was too busy scanning for Shadow's movement that I didn't hear him reappear behind me.

“All clear," he whispered in my ear as his broad chest grazed my back.

I flinched with a shiver.

The coldness that beamed from his body was surprisingly comforting.

I slowly turned to face him. “Thank you. I better get back in there." My voice was shattered by my longing for him to get close to me again.

I thought I witnessed him blush for the first time and as I drifted off into his eyes, I saw a steady blue flame in his pupils. “Have a good night, Katie Anne," he smiled as he bowed his head and then vanished into the night.

***

Shadow POV:

Shadow's heart fluttered uncontrollably as he paced in the den. Katie was so beautiful, witty, and the best part of all was she didn't judge him for being different! She was so kind and smart. He couldn't help but yearn for her.

His heart had been decaying for years now, just like all death vampires, but she was reviving him, by keeping him close to the light so he may have a chance to survive his twisted dark fate. He didn't ask for this life. He was born into it, and all his life he had been searching for a way out, but the Fellowship made that impossible. Escaping Eldritch promised pain as a certain punishment.

He dreamed of running away with Katie Anne. Maybe he would take her back to Seattle where her heart desperately longs to be.

“Shadow, darling?" his mother's voice halted his thoughts.

“Yes mother?"

“Are you alright? You seem troubled."

“Yes, I am fine. Just feeling a little lightheaded. I should probably go rest for a moment," Shadow rubbed his eyes with his fingertips before he kissed his mother on the cheek.

As he was exiting the den, Nova questioned, “Shadow? Who is that girl's family? I have never seen her here before nor have I heard of the family name Willows."

“Um, I'm not sure. I think her mother's name is Mary Anne. I don't think her mother's last name is Willows. Willows is her father's last name from Seattle. She lives around the curve in that awful pink house."

“In the Ellis' family home? You mean, Katie's mother is Mary Anne Ellis?" Nova's eyes darkened as he watched her hair begin to twitch with life.

“Yeah, I guess so," Shadow shrugged. “Why?"

“It has been so long since light vampires lived here. I could have sworn they had all died," Nova smiled as her hair changed into dancing strands of worms.

“Katie's family are light vampires?!" Shadow covered his mouth with shock. With this knowledge, he knew he could never claim her.

“Well, her aunt isn't. I already checked, but Mary Anne is. Her parents helped her run away all those years ago in hopes of keeping her safe." She hesitated as the strands of worms caressed her cheeks. “But the Fellowship brought her back."

“Safe from what?" Shadow questioned as he watched his mother's eyes flash a dark red.

“Safe from us."