Disaster Creek: Introductions

Wings not required (Billy)

The dark seemed to have a life of its own, like it was breathing down my neck. Sweat dripped down my forehead and my heart was racing. I wasn’t sure why, but chills of fear ran down my spine. I stood in the dark staring at nothing, making no sound. Something told me if I did I would never see the light of day again. Slowly the darkness lifted like a candle in the dark. A room slowly appeared. I could see most of it, but I was still in the darkest part of the room. There was a woman sitting on a stool in front of a fireplace. The fire was low and seemed to barely fight against the cold. If the woman was cold she made no show of it. As I watched some strange things began to get my attention, like the fact the woman was in a dress seemingly made of moss and fall leaves. That was weird enough, but even that didn’t hold a candle to what I next noticed. I had a good view of her profile and running down her back onto the wood plank flooring were sheer almost transparent blue and light purple dragonfly wings. They laid relaxed against her body, every now and again they would give a shiver.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She looked a good ten years older than me, maybe twenty-four or five. It was more than the wings that had me staring; she looked like something inside of a painting. Her red hair shined in the firelight like rubies. Her skin looked like fresh snow, she should of looked sickly or something, but it just seemed to fit. On her head and woven through her hair was crystal chain, a single tear drop diamond hung in the middle of her forehead.

The sound of keys in a locket pulled my attention from her; turning toward the sound I watched a door in the corner of the room open. A tall man dressed in a black suit with a royal blue silk shirt. For some reason he seemed familiar to me.

“My dear are you warm enough?” He moved to her, blocking my view. “You have not been eating, I have taking the time to ensure only the finest fruits and water was brought from Summerland to you.”

She lifted eyed of the palest blue to the man, smile that was almost more a sneer. “Like I would eat anything you give me. Why? So you can drug me and hope I give you the location of our son? Over my dead body… you dark and vile creature.”

Shaking his head in mock sadness. “My love, I only wish for our family to be whole. To show you our marriage can work. Just like when your father made the arrangement. We can have peace amongst our people.”

A frown moves across her brow. “Shadow King you are as bad a liar now as you were then. I am not sure how you managed to fool my father. I have stood by my father’s side of the bargain and bore you a son. Now where did it say I must hand him over to corrupt or kill so you could get control of the light.”

His laugh chilled me to the bone. “Dear wife, you must realize by now…. I have control of the light. I have its queen locked away, its prince in hiding. It will only be a matter of time till I take him and pull the boys wings from his very back. The dark seeps much quicker when you cannot feel the air under them. Perhaps I should demonstrate on these forsaken things upon your back?” I watch in horror as he grabs her wings and I see him start to pull. The pain in her voice is clear, but her voice is still strong. “Who.. who I am in in every part of me. Wings are not required. Take them if you so see fit. You will never taint me with the dark.”

He lets her go so quick that she slides from her stool. Her wings buzzing fast behind her. He takes a step back lifting a hand as if to stop her from speaking. “If you just give me what I want, I will give you this world and the next. “ Without giving her a chance to reply he growls, the flames in the fireplace rise, brightening the room almost enough to blind. When they settle he is gone. The woman is staring at the darkened space where I watched from. Her voice is soft. “You can never come here again. Stay away.”

I sit up in my bed, sweat pouring off me, my breathe coming fast. My mother opens the door. “Billy…” She looks around the room and takes a long sniff of the air. “Oh… Billy.” Her face grows sad. “Get up my boy. It’s time we have a talk.”