I had never enjoyed being in the presence of my dad. Even before my mum died, he would drink too much, and never be around. I once waited for four hours after school had a field trip, which required parents to pick up, in my first year of junior high after waiting for my dad to pick me up. The principal, Mr. Dewatts, ended up driving me home to my dad, who was passed out on the couch. Big surprise. My mum had been working her physician job that night, so she had been unavailable.
Silently, I ate my food. My dad sat across from me, chewing loudly on his own dinner.
"So how was school today?" he asked me, his tone impatient.
I put down my fork and knife, "It was fine. We're doing Shakespeare in-"
"Did I ask for a life story?" his hissed, and I shrunk back in my seat.
"Sorry," I muttered.
We sat in silence for the rest of the meal. Once I finished, I hastily left the table, making my way upstairs to my room. I hated quiet. When my mum died, there had been silence. My dad had left the hospital straight away, the doctors giving me space. When my first boyfriend broke up with me, I had been left in silence at the park. So, when I heard the soft sound of something hitting my window, I was almost glad. I cautiously walked to the window, drawing it open. Almost immediately, a rock nearly hit me, square in the face. I ducked down, just in time, and stood back up to West standing sheepishly at the bottom of my house.
"West!" I growled, and he scratched the back of his neck.
"Sorry," he apologised softly, before straightening up. "Come down, we're going out."
I stared at him incredulously. "It's like, eleven o'clock at night! What happened to 'It's too dark, far too dark'," I mocked, and he rolled his eyes.
"Two words. Jessica. Hartley." West folded his arms. "She called me a 'baby'. Me! A baby!"
Jessica Hartley was a girl in our grade, with both strong arms and words. She stayed after school for at least an hour for extra gym time, and somehow still gets amazing grades for every other class. I had never gotten along with her, neither did West, but it seemed like he was determined to prove the girl wrong.
"And what, sneaking into the woods at night is going to prove her wrong?"
"She dared me to meet her in the woods," he defended.
Resisting the urge to facepalm, I sighed. It wasn't unusual for West to not back down, and I knew one day it would come back to haunt him.
I sent him a look, "You know she isn't actually going to show up, right?"
"Just get down here!"
Rolling my eyes, I threw on normal clothes, tying my long, dark brown hair back, and slipped out my door. I made sure to slip on combat boots, as I knew I would end up agreeing to whatever crazy plan my best friend had coming. I could hear my dad's loud snoring from his bedroom, even across the house, and ducked down the stairs. I hastily exited the house, and joined West in front of my window. Around us, the streets were quiet. I noticed, glancing around, Mrs. Dewinski's cat eating out of a bin. Mrs. Dewinski had often invited my father had I for lunch after my mum died, as I way to give condolences, I guess.
"Why am I doing this?" I asked myself out loud, and West snickered.
"Because," he drawled out, "I'm your best friend, and you are obligated to treat me as such."
It didn't sound very promising. What if it came back? Would it attack with West with me? The thought of whatever had met me last night still made me uncomfortable, and the stories my mum had told me began to play over in my head.
"Promise you'll be safe, my dove?" a soft voice echoed, as warm hands played with my hair.
"A little adventure won't hurt," West continued.
"The shadows hold power," the soft voice whispered, "power that matches many. This power can destroy you, but it can also keep you warm.
"And, besides, you're bold, aren't you?"
"Shadows keeping you warm? Isn't that a little contradicting?" I voiced, and the voice laughed gently.
"Romera?"
"Look at you, six years old and already know such big words," the voice cooed, "I do suppose they are a little different. But not all shadows are bad. Just, be safe, my dove."
"Hey, Romera!"
I was suddenly pulled out of my thoughts to West, who had clicked his fingers in my face. He stood looking at me bemused, and I grinned sheepishly.
"I-I'm sorry," I stuttered, and he laughed.
"Did you hear anything I just said?"
I blushed, "Erm, no. But, I am willing to go with you, If that makes up for it."
As we walked the familiar path to the run-down, abandoned house, a thought struck me.
"West,' I slowly began, "last night, when I dropped you off, did you see anything?"
He looked at me confused, "What?"
"Like, did you see anything following me on my way home?" I corrected, but he still shook his head.
"No? Was I supposed to?"
Maybe I had imagined it? I couldn't have been blamed, with it being dark. I could have just been confused. And yet, it had felt so real.
I shrugged off the uneasy feeling that came from both the empty streets and his lack of knowledge. We arrived at the house, taking the usual route around the side of the empty house and ducking under the gate. As we neared the edge of the forest, I felt a knot form in my stomach.
"Y-you know, maybe this wasn't the best idea?" I stammered, but West looked determined.
He didn't look at me, instead focusing on the forest. "What, scared, Caster?"
I pushed away my fear. "In your dreams, Castle."
Still, I grabbed his arm as we neared the forest. In the darkness, the branches seemed for intimidating, and I found myself involuntarily shrinking back at the outstretched shapes.
"Where did she say she would meet you again?" I asked West to ignore my fear.
"Erm, I don't know. Someplace in the forest. We'll find it," he assured me after I gave him a look of terror.
Taking a deep breath, we stepped into the forest. I had never been in Baniar Woods in the dark before. I pulled tighter my hoodie around me, glad I had chosen it, and made sure my hair covered my neck. It was cold, somehow, and I resisted the urge to shiver.
Around every corner, there was only more darkness, the moon our only source of light. We became walking to the center of the forest, or what felt like it.
"I don't like the silence," I admitted, feeling uncomfortable, "Have you got any stories?"
"Only scary ones," West said, and I shook my head.
"Okay then, have you met the new girl?" I asked him, and he nodded quickly.
He rolled his eyes, "Of course I have. All day I've been hearing stuff about it. People say she's, like, skipped a year of school."
"Huh." My brow furrowed, and we crossed over a stream.
Once again, we fell silent. Only the faint sound of leaves crushing under our shoes, and a quiet bird in the distance, could be heard. For a moment, I found myself not minding the silence. That was until, however, a low growl was heard. My heart immediately quickened, and I grabbed West's arm.
"Did you hear that?" I cried, "Oh, god, please tell me you heard that."
He stopped walking, drawing me into a tight embrace. I was enveloped in his comforting scent, and I closed my eyes in a desperate attempt to block out the world. Thoughts of what happened last night, whether it was real or fake, still haunted me, and I wasn't ready to face it once more.
"Whatever it was, it won't hurt you. Who knows, maybe it was some little bunny?"
We knew it wasn't a bunny when a huge creature appeared in front of us. It was terrifying, to say the least. At least seven feet tall, it had large, long limbs, and his face held scars that brought shivers down my spine. Two horns protruded from its head, and cold, yellow eyes illuminated in the dark. The eyes reminded me of the blue ones, however, while those had been filled with curiosity, these held hatred.
A scream tore at my throat, and I hastily turned to run in the opposite direction, West in pursuit. The creature leapt lithely after us, with the strength of a beast. There wasn't a competition. My arm was yanked harshly backward, and I let out a distressed yelp as my body was pulled back. My face was inches apart for the creature's, and I could feel it's hot, harsh breath on my cheek as I desperately searched for an escape.
"Romera!" West shrieked, and I looked over at him to see him debating whether to leave for help or stay to help. I made up his mind for him.
"West!" I called, "Run, run as fast as you can. I'll be fine, get help!"
He nodded shortly, and I returned my fearful gaze to the creature.
"How heroic," he hissed softly, his voice as harsh and gears grinding against each other. "And a descendant of Morgana, perfect."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" I stammered, trying to escape the hold.
He let out what was supposed to be a laugh, but sounded more like a lowly hiss.
"You," he growled, "have been sought-after by many for centuries. The child of the sorcerer, the offspring that will bring the Eternal Night once in a way no hunter will ever be able to stop."
"Eternal Night?" I echoed, "Look, I have no-"
"Be quiet, child!" He roared, and I flinched.
Somehow, he reminded me of my father. The thought almost made me want to laugh. Comparing my father to a terrifying beast. And yet, I wouldn't be able to take it back.
"Just because your blood goes back centuries, doesn't mean I won't spill any now!"
When I didn't reply, he continued in his terrifyingly soft voice.
"Great things have been planned for you, my Queen, many great things. You, as Morgana's sole heir, will rule both the Darklands and the soon Eternal Night!"
"I-I don't know what that means!" I cried, as tears began to form in my eyes.
I wasn't ready to die, no less at the hands of a monster. All thoughts of how I looked were thrown out the window, as I sobbed. I clawed my arms outward, desperately trying to escape the grasp.
"Mum? Are you going to die?"
"My dove, everyone will die at some point in their lives. Mine is just a little sooner." A gentle smile, a soft voice.
"I said silence! For, until you unlock your powers, I am your superior!"
"The doctors say you won't get any better."
"My dove," warm hands, "even if I do not live, I will always be with you."
The grip tightened around my throat, my heart feeling like it would leap out of my chest. Black spots began appearing in my vision, as I struggled out of the grasp.
"When I die, will I be with you?"
"Forever, and ever."
Words: 1851
Hope you enjoyed :)