The Shadow King and the Fairy Ch.2

Angela sighed as she stared at the fat drops of rain falling outside her open window. It had been raining for days on end; well since her Godfather had left to tend a village over the mountain which was having a Flu outbreak. He wouldn’t be back for several days. 

If there wasn’t any rain.

But since there was, he wouldn’t be back for at least a few weeks. Normally, Angela loved the rain…but this wasn’t ‘normal’ rain. This rain was conjured up by her ‘aunt’; which kept her indoors. Her way of locking Angela up. The raven haired girl sighed again, she hated this. A squirrel climbed up to the windowsill and shook the water out of its fur before chattering in its language.

“Oh I’m ok,” She said, petting its head. “I just hate being caged. I feel like the girl from that story Godfather told me once when I was child…the one with long hair and kept in the tower. I feel like her; a bird in its cage.”

The squirrel climbed up Angela’s arm and sat on her shoulder before cleaning its face. Angela smiled before a voice reached her ears. The rain was muffling the words so she couldn’t understand. But she had an idea…

The squirrel jumped off Angela’s shoulder and back outside as Angela ran out of her room. Running down the stairs, Angela stomped over a young woman with red hair who was shelling peas into a bowl.  Her aunt Emilia.

She looked up and gave a coy smile. “Angela, dear-”

“Don’t you ‘dear’ me!” Angela shouted. “You have to stop this! The trees and plants can’t take anymore water…you’re killing them! Please stop!!!”

 Aunt Emilia stood up and began to put the unshelled peas away. “If I stop, then you’ll run away and not return until who knows when.”

“And killing the earth’s plants to keep me locked up is better?!”

“Oh Angela, I only do this because I love you-”

“Sure you do.” She thought, bitterly.

“And I only want to protect you from the horrors of the world.”

Angela’s hands curled into fists. “More like locked away.”

Aunt Emilia put the unshelled peas into a cupboard and picked up a bottle of purple liquid. “Need more ‘WitchHazel’ soon.”

Angela didn’t move from her spot. “Please…please stop the rain.”

Her aunt turned to her and gave a stern look. “Since you’ve been so good these past few weeks…I’ll cease the rain. However-”

“I knew it.”

“You must stay inside the house. You mustn’t run away or even go outside.” She paused. “Do we have a deal?”

Angela held back her retort and sighed with her eyes staring at the floor. “Very well…I’ll do as you say.”

Aunt Emilia grinned. “Good girl.” She snapped her fingers and the rain stopped.

“Now I’m off to gather some hazelnuts for us…” She raised Angela’s chin in a cunning way. “Remember your promise.”

Angela narrowed her eyes at her ‘aunts’ retreating back. When the woman was out of sight, Angela went over to the wall where they kept baskets for harvesting herbs or picking berries. She put in a few apples, a loaf of bread, and a bit cheese. Then she grabbed the fresh herbs, tinctures, and powders she would need and put them into a bag and then into the basket. With that done, Angela took a knife from the table and added it to her contents before taking the basket and opening the door.

Once she was sure the coast was clear, Angela stepped out and quietly shut the door before she took off running into the forest. “Sorry ‘aunt’. But I’ll NEVER obey you, never!”

The young woman ran to the one place she loved; her glen. She wanted to see it one last time before she left the only home she knew. Her spirit lifted when she saw her special place and when the branches parted to allow her access. She started to pick the herbs that only grew there, ones that she might need on her journey. Then said good-bye to the animals when appeared; sensing her distress. She petted the ones closest to her.

“I’m sorry, little friends. I don’t want to leave but I have too. If I don’t I’ll wither away.” She sighed. “And I have no choice.”

Angela decided to sing one last time for her friends. And like before…it reached the Shadow King’s ears.

He had been sitting on his room balcony railing, in deep thought, when he heard her. His eyes widened when he recognized the melody and the voice. The Shadow King raced to the pool in his room and made the water shimmer with magic once more…showing him Angela’s face.

“It’s her again!” He said, in wonder. “This time…I’ll make sure she sees me.”

The king stepped back from the pool and made the earth beneath his feet; raise him to the surface world. “I hope I look alright.” He thought, while running a hand through his hair as his stomach twist in knots. He didn’t understand why he was feeling this way. Or even what this feeling was…

Back in the Glen…

Angela finished her song and began to leave, when suddenly the animals scattered as the earth trembled. The young woman fell to her knees in fear as a man rose from the ground beside the stream. She quickly got up to run…but couldn’t get her legs to obey. Angela just stared at the strange man before her; her eyes taking in his appearance.

His hair was red and black and star-shaped with golden bangs framing his face with extra strands shooting up into his hair. His cheekbones were high while his features were sharp.  Muscles in his arms showed he was strong, which were hidden under dark brown skin, with a tattoo of a strange green symbol on the left shoulder and left cheek. Ears were hidden behind the Nautilus shells which were attached to his crown. And the same color strands of twine which had blue and green stones, threaded for decoration, adorned his neck. Gold wrist and anklets glittered in the light from the sun. A Roman kilt covered his lower body, ending just below his knees. Sandals covered his feet and a strange glowing crystal hung around his neck. His eyes…those were what held Angela’s attention the most.

They were dark purple with flecks of ruby around the pupil/iris, and his black eyelashes made them look even more interesting. And yet…

His eyes seemed empty. As if they knew no emotion what-so-ever.

“Who…who are you?”  She asked the stranger.

“I’m sorry.” He apologized. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. As to who I am…I’m the King of Shadow Beasts.”

“A ‘king’? But where is your kingdom? And how’d…how’d you get into my Glen? Only my Godfather and I can.”

He looked at his surroundings as he explained, “My kingdom lies beneath the earth. And I’m not sure how or why your Glen let me in.”

Angela played with a strand of her hair, as a few animals poked their heads out from their hiding places. A few even took a couple steps towards Angela and the stranger.

“Why are you here?” Angela asked.

“I heard you singing.” He replied. “It was so beautiful that I had to meet you. No one has such a lovely voice.”

She blushed. “Thank you. My Godfather says I got it from my mother.”

The king tilted his head to one side, making her feel nervous.

“What?”

“Nothing.” He replied. “I’m just happy she passed on such a gift to a lovely daughter.”

Angela smiled. “That’s nice of you to say. But won’t your people wonder where you are?”

He sighed. “I suppose. But I don’t want to go back.”

“Why?”

“It’s…It’s very lonely. You see I have no one to share it with.” He answered.

Even through Angela saw no emotion in his face or eyes…she could hear the faint despair in his voice. “Why’s that? Why don’t you have anyone?”

He looked away. “No one will accept my offer. They think they’ll tire of it, but I can’t blame them. I suppose it’s better to never know love than have it at all.”

Angela shook her head, “That’s…That’s ridiculous!”

“Huh?”

“Once you’ve loved someone or have someone to care for you; you can never be truly lonely again.” She explained. “How ‘bout I stay with you awhile?”

He was a bit surprised, ‘she’ was asking ‘him’ if she could stay? He thought he’d be the one asking. “You…you want to stay with me?”

The young woman nodded. “Yes. And while I’m there; we’ll laugh, talk, and fill your heart with memories that’ll stay with you and brighten your days.”

“And you’re sure about that?”

“Yes.”

Even though he didn’t smile…Angela saw a brief bit of joy shine in his eyes as he replied, “Then I accept your offer.” He answered. “May I know your name, milady?”

“Angela.”

He rolled her name in his head, a warm feeling spreading through his chest as he did. “A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.”

Her blush darkened and looked at the monarch, “And what’s your name?”

“I’m called many things: King of Shadows, Abyss Ruler, Beast Master, Yami no Game…but the name I was given at birth was Atem.”

“‘Atem’? I like it, it’s different than Jacob or Mark.” Angela replied as she took out a piece of parchment and wrote a quick note before handing it to a pigeon. “Will you take this to my Godfather, please?”

The pigeon cooed and clamped the note in its beak before flying off.

He offered her his hand, to which she took. To her surprise, she found it slightly cold…but not like ice.

Those eyes locked with hers and she felt herself being drawn into them…drowning in his jewel eyes.

“Is something wrong?” He asked.

Angela snapped out it. “No…no, I was…it’s just…”

“Yes?”

“I…” She looked around at her glen; the place she only called home and the animals. “I wonder if everyone will alright?”

“I’m sure they’ll be fine. As you said before; ‘no one but you and your Godfather can enter’. They’ll be safe.” He looked at a fawn, who had been sniffing him. It was nervous at first, but came closer when Atem held out his hand and began to nuzzle it.

“If the animals like him,” Angela thought. “Then he can’t be bad…and Godpa always said that animals are good judges of character.”

He turned back to Angela and gestured to where he had come from his kingdom…the ground still glowed with magic. “Shall we go?”

Angela turned from him and picked up her things before returning to Atem. “I’m ready.”

“Then let us go.”

With that he led her down to his land of beasts.

Meanwhile,

Aunt Emilia walked back to the house with her basket filled with Hazelnuts, and a smug smile on her face. Angela, after years of defiance, had finally bended to her will. It was only a matter of time before her plan was complete…a plan which she had waited years to put into action.

When she arrived back at the house, it was strangely quiet. Not sound could be heard. Though she shrugged it off as Angela sulking or grinding herbs in her room.

“Angela?” She called as she entered the kitchen. “Angela, I’ve returned. I brought so many back that I think I’ll make Hazelnut soup for dinner.”

There was no answer.

“Arugh, that girl!” She thought, a snarl disfiguring her lovely face. “She’s still not-?! No, calm down…remember the plan.”

Aunt Emilia went up the stairs and knocked on Angela’s bedroom door. “Angela? Did you hear me?”

Again no answer.

She opened the door, to find her not there. “Angela?”

The woman then saw Angela’s satchel was gone and a few of her herb pouches. Panic and anger surging through her veins, Aunt Emilia searched through the whole house…but could not find the girl. She found that some food was missing as well as a knife and one of the baskets.

Rage made her beautiful face ugly and she roared like a mad woman. With narrowed eyes she ran out of the house and looked to the sky; clouds swirled above…dark and threatening. Hail and sleet began to fall which then blanketed the world in ice.

Aunt Emilia then began to walk through the woods, snarling she hissed, “When I find you Angela, you’ll rue the day you ran from me.”