A Light in the Darkness

Blackness

I awaken in darkness, an abyss as far as I can see. I feel my feet standing on something but I’m not sure what and have no means with which to see. As I turn around in this strange place I see a thin sliver of light, rising vertically for eternity. In the thin shower of sight that this transfixing light provides, I see the figure of someone standing in the darkness with their back turned to me.

I open my mouth to say something, to ask where I am but am cut off before I can speak.

“I didn’t expect you to come here so soon” a melodic feminine voice sounds from the figure before me, still facing towards the light with her back towards me.

With such little light present in this place, it is difficult to see but it appears the woman is wearing a cloak and looks to be shorter than I.

“It’s rather beautiful, isn’t it?” her voice intones

“What?” I reply, not sure what it is that I am questioning

“The light, I’m not sure how long I was here without it. It seems an eternity. Perhaps it was” she comments; seemingly enjoying being able to talk to someone, rather than interested in our conversation.

“But you’re here now, earlier than I thought you would be. We can start early I suppose” comes her sonorous voice, sounding joyful at the end. I almost melt at the sound of her joy, her happiness seeming to have a greater effect on me than anyone else I have ever met.

“What is this place? Who are you?” I ask, looking around again but the darkness remains unchanged. I return my sight to her figure, her features indistinguishable in the darkness and her face basking in the light.

“I am sorry Aucus. We do not have time for that. I regret that you will not be here for long, and there is much that must be done”

“What do you mean? I don’t understand, where am I going to go?” I ask, my heart beating against my chest as the unknown provides me without innumerable questions

“Questions Aucus, questions” she lets out a soft sigh, not sounding of desperation, but understanding. “But you will be going back to where you came from, now that really is enough questions. It is time for you to listen”

I open my mouth but remain silent, somehow hearing her smile?

“Good, you have a purpose. Do not worry; it will be difficult, I am sure. For one of your kind anyway” she says, I see the shadow that is her cloak swaying as though stroked by a breeze. “You do not need to know what it is, just know that your path has been set and you will reach its end. Hold that in your heart when your burden becomes too much”

She pauses for a moment, and I think that perhaps she has finished her talk, though she hasn’t answered any of my questions

“She was an easy creature to control. Fate, I mean. It may have taken a few centuries, but she finally weaved a thread for me. She did say you would come later” her voice narrows as though in an attempt to decipher a great mystery “Curious” she says at last

Her head tilts, looking at something unseen in the air. “A shame, our time is growing short. But I won’t leave you alone child, I shall leave you with a gift. I am doubtful any of my siblings would grant you their favours” the silence drags on

“What gift?” I ask at last and the woman turns her head. With her face side on I see the glint of a golden iris, its gaze piercing me.

*Thump*

I feel the **** of a boot kicking into my ribs as a rush of agony flows through my body again. Ugh, I’m awake I think to myself, feeling a cracked rib in my chest. And something else. A… strength? The pain throbs in my face, blossoming with swelling cuts and bruises from the barrage of ****. I cough and taste the metallic taste of blood on my lips.

With Zarin know kicking at my chest, apparently satisfied with the work he has done on my face and set on punishing me elsewhere, my arms are free to move. I lift my right arm from behind my back, wincing at the motion before feeling another boot in my chest. I raise my arm in front of me, begging him to stop with the gesture. Another kick.

I feel that same strength rising in me, beyond anything I have felt before and then a flash. For a brief second a dark purple glow illuminates the land around us, and the strength leaves me, seeping out of my body and leaving me empty.

As the light fades, I sit up. Adrenaline masking the pain throughout my body, I look around and see that Clen and his gang have left. The vision of Zarin beating me with ecstasy must have been too much for even they to watch. Henry is lying on the grass, a few cuts marring his face as a sobbing sound emerges from his curled-up body. On the rocks in front of me, I see Zarin sprawled. His arm lying at an unnatural angle, a sharp white spike protruding from the flesh. His pearly white cloak now sprayed with a mist of red, a combination of both mine and his blood. His face twisted in agony; fury etched across his features. His eyes rage in their sockets, plunging through my skull while he spits a glob of red phlegm onto the grass.

“You…” he coughs and spits again, blood oozing from the wound on his arm as it dribbles down his flesh and pooling on the rocks. “You scum” droplets of the crimson ichor dripping from his lips

“You’ll die for this” he seethes as he looks at the ivory branch emerging from his body, “I’ll rain hell down on you and this shit-hole you call a village” his voice shifting from the usual charming tone that I have heard him use before, to one thick with malice; the hate filling the air around us.

I look down at him, lifting my hands up as I see them shaking violently in front of me. What happened? How did I… I think as I look at the mangled body of the nobleman before me

“No, wha…” I whisper, looking from my hands to Zarin and back again.

“I’ll cut every inch of flesh off you, I’ll feed it to you and fill every hole in your body with your own bones before I let you die” the man frothing with anger as I stumble over to check on Henry. My heart beating out of my chest, consumed with panic

“Henry” I croak as I shake his body, the sobbing figure groans as my hand touches him. He moves his head out of his arms and looks up at me

“Aucus?” he says as tears flow from his face, mixing into the blood that drips from his cuts. I nod my head at him feeling my own pain fading as I move an arm around Henry and help him to his feet

“Yeah Henry, come on let’s get you home” I whisper into his ear as I stand with him. We walk away from the rocks with Zarin hurling threats at me as we leave him in the distance. Returning to the path, Henry and I hobble together into the village.

Opening the door of the bakery, his mother rushes out to us. She takes Henry in her arms, a tear leaking from her eye as she looks at her son’s agony. “Henry, come on. Are you okay? My poor boy” the plump woman says as I help her get him inside. His father jumps up as he sees the state of Henry and together the two bakers take care of Henry.

I sit down for a moment, feeling myself drifting off from exhaustion. Before my eyes shut, Henry’s mother comes over and asks if I’m okay. I nod my head and with her help, make it to the door before struggling on home.