Something Darker; Chapter 10

The hooded figure slowed their dash through the trees, stopping in the small clearing. Slowly the hooded figure turned around, looking up at the night sky to survey the full moon. Yes. here would do.

Dropping to their knees, they fling their hood back, letting the light of the moon illuminate their deathly pale skin. Closing their silver eyes, they draw out a dagger, let their head fall back, and begin a slow chant in a strange language. Finishing their chant, they drive their dagger into the ground.

As the dagger falls, the moonlight catches the ruby at the end of the hilt, sending sparks of light flying about. The sparks don't fade though, they float in the air towards each other forming the ghostly visage of a woman.

Though the woman does not turn to face them, she tilts her head. "I hope you have good news for me." She slowly extends a Shadow Marked arm, holding her fingers out to study her nails.

"I am afraid not, my lady."

The woman slowly turns to face the Shadow Slave. The Shadow Slave drops their eyes to the ground, unable to meet her dark red eyes. Her red eyes slowly sweep across the small clearing. "Just where is your brother, and my new pet for that matter?"

"There were complications to the plan, my lady. We-"

"The plan," The woman cuts off the Shadow Slave's words, "Was very simple. Find my Marked One, wait until they were alone, grab them, bring them to me. Yes, their powers will be greater than yours, but they've no clue how to use them. Does that sound like a plan that would be difficult to muck up?" She sighs, "And yet you have. Don't tell me, your idiot of a brother challenged my Marked One, didn't he?"

"Yes, my lady."

The woman sighs again. "Well stop your dallying. Bring him here so I can heal him."

The Shadow Slave shifts on the ground. "Well, my lady-"

"Oh. Oh, no. You IDIOTS!" The woman rages as the Shadow Slave sinks back from her. "Tell me you at least got rid of the evidence."

"The Shadow Stalker-"

The woman screams in rage. "If you fools had just listened to me and stuck to my plan-" the woman takes a deep breath, slowly releasing it. "No matter. I'll just have to add one more bird to the list."

"Of course. I won't let you down this time, my lady. In her condition-"

"'In her condition?'" The woman parrots in a voice laced with venom. "You mean to tell me that your brother injured my Marked One? It's a good thing he's dead, or I'd have to kill him myself. But, you're right; You shan't let me down this time because this time your task is even simpler than before: Run."

The Shadow Slave looks up for the first time. "My lady?"

"Run and leave a trace no Shadow Stalker could miss. Make sure it looks like you're not alone. Lead them far from my Marked One."

"And if they catch up with me?"

The woman leans down, her ghostly visage of a hand gently cradling the Shadow Slave's cheek. "Don't be the only one to die."

Her hand slides from their cheek as they drop their head once more. "Yes, my lady."

"Now go," she orders. "I need to find one more capable than you to fetch me my Marked One." The Shadow Slave reaches for their dagger. "Oh, and one more thing," the Shadow Slave stops, looking up once more to meet her red eyes, "The only reason you make it out alive is because you're the only living survivor."

Determination flashes in their silver eyes. "The mission dies with me."

The Shadow Slave grasp the dagger, ripping it from the ground. The ghostly visage of the woman disappears as the light breaks apart into its individual sparks that fall towards the ground, fading from existence. The Shadow Slave has vanished into the night before the last one is gone.