Shadow

You're always afraid in the beginning. New things, unexplainable things, often have that effect. Even more when you witness entities believed .could only be created through Hollywood make-up, computer software and a human masquerading in a costume. You see it, a moving mass in the darkness of your room. Adrenaline pumps through your veins, rendering you sleepless and paranoid. Unable to remove eyes from the spot you swore It was spotted. Once the initial shock wears off, logical excuses start pilling. Maybe it was a mirror reflection? Or a passing car? Her mind playing tricks due to fatigue? Of course, each one had an answer.

No mirror faced the closet door. A car just passed and no shadow zoomed. She is still very much awake.

Then what's next? Panic, panic of the frightful possibility, the dark figure in your room. It's too far to run –even if your body could manage to move – there's a great distance of potential danger between the safety of bed to the door knob. Now, for at least an hour, you fight against sleep before lids give into the heavy temptation. Now a dream takes over, it's your room just empty and only your bed remains. Quickly, you notice the comforter is the only fabric clothing your body. It doesn't quite seem to raise alarm. There, on the floor, laid a handful of cards. Upon inspection of each one, she notices the pictures are blacked out by shadowy masses. Still, panic doesn't settle in this realm.

Ever so softly, a whisper floats into her ear. The voice is noticeably male, strong, deep and very clear. "I will always protect you."

Waking up from the dream – not a nightmare – she couldn't help but be filled with concern, fright and this dangerous looming curiosity. Telling her parents and friend, she wondered and wondered what it could be. Ideas were thought of, conclusions drawn yet no amount of mere speculation satisfied this growing crave to know more. To understand what this feeling was, to get definite answers on why this entity clouded by mystery came to her. It didn't feel malicious, in fact, every time she recalled the whisper her right ear tickled and hairs stood up. Remembering the deep tone, the feeling of safety and reassurance of those protective words.

Soon, others made those emotions turn sour. They used divinity of their god to poison her opinion, raising great fear the nightmarish entities viciously sought out not just her with wicked intentions but those she loved most. True terrors began to invade her slumber, mounting the paranoia and suspicion. Proving the fingers pointing at the blackened figure that haunted her mind was in fact not a protector but manipulator.

Desperately, she pleaded and searched for ways to defeat against the believed villain. Beckoning witches that portrayed themselves as false knights. Unknowingly grieving the blocked connection, looking for years for another to fill the gapping void. Reaching dead ends with every turn, losing herself as she followed the white rabbit called desire until her body hit the bottom hard. Shamelessly smiling to any face that gave her attention only to be immensely disappointed when expectations weren't met. Giving a tiny fragment until she couldn't recalling the last time a smile curled her lips. She cried and wondered every night why happiness seemed to evade her. Would she go on and live without it until Samuel comes for her? Is her fate to never experience the affection she longed for? Was it such a sin that divine beings invisible to human eyes purposely dusted her universe with misery? If only she knew that was not the case. That she was gifted with love beyond comparison. A love people wished to have.

You see, the entity never left her side. Oh heavens no.

Doesn't she realize who it was protecting her from unseen evils who's only desire is to drain the deliciously divine essence within? Of course not. Even he shielded those pretty brown eyes with illusions and blissful ignorance. Isn't she loved? Who else could express such a worthy level of devotion? It was him! Walls and walls of dense witchy defenses couldn't enable him from duty to her. All those moments her sweet heart broke into tiny pieces is his doing. Not to be spiteful, to protect, those males were not worthy of her. When she sobbed, he did as well, because he'd been the one to inflict that pain. It caused him agony each time but necessary is this form of evil. Nothing in this world titled as divine comes without scares and unbearable aches. He would tell her, show her, in his unique way of his loyalty. Of his endeavors to conserve her purity. Of his sacrificing time with her to give what she always longed for.

The true purpose of Shadows.