Touched by Shadows

Claude steeled himself and drank down the vile looking liquid. After a few moments he clutched at his chest and moaned in pain.

"What is happening to him?!" Dakota cried then her moans of pain joined his.

"Be still child. You will need your strength." Rin reminded her.

Claude sank to his knees and started to pant. His eyes started to glow red and it was like all the shadows in the room rushed towards him all at once.

"Avert your eyes. You do not want to witness this."

Dakota did as Rin said and squeezed her eyes shut. She could hear Claude pant and growl like a wild beast, and what sounded like something scraping into the wooden floor.

"Rin do it now! Take my blood and add it to the vial before I lose myself." Claude growled out. He sounded more like a feral beast than a person. Too afraid that Claude was no longer himself Dakota decided to keep her eyes shut. If this was the price he had to pay to save her life Dakota didn't want him to go through with it anymore.

"No more! Please save him!" Dakota cried out before she felt a bottle being forced to her lips.

"Drink child!" Rin commanded.

Dakota reluctantly did as she was told but gagged and almost spit out the liquid as it rolled thickly over her tongue. The only reason Dakota drank down the vile substance was because the fact that Claude was suffering for her. That and Rin was forcing her to drink. When the concoction hit Dakota's stomach it felt heavy and started to burn much like the salve that still felt like it was eating away at her arm. This burn was different though. It quickly spread through her entire body and burned away the poison as it went.

Dakota screamed and fell off the chair she had been slumped over in. Then began to writhe in agony on the floor next to her guardian. All of her muscles spasmed and Dakota felt like her brain was going to explode. Then all at once the pain was gone and Dakota was floating in a dark void. At first there was so much relief. She felt a quiet peace wash over her body and wanted to stay floating in this darkness forever.

Then She felt it. The feeling of so many eyes watching her every movement from the darkness. Dakota was not alone.

Who's there? She called into the darkness. The shadows quivered and from them emerged a young girl.

We are here. The shadow has waited for your return. The shadow girl answered as she floated over to Dakota. We have been trapped for a long time, and now that we are free we will be whole once more.

Dakota understand what she was saying. She looked around in the darkness and saw nothing but the shadows swirling around them.

Do not be afraid. We are a part of each other. The shadow girl caressed Dakota's cheek which caused her to shiver as it left a cold burning sensation behind.

I don't understand. She replied as she looked around desperately for a way to escape this place.

The shadow girl giggled in response. Have I been gone so long that you no longer remember me? She paused and put a finger to her chin in thought. No...it was because of those mages. The ritual that tore us apart and took your memories.

Ritual? What ritual? I have always been who I am. Please leave me alone. I want out of this place! Dakota cried in frustration and attempted to get away but the shadows wrapped around her and kept her still.

Poor Dakota, you have no choice. The ritual to make us whole once more is done. You can try to fight me but you would just be fighting yourself. Accept me and embrace your power. It is the only way you will survive. We know that the poison is still here, eating away at our body. The ritual helped keep it at bay but our power is the only thing that can cleanse our blood.

Dakota hung there silently in this void made of shadow and finally realized that this void was inside her. There was no escape from herself and to fight meant a painful and agonizing death. There was so much fear inside her that Dakota almost choked on it but knew she had to make a decision. Embrace the shadows or embrace death.

Dakota took a deep breath and looked at the shadow her that floated there waiting. Alright, I will accept you shadow only because I don't want to die here tonight.

I knew we would choose correctly. The shadow Dakota smiled. I promise you this will not hurt.

The shadow drew closer to Dakota and gently placed their lips on hers. When the shadow made contact it was like a rush of energy entering Dakota's very soul. It felt warm and familiar and yet it also felt wild and free.

As soon as the shadow was absorbed Dakota came back to herself. She could feel the cold hard floor beneath her. Though it seemed like someone had at least tried to make her more comfortable as she was placed on a blanket with a pillow under her head.

Dakota was too afraid to open her eyes just yet and as she lay there she heard two beings in the room. Their heartbeats loud in her ears. They were speaking to each other and Dakota had to concentrate to block out all of the other noises from outside the building that had suddenly invaded her senses.

"You realize they will be after us when they find out what we have done." Dakota heard a low gruff voice speak. She recognized it as Claude but it sounded rough and a little off.

"I know, and have already acquired transportation out of the city." A lilted voice replied. "But more of that later. It seems your niece has finally awoke."