Silently three shadowy figures dropped down from the opened window pane. As quiet as mice they crept along the noiseless corridors, carefully noting each door and every nook and cranny they passed. One stopped and scented the air. It could have been a wolf or a dog, but it was neither. It drew in a shuddering breath that seemed to dim the flickering torches that hung on the walls. Each one sort of hung there suspended and slowly turned around. A terrified face met theirs and slowly it backed away. The shady beings approached it. They were not to be discovered or seen while they were in the castle and all witnesses must be eliminated or else they would face their dark master’s wrath. Suddenly the man bolted running down the corridor that the very shadows had just traveled. One of the shadows, the smallest one with a wicked looking dagger made to go after him but stopped and looked to its leader as if to ask permission to leave. The creature gave a sort of hiss and nodded slightly before signaling to the remaining specter to head up the passageway with him.
The man was petrified with horror. What were those things and what were they doing in the castle? He had to warn someone he just had to. The sound of his feet hitting the floor echoed around him. His breathing was fast and quick as he looked over his shoulder frightened of what he might see, but unable to resist the urge to observe his pursuer. What he saw chilled him to the bones. Just one glance into those reddening eyes seemed to melt his strength. He felt his will being bent and twisted, the very soul of his life torn away.
The shadow turned around, his work here had been accomplished and he was needed elsewhere. It glided back down the passage way quite slower than it had moments before. The mans soul had been quite filling. It lazily moved smoothly down the length of the hallway glancing left and right looking for its next meal. It turned the corner and slowly progressed down the passage until it came to an unlocked door. “What luck,” the shadow thought,” Two meals in a row in one night!” It slowly opened the door, careful not to wake the rooms inhabitants. Suddenly a lantern was lit and the shadow screamed with pain. The light seemed to penetrate it and the shadow evaporated away leaving nothing but a memory.
The other beings not knowing their companion’s demise kept going hurriedly gliding to their destination. It was almost sunrise and light was peaking out from the hills. The leader turned the next corner and let out a snarl. The torches were lit this corridor! They had two choices, find a place to hide and wait until the candle lighter came tomorrow and ambush him, or risk the day light. The first choice seemed less risky so they went back down the corridor until they found the cellar. There was a heavy lock on the handle but what use is a lock if you can slither right through it. Their master would be angry that they had to delay the mission for now but he would get the same result in the end. The others were settling down now to sleep but since he was the leader it was his responsibility to take first watch.
Looking further into the dark space the shadow found a small mouse scurrying about searching for food. Having not eaten since last night it quickly devoured the little soul and waited. “The small shadow must have either failed or died,” thought the leader” It must be sunrise now and it would have faded away by now in the open.” Its worst fears have come true now it had to find another apprentice to train over again. That would surely set back its present plan by a year at least. Plus if he tried to take one to early when the sun grows in power and the nights grow shorter then who knows what will happen. The thing let out a low moaning sigh and went to wake the next shadow for watch. The other thing grunted and complained but finally sat by the door looking unhappy and quickly grabbed a spider to eat.
The leader suddenly awoke to the sound of the rough human voices. “The humans make so much noise,” the leader thought,” why can’t they just talk silently to each other like us.” The footsteps were getting closer and the others began to realize how much danger they were in. If even one of those humans were carrying a torch they were done for. The light from a lantern started to peak under the doorway and the things shrunk back bumping into each other and crashing into boxes, anything to get out of the light. The light passed as quickly as it had come and the leader began to reach for the door.
“Wait! What if the light is still in the sky? What happens if we open the barrier and we fade!?” wailed a shadow,” How do you know it is safe to venture into the air?”
“Silence!” snapped the thing at the door,” I am the leader and I am the one who determines whether or not this group will survive. I have vowed to protect and lead this group so I will, and anyway I know there is no light right now because that human was carrying a light and we all know that humans have poor eyes in the dark.”
“But what about the little shadow?” cried the shadow,” Did he perish in the light?”
“ So what if he perished he didn’t help anyway,” barked the leader and yanked open the door angrily. It made it sound like it didn’t care but it did…that shadow had been his son. They blended into the darkness and quickly sped down the corridor to the lit hall. They were just in time to find the old candle lighter starting down the hallway and stopped at the first torch. One of the shadows branched off to deal with him and the others quickly turned the corner. The leader led them to the first arch when the court jester literally bumped into them. One of the shadows let out a snarl and rapidly glided over to him. The jester was terrified and tried to cry out but only a slight moan was heard as he slid to the ground. The others slowed down and proceeded more carefully. Nearby guards were preparing to take watch and talked in loud coarse voices. They were so noisy.
“What are you looking at,” shouted the leader,” Who is suppose to be the next cover for an obstacle?”
“I am sir,” replied a big specter,” but there are too many and I just ate that jester so I don’t think I can…”
“Just tell someone else to do it,” interrupted the boss. One of the others grunted and sped off to take care of it while the remaining two followed their leader. They made it through the second arch without much trouble but at the third arch they had to halt. Standing under the giant arc were two guards carrying torches. The leader signaled to be quiet and follow it as it ducked under a doorway. A giant staircase twisted upward. They ascended quickly and quietly keeping in a group. Once they got to the top they passed through the door and out into the corridor. They raced straight to the throne room.
“Took you long enough,” muttered a voice from behind them. The group turned around ready for battle they stopped.
“Oh it’s just you,” said one of the shadows as the other two shadows stepped from behind a pillar.
“Hurry up.” snapped the leader,” We don’t have much time, the sun is almost up.” The others rushed to the throne room knowing that if they stayed too long they would pass away. The king seemed to be sleeping on his throne as they came in, but suddenly he sat straight up and said one word,” Guards!” Instantly ten guards, each carrying torches emerged from pillars surrounding the room.
“You four take the guards, I’ll finish the mission,” shouted the leader.
“But there…,” began one shadow.
“ I know what they are holding just go,” interrupted the chief as he glided for the king. The first four guards were knocked away by an intense blackness and then sucked into nothingness. The next two went down by the big shadow as he earned his dinner. Just then a sliver of white light escaped from a high window and came beaming down to hit two of the shadows directly. They screamed in anguish and slowly faded. Another shadow was running at a guard when the light appeared in front of him and unable to stop himself perished. The last two surviving shadows backed away as the merciless light gleamed closer. The leader had mere seconds before the king was in the light and so it made a final desperate attempt to finish the mission. The leader raised his hand and spoke his final words.
“I HAVE WILLINGLY GIVEN UP MY SOUL , NOW YOU MUST GIVE UP YOURS,” screamed the shadow as his vision failed and he and the king slumped down to the floor and were gone.
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