No need to alarm him with my troubles. What would he do about it anyway? And would he even care?
Ding! Ding!
-I’ll be thinking of you until then.
It’s amazing what that man can do with a simple text message. I just wish it were enough to make me forget all that’s troubling me. Whoever is out there longing to kill me is getting closer. Could they have been at the bar too? I scan the familiar faces in my head, wondering if anything was suspicious or out of place. Nothing sticks out to me. Even if the Dark were there, what could I have done to save myself? Or save my friends? I’m powerless against any supernatural adversaries at least until I turn 21. Then what? Do I wave around a twig and say ‘Abracadabra’? Will I trade in my little Honda for a broomstick?
I look over at my mom’s book, sitting on my nightstand. So many unanswered questions and it seems to be the only thing, other than Chris and Donna, that sheds some light on my newfound destiny. I reach over to pick it up, and then recline comfortably on a mound of pillows. After flipping through the pages for a few moments, I come to the part where I left off. Oh right, my mother, the great Dark Hunter, comes face to face with the sadistic Shadow, and instead of slaying them, she decides to procreate with one. Way to stay strong, Mom!
I read on for the next hour or so about Natalia’s confusion at her choice to let the Shadow live. It was the first time she had ever been so close to one of them without it ending in bloodshed. She was curious. For nights, she had dreams about the mysterious Warlock; his cold, blue eyes burning into hers, his unfathomable, tortured expression, his compliant stance. She didn’t understand why he lied to his partner about seeing her. Did he think she couldn’t take them and took pity on her? It angered her to think that they saw her as a weaker adversary. She didn’t need rescuing. And for her choice to let them live, she was angry at herself. She was trained to fight her enemies and was exceptionally efficient at it. What was so different about him? It baffled her how she could allow herself to become influenced by the Dark One. He surely must’ve used powerful hypnotism to persuade her to let him live.
----------
I had no explanation for how the Dark One escaped with his head. I had trained and planned for their arrival, leaving a trail of clues that would lead them straight to me. Then once they were separated, searching for me, I would pluck them off with ease. But seeing that man, the Dark One, startled me. He had awoken something inside me that I didn’t even know existed. I hated to admit that it was desire. I wanted the Dark One. And I hated myself for feeling that way because I knew that we could never be. He despised me and would surely suck the life right out of me if given the chance. I buried myself in training for our next encounter. They would not escape me again.
----------
My poor mother, tortured by her carnal desires. Guess we share that trait. I read on about Natalia’s growing affections for the Dark One, and her self-loathing for not being able to shake the foreign feelings. She wanted to hate him, just like the rest of them. But in her dreams, she never killed him. He never killed her. Her dreams were full of passion. Lust. Love.
----------
I tracked the Shadow for thousands of miles, more determined than ever to bring them to their demise. Maybe even a bit reckless. I felt that if he was dead, my irrational feelings would die with him. Plus if anyone from the Light ever found out how I felt…. No good could come from it. He had to die.
On one particularly cold night, I catch their scent towards an old abandoned factory site. I stealthily approach the area, making virtually no noise in my pursuit. The scent grows stronger. They’re here. I can feel them. Everything inside me is telling me to turn back, it’s surely a trap. It’s just too easy. Something isn’t right. But I have to do this; I have to get it over with. It’s the only way I can get him out of my system and retain my sanity.
As if they could hear my internal struggle, the two from the Shadow ambush me, materializing out of thin air. They have paralyzed me with their magic, no doubt for easier slaughtering. They are both there, both viciously beautiful. I struggle unsuccessfully against their strong combined currents. They step into my line of vision, giving me a clear view of the object of my desire. I give up the hopeless fight as I lock eyes with him. I will die with his magnificent face being the last thing I see.
His partner murmurs something in their native language. He’s telling him to ‘Do It.’ I close my eyes and wait for my demise peacefully. Minutes pass but death never comes. My eyes flicker open and I see that he has dropped his hold on me, releasing me from my temporary paralysis. His partner stands in disbelief, shouting at him but he’s talking too fast for me to understand. They begin to argue and I have to ask myself why I haven’t taken this opportunity to kill them both while they’re distracted. But I know I can’t. I won’t. He spared my life once again. I have to find out why.