The Lord of Shadows

by E E Ewer

  Nire tried to draw the tree, but scratched it out a few moments later.

  Evening came to the Alder house and after dinner Nire headed up to her room to prepare for bed. She flicked the light switch on the wall, which was connected to the small pink table lamp that stood on her dresser next to the door. Pink was not really her color, but it was the only thing she had left from the time she spent at her grandmother’s house when she was young. Her mother and father had died one evening in a car accident with a drunk driver, and this lamp was in the room her grandmother kept for her. The soft pink glow reminded her of her mother and father, and the kind face of her grandmother who also left her only a short while later.

  Walking to the other side of her room she turned on the desk lamp that sat on her night table, next to a flashlight and candle. Nire crossed the hall to the bathroom to brush her teeth, and when she returned she flicked the light switch, and shut her bedroom door. The nightlight in the corner flickered on in the dim light, and Nire picked up a book that was lying on top of her bookshelf. Checking to make sure the closet door was tightly shut, she sat down on her bed and propped a pillow behind her back as she settled in to read.

  When her alarm clock read 10:00 she picked up the flashlight on her nightstand and clicked it on and off once, to make sure it worked. She surveyed the surface to ensure her lighter, matches, and extra batteries were in place and ready should she need them. When she felt secure, she flipped off the desk lamp and settled into her bed. Her bed hugged the wall and was set directly under her left bedroom window. She gazed out at the sky between the branches of the sycamore tree. No moon yet… she thought.

  Nire woke suddenly and sat up in bed. Her night light was out, and a twinge of fear surged through her. She saw a strange shape in the darkness, curving and swirling as it took form in the corner of her room. No light fell through the window, and the room was almost completely dark. Nothing exists in the dark that isn’t there in the light… she reminded herself, trying to remain calm as she reached for the switch on her desk lamp.

  Click.

  Nothing. Another surge went through her stomach and her hand shook as she picked up the flashlight. The power must be out. Switching on the flashlight her heart dropped into her stomach when it failed to work. She’d checked it just before bed… It couldn’t have gone out. She fumbled on her night stand for her lighter. The flame burst up and relieved some of the tension that was building in her stomach. She lit the candle on her night stand and watched as the flame surged, and then fell to only a small pin of blue light. She waited for it to flare back up… but it didn’t.

  Absolutely terrified she turned her head to the shape in the darkness. The corner of the room was so dark she couldn’t see anything, but the black shape seemed to stand out, darker than the darkness itself. Her voice shaking, she managed to choke out her question.

  “W-who are you?!” She shouted to the darkness.

  “Come to me,” was all the voice replied. It was deep and steady, and it made Nire’s heart beat furiously in her chest.

  Without thinking, she set both her feet on the ground, determined to find out what was in her room. She shook as she stood and took a step forward, when suddenly her eyes shot open as she sat up in bed. She was breathing heavily and flung to the lamp on her nightstand, hitting the switch in a panic. Her room was empty, her nightlight was on, the flashlight worked… and the lighter hadn’t been moved. The wick of the candle was still white with fresh wax… she hadn’t lit it.

  A dream. She thought. Just a dream. Her breathing calmed as she sat in the glow of her desk lamp. Once her heart stopped beating out of her chest she was able to turn her light off and lay back down, but that was about all she was able to accomplish. Sleep was not going to visit her again tonight.

  She tossed and turned until her alarm clock began playing a local radio station at 6:30 a.m. With her face stuffed in her pillow she slammed the snooze button and groaned.

  The day dragged on for an unreasonable amount of time. By 5th period Nire sat slumped over her desk, entirely tuning out what was being said by her teacher about the importance of resume writing. After what seemed like an eternity the final bell rang and managed to dent the wall of fatigue that had been building inside her head. Coming out of her mild coma she focused her eyes on the clock as the bell continued to ring. Her classmates were already packing their things when she managed to get a grip on reality and realized it was time to go home.

  Shaking her head to regain her senses she began to pick up her materials and stack them on her books. Other students in a hurry were pushing past her as she slowly trudged down the hall towards her locker. She turned her combination and retrieved her backpack, placing her books and materials inside when a familiar arm was placed roughly around her shoulder, yanking her off balance.

  “Mouse!” shouted a cheerful voice. “Whoa, you ok there?”

  “Hey Jen… yeah I’m fine,” she replied “Just tired.” Nire regained her balance and continued packing her bag.

  “Rough night eh?” her friend asked knowingly. “You seen Nikki yet?”

  “No, not since lunch,” Nire answered sleepily. The blond girl craned her neck over the crowd looking for a familiar flash of orange hair.

  “Oh, there she is… NIKKI!” Jen shouted over the crowd of students, motioning for her to come over.

  “Hey Jen, Nire. You guys ready to head home?” Nikki asked as Jen suddenly broke out her 35mm camera and flashed it in Nikki’s face. “JEN!” The redhead shouted. “Give me that damn camera you twit!” Nire was caught between the two fiery girls as Nikki swiped for the camera that Jen held well above her head. Jen just grinned as Nikki huffed at her with red cheeks. “Jennifer Stedman! You know I hate having my picture taken!” The shorter girl shot daggers at her with round brown eyes.

  “Oh c’mon Nikki. It’s practically the last day of high school, you have to let me take at least ONE picture,” the tall girl pleaded.

  “Okay, FINE – but that’s the only one!” she shouted back, pointing her finger.

  “Just one more? With Mouse in it?” The blond girl begged, giving her friend big blue puppy dog eyes.

  “Ough. Fine,” the irritated redhead conceded. “C’mon Nire, let’s get this over with,” she grumped. Jen grinned widely as the two girls leaned in together. Nire smiled softly and Nikki glared at the camera with distain.

  “Oh c’mon, at least smile a little,” Jen said as she held the camera to her face. Nikki put on her best fake grin, which was actually pretty convincing. Laughing, Jen snapped the photo and Nikki’s expression went back to one of severe irritation. Jen was always pushing her buttons, but she put up with it. Glancing at Nire’s tired expression, Nikki realized her friend must have had another troubling night.

  “You alright there Ni-Ni?” she asked her friend.

  “Mouse had a bad night, but she hasn’t divulged what made it so bad yet,” Jen answered for her.

  Throwing her bag over her shoulder she glanced at her two friends.

  “I’ll tell you on the way home. Let’s go, it’s loud in here,” she suggested as she turned to head for the door.

  During the walk back to their houses Nire explained the dream she’d had to her friends, and how real it had seemed. She had been completely sure she was awake, even after she woke up she thought it had all really happened. The only thing that really made her certain it was a dream was the fact that the candle on her nightstand was still fresh, and had not been burned at all. Her friends exchanged glances.

  “Yeah, I think it would be kinda hard for anyone to fall back asleep after a dream like that…” Jen said supportively. Nikki nodded in agreement.

  “No kidding. I’m not even afraid of the dark and that would bug me enough to want to leave the light on all night,” the redhead added.

  Nire walked with her head down, watching her feet as they padded the sidewalk. They had already passed Nikki’s house, but she had decided to walk a little further to hear the
rest of Nire’s story. The easily irritated red haired girl had not been around for very long, and had only turned their duo into a trio two years ago. Two years was actually a long time for her family to stay in one place, and she hoped in this case it was a permanent setting. Most people in school thought she was stuck up. In reality she was not keen on relationships seeing as how she always had to break them off. So she preferred to keep to herself and often brushed off other’s attempts at befriending her. Jen was not so easily brushed off as Nire well knew, and the group of girls was an unexpected mesh of personalities held together by the extremely outgoing blond that circled both of their shoulders with her arms.

  When they approached the old Victorian house, Nire’s mother greeted them at the door. Bracing the screen with one arm she shouted to the girls headed up the walk way.

  “Hello Jennifer, Nicole. How are you two?” she asked sweetly.

  “Great Mrs. A.!” Jen shouted back.

  “I’m fine, thank you,” said Nikki.

  “Hey Mrs. A., can Nire come out with us for ice cream at Murphy’s?” Jen suddenly suggested, causing both girls to glance at the blond with raised eyebrows.

  “I suppose it would be alright,” the older woman responded as she leaned against the doorframe. “That is, if Nire’s feeling up to it,” she added, glancing at her very tired looking daughter.

  “Um… yeah, sure,” Nire said looking to Nikki as if to ask her the same question. The girl shrugged and made a face that seemed so say “sure, why not?”

  That being decided Nire dropped her bag off at the house and stepped quickly back down the walk to her friends.

  Murphy’s was a local ice cream parlor left over from the 60’s – It had been maintained by the same family ever since it first opened, and the interior reflected that era with chrome bars, red seat cushions and neon writing on the walls. The floor was checkered with black and white tile, and Mr. Murphy was never light on toppings.

  The three girls enjoyed a sundae that they shared between them; one was far too big for any one of them to eat by themselves. As they ate their snack, Jen brought up the million dollar question to Nire once again.

  “So you decided on a major?”

  Nire sighed. “No, not really,” she answered. Nikki raised an eyebrow at Jen. She’d been pushing this subject a lot lately.

  “Just go into art, Mouse. You know you’re great at it,” her friend urged, elbowing Nikki for support.

  “Ow! Eh, Jen is right though, Nire,” Nikki added rubbing her arm. “Just do it, I mean, what is there to lose?”

  “Uuh, college tuition on a major that will lead me to the happy profession of starving artist?” Nire answered flatly as she took another spoonful of ice cream.

  “What makes you think you’ll be starving?” Jen prodded.

  “Ever met an artist who wasn’t?” Nire asked.

  “Ever met an artist at all?” Nikki added sarcastically. Both girls went quiet. “Exactly. Neither one of you has any idea what you’re talking about. Nire, why don’t you research the different jobs you can get as a full time artist?” The red haired girl turned the round end of her spoon towards Nire, and gave it a few shakes. “You’d probably be surprised to find there is a lot more out there than you think.”

  “Nikki,” Jen started, “you’re always so rational.” The comment hung in the air like a bomb as Nikki sat debating whether or not that had been a complement or an insult. Jen scooped another spoonful of ice cream and put it in her mouth as the other girl drilled holes into her with her glare. After a few quiet moments, Nikki retracted her claws and let the comment slide.

  “You’re probably right, Nikki,” Nire stated and shot her a smile. “I’ll do that.” Nikki nodded her head knowingly, trying to look serious. One look at Jen though and she couldn’t help but crack a smile.

  On the way home Jen and Nikki left Nire’s company at the bridge over the South Eaton Canal. The area was a common meeting place for the girls as it lay between all three of their houses. Nire continued the walk by herself in the late afternoon sun, enjoying the light breeze that came from the north as she headed home.

  As she passed the large field of grass to her left, she could see the back of her house as the sidewalk swung around the field and made an L turn at her home’s corner lot. Deciding to take the short cut, Nire hopped the three rung fence that stood between her and the field and made her way through the tall yellow grass. Hopping the fence once again into her backyard she walked into her home through the back door.

  “I’m home!” Nire shouted into the house.

  “Did you have a good time?” Her mother’s voice came from some undetermined location.

  “Yup.”

  “Good,” came the voice again as her mother entered the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel. “I’m just getting dinner ready… I hope you’re not too full from your ice cream.”

  “No we all split a sundae.” Nire smiled as she walked to the front of the house to retrieve her book bag and take it upstairs.

  After supper Nire felt it difficult to keep her eyes open. She was still exhausted from her lack of sleep the night before and was eager to get to bed. After her usual routine of switching lights on and off and checking batteries, she settled down without her book and quickly fell fast asleep just as the sun began to fall below the horizon.

  She stood next to a tall figure at the bottom of a hill. The sky was filled with stars, but there was no moon that she could see. The figure reached out and took her hand, pulling her up the hill behind him. Holding his arm with both hands she couldn’t decide if it was a trick of the light, or if his skin was really that odd bluish color. At the top of the hill there stood a tree to her right, which the figure leaned against silently.

  Nire could see the moon now as it hung low in the sky, lighting the landscape below her. She was amazed at the view she saw in the darkness. To the right were tall jagged mountains that looked as though they had only recently torn up from the earth. To the left there was a great plain, and what appeared to be a desert. Straight in front of her she could see off in the distance a vast body of water reflecting in the moonlight, and right below her she could see lush forests and the lights from a town or city.

  She realized that the figure leaning against the tree had brought her here to show her this, and she wanted to ask what it was she was looking at. Without actually asking, and without being told, she was made aware that this was ‘his’. Oh. She thought, as she stared out into the moon bathed landscape. It was indeed impressive, and somehow it seemed familiar, but she couldn’t quite place where she’d seen it before.

  Waking to the sound of her alarm clock blaring a rock song, the tired brunette slammed the snooze button and thought about her dream. Weird, she thought.

  Today was locker clean out day, and as far as actual school work, there wasn’t any. Each period had a going away party with snacks, movies and fun games. Nire was glad she was awake enough to enjoy them today. During lunch she sat with her friends, and told them about the strange dream she’d had.

  “Was it the same guy as the night before?” Nikki asked.

  “I dunno,” she said. “This time at least I didn’t have the crap scared outta me. It was kinda neat, actually. It seemed a lot bigger than I should have been able to see from just standing on a hill though.”

  “Eh, dreams are funny that way,” Jen chimed in. “Not like in real life you can just get told things without actually being told either.” The blond poked at the strange turkey and gravy mixture on her tray mindlessly as she spoke.

  “Yes, Jen, thank you, telepathy is not normal waking life behavior,” Nikki said with sarcasm in her voice as she popped a cherry tomato from her home-brought salad into her mouth. Nire laughed at them. They always made quite the tag team for smart remarks that never failed to amuse her.

  As the day came to a close the girls headed home. Nikki parted ways with them halfway to Nire’s house, and Jen walked Nire to her door. The girls hugged
and said goodbye, and Nire shut the door behind her.

  “How was your last day at school?” her mother asked as she passed her on the way up the stairs.

  “It was fun, actually,” Nire smiled at her mother in response.

  “Ready for graduation tomorrow?” her mother added, tucking a strand of sandy brown hair that had fallen out of place behind her ear.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be,” Nire said as she continued up the stairs to drop her book bag in her room.

  The evening was fairly uneventful, and as usual after dinner Nire went up to her bedroom to read. She sat in the seat of her bay window on the right side of her room, leaning against some throw pillows. The wind blew gently outside in the evening light, and Nire was eager to continue reading where she’d left off two nights before.

  The fantasy story had begun to reach its climax when Nire looked up from her book towards her nightstand for a moment to rest her eyes. Oh man, it’s already 10:00… Well, she thought, I don’t have to be up early tomorrow, graduation isn’t until 2:00. I suppose I could stay up another hour or so. That being decided she went back to the pages of her book.

  Hours slipped by without being noticed, and sometime around midnight Nire’s head dropped to the side, the book slipping slowly from her fingers and landing on the floor.

  She stood in a ballroom filled with people, all dressed in what appeared to be Victorian clothing. Looking down at herself, she realized she didn’t quite match the attire. Her dress was nothing close to Victorian, but appeared to be straight out of a fairy tale. Green cascades of cloth draped her figure and fell to the floor. The bodice she wore was cinched tightly, and the details and trims on the gown were breathtaking. Her hands were covered by a pair of evening gloves and her hair was done up in some sort of elaborate fashion.

  Music seemed to be coming from nowhere, and all around her people were dancing, smiling and laughing. She stood alone on the ballroom floor when a tall figure approached her from the opposite side of the room. He held out his hand to her, inviting her to dance. She accepted his invitation, took his hand, and he led her to a less crowded area of the floor.