[4.1] THE EYES IN THE SHADOW

                                                             •|•|•

"Watch the Shadows, pup, for there are monsters hidden beneath."

                                                              •|•|•

The darkness echoed all around me as I pumped hard on the lever, my breathing short and airy until water poured into the bucket on the other end.

I kept pumping until the light of the lanterns that some of the other slaves held, revealed that the bucket was finally full. I let out a quiet breath, my eyes reaching that of Havens.

She grinned cheekily, grabbing her now filled bucket, "perhaps you are good for something Keffer."

I remained silent, watching as she took the bucket, handing it over to Idah, another one of the slaves who whispered a small Thank-you, to which Haven only smiled at. The kind of smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Idah's gaze moved to me momentarily but quickly dropped, taking her bucket to the lower bath house.

The other slaves had a lot to fear. From the whips of their masters, from the mere fact that they were residing in the Night Court and yet somehow, Haven was even more frightening.

No slave seemed to want to go against her. I hadn't seen anyone stand up to her viciousness in the two weeks I had been in the Court.

"Here Keffer," Haven grunted, placing a new bucket beneath the pump, "fill it up."

I glanced at the empty bucket, then at the guard who stood watch as we pumped our water.

He was a young boy, maybe a few years older than me, with clear grey eyes, his hair hidden by his helmet. He side glanced my way for a minute but he too didn't say or do anything.

I went back to pumping, trying to keep my head off Haven's hawk-like eyes. Trying to bury myself in my thoughts, but I only felt despair. Every morning it was like this. My arms hurt long before I shoveled piles of coal for hours upon hours for Lucy. I mean... Luceferous.  

When the bucket was filled Haven took it, walking to the bathhouse without a further word or even an act of gratitude.

"I-I'll pump mine," Eve stuttered, quickly moving to the pump as I stepped back.

"Thank you" I replied, rubbing my sore arms. I had pumped water for over twenty slaves. Now only the three of us stood here.

Eve, Vale, and I.

She nodded shyly, her eyes shifting to the sky, a small smile on her face, "he's released the sun today," she noted, her hands on the lever.

My eyes traveled to the Night sky above us that had begun to fade slowly- a small smile crowning my own face. It was true, the sun was coming out.

It had been a continuous week of Dark Days and now, the sun was finally coming out.

All three of us grinned, Eve pumping out her water, before slipping into the bathhouse.

Vale and I remained, Vale moving to the pump, "I'll do my own too," she offered with a cheeky smile.

I smiled gratefully, glancing at the guard before moving closer to her, my tone hushed,  "Any word?"

She, in turn,  glanced at the bathhouse, "yes actually.." she whispered back, whilst I kept my eyes on the guard. Her tone was low as she pumped slowly, "There are only two entrances," she began, "the one we came in from, and the other is in the garden court," she explained, "the housemaids say the first one is heavily guarded at all times, but the garden.." she trailed off-

"Well? What's wrong with the garden?" I asked quickly, my tone was impatient.

She took a short breath out, pausing- her eyes darting to me, "very few use that entrance because it leads into a forest.. a forest where the Night Wolf hunts.." she trailed off, shivering.

My eyebrows arched at this.

That was a valid reason not to venture there. There was no need for guards if the Night Wolf himself shifted in there. No one in their right mind would step foot there. Not even desperate slaves.

Which is why it was perfect.

"The Night Wolf can't possibly hunt every night... I would have heard his howls," I reasoned thoughtfully, " a being as powerful as that... I would have definitely heard something."

"-Shade, do not tell me you're thinking about.."

"Is that all?" I quickly asked glancing at the bathhouse, my heart pounding, "it's just the garden and the Forest?"

Vale studied my face for a moment.. shaking her head, "it's impossible to use that way Shade. The risk of meeting the Night wolf.. especially as runaway slaves.." she seemed to freeze at this thought, a shudder coursing through her.

"You didn't think freedom would be easy to attain, did you?" I grunted watching her face, "we need to fight for it, and take risks. The Garden is our only way to escape. We have a one in a millionth chance of meeting the Night wolf.. we could make it-"

"No, we could not." Vale gritted out rather harshly and louder than I had expected, my eyes snapping to her stressed face.

She took a calming breath out, trying to be lower, her eyes darting from the guard to me, "it's the Night Wolf Shade,  this is not a mere Alpha- this is not Gabriel. By Selene! You seem to have forgotten why people fear him. Do you think we are the first slaves to risk?" she huffed-

My eyebrows arched, "have there been others then? K-killed by him?"

"The housemaids speak of a maze," she huffed as she pumped, "there is a maze, winding in the garden, slaves are not allowed there, but to reach the forest that is the only way..." she trailed off moving to her bucket, looking up at me, "escape slaves get lost and die in there long before they reach the forest. The slaves say.. it is filled with monsters that hide in the shadows."

I spotted her shaky hands at this.

"They say, their cries are heard- that is why they know they are dead. And when morning comes, their bodies are left in the garden. No one knows how-"

My heart pounded at this throat dry. 

Of course, it wouldn't be that easy. My eyes traveled to the looming Night Court, staring up at it, venturing past its vastness until it suddenly stopped at an open window at the highest tower.

An idea wavered in my head.

I looked at Vale, "have you been there?" I asked knowing as a court maid, she was sent to clean in the court.

Her gaze followed mine, before recapturing it, "No.. that area is abandoned. Not even cleaning maids like me are allowed," she stopped glancing at the top again, "they say that it's falling apart, no one goes there anymore. Why do you-" she paused as she studied my face, suddenly growing more serious, "Shade do not-"

"I will not," I replied, helping her with her bucket, "I'm not stupid Vale."

She paused at this, as if unconvinced.

"Hurry, before they think you've made a friend of me," I smiled softly.

Vale muttered a soft goodbye grabbing her pale and walking off to the bath house.

I looked at the guard, whose eyes were mysteriously watching, only looking away when we held contact. I moved to the pump, getting my own water. My eyes traveled to the dark room in the tower, my heart a low beat.

I was getting out of here. If it is the last thing I do.

—————

The ash clung to my fingers and I set the shovel aside against the wall, eyes turning to Barnabas who lay fast asleep in a corner, leaning against the wall, his broad shoulders relaxed.

I contemplated leaving him there without a word, but I decided against it- moving towards him.

"I know what time it is Keffer," he grunted eyes still shut, as I stopped in my tracks "you may take your leave-"

A smile wedged against my lips, "Thank you-" I replied moving out of the furnace room, through the kitchen, and out the door. Guards moved around the courtyard in the late evening and so were slaves.

It was Dark outside as the sun had gone down already.

I made my way to the slave house, settling in my usual spot whilst ignoring the whispers of the other slaves. I turned slightly watching as Vale talked with the others before I let my eyes find the stoned roof, the seconds passing until it was quiet, very quiet. The last candles going off as the slaves went to sleep.

I gave it a full hour until I turned, watching Vale sleep peacefully. I said a prayer for her and myself, for luck. I needed all the good luck I could get, all the luck Selene would be merciful to give a Keffer, before getting up, quietly maneuvering around the slaves until I got to the door.

Turning around, my eyes settled on a still sleeping Vale, swallowing for a moment.

I had to do this. For her. And for me.

 We have to try I told her, but this part only I could do alone.

Without looking back I slipped into the veil of night. My skin blended into my surroundings, so even a passing guard didn't bother to look twice my way.

I made it to the empty kitchen, glancing at the closed door of the furnace room, before turning to the only other. One that led straight into the Night Court.

Taking a deep breath in,  I pushed the door open, a low glow in the distance as I stepped back immediately closing the door, the sound of guards passing by not a moment after.

My eyes dashed around the kitchen, stopping at some stone root. It was a common ingredient in the kitchen I had noticed and yet few knew of its other uses.

I happened upon it in the woods, when I was being chased by the other kids in the pack.

Stone root has an effect on werewolf senses, something that made me smell like a wet stone instead of my own scent.

I quickly rubbed this across my body, grabbing a few which I slipped in my pocket before trying again, pushing the door slightly open.

This time there was nothing but darkness. This was good.

Blending into the

darkness, I kept to the walls, my heart ramming with me with every courageous step I took up the winding stairs.

This was stupid and absolutely reckless, but I tried to keep a level head. I didn't want to be found by a guard or even worse, a lord or the Nigh-

No.. that could not happen.

I was sure the Night Wolf was situated in the West Wing. The slaves say that part was off limits to everyone but Madam and a few higher-ups. Yes, the Night Wolf had the whole west wing to himself.

Lucky for me, I was headed in the east, the hallway now long and dark. There was no need to worry- I reassured myself sucking in a breath when a lantern suddenly appeared and I hid behind a pillar, my heart pumping.

A guard stopped by the pillar, sniffing for a moment. His eyes turned yellow, a growl escaping his lips, as my body shook, watching his figure as he turned slightly, "do you smell that Lucas?"

Another guard appeared sniffing the air before gagging, "wet stone.." he grunted, "there must be a leak somewhere- we'll tell the Madam in the morning if the sun rises that is," he chuckled moving past him, "c'mon, do you wish to stay here forever? With the shadows?"

The guard scoffed at this, walking away with him.

I let out a shaky breath, quickly moving along, this time even more carefully as I climbed yet another flight of winding stairs.

This one was narrower and the stones here were notably colder until I broke out into a hallway.

It was cold, colder than I was used to and I shivered, goose bumps running up my skin. Rubbing my arms for warmth, I noticed the dusty floor and old stone against its walls, a ripped red carpet lining the floor.

The East wing.

I swallowed at the airiness. Vale had been right. This was definitely abandoned. It was creepy, especially this time of night. I took a deep breath in, plunging further into the darkness and finding a wooden door at the far end. Taking out a short breath, I gently pushed the door open, cringing at the loud squeaky noise it created. 

I sneezed at the dust that poured through the room. There were broken ornaments littered around it, ripped pages laying around the small room. At the far end sat a window. I smiled at this, nearly running toward it, looking down, gasping at the height of it.

I could spot the small water pump on the ground floor, barely visible in the night, with small lights beneath, wandering about. I couldn't believe I had made it.

My eyes quickly darted to what I came for, turning my eyes toward the garden court. It was as I expected. The maze lay sprawled before me, but since the window was placed at a particular angle, I could not see all of it.

However, I could tell it was quite large, the forest starting even further out. I quickly grabbed a fallen piece of paper from the littered ground, flipped it over,  and took out the ink that I had tucked into my dress, dipping a finger into it, quickly drawing all I could see.

I had 3 problems before me.

The maze, the monsters,  and the Night wolf.

Firstly, I needed to find a route out of the maze, and this window was high enough to at least see part of it- the moon bright enough to illuminate the way.

I sketched over the brown paper, my heart pounding with each lingering second, almost done when something came sizzling by my head ramming behind me with a loud thud.

My heart stopped as I abruptly turned, my eyes settling on the Raven that had somehow flown in with incredible speed and hit the door, falling to the floor where it tried to flutter painfully, cawing loudly.

I was scared for the noise it made would surely bring unwanted attention. Moving swiftly toward the animal I picked it up as gently as I could but it only cawed louder. With more care, I settled it on the window sill.

"Let me see, be still little bird," I whispered calmly in a low hushed tone. It immediately stopped, taking the command, beady eyes looking at me.

I inspected it, noticing the most peculiar thing.

A claw mark on its right wing. It was so deep it had almost ripped off the bird's whole wing. I was amazed the raven had even been able to get this far. I glanced out of the window in the direction the bird had flown in.

The Maze.

I gulped as the bird shivered, beady eyes watching me.

"D-don't worry. I'll fix you.. but you cannot tell anyone. I promised AMA-" I paused, shaking my head.

I do not know why I was talking to a bird.

Studying its peculiar eyes for a bit, I took a long deep breath in, blowing softly on the wound. My breath grazed the feathers, then the open wound softly. I watched as the wound healed up in a matter of seconds, bones and flesh reforming.

I kept my steady blow until it was fully healed.

Gasping for air, my hand grabbed the window sill, the other around my throat as I struggled to get a breath in, my eyes wide open, before I collapsed on the floor, finally able to breathe.

The bird cawed stretching its wing, flying around the room.

I smiled from my sitting position on the floor. The Raven perching on the sill again.

"See, you're alright-" I grinned still a little bit dazed as I tried to regain my sanity.

It hopped to the floor, standing a hand away from me. I petted its head for a second, "you should go, now little bird. Why would you ever stay in the Night Wolf's court when you can be free?"

It cawed softly again, and I shook my head, "I better go too."

I got to my feet, tucking my drawing back in my pocket before heading toward the door, giving one last look at the raven still perched on the window sill, waving goodbye before moving back into the night.

I moved down the hallways, and down the narrow stairs, but the sound of guards coming up them made me turn in the direction I had come from, moving fast heart pounding, finding the nearest door I could to hide.

My ear was against it as I heard them talk.

"The Council of Courts are coming, Madam wants to ensure every area of the court is guarded-" I froze when they stopped right outside the door, and I stepped back from it, my heart pounding.

A slight push against the door was all that was needed to reveal me.

"We should start here first," A guard began. My heart beat louder, shaking my head-

"No- not there. That area is forbidden- Madam was specific about the crimson door- " my eyebrows arched at this.

My mind flashed back moments ago.

It was a crimson door I had entered. And now I was frozen on the spot when I realized the coldness of my surroundings. The darkness filled it to the brim that only one streak of moonlight darted across it to my feet.

I slowly turned, noticing the shadows first. But when my eyes steadied they only widened at the sight.

It was a library, filled with books as far as the eyes could see. The room was massive- rows upon rows stacked to the ceiling and in the center was a large cushioned chair in velvet.

My eyes traveled upwards because from the shadows that crossed it, were two bright red eyes glowing darkly, a dark shadowy figure seated in the middle, hidden from head to toe, eyes focused right on me.

I held a breath, blinking and suddenly the shadow was gone. My eyes darted around, heart thumping within me, my skin crawling as the strangest feeling whipped my insides.

I could feel a shadow behind me but when I turned there was nothing.

I was staring at the door now, my heart pounding.

 I almost died when I felt a low breath right against my neck followed by a deep sigh.

.....

                                                           •|•|•

Enjoying the story? Please vote and leave a comment to let me know!

                                                           •|•|•