Shadows

Kate and Madam Rosie went back to the shop after bidding goodbye to Borrel.

"Now Kate lass, tell me what happened there. You got me so worried" Madam Rosie said as they sat down on one of the benches inside the shop.

Kate took in deep breaths as she started narrating "I don't know Madam Rosie, but one minute I was coming back after I've delivered the linen to Madam Castrol and the next I was facing a hideous looking creature".

"It was so ugly, that when I called him ugly in my mind, he paralyzed me. I couldn't walk and I couldn't talk"

"Everything happened so fast that I couldn't keep up, the only thing I remembered he was talking about was that I ruined so many lives, ab…about what happened eleven years ago". Kate's voice broke at the end, the fear that she didn't want to visit years ago was now back, waiting to consume her.

"Eleven years ago? That was when the massacre in your town took place" Rosie whispered gently rubbing her hand on Kate's back to calm her down.

"Yes, that was it, could it be possible t…that I was the one who k…"

Madam Rosie interrupted her before she could speak further "Shush, don't you ever think that way Kate, you're not a murderer, neither will you be. Don't think that way again".

"You have a kind heart," Rosie said pointing at her " Don't let anyone tell you otherwise".

"B…but something tells me, I have something to do with it, even the man who rescued me said that what happened has something to do with me"

Rosie was surprised " A man rescued you?"

"Yes, he saved me from getting killed" Kate exhaled deeply "He also mentioned that there will be more demons and Vampires and others that will come to kill me"

"Wait what demons and Vampires? Now, Kate, you are confusing me"

Kate turned to Rosie "It's like this, I was attacked by a demon. The man who saved me told me so. And that the demon came to kill me because of the massacre eleven years ago"

"And that more will come to haunt you?" Madam Rosie slowly asked.

"Yes, that's why he was suggesting I should stay in his house" Kate breathed feeling the cold air hit her, bringing goosebumps on her skin.

"In his house?, Did you agree to it?"

"No way! I can't leave with a man I don't know under the same roof" Kate replied.

"Good decision lass. But can you be okay by yourself? Maybe you can stay with me " Rosie worried they will come for Kate again.

"Don't worry Madam, I'll be fine. Besides I don't want to implicate you, if they should come let me bear the consequences myself"

"No way! I don't mind if I die in your stead. I'm willing t…"

Kate interrupted Madam by placing a finger on her lips "Don't say that, you're the mother I have, and I don't want to lose you. Okay? I'll be fine"

"Oh come here" Rosie enveloped her in a hug gently rubbing her back reassuringly.

Slowly disengaging from the hug, Rosie said "Go home and rest dear, you've had a long day"

"Aye, I need that. Before I forget, here's the payment from Madam Castrol" Kate said bringing out the coins from her bag.

"No Kate, take it, you can have it" Madam Rosie pushed back the coins into Kate's palms.

"No Madam, this is too much, please take it, it's for your shop"

"Shh I'm giving it to you as a mother, take it and buy whatever you want to buy"

"Oh thank you so much, I really appreciate your kind gestures" Kate thanked her with a smile ached on her face.

"You're welcome, dear. Now go get some rest child"

"I will, I will, thank you, Madam. Have a good night" Kate wished before going out of the shop.

"You too lass"

Kate waved at Rosie before disappearing from one end of the streets.

*•*•*•*•*•*

On the balcony of one of the houses in Lockwood. Two men were seen discussing. One wore a well-tailored robe that stopped below the knee. Where the crisp-looking pants reached the ankle before the polished boots.

The other man who was standing behind the man in front was wearing clothes that looks like a uniform, with a neckerchief stuck neatly around the collar and inside the shirt.

It was apparent that the man behind was of lower status than the man in front, obviously looking like the butler of the house.

"Master Clarence" The man called

"Hmm" Clarence hummed as an answer

"Why did you let the lady go" The man spoke from behind Clarence. The air carried a chilly breeze making their faces look white and pale.

"Even if I keep her, it's likely she would run, she looks like the gentle wild one," Clarence said showing his white perfect teeth.

"Gentle wild one?" James asked confused. How can one be gentle and also wild?

Clarence smiled before turning to face the man behind him "Oh my butler James, you won't understand if I tell you."

"It's like this…, she looks gentle and is gentle but she can get super wild at some situations," He said and recalled when Kate was ranting her frustration on him.

"Oh but, she will get killed"

"She won't" Clarence saw the confused look on James's face. He chuckled before saying "She will come faster than you think"

"Okay. I'll get back to my work Master Clarence" James bowed before going back inside.

Clarence continued staying on the balcony as he watched the snow slowly drop. Some fell on the floor to melt immediately to water, while some hung on the trees and lamp posts around the mansion.

Clarence had left Kate because he knew that she will come running to him. Even if she didn't, he had planned to be the Knight in shining armor to save her so she will agree to stay.

One of the reasons why he wanted her to stay was to monitor her closely and see if he could also solve the mystery of what happened to him too eleven years back.

Smiling to himself, he zapped out of there. He teleported himself to Kate's town, Govan.

Kate who left Madam Rosie's shop quickened her footsteps when she noticed someone was following her.

She tried to keep her cool so that whoever that is following her won't notice that she was already aware. Praying silently she moved fast as her legs could take her.

Immediately she reached her small room, she went inside shutting it. She placed her hand on her chest to calm her beating heart.

It took everything in her not to pass out due to fear, the fear of meeting another creature that will definitely kill her this time.

She left the door and silently went to her bed. Now that's another thing, the bed that gave her nightmares, she didn't want to go back there.

Everything she was looking at in the dark room lifelessly looked back at her. No one to talk to. It's just her and her world that's left. She didn't know when her world will be taken from her until she will have no soul left in her.

She snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a knock on the door. Her heartbeat quickened again, almost drumming out of its sockets.

The now chilly air did not make it any better, she felt goosebumps forming on her body once again.

She turned more alert when she continued hearing the knocks. She decided to keep quiet, so whatever that is looking for her will think she was not there.

But she was wrong, the knocking continued persistently. Oh god, what am I going to do? Should I shout? No that will attract more people and they will end up getting killed.

Please make whatever that is there to leave, she prayed. As if hearing her prayers, the knocking stopped followed by retreating footsteps.

Deciding to check if she will see anyone, she gently opened the door, but there was no one there. Stepping out of the room she checked everywhere but she didn't see or find anything or anyone.

Going back into the room, she locked her door feeling a little bit relaxed.

She turned to go back to bed when she saw a shadow in the dark room. No no no, Kate screamed in her mind.

Turning to run towards the door, the shadow disappeared and stood in front of her stopping her movement.

What was she thinking? Trying to escape from a creature that can teleport?

Her eyes wide with shock, she started moving back to be followed by the shadow.

She didn't know when her back hit the wall as she continued walking back. The shadow now towering towards her, giving her the shock of her life.

She bowed her head "p…ple…please l…let me g...go" she kept stuttering with every word.

"What took you so long to open the door?"

Kate snapped her head to look at the shadow in front of her. That voice, sounds familiar but who's he?

"Seems like you need some memory jogging since you seem to forget so easily"

"Clarence!"

"Yes? Now, do you remember?"

"You scared me. What are you doing here" Kate said stepping away from him.

"I came to see you. Isn't that obvious?"Clarence had a smile on his face as she watched the girl getting flustered.

"Were you the one following me?"

"Follow you?" Clarence said before realizing what had happened. "My my, I didn't know you are so popular to have people follow you".

Kate quietly glared at him as she made her way to the hearth to add heat to the cold room.

"Someone was following me, if you are not the one, then who did?" Kate said as she continued putting on the fire.

"I did not follow you, why? to scare you?" Clarence said as he looked around the small room. The room was so small, that it could barely fit five people.

Kate turned to face the man, dusting her hand on her gown. "Scare me? If I remember correctly that's what you did some minutes ago"

"Oh did I ?" Clarence asked with an innocent voice.

Kate glared at him, 'this man surely needs some counseling.

Clarence went to sit on Kate's bed making himself comfortable.

"W…what are you doing?" Kate asked wide eye walking towards him.

"Me?"Clarence pretended as though he didn't know what he was doing.

"Yes, you. What are you doing on my bed? It's an offense to barge into a lady's room, and now you're lying on my bed !"

"Hmm? Are you a lady? But I didn't hear you complain when I came in" He said as a matter of fact.

If looks could kill, Clarence would have been long gone with the way she was glaring at him.

'I just wish I could stab your mouth' Kate thought as she gritted her teeth.

"You glaring at me with those beautiful eyes is pointless, you can't do anything, and don't forget I can also hear your thoughts" Clarence stood up and walked towards Kate.

Her eyes widened, he can hear my thought? Before she could go on to retort Clarence covered her mouth signaling her to keep quiet.

"Shush, listen," Clarence said removing his hand from her mouth.

Kate was confused at first until she heard some howling noise. That was the same sound that the demon was making. That only meant one thing.

They are here!