02:12 Jul 10 2023
Times Read: 331
She pulled the cape closed over her body as the darkness came to her. She took a deep breath of the earthy scent of the woods, having missed the darker side of herself. She felt calmness come over her that she had not felt since the last time she had visit. A soft frown came to her lips as she steps toward the right of her portal but she came up short. Yes- there was someone she wished to visit, to let her darkness seek out and have her own justice with. Still, she hesitated.
She looked to the left and step onto that pathway. As she walked she couldn’t help but listen for the swoosh of his sword. The Boogeyman. It had been weeks since the last visit- the visit that had led her to finding that portal, of him standing and watching whatever he was watching burn. Of his rough handling of her, his warning to never go into a portal with him again.
She stops as she heard a soft whoosh. Was he here? She almost called out but continuing down the path that lead to the place she had first heard his voice. How long had it been? Years, she knew. Years since she came to this dark place, to let the part of herself have the release it needed. Family, friends, jobs, all had come and gone- but this place she found solitude remain the same.
It had been a fight with an employee that had brought about the first meeting. She had step out of that portal and came along this path to return when he had spoken to her out of the darkness. A deep voice, one that send shivers along her back. “I hope you had the sense to fire that man.” She had jerked to a stop, turning in a circle, calling out a hello. “The man- treating you that way.”
She couldn’t help herself. This was her world, one that she had made. So she answered him. “No. He just made a mistake today. We have years of history, so I will let it slide.” She spoke again “This time.” His chuckle, a sound she had become addicted to as the years went by, as the last two words spoken with a warning.
“Then I certainly hope he has learned his lesson.” “How do you know what he did?” Had he watched her? Who is this man? “You talked as you walked to the portal, saying some interesting thing about his body parts and placing them in certain holes” She had laughed, a true sound of happiness. She stood, trying to figure out why she had made him, this person in the shadows “Who are you?” she asked. His voice moved to the opposite side of the path, and she turned toward him as he spoke again. “Who do you want me to be?” She rolled her eyes, and answered the only way she knew in this place- truthfully. “Less annoying.” He had laughed and she had smiled, the start of their interactions.
She heard a swoosh as the past memory faded. Over the years they had talked only a few times, an odd comment here and there as she visited to shed her own darkness. To have a balance, to try and stabilize her emotions. The darkness was a friend as much as the light that was inside her. She did not judge one as being better or worst. She just knew it was this place that made her able to deal with the darkness in a positive way, not harming those she loved.
“What is your name?” she called out one night when he had spoked to her, hiding as always. “I have many.” Over the years she had learned he was not one to share information. So she had started calling him the Boogeyman. Childhood stories of the boogeyman being in the dark closet or under the bed, ready to jump out and take you away if you misbehaved seemed to fit him. As well as the image of him always watching, always listening. Hidden from view.
She took the path the veered to the left, going toward a place she had not been in many months. Months. Also the time frame that had found them talking more frequently. She had learned of how he collected the darker spirts, and was the guardian of this place. And he had let himself be seen by her, the black armor, red crest. She hears a swoosh closer to her as she made her way into the tree line, coming to a clearing she had found years ago.
Then it had all changed- she had followed him into the portal, an action she regretted. Seen the burning village, or home that he had stood watching. And she had pushed him for answers he was unwilling to give. Now she feared he would go back to hiding in the shadows. It was what kept her from calling out to him- the fear of the hurt if he would not answer.
She looked up as she neared the spot she always liked to sit on the ground, looking out over the darken sky, the full moon above. She could lay there and let the darkness ease from her soul. She had not been here in many months as it has become more and more dangerous in this place, as the darkness had grown. She knew it was her own darkness that was getting more powerful. With age came the inability to, or might be the willingness, to not say anything of her darkness in real life. And with the growing darkness, came his need to guard over her. But he could do this without a word to her, and that is what she feared he would do.
But all that fear fell away as she halted, looking at what was in front of her. A wooden bench, the seat and back rest of the bench smoothly craved out of the large round tree. And planted on each side of the tree was moon flowers. White, glowing in the darkness, fragranced blooming flowers covered the sides of the tree in the vines of its growth. When had he done this? It had to of been a while, the growth of the flowers…
She heard his sword slide into his sheath, turning to see him only a few feet away. His black armor covered his large frame, the helmet hiding his face. “This is lovely.” She said, gently. She had been so unkind to him when last they meet, angry because he had pushed her away, not wanting her touch. But he had made this place, for her.
“I wanted to give you some light in this darkness. What I had to give.” He said, stepping up to her. They stood only a foot apart, his hand resting on the sword. And she understood his meaning of him being uninterested. Till he spoke his next words. “I have missed you.” She looked up, seeing the black eyes behind the helmet. “I am sorry for pushing for information. Your darkness, is yours alone. You have never wanted to know mine.” He drops his head and she licked her lips, unsure now he was here.
He stood, looking at the edge of her back cape as that laid on the ground, the thick grass. It had been her own clumsiness that had led to him feeling her in his arms. A feeling he had not been able to erase from his mind. “Can we sit?” she asked, her voice higher in pitch, showing how nervous she was to him. He smiled behind the helmet, knowing it was unfair, but his Lady could never hide her feelings. And he was not above taking advantage of this if it leads to what he wants. And he wanted her.
He held out his hand in a motion to the bench and she turned, making sure to lift her cape as to not trip this time. He gave a soft chuckle, and she glared at him from over her shoulder. He silences the sound as she moved, sitting on the bench. She reached out and touched a flower. When he turned, sliding in next to her, he noted she had moved as far away from him as the bench allowed. He had craved the bench to be deep, wide enough so she could lay on it, looking up at the moon as he had seen her do in the past. Watching her soak up the only light in his dark world when she was not here. Moon bathing.
He now wishes he had made the bench smaller, forcing her to sit nearer to him. “You have not been visiting.” He said, adjusting the sword at his side. “Has life been so well you forgotten this place?” he asked, daring her to tell him the truth. She folded her hands in her lap, and she looked up at the moon, the stars. Strange how this place looked so much like her real life. “No, the normal daily life,” He sat, waiting, watching as the breeze that blew the few curls laying on her forehead sifted them.
“Do you wish to talk of it?” he asked her, and she looked at him, her eyes a soft golden brown. “No. I wish to talk about how it felt having your arms around me.” Ah, the brave fierce woman was back. He looked out toward the woods. “And how did that make your feel?” he asked, softly. Unsure of her answer, unsure what he wanted her answer to be. “I enjoyed the feeling.” He closed his eyes, unseen by her, and he let out a breath he had not known he was holding. “And I as well.” He said, turning to face her.
She looked up into the eyes the helmet bared and she gave him a soft smile. Her hands moved off her lap and she reached one out to him as she shifted toward him. He took her hand and she came up against this side. “Then let us sit and enjoy the moon before you are called to your duty.” He surprised her when he moved her hand to his mid-thigh, dropping it as he lifted his arm up behind her, bringing her tight into his side with a firm hand at her hip to pull her in. She fit to his side so well, her curves hinting at just how soft she would be.
She enjoyed the play of muscles under her hand, the heavy arm going around her shoulder, hand at her hip. How he pulled her to him, the smooth seat letting her move easily. His armor clanking, the scent of leather, and sandalwood. Heat came off him, any part that touched her spreading a fire inside her. She wanted to move her hand upward, but blushing, she moved her hand in the opposite way.
He moved his free hand, moving the cape hood down, freeing her hair. He sniffed her hair as her small hand settled downward to his knee. He smiled, hidden behind his helmet, at the shy movement lower down then he had placed her hand. But give it time. She settled her head on his chest, and they enjoyed the night, the white moon flowers scent drugging the air that sparked with emotions.
Too shortly, he heard the scream. She sat up, away from him. “Come, I will walk you back to your portal.” She took the hand he held out as he stood, and was pleased when he kept her hand in his clasp as they left the clearing. She looked back, pleased he had creating this space for her.
It was at the first bend that he spoke. “I must leave you here. You will be safe from here.” She released his hand but he used his hold on hers to lift it to his helmet, to the area his lips would be. In a motion of a kiss to her hand, he left her as he moved back into the woods, moving quickly as to disappear within seconds as he drew his sword.
She continues on to her portal, knowing her body slept just beyond. Folding the cape, she leaves it on the tree stump and returns to her life.
21:14 Jul 02 2023
Times Read: 397
Darkness coated her like a mist, chilling in the woods even as the clouds blocked out the full moon above. And it was a feeling she had been missing these last few weeks. She had not given into the desire of walking in the dark, till now. To let her darker side enjoy having control.
She advanced deeper into the dark woods, following a narrow trail she had not noticed before. A trail she found when she spotted a flash of red in the tree line, wondering if the Boogeyman was near as he often was when she spent time in this realm.
She could hear the swoosh of his sword ahead, the crush of his boots on the ground so she kept her pace. He was not being stealthy tonight as he advanced to his goal, his movements less in control. And she felt something was wrong, a strange unfamiliar power in the air. What had the Boogeyman on edge?
By the time she reached the end of the seldom used trail- she stood in front of a portal. She stood, unsure. Looking around she did not see him, the Sentry missing. She was sure he had been ahead of her, the flash of his red crest, the noise of his sword. Who else could it have been? She turned back to look at the portal door.
She bites he lip as she asks herself… would she dare go into his portal? Or at least one he went into? Could he go into any of them? All of them? While she knew he did the gathering in this world- did he travel to others? Only one way to find out. She reached for the wooden door, the iron ring cold to the touch as she opens the heavy door, stepping inside.
Within seconds she was smelling smoke, seeing it rise from below the hillside he stood atop of. The smoke framed him in a gray cloud as he stood looking downward onto what was burning. She stood in the silence, the cracking of wood burning, loud bangs as heavy objects give way to the flames, sounds of distant calls for help. A child crying. Screams. She watched as the dark shadows at his feet shielded back, away from the smoke. Was even the darkness afraid of what they could see? How could that be?
She steps forward, coming up from behind him, lifting her cape with both hands as she moved to reach him. It was only his own sharpened skill that kept her from losing her head as the sword stop mid swing, retreating as he saw who was behind him.
She let out a gasp, the quickness of his movements driving home just how deadly this man was. “My Lady…” he said, putting the sword away. “What are you doing here?” he asked, the eyes behind his helmet dark. She choked on the bellowing smoke, knowing something was not right. The smoke was oil, the stench… She looked downward toward the fire but he steps in front of her, blocking her view.
“I saw you coming this way, I just wanted to say hello. Check on…” “So you followed me? Into a portal?” He asked, his tone clearly telling her he was not happy with her actions, his anger growing by the second as he looked down at her. “Come, you have no place here.” he said, his hand taking hold of her upper arm firmly, turning her back to the wooden door that sat in the tree line.
She glanced backward, but he pulled her along, his shoulder blocked her view as the gray smoke turned darker, the screams louder. Was the village on fire? Or was that only one small house, with so many screams coming out of it?
She was barely able to keep pace with him as he ushered her out of the portal. She was lead out the door first, then a firm slam of the door behind him. Once the door was closed he drop the hold he had on her arm. She moved away from him, rubbing the spot his firm hand had been like a steel ban on. She would not be surprised if a bruise was left.
“What is that place?” He stood in front of the door, hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes giving nothing away. “Why did you go there?” He was a silent statue. She gave a sigh, her eyes flashing. “Is it someplace you know?” Still nothing from him as he just looking at her. She stomps her foot; upset he would not answer her. “Is that part of your life?”
He gave her only one answer to her many questions, speaking such a low voice, a growl that sent shivers down her spine. “You will never go into that portal again. It is none of your business and you will stay out of mine.”
He watched as her back straightened, her chin tilted just a little upward. Lord but she was stunning in her self-righteousness. “Very well, Sir. Forgive me for asking, for this is clearly nothing to do with me.” She turned, in her haste stepping on the edge of her cape and would have fallen if he had not wrapped his strong arms under her breast and at her waist, catching her weight as she pitched forward.
He lifted her backward, into his chest, legs braced to take her weight. He gave into the need to enjoy her scent, the feel of a woman’s body against his own. This woman’s body. He closed his eyes as the darkness inside eased a little, the anger and rage he himself fought everyday growing lighter with her in his arms. He could not help but move his chin, touching the black velvet hood that covered her head. Would those curls be as soft as they looked he wondered?
And she had her own questions answered as well. He was large in body, the armor covering only adding to his size. Black leather was warm to the touch as she put her hands on the hard arm just under her breast, that held her to him. Strong, matching the rest of the body she was pulled tightly into. She took in the pleasure of being held by this man, a man who was unlike anyone else. An inner strength she knew now to be matched physically as well. When she moved her hips backward a small amount, as an instinct that was as old as time taking over, he drop his arm and step backward.
Her face turned red, ashamed of her actions. And his rejection. “I am sorry my lady, you were falling, and I was just…” “Being a gentleman, I know.” She finished for him, embarrassed to no end. “I will not bother you again, Sir.” Hands holding her cape up, she walked back down the narrow pathway. He stood, taking deep breaths to gain the control he needed not to go after her.
She would not understand his own darkness. While she held darkness, in a way she was so innocent and untouched. Untouched by the true evil in the real world unlike himself. Would she understand? Would she judge him for what he had done in his life? How his actions put him in this world? The keeper of darkness, of evil intentions.
He turned, looking at the door, remembering his past. He needed to give those questions the answers they seek. She held light to his darkness; he had no doubt.
But could he bare be the one dimming that light?
COMMENTS
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Vodka
01:12 Jul 15 2023
You're writing always just sucks me in, teleports me into space where everything else just fades away except this world you have created. So beautiful.