Chapter Nine – The Tome of Shadows

They found themselves sat back in Willow’s cottage.
Danielle was the first to speak. “That was Edmund! What the hell was he doing there? What is going on, since when was he a killer?” Her words were frantic as she paced the room.
Willow went to her side. “Danielle calm down, who is this Edmund? What do you know about him? This could be very important”.
Clara answered in her place. “He’s some weirdo that was stalking Danielle, at first it was just annoying but then he started being weird with me as well and yesterday we heard him when he came into the store, before he left he said something about getting us when we closed up”.
Willow looked back at Danielle who nodded in agreement. Willow released Danielle and began checking her bookshelf. They stood in silence watching as she fumbled through books, dropping them to the ground, before grabbing one and bringing it to the table.
Willow was clearly unnerved as she spoke. “I’m really sorry about this, but I need you both to look through this and tell me if you recognize anyone”.
Danielle stepped over. “What is it?”
Willow placed the book down on the table. “It’s all the primary information we have on known members of The Shadow Knighthood. Willow flicked through the book until she came upon a picture of Edward.
Danielle shot forward. “THAT, that’s Edmund”.
Willow looked at her. “Are you certain?”
Danielle spluttered. “Definitely, I can never forget that face, its burned into my mind”.
Clara looked at the image. “She’s right, that’s definitely Edmund”.
Willow stepped back from the book, returning to the bookshelf. “How long has he been watching you both?”
Danielle and Clara both looked at each other. “Probably a few months, three at most”.
Willow turned. “That man from before, the one that took you to the den, would you recognize him by a picture?” Clara nodded as Willow gestured to the book. “Please, tell me if you find him, I’ll be back in a moment”. She rushed into the kitchen out of sight.
Clara began flicking through the book as Danielle sat beside her. “Clara, what is going on?”
“Honestly, I still don’t know, but I don’t think we should go home at the moment”.
Willow returned with a thick leather-bound tome, it looked ancient, the leather cover split in places and the spine damaged beyond repair. She carefully placed it on the table and delicately opened it, the pages were cracked with age and yellow under the light.
“This is the Tome of shadows. It contains all the information you could ever need on spells, crafts, medicines, creatures and beings that you will only know as fairytales. From Afanc all the way to your typical zombies”.
“Wait zombies are an actual thing?” Danielle cut in.
Willow smirked. “Well not in the way most people portray them today, but Romero got it pretty close”.
Danielle looked over the pages, taking in what she could as Willow flipped through. The pages contained information on herbs, spells, medicines, poisons, plants and their uses, it was a gold mine of information.
Willow stopped on a page containing a full scripture of elaborate writing. She led her finger along the script as she read aloud.
“It is said that in every life those who commit evil on to others will face the rule of three. This punishment may not be swift but will always be harsh. Those who study the way of the elements worship the gods and goddesses of their power. Through great practice, followers may use their powers to help themselves or others through healing and rebirth or power and destruction….”
Willow trailed off, mumbling to herself as she flipped through the book before landing upon a specific page, the image of a man clad in black armor covering the entirety of one of the pages.
“With the blessings of power for good, there are also those who are cursed to do evil, for those of pure soul, this blessing is harnessed into power to do good and belong to the association known as ‘The Shadow Knighthood’. The SK is a powerful group who were created in the 1600’s in order to ‘eradicate evil’” She hissed the final words.
“They will dedicate their lives for the betterment of all races and eradication of those they deem cursed. Those who are deemed cursed from birth will be hunted until death or recruited to their ranks to be absolved of their curse and return to fight for good. To any who stand in their way, be they child or elderly, they will show no remorse and no mercy, for they are tasked with the greater good of all creatures. If a ‘cursed being’ comes across a member of this group and refuses to absolve themselves, only certain death will await, for once found they will never cease their hunt for fear it will result in the end of all kind”.
“The most recognisable indication of a member of SK will be a prominent cackle of hyena’s branded across their chest or arm. This is an essential component for those of the initiated but is also their primary weakness. The brand is performed with a special iron and blessed by the priests of their faction; it glows brightly when in the presence of a blessed/cursed being, allowing them to find their prey.”
Willow closed her eyes, tears forming in the corners as she held them back. She caught her breath and continued.
“The only way to kill or destroy a member of the SK is to destroy the brand or stop the heart, otherwise they are virtually unkillable. Once initiated a member’s soul becomes fused with the brand, allowing them to heal at a rapidly increased rate compared to a normal human. Their strength and speed are also raised tenfold making them very effective at the tasks they are given and extremely difficult to kill.”
Willow paused again, tears rolled down her cheeks freely now, wiping them away, she calmed herself and steadied her breathing.
“Many families have been hunted to extinction, yet many generations live on and through their continued existence there is still a chance for all races to live as one in peace, as they did before the end times were put upon us all”.
Willow stopped, her eyes red and raw from her tears, she slowly closed the book and sat in silence, Clara and Danielle remained quiet beside her.

“Willow?” Clara whispered softly as she placed a hand upon her shoulder.
She sighed deeply. “Sorry, it’s just a very personal situation”.
Danielle added. “So, what do we do now?”
Willow sat in silence for a minute as she thought. “I need to get in contact with a friend and see if we can get some information on what’s been happening recently, in the mean time, I would prefer it if you both stayed here”.
Danielle’s smile grew bright. “Ha, you won’t need to ask me twice”. She gestured to Willow’s home. “I can happily accept this place over our little apartment back home”.
Clara smiled and shook her head. “And even now, with all of this, you still have to insult my place?”
Danielle shrugged and gestured around her again. “Come on, can you blame me?”
Clara looked around then shook her head again. “Shut up”.
Danielle laughed, then doubled over as if in pain. Clara and Willow were immediately by her side.
“The spell must be wearing off, quick take her outside, I’ll be with you in a moment”.
Clara led Danielle outside as she doubled over again and fell to the ground, pulling Clara with her.
“Danielle are you ok, what’s happening?”
Danielle looked up at her. “You know when you need to take a massive dump, but it’s just sitting in your stomach…Yeah, that”. Clara smiled and could not stop herself laughing.
Willow came running out with a large bottle in her hand filled with a clear blue liquid.
“Hurry sit her up, she needs to drink this before she fades, if that happens, I won’t be able to bring her back again until morning”.
Clara sat Danielle upright as Willow uncorked the bottle and placed it against Danielle’s lips, she grabbed the bottle and took a sip before nearly retching.
“Eurgh, got it in any other flavors? This is disgusting”.
Willow laughed. “Sorry, normally yes, but desperate times call for desperate measures and all that”.
Danielle winced as she took another mouthful and reluctantly swallowed. “Oh god, I’m gonna be sick”.
Willow pressed the bottle back to her lips. “Yes, please don’t, that’s the only one I’ve got prepared at the moment, keep drinking”.
Danielle’s arms and body began to fade causing her to panic, almost dropping the bottle, thankfully Willow grabbed it before it fell and handed it to Clara. “Make her finish it, I’ll hold her here”.
Clara pressed the bottle back to Danielle’s lips, holding her head to make her drink. Meanwhile Willow took hold of Danielle’s hands and began chanting. Danielle’s form began to solidify again as she drank the rest of the concoction. Her eyes began to close as her body returned. Clara stood back as Willow continued chanting.
A minute passed before Danielle’s eyes shot open and she inhaled aggressively, attempting to suck oxygen back into her lungs. “Clara…CLARA!” Danielle gasped.
She knelt back down beside her. “I’m here, Danielle I’m here!”
Danielle tried to catch her breath before she spoke. “The apartment! I saw it.” She continued breathing erratically, unable to fully catch her breath. “It was trashed, like stuff everywhere, I could hear people shouting from our bedrooms”.
Willow cut in. “Did you recognize anyone?”
Danielle shook her head. “No, I just heard their voices, they were shouting, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. There was someone else in the kitchen, I’m sure they saw me”.
Willow caught her shoulder. “Did anything stand out? Anything that would make them easy to recognize?”
Danielle shook her head. “No, it was pitch black, I’m sorry”.
Willow released her grip and composed herself. “Its fine, I’m just glad you’re still here, we have Clara to thank for that”.
Clara smiled at Danielle, then turned her attention to Willow. “So, what did that potion do? Will it keep Danielle safe?”
Willow nodded. “It’s basically a spell enhancement, in this case it’ll extend the effects of the original spell by a few more days which will be enough time for me to get help, or at the very least brew up more potions that don’t taste as bad”.
Danielle interrupted. “Yeah, I’ve been meaning to ask, where the hell are we?”
Willow and Clara laughed, Clara hugged her tightly. “There’s a lot Willow still has to tell us”.
Willow nodded. “I agree, but first, I think maybe we should all get some sleep and continue this in the morning”.
Danielle stretched out and yawned. “You know what, you’ve got a point. I haven’t slept since this pain in my ass went missing”. She punched Clara’s arm.
Clara rubbed her arm. “Ow, it’s not my fault I got kidnapped by a weird cult member and then almost drowned by a lake creature”.
Danielle looked at her completely bewildered. “Lake creature…What?”
Willow laughed. “Il explain it to you both tomorrow, now Clara since you’ve already eaten would you like to bathe before bed? Danielle, would you like anything to eat?”
Clara nodded. “I would absolutely love a bath actually, I’m still soggy from the little dip I took earlier, this dress definitely wasn’t made for water and I never did get to have my second helping”.
Danielle’s eyes lit up. “I’ll never turn down a good meal and I haven’t had a bath in so long, Clara’s crummy apar…”
Clara stopped her midsentence. “Shut up, otherwise I’ll make sure you get kidnapped next”.
Willow giggled. “Ok then, well Clara I’ll leave Danielle in your capable hands, feel free to help yourself and I’ll start you both a bath”. She smiled as she skipped up the stairs.

Danielle followed Clara into the kitchen and they dished themselves up stew from the pot.
Danielle dug in immediately. “Oh my god, this is amazing”.
Clara laughed. “I know right? I’m gonna have to get the recipe from her”.
Danielle laughed. “You? You can barely make toast, how will you make something this good?”
Clara stuck her tongue out at her. “That is what I have you around for isn’t it?”
Danielle took another spoonful and nodded. “Good point, you get the goods, I’ll make them good”.

As they finished their bowls, Willow reappeared in the doorway.
“Your baths are ready for you when you’re finished. I must warn you, they’re extremely hot so please don’t go jumping in unless you want to be served up as lobster tomorrow”.
Clara and Danielle laughed as they thanked her.
“If there’s anything else either of you need just let me know”. Willow collected the stew bowl and took it over to the sink.
Clara stepped beside her. “Actually, I don’t suppose you have a change of clothes?”
Willow looked at them both. “That is something I hadn’t thought about actually”.
Although they were all roughly the same height, each of them had a widely different figure. Willow was very slim and athletic, Clara was similar to Willow but her stockier build would still be a tight squeeze and Danielle’s fuller figure had no chance.
Willow looked them up and down. “Well, I have bath robes you can use as a temporary measure and I can acquire you both some new clothing, but I can almost guarantee it won’t be as covered as you are now. I can get your clothes washed by the morning”.
Danielle smirked. “Kinky lingerie suits me just fine”.
Willow laughed. “Not quite as revealing as lingerie…Well it shouldn’t be anyway”.
“Anything you can get would be great, thank you”. Clara thanked her. “Do you want any help clearing all of this away?”
Willow put her hands in front of her. “Oh no, no, you’re my guests. Please go up and relax, I’ll take care of all this and see you in the morning, it’s the first two doors on your left and right, I left them open so take your pick which one you’d like. I’m in the last one on the right so if you need anything just knock or call”.
Clara and Danielle thanked Willow again before eagerly running up the spiral staircase to the upper floor.

The upstairs was just as beautiful as the rest of the house, a long hallway with 6 large doors along its length.
Danielle appeared beside Clara. “So, which side do you want?”
Clara looked at both doors. “Il take the right, it feels more like the apartment”.
Danielle nodded and squeezed around her. “Oh yeah, the apartment, I forgot about that…Anyway, I’ll see you in the morning, you know, if I don’t drown from the luxury of being in a lovely hot steamy bath”. Danielle blew her a kiss before rushing into the room. “Night”. She called as the door closed behind her.
Clara giggled. “Night, see you in the morning”.
Clara stepped inside the room. It opened out to a huge spacious bedroom containing a four-poster bed with lavish silk curtains, the posts had the same raven design engraved as the newel posts on the stairs. The room contained a huge wardrobe on the far wall reaching as tall as the ceiling, beside it a slightly smaller dresser, all designed in the same style as the rest of the furniture.
The other side of the room had a stone carved archway covered by a thick curtain leading to another room.
She brushed the curtain aside, hooking it back with the rope. The new room was a spacious bathroom fully equipped with a bath, shower, toilet and basin. A small cabinet sat in the corner with freshly washed, bright white towels, the sweet smell of lemons radiating from them.
“This is better than a five-star hotel”.
Steam rose from the bath making the entire room like a sauna, the aroma of summer fruits and berries filled the air as she breathed deeply.
Clara slipped off her boots and soaked socks and stretched out her toes.
“Oh god that feels better, with all the excitement I’d almost forgotten I was even wearing you guys”. She took a wiff of the boot. “Phew, well I think that will be the final adventure with you as well”.
She placed the boots by the door and unzipped the side of her dress as she looked in the mirror. “And this may be joining you as well”. She sighed sadly at the ruined dress. “This is why I can’t have nice things”.
She slipped an arm out of one of the sleeves when she heard a knock on the door in the main bedroom. Quickly sliding her arm back in, she made her way back into the bedroom to open the door.

Danielle was bouncing on her heels. “It’s like a freaking 10 star hotel, this place is amazing, can we live her forever please, please, please”.
Clara laughed. “This isn’t my house you know and what about the book store, you know you’d feel guilty letting it go under”.
Danielle sighed dramatically. “Eurghhh your right…As always.” Danielle pouted miserably at Clara. “Why are you always right when it comes to destroying my dreams”.
Clara chuckled. “I’m sure auntie Willow will have us back for visits if you ask nicely”.
Danielle giggled. “Auntie Willow, love it, I’m telling her you said that, anyways I’m going to get into my luxury bath, with my luxury soaps, then dry myself with my luxury towels before jumping into my luxury bed, while wrapped up in my luxury silk bath robe. Niiiiiight”. Danielle skipped back into her room, gently closing the door behind her.
Clara shook her head as she closed her own door and returned to the bathroom. She stripped off her ruined dress and placed it with the boots. She tested the water with her fingers as she ran the cold “Mmmm, that’s so nice”. She stripped off her remaining clothes and slipped inside, allowing the hot water to envelop her body. Her aches and pains faded away as the bath salts worked their magic.

About an hour later Clara could feel herself drifting to sleep, she washed her hair and grabbed one of the fluffy cotton towels to dry herself off. Looking at herself in the mirror she found her makeup hadn’t come fully off but was smudged across her eyes.
“Waterproof…unless dragged into the ocean”. She scrubbed her face down until the makeup was gone and her face was red. Satisfied she dried her hair, grabbed a brush, and pulled it through the tangled mess. Draping the towel over the bath to dry, she made her way to the bedroom and snuggled into the soft warm blankets. Within seconds of her head hitting the pillow she was asleep.