Shadows Never Die

Chapter 2

It was a quiet spring night in Hoix Castle. The air was warm and the full moon shone brightly around the castle. Cherry blossoms were slowly falling to the ground creating a soft pink carpet for people to walk on. Many of the elves were restless this night for two reasons. One was that the full moon meant their powers were at their peak. And two was that Queen Niisha was giving birth to her first child.

“Send for Mondra,” the call rang out in the castle. Many of the servants were scurrying around trying to find the old midwife/seer. No hallway went un-searched. Every room checked. But still the old woman was missing.

Norax heard this news and demanded the grounds and temple be thoroughly searched. He wanted the best people to be there for his family, and Mondra was the best in the land.

The grounds were soon filled with people calling for Mondra. But still the midwife/seer was not showing herself. Soon a young elf with pitch black hair wandered over to the temple. Her deep blue eyes noticed the torches lit and went to check it out.

The inside of the building was very plain. The back consisted of the tall pointed arched doors leading to the outside. In the middle of the room were simple wooden pews for the worshippers. The walls had high thin windows with the same shape as the doors and a few pictures of different gods and goddess. The front held a small raised platform with the alter in the middle. Candles were lit on both sides of the table as incense burned in their holder in the middle. In front of that was an elf kneeling praying to the faerie gods and goddesses.

“Miss Mondra?”

An elf with grayish hair and matching eyes turned to the voice. Her face was a blank expression hiding what was on her mind. “How can I help you Mica?”

“It’s Queen Niisha. She’s giving birth to the baby.”

Mondra smiled softening her blank hard look. “Then why are we standing here? The queen needs us.”

Mica nodded and followed the old elf back to the castle. Their long, plain silk robes brushed over the fallen petals scattering them around. Their soft leather boots gently scrapped the rocks they ran over creating a light nails on a chalk board sound.

“Thank the heaven Mondra,” Norax greeted her. “I thought you wouldn’t make it here in time.”

“Don’t be silly My Lord. I would not miss this for anything.” Just then a loud scream broke the silence of the night. “That would be my cue. Come Mica, I will need your help.”

“Yes ma’am.”

By the time it was midnight, a baby’s cry was filling the bedchamber. Niisha lay on the bed covered in sweat and exhausted, but a smile still graced her face when she saw her child. Mica was cleaning the new born of the blood that it was covered in. And Mondra went outside to the hall to fetch Norax.

Norax was pacing around outside the door. He had never been this nervous in his life. He stopped when he heard the door’s squeaky hinges protest at being forced opened. In the doorway was a smiling Mondra. “Are they alright?” His green eyes wide with worry for his family.

“You can relax Lord Norax. Both mother and daughter are doing fine.”

“I have a girl?”

“Yes. And she is beautiful. But don’t take my word for it. Go and see for yourself.”

Norax was just about to enter the room but paused so Mica could exist first. The brief moment gave Mondra time to remember what had happened earlier in the temple and she grabbed the King’s arm. “What is it Mon?”

“I’m sorry sire. But when you have a chance there is something very important I must speak to you about.”

“Will tomorrow do?”

“It will. Thank you sire.” she bowed her head before leaving. She had much research to do before confronting the king later.

Now, with no one else to distract him, Norax went into his room to join his family.

Nissha was sitting up on the bed holding the baby in her arms when a closing door brought her attention to her husband. She gave him a small smile as he sat on the bed beside her.

“How are you feeling my love?”

“I’m tired but very happy.” She leaned over a tad to rest her head on his shoulder.
He turned a little to kiss her forehead.

“So who is this little cutie you’re holding?”

Nii looked at the baby in her arms with soft loving ruby eyes as she thought. The child was surrounded with a bright shiny pink aura proving she had strong magical powers. Her eyes were a bright clear blue much like the sky. The soft fuzz atop her head was a very light purple. And hidden by the blanket were silver blue cat ears and a tail. “Lirin,” Niisha finally decided looking at her husband.

“It’s a beautiful name,” he paused to think about it, “and your grandmother’s if I’m not mistaken.”

Niisha nodded her head to confirm the fact. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“I think the name will bring her good fortune.” Norax used a finger to softly caress Lirin’s smooth tiny cheek.

Blue eyes looked at the man touching her before the baby wiggling her tiny arms free and reached for the person. “It seems she knows her daddy and wants him to hold her.”

Norax obliged the silent request and picked her up. “Hello my little angel.” Lirin cooed as her forehead was kissed. “I have something to show you little one.”

He walked over to the window on the left side of the room and opened it. The warm breeze blow in carrying the soft sent of cherry blossoms. “Colorful fire explosion” The sky began to fill with bright fireworks. Each one was forming a different picture. One was a purple puppy head. Another was a pink and blue kitten. Others were just regular multicolored fireworks. Lirin cooed and giggled seeing all the pretty lights and shapes appearing before her eyes. She also whimpered when they faded to nothing. Norax watched as a small crowd began to gather near the castle to watch the show. He kept it going until Lirin was falling asleep sucking on her thumb. The last firework shown was a pink one that said ‘It’s a girl’. The crowds below cheered and created a few of their own fireworks to congratulate the royal family.

After closing the window, Norax laid Lirin in her white crib. The mobile with dragons, unicorns and faeries slowly turned above her head, the soft lullaby slowly worked its magic on the child, bringing her to a peaceful sleep. Norax caressed the soft cheek of his daughter one last time before going to his own bed to cuddle his wife.

It was early afternoon the next day when Norax finally pulled himself away from his family to hunt down Mondra. There had been something in her tone and eyes that had told him not to push this meeting off for too long. So he started at the usual places she would be.

Walking passed her house he noticed that no lights were on. And because of the time of day, she would not be sleeping. So he continued passed the building to the next location.

The temple had a few worshippers inside, but none were the gray haired elf. Norax sighed as he dragged onto the last spot.

The library was a bright place for the most part. The main level was made of reddish-orange stones that gave it the appearance of a sunset happening all the time. However the lower levels where made of cold dark slabs that trapped the smell of old leather and dust that assaulted his nose as he walked through the dungeon like paths. This area was where the old legends were kept to stay safe. Only a few had access to this place. Norax walked the dark damp hallways until he noticed a light coming from on of the rooms. And sure enough Mondra was there going over several different books.

“Excuse me Miss Mondra.”

The old elf jumped at the voice. Her breathing became ragged from the surprise. Her gray eyes were tired from lack of sleep and too much reading. “My Lord I wasn’t expecting you,” she finally said after her breathing returned to normal.

“I’m sorry for surprising you, but you did say you had something important to tell me.”

“I do, but not here. Anyone could be listening in on this. Let’s go to my house and talk there.” Norax followed Mondra out from the dank underground section of the library to the bright outside world all the way to her house.

The house was a small place with three rooms and a bath. Upon entering the home, they stood in the living room. It was decorated with soft pastel colors. The walls had a few pictures of random landscapes and Mondra’s family. Two windows with pale green curtains filled the right wall. She had a large white plush arm chair in the corner near a window to making reading easier. Its matching couch lay in front of the left wall with a side table on both ends and a coffee table in front. Also on that wall was the door leading to the kitchen and from there the bathroom. The back wall had a closed wooden door leading to her bedroom.

Norax took a seat on the couch as Mondra walked around the room closing the curtains and locking the door. “What is all this about?”

The old elf moved the arm chair closer to the couch before replying. “Do you remember the prophecy that was told after your mother died?”

“Are you referring to the one saying the one day the dark forces will return to complete their mission?

“Yes.”

“But what does that have to do with Lirin being born?”

“Last night when I was found in the temple I had just gotten a vision from Fayt. She showed me that monsters were starting to inhabit Ashura again. And that someone shrouded in darkness was calling them there.”

“I still don’t understand what this has to do with anything.”

“If you recall correctly the prophecy mentioned that a child born of elf and neko-jin shall stop the darkness. I believe that that child is your daughter sire.”

“You can’t be serious!” He slammed a hand on the table causing the objects to wobble around.

“Please calm down My Lord. I spent all night researching it. And Lirin is the only child that matches the description of the child from the prophecy. I know you don’t want to hear this, but you should start to think of safety measures to protect Lirin. It might be best to send her away so the Dark Lord can’t find her.”

“Niisha will never go for that. Besides, Lirin is our first and only child. I will not send her somewhere just because a crazy old lady had a vision. We’ll do what we can to protect her here, even if it costs us our lives.”

Mondra walked Norax over to her door and let him out. “If that is what you wish, may the faeries watch over and protect you all.”