The World of Shadows - Chapter 15 (Dark Paranormal Fantasy Story)

This is the third story of the BP series. If you haven't read the first story yet, you can find it here :)

Find chapters 1 - 20 of Retribution (the second story) on my Steemit Blog.

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About The World of Shadows
"In a world full of sinister creatures and treacherous terrain, Beatrix and Arthur must find their way to the castle where the dark creature resides.

Beatrix Percival fans can expect answers to many questions, many conclusions, and explosive battles of epic proportions!

Eerie beyond belief, and passionately romantic like never before, this third book in the series won't disappoint!"

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CHAPTER 15

The woman in red grabbed a jar off the shelf and left the room. Beatrix looked over at Arthur, who had begun looking around himself frantically. “Beatrix?” he called out in his mind. “I can’t see you.” The contrupil dust was wearing off.

“Hi,” said Oriana as she set another peeled potato in the large basket that sat beside her.

“Hi,” replied Arthur shyly, now realizing he was visible.

“Is there anything I can help you find in here?” she asked. “This pantry is quite a mess.”

“Arthur, I think this is your mother,” whispered Beatrix.

The woman heard Beatrix and dropped her potato onto the floor. The haunted look in Oriana’s eyes was genuine—it was not a look that one could fake. It was her. She was Arthur’s mother.

Arthur looked at the woman who sat there. He had always wondered what his mother looked like but never dreamed he would find her. Oriana’s eyes glazed over as she looked at the young man that stood before her. The room was silent, each one of them frozen in place.

Beatrix slowly faded into view beside Arthur. A warlock walked into the pantry and pointed at the shelf behind Beatrix. “Can you hand me those tomatoes?” he asked.

“Sure,” replied Beatrix. Her heart sank as she handed him the bag of tomatoes. The contrupil dust’s effects had worn off on her now as well.

The man took the bag and left the room. Oriana looked over at Beatrix, who stood there slightly embarrassed. “Hi, I’m Beatrix. It is nice to meet you, Oriana,” said Beatrix with an awkward smile. She felt like she was intruding on their moment.

“H-hello Beatrix,” said the woman, still in shock about Arthur. Oriana stood up slowly and approached Arthur. Sadness filled her heart as she looked at him. She never thought she would ever see her little boy again, and, sadly, part of that was true. So many years had passed that she had missed out on his childhood. Tears fell down her cheeks as she stood there in front of him. She was joy-filled and devastated at the same time. Arthur walked up to her and gave her a hug. Oriana wrapped her arms around him. “I have m-missed you so, so very much,” she said. “I tried to go back for you, but he wouldn’t let m-me.”

Arthur and his mother slowly left their embrace. “I just can’t believe I found you,” said Arthur with a big smile. He had a million questions for her but knew they needed to find a safe place to stay hidden. “Is there somewhere Beatrix and I can stay out of sight?” he asked.

“Yes, there is,” said Oriana. “I’m afraid the accommodations are less than elegant, but you will be safe there.”

“That’s fine with us,” said Beatrix with a smile.

Oriana looked at Beatrix and Arthur as she stood deep in thought. “How are we going to get you two through the castle without being seen?”

Arthur shrank the suitcase that hovered next to them, took Beatrix by the hand, and muttered a short phrase. Green sparks swirled around them as they shrank into tiny spiders. Oriana knelt and rested her hand on the floor. The two little spiders scurried in. She set them on her shoulder. Arthur and Beatrix scurried next to each other on Oriana’s shoulder. Oriana swept her long hair over her shoulders to camouflage the little spiders and the suitcase that hovered just behind Arthur.

Oriana made her way through the castle. She reached the octagonal room and descended down the staircase that spiraled around it. She reached a large doorway to a long corridor, turned, and walked down it. Oriana walked up to a narrow, pointed door with a sign on it that said “Broom Closet.” Oriana knocked on the door. A mouth formed on the door. “Who is it?” demanded a voice.

“It’s just me, Oriana.”

“Oh, Oriana—come in!”

The sound of many door latches echoed in the hall and the door slowly opened. Oriana walked into the closet, which was only large enough for about four people to stand in. She walked over to a large basin sink, which was full of dark water. Oriana grabbed a wooden stool from the corner and placed it in front of the sink. She stepped on the stool and hopped into the large basin. Her feet felt the dry air on the other side as she fell through the veil of water onto a large pile of hay underneath it. The spiders on her shoulder looked around them with amazement. They were in a large room. The room was mostly bare except for a single bed, an old wooden table with two chairs, and a mirror. A small doorway led to a tiny bathroom with a vintage claw-foot tub.

Oriana whispered something and a rush of wind circled her, drying them. The two spiders crawled down from Oriana and, with a flash of bright light, were transformed back into their human form once more.

“You will be safe here,” said Oriana. “Sorry about the accommodations.”

“It’s wonderful,” said Beatrix. Even though the room wasn’t fancy, it was safe.

Oriana smiled. “I hate to leave you both so suddenly, but I must get back to work in the dungeons before the guards notice the extent of my absence.”

“When will you be back?” asked Arthur.

“In a few hours,” said Oriana with a kind smile.

Oriana walked over to the pile of hay. She floated up into the air through the dark rippling window of water on the ceiling.

Beatrix and Arthur stared at each other for a moment. “I suppose we could do a little reading until she comes back,” said Arthur as he opened the suitcase. Beatrix nodded in agreement. She walked over to the suitcase and picked up a small book. She muttered the spell and the book grew to full size. She knew she needed to read up on illusions to give them the best chance of defeating the right shadow creature.

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More Chapters will be published soon!

Thanks for reading! :)

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