A chill ran right through him. Knowing exactly what it was, it terrified him. He mopped his head and face, but waited a few moments to be sure that it was safe before setting off again. “My lady must know about this as soon as possible,” he thought to himself – that is, if she didn’t already know. There wasn’t much that happened in the woodland that she wasn’t aware of. However, he was still frozen in place, too scared to move a muscle, but he knew that he was safe for now and that he had to get to Sophia’s home in earnest. He was no hero and had no intention of moving until he was one hundred percent sure that the creature had gone. He took a few deep breaths, now feeling a little easier and regaining a little of his composure, but was still leaning against the tree. After a moment’s thought, he finally decided that the safest option was to get to Sophia as soon as his fat little form would allow; but unfortunately for him that would mean he would have to take the main tracks through the woods, which in itself was dangerous: it would leave him exposed and vulnerable to attack. However, needs must. He sighed as he wiped his face once more: he had never felt comfortable in the woodlands at night at the best of times, and tonight was no exception.
Still standing on the track just inside the entrance to the woodland Henry watched his mother in fascination: she was still surrounded by little woodland animals and encased in the green aurora, she clearly felt at home here among the trees and the animals. “What do you mean about me having powers…? What powers?” He was about to ask when he saw his mother raised her finger to her lips in a sign to be quiet.
She stood perfectly still as if she had sensed something. He noticed at once the green aura that encased her had turned to a soft, orange glow. Her hair now looked as if it was truly on fire. All the little woodland creatures around her also sensed something and disappeared back into the safety of the undergrowth as quickly as they came – all except, that was, for Breeze, who flew up and perched on a branch close by. His mother stared out into the darkness of the woodland, concentrating on something that she knew was there but couldn’t see. She then turned to face him. “We must go,” she said in a whisper, “and we must be quick about it, follow me… we’ve got to get off this path… You are in great danger… and I fear Ben and Bert may be also,” she continued.
Without waiting for an answer or response from Henry, she turned to her left and headed into the darkness of the trees with Henry following close behind. With all that had happened to him today, why would running off into the woodland at night be any stranger than the rest of his day? As it was, he still hadn’t found out what was going on, and at this rate he never would.
Henry was finding it surprisingly difficult to keep up with the pace his mother had set. He watched as her slim form weaved effortlessly through the trees and shrubs ahead of him, leaping over and around large boulders and fallen logs with the skill and ease of any woodland creature. The orange glow she was emitting helped Henry to keep track of where she was at all times, but he was seriously lagging behind and didn’t have the same grace, speed or eyesight of his mother to keep up with her.
He was continually hitting his head on low branches and stumbling over logs and tripping over rocks, now bruised and cut, they finally arrived at the edge of a large clearing. He stopped and leant forward and placed his hands on his knees, bending over and gasping for air, but when he did finally look up he saw that Bert and Ben were standing safe and sound with his mother in a hurried conversation. Bert had a worried look on his face. Ben looked to Henry. “Get over here now, boy,” he ordered. Henry had never liked being ordered around at the best of times, especially not by a dog, but could hear the urgency in his voice, so without question he did as he was told and joined the three who were all standing under the biggest oak tree he had ever seen. It was amazing and seemed to him to be as tall as the sky itself. He stood mesmerised, totally oblivious to the concerned looks on the faces of the others.
Hazel slowly moved to stand to one side of them, looking out into the darkness now with an air of determination about her face, Henry was too busy admiring the tree until he glanced over and noticed that his mother was moving towards the edge of the clearing. A little concerned, he took a couple of step towards her, but Bert grabbed his arm and pulled him back and gave him a look that made it clear that he should stay where he was and to be quiet.
Henry looked back over to his mother, who by now had moved to a point that placed her about halfway between the large oak tree and the edge of the clearing. She had kicked off her sandals and worked her toes into the earth. Her hair was now fully ablaze and flying about wildly as if caught in a windstorm. Mesmerised by her beauty, Henry stood speechless. This was his mother and until today she was just like any other mother, but now… she was incredible.
But what happened next completely stunned him. Slowly she lifted her arms out to her sides and held them level with her shoulders. Turning her palms to face the sky, she closed her eyes and then lifted her arms higher as if to reach for the stars. Another warm breeze started to blow, slowly at first, then abruptly, whipping around the large tree, circling it faster and faster, taking with it all the fallen leaves and twigs that lay around the clearing. Then suddenly it turned into a whirlwind, damp leaves and twigs whipping around and flying everywhere, some of which slapped Henry on the cheek, forcing him to close his eyes and cover his face. The whirlwind intensified and became so strong that Henry found it difficult to stay on his feet. Again, a strong hand grabbed him to hold him steady, and then as abruptly as it started the wind stopped. Leaves and debris fell to the ground, some of which hit Henry, Bert and Ben on their heads, making them all flinch and close their eyes.
Fearing to move or open his eyes, Henry stood rooted to the spot but still he could feel the reassuring hold that Bert had on him. Finally, he risked a look, gradually opening his eyes. But he certainly wasn’t ready for the sight he witnessed before him, the shock nearly bringing him to his knees. Luckily for him, Bert still had hold of his arm and dragged him back to his feet. His mother hadn’t moved, her hair still ablaze, but to Henry’s amazement, she had orange light pulsating from her complete body, slowly edging outwards, forming a large transparent orange dome of shimmering light around and above the entire clearing. Henry looked up at Bert, who was still holding him firm, to see his reaction but, like him, he was just standing there watching his mother as if nothing unusual had happened, then suddenly and without warning something huge and dark rammed into the barrier that his mother had created only seconds before. Luckily, whatever it was failed to get through: its efforts only made the barrier shimmer more brightly.
The huge black thing rammed the barrier again and again. Still having no luck of getting past the orange light, it stopped and pressed itself against it, pushing and testing it as if it was looking for weaknesses, but the barrier was holding strong. With no chance of the monster getting past it, it roared in anger and frustration, a sound that cut right through Henry’s body, a sound that made it clear to all just how powerful it was, and making clear its intentions should it get the opportunity to get hold of any of them. It pushed itself against the barrier time and time again, still testing for a weak point. Then, surprisingly, it stopped.
Henry held his breath as he watched it slowly press itself against the barrier one final time, making the magic of the barrier react to its presence by glowing more intensely; however, this time the thing wasn’t trying to get in, it was looking to see who was inside the clearing. There seemed to be no real shape or form to the creature: it shifted shape from wide to tall and back again. But what didn’t change was its eyes: large, burning black embers with red lines showed through cracks in a black, lifeless stare. They reminded Henry of burning coals or cooling lava, eyes that made its intentions unmistakably clear.
At first it concentrated its stare on his mother, trying to locate the source of magic, its hatred towards her burning in its eyes. It seemed to know her well and knew that it was her power that was responsible for making such a powerful
barrier. It then focused its lifeless eyes on Henry. They seemed to suddenly burst into flames. Now a bright intense red, it roared again but this time it was directing its anger at him. Bert was still holding Henry’s arm but grabbed it tightly and pulled Henry behind him in order to protect him from its terrible glare, reassuring Henry that he was not alone – a gesture that Henry appreciated and was glad that Bert was there for him. However, it was of little comfort: why would the creature react to him so violently?
Hazel hadn’t moved and was still standing between them and the black creature. Unmoved and undisturbed by its mock attacks, she then lowered her arm and took a quick look in Henry’s direction, noting the worried and terrified look on his face. Her eyes turned to anger and started to burn: she was now livid. Nothing would threaten her son. She quickly glanced at Bert, reassured that he was supporting her son, and then without saying anything to anyone and still barefoot, she walked slowly but determinedly towards the barrier. The monster still lurked on the other side, shifting shape and moving from side to side, impatient and frustrated at not being able to get hold of its prey inside.
What happened next shook Henry to his core. Without slowing or hesitating, Hazel walked right up to the shimmering orange light. The huge creature knew who or what she was and backed off a little. Hazel looked directly into the creature’s eyes and stepped right through the orange light, leaving the safety of the barrier she had provided, again, without hesitation, she walked directly towards the creature.
Henry called out to her and tried to go after her, but Bert held him firm. “Let go!” he shouted. “She’ll need our help.” Bert looked a little amused by Henry’s comment and replied, “If I knows ya mother… it’s the creature that will need the help… not ere.” Henry could do little else other than watch as Bert held him firm. But what happened next shocked not just Henry, but Bert as well. Instead of attacking Hazel as all believed, the creature started to back away, its eyes still red-hot embers showing its hatred towards her.
It hesitated a moment as if it was measuring his mother’s abilities and strength, not wishing to challenge her if it meant too much of a fight. It had plenty of time on its hands and would use it to the best of its ability; and luckily for all, today was not the day it wanted to fight. It would wait until things were more in its favour. It turned slowly away, still changing shape, disappearing as it slowly melted back into the shadows from where it belonged.
At first, Hazel didn’t move. She had no intention in following it but she had to be satisfied that her son was safe, so she stayed where she was for a moment longer, staring after it, making sure it was gone and that the dangers to her son and the others were over. Eventually, she turned and passed back through the barrier and into the safety of the orange, domed clearing. She walked directly up to her son and tried to hug him, but Henry didn’t respond or attempt to hug her back. She gave Henry a brief smile and then went to retrieve her sandals as if nothing had happened.
The cool nights and clear skies suited Sophia. She had always preferred night over day, feeling that days were a little too distracting and too busy for her liking but night-time… Night-time was when she felt most at ease from the world. She sat alone every night thinking back to how things were, a time when she was young and first became a nursemaid to nature. But unfortunately, the world had changed so much: today it was a world of greed and want. Although she decided some time ago to turn her back on it all, she had never given up hope, because she knew that one day the world would find a way to put everything right again and hopefully be rid of all those responsible for making it so sick. Tonight was no different to any other: she had regrets about the decision she made all those years ago, to hide from the world and her responsibilities. Perhaps the decision showed weakness in her character, a weakness that she would never tolerate in others, let alone in herself. Taking all things into consideration, she knew in her heart that she was wrong to let her hatred for mankind affect her as much as it did, allowing her to neglect her duties to such a degree that the existence of life itself was on a knife-edge.
Sophia sat comfortably on her makeshift beach and looked up to the stars. She loved the old bench she had made herself sometime ago with her own hands out of bits and pieces of dead wood and logs that she had found over the years. She positioned it right next to her door between the protruding, living roots of the large yew in which she lived. The night had a bitter chill about it, but the cold had little or no effect on Sophia. She was comfortably wrapped in her crimson, full-length satin cloak, with her large hood pulled over her head. She was happy, if not content, sitting in her favourite spot, sensing the movements and activities of the night, taking in all the woodland sounds and smells.
However, tonight she was a little unsettled and on edge: something terrible was about to happen, that much she could sense… But what? She had also sensed that something else was wrong with the night. She sat forward and closed her eyes, trying to pinpoint what it could be. She sat back suddenly, eyes wide open. “No,” she said out loud, “it can’t be.” Just then, a voice shouted out from somewhere within the woodland: “My lady!” She stood up. “My lady!” the call came again, Sophia gracefully took a few steps in the direction the voice had come from. Knowing full well who it was, she had sensed him sometime ago and knew the voice only too well, but this time there was urgency in it.
Patiently she waited for Walt to appear in the clearing, still calling out to her as he stumbled through the undergrowth, tripping and cursing as he went. Finally, he appeared hanky in hand, sweating profusely, his head and face covered in mud and leaves. “My lady,” Walt panted again, barely getting breath. Sophia watched with disdain: she had no fond feelings for the man but she did need him. Walt stopped in his tracks when she walked over to greet him, Sophia had never approached him before. She had always made it quite clear that it was for him to approach her… but never to get too close. “Walter,” Sophia said softly, “just take a little time to get your breath.” She sounded as if she cared for his welfare: in truth all she wanted from him was to know what Bert had to say.
“My lady,” Walt tried to say again, but Sophia raised her hand. “Whatever it is… urgent or not, you must compose yourself before you continue…What you have to say may be very important to me… so take your time and get it right.”
She could see the fear in his eyes. “My lady… it’s out there… in the woods… I see it,” Walt managed to puff out. “More the reason for you to sit down and get your breath back,” she said, now escorting him to her favourite seat. “Sit,” she said softly. Sophia motioned to the poor fellow to sit down on her bench. “Now… what did you see?” she said, still trying to sound concerned, Walt was still having difficulty in getting his breath back and Sophia was starting to feel a little impatient with him, but tried not to show it. She often wished that she had a more able, skilled messenger and helper, but for now she would have to put up with what she had, or at least until someone more able came along.
“It was in the woodland… tonight… I saw it, but I’m not sure if it knew I was there. My lady… it was there… as bold as brass!” Walt burst out. “It was heading towards the old oak but I hid… I did… I hid behind a tree until it was good and gone,” he continued to say all in one breath. “Calm yourself… you must know by now that I am aware of everything that goes on within the entire woodland… I know who… or what it was out there tonight and every night,” Sophia said quietly. “You are indeed lucky that you are alive… And just for the record, Walter… it did notice you… but it was far too intent on doing harm to others to worry about you… A lucky man indeed, I would say.”
Walt sat and looked up at Sophia with a look of horror on his face. “You mean it…” he was about to say but couldn’t finish the sentence. Now standing over Walt, Sophia gently placed one hand on his shoulder. “You’re safe for now, Walter… Now tell me about Bert,” she said, a little too abrupt for his liking. He was aware of her temper and tried to keep clear
of her whenever she started to sound the slightest bit dangerous. Ever since he had known her, he had never been this close, let alone have her touch him. Now that the tone in her voice was changing, he was starting to feel more than a little vulnerable. “Bert told me that he had other things to take care of first, my lady,” Walt said sheepishly. He felt her hand tighten on his shoulder. “What other things?” Walt cringed as she tightened her grip further. “Sorry, my lady… he hurt me again… Grabbed my neck, he did, and nearly choked me to death.”
At this point Walt was on the brink of a complete meltdown. Sophia suddenly realised what she was doing and released her grip. “Sorry, Walter… I have no intention of harming you as well… Forgive me,” she said, trying to sound that she meant it. “Just tell me what he said.”
Henry had quite a restless night of nightmares of endless visions and dark creatures all living in a world without light or joy. He woke suddenly, sweat pouring from his forehead. He sat up gingerly, noting that he had been lying on a bed of dry leaves. He looked up into the branches of the large oak tree, memories of the dreams still haunting. He had no idea how long he had been asleep, and after experiencing the powers of his mother the night before, thought that he’d never sleep again; but once they were safe, she sat him down against the old oak and stroked his head gently, and strangely he found himself drifting and becoming ever sleepier until finally he fell asleep.
Taking a moment to wake himself up and try to get his bearings, he realised that he was still in the woodland and not in his own home. Feeling refreshed, he sat back against the old tree, enjoying the welcoming sounds of birdsong and the smells of the woodland itself. As he sat quietly, it surprised him how much he felt at home. He closed his eyes and listened, he could hear or feel that the woodland itself was talking to him, reaching out for him. Despite last night, he felt that his surroundings were greeting him… and, in turn, comforting him. So he just sat back to enjoy the moment, pushing everything else to the back of his mind. However, the enjoyment of the moment didn’t last long. Demons and the darkness of his dreams invaded his thoughts, forcing him to open his eyes again. He was confused and a little frightened, not only from his nightmare, but also from last night’s events. Fear welled up inside him as he pictured his mother facing down the black monster. Was he dreaming it all…? But he couldn’t have: it all seemed so real. Besides, if he’d dreamt it, why was he sitting under a tree and not at home?
Between Darkness and the Light Page 6
