Disclaimer: Only the arrangement of the words is mine, or rather the interpretation of this event.
If this seems vaguely familiar, it's because it was going to be the prologue to a story that I originally wrote years ago, in the height of my Harry Potter fervor. I had intended to rewrite that story, but unfortunately, I have fallen away from this fandom. However, as a few people reviewed this, and it can stand on its own, I'm "re-releasing" it as a stand alone work. Please review.
The Man in the Shadows
Blackness centered in one corner of the room. The little moonlight that streamed through the lace curtained windows seemed to be pulled into the darkness, a human-shaped black-hole. Two once prosperous men were dead on the floor, and standing over them, a shaking young man with the face like a mouse.
Soft hands cupped a wavering light, revealing the darkness in the corner that resolved into the shape of a man. His countenance was entirely impassive, who stared at the young man with the light.
The boy must be young, for though the light was little, he could not be more than twenty-five. His creased skin was not due to age. One would have thought him middle-aged with his sagging jowl, fitful hands and soft lips. He swallowed almost constantly, great gulping breaths, which soundedvery much like sobs. The strained fear on his face could not hide his youth. If he had not been holding the light in his hands, one would have thought he would be wringing them. His hair was mussed though as thin and mousy brown as it was, it seems like it could never be anything else. He seemed to want to speak, licked his lips, opened his mouth, but no sounds came.
The dark figure of shadows merely waited and watched. There was no kindness, no compassion there, no human feeling at all. His eyes drilled into the younger man with the cut of black ice. He waited, like a raptor, for his prey to make a mistake, namely making any movement at all. No animal had such a capacity to be cruel.
The young man, still in the light, could not meet his master's eyes.
"I…" he said, and stopped.
The other never moved.
"You…" he tried again.
His eyes were darting around the room. He seemed to realize he had made a mistake and was searching for a way out. For a moment, the light grew brighter, and his hands clenched. His face started to arrange itself into something approaching resolution.
"You wish to be safe," the voice silkily purred, caressing the darkness like a whore's hand. The younger man looked up, almost defiant. Then, the defiance melted away to be replaced with something like an eager hope. The dark man's eyes almost glowed with amusement as the light faded. "Put out your light," the voice said, now sheathed in steel. There was a second's hesitation. "I will protect you," the voice lilted, almost sang.
The young man now looked up, then bowed his head and sighed before he bit his lip.
The light died.
Please read and review, I want to hear anything and everything you have to say. I am always trying to improve.