Okay, I'm really mad. I had just finished this chapter then my computer just froze then deleted the whole thing. SO I'm rewriting it. Today we're going to take a quick look at how the Stallion feels.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Cool water agains hooves, fresh air, mate galloping alongside me. It is as it once was, with few mortals the wiser. Most believe was simply a dream, or not remember at all. But I remember. I remember the pain, then floating in nothingness, following Mortal Jack's voice to run with my mate and guide Mortal Jack to her place, helping his aim in stabbing Darkness with my alicorn. Then I was back, back to me, back with mate. But something not quite right.
I am damaged.
I am not complete. When Darkness was stabbed, he took a chip of my alicorn with him into the Void, and even now I feel the place where shard should be. I am weak. I can sense Darkness becoming stronger, and if he should break free of the Void and come after mate and me again...we will not last. We are too weak. We still gallop, happy and seemingly carefree, but the birds and beasts and magics know that all not well. They not frolic and sing wildly, but cautiously, hesitantly. And magics are ever vigilant, especially the Gump and his Oona. Is almost stifling at times. I have never felt this emotion before: resentment. Is not pleasent. I recall once knowing nothing but love and laughter. But is now tainted.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
I walk through the forest slowly and soberly, as befitting a princess. Jack is uncomfortable with my new black wardrobe, so I wear white and cream around him so as not to make him afraid. He is so different these days, but is still my devoted Jack. Speaking of which...
I turn and there he is, standing in a shaft of golden sunlight, green and brown clothes blending in perfectly with the trees and tall grasses that surround him. He pads slowly forward on his silent moccassins.
"Jack," I say, smiling, and hold out my arms to him. He tilts his head, dark hair throwing off red sparks in the sun. He looks at me for a second, considering, then moves forward to gently embrace me. Sometimes, I long for these embraces to be rough, and passionate, like...no. No, I will not think of Him. For now, that is. I force my smile to remain on my face.
"You are looking paler," he comments, holding me about my waist. "Thinner too. Lily, are you all right?" I grin in a daredevil fashion that I know he can't resist.
"I'm fine, silly," I reply. "What shall we do today?" He looks hard at me, and I know he sees past my thin facade. I pray silently that he does not enquire further.
"I thought I'd teach you how to speak to the deer," he says finally. My prayers are answered.
"Deer speak? But I've never heard them make a sound!" I exclaim, eagerly throwing myself into this new subject.
"They speak with their eyes, hooves and head gestures. They use ears too, but I don't know that that will work so well on you."
"You're so clever," I say sweetly. The rest of the day is spent with him teaching me to soften my eyes and appear soulful whilst tilting my head and raising my hands this way and that. Deer is no easy language. As the sky grows dark I turn to Jack, about to tell him that I must leave, but he keeps me from speaking with a kiss. Jack has always been a wonderful kisser, but tonight...there is something lacking, and my enthusiasm is diminished. He pulls back and looks at me strangely.
"Lily, what..." He begins, and I shake my head.
"I am sorry..."I reply, putting a hand to my temple, "I must actually be getting sick. I...I should really get home soon, Jack." I kiss him lightly on the lips. "I'll see you soon." I turn and hurry toward Nell's house and my horse, not turning back to see the sorrowful expression on Jack's face. He knows me better than anyone, and I know that he knows that I am not telling the full truth. Next week...next week I will tell him about my dreams.
"Lily," Darkness greets. I smile at him over the rim of the great goblet of black wine. "I have missed your company." I take a sip of the liquor and set it down. I am about to speak when he says "you cannot stay for long tonight." I look at him sharply.
"Why not?" I ask indignatly.
"Well, I don't want you exhausted on your trips to see Jack, now do I?" He asks. He looks as exhausted as anyone ever can be. "Plus I haven't the energy to keep this up for long." I stand abruptly. I am worried.
"What's the matter? Can I help at all?" I ask. He shakes his great red head.
"There is still a piece of the alicorn stuck in me. It prevents me from healing and taints my blood. If you..." He seems to tired to go on, but forces himself, "if you could just...bathe the wound with some of that wine, it might help. I cannot touch it myself. Some sort of enchantment, I'm sure." I don't know whether I should or should not, but I eventually dip the edge of a black napkin in the wine and walk over to him, placing it on the slowly dripping gash in his stomach. He hisses in pain when the cloth touches his skin, but subsides after a moment. "Thank you," he sighs. I look up into his green eyes, and see myself reflected in them. He leans down, and I can taste his breath, like the heat off of a fire burning heather, with a strange metallic undercurrent. I kiss him again, against every screaming instinct, and he wraps his huge arms around me. I feel their strength and I think, yes, this is what I have wanted all along. This is what I dream of in Jack's gentle embrace, against his gentle kisses. I run my hands up to his shoulders, pressing the wine-soaked cloth between our stomachs so that it doesn't fall. I hear the light fabric of my dress tear slightly as he runs his nails up and down my back lightly, and I press myself closer to him...
"Miss?" I am woken again by a different maid, yanking open my black curtains and letting sunshine stream onto my bed. This one must be new.
"You are not supposed to wake me," I inform her drowsily, shifting to a sitting position. "You are to wait until I call for you." She curtsies.
"But miss, you sounded like you were having a nightmare, gasping and moaning." I feel my cheeks redden. "I am sorry, but I felt like I should save you from the night-fright."
"Well, thank you," I mumble. "I suppose if I'm up I might as well get up and get dressed. Fetch my black dress with tight sleeves and silver trim if you would, please, then you may help me dress." The maid curtsies and within moments she is back with the dress. As she helps me out of my nightdress, she gasps.
"Oh, miss, what happened?" She asks. I look quizzically at her. "You have long scratches all over your back! Don't they hurt?" I quickly reach a hand behind me to feel my back, and my fingers run over long cuts that stretch from the nape of my neck to my lower back. I gulp.
"It must have happened in the woods yesterday. I took a little bit of a slip down a hill. Not to worry," I say with false cheer. The maid knows better to argue, so instead she dresses me in silence, curtsies, and leaves the same way.
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Darkness sat in the void, rubbing at the silk napkin that Lily had soaked in wine, slowly licking her sweet blood off of his nails.
AN: Darkness has now made his way into the material world! Oh NO!
