Author's Note: I do not own W.I.T.C.H, etc.
Chapter Two – Tints of Shade
Will tried to get up, but her right shoulder was killing her. She tightened her grip on the hurt shoulder and gazed up at Haritus, whose evil smile will be the last thing she sees.
"Rest now, Will. I will ensure that your friends and your precious Matt will join you soon enough!"
Her brow tightened and her anger flared, "You will not touch him! I will never allow that to happen!"
"I agree with that, Will!" A third voice spoke and lashed out at the fallen Paladin.
Two claws of shadow covered Haritus's hands as his spell faded.
"Will! Run!"
"Shade? How are you…?" She asked as the Shade stood a few feet behind Haritus.
"We'll talk later. Get out of here, use the Heart and return home."
"Right!" She said and the chamber glowed with white light. But when she opened her eyes, she was still in the same place as before, though the Shade and Haritus were both weakened by her display of magic.
"It's not working!"
"Run outside, I'll be there to join you!"
Without saying another word, she ran toward the cave entrance, trying not to look at the battle going on behind her.
When she arrived into daylight, the Shade stood there.
"Come on, Will. We have to hurry."
"Shade…" She looked back into the cave, "…But weren't you just…I mean…in there, fighting…" She clenched her head in her hands, "…my mind is starting to swell."
"My clone is fighting Haritus, but I don't know how long I can hold him off, so let's go already!"
"Okay." She said and they dashed down the mountainside. After several minutes of running for dear life, Will bent over and held her knees for support as she caught her breath.
"I think we are safe for the moment."
"Shade, why can't you Dark Shift?"
"Sorry, but I have to conserve my energies. I am also a clone, after all."
"Really? Then where is the real Shade?"
"I will explain it to you. It is a long story."
"I don't know why I couldn't return to Earth or switch back to my normal clothes?"
"Did Haritus touch you by any chance?"
"Yes he did, it was right before we Dark Shifted here to Veluria."
"I see…He must have put a binding spell on you just as he did that."
"So…I am stuck here on Veluria?"
"It would seem so for the time being." The Shade chuckled, "It is like we were trapped on Meridian for all those months and now you are trapped here, how…humorous."
She crossed her arms, "How can you laugh at a time like this?"
He quickly corrected himself, "Sorry, back to the point. How much has Haritus told you so far?"
They began walking away from the mountain as she recounted every detail about the Attunement.
"So he has told you that much, has he? Maybe, he wasn't counting on the fact of you being alive afterwards."
"Enough speculation. Why isn't the real you here with me? Where is he?"
"All right, keep yourself together. The real me is with Haritus, bound by the Pact we made."
"What? He binded you?"
"Yes, you see…this was the part we didn't tell you about Pacting for it seemed unimportant at the time. There is no magical shield protecting the mortal partner from the magical partner if they should fight. Since the mortal partner is the one who accepted the Pact, he or she has the right to bind the magical partner, which means the magical partner cannot move or act, he or she can only speak."
"So, Haritus…he did this to you?"
"Yes, I started making clones of myself shortly after he obtained the ultimate power over shadow. He started acting strangely…first, he was rude and inconsiderate, two flaws that he never had…then, he began threatening and manipulating people, yet again something he would never do. It was when he started attacking villages en masse that I realized he had changed. I confronted him and that is when he binded me."
"You believe that he became evil from all that power."
"There are few mortals who could show self-restraint after achieving such a high level of power. But I sense that something is off about him as well besides the obvious."
"Like what?"
"I began having dreams…visions of a future that ended horribly for everyone."
"So, you sent them to me, to warn me about the upcoming danger."
"No…I didn't."
"But who else could it have been?"
"I don't know, but if the visions warn you of danger, then whoever is sending them is definitely a friend."
"But I thought you were powerful enough to do such things?"
"Only creatures of light can send visions, Light illuminates whereas Shadow enshrouds, remember? I am incapable of sending visions of any kind. Anyway, tell me about these visions you had and I can tell you mine."
As they walked, Will and the Shade exchanged visions as they came to the same conclusion.
"They are both the same vision. By our descriptions, there wasn't a single detail different. Whoever sent it, they must have wanted us to have it and know the danger we are in."
"Then I have to know everything about those doors that Haritus is trying to open. What is hidden behind them?"
"Something very bad, Will…very bad."
Haritus grabbed the Shade's clone and with his bare hands, ripped the clone in half.
He twirled them around and threw them against the ceiling.
"Shad Expelia!" His shout reverberated throughout the corridor and the clone screamed in pain as his form vanished into nothing.
He panted heavily as his body began to fail, "…curse this weak body. I am not used to such things. Shad Menda!" His hands wrapped in shadows, he began passing them over his wounds and they were healed quickly.
With his wounds healed, he walked to the next door and began translating the Shavar runes.
"Only one who lusts after life can open this door…Damn, how I am supposed to find these people?"
The true Shade laughed, "Funny, isn't it? With all that power, you still can't achieve your goals."
"You can still talk? I used Shad Impara and the Pact Binding on you, you shouldn't be doing anything."
"Yes, that was a nice trick that you pulled off, but just like you, shadow is my element as well."
"Regardless, there is not a single thing you can do to stop me."
"I do not wish to stop you, but to understand why you are doing this?"
"It is a plan that…" He gestured strangely with his hands, "…came to me. Why not be settled with the simple powers granted to me from being Shad'Larhulai when I can be so much more."
"Simple? Being Shad'Larhulei means you control the shadows of this world! You outmatch any shadow mage in history."
Haritus laughed maniacally for a few seconds before speaking, "Compared to ruling Kandrakar? Watching that beautiful fortress fall beneath my heel is a much more appealing goal. With it conquered, every world will have no choice but to bow before me and then, I will take that sweet body of Elyon's for my own."
"Haritus! Now you are crossing the line, Elyon is your friend."
"Yes, yes, yes, friendship, where has that ever gotten me?"
"It got you moving on the right path…or so I thought. Wait…I know this isn't right."
Haritus rolled his eyes, "Finally, it took you long enough. Yes, the once oh-so-noble Paladin has become a power-hungry villain."
"That was all I needed to hear. Now I am sure that you aren't Haritus."
Haritus grimaced, "Oh, why is that?"
"I have been with Haritus for two years and not once has he ever cared about power. He was above that and he never cared for lust either."
"Really? You seem to know your friend quite well. But you are wrong, lust dwells in his heart or should I say it dwells elsewhere."
"No, he was never a sinful person. Well, he had a temper, but who doesn't? No sin has conquered him."
"His thoughts trickle like the dripping of water. He cared for Elyon, more than a friend would."
"He cared for her as a Paladin, almost an older brother, but not a lover."
"Hmph…I was mistaken, you don't know your friend that well, after all. Deep within his soul, he wanted to take Elyon for his own. He wouldn't deny that."
"You are the one who is mistaken, Haritus would deny it."
"Well, we will see in time now, won't we?"
The Shade thought, "I've got to let the others know that Haritus isn't their foe."
"Not going to happen."
"What? You read my thoughts?"
"Yes, the moment you use your telepathy, I will know where the other clones you've hidden are and will destroy them all at once. Plus, I will have some bonus time with Will, now that she is separate from her friends. Her safety, her innocence, her…" He smirked evilly, "…virginity is up to you."
The Shade relaxed, "There…that's a good little Shade. Now to find the next person who can open this door."
Will and the Shade clone had been walking for hours. They had arrived in the grass plains, their effort from nearly a full day's march. The night sky did little to help Will's current state of mind for she was worried about what her friends and family were thinking of where she was.
"Don't worry, Will. We'll get you home shortly."
"I thought you weren't allowed to do that?"
"Haritus didn't want his thoughts pried into, but you didn't say such before."
"Please, humans aren't used to having their heads messed with, okay?"
"Sorry, I used telepathy many times to find out where our enemies ere hidden. But if you wish for me not to use it on you, then I will respect that."
"Thank you." The night wind caused her to shiver.
"Here." The Shade clone flattened himself and wrapped around her shoulders like a cloak. It protected her from the wind, but the Shade's natural coldness still made her shiver.
"Sorry, Will." He closed his eyes and focused. A moment passed before the coldness faded.
"Thank you…again."
"You're welcome."
Her stomach growled as she placed a hand on it, "Wow, I just realized I haven't eaten anything today."
"Yes, we can get some food at the village there." He turned her in the direction of the village to the east.
"What is that?"
"The Village of Esdrich, it is a place I never been, but they should have an inn with a blazing hearth."
"We don't have any money."
"Don't worry about that. Go to the inn, order both a room and something to eat. I'll take care of the money."
"Okay, I hope this goes well."
"It will and if not, we both got magic on our side."
"I won't use magic to harm innocent people."
"There is a difference in being a sword and a shield. In time, you will know that just as Haritus did…or so I thought."
"We aren't going to get any warmer by staying out here. Come on, let's go."
She walked down the hills at the base of which was the village. There was little traffic of people because it was nearly time for sleep. She received shifty looks, only because she wandered in during nighttime. She kept her distance from other people as she looked at the buildings.
The Shade thought, "Will, the inn is a few dozen steps forward and on the left, the huge sign should be a dead giveaway."
She did a small nod and continued walking forward. She felt like this place was no different from Meridian or Arkhanta, however the time for musing wasn't now. The sign of the inn read, 'The Distant Traveler Inn'. It was a two-story building, made of wood with glass windows, not much different from other medieval buildings she's seen.
She walked through the two small doors with ease as they flipped back and forth before coming to a complete stop. The inside of the inn was a tavern on the first floor and rooms on the second. She approached the bartender.
"Excuse me, can I have a room for the evening and something hot to eat?"
"Yeah, lass. You may, provided you have the copper to pay for it."
"How much would it be for some meat, a drink, and a room?"
"Fifteen copper if you want all that, lass."
The Shade thought, "Will, right hand, come it up and open."
She did as instructed and felt copper coins falling into her hand. She clasped the coins and presented them to bartender. He took them and give them a quick look at, then he looked into Will's eyes before smiling and pocketing them in a sack beneath the counter.
"Thank you, miss." He took an iron key from underneath the counter. "Your room is upstairs, the last one on the right."
"Thank you." When she took it in hand, it felt like a paper weight.
"I'll pour you some ale to drink." He said and filled a small wooden cup. "When the cook is ready, I'll have the serving girl bring it over to you."
"Okay." Will took the wooden cup in hand and sat at an empty table near the back. She smelled the drink and nearly gagged.
"I can't believe they serve this stuff to kids."
"Well, this isn't a world where you can commonly purify your drink. Ale is safe because of how it was made."
"Can you do something about it?"
"No, we are just going to have to deal with it for the moment. Take small sips, it will help reduce the effects."
She knew she didn't want to have this, but she hasn't drunk anything since the backstage party. Bringing it up to her lips, she took a very small sip and it didn't taste that bad.
The serving girl came by with her cooked meal. It was a slab of pork without any condiments or spices. She took a whiff and didn't find it delicious.
The Shade thought, "It is better than rotten meat."
"I am so not going to like this."
"I apologize if the culture of this world is somewhat…limited to what you are used to, but we don't know how long you will be here."
"Okay, okay, I got the picture."
"One of the first things I told Haritus when we were in a similar situation is to whisper."
Will looked to see many of the other patrons staring at her curiously. She coughed and continued to drink from her cup as the others went about their business. She kept quiet the entire time until it came time to sleep. She went to her room and locked the door behind her. She blew the lamplight out and then grabbed her covers, tucking herself in.
"Shade, what are we going to do?"
"Our best hope is to find a way to free you from his binding spell. You can get your friends and bring them here."
"I can't, the Heart only goes to places protected by Kandrakar and back home. Veluria isn't a world under its protection."
"Don't worry about that part, you get your friends together and I will do the rest."
"Why not just fight him? I've fought more powerful opponents than him before."
"No, you haven't. The very shadows near him would waver in anticipation for his command. He has the ability to control every shadow on this world as if it was an extension of his own will."
"Wait, I didn't see any of that happening."
"Hmmm…then the Haritus we met must have been a clone. Only the real Haritus would have that effect on the shadows."
"If he is so powerful, why not destroy us whenever he wants?"
"He has already gotten what he wants from you and he thinks we can do nothing to stop him."
"But why bind me here? None of this makes any sense."
"It probably was a backup plan. This way if he didn't kill you, you would be separated from your friends, making you an easier target if he were to attack."
"Great, stuck here forever and about to die."
"Don't say that! You helped us find our way back to Veluria, I will help you get back to Earth."
"Okay, okay, take it down a little. The others are already a little spooked by our conversation downstairs. Let's not give them any more reason to suspect something."
"Very well, try to get some sleep, Will. See you in the morning."
Her shadowy cloak faded as the Shade clone slipped down her body and underneath the bed. Her eyes felt heavy as the exhaustion of the day was about to go away, but in this moment, her thoughts were only that of those close to her: her mother, her four closest friends, and Matt.
She cried as she wondered if she would ever see them again.
Next Chapter, Will hunted as the others worry where she is.