Darkness
"What was that about?" asked Cassandra running side by side with Diana.
"I don't know," Diana replied shrugging. "He said sorry about being in my way and wished me luck then moved."
"What's with the, my lady stuff?" asked Cassandra.
"I guess he was just trying to be polite," Diana replied.
"Polite?" asked Cassandra sarcastically. "More like he was trying to say 'I have such a crush on you Diana come back with me and we can be alone for a while'"
"That's not very funny," Diana said rolling her eyes.
"Yeah!" Cassandra replied laughing.
They finally reached the castle grounds and their instructor was waiting impatiently for them. The instructor was dressed in thick hide armor from head to foot; she held a shield at her left and a sword at her right.
"You two are late!" she said frowning.
"Hawk was holding us up," Diana replied.
"More like holding you up," Cassandra whispered.
"Hush!" Diana whispered back.
"We will begin the exam with you Diana," she said, "Since you are so eager to talk."
Diana frowned and walked forwards.
"I want you to show me a slash technique then explain to me when this attack would be useful," she said.
Diana took her battle ready position. She concentrated on the scarecrow in front of her and took a deep breath. Faster than the eye could see she drew her sword, jumped into the air, lunged at the target and slashed downwards slicing the scarecrow in half. She jumped briskly back into her place and it took a few seconds for the scarecrow to fall to the sides.
"This attack would be useful for a surprise attack on an enemy," Diana said. "But only with extreme caution."
"Very good," she said, "I think you will be pleased with your mark. Now Cassandra please show me a Dragons wing attack."
Cassandra stepped up and took her battle ready position. You see everyone has a different style of fighting and therefore needs a different battle position, your pose and style are up to you. She concentrated on the second scarecrow. Running forwards and spun with immense effort, her sword twirled and sliced the scarecrow in five different places. She stopped and walked back to her original position, while scarecrow bits floated in the air.
"Well done," she said. "That is all I need. Please go back to the castle."
They both nodded and walked back towards the castle. After they were out of site of the instructor they started to loosen up instead of being so nervous.
"Well I think we did well," Diana said smiling.
"I almost sliced off my foot with that attack," Cassandra said laughingly. "Hope she didn't notice."
"I don't think she did because I didn't," Diana answered.
"Good," Cassandra responded.
"Well we had better get back to the castle and have a bath or something," Cassandra sighed, "It's so boring around here. I wish we had something to fight against."
"Oh well I'm sure we'll find some sort of thing we could do," Diana answered, "We'll find something."
"Yeah," Cassandra answered.
They both felt a bit gloomy after their test. There wasn't anything to be excited about anymore. They dragged their feet back towards the room. When they reached it Tara was waiting for them.
"Hello girls how was your test?" she asked.
"It was ok," Diana answered.
"You two seem gloomy don't you?" Tara said spotting their downcast faces. "Well here's something to be exited about. We got a new tub with a gold lining and curtains. Now I think you'll both enjoy that."
"Curtains?" asked Cassandra and Diana.
"Go take a look for yourselves," Tara answered.
They both ran into the other room and raced to the bathroom. The new tub was sparkling white and was encrusted with a gold lining. The curtains shimmered with silver. They both awed and gasped at the way it sparkled.
"I get to use it first!" Diana exclaimed.
"No way!" Cassandra yelled.
"Wanna bet?" asked Diana.
"Your on!" Cassandra smirked.
"Ok go over there and get a Tace so we can flip it and see who goes first," Diana said pointing towards the penny jar.
"Ok," Cassandra responded running over and grabbing a penny.
She ran back over with the penny and got ready to flip it.
"Heads or tails?" she asked.
"Heads," Diana answered.
Cassandra flipped the penny. It flew into the air and landed on the floor. They bent over and looked at it with interest.
"Heads I win and I get to use the shower first!" Diana yelled.
"Fine but you had better be quick!" Cassandra huffed.
Diana ran into the bathroom and quickly bathed. She felt like she was alone with the curtains closed and the curtains kept the steam in better. She got out and headed into her bedroom. She dried off with a towel and put her clothing back on. Hunger panged in her stomach. Without so much as a word she headed down to the kitchens to fetch a snack from the servants. They were very kind and generous to Diana and Cassandra, so they often headed down to the kitchens for breakfast on the go or just a small snack. Apon arrival she noticed an increased number of servants in the kitchen. They all seemed worried of something or someone. Worry showed in their eyes and they averted Diana's gaze. She had never seen them act like this before. They obviously did not want her in the kitchens. Before she could even ask what was wrong someone beside her grabbed her by the wrist.
"And what would you be doing down here missy?" asked a large bulky man.
"I happen to be Princess Diana," she said angrily at him. "And I..."
Her voice suddenly wavered and trailed off. She had gazed into his eyes and let me tell you it's not something you would see every day. Her mind began to cloud up and her thoughts jumbled. She couldn't concentrate and felt her muscles tense under the sudden weight of the intense reality she was seeing. His eyes were completely black and she couldn't move her eyes from his gaze. The darkness of his eyes, they were the shadows from her nightmare. The evil that had called to her from the darkness, the man began to change and she was cut off from the world.
We have come for you those words echoed through her head again and again as the pain from a throbbing headache rippled through her mind.
She was jolted back into reality when she felt a slight stinging on her face. Slowly she opened her eyes. Everything was blurred and she couldn't make out details. All she could tell was that a girl was staring down at her and by the looks of it had just slapped her awake. Her eyes began to focus and she could tell it was Cassandra that had just slapped her. Briefly she wondered why she had done such a thing but it did not matter at the moment.
"Cassandra," she said groggily. "The man, he was..."
"What?" asked Cassandra sarcastically. "What a man you fell in love with? Cause I want some explanations here!"
Something wasn't right about the tone of Cassandra's voice and Diana didn't find it at all appealing. It sounded somewhere near jealousy and hysteria. Without a doubt she had been wondering where Diana had gone but this was ridiculous.
"What are you talking about?" asked Diana in full voice.
"I am talking about you wondering down to the kitchens and meeting some guy then disappearing for a few hours!" She yelled. "And now you are laying on the ground in the courtyard and it is mid-night!"
"What makes you automatically jump to the accusation that I was in love with someone?" asked Diana standing up and brushing herself off. "I don't even know how I got here!"
"Look I'm sorry ok?" Cassandra said trying to calm down. "I was really worried when you disappeared and nobody knew where you went. I tried to find you but came up with nothing so I went down to the kitchens and asked if they had seen you. When they told me that they had last seen you with some guy I immediately thought you had gone off with him."
"I did meet a guy," Diana said pondering, "His eyes were pure black. I looked into them and it was as if he had put a spell on me. Do you remember that dream I told you about?"
Cassandra nodded wondering what Diana was going to say.
"It was the shadows from my dream," she said pacing back and forth. "I was sort of away from the real world. You know like everything around me had disappeared and all I could see was shadow, and that's when he said it. He told me 'We have come for you' and I just blacked out or something."
"Well that explains everything except for what you are doing in the courtyard," Cassandra said unnerved by what she had heard. "That is a mystery to me."
"Unfortunately it is to me too," Diana said sighing exasperatingly. "Unless...Cassandra how did you come to find I was out here?"
"I came out for a walk to ease my stress," she answered. "And I found you lying here on the ground."
"Was anything scurrying away or did you here a rustling?" asked Diana eager for a lead. "Perhaps did I just appear to be on my own?"
"Well when I neared you I thought I saw something or someone running away in the other direction," she said thoughtfully. "It was almost like a shadow really. I was so relieved to have found you that I didn't really care much who it was that I hadn't really seen."
"Well I fear we are not out of danger yet," Diana sighed. "And we will have to be more cautious about what we do from now on."
"I agree," Cassandra nodded
"What was that about?" asked Cassandra running side by side with Diana.
"I don't know," Diana replied shrugging. "He said sorry about being in my way and wished me luck then moved."
"What's with the, my lady stuff?" asked Cassandra.
"I guess he was just trying to be polite," Diana replied.
"Polite?" asked Cassandra sarcastically. "More like he was trying to say 'I have such a crush on you Diana come back with me and we can be alone for a while'"
"That's not very funny," Diana said rolling her eyes.
"Yeah!" Cassandra replied laughing.
They finally reached the castle grounds and their instructor was waiting impatiently for them. The instructor was dressed in thick hide armor from head to foot; she held a shield at her left and a sword at her right.
"You two are late!" she said frowning.
"Hawk was holding us up," Diana replied.
"More like holding you up," Cassandra whispered.
"Hush!" Diana whispered back.
"We will begin the exam with you Diana," she said, "Since you are so eager to talk."
Diana frowned and walked forwards.
"I want you to show me a slash technique then explain to me when this attack would be useful," she said.
Diana took her battle ready position. She concentrated on the scarecrow in front of her and took a deep breath. Faster than the eye could see she drew her sword, jumped into the air, lunged at the target and slashed downwards slicing the scarecrow in half. She jumped briskly back into her place and it took a few seconds for the scarecrow to fall to the sides.
"This attack would be useful for a surprise attack on an enemy," Diana said. "But only with extreme caution."
"Very good," she said, "I think you will be pleased with your mark. Now Cassandra please show me a Dragons wing attack."
Cassandra stepped up and took her battle ready position. You see everyone has a different style of fighting and therefore needs a different battle position, your pose and style are up to you. She concentrated on the second scarecrow. Running forwards and spun with immense effort, her sword twirled and sliced the scarecrow in five different places. She stopped and walked back to her original position, while scarecrow bits floated in the air.
"Well done," she said. "That is all I need. Please go back to the castle."
They both nodded and walked back towards the castle. After they were out of site of the instructor they started to loosen up instead of being so nervous.
"Well I think we did well," Diana said smiling.
"I almost sliced off my foot with that attack," Cassandra said laughingly. "Hope she didn't notice."
"I don't think she did because I didn't," Diana answered.
"Good," Cassandra responded.
"Well we had better get back to the castle and have a bath or something," Cassandra sighed, "It's so boring around here. I wish we had something to fight against."
"Oh well I'm sure we'll find some sort of thing we could do," Diana answered, "We'll find something."
"Yeah," Cassandra answered.
They both felt a bit gloomy after their test. There wasn't anything to be excited about anymore. They dragged their feet back towards the room. When they reached it Tara was waiting for them.
"Hello girls how was your test?" she asked.
"It was ok," Diana answered.
"You two seem gloomy don't you?" Tara said spotting their downcast faces. "Well here's something to be exited about. We got a new tub with a gold lining and curtains. Now I think you'll both enjoy that."
"Curtains?" asked Cassandra and Diana.
"Go take a look for yourselves," Tara answered.
They both ran into the other room and raced to the bathroom. The new tub was sparkling white and was encrusted with a gold lining. The curtains shimmered with silver. They both awed and gasped at the way it sparkled.
"I get to use it first!" Diana exclaimed.
"No way!" Cassandra yelled.
"Wanna bet?" asked Diana.
"Your on!" Cassandra smirked.
"Ok go over there and get a Tace so we can flip it and see who goes first," Diana said pointing towards the penny jar.
"Ok," Cassandra responded running over and grabbing a penny.
She ran back over with the penny and got ready to flip it.
"Heads or tails?" she asked.
"Heads," Diana answered.
Cassandra flipped the penny. It flew into the air and landed on the floor. They bent over and looked at it with interest.
"Heads I win and I get to use the shower first!" Diana yelled.
"Fine but you had better be quick!" Cassandra huffed.
Diana ran into the bathroom and quickly bathed. She felt like she was alone with the curtains closed and the curtains kept the steam in better. She got out and headed into her bedroom. She dried off with a towel and put her clothing back on. Hunger panged in her stomach. Without so much as a word she headed down to the kitchens to fetch a snack from the servants. They were very kind and generous to Diana and Cassandra, so they often headed down to the kitchens for breakfast on the go or just a small snack. Apon arrival she noticed an increased number of servants in the kitchen. They all seemed worried of something or someone. Worry showed in their eyes and they averted Diana's gaze. She had never seen them act like this before. They obviously did not want her in the kitchens. Before she could even ask what was wrong someone beside her grabbed her by the wrist.
"And what would you be doing down here missy?" asked a large bulky man.
"I happen to be Princess Diana," she said angrily at him. "And I..."
Her voice suddenly wavered and trailed off. She had gazed into his eyes and let me tell you it's not something you would see every day. Her mind began to cloud up and her thoughts jumbled. She couldn't concentrate and felt her muscles tense under the sudden weight of the intense reality she was seeing. His eyes were completely black and she couldn't move her eyes from his gaze. The darkness of his eyes, they were the shadows from her nightmare. The evil that had called to her from the darkness, the man began to change and she was cut off from the world.
We have come for you those words echoed through her head again and again as the pain from a throbbing headache rippled through her mind.
She was jolted back into reality when she felt a slight stinging on her face. Slowly she opened her eyes. Everything was blurred and she couldn't make out details. All she could tell was that a girl was staring down at her and by the looks of it had just slapped her awake. Her eyes began to focus and she could tell it was Cassandra that had just slapped her. Briefly she wondered why she had done such a thing but it did not matter at the moment.
"Cassandra," she said groggily. "The man, he was..."
"What?" asked Cassandra sarcastically. "What a man you fell in love with? Cause I want some explanations here!"
Something wasn't right about the tone of Cassandra's voice and Diana didn't find it at all appealing. It sounded somewhere near jealousy and hysteria. Without a doubt she had been wondering where Diana had gone but this was ridiculous.
"What are you talking about?" asked Diana in full voice.
"I am talking about you wondering down to the kitchens and meeting some guy then disappearing for a few hours!" She yelled. "And now you are laying on the ground in the courtyard and it is mid-night!"
"What makes you automatically jump to the accusation that I was in love with someone?" asked Diana standing up and brushing herself off. "I don't even know how I got here!"
"Look I'm sorry ok?" Cassandra said trying to calm down. "I was really worried when you disappeared and nobody knew where you went. I tried to find you but came up with nothing so I went down to the kitchens and asked if they had seen you. When they told me that they had last seen you with some guy I immediately thought you had gone off with him."
"I did meet a guy," Diana said pondering, "His eyes were pure black. I looked into them and it was as if he had put a spell on me. Do you remember that dream I told you about?"
Cassandra nodded wondering what Diana was going to say.
"It was the shadows from my dream," she said pacing back and forth. "I was sort of away from the real world. You know like everything around me had disappeared and all I could see was shadow, and that's when he said it. He told me 'We have come for you' and I just blacked out or something."
"Well that explains everything except for what you are doing in the courtyard," Cassandra said unnerved by what she had heard. "That is a mystery to me."
"Unfortunately it is to me too," Diana said sighing exasperatingly. "Unless...Cassandra how did you come to find I was out here?"
"I came out for a walk to ease my stress," she answered. "And I found you lying here on the ground."
"Was anything scurrying away or did you here a rustling?" asked Diana eager for a lead. "Perhaps did I just appear to be on my own?"
"Well when I neared you I thought I saw something or someone running away in the other direction," she said thoughtfully. "It was almost like a shadow really. I was so relieved to have found you that I didn't really care much who it was that I hadn't really seen."
"Well I fear we are not out of danger yet," Diana sighed. "And we will have to be more cautious about what we do from now on."
"I agree," Cassandra nodded
