Hey Everyone! I'm happy that people seem receptive to Shade. Please continue to let me know your thoughts and give me feedback! I only own Shade, Spook and her sprites!
A figure zoomed through the streets of Santa Clara del Cobre, a small town in Mexico, smiling at the festival below. While the living prepared alters and feasts for their lost loved ones, knowing that they were there with them, Shade observed everything that they could not. The living and spirits danced through the streets as one. She watched with tears in her eyes as a woman set food upon her altar for her husband, who died a mere two weeks prior, sharing in her pain. Just an hour ago, he had come and pleaded with her to come to this plane and now he stood beside his wife. Both were only 23 years of age. What the man knew and the women would discover, was that a young life lay in her womb.
Turning to another family, she smiled softly. For the sight was not unfamiliar. There in a small home the spirit of a man was seeing his baby granddaughter for the first time. She looked more like him, than any of her living relatives. A young toddler, the man's grandson, stood to the side smiling without truly understanding the going ons of the adults. With a soft wave of her hand, the boys eyes flashed and a grin filled his face.
"Gwanpa?" he stated looking at the man, who turned to him in shock along with the living adults, "Gwanpa!" he screamed in glee.
Shade's eyes shown with the happiness as she saw the look on child and spirit's face. The ghost eyes, as she called them, would not last long. But it lasted long enough. She could only do this to children and it rarely worked even then, but it was a gift when it did. Normally, she left these events alone, but the family had begun to fall into sorrow. It had been a difficult year. Money was tight. She knew that they needed a little extra something to continue on.
Suddenly, she froze. One of her sprites had faded. This only happened when they were too weak to deal with the obstacle. Something was wrong and what worried her most was that it was from the Gate. Within seconds, she faded into the shadows, reappearing at what appeared to be a great arch. Looking around she saw her sprites battling to keep the gate closed. Reaching out from the arch was a beastly arm which reeked of something very old and very dark. Quickly, she tried to force it back, only to thrown into back hitting some boulders nearby. Painfully, she forced herself to stand glaring at the creature who dared to go against her command. Without another thought, she summoned her other sprites in the area, gathering the magic placed within each one and sent blast strong enough to force the creature back through the Gate. Then she quickly fused the sprites that came at her command with those at the gate, strengthening them so that they could keep it closed. Once sealed, she collapsed to the floor in exhaustion. Never had she been forced to use so much of her power at once...
"This is not good...Its getting stronger...if I hadn't..." She trailed off in thought, suddenly noticing something hovering in the trees nearby. Her eyes narrowed as she observed one of her own sprites...but its color was off and the eyes...
Her eyes widened in shock and quickly materialized her dagger, throwing it at what was once her ally. As it screamed in pain and faded, Shade fell to the ground clutching her heart. Each sprite was bound to her, but for some reason that hurt more than it should. What had happened to her precious ally?
Slowly rising, she once more stared upon the great arch that acted as a gateway between the spirit and mortal plane. Her sprite must have been what had caused that..thing to break through...Sending out her magic to ensure that the remainder were still her own, she called Spook to her side.
"Watch them my friend...You are stronger of will. Your soul still your own. Call me if another problem arises...As much as I despise the thought. This proves that I am weakening. I need help..."she stated glancing at the moon, "Tonight I go to the North Pole." Without another word, Shade faded away from sight. This would not be a pleasant meeting.