*Heads Up, readers!* This chapter will be a little sappy for a moment. But believe me, it's necessary! Anyways, enjoy!
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It was the sense of emptiness, that had finally awakened me. As my senses gradually began to stir, I realized that I was laying on the cold ground of what seemed to be some type of dark prison cell.
I forced myself to remember how I had gotten here. I remembered that there had been a familiar sensation, and then I felt so alone... so cold, and now, I was here... wherever here was? Suddenly, I remembered something even more important than my whereabouts... DEVIAN!!
Panicked, I bolted into a sitting position but was unable to sit up properly. That was when I realized that both of my wrists were chained to the floor.
As I struggled against the chains, I heard a familiar voice— "I would just forget about that, Meralise. Those things are not going to break."
I didn't want to believe it. That voice... I squinted into the darkness."SALIS!!"
The deep, yet gentle voice that I had missed so very much, finally spoke— "I wondered when you were going to figure it out," and with that, Salis stepped out from the shadows that the corners had cast.
"Salis..." I still couldn't believe it. But here he was, walking towards me. "It's really you..." I choked back a sob.
Salis stopped when he was right in front of me. And when he did, I forgot everything; the current situation, the chains that were holding me back... Devian. All that mattered was Salis.
As Salis knelt down next to me, "Of course it's really me," he wiped the tears that had escaped from my eyes. My memory took me back to when Salis and I were still together— anytime that had I felt sad, or lost, Salis had always been there for me. I remembered now... that was why I had fallen in love with him.
I watched as Salis' gaze fell towards my chains. "Those look painful," he said softly, taking my hands, "why don't we get these off?"
Before I could even nod, I felt the chains melting into air. That's right! I remembered, that just as I was a time weaver, Salis was a time unraveler. He could undo almost everything that time created or destroyed.
After the last bit of chain had faded away, I threw my arms around Salis, and held on tight. I never wanted him to leave.
"Oh Mera," Salis sighed, as he drew me into a rather surprising and passionate kiss, "I thought I had lost you forever." I felt a tear from Salis, fall onto my shoulder.
"And I, you." I said, gently pulling away from Salis' embrace. It was my turn to wipe at Salis' tears.
We both began to smile. It felt as if we had never been separated.
"But... I don't understand," I said, suddenly confused, "How did I get here? Better yet, how do we get out?"
Salis' smile began to fade. "That's just like you," his voice was cold.
I know that my eyes showed just as much hurt, as confusion. Salis and I had just been rejoicing. Why was he suddenly disturbed?
"I don't understand, Salis," I said, as I began to back away, "what's going on?"
But instead of an answer, the room around us began to fade, and Salis began to turn a shadowy-black color. This wasn't my Salis at all. It was the Lord of Shadows, who currently had control over Salis.
*Note to self*: I'm such an idiot!🤦♀️
As I looked frantically around for a chance to escape, I realized that we were no longer in the prison cell. Instead, Soul thieves, or Time Shadows, as you know them, were writhing their way around us, trying to get away from any amount of light. That was when I remembered something. Or rather, someone...
"Where. Is. Devian?" I tried to make my voice seem intimidating.
The Lord of Shadows gave a harsh laugh, and waved his hand. Thinking that he was going to hit me, I ducked out of his way, and closed my eyes.
But the strike never came. I slowly opened my eyes, and as soon as I did, I wished that I had not. For there, right in front of me, was Devian's shadowy body. His eyes were closed, and a small line of black liquid (shadow blood) trickled out of his mouth.
"DEVIAN!" I cried, as I fell to my knees, checking for any signs of life. Thankfully, I felt a weak heartbeat when I gently placed my hand on the boy's chest.
"Oh Devian... what has he done to you?" I whispered
"This is all your fault," the Lord of Shadows spoke suddenly, interrupting my thoughts.
I turned towards the shadow. I felt the anger building up. "What!?" I snapped.
"This," the shadow pointed at Devian, then continued— "Salis was your fault, too. He did love you. Trust me, Meralise, you are all he ever thinks about..."
I felt my heart twist. While Salis was still important to me, I had to find a way for Devian and I to escape.
"What have you done to Devian!?" I demanded.
"Oh, it's just a little spell, nothing to worry about."
That did not sound good! "Let him go," I begged, "let him go back to his friends, and... and I will stay."
The Lord of Shadows had a shocked look on his face. It was as if my plea had gotten through to him. However, it became clear that the evil entity had no intentions on releasing Devian and myself, without a price.
"As tempting as that is, my dear," the Lord of Shadows began, "I cannot allow it. You see, as important as I am to Salis, Devian is to you..." the creature's voice faded, as he stared into the distance.
"Please," I asked one last time. "I'll do anything." I at least had to get Devian out of here, or the the other shadows would soon consume him.
The Lord of Shadows thought about this for a moment.l, before— "fine. You may both return to the others."
"What!?" As joyful as it was to hear those words, I felt as if I shouldn't believe it.
"I said, you are free to go," the entity repeated, as it reached out towards Mine and Devian's chests.
I realized too late, what the Lord of Shadows was planning— NO! Not this! "STOP!" But it was too late... the swirling darkness closed around Devian and I.
*In the Shadows' Lair*
The Lord of Shadows' evil laughter rang through the cavern.
He walked over to a bed of stones, and threw off the sheet that was covering the frail and shivering body of Salis.
Salis whimpered and edged away, as the cold air rushed to his almost naked body.
"Shhh," the Lord of Shadows soothed, as he placed a bony hand on the young man's chest.
Although, after all these years, Salis had come to recognize this gesture as one of comfort, nothing could comfort him now, not even his master. In fact, Salis realized that he should begin to fear the shadow that had, in a way, saved him.
"Y-y-you... p-p-promised..." Salis shivered, as he tried to speak. "D-don't d-d-do th-th-this, y-y-you're g-g-going t-to k-k-kill them!"
But the Lord of Shadows just smiled calmly, and said— "Oh? You should have said something sooner, Salis. For I already have done it..."