Shadows

Shadows
Sandra 

He sat there comforting me, but he was the one who was shaken. I had never seen him in this shape before. I have seen him almost die. I have seen him scared for me, pissed off, and murderous, but never like this. He has an emotional weight on him now. If this man is his father, what is he supposed to do about that? Why did the man not stick around? Why didn't he raise him in his image if he was so worried about him carrying his legacy? Why is he so worried about it now? The marriage, I assume. What is wrong with me? Why am I not the best choice for him? The questions and fear swirled around in my mind. After I asked him about moving the wedding to a later date, he was determined not to. He is not in the mood to listen to reason. I know he wants to marry me as soon as possible, but I believe he also wants to prove this “Dragon” can’t do anything to stop him. What if he can? What if I lose him?  I sat there, eyes closed, with his arms around me. I reached up and touched his cheek, trying to comfort him. Though my thoughts were racing, I knew he needed me now more than I needed him. “Jo, I will marry you tomorrow if you want me to. I would have married you yesterday, or months ago when you smuggled me out of hell and brought me home.” I saw his mouth curved up slightly. I knew that saying that would get him. He did kidnap me after all. Like a big bad boogie man. The best thing that ever happened to me.  

I heard a quiet noise coming from his ear. He was wearing his comm. The brothers would know. They would help. They would come to the aide of their king, I am sure. Jay would guard him. Zues would stand beside him. Henry would make him laugh through it. His brothers, who have gotten him through before, would help him through this as well. He pulled back from me and smiled. A smile that barely reached his eyes. “My Darlin Sunshine, they need me in the office. You continue to rest and come down when you are ready to make Henry make you some breakfast.” He winked at me, kissed my forehead, and walked out of the room. I let out a large breath and closed my eyes. I knew I couldn't go back to sleep, but I wasn’t ready to get up either. It had to be still very early. Joseph barely got any rest before this “Dragon” called him. My beautiful King needed rest. He needed to relax. His life is a never-ending battle. He chose it, I know. In a position of power, such as his, someone is always yearning to take it away.  

As I lay there, letting the quiet of the room settle around me. My mind drifted between hope and dread, caught in the unrelenting tide of all that had transpired.  I listened for footsteps in the hall, wondering if he would return or if the weight of leadership would keep him anchored in the office for hours more. The footsteps must be the I know he left outside my door. Despite the turmoil swirling beyond our door, I would continue to be his anchor, to remind him of every word and touch that love. The real, fierce, and undiminished love that would outlast even the darkest threats. Soon, the sun would finish rising, casting light on both the myths and the reality of this Dragon, and I would greet it not just as Sandra, but as Joseph’s Sunshine, ready to brave whatever storm new enemy might bring.  

I tossed and turned for what felt like forever before finally deciding to get up. I jumped into the shower, letting the water run almost scolding hot over me. The heat stung my skin but also loosened the tension I held in my shoulders. The smell of lavender filled my nostrils as I lathered shampoo through my hair. The lavender seemed to have more of a calming effect than it had ever had before. The intensity of tiredness I felt as I walked out of the shower seemed to take over me. I slowly pulled on my clothes for the day. I walked slowly to the bedroom, reached for my phone, now feeling like something definitely wasn't right. My eyes started to become blurry as I searched the bedside table for my COMM. It wasn't where I usually leave it. My stomach clenched as I realized I must have left it somewhere else or someone had taken it while I slept. Maybe Joseph placed it in the charging dock. I looked towards the small black box on the dresser. The little charging light wasn’t there. A flicker of unease crawled up my spine, the nagging paranoia that something was wrong. How could anyone make it inside this room. It is guarded like Fort Knox, and I had armed guards in front of my bedroom door. My head was spinning. The more I moved, the drowsier I became. I fought to keep my eyes open and looked for my phone. It was sitting on the nightstand, plugged in. I sat down on the bed again, dizzy.  

My hands trembled as I tried to steady myself on the edge of the bed. The haze in my mind thickened with every shallow breath. I gripped the edge of the mattress, struggling to discern whether the heaviness in my limbs was from exhaustion or something more sinister. The memories of the night before—the chilling call, Joseph’s haunted eyes, the lingering sense that the Dragon’s presence was closer than ever—converged into a single thread of dread twisting in my gut. I forced myself to focus, knowing that succumbing to panic would only heighten the vulnerability I already felt. With a shaky resolve, I scanned the room again for my comm. Heart pounding as I realized every moment wasted could mean danger not just for me but for all of us. The soft glow of the sunshine bled across the bedroom floor, and I reminded myself that I was not alone in this fight. Whatever was happening, I would not let fear win. I grabbed my phone, willing my thoughts into order, and prepared to call for Joseph. My eyes fighting to close, I got the phone to call. “Hello? Sunshine? What do you need darlin.....” His voice sounded distant. A shadow caught the corner of my eye. Suddenly I felt arms wrapped around my body. The phone stayed on the bed, lit up, with his voice, as the masked figure carried me away.  

I flew out of the bathroom window and across the yard. All I could do was wonder how I was flying. I don’t have wings. How and I float above the ground? I heard a woman’s voice, and then someone put me somewhere cold and dark. The darkness swallowed me, and I couldn’t fight my eyes anymore. They closed, as the small space I was thrown in seemed to move slowly forward; my consciousness quickly went just as dark.