Chapter. 28 Desperate Dance with Shadows
She looked over at the scowling faces of Olivia and Jessica, who looked like casting protection over her was making them feel physically sick. Oh man I better not wake up tomorrow with a tail or a third breast or something hinky because of something they think I did as a kid.
Diana gasped and lifted her gaze above the raised hands of the Salem coven. Above the sparks building up in the air from the mass of unseen spirit guardians channelling magic towards Diana. She looked to the treeline about 100 yards behind the Robinson twins. Her dark brown eyes widened at the red eyes looking back at her.
“Hear me brothers and sisters!” Anna called out above the humming with a confidence and the euphoria of power ebbing through her veins. All of Knox’ hands were on her and pouring magic into her. “We envelope Diana Mary-Ann Couper, our lost sister returned home, with protection from harm. For as long as the spell holds, none shall harm her body. None shall harm her mind. None shall harm her spirit. None shall allow harm to come to her. She will be truly safe.”
Diana gulped and clenched her hands and eyes shut. Maybe I’m imagining things? I mean, the whole coven is here right? A good few hundred people with their spirit guardians. Surely if there was a monster a football pitch away from us, they would know it? Right? Diana opened her eyes again and whimpered. Not only where the red eyes still there, but the shadow beast was walking across the field towards them.
“G-guys there’s-” The beast snapped his right hand up, reaching towards her with a grin of sharp white teeth. Diana’s voice squeaked and then she felt like it was being pulled down into her chest. She tried to scream but no sound came out. Her hands flew to her throat and she stared with wide brown eyes as the living shadow stalked forward. They can’t see it. They can’t sense it. I can’t speak! How is it doing that? Diana threw her head from side to side to try and catch someone’s eyeline, but they all had their eyes closed. Even Anna had her head raised high with her hands and her concentration unwavering from her chanting. Someone has to be looking at me-wait a minute?!?! Not looking but glaring! Diana desperately waved her hands at Olivia and Jessica. True to form, the blonde women were the only witches with their eyes wide open and staring daggers at her. Unenthusiastically reciting the protection spells with the rest of the coven. As if they are my only hope. Diana started jumping up and down and throwing her hands forward to point behind them. OH COME ON! LOOK BEHIND YOU! She mimed ‘behind you’ over and over. The creature raised his left hand up and wagged a shadowy claw at her.
Then her whole world swayed and turned to shades of white and grey. Like the colour had drained from the sky, the field, and the people all around her. The Coven continued to chant and didn’t notice the way Diana silently screamed. She trued to turn and run towards Anna and Elaina, but her feet were stuck. She looked down, frantic at being restrained, and saw a web of vines deeply rooting her to the spot. She whimpered as the green tendrils crept up around her ankles to hold her steadfast.
Her heart leapt into her head and her bottom lip parted from the top to tremble. Tears welled in her eyes and she could do nothing but watch as the Shadow beast walked through the Robinsons like they were the spectre, not he. Diana’s heart thundered violently against her chest and she clutched it as her head raised with his approach. As he came to stand before her his body was tall, firm and filled with swirling darkness. She couldn’t tell if it was smoke or shadow that he was made of. Ether way he was blurred at the edges. The only distinct features she could make out were his arching horns, the sharp tips of his fingers, his white teeth and crimson eyes. Red rubies with black pupils that were like dark explosions.
“We cast protection on Diana!” Anna called out behind her.
“I cast a claim upon Dyani.” His voice made a snake curl up and hiss in her stomach. Diana couldn’t look away as his fangs and dark lips curled with amusement around his words.
“None can harm her.”
“I claim her voice.” He reached a colossal hand up and took hold of her throat. Not enough to restrict her breathing, but tight enough that Diana cried like these were her last minutes alive. “She shall not speak of me or memories of me, to anyone else.”
“Her mind, body and spirit are safe.”
“Her mind, body and spirit are mine.”
Like hell they are! Diana tried to scream up at him but nothing came out. She tried to grip his wrist but her hands just fell through the shadows like they weren’t there. Yet, she could feel his grip at her throat? He can touch me but I can’t touch him? Slowly the creature lowered from his superior height to stare down into her eyes. He was so close to her face she could feel his phantom breath beat down on her. It was hot and smelt of plants, but she didn’t know which ones. Oh screw this! Diana tried to thrash whatever she could. Her feet were ensnared, but her hands weren’t. She flung them about her. She even waved her arms through his body with such force she clapped her hands together and stung her palms. “Stop that.”
Diana did stop, only to grin with rebellion and start furiously clapping her hands together. The bastard can silence my voice, but not any other sound I can make! I can’t shout but I can clap! “Dyani you must-”
Elaina lowered her green eyes from the heavens and noticed that Diana was standing at an odd angle. Like she was supporting her weight on the back of her heels. Her back was arched and she was clapping up and her mouth was moving ten to the dozen. Yet she wasn’t saying anything. Her gaze dropped and saw at last that her feet were trapped without a web of vines.
“SISTERS AND BROTHERS DIANA IS BEWITCHED!” The redhead ran forward and threw her hands forward to send a gale ahead of her. It’s about time?!! Diana grinned up at the monster. Your move asshole.