Soul of Darkness Chapter 4

For Everything

Galatin’s eyes remained fixed upon her. Though he could not quite understand the purpose of her estate, he felt the same deep down; a feeling of rejection, of unimportance, and a meaningless life. Feeling sympathy for her Galatin could not turn away his gaze and wept from within.

Calina, unknowing she was being watched, continued to stay in the downpour of rain that continued to fall. She was now completely soaked and didn’t show any care of her position. She loved her father and supported his career but at times wished deep within that she could have something simpler, nothing more than a normal life, with a normal family. Before her mother died she had but a glimpse of that lifestyle. Sadly that dream had vanished the day she left this world.

Her mother loved flowers. It seemed on days of solitude that the garden was the only place she could feel close to her mother’s spirit, the only place where she could feel free and loved. 

Arising from the bench Calina slowly moved towards the shed in which Galatin had been hiding. Galatin had to think quickly, she was at the door and there wasn’t enough time to reopen the passage. He looked at his options. The room was small and had little us but to store a few plows and hand tools. Why was she coming this way? He thought. Swiftly he ran behind the door as it slowly opened, he hoped she would not open it too far.

She entered the room. Somehow she knew that something was different within the shed. The silence and stillness of the room brought a shiver down Calina’s spine. Looking throughout the room she noticed nothing at first, nothing but an old shed. Then she looked down in front of her and noticed a fresh wet puddle. Someone was close.

Scanning throughout the shed Calina was able to see what was usually expected in nothing more than a normal tool shed. Still, she knew something wasn’t right.

 Galatin watched her closely from behind the door. He had never been this close to a woman before let alone one so fair and beautiful such as he had before him. He didn’t think of what he was doing that very moment, nor did it even occur to him that he could be in some danger. Just the fact that he was within the city walls could have the grievous of consequences. All those thoughts had left him. He could only think of one thing, and leaving wasn’t one of his options.

The young maiden had now found to her knowledge that she was alone, though the thought still lingered in her mind as she moved toward the far end of the shed. Kneeling down she slowly pulled out a small brick from the floor revealing a hidden space beneath it.

A small leather bound book lay within. It was old and tattered with nothing of value to the common eye. It was her mother’s diary, one of the few heirlooms she had of her. Carefully she opened the book and to Galatin’s surprise it bore no written words, the book contained simple yet beautiful flats of flowers within its pages.

Gracefully, Calina raised a small white pansy she had picked from the garden. The beauty was astounding and yet delicate to the touch. She examined it closely as tears developed in her eyes. Carefully she placed it onto a blank page of the leather bound book.

“I brought this to you mother, I thought you might like it,” She wept softly as she closed the book quiet enough that she hoped no one would see her. Perhaps it was the words written within it that made her feel so touched or that it was the last connection she felt she had. She knew that there was no way to bring her back. The book however in some ways brought her hope, hope that someday she would see her again.

Looking up from her focus, her sight suddenly caught a glimpse of a mirror reflection from the blade of the plow next to her. She saw her face and her tears as they streamed down her cheeks. But then noticed something else, there was someone behind her. Quickly she turned towards the door where Galatin had been watching, he was gone. Her heart pounded and her blood ran cold. Someone was watching her, she could feel it.

 “Alright, you can come out now, I won’t say anything,” she said as she arose and slowly walked toward the door. She looked closely from the door way, there was silence. Only the sound of the rain drops hitting heavily on the roof. Satisfied and a bit calmer she turned back toward the safe and faced a cold, damp young Elf in her path.

She attempted to scream but was grabbed and muffled quickly by Galatin who swiftly dragged her into the trees of the garden and disappeared into the bushes.

“Don’t scream! I’m not going to hurt you nor have I any intentions to do so,” Galatin said holding her tightly and muffling her mouth. “I am going to remove my hand now, are you going to scream?” She shook her head. Slowly Galatin removed his hand and his clutch.

Calina now free moved away from the stranger toward the wall still hidden amongst the branches. Her eyes fixed themselves on the wet mysterious stranger. She wanted to scream and run but something from within stopped her. There was something about him that she had never seen before and soon her fear suddenly changed to curiosity.

Galatin slowly approached her with his hands up in disarm, “I am sorry I startled you my lady, I was merely walking through the woods when I stumbled on a small…”

“Who are you?” Calina interrupted him as she caught her breath.

Galatin sighed; he knew this was going to end badly. Why did he get himself into this, he thought what was he thinking. “I am a shadow nothing more my lady.”

She backed up into the wall, holding her breath, “Where did you come from?” she asked now barely breathing once again.

“The woods, not far from here, I am not usually welcome in the city so I am inclined to keep to myself amongst other things, my lady.”

“Please sir, don’t call me your lady. I am but the governors daughter not a queen or a politician but if its money you want I promise you my father will see to it that you get it, just don’t hurt me.” she began to sink lower toward the ground from shock. She didn’t know what to do nor seemed to have any options.

“Forgive me once again,” Galatin was now ready to disappear or at least he hoped he could have as he looked upon the frighten maiden before him.

“Just tell me what you want.  My father will see to it that you will receive it,” she thought for a moment and the reality came to her. “At least he will, once he notices I am gone.” She lowered farther to the ground and began to weep.

Galatin stooped down toward her level and gently touched her hand. He had no idea what he could possibly say to help her. Struggling to find the words he finally spoke, “Please, don’t cry, I am sorry for the intrusion and for startling you it wasn’t my intention to do so. It’s just…when I saw you there was nothing more important for me in that very moment than to see you and to see your beautiful smile again.” He bowed his head in shame and embarrassment. The young maiden however had suddenly gone silent. He couldn’t believe he just said that. How foolish his wording was.

“I’ll take my leave then, forgive me once more.” He arose to his feet and began to walk toward the passage. The worst had happened, he knew it would end poorly and here he was experiencing it up front. Turning away felt as if he was tearing off his own flesh, the pain was unbearable almost as if he was meant to be there but had run into a dead end. His feelings couldn’t lie, she was perfect but it was impossible.

“Wait,” she turned quickly her eyes now red dry from her tears, she had wiped her face and was now attempting once again to go for the professional look. “What did you say to me?”

He turned back toward the maiden, “That I would like to see you smile once again.”

“No not that,” her eyes looked into his. “You said nothing else was important.”

He gazed back at her from the distance. Her green eyes glittering within the light passed the chapped tear dried skin. Galatin nodded, “Not as Important as you,” he turned once more and was about to disappear into the shed.

“Wait, what did you say your name was?” Calina now on her feet ran up to him and gently grabbed his arm, then noticing what she was doing quickly backed down and turned away.

“They call me a Dark One, born of Evil,” he lowered his head in shame as he spoke; it was aggravating for him to even mention his past especially to her. She was ever so beautiful and any moment now he knew she was going to run and it would all be over.

She stared at him with shocking eyes for what seemed like forever, then lightly touched his face and looked into his eyes. Galatin quivered with fear, it felt as if she was staring within his very soul.  

A kind smile appeared across her face, “I don’t see that in you.”

He stared back into her eyes, something was different about her, something that he couldn’t make out. She was sincere, there was nothing hidden. Her honesty and delicate voice sounded within his ear.

Blushing and timid Galatin finally broke the gaze. “I…must get going.” He stuttered as he then turned his back away from the girl.  

Walking back toward the tunnel entrance Galatin felt a power come over him he had not felt before. He felt warm and safe, a haven he never felt before at that moment. Stopping suddenly he sighed, “Its Galatin.”

“Galatin, the Dark One,” she pondered for a moment. Her fear that was once with her had now been transformed into not just curiosity but also a desire to continue what had been started. “Calina”

He turned back toward her, for the first time in his life he felt wanted and needed by someone of his own race. The force between them was more powerful than he had ever imagined. His heart now racing rapidly, beating heavily within his chest. He looked toward her and smiled, then disappeared into the shadows.

 Like before and always in her life Calina once again found herself utterly alone. All that she had were her memories which she visited quite often. She reviewed her recent experience again and again in her mind, what had just happened? Had their meeting been a blessing or a curse? By now it didn’t matter, the only question that could make sense at that time in Calina’s mind was if she was ever going to see him again.

“Goodness gracias child!” A high pitched yell billowed from the castle steps. Martha, one of the servants of the Palace walked swiftly toward Calina, “Dear heavens you’re soaked from head to toe! Come inside now and get changed before you catch your death!” The old Elf covered Calina with a blanket and walked her back into the palace.

Walking slowly the two of them made their way up the winding staircase and down the upper corridor until they arrived at Calina’s quarters. It was a large room completely decorated with personal items, on the far side of the room there was a balcony where Calina had spent many hours looking toward the woods wondering what could be so far out there. Martha scurried about the room and attempted to make the fire which was located on the opposite side grow stronger for warmth.

“Dear child! Wandering about in the cold rain waiting for her death to catch her why I should say! Are you mad?” Martha murmured to herself as she continued to gather warm clothes and prepare the bed for her mistress.

Calina paid little attention and moved toward the balcony, the view seemed even more beautiful than before. The rain had ceased and the sun was beginning to appear amongst the green treetops beyond. Birds chirped through the woods as if announcing the storm had passed and had brought a new beauty to the world.

Then suddenly she noticed something rather peculiar on the railing. It was a small blue rose freshly cut with a note. She picked it up, it was quite beautiful and wasn’t from any of the gardens amongst the palace nor had she seen anything like it before.

Carefully she read the note, she noticed the paper immediately as that from her book. Each word echoed in her head as if they were being spoken, “My lady Calina, it has been quite an adventure and we continue to look onward for what is to come. This adventure is not over for it has only begun, I feel we shall meet again one day and I hope that that day will be soon. Know also that no matter what happens between us meeting you was worth everything that I can lose.”

She folded the note and placed it out of sight from Martha; she wondered what she was to do now. She was now alone and yet she wasn’t sad nor felt any pain of the matter. His face was embodied in her mind. No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t stop thinking about him nor did she want to.

Placing the simple flower against her heart, Calina looked out toward the woods from her window and smiled. She knew now that he would return and she would wait for him and hope everyday never ceasing to think of him, Galatin the Dark One.