Chapter 2: Lady of the Shadows and the Broken Clock
I was once a young girl with out a care in the world. Yet I knew that my time would not be long. No one knew what was wrong with me except that the Elders say I was born with a broken clock. I did not know what this meant for me, but I made up my mind to live each day to it's fullest. My parents let me grow up wild and woolly as they wanted me to have few regrets when it was my time to pass. Though a free spirit, I still behaved well and obeyed my parents well. At the age of 15 things changed for me.
One day a lady happened upon me in the market. Looking at me she smiled and patted my head. Strange as it seemed, I felt a jolt as her hand touched my hair. With each pat a shock and a loud "TICK" rung through my head.
Never in my days seen a lady so fare. Her skin whiter than the winters snow, hair of the boldest auburn like the autumn leaves a blaze after the first frost, lips like plum petals of the spring and eyes as gentile as the summer rain. Her presence was to say the least was somewhat magical. Like a fairy or goddess from a story book.
As I asked who she was she simply replied, "I am known by many names and titles. But to this mountain village of yours I am simply called 'The Lady of the Shadows'. I have mended your clock, so do good deeds in the time given, and you will see me again." With that I stood ramrod still as if my feet were glued to the walkway. She joined a rather dashing looking man who turned his head to glance back with a sly grin on his face. They held each others hands, turned towards a shaded alleyway, then proceeded on their way. As my thoughts cleared I picked up my feet that felt like lead and ran to the alleyway filled with so many questions. Once reaching, breath heaving, I glanced inside to find no one there. Like they had faded into the misty shadows not a trace was to be found of them.
Thinking back I remembered twelve pats total. Did this mean days, weeks, months, years? How was I to know the meaning of her words? So as to test the words given to me, I took as my mission, just to see. I returned home and hugged my dear mum and sweet granny. Granny looked me up and down before she said, "Something about you seems different to day, but I just can't quite put my finger on it. Perhaps it is just my old mind playing tricks on me. Then again it could just be that you are growing up." I smiled and politely excused my self and went to the pantry to put away the goods from the market before going to my bed.
Having a tiny home my and granny's beds were built into the walls not far from the cook stove. There were cabinets beneath and cupboards above for storage. On the far wall my siblings had a bunk bed style set up, rather than having storage. There was a harvest table and stools at the center of the room. Mum and Poppa had their quarters in the loft above the pantry. It was a cozy home full of love.
As days passed I did all I was asked by my family and set out to do a good deed or so each day. Some days doing as many as five. I became known as the sweetest girl of our town. I even met a handsome boy who claimed he was 16. We became fast friends. Many times we completed deeds together to spend time with one another. Our days passed seamlessly. Before we knew it a year had passed; nine months since our friendship had begun. With not even a word he simply vanished. My heart broke and I worried that something had happened to him.
Days later I saw the lady once more. She sat at a coffee shop near a window accompanied by the same dashing man as the first time I had met her. Smiling I waved and she returned one as well. Seeing the sadness in my eyes, she excused herself from the man and came to my side. Cryptically she whispered to me, "You are just whom I have come to see. I am looking for a bride for my son. I have chosen you as I had given you borrowed time and you have repaid it in full with your good deeds. Now you must come with me. I can see your clock is running towards its last thirteen hours. At that time I will come for you. Take this chance to show your love to the ones you care for and say your goodbyes to them." I sorrowfully answered to her, "Alright, but there is one that I care for that has gone away that I won't be able to say goodbye to. He is my friend and a part of my heart." She replied, "I will make sure that you will see him once more before the end of this day."
With that I returned to my home feeling more tired than I had ever felt in my life I went to sit for a meal with my family. I explained that I would be going away soon, still not entirely knowing what it means. Instead of saying goodnight as I laid down to rest I said goodbye. My family must have prepared for things long ago as no one seemed to show sadness at the thought of my coming departure. As the Elders for told, I was the girl with the broken clock.
After everyone was fast asleep in the night I left my bed and tidied it up. Taking a small lantern, lighting it, I headed towards the center of the village. A carriage of black hitched to a team of stallions awaited me. The Lady leaned forward and extended her hand to help me board. The team pulled forward and headed to the alleyway only to stop shortly at a shadowy gate. As the gate opened I saw someone waiting on the other side.
"My son is here to join us as we head to our destination and to take you as his bride." said the lady breaking the silence. As the carriage door opened for him to board tears ran down my face. Looking straight at me was my missing friend. My heart leapt and I hugged him tight. The lady had kept her word that I would see him once more. Our destination once we arrived was revealed to be the realm of shadows, or to some the realm of the newly dead. Our happiness abounded as we were united. We have spent the centuries passing back and forth between the realms.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone