Dark Uncertainty

Winter fell to her knees before him, changing human.

"If you’re dead, why are you still here? What monster so evil let you loose again?"

Shadow chuckled, "I think you know the answer to that, Winter."

Winter looked up, her eyes threatening to loose her tears, her throat was dry.

"Satan?"

Shadow knelt down next to her, his hand running over her cheek. She pushed away, looking at him, furious and afraid at the same time. He laughed, "If you’re so convinced I’m dead, why do you fear me?"

"I-" she looked down, got up and started to walk away, when she spotted a girl.

"Hello?" the girl asked, in a ragged, cough like voice.

Winter whipped around, Shadow laughing, smiling at her evilly, then disappearing.

"H-hello?" the girl asked again.

Winter looked around quickly, then ran to the girl’s side, supporting her. She was wearing ragged, torn, and bloody clothes. Her head was cut across the forehead. Her red and blond hair was matted with dirt and mud. Leaves stuck out in places.

"What happened? Are you alright?" Winter shot out questions.

"I-I was attacked. Please, I need-"

"Come with me, don’t be afraid."

"Why would I-"

Wings sprouted from Winter’s back, claws grew from her hands. She rolled her jaw as the fangs came into place. The girl looked terrified, kicking to try and get away. Winter held tight, then jumped into the air. The air echoed with the girl’s screams. But she held tighter to Winter, not wanting to fall. After a short flight of having her eardrums being busted, Winter landed at her house, throwing open the door to see May sitting down on a wooden chair. She leapt right back up.

"Winter! I-"

"Sit down," Winter said to the dirtied girl. Hesitantly the girl sat down on a chair next to May.

"WINTER!" May practically screamed in Winter’s ear.

"I can hear you, you don’t have to yell."

"I think I do! You haven’t been listening to a word I say! Maybe this way you’ll hear me!"

"Hear, drink this," Winter said, already distracted and taking care of the girl.

"Thank you," the girl said, drinking the water, then adding, "my name’s Tess."

Winter smiled and nodded, May furious.

"Are you even listening?"

Winter sighed, "Sadly yes."

May’s face got red with anger as Winter turned to her.

"Fine, what’s wrong May? Even though I think I know."

"YOU! You run off and don’t tell anyone anything!!"

"May, I have good reason to-"

"Really? Name one reason, Winter, just one!"

"To protect you."

May fell silent. Tess looked confused at both of them, opening her mouth before quickly shutting it. Winter heard Shadow chuckle, sending her stomach into flips. She pushed through the door outside, falling to her knees. Her stomach lurched and she forced herself to swallow. Shadow stood next to her, staring at her darkly. Winter covered her mouth, trying desperately not to let Shadow see her so weak. She got to her shaky legs, reaching for the wall for support.

"There you go again, Winter, all dramatic!" May groaned walking around her.

"You reek of fear," Shadow said, turning to Winter.

"Maybe you're just wrong," Winter said, turning away, hesitantly walking down the road. Truthfully, however, Winter knew he was right. She was practically shaking because of it. I wish he'd just die and that would be the end of it, she thought bitterly.

"Winter?" Tess asked, coming up next to her. How could she be so foolish to leave Tess alone?

"I'm sorry. Our relationship hasn't been the best."

"I believe you."

"Oh well-wait, what?"

"I believe what you said about Shadow."

Winter flinched, "You do?"

"He killed my father. He's more than capable to come back from the dead."

"You're the heir to the thrown!?!"

"SHUSH!"

"But we've been using a Stuart while we searched for a suitable King or Queen! You have to step up!"

Tess looked down, "But, I don't even know if I can. What if I'm not suitable?"

"I can help! I can help you!"

Trace's face lit up, "Really?"

"Of course!"

"You're doing so much for me. Thank you."

Winter smiled, then reached for a wall again.

"Are you alright?" Tess asked.

Winter glanced at Shadow, who was grinning once again.

"Perfectly fine," she forced herself to say.

"You know that's not true," Shadow mocked.

"That's not true," Tess said. Winter looked from Shadow to Tess, confused.

"What?"

"You just mimicked Shadow."

Tess flinched, "Really?"

"Aye."

Tess shivered. Winter put her arm around Tess's shoulder.

"Hey, don't worry about it. It's just a coincidence."

"Yeah, right."

Winter smiled, walking forward. She was about to help the heir become their Queen.

Suddenly, shouting came from behind. Winter instinctively threw Tess behind her, only to fall back to see Shadow standing there. Tess caught her, pushing her to her feet.

"Really wish you'd stop doing that." Winter growled as she darted past Shadow. As she rounded a corner as a large, white striped blue dragon on all fours, her eyes darted around to see what the commotion was all about. May was in a black dragon's form, standing on her hind legs, fighting with a dark, hooded person. He stayed in the shadows, striking at May with a sword. He was quick. Winter ran to May's side, flames spewing from Winter's mouth. The man lifted up a shield of dragons scales, deflecting the flames. Then the man shouted, "Two? Two dragons in this village? I shall free them from you beasts!"

"No! We're Winter and May! We killed Shadow!"

"More the reason to kill you then!"

"WHAT?!?!"

Taking advantage of Winter and May's surprise, he jumped onto Winter's back, putting his knife into her scales, just barely missing any nerves and veins. Winter froze.

"Stop monster, you've been bested. No need to kill yourself."

"Get off my back, demon."

"Demon? Never heard that one before!"

"Winter-" May said cautiously.

Tess ran around the corner, shouting for help, then stopped a froze.

"And who's this?" the hooded teen whispered in Winter's ear.

"I'm the Queen! Let go of her!" Tess shouted. That got people's attention. They turned their heads, raced to Tess then froze. People gasped and pointed, some shouted.

"My dear people, you've all come to see the fall of your beloved heroes. How touching."

"Let her go!" the people chanted.

"And if I do?"

"We'll give you anything you want!"

"I want the hide of this dragon. I want her-"

He yelped as Winter's spines pricked up and stabbed his leg. She whipped around, and pressed him against the wall.

"Who are you?"

He laughed, then threw something in her eyes. Something got stuffed down her throat as her clenched her eyes closed. She coughed, then feeling fell from all her limbs. She could barely stand. Gasps from the crowd rose in her ears, then pain fell through her body, starting from her back. A cry of pain left her throat, and she pinned herself against a wall, pulling out the long sword from her back. It had just barely grazed beneath her skin.

"Winter?"

She coughed in response.

"Don't worry, we drove him away. Are you alright?"

"Fine," she coughed, "what's in my mouth and eyes?"

"In your eyes is black powder. Don't know exactly what it is. In your mouth is-well, I don't know."

Winter tried to change human, but couldn't. She swallowed and tried again.

Nothing.

"WHAT IS THIS?" She shouted, finally opening her eyes, staring down at Tess.

"I told you, I don't know!"

"It won't let me go human."

But she was no longer listening. She had left, talking to the crowd. People chanted her name. Winter had a feeling this wasn't good.