Page 14 of Shadow's Sinner

“Master, there are things that you just don’t understand.” He wrings his hands in front of him as he looks at me like a kid who was called to the principal's office. “Lakelyn is—”

Mr. Wren is cut off by screaming coming from across the field at another cage. A disciple is tugging one of the girls by her hair across the cold ground. They kick the door of the cage open and fling her inside. She lands on the ground with a thud like a rag doll, screaming and crying for her God that will never save her. I turn back to Mr. Wren and he’s nowhere in sight. Turning in circles looking for him. I see him fleeing to the opposite side of the field, his robe flapping behind him.

Letting out a huff, I tilt my head back looking at the moon shining bright, taunting me. It’s almost time, and it makes my hands sweat with nerves. The crackling of the fire ahead brings me peace as I try to make sense of the emotional turmoil inside of me. Looking down at the brand on my hand, I rub my fingers over it, thinking back to happier times. A time when I had a mother who would help me make sense of the chaos in my mind. When I had a father who was in charge, shouldering the burdens instead. A time when I wasn’t tasked to destroy families for the sake of my own.

“Master Simon.” A disciple, whose name I don’t care to remember, calls for me across the fire. He nods up to the moon, pointing as though it were a beacon. “It’s time, sir.”

Shoving my hands into my pockets, I turn on my heel heading back towards the wooden cage that houses my little shadow. When I get there she’s curled up in the corner, shivering under my cloak, breathing deeply as though asleep. She must sense that I’m here, because her eyes pop straight open, staring directly into mine. The green of her irises sparkling under the moonlight makes my insides twist. She sits up wrapping her hands around her knees waiting for me to say something, anything. I can feel her nerves coming off of her in waves as I unlock the door to her cage swinging it open. Holding out my hand to her, I beckon. “It’s time, Little Shadow.”

Chapter Twelve

My muscles grow weak from pounding on the bars trying to escape. I have no idea why I’m in here, and that should be what I’m trying to figure out. Instead, I puzzle over how I know him. There was something about that look in his eyes when he was staring at me. He makes me feel uncomfortable but safe at the same time. He screams danger, I know this. But I can’t help the little piece inside me that is curious as to his identity.

My hands drop from the bars. Sitting back, I pull his robe over my shoulders and hold it against my chest. Even with its coverage, the wind sends shivers down my spine. My teeth begin to chatter, and I swear they'll crack under the pressure. The moonlight barely gives any light, which terrifies me all the more because I'm afraid of the dark. Sitting in this cage, it’s nodifferent. Every noise sends chills of panic through my veins, my heart races, and my eyes dart around trying to figure out where the noises are coming from. I know it’s useless, but I must do something to keep myself awake. Slowly, my body begins to fall until my head rests against the ground, my eyelids drooping as sleep takes over.

I don’t know how long I've slept before I sense someone watching me. My eyes snap open and are immediately drawn to the hazel-eyed man. I sit up slowly. Pulling my legs to my chest, I wrap my arms around my knees. I wait for him to say something, but he just watches me. I bite my lip, unsure if I should speak first, when his eyes drop down to my mouth. It’s just for a moment, but it’s long enough that I want to question him.

I’m not sure how long we stare at each other before he reaches into his pocket, producing a key. My eyes follow his hand as he unlocks the cage, swinging the door open. He gestures with his hand extended, motioning me towards him. “It’s time, Little Shadow.”

I shake my head before I know what I’m doing. I don’t know what it’s time for, but the glint in his eyes and the fact I was locked in a cage tells me I should do anything but take his hand.

“Don’t make this any harder than it needs to be.”

My head continues to shake as if that’s enough to convince him. I know it’s not.

“I need you to trust me.” He almost sounds sincere. That little voice in my head screams at me not to take his hand. But the look in his eyes tells me another story. I’m just not sure what to believe.

Swallowing back the fear trickling in the back of my throat, my hand trembles as I reach forward. I slip it into his, easing myself out of the cage. His skin is cold to the touch, rough with just the right amount of softness. Helping me to my feet, I look up at the shadow man, his face hidden in the depths of his hood.

“Will you ever tell me your name?” I whisper.

He tilts his head to the side, considering my words. His jaw ticks while his eyes flicker behind me. I don’t dare to look away, afraid that if I don’t hold my ground I’ll never find out his name.

“Tell me one fact that no one knows about you and maybe,” he finally says.

My brows pull together into a frown. Being put on the spot wrecks my nerves and I can’t think of anything.

“I hate liver,” I blurt out.

“Most do, so that doesn’t surprise me. Tell me something else, a secret, your darkest one.”

I swallow, my eyes darting away from him. I can’t tell him. I can’t tell anyone. If anyone knew the thoughts in my head, I would be committed.

“I don’t have one,” I tell him instead. Maybe knowing his name isn’t all that important.

He roughly grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Ah ah ah, I see it on the tip of your tongue. Spit it out.”

I try to shake my head, but the grip he has on my face stops me.

“Be a good girl and tell me.”

My stomach tightens, pressure forcing its way between my legs as I feel something warm and wet build in my center.

“Sometimes I think about killing my parents,” I whisper.

His eyes widen for a moment before he cools his expression. “Why?”

“That’s another secret, and you only asked for one. What's your name?”

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