Dancing with my Shadow

I look nervously at the clock on the wall. It was getting close to nine o’clock at night. I unloosen a button from my dress jacket, allowing a bit of freedom to breathe from the tight fabric. My hands tremble a bit so I stuff them in my trouser pockets, clenching them into fists to stop my nervous shakes.

Thankfully I snuck into the Lord’s dance hall, managing to light up a few candles to brighten this grand dark room. Not too bright to gather any attention from the guards outside, but bright enough for me to see what I'm doing. In this great hall, I place several little music boxes, each holding an hour of the Lord’s greatest collection of majestic sounds. All of them are at the right spots where it can be heard all around the hall.

I catch my reflection, seeing myself wearing the fanciest outfit that I had. A navy blue suit a bit tight but still fits, with a plain grey bandana around my neck. It would only come out of the small wardrobe and be of use for those incredibly fancy occasions that the Lord hosts. I even spent what I could for these lavish shoes to finish this elaborate puzzle of high-class fashion.

So I stood there, looking at my absolute finest. Taking the risk to be in his Lord’s favourite room, taking out his valued possessions and setting it up as my own little band. As I stand here, ready, waiting for it to arrive.

The ballroom is spacious and fancy. It exceeds even the rumours, the descriptions and the tall tales of the beautiful noble men and women who danced in this very room. There were columns of white marble with golden etchings, crystal chandeliers that glitter a bit from the few candle lights, and the detailed glass windows in forms of beautiful mosaics that radiate from the moonlight. I look at the huge doors that took most of my strength to push open, it’s the only entrance to the ballroom with stunning stairs coming down. I stand ready, dead centre of the ballroom, staring at those doors. Just a minute left.

I take a deep breath, remove my hands out of my pockets, massaging my neck. To ease the stress and loosen up of what I’m about to do. I straighten up, hands behind my back and chest out, like a gentleman waiting for their partner to arrive.

The grand heavy doors smoothly open up. I feel myself gulp nervously as a gentle wind breezes into the room. It is pitch black from the other side of the door, nothing comes out or lights come up. I stare at the void, feeling every nerve in me to scream and run. But I hold myself down, feeling my legs clench up to not move. From this abyss at the other side, two glowing violet eyes peer out, as they stare directly into mine. The figure floats in.

The candlelight flickers as this horror enters the scene. This spectral figure looms tall over me by a few inches. This wraith, is dressed like a night sky absent of stars. It slowly floats forward with these tendrils of darkness sprouting like roots and wisps of black smoke that slither in the air. It floats closer, as with invisible feet taking its time towards me. My body goes stiff, my hands clench tight together and my jaw locks up in place. The figure approaches me, as it comes closer, closer and closer as this creature of nightly terrors came ever nearer. I close my eyes and take a deep breath remembering of a helpful conversation. Sadly it could have been my last.

“Stop running away, young servant, soon you must face this darkness, soon!” the old witch crowed.

“How? I’ve tried all I could!” I groaned in frustration.

“It is intangible! I can’t trap it, I can’t expel it, neither could harm so I can fight it!” I yelled panicking, pacing from one end to another in her little hut filled magical trinkets to shiny bubbly pots and her strange pets.

“I talked with all sorts now. From the humble priests at the Church to great Holy Crusaders and those hunters who venture into the darkness to fight those things. People said to use this, then that, this or whatever they think will try to help with my situation. But nothing worked on this great terror. They have followed me, searched for me and have gotten close to claiming my soul! I can’t get rid of this shade or beat it back where it once came from. So how should I face this demon?!” I screamed at the old hag.

“Did I say that you should harm the shadow?” the witch asked.

“Well… no. But what must I do?” I pleaded to the witch.

“I only said that you must face it, but you have not given me the chance to even say how you must stave it back.” she squinted at me with a disappointed tone.

“Forgive me I-I, I’m tired of running and being scared. What must I do? What should I do?” I finally asked, exhausted from the stress of it all.

“Simply, you must…”

Invite it to dance. I was desperate, I tried everything and if this what I must do, then I must. I will. I opened my eyes, it was now within two metres apart from me and coming closer.

“I ah…” I try to speak up but my frighten nerves held me back.

Strangely and thankfully the shadowy figure stops. Perhaps it is allowing me my last few words.

“I mean, ahem!” I took a pause, clear my throat and start over. Keeping my nerves tamed as best that I can under this pressure.

“Would you like to dance with me?” I ask and outstretch my hand raising it towards this creature and look at the face of the void.

The creature’s head cocks in confusion at me, as it looks at this feeble defenceless prey that I am. Maybe considering this foolish request, or just deciding how to best take me down as quickly as possible. I pray and hope this was the right thing to do. If not, I would at least be at my best when I die.

Unexpectedly, a sound came from this creature of darkness. The sound it made is human, not animalistic or of fiendish origin. But human. It didn’t match or connect with its appearance at all, a surprise nonetheless. The voice of this fiend of shadows didn’t sound terrifying, it sounds shy, sweet and innocent.

“Can I?” it asks, in a small feminine voice. Breaking all expectations already of what I thought this demonic voice would be, I simply stood in shock.

“Can I?” she repeats once more. It takes me a moment to register properly especially from a monster made in pitch black have such a soft voice.

“Uh, yes. My apologies, yes I would like you too.” I respond taken aback by the very pleasant sound of this fiend.

“Would you do me the pleasure of dance-dancing with me?” A stutter escaping through my lips as I ask properly for her hand to dance.

The creature of the void lowers down, no longer looming but short. Surprisingly, adorably short. It transforms from this frightening ethereal spirit constructed in shadows to a physical thing, a person. The darkness fades away like smoke in a strong wind, revealing the true form of this demonic being. A girl, a petite girl who if she went on her tippy toes we would be face to face. She had wavy, raven black hair, skin pale like marble and her face with round, smooth and soft features. She wore a long black illusion dress with black velvet sleeved gloves. Her eyes were a royal purple, complimented with this black, glittery smokey cosmetic eye-shadow. Yet her lips were a shiny crimson red, eerily like blood. She is beautiful in this mysterious alluring way that could lead a man to certain doom.

“And the music?” she asks as she fiddles with her fingers, waiting almost nervously for the sounds that will take them away.

I rush to the tables and went to work on the Lord’s musical contraptions. Fidgeting through the music boxes, I made sure that they were timed perfectly. I even picked those that were perfect for couples to dance well and in rhythm with. I press a button on the first music box, the box gave a series of clicks as a slow smooth tune starts from the box. I went back to her, nervous but ready as I outstretch my hand out to her.

She takes my hand, walks closer towards me, I put my hand to her hip and slowly pulled her closer to me. I hear the gentle click-clack of shoes onto the floor as she gingerly steps toward me. Her velvet hand feels soft and real, up close she smells of cool peppermint. I lay my hand on her hip, she didn’t feel like an illusion as I hold the curve of her body under her silky dress. She then wraps her other arm around me resting her palm on the broad of my back. She gets closer and lays her head on my chest. We sway to the song, dancing gracefully, but with care, step by step to the beat. Our bodies cradle each other as we dance in this large candle-lit hall.

This demon who I believed will viciously take my soul, is now in my arms. Even as we slowly dance around the room, I could feel her hum along to the music, like a person trying to keep with the rhythm of the song. Carefully we dance, I felt the chill of fear stroke with my spine so I didn’t stumble a single step. Yet this beautiful fiend timidly followed with each step, worried as well to not step on my feet or fall out of rhythm.

It took a while for us to feel a sense of any self-confidence to be able to dance like the nobles who would in this great hall. I start to move more freely, not just sway and waltz, but properly dance. For the tunes start to shift from the slow sober sound to a joyful beat, so I took her in and confidently led her across the dance floor.

This once terrifying creature, as well as strode along with me as we cut the dance floor. I felt her relax and move in sync with me, I believe I even witness a smile break out from her. We dance no longer feeling the fear, stress or anxiety that weighed us down. I spun her around, she twirls under my hand, her dress skirt whirling with her. She seemed like a rose blooming from a long winter.

I no longer see her as this untouchable spirit of before, she feels so real as my hands held her waist, feeling her body under the dress. This spirit of darkness who once appeared dangerous and terrifying has transformed into this gorgeous girl dancing with me.

The hours fly by, going through from music box to music box, shifting to upbeat sounds to soothing tones, that we were on the second to last box. At this point, we were finally hugging each other close as we sway side to side. Her face nuzzles close to my neck as we sway to the dulcet tune. Usually, I would have flinched to those that got close to my neck, but something deep allowed me to let her pass. We never said a word, as we dance together. Comfortable as our actions and the sound of the music spoke for us. As we questioned each other with each move and answered with another action of our own. What was once a hunt to kill to an escape from death turned into something unexpectedly different. Something that bewitched our hearts to be in each other's arms.

The last music box clicks and plays the final tune to our night. I should feel joy, at last, to be free from running away from my death. Trying for so long to expel and be rid of this demon that wanted my soul. Yet something was nagging at my heart, it aches like a sorrowful pain. My throat starts to close up as my eyes water and sting. Why do I feel sad?

Then I feel her hand caress my cheek, I look to her and she’s weeping as well. Like a gentle waterfall, they cascade down from her eyes and her cheeks. I remember as she once chased me down, she never did try to attack me or lay a shadowy hand on me. Even before she didn’t burst into the halls but gently came in.

“Be honest with me, take these off for me. Let me take this away from you, please,” she whispers as she reaches up to my grey bandana.

I froze up, but I didn’t stop and allowed her to do as she wishes. She gently takes it off, revealing to her a nasty scar circling my neck. Her fingers touch the ugly mark, tenderly and carefully. I could hear the cackles, the tightening of the coarse rope dragging me up high, and the whacks of sticks beating at my body. I choke down a sob, my body shivers, my hands tremble terribly as I felt the tears flow down like a rushing river.

She puts both her hands to cup my face, stroking the tears away from my cheeks. Her eyes gaze into mine with such understanding, empathy and tenderness. I wanted to crumble into her arms, to weep only and loud without fear no more.

The last song was coming in with a hopeful tune. The melody spoke for her, as she took my tears away, as I place my arms around her. The trembling in my hands as I put my hands on her waist and pulled her close. She put her arms around my neck and brought me closer to her.

We kiss, gently feeling our lips on each other. She didn’t feel cold or empty like the shadows that wrapped around her, but warm, loving and meaningful. I was so close to death before, I could see her in those final moments but my mortal coil would not break. I believed she came to finish what the mob couldn’t. But she came to give me peace, to reaffirm that I am alive to prove so was to dance with the shadow of my death.

We were entangled into each other, our kisses were put with more weight and intensity until the last few seconds of the melody. She went on her toes to give one last passionate kiss. A kiss to remember, a kiss to say goodbye. I then felt her body start to feel less corporeal, to go like smoke. My hands tried to grasp at the fabric of her soft dress to hold the body down with it. Yet all I could feel is these wispy shadows that made her. She parts from my face gently with one hand on my cheek as her thumb strokes at my lips and her other hand combs my hair. She looks at me with her sparkling eyes with tears, a doting smile as she mouths “Live,” as she disappears.

The hall was silent. The rays of the sun pierce through the windows. A new day. I fell to my knees, unable to stand any longer. Alone in this ballroom once filled with music and a conversation that had no need for speech. My eyes cloudy with tears as I reach up to feel the hideous stain around my neck. But I felt nothing, not a rough or gnarled scar, but smooth skin. As if not a single mark was ruthlessly laid onto me. I then hug myself, put my head gently on the cold floor and sobbed through clenched teeth to not make a sound. To believe all I had to do was invite the darkness of my close demise to dance, in order to save me.

#MagicalRealism #fiction #creativity #inspiration #supernatural #shortstory