Fear

"ATUNBI omo mi..... (Rebirth my child) the child of darkness...., born in the dark, raised in the light...., your light is bright, but your darkness will be darker...., embrace it, don't fight it, we may not be together now, but I Know one day we'll be reunited, Atunbi...., daughter of Ewashokun, wake up...., danger is closer to you, even more than you think".

Miri opened her eyes after her subconscious recorded the message, she didn't know whose voice it was that sent that message but she opened her eyes to see if there really was any danger. After checking her surroundings and confirming she was in the mist of various sleeping witches, she sighed in relief and stood up from her bed. She looked around and saw as the witches were resting, they must be very tired Miri thought as she left the room and went out. Even though it was still late, Miri wanted to see more of the King's palace. Although she was not really impressed when she saw the palace, but she would keep her full review until after she had explored more of the place, after she left the room with the excuse of wanting to ease herself she made her was towards the direction the guards had described with the intention of going off course. Even though it was late the palace was still a bit busy with maid's on the night shift moving around under the watchful eyes of the guards. Miri who was sneaking around dodged the guards and went around the palace absorbing the new world she had found herself in, she move from one part of the palace to another until she got to aplace of wonders. She entered a observed the various painting and works of art that lied around the gallery, she looked at the beautiful painting one after the other until one particular one caught her eyes, the painting looked like a woman with flaming wings and eyes. Miri drawn to the painting.

"She looks..."

"What are you doing here?" a voice caught Miri by surprise

She turned and saw a young and scrawny looking boy, he was probably same age as her or bit older,

"What are you doing in here the boy asked again?"

"Uhn... I was just looking" Miri said finding it hard to explain why she was there.

"You're one of the witches right"? He asked

"I saw you with them in the throne room the other time and..... Aren't you a bit too young, I mean I know you are not that young but... You know what I mean....." He said scratching his head.

"Anyways I'm Allen he said as he streched out his hand" to Miri who shook it "and I still want to know what you are doing in my gallery, no one really comes here but me."

"Did you paint all these?" Miri suddenly asked

"Yes..., Well not all but most of it Allen answered."

"Including this Miri said pointing at the woman with flaming wings".

"Yes Allen answered I did this two days ago, I don't really know what came over me I just kept seeing this image in my head and when i brought it out it became this" Allen said

"Do you like it?" Allen asked

Miri looked at it for a while and felt something pulling her towards the picture. She felt some connection between herself and the woman in the picture. It was like she was staring at an image of herself.

"You can take it if you like it" Allen said to Miri who shook her head in response.

"Oh, I thought you liked it" Allen said in disappointment.

"I love it but I don't want to take it away from it's creator, especially after just spending only a short while with you". Miri lied. She felt creepy watching the image for too long and would probably go mad if she was made to stare at it all day.

"You are a great artist" Miri said to Allen

"Thanks uhm.."

"I'm Miri" she finally introduced herself

"Miri, wow" Allen said

"What"? Miri asked

"Nothing" Allen replied awkwardly.

"Are you the royal painter's apprentice"? Miri asked

"No I'm not", Allen replied

"Then where did you learn how to draw"

"I learned from my mom".

"Oh she must be a great painter"

"She was..." Allen replied with a sad tone.

"She died the day I was born".

"Oh... I'm sorry" Miri said.

"Don't be. Even though I never knew her, I always feel connected to he anytime I paint. She kind of my source of inspiration."

"Awwnnn, I'm sure she'll be proud of all your works".

"So what's your post in the palace? Miri asked

"I bet you must be some big shot seeing as your have your own gallery".

"Oh, I'm actually the..." Bang! Bang! A loud sound interrupted Allen.

"What's that"? Miri asked

"It's the warning sound, the wendigos are attacking".

Immediately Miri heard this she was a bit scared, she had never faced a beast before and had only seen pictures and read about them, and now that she was about to possibly face one especially a wendigo, her heart could not help but skip a beat.

"What should we do?" Allen who seemed to be panicking more than Miri asked

Miri looked at him and replied

"Go back to your room and hide I'll...." Crash. A sound was heard from one of the windows followed by a growl. A wendigo seems to have gotten inside through one of the windows. Miri was already scared.