A Familiar Shadow

In the inky blackness of a new moon, all was still. All creatures had settled in for the night. The last few leaves still left on their trees had finished rustling as the wind died down in a hurry. It might have seemed peaceful to some, but others would notice the eerie silence. Before any could understand the feeling of foreboding, the attack came. Flashes of green light shot through the darkness. Screams shattered the night as the sky burst into emerald flames. The whole village was alight. Witches, shamans, and healers ran in crazed terror. Shadows laughed with evil glee as they flicked between the flames. A small child stood near one of the buildings that had not completely burned yet. Her wispy blonde hair clung to her face as it mingled with the tears on her cheeks. She was frozen with fear and no one paid her any attention in the chaos. The familiar army had come for revenge, and they would leave no survivors.

A familiar was once the most devoted companion to a witch. Most often in the form of an animal, the familiar would protect and guide a witch, while also helping tap into magical sources the witch could not achieve on her own. The bond between a witch and a familiar was stronger than almost any other known to mankind. That was until Balaam, the familiar to the High Witch of the great Aelia Coven, began to allow greed and spite to corrupt his heart. Balaam saw the power that his mistress held, and saw the respect other witches had for her. Meanwhile, his magic had to be hidden from the non-magical villagers. Most thought of him as an ordinary housecat. He was the reason for his mistress’ status and knowledge of magic! He had been the one to teach her the fine arts of divination and runes, spells, and potions. She had had no one to apprentice under, so Balaam had been her only guide. He never received any recognition and it became too much for him. Balaam rebelled against his mistress and fled into the woods. He then began spreading his dark influence among the other familiars. So many of them turned against their once beloved magical partners. Balaam and the other familiars used the magical knowledge and powers that they possessed to attack covens.

The High Witch called for all who possessed any magical ability to flee from their homes and gather in a safe haven. The newly created community had the advantage of not needing to hide from ordinary mortals or fear of persecution. It also possessed the combined power of every witch, wizard, mage, and oracle in the land. They would use this power to fight their familiars.

The village had become more of a military encampment. Homes had been thrown together quickly while they spent most of their effort casting protection charms over the area. Then, the leaders of each coven counseled together on what would stop the familiars from their attacks. A dangerous and difficult spell was proposed. Some felt it would be much too harsh a punishment, but the High Witch insisted it was the only way. So, the magical village set a curse upon all familiars, forcing them from their bodies. They were to exist only as shadow spirits. Most of their powers were wrenched away as well. The familiars seemed to be defeated. But the witches were unaware that spirit beings could gain new dark powers from the underworld. Balaam and his forces may have been mere shadows, but they were shadows that could wield the emerald flames of Hades.

The young girl continued to sob as the light from the flames cast a sickly glow upon her. Most humans had either fled or were consumed by the magical fire. The shadows that remained argued over the next course of action to take. They had not expected the protection charms to come down as quickly as they had. The flames of Hades proved to be more powerful than any of the familiars had realized.

One of the lowly shadow spirits of the familiar army was the first to really take notice of the crying girl. Pax was surprised to recognize the daughter of his former mistress. He looked around as if to find someone looking for the girl. Then, he did another check to make sure none of the other familiars were watching him. Pax glided swiftly toward the girl. He knew that this girl, Lucia, was no more than three years of age. She started as she felt his shadowy presence before her eyes adjusted to see his dark figure in the greenish light. Amazingly, her cries turned to a whimper and then faded. She recognized him even in only his spirit form.

“Mama…” Lucia held out her hands to him.

“No, Lucia. I do not know where your mama is.” Pax looked around again. Could his mistress have been burned inside the house? Why else would Lucia be here on her own? A wrenching feeling inside of Pax grew larger.

Pax had not initially been swayed by the arguments of Balaam and his fellow familiars. Pax had always been part of the family, why would he betray the ones he loved? But then the curse happened. His mistress, Viviana, had not done all she could to protect him from also becoming a shadow. Hurt and dismayed, Pax thought that she must have secretly harbored a grudge against him for what his kind was doing to hers. He left with the other familiars to join Balaam’s army. He had not fully comprehended what this attack would mean until this very moment. His heart ached and he felt completely gutted.

“Mama, Pax, Mama…” Lucia had a pleading tone.

“What’s this? A witchling still alive?” another shadow appeared directly behind Pax, “What are you waiting for? I love the smell of roast witch.” Lucia cowered and her lip trembled again as Pax turned to the newcomer.

He balked at the familiar’s complete apathy, “She’s just a child. Surely we can just let her alone?”

“No survivors, remember? She cannot be allowed to grow up. I can already feel the magic coming off her. She would be too powerful. Just do it, or I will.”

Pax had not actually used the powers of the underworld before. He had tried to set flame to some trees but had not been able to get more than a flicker. Still, even if he could use the power, he could not bring himself to kill an innocent child. Not Lucia.

“I was the familiar of this child’s mother. Her sentence is mine to carry out. Back off.” Pax had to think quickly to find a way out of the situation.

“Fine. Do it then.” The shadow was brimming with maniacal glee.

Pax tried hard to sound intimidating, “I want to find the mother, so she can watch. I’ll be taking the child into the forest as I search. If I cannot find her, I will just have to set the entire wood ablaze with the child as kindling. You can watch from here or you can go find your own witch to burn.”

The other familiar glared at Pax for a moment and then simply turned and floated off in another direction. Pax looked down at Lucia who still held fear in her eyes. She wasn’t sure now if she should still trust Pax.

“Do not worry, Lucia. I will not harm you. Come, let us find Mama.”

Pax drew himself over the little girl, whispering a spell as he did. She disappeared into the darkness of his form, hidden from any more fiendish and depraved familiars. As Pax moved slowly, helping Lucia move toward the forest, he realized he would be branded a traitor. Balaam would rip his spirit to shreds if he found out that he had helped a witch. None of that mattered now though, as Pax realized his only duty from now on was to protect and shelter this little witchling. Maybe one day, she would be the one to save magic and all the creatures who possessed it. Until then, Pax would be her shadow.