The Shadow Usuls Curse by eternally_forgotten |  |
“...creeping slowly up the wall, the shadow Usul did
not make a sound. The light from the moon illuminated the whole area, apart from
a slow, crawling blackness, an area in which no light shone. Climbing up to the
unlocked window, the shadow flowed inside like a river of darkness...
The Shadow Usul only appears at night, and has
mainly been spotted in and around Neopia Central. What her motives are we have
no idea, but we suggest you keep your wits about you.”
Silure had never known happiness, never
known family. Never knew love. The green Usul had lived on the streets all her
life, pilfering food and living in old, forgotten alleyways. Her whole life
she had never laughed, never smiled. Her eyes stayed solemn, they had never
twinkled.
Yet each day, Silure would watch the other
pets go about their daily lives, laughing and talking with friends, or happily
cuddled in the arms of an adored owner. No one ever noticed the green Usul.
She was no more than a little shadow, part of a wall or building. The little
Usul looked in awe, and something close to happiness at the daily lives of the
pets living in Neopia Central. But she didn’t know that she was looking at family,
at joy, and a love for life. It had never even occurred to Silure that she once
probably belonged to a family, too.
One day, Silure was caught sneaking something
out of a shop. Frightened, she bit and kicked, until the authorities dumped
her in the pound, assured that she had no home. Four miserable days were spent
in that dark, dank place. Shivering with cold, the little green Usul huddled
in a corner. Like any thief, she ate everything that was given her, and so would
you if you had lived on the streets so long that even a bite of an omelette
was a delightful feast.
On the fourth day of Silure’s capture,
a little girl about seven or eight appeared at the pound. As usual, Silure retreated
to the back of her cage, hoping that no one would notice her. Looking all around,
the girl sighed and shook her head after looking into each cage. “Is this all,
Rose?” she asked the pretty pink Uni. “I’m afraid so. Wait... Sheila, there
is one last pet, but I’m not sure if you’ll like her. She’s a quiet little Usul,
and she won’t talk to anyone. Would you like to see her?”
Five minutes later, Sheila was looking
happily at the little Usul. “Oh, she’s perfect! What’s your name?” In a hardly
audible whisper, Silure told the girl her name. Timidly nodding when she was
asked if she wanted to go home with the girl, Silure waited to be let out of
her cage.
When they finally reached the shabby looking
house that Sheila called home, Silure was exhausted. Smiling, the little girl
called, “Sulvanus!” A sleek black Kougra came bounding over. He was painted
Halloween, and had a happy smile on his face. At sight of Silure though, that
friendly smile vanished.
Glaring at her, he asked his owner, “Who
is that?” The sharp edge in his voice hurt Silure, who was thinking now that
maybe the pound was better than here. Sheila however did not seem at all disturbed
by the venom dripping off her pet’s words. Still cheerful, she laughed, “She’s
Silure! Isn’t she nice? I’ve been looking for another pet for ages!”
Still scowling at her, Sulvanus flicked
his tail and flew off towards his room. Seeming blissfully oblivious to Sulvanus’s
behavior, Sheila grabbed Silure’s paw and led her on a quick tour around the
house. Of the five empty rooms, Silure was told, she could have any one of them.
At dinner Sheila was still happy, after
all, she was an optimist, and the friendly smile in her eyes was contagious.
Soon, Silure found herself smiling and enjoying the hot, delicious meal on the
table. Even Sulvanus seemed to have forgotten his anger and jealously. After
dinner, Sulvanus told her that it was free time, meaning that they could do
whatever they wanted. His anger towards her was melting, but he still didn’t
seem too pleased with having her in the same house as them.
Quickly shouting a fast goodbye to his
owner, and shooting a backwards glance towards Silure, Sulvanus was out of the
house. Sheila laughed and told Silure, “He’s always in a hurry. Going out to
play games he is. Come on, let’s go shopping!” And with that, Sheila pulled
Silure out of the house.
Hours later, laughing and shouting, Silure
and Sheila got back to their home with bags full of... well, things. The house
was in ruins. Charred wood and melted metal littered the ground. The once proud
structure was gone. A terrible darkness hung over the ruined home. Sulvanus
was no where to be seen. After a stunned moment, Sheila broke down into tears
and slid towards the ground, crying for her lost pet and ruined home.
A dark faerie appeared from nowhere. Grabbing
Silure before anybody could make a move, the dark faerie cackled and vanished,
taking with her the little green Usul, and leaving Sheila on the ground, helpless,
broken. After a minute, when she regained her wits, Silure kicked and screamed
with rage, trying to break loose. But it was all useless. She was held firmly
in the grasp of the slender, yet strong dark faerie.
Rage filled her heart, rage that was fast
turning into hate. She hated everyone, the dark faerie that had captured her;
the hateful menace that had left her owner helpless on the ground. “Yes, my
sweet child,” a silky voice whispered, “Revenge on them. You want revenge,"
the voice continued, a soothing, gentle voice, trying to raise the Usul's anger
and hate. Immediately Silure recognized the ploy. “NO!” she screamed. “NO!”
The gentle, deceiving voice continued.
“No what? Child, listen...” the silky, soothing voice continued. “They hate
you. You must accept that. Come with me, I am the only one who cares.” Silure
began to believe her. But then, memories of Sheila, and even Sulvanus crowded
back into her mind.
“NO!” Silure again cried the denying word.
This time the dark faerie lost patience. Angrily, she hissed, “You will be a
denizen of evil, whether I have to use all my magic or not!” Arriving at a dark
cave in a damp forest, she immediately put down the Usul, meanwhile casting
a spell that paralyzed the victim for a short period of time. Then, she started
a spell, thrusting her evil magic into every word. She cast a deadly gaze over
the Usul. But the eyes that met hers were defiantly stubborn.
Now angry, Silure whispered, “I will never
work for evil, never."
Laughing, the dark faerie gazed at her
triumphantly. “Oh but you will, you will, young Usul.” Hissing, she continued,
“You will be a shadow in the world." "Just a shadow,” she repeated. Paying no
heed to the dark faerie, Silure continued, "I may be forced into servitude for
evil, but it will only be in body, not in spirit and mind." Furious, the dark
faerie screamed out the last word of her spell. Casting her steely gaze once
more over the stubborn Usul, she lifted her pointed finger.....
When she finally smiled, everything was taken
away...
The End
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