When a rose turns black chapter 14

“The Dark Watchers”

A/N: gif isn’t mine! I find it on pinterest credits to owner!

On a cold, moonless night near Khyerma’s territories. There is a huge, dark castle. That is the home of the Devil Donkey Patron. A few people know him as ‘Mariuz, which means ‘Demonic Donkey’. But that’s not the case.

In the castle of doom, Mariuz's home Every moonless night, He and the Donkey Lady kidnapped children to sacrifice them and remade them into the ‘dark watchers, or demonic little creatures, A fate worse than death. Today is no different. Donkey Lady Had brought a group of children of both genders to do the ritual.

She grabbed them using her magic and pulled them to the center of the hall, the place where they would sit and wait for the ritual to be completed. Despite the fear of the children and their cries, It didn’t move the Donkey Lady or Mariuz.

Their cries fell on deaf ears; they hoped that the donkey lady would let them go, but that didn’t happen at all. So they surrendered and accepted their fate.

She quickly moved her palm to summon ethereal chains and cast them at the poor souls, Which gave off a dazzling ember-colored glow. The chains brutally bound them together as they licked their skin with their heat as they touched their innocent skin.

These wretched souls were being tormented by wicked spirits, and their cries of anguish and suffering reverberated throughout the room. This pleased The Devil Donkey and The Donkey Lady. The ritual can now officially start.

Maruiz recited the necessary spells for the ritual. Magic runic symbols in the shape of a triangle appeared beneath them. A dark, tarry thing oozed out of the ground into the bodies of youngsters, enveloping them and taking possession of their bodies and minds in seconds.

Knowing that his work was flawless, Maruiz grinned contentedly. He had created the ideal spy for him. He gave them a hand gesture. They kept looking at their master.

He said in a firm voice, "Spread around Valorena and be my eyes and ears.

The Dark Watchers didn't say anything in answer to him; instead, they transformed into black clouds, spread fear in the lands, and served as the spies their master desired.

Donkey Lady experienced some vertigo. She believed her mind was playing games with her. There was a recollection of her as a contented married woman with a child. Then there was the time when she was a carefree, joyful girl. She was human and alive in those memories. She is now Mariuz's servant and an undead creature. Her human name was Samira Macdoni.

Mariuz glanced at the Donkey lady and noticed that she was remembering something. He was internally seething as he performed a memory-erasing spell on her with his hands. She was in a drowsy state of mind and didn't react or do anything in any way; rather, she appeared to be mentally exhausted. Mariuz cast the remove memory spell on her since he needed her and couldn't afford to lose one of his best servants. She is both vicious and gorgeous.

After He performed the spell on her, her eyes shot open, and she breathed heavily. With that, he knew his spell worked, and she wasn’t going to remember anything from her past life. With this, she left to do other stuff; she didn’t want to stay here for much longer.

Mariuz sat on his throne to think about the incident that was currently happening in front of him. What if it happens again? He must find a way to make her forget about her past life forever. He must sever it completely. But, how? Such things need powerful spells and magic to do so.

Mariuz is getting weak because there is no sacrifice or life essence he can absorb; he heavily relies on his followers and the donkey lady to gain more power for him. He feels pathetic indeed, but he wishes he was invincible just when he was in his prime.

The Shining Forest, A magical and magnificent forest with long, shining trees, leaves, colors, and bright lights. A glorious ageless being that has the figure of a centaur but is made of hard stone and leaves. instead of flesh and blood, With two robust tree branches serving as his horns. This ageless creature is called Heynois; think of him as the Sylvan of Dragon Age, but a centaur! The leader, the general of the guardians of the forest Those are beings who protect the shining forest from people's dark yearnings.

Adorned with green and brown armor and shoulder pads. Despite wearing armor, his stone-like skin is visible through it. He looks terrifying and menacing. Carrying his long and lethal spear wherever he goes, But make no mistake, he is on the good side.

The forest is his home, His life, and everything. He cannot exist without the forest. It is his life force; all the life plants in all dimensions are connected to him somehow.

He groaned in annoyance when he realized he had lost the way to the meeting with superiors. With a tired sigh, he continued to walk through the forest to reach the hall, walking back from the same road he had walked through.

He groaned in frustration. Despite walking through the forest bringing him peace and tranquility, he just doesn’t feel it anymore. Because he has to help others. And he doesn’t like to help others unless it's needed.

The breeze is refreshing and sweet. He enjoys breathing in and out; it is one of his daily routines. As a Sylvan, life is lonely. He and his kind are destined to live as immortals and loners in the woods. However, If people came to the woods, they would be cautious about them. They don’t want anyone to disturb the forest.

The Shining Forest is brimming with powerful and ancient magic. It is strong and the core of Earth beings; every Sylvan and Earth nymph will defend their lives because it is their home. Woe to those who want to harm the forest!

The Forest was and always will be the target of mages and corrupted kings Because of the old magic. Every time they come, the Sylvans will take care of them, Either forcing them to leave or killing them.

In Heynois’s place in the middle of the forest, His garden-like home is decorated with the bones of mages and corrupted kings. It is a warning to those who want to try and do the same. This is what awaits them.

After what felt like long miles, He reached his destination in the forest, where the meeting would be held with the superiors.

He hated the meeting; he hated the idea of interacting with people. But for his superiors, he must do it. Maybe there is a threat or something important to discuss with them.

“Heynois!" a familiar voice called for him, The owner of the voice was none other than Sire Aham, the leader of the protectors.

Heynois bowed to greet him, "Sire Aham."

He greeted him, "Good to see you, Heynois."

"Sire Aham, What’s the occasion of this meeting?" He asked impatiently.

Sire Aham chuckled as a response to him. He knows that Heynois is impatient. But he answered him nonetheless. "People told of some creatures that looked like shadows; once they came near, they disappeared," Sire Aham said.

Heynois gave him a perplexed look. He knows a lot of creatures, as Sire Aham described them, yet he can’t name them all.

"This is really disturbing," Heynois muttered, uneasiness evident in his tone. If anything, this isn’t something one should ignore; this is something malicious. He sighed, revealing the ancient silence of the forest. How he despised the mage and their dark arts.

Aham sighted too, but he also recalled the name of the dark watchers; these creatures can’t be ghosts or wicked spirits. These things are man-made. He knows how to stop them.

He put his finger on his chin and said, "I think they are the dark watchers."

"Dark Watchers?" Heynois questioned.

"Yup, the Dark Watchers."

"What are they?" Heynois asked. He seemed intrigued, although they were evil.

"Beings made by sacrifice to make shadowy-like spies," He answered in a simple way.

"That’s bad, Sire! What are we going to do?" Heynois asked again, and his grip on his spear seemed to tighten.

Aham noticed this, yet he calmly replied, "Don’t worry, I will take care of this."

"Is there something I can do?"

"Depend on me, Heynois; I only came to warn you of such evil," He said, then flashed him a warm smile.

Heynois was sighted again; normally, he doesn’t depend on anyone. But this is Sire Aham we are talking about.

"I trust you and the remaining one," Heynois muttered.

Sire Aham smiled, then bowed, "Take care, my friend." With that, he disappeared like a flashing light, Leaving Heynois to ponder the situation.

"Great," He muttered with annoyance.

A little girl dressed in a bright red dress with jewels and a head veil was walking happily beside her mother. She is looking at everything like it’s her first time seeing it.

"Aliyaa, Honey, Stay here while I go to buy, okay?" Her mother said

"Yes, mother!" She replied.

Farrah left Aliyaa near the booth of a female vendor; she was middle-aged, Beautiful, and kind.

"Hello, Child!" The woman spoke.

"Aunt Maghda!" Aliyaa exclaimed with happiness.

Maghda is a vendor woman; she has a small booth that sells vegetables and other products.

She isn’t rich, but it gets her money for the day.

Her husband is a farmer, He works hard to provide for their children and grandchildren.

They are a happy family; they aren’t poor, but in the middle. They are grateful for this.

"Aliyaa, How are you and your mom?" She asked as she hugged the little girl.

She is friendly to her neighbors and friends. Aliyaa and her family are one of them. She likes to give Aliyaa sweets, and she knows how much she likes them.

Aliyaa, ever the happy and bright girl, "My mother is shopping; she told me to stay here until she returns!"

Maghda smiled at her and said, "Glad to hear this."

Maghda kept talking to Aliyaa, and it didn’t take long for her mom to come to her. Farrah, on the other hand, is very happy to see Magda, her neighbor.

"Maghda!" She called with a smile.

"Farrah!" Maghda called back, "How can you leave the girl like this?” She wasn’t happy about this at all.

Farrah felt a bit embarrassed by the older woman reprimanding her like a child, Maghda is right; she can’t just leave the girl alone.

She was embarrassed and lost for words; whatever she was going to say to defend herself couldn’t be justified at all.

"Next time, don’t leave her like this!" Maghda spoke in a serious tone.

"I won’t!" She replied.

Nothing had been said between the two women; Farrah took Aliyaa’s hand and left to go home; Maghda is worried for Aliyaa; must she inform Hadi about this? But she doesn’t want to causw troubles with them.

She sighed as she let this one slip for the sake of their marriage and child, But if that happens again, she won’t hesitate to tell him.

Looking through the orb above his wand. He saw a beautiful girl; she was breathtaking, and he also noticed her eyes were the color of amethyst. His heart bounced in his ribcage. For the first time in forever, he felt something like this. He intended to spy on the queen of Morbidia. If a beautiful maiden happens to be her maid or daughter, He will know who she is. and he will make her his.

"Who is she?" He pondered to himself.

He will know her; in fact, she will be brought to him. He doesn’t care if she is the daughter of the queen; he will relish the idea of stealing the queen's daughter if she is the queen’s daughter.