Kitsune in the Shadows

Chapter 17 – The Goddess of Darkness

I kept on walking, just hoping that somewhere in here, I would be able to find the fox from my dreams.

That’s all I need…

Each step that I took seemed to drain me more than the last, but that didn’t slow me down.

It feels so close…

After pushing through the darkness for a while, I could just about make out something in the distance, so I started running, ignoring my building fatigue.

You’re there!

I know you are!

You have to be!

As I got closer, it became clear what was in front of me. It was a room made entirely from black stone bricks, and just like the temple, the only lighting was provided by a few dim candles scattered haphazardly around the room. Hanging from the ceiling were many large chains, each ending with a single long spike at the end.

Is that a dungeon?…

In the centre of the room, there was a large throne that seemed to be made from darkness itself. I couldn’t see if there was anyone on the throne due to how dark it was. 

It doesn’t matter.

They have to be there.

I just kept on running until I could finally see the ground beneath my feet.

Finally…

“Welcome.” A deep voice came out of nowhere, echoing throughout the whole room, causing me to freeze in place.

Who?!

Looking up at the throne, I could now make out a woman sitting with one leg over the other, but it was too dark to be able to make out anything above their waist. Just looking at her, my body started to pull away from the pressure I felt. She seemed to be the same height as Aria, but she felt much more intimidating.

From what I could see, she was wearing a form-fitting black dress along with high-heeled boots. From her back sprouted nine tails that blended seamlessly into the surrounding darkness. Adorning her arms were elbow-length gloves where the fingertips ended in sharp claws.

What is this?

Where’s the fox?

“You may speak.” The voice echoed throughout the room once again.

“…”

This isn’t right.

This isn’t what I wanted.

I tried to turn away so I could leave, but it felt like something grabbed onto my legs before quickly letting go, although it was enough to root me in place.

“Go on, tell me your name.” The woman started tapping her fingers against the throne, letting out sharp metallic clicks as each claw hit the armrest one at a time.

…

No…

This isn’t…

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It didn’t matter anymore; this wasn’t what I wanted. I started running away, back into the darkness, hoping that I would find myself back at the temple.

Raynelle was right…

All of a sudden, there was a loud crashing sound behind me, but I didn’t turn back.

I just need to leave!

I managed a few more steps before getting tackled to the ground.

“Huh?” This time, it was a different voice, a voice that was all too familiar to me, “Oh No! What did I do?!”

Before I could even try to get myself off the ground, I was picked up and carried back into the room.

“Ah! What do I do?” The voice grew more panicked by the second. “Should I just call Ellaria here?… She’d know what to do.”

I turned myself around so that I could see the face of the woman who was talking. She was beautiful, with straight black hair reaching down her back, crowned by two matching fox ears.

But it was her eyes…

Ever since I first saw them all those years ago, I have never forgotten what it was like to stare into them. The endless abyss that seemed to be contained within drew me in, but instead of being afraid, I felt excited.

“Is it… you?” I muttered.

“What?!” The woman shouted, looking down at me, “Are you okay? Did I poke you with the claws? I knew they were a bad idea.”

“…”

“Oh, then… then… what about this?”

The woman waved one of her tails, and the room instantly brightened up. Then, a bed appeared where the throne used to be, which the woman carefully laid me down on before removing her gloves and throwing them behind her.

“D-don’t sit up, just stay there.” The woman turned and started to leave.

Wait, don’t leave me again!

…

Not again…

I sat myself up in the bed, which caused the woman to instantly turn around and frantically run back to me, placing her hand on my chest and gently pushing me back down.

“I said, d-don’t sit up. I-I can’t make another m-mistake.”

She turned away again, but this time, I grabbed onto her dress in an attempt to stop her.

“Wait!… Please…”

She froze.

“Is it you?… Are you the one?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

“W-what one?”

Please…

“The fox!… the fox from my dreams.”

“Um…” she seemed to be a little taken aback by the question, “W-what if… I a-am?”

…

What if she is the fox?

…

What am I even supposed to say?

…

“I would…” I looked to the side, feeling a little embarrassed, “Thank you…”

“Huh?!” The woman shouted again, “Why would you thank me!… It’s my f-fault…”

What?!

…

What’s her fault?

All she ever did was help me?

“What do you mean?” I blurted out.

“If…If I didn’t give you that B-Blessing…” The woman started to tear up and turned away from me, “Then you wouldn’t have gotten h-hurt that day…”

…

Maybe…

Maybe that’s true…

But…

That Blessing was… all I had for so long.

“But… that Blessing was exactly what I asked for.” I started to speak, “You were the only one who listened to me… Isn’t that enough.”

The woman continued to show her back to me, staying completely silent.

“I don’t know how I would have survived without it… It has helped me… more times than I can even count.”

The woman still didn’t move.

…

“Can you… at least tell me your name?” I asked.

Just that much would be enough.

…

“…Ovia.”

Ovia…

…

The only person who listened to me…

…

“Ovia… Thank you…” My eyes started to tear up, “Thank you… so much…”

She still didn’t turn around.

At least… I got to talk to her again…

…

I started to reign myself in a bit as it seemed that this was as much as I was going to get.

She really didn’t want to talk to me…

…

“*Cough*… I-I do also have a title…”

Huh?…

“Which is?”

“I am known as the G-Goddess of Darkness, Dreams and …” Even though I was looking at her back, I could see that she puffed her chest out as she spoke.

She said the last thing so quietly that I couldn’t hear what it was, even with my improved hearing.

“S-so… what about y-you?” She asked, slightly deflating.

“What?”

“Your n-n-name?”

“My name?”

But…

…

I don’t remember my name…

“Y-yes, I have been watch- *Cough* o-observing you for quite some time now, but I have never h-heard your n-name.”

…

I don’t know…

“…Kit…” I mumbled, “That’s what they’ve been calling me…”

“No! Not that.” Ovia quickly spun around to face me, “I was asking for your n-name… your actual n-name!”

But…

That’s… all I have…

“I… don’t know…”

“You don’t know?! What do you mean? Do you not have one? Did you just forget it?…” Ovia thought for a moment before asking, “D-did you throw it away?”

I wasn’t even able to think about my name anymore, as Ovia’s outburst completely surprised me.

“Ummm…” She wrapped her hair around her hand and clenched her fist, “I-I didn’t prepare for this… W-why did everything go off script?”

I reached out to grab her arm and tell her it was okay, but before I was able to, she sat herself down next to me and grabbed both my shoulders.

“I-it doesn’t matter if you don’t want to tell m-me what happened,” She looked me in the eyes, “I-I… can just… give you a new n-name!”

…

A new name…

…

I haven’t needed one this whole time…

…

Do I even deserve one?

“How about…” She looked away from me briefly before snapping back, “Kierra!”

“Yes!” I responded without even thinking.

As soon as I heard the name come from her lips, my body jumped into action, latching onto her arms.

“I-I’m Kierra…” I started to tear up again, although this time I buried my face in Ovia’s arm to hide it, "That’s… me..."

Kierra…

That’s…

…

The second thing you’ve given to me…