The Miracle of Darkness

My story began recently. I had just returned to my room from finding the fourth stone. I removed the dusty rags that have been covering me. Shook off some of the dust, stared at my filthy reflection and said "Got it."
"Good," The mirror said "Now are you ready?"
"Yes," I lit some candles opened the book and chanted "North, South,East,West, Sun, Moon,Stars Earth, Fire, Wind,Water, rock. I call upon these elements become one with the stones. Jade,Nephrite,Zoycite, and Malachite. Join and become one!" Each of these stones glowed and fused into one. There was a flash of light and a ring with a black stone tumbled in the air before falling to the ground.
"The ring holds power," Mirror said. I nodded my head.
"I know."
"Miss Dara, Queen Hectate summons Harphelle. She is not in a good mood."
"Oooh I don't want to miss this," The image of my reflection dissolved.

The shadowy throne room seemed very dark with and angry Hectate sitting on the throne.
"Harphelle!" She screeched.
"Yes my Queen?" A frightened Harphelle timidly stepped forward.
"You have failed too many times. However since I'm fair, I'm giving you one last chance. Bring me a soul tear. or else you will end up like Nosferus."
"Don't worry my Queen I have found a perfect target. A man who has just opened a bowling alley in hopes to keep kids off the street, off drugs and out of gangs."
"Sounds perfect, I better see his soul tear."

"I want to see this man," I said to mirror.
"His name is Greg Parker, I'll show you him." The image rippled to show a jovial man in his early forties, sorting out shoes and cleaning his counter top.
"He seems like a great guy, I hope the Galactic Ladies will stop Harphelle."
"I'm sure they will, mirror said.
"If not then I will."
"Want to see anything else?"
"Yeah show me Laurine Miller."

The image changed to revel Laurine Miller, temporary leader of the Galactic Ladies. I liked Laurine. She's a good kid. Right now she was skating along. Heading towards a study session at Wyvern. She turned the corner when Bam! a car door opened in front sending her flying backwords.
"Ouch! Hey why don't you watch what your doing?" Laurine said while getting back on her feet. The look on her face changed from anger to surprise to a 'why me' Expression. The people that came out of the car dressed in the robes and hoods of the quarrymen.
"Where are you going demon sympathizer," One of them asked.
"None of your buisness,"Laurine snapped back.
"It is our buisness, we won't to make sure your not going to a demon lovers meeting."
"Don't worry I'm not," She tried to roll by them, but the "Speaker" stepped out in front of her.
"We don't believe you."
"why?"
"We can't trust gargoyle supporters." Another one said.
"Move or I'll..."
"Or you'll what?" The main speaker asked.
"In the name of freedom. Freedom to walk the American sidewalks I will punish you!" she did a heroic pose. The other two quarrymen couldn't keep from laughing but their leader held strong.
"Don't even try to compare your self to the Galactic Ladies." He said "Unlike you they are heros." He continued his tirade while a police car pulled up.
"Allright whats going on?" Officer Morgan asked
"These Quarry freaks are blocking traffic," A man standing behind Laurine said. She hadn't noticed a crowd had gathered behind.
"All right you three move it along," Morgan said. the two quieter ones returned to their car but the speaker stood silently.
"Don't make me have to arrest you." The Quarryman stood for one second and finaly left. The crowd began to disperse with a few people patting Laurine's shoulder.
"Unbelivable," Laurine said.

"Yes! My spelling has improved" Riley squealed.
"Thats great Riley." Merle complemented.
"Merle is Kyle taking you to that new Bowling alley run by Greg Parker?" Sadie asked.
"Uh-huh why?"
"He's mentioned in this article. He has hope in us kids. Wants a decent place for us to hang out that inst involving drugs or gangs."
"He sounds like a great guy," Riley said.
"Yeah the type that would be a target for the monstrites," Merle said.
"What?" The other two asked.
"Think about what type of people are they after?"
"Hmmm clowns,musicians,athletes?" Sadie suggested.
"No no no not quite,"Merle waved her hands."Musicians create beautiful music, clowns provide laughter."
"Laughter and music are the languages of the Soul," Riley began to catch on.
"Athletes are commited, Ms Destine wanted to make dreams come true,"Sadie added.
"Exactly people withgood heart and souls."
"Sorry I'm late but a trio of Quarry creeps were blocking my path," Laurine entered the room.
"Geeze what is their problem?" Riley asked.
"The problem is that they are jerks," Merle answered.
"But get this, they love us, not us us but the Galactic Ladies us."
"Unbelivable,"Sadie said when everyone was quiet
"So what was everyone talking about?" Laurine asked
"We may have found out who the next target is,"Riley said they explained to her what they had discussed.
"When is it opening?" Laurine asked.
"Tomorow night?"
"I'll see if Asten wants to go."

I woke up at eight thanks to mirrors alarm.Well not really his alarm. He had scyred the image of an alarm clock. I yawned rubbed my eyes,and stumbled to my dinky little bathroom for a cold shower. I returned as the door to my prison opened.
"Breakfast time wimp," A woman shrouded in shadow said.
"What is it? Runny eggs,stale biscut,and day old coffee?" I asked. I was eating that for breakfast for me past three days.
"Nope cold oatmeal, a lemon, and a glass of milk." She said and slid a tray containing the mentioned food items at me.
"Thanks for the change, before you go I want to know if its true Harphelle is on the last straw?"
"Yes its true."
"Are you next?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I lost the straw contest. Now eat your breakfast and shut up." She slammed the door shut. I carried my tray to my little table.
"Any guesses on who is next?" I asked mirror/
"No Miss Dara, I'm sorry."
"Thats okay," I peeled the lemon, and desectioned it before using the spoon to chop it into little chunks. I then mixed it into my oatmeal before taking a bite.
"How is it?" Mirror asked
"Suprisingly good," I answered. "The lemon adds a little zing to the bland stuff." When I was finished I placed it next to my door and sat quietly until they took it away. I was quiet for a few minutes longer before I said.
"Mirror I'm going to escape."
"When?" Mirror asked.
"Tonight while I battle Harphelle."
"Dara remember when I told you about the transport link?"
"Uh-huh?"
"When you leave I will pull myself inside and be in your heart."
"How will I get you out?"
"Just ask is their anything in here you would like to take with you?"
"Well the stool,the coffee table,candle holders,all the books and some of the coushins." I selected the ones that I liked.
"Anything you would like to see?" It asked
"Show me the Galactic Ladies," I said. The reflection rippled to reveal them. Sadie was still in her jammies,Riley was heading to work. Laurine to gymnastics class and Merle was beggingin to work on her kite. After about twenty minutes she took a break and left.
"Should I follow her?" mirror asked
"No show me Mr. Parker," I replied. The image changed to show Mr. Parker walking down the street whistling. He was heading down to the bowling alley to prepare for opening night. My heart went out to this genourous man,
'I have to protect him,' I thought.

After reading the newspaper I worked on the crossword puzzle for a while. Taking a break I said to mirror.
"Show me Laurine Miller."
"Yes Miss Dara."Mirror responded the image showed Laurine leaving class.
"That was quite a work out," She said and began to stretch not noticing her boyfriend Asten walking up.
"Watch it," He said ducking from her outstretched hand.
"Oh sorry Asten?" Her eyes lit up reconizing him."What brings you here?"
"Just though I'd take my girl to lunch." The second he said that she wrapped her arms around him. They went to laurines favorite cafe and ordered the pasta specials
"Asten will you take me bowling tonight?" Laurine asked.
"Why? Is it now THE fad?"
"No. We think the Monstrites want to steal the soul tear from the owner."
"So its buisness not a date?"
"Asten!"
"OK so its Serious should I let Syl and the others know?"
"Naw I think you, me, Celest, and the other Ladies can finish this thing off."
"You so sure?"
"Yup and I think we can squeeze some date time in."

I wanted to watch a little longer but I heard footsteps outside of my door. mirror did the instant shutoff thing and I sat patiently. One of my captors opened the door and set my tray down when he left I picked it up. Liverwurst and onion sandwich,stal echips,a broken cookie and a glass of water. I gobbled it down and began to finish the crossword puzzle.
"What are you doing?" One of the monstrites asked.
"Crossword puzzle," She took the tray and left.

After finishing the puzzle, I wrote in my diary,read a few chapters in my book, and sketched something before checkin mirror again
"Laurine?" It asked.
"No Merle storms," I said. The vision changed and for the next 45 minutes watched as Merle completed her kite. When she was finished, she began to prepare for her date with Kyle.
"The time approaches," I said.

The girls had gathered in front of Parkers bowl~o~rama. Laurine leaned against Asten.
"I really like your cologne," She cooed
"Its the kind you bought me," Asten said. Sadie sighed and smiled a whimsical happy smile. Merle also smiled while in the embrace of Kyle. Riley just rolled her eyes.
"I agree with you Riley," Celest said
"I hope I don't get that way with Danny," Riley whispered back.
"So have you asked him out yet?"
"No not ye-uh oh the line is moving get your head down." They began to enter the bowling alley. Further down in the line was Harphelle.

There were ten split scoreboards with two lanes to them. Greg Parker had them desgined for eight people per lane but sometimes there would be friendly groups of four, five, or six. He took down names of parties and assigned them to the scoreboard. Assistants took down shoe sizes and handed out special bowling shoes. after all the scoreboards were filled, Another assistan showed the other parties the dining area and the area that held the video games, two air hockey tables and two pool tables.

Harphell glared while she and her 'friend' headed over to a pool table. They met Phillip and Evan two boys from NYU. Since the boys are another only group of two they agreed to share a scoreboard.

"How do I avoid a gutterball?" Asten asked.
"Good aim and plenty of velocity." Laurine replied. Asten strode up to the line and bowled. The ball knocked over three pins. His next bowl knocked over three more.
"Not bad for a begginer," She bowled over four pins and on her second ball she picked up a spare.

Harphelle hasn't caused any damage yet so I took a break for dinner. Split pea soup,stale crackers, a flat soda and gelatin. I ate it quickly and returned to mirror. Obviously the girls and their guy friends where hungry. They had hot dogs, fries,onion rings, and sodas at their score tables. Things were going pretty well until Mr Parker left for his office and Harphelle followed him.
footsteps were heard and mirror shut off. Another one of the Queen's goonds took my tray away. After five minutes the image came back. A beastie was causing havoc
"Now?" Mirror asked. I nodded and held out my hand
"Shadow ring Power!"I felt cold beams of energy shoot at me from differnt angles. The cool energy coated me for a few seconds before I opened my eyes and checked my reflection.I wore the same outfit the other Ladies wore, My collar,skirt,ankle boots,arm bands,and head band were black. My belt,tights and star barrets were yellow. I grabbed the starblade and said to mirror.
"Open reflection link to the bowling alley," The link opened into the Ladies room. The other Galactic Ladies have transformed and left. I closed my eyes and jumped upon landing on the ground I opened my eyes. I was on the floor of the ladies room above the sinks the mirror flashed a few times, and a beam of light shot from it and into my heart. I clenched my teeth through it all.
"I'm with you all the way," Mirror said in my head.

The beastie had lavender skin, yellow snakey eyes, bowling pin legs and the traditional wings. Her outfit resembled that of a professional bowler. She had turned into a ball and bowled the ladies over. she then summoned another bowling ball and rolled it towards Celest. A chain jumped out and grabbed the silver griffin. Another one tethered Centauri
"Take care of the other Three for me Strike dear," Harphelle said and started to fly off with soul tear in hand.
"Oh no you don't," Andromeda said. She and Azurite ran after her. Strike was about to launch another bowling ball it was time. I hurled the starblade at her hand. The edge cut it off.
"Enchanted by a new age I am the miracle of darkness. Lady Shadow acting mysteriously." I announced.
"Huh?"Strike asked.
"Shadow Cloud Engulf!" I shot a black cloudy mist, at Strike. The cloud coated her and she began to cough
"I, cough, can't, hack,see a ,wheeze, damn thing, cough cough."
"What in the world?" Nebula asked.
"I guess it is a bit poisonous." I said and used my blade to free Centauri and the Griffin.
"You guys take care of her and I'll help Andromeda." I left before anyone can protest.

Andromeda and Asten were battling Harphelle.
"High decibels!" Harphelle sent her attack.
"Harmony Shield!"Andromeda blocked it. Harphelle shrieked and dive bombed Andromeda with her talons outstretched. Azurite sent his black bubble attack and blinded her. I ran up behind the ditsy monstrite and leapt, whisked the Soul tear from her hand and landed in front of her.
"Who the hell are you?" Harphelle demanded
"Lady Shadow." I said
"There are six of us?" Andromeda asked.
"Give me that SoulTear." Harphelle growled. She didn't see Nebula use her staff to leap and kick her in the stomach. Comet followed with a leather whip lashing her eyes and centauri shot her with an arrow
"No." Harphelle squeaked. Tears began to mingle with blood as she disappeard. I handed the soul tear to Andromeda and said:
"Please give this Soul tear back to Mr. Parker," and left.

A crying bloodied Harphelle appeard before Hectate.
"Harphelle! How dare you show yourself after another failure?" The queen snarled her face distorted again. Harphelle whimpered and removed the arrow from her chest and tried to look at Hectate. The queens face returned back to normal.
"Oh my poor Harphelle what have they done?" She cooed"Those mean Ladies won't get away with this my poor little pet." She held out her sceptor and waved in front of Harphelle all of the ditsy womans injuries were healed and she had been changed into a vulture in a cage.

"Police are near," Mirror said.
"Gotcha," I replied and found them. I pretened to nearly collapse in front of them
"Whoa are you okay?" One of them asked.
"I got away from them," I gasped.
"Who?"
"My kidnappers, My name is Dara Hill."
"Is she one of the missing cases Maza is working on?" cop2 asked.
"I think so radio it in," Cop1. said he went to the car and brought me a blanket.
"shhhh its ok now everything is going to be allright," cop1. said.