The Shadow Chapter 4.

Chapter Four.

The Garden Party.

The morning of the Garden Party began as it should. It was bright, sunny and with the promise of fine weather lasting all day. Before long the whole town was on its way to Lord and Lady Dalbard’s Field. Most of them carried something to make the day go well, trays of food and bottles of drink.

Not everyone in the town was going to the party. Aidan was still so shaken by his meeting with Calizone that he lay curled up in his bed, hardly able to move. He would not have gone in any case. A Garden party out in the open, where only the Towns people were supposed to be, would definitely have invited a challenge from someone.

Aidan could not have pretended to be with the folks who came to buy at the Market as only people from the Town were invited.

The other person, not at the gathering was Emma. Like all the other maids from Dalbard House, she had worked hard to get the party ready. She had been invited. She had watched her workmates change into the dresses which they had saved up to buy. She had looked down at her work clothes. They were almost the only things she had to wear and she shook her head.

Besides, she was going to take the chance while everyone was away to slip off and go back to the orphanage. She had to find the girl who had put the Spell on her face.

Emma changed into the dress which the orphanage had given her when she had left. She wrote a note and put it in the Cook’s Recipe book, explaining where she was going and why. Hoping that no one would mind, she made herself a parcel of bread and cheese for the journey. She took her box from its hiding place and wrapped up the money in a scarf. She fastened it tightly around her waist. She made her bed and was ready to leave.

Back at the Party Field the Dalbards graciously greeted all the townsfolk as they arrived. Soon everyone was in place. Lord Dalbard stood to make his usual speech. However, before he could begin, a late comer swept up to the platform where Lord Dalbard stood.

Calizone had ridden into Town to collect her dress. She was not pleased to find it on the step of the Dressmakers, even though it was carefully wrapped up. There was a note which explained that the alterations had been done. The dress was ready to wear. Mrs. Diamond apologised for not being there, and wrote that everyone had gone to the Garden Party.

Aidan had finally managed to drag himself out of bed. While the Garden Party was happening, he patrolled the town, keeping an eye open. Since there was no one around, he could wander freely without having to keep in the shadows. He watched Calizone from the alley alongside a shop.

She picked up the parcel and stood for a moment tapping her foot on the ground. The look on her face changed from one of annoyance to one of pure evil.

Aidan shuddered and pulled himself deeper into hiding. He watched as Calizone turned on her heel and strode off in the direction of the Party Field. He heard her mutter as she went past his hiding place.

"Throw my precious dress on the doorstep would they? They will pay for that!"

He shrank back as she turned and said "And I know you are watching, so don’t pretend to be a wall."

Lord Dalbard was stood on the platform waiting for silence before he began to speak.

Calizone stopped in front of the platform. She made a gesture with her right hand and immediately there was no noise.

She looked up at Lord Dalbard. "So you did not see fit to invite me to your little gathering." He tried to speak, but no words came out.

Calizone gestured again. Lord Dalbard gasped.

"But Madam, the Garden Party is for the people of Barford only. No one else is ever invited." Calizone snorted.

Then Lord Dalbard did something either very brave or very stupid. He said. "You are not welcome here. Please leave."

"Oh," said Calizone." I am going, but since you good folks are so fond your own company, then your own company is what you shall have. From now on no-one here will be able to leave this town and no-one from outside will be able to get in. It will stay like that until he who lives in darkness finds his awful place and goes into a deep dark place and comes out his true self."

The last part she said in a loud voice. Despite being hidden deep in the middle of town Aidan heard it clearly.

Then she added, "And you had better hurry, the scar faced girl has already started out and you are going to need her help. My cloth is out there somewhere and you are the one who is going find it."

With a wicked laugh, Calizone turned on her heel and left the Party Field.

The words struck him like a blow. Aidan staggered, clutching at the wall of the alley as a strange pressure rolled through the town. It was as if the air thickened, pushing against his skin, squeezing his chest. The sunlight dimmed for a heartbeat, though no cloud crossed the sky. A faint ringing filled his ears, like distant metal being struck.

Then came the cold.

It slid over him like a shadow with weight, settling into every corner of Barford. He felt it coil around the streets he knew so well, sealing them, closing them, trapping them. He gasped and pressed a hand to his throat. For a moment he could not breathe.

And then, just as suddenly, the sensation passed.

But the knowledge remained.

He sat up slowly, and whispered, “No-one here will be able to leave this town…”

He who lives in darkness.

His awful place.

His true self.

Aidan felt his stomach twist. He had lived in the shadows all his life, in alleys, hidden corners. His Nan’s warnings echoed in his mind: “If you are seen they will send you to an awful place.”

Calizone’s words had been meant for him.

He was the one.

The curse was waiting for him.