The Silver Lamp

Roughly eight thousand years ago, a young shadow master named Damien was cursed to be trapped within a silver lidded lamp. Eventually after passing from owner to owner his most recent owner a dragon named Erisidr tired of toying with him and left him in an old op shop to be discovered.

The old man looked over him and grinned “Lets make a deal, you tell me what you are and I’ll tell you what I am and might maybe let you have a look at some of the tomes that mere mortals don’t get to paw through” he’d lived in this small town for a few hundred years and knew Lyra just as he knew her family. In all the time she’d lived there she’d never shown up with another person let alone a creature, his sharp eyes had picked up the coyote and the black shadow resting in Lyras palm. He didn’t want to know what this man was to protect her, heaven knew she could take care of herself, it was more he was quite the curious sort, he was fairly certain his species was curious by nature. At the sound of the man speaking, Lyra looked up from the book she’d been reading the back of, knowing that the old man wouldn’t do anything detrimental she resumed reading, ending up with an armful of books she read a fair variety of books and currently she was on murder mysteries written by women and her favourite author was a Camilla Lackberg who’s stories were set in Sweden. Having read the first two she was happily stocking up on the other books in the series, placing them in her bag to take to the old man who ran the store, quite happy there, she usually made a trip here once or twice a month and occasionally brought him baking as he was a family friend and often gave her discounted rates, she knew him as Grandpa and could remember visiting the well stocked bookstore ever since she was a little girl.

Dark brown eyes twinkled with amusement “Is that so? I haven’t met one of your kind in oh… a life time .You’ve already likely deduced I’m a witch, Eli Lawrence at your service” he stepped away from the counter and walked over to a door leading into the back, murmuring a quiet simple spell and gesturing with a hand a sigil appeared on the handle of the door glowing a moment before a soft click announced the door had unlocked. Opening the door and stepping through he held the door open for the shadow master, the room was lit by a couple of florescent lights that flickered when first turned on revealing a room crammed full of a maze bookshelves, each bookshelf had a placard attached to it with a species or subject scrawled onto it along with years when necessary. “What is it you’re looking for then?” he exchanged books with a selkie in Ireland as well as several other creatures that ran such bookshops across the wide wide world, he quite liked the Irish Selkie and traded with him the most meaning they also shared the personal tomes they’d written themselves giving them both a greater range of knowledge than most knew about or what most would consider healthy.

Eli listened quietly to the comment musing over things, the glance Damien gave him drew his attention and the old man nodded “Go right ahead” he seemed smart enough to know that to take any books from here would not be looked favourably upon. Listening to the squeaks Lyra smiled slightly “What are you interested in, the books? They by my current favourite author that’s why I’m stockpiling a selection, old man Eli has a great number of books everyone around these parts come here to get their books” explaining to the little shadow as she made her way down a different isle she found some of the childrens books and lifted the shadow up to them “you can pick two books and I’ll read them to you or you can read them” it felt like the shadow was quite young which was why she’d picked the childrens section. Hopefully, her choice wouldn’t have offended the little shadow, she spent most of her time reading these days, there was less and less things for her to do that kept her entertained and she wasn’t even 200 yet admittedly there were days where she wished she could do more, explore and learn yet the lessons that had been stamped into her right from the time she opened her eyes for the first time kept her here. She was planning to ambush Damien later and see if she could get some stories out of him about what he’d done and seen during his existence.

She’d quite enjoyed the afternoon reading to the shadow in the bookstore, paying for the books she wanted when Eli and Damien reappeared they were soon on their way home, humming absently to herself stockpiling a list of questions she planned to ask when the time was right. Not bothered when he vanished into his lamp right away, she went about putting her new books away and letting her parrot out of his cage, ignoring the raucous squawks of the bird as it quickly vacated its cage. While there she cleaned out the cage and replaced food, once finished Lyra finally became aware of the persistent squeaking of the little shadow and after a few guesses hit on the right question that was being asked “Well alright then” she’d bought some childrens books for her new friend while at the bookstore and so picked out a book she hoped would be a success. “This is one I quite like, its about a family shipwrecked and learning to survive in the wild, what do you think should I read you this one?” sitting down on a comfortable seat for two moments before remembering something and proceeding to get up, make herself a hot chocolate and sit back down again with a sigh “now then” she blew on her drink before taking a careful sip waiting to hear if this book would indeed entertain the cute squeaker’s interest or not.

Looking up at the comment Lyra shrugged a little “It still feels rude referring to it as an well it, will it pick a gender soon?” in her opinion the shadow seemed to feel female and she wasn’t exactly sure why, she wasn’t about to bring it up incase she put any ideas in the shadows head and she didn’t want to influence it to pick a gender when it was the shadows own choice. Sharp eyes studied the mans face “you don’t seem that thrilled with the fact that it has” the comment was simple and non-judgemental, if she thought about it the warlock could probably come up with some reasons why he wouldn’t be pleased but she’d rather cut out the energy she’d put into wondering about it later on and find out why right he wasn’t that keen right now. Slipping the book mark into the book and closing it quietly to set it to the side wanting to know what exactly was going on when it came to shadows and him, she already was very fond of the little shadow and didn’t like the idea of being separated from it, it was getting harder and harder not to theink of the shadow as just an it, its personality was showing itself and to call the shadow an it just felt wrong.

Narrowing her eyes when he avoided the question Lyra didn’t bother pursuing it, she knew from experience that pushing was the quickest way to get someone to clam up, for now ignoring the shadow while she watched Damien an amused rueful smile appeared on her features when she realized that he was drifting off into his own thoughts and didn’t bother to disturb him despite the burning curiosity. Answers would come later, for now, he was still settling in, and she could be patient, registering the shadows squeaking she petted the noisy little thing before continuing the story, at about dinner time she put the book down and stood ignoring any protests and started up on dinner half way through she light heartedly commented to the small shadow “ Ask your master if he’s going to show up for dinner tonight would you?” What will be would be was her general motto when it came to life and she wasn’t that particularly interested in pestering Damien nor pressure him, opening the oven and waving all of the hot air out of her face when it slammed into her she pulled the roast out of the oven and stuck it with a knife and shook her head before shoving it back in with the vegetables she’d peeled, chopped up and covered with some spices and breadcrumbs.

Turning around and spotting him there, Lyra offered him one of her usual friendly smiles, a couple of plates and necessary utensils popped up out of the draws in her kitchen to neatly set themselves down on the bench. “Roast Lamb tonight” she honestly didn’t mind doing the cooking, cleaning and everything else. She did it on her own anyway and she had a sneaking suspicion that he needed time to figure himself out, ordering people around wasn’t particularly her style either. Using her abilities to bring the trays out of the oven she set the meat down on a chopping block and offered him a knife “While I get everything else ready, could you please cut the meat for me?” her father had always been quite pedantic about doing the meat and so she’d learned to associate it as a thing that made men happy because it was manly. She didn’t keep watching him, instead she turned and kept bustling around the kitchen, putting together her self-saucing chocolate pudding that was easy and had little hassle, bundling it into the microwave and leaving it there for once they’d finished dinner, Lyra turned and walked back over to where Damien was putting some veggies on her plate, quite happy with the roast sweet potato, carrots, potato, and roasted broccoli. Snapping her fingers when she remembered the gravy a gravy boat floated over and after collecting what it needed from the tray that had had the meat in it continued moving around until the gravy was completed. Setting itself down while she collected some meat, she finished off her meal with the gravy that had been quickly whipped up and moved to sit down tucking into the food rather happily.

Sitting silently through the meal, the girl had some time to reflect on things, apart from small bits and pieces the shadows had told her, she didn’t really know much about him and she was curious. It’d been a while since she’d bought his lamp, perhaps by now she could get to know him more, musing over it she finally spoke up when they were both finished “Hey, you’ve been here a while now and so I was wondering if you’d like to watch a movie with me?” setting her knife and fork neatly together on her plate and looking up at him “I’d really like to get to know you more, we are living together after all” standing and picking up her plate she took his as well “If you’d rather go back into your lamp I won't prevent you” she’d never restricted his access to the lamp it was his safe space and she had no right in her mind to prevent that. How would she like it after all? She’d hate it, moving away into the kitchen leaving him there to think it over she scraped the leftovers into the bin and washed the plates under the tap before setting them in the dishwasher. Closing it she began cleaning up the kitchen, used to doing the task on her own and so partially doing it herself and her magic taking care of the rest, the leftovers floated onto a plate and were wrapped in glad wrap by the glad wrap before the plate floated into the fridge. Humming to herself going through her movie collection mentally and ending up choosing one that made her laugh, once the kitchen was tidy she wandered back out wiping her hands clean on a cloth. It was up to him whether or not he joined her so she’d go about her evening as if she was alone, picking out the dvd she slipped it into the dvd player before settling on the couch with a blanket wrapped about herself.

Over the past six months she’d learnt a little more about the stranger in her house thanks to the black shadowy creatures that had moved into her home along with him. Returning home a little later than usual thanks to an unruly customer who’d been a nuisance, she opened the door carrying a couple of bags of groceries that she’d picked up before heading home, now she had enough ingredients to make a ginger cake. Storming into the house she stalked inside and slammed the ingredients down scowling, it was too late to bother making dinner as Damien should have made his own by now anyway, starting to put things together she spent a couple of hours baking away before she was finally done. Having made a castle with some directions from the shadows, she had managed to ice it with cream cheese icing before finally running out of steam, putting things away with the help of her telekinesis and her own two hands. Heading up the stairs noticeably a lot less angrily, turning up the next morning in time to catch Damien helping himself she couldn’t help a smile, somehow feeling a bit more perky seeing him digging into her creation. At least he was enjoying it, something good had come out of her annoyance, bustling in to make herself a cup of tea she spoke “would you like a tea Damien?” stepping around him she reached up and picked a couple of cups out of the cupboard, setting them down on the bench she moved around the kitchen managing to avoid bumping into him and perched on the edge of the bench happily waiting for the kettle to boil “How’s it taste? The icing is a new one I decided to try out, I read it on pinterest” a good nights sleep had helped her go back to her usual self, smiling still while moving her feet back and forth.

Accepting the cup she set it down next to the kettle and shrugged “The shadows made some suggestions, next time I’m going to try making a dragon out of something I think” when the kettle whistled she set about pouring them both a cup of tea and offered his cup back to him “Glad to hear I’ve improved at least” Not the biggest fan of ginger cake herself she didn’t bother getting a slice, instead she made some toast and sat down at the table nibbling at it when it was done and occasionally sipping some tea “I’ve read all my books so I’m looking to head back to the bookstore today if you want to come” glancing up at him Lyra couldn’t help but remember how skinny and unhealthy he’d looked when he’d first come out of his lamp and compare that to how much better he looked now. More of his personality had come out over the past few months and they generally got along pretty well, he’d shared some things about his shadows after she’d figured out what questions she wanted to ask and now she was more aware of what they actually were. Her little shadow that stuck to her like glue had grown a little too although it was still without a name or gender, unwilling to push it she simply referred to it as little one. Tucking her hair back behind her ears and lifting the cup to her mouth for another sip of tea she waited for the mans response while musing over the fact that now he actually looked healthy he was much better looking.

Aware of the shadows vanishing she merely finished her tea as he agreed to come along, feeling a little lazy she sent her cup and saucer soaring over to neatly slip into the dishwasher when he was putting his own plate and cup away. Standing she offered him a smile and headed out, wandering down the small narrow streets of the little town she’d grown up in, sometimes she wanted to move away to start her own life but she didn’t really have an idea of where she wanted to go and that was what held her back. She was also the only daughter that had stayed in the small town so she felt that she owed it to her parents a little to stay, spotting the familiar dark green door of the bookstore and the glass that showed off some of the books that he had available for sale. Pushing the door open the familiar cheery tinkling of the bell always contrasted with the interior of the shop, it was a little gloomy in the short hallway that opened up into a medium-sized room that had a few lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling, there were some couches squeezed in near the windows and shelf upon shelf of books in strict order announced by a few signs stuck to the shelves. Eli was sat behind a small desk with an old fashioned map of the world stuck on the wall behind him, reading through circle lensed glasses and with a cup of tea neatly resting in its saucer. Returning her books by neatly setting them down on the desk she glanced at Damien guessing that he was going to vanish into the backroom to read, so she picked a book and got comfy on one of the sofas “Hey happy little thing, pick a book and I’ll read it to you” murmuring softly to the baby shadow that had been hidden in her pocket on the walk over, Lyra patiently waited for the little thing to make its way back to her with a book.

Pleased that the unnamed shadow was so keen to pick out a book, Lyra watched it contentedly not wanting to take over too much, however, when the shadow squeaked sadly and started bouncing on the spot she understood what was wanted and came over. “This one huh?” she asked before pulling it out of the crammed full book case, brushing her fingers over the cover her smile softened “I remember reading this when I was little” granted this was a new copy but it was a nice fond memory either or. Sitting down she opened the book and began to read out loud, teaching the shadow to read without really noticing she was doing it, some part of her recognized that the shadow that had become her companion was a baby and so her behaviour had changed a little to treat it like she would a human child. Becoming all the more fond of the little shadow, by the time they finally finished the childrens book it seemed that the man who ran the store was starting to pack things away. “Okay then, you can pick two to take home. Pick one short one and one longer one” the longer one would be one she could read to the little one when she had the time and would last longer. Once the creature had she paid Eli for the books “Where is Damien then, still hiding out the back in the ‘restricted’ section?” she glanced towards the back room quirking a brow wondering if she was going to have to pry the man out with a crowbar.

He didn’t seem to be that interested in any of the books that she could bring home but she decided to offer anyway “If theres any books you want here I’m happy to buy them for you” as far as she knew he didn’t have any money anyway. Tucking the two picked books underneath her arm she smiled at the shadow on her shoulder  “Time to hide again little one” once it was hidden away she headed back towards her home. Remembering the look on his face when he’d seen the product of her latest baking montage, she mused over a couple of things before finally deciding to speak “look, Damien, I’m sorry if the castle made you upset, I didn’t intend for that kind of reaction, when I get annoyed or frustrated I bake and that’s what the result was this time” making herself be direct she wanted to avoid his gaze and look elsewhere but she had to be sincere and that meant eye contact. Quite concerned in all honesty that she’d made a blunder, Lyra waited anxiously for the mans reply, more than used to living with him by now she was accustomed to the fact that he didn’t say much and kept to himself despite her attempts to get to know him so she had accepted that and backed off letting him do as he pleased. The reaction was one then that surprised her and she wanted to make sure that she hadn’t made things worse.