Shadows in Light

I turned around, putting my hands up. I wasn’t surprised to be faced with a gun.

Funny how I can get used to something so quickly.

John nodded a little, backing up out of the cell. “Good. Come on out” I could hear Alice giving quiet sobs as I stepped out of her cell.

“Close the cell please.”

Not one to decline a polite request while a gun is being pointed at my head, I shut the door, trying to think about my options.

“You got a choice here boy. You can join us, or you can fight and die. And trust me. You ain’t gonna win.”

“Well, as I’m not dead you obviously you have something in mind?”

“Put the bag down and take the coat off.” Damn, he’s been reading that evil dictator list. I took them off and left them on the floor before John motioned me to follow him, moving carefully backwards. He wasn’t stupid and kept some distance and I wasn’t ready to try anything just yet. I wanted to see what he had on offer and bide my time.

I ended up going up the stairs first, heading into his office.

“Caoimhe!” He bellowed at the top of his lungs, “Bring in a chair.”

“She’s going to bring in a chair?”

He dismissed my surprise with a wave of his hand, “She’s an Imp, her job is to serve.” His tone made it clear that Caoimhe was a slave, and nothing else.

We stood there waiting for a few moments before she finally came along, lifting and moving a wooden chair from a dining room into the room. I watched her for a moment, then ignored the gun pointing at me and picked it up carrying it in myself.

“Thank you Caoimhe.”

She didn’t respond to me, instead keeping her head ducked as she spoke to John. “Anything else Master?”

“No. Go away.”

She merely bowed her head a little and left, I could hear her heels clicking on the floor as she went.

John pointed to the floor and I sat down in the chair before John moved to take a seat at his own desk placing the gun on the desk.

“You have drawn a lot of interest in the last few days.”

“Well, I’ve tried my best.”

“It ain’t entirely a compliment, not entirely an insult either I guess. You gotten involved in a lot of things in a few short days, and you gotten a lot of people looking at you curiously.”

I paused for a moment, as a piece fell together, “You were one of them weren’t you. Outside the Superior Court?”

He gave me a smirk, “A ‘newborn’ appears in the City, and apparently has Shadow? Everyone was suspicious. Then were routing around looking for the thief down there? Raised all kind of alarm bells.”

“Is that why someone send the assassin after me?”

John didn’t blink, didn’t have a hit on confusion as he said, “No idea what you are talking about.”

Oh yeah, like that was gonna fool me. Every sense in my head was telling me this asshole was working with Eli. I might have had no idea how or why, but I knew he was.

“What’s the offer then?”

“Join us. You can gain so much under us. Money. Power. You stand to get lots of friends and allies. You will want for nothing. You can even move out of that alley you live in.” He smirked at me, “Oh yes. We know you live in that alley.”

“You could get out of there, help you move yourself into a house, or maybe a nice big apartment place in the high-rises. A lot of possibilities for you.”

It’s tempting, someone offering you things that you want. I’m not exactly fond of my alley house at the best of times. It’s quiet and I’m left alone sure, but I’m stealing power, stealing my place. Hell, I’m lucky no one’s figured out I’m living there and locked it up or kicked me out. Having money. A home. Those things would be nice. It’s a horrible feeling having someone know they have what you want and dangle it in front of you.

“You’re tempted, aren’t you? I can see it on your face. You want some time to think about it?”

Bit of a shock he’d be willing to offer that, but gift horse. Mouth. “That would be nice yes.”

“Good. Up you get. You can go into one of the cells while you think about it.”

Damn. I hadn’t thought of that.

John guided down into my own cell in his basement and left me. My stuff had been moved since I’d been down here. I guess Caoimhe had cleared it up. I just flopped onto the metal bed and tried to figure out my next move.

Now I was unarmed and in a cell. With someone next door I wanted to save, who was getting closer and closer to death.

I needed yet another plan.

I ended up pacing the cell back and forth, which was a case of three steps, turn, three steps, turn. Endlessly.

But not matter how I thought it through, it ended up coming down to a simple choice.

I could fight, and potentially die, for what I believed in.

Or did I give it all up and live and apparently live well.

“I wish you hadn’t come here you know” came a sweet little voice from behind me.

Turning around I saw Caoimhe stood there, somehow in the cell without me hearing the door open and close. Her eyes looked at me sadly. I also noticed that she had a bruise on her neck and across a cheek.

“I’m pretty screwed right, now aren’t I?”

She nodded a little as I took a seat on the bed, tired.

“You should join him Ryan. You can get so many benefits being with him, he’s gotten rich and powerful with his allies.”

“Who they are?”

“If I did know, I couldn’t say for multiple reasons, so it doesn’t matter Ryan. It doesn’t even matter that with what you’ve told me I know pretty much what’s going on. I’m his Imp, I have to obey him.”

“That’s more than just a phrase to you isn’t it?”

She nodded again, fidgeting a little, “Yes, even if I dislike what’s going on. I’m... well the best word I can think of that you’ll understand is bound. Bound to obey and do what he commands. I’m supposed to do things to help him out. Which is why I’m here to tell you, you should join him.”

“To survive?”

“Isn’t survival the most important thing?”

It’s a good question. Everything we do is for survival. We work to live, and in the end live well. We spend out entire lives fighting to do it, working to cushion our lives as we see fit. For some that’s money and a big home, others work to surround ourselves with friends and family.

But is that desire big enough to give up on our principles?

“Ryan! Please! I do like you, you’ve been so nice to me, like no one has been for years. You can’t fight him, especially as he’s got all your stuff.”

I sat there and thought it all through as Caoimhe watched on, I don’t know how long I did it, how long it took to make my decision. After all this was a decision that would shape the rest of my life, however long that might be.

In the end I shook my head. I didn’t like John, didn’t like what he’d done, and I definitely didn’t want to be like him. I’d deal with those consequences.

“You’re going to stand against him?” Caoimhe’s eyes had widen in utter surprise at me. “You’ll die!”

“People kept telling me I’d die up against Eli, yet I dropped a building on him earlier. I’m still here. I might die yes, but I’d rather die doing the right thing Caoimhe.”

She moved over, leaning on the bed with me. “You look beaten, you’re limping when you walk, your hand is poorly wrapped up and clearly still bleeding. You’ll need a miracle in my opinion.”

“Guess I best start hoping for one, then hadn’t I?”

I looked back at her, hoping for something from her. But instead of those happy little eyes I saw in the Pub, these were lost eyes. There wasn’t any light in them, these were the eyes of someone who has been abused and downtrodden for far too long. It’s was horrible to see on anyone, it felt even worse for me to see it on someone so small and beautiful.

She was suffering at the hands of John, both physically and mentally.

“Guess you had Ryan.” She looking to the door “Well. I tried to convince you for my Master. I can’t do any more than that.” She pushed off the bed and almost went over. Somehow, I was able to catch her hand before she fell and straighten her up properly. She looked at me gratefully “Thank you. These heels need redoing. You should rest.”

I gave her a kiss on the cheek and let go, watching her walk to the door. She never touched the door, just darkness seemed to fold around her for a moment, then she was gone leaving me alone in the cell.

I went back to pacing the cell. But that didn’t help so I ended up laid on the bed, resting my head on the blanket, staring at the, yes it was blood. Blood on the ceiling.

I laid there for a while before I realized something was poking me in the head.

I rummaged through and found exactly what I wanted.

My miracle.

Back in the office, John had a guest when I was taken back up there. He looked remarkably familiar for a moment, and it took me a while to place it. Mostly due to the lack of drug dealer jacket I’d seen him wearing in Essence. He stared at me as John took his seat again.

“One of your dealers from Essence?”

“This is my colleague, and he’s a bit annoyed with you for killing one of the workers. He wanted to be here for when I put the question to you: Have you made your choice?”

I took a breath and nodded.

John looked at me for a moment then gave a predatory smile, his fingers drumming on the table. “Gonna say no ain’t you?”

“I have given it thought. And while your offer is tempting. What with money and power and all that, I must decline mostly because you’re evil. I’ve seen your drugs and I’ve seen what it’s putting into people. Pushing them to die earlier than they should.”

John’s buddy shifted uncomfortable, while John merely replied with a growl, “Shut your mouth boy.”

“Why? You’re going to kill me regardless. Might as well be truthful. You’re working at the same thing the Angels are. You’re killing kids early, drawing their energy out. I’d put money on it you can track down anyone who’s died by that drug.”

I put my hands behind my back giving them a smile, “So what does it matter? You’re just going to reach over there, point that gun at me and shoot me. The coward’s way.”

John’s anger increased and gained a scowl. I’d just gained an advantage.

“We want to know where you went with the thief.”

“Excuse me?”

“The thief. She stole something valuable. She’s gotten it hidden somewhere. Tell us, and you’ll die painlessly.”

“What was it?”

“Doesn’t matter boy. Tell us where it is now.” John roared as his hand smashed into his table, causing the table legs to break. The gun slid off the table, and for a moment John and his companion’s eyes were on it.

My opening.

I’d be prepping for this since I started in this room, drawing my energy together, preparing to fire. I knew it wouldn’t do as much as I wanted if I aimed at John or his guest, but now I had a new option.

I fired Shadow, not at my fellows, but at the gun. I had no difficulty doing it. The darkness surged forth in a swirling ball, slamming into the gun out of midair and into the wall where it was embedded with a crunch.

Both gazes snapped to me. John’s companion charged forward; hands fisted ready for a fight.

I used the miracle that I’d found in my cell.

I swung at him with that small metal bar Alice had hidden at mine, pushing Shadow into it as I did. Instead of missing him, the bar absorbed it without any trouble, extending to smash the dealer in the side of the face.

The dealer was sent tumbling down to the floor, while I turned to face John. He had his hand raised, covered in fire that erupted at me. I jerked to one side as it was released, letting it go sailing into the hallway.

John stared at the metalwork in my hands, a stunned expression on his face for a moment.

“No! That can’t be!” thundered around the room before he tossed the table out of the way and started to storm forwards. I pulled Shadow energy and put it into a defense in front of me. I angled it in hope John would bounce off and go crunching into a wall.

It was for the most part successful, but the sheer force of a seven-foot tall, and probably five hundred or so pound man ramming into it caused a backlash against me that caused a wave of pain through me.

My injured leg gave out under me and I only stayed upright with the help of my staff. Merely I could smell smoke from the hallway, coupled with a loud crash. I got myself back to my feet in time to see the dealer moving at me again.

His face was in a rage as he grabbed at the staff, and I managed to jerk back, not wanting to get into a struggle with him for it. There was a flash of pink between us and he stumbled a little as I moved back. Taking advantage of this, I brought the end of the staff down onto his head.

There was a loud crack, and he screamed as the staff shuddered in my hands. I tried to pull it away, but I couldn’t pull it off him, it was like it was embedded into his skull. The runes on the staff light up in lava red as the dealer screamed until his lungs ran out of air. I could feel power flowing out of him, and into the staff.

I stared at him in horror as the staff drained him of life, until he dissolved into a pile of dust.

John stumbled back around the corner he snarling at me, “You are dead boy.” He grabbed something off his back getting himself a sword that was as long as my leg. And wickedly sharp looking which he pointed at me.

“I’m going to enjoy chopping you to pieces.”

John swung his sword at me, and I gave a manly yelp, shoving the staff in the way. I half expected the sword to cut through it, but instead it gave off a crack as sparks fly off. The power of the blow sent me spinning however, and John surged forward to press his advantage.

I would have probably been faster than John had my leg been working properly, but as it was, I barely kept the staff in the way of John’s attacks, using it to smash them away as he stabbed, swung and attempted to introduce my body to another sharp pointy thing.

I hit the wall behind me as John stabbed at me with his sword. I rolled away managing to avoid it, making him embed his sword full force into the wall. John roared with anger as he tried to pull it out, and then roared again in pain as I slammed my staff down onto his hand, and then into him, sending him stumbling away.

I swung at John again, and he dodged back further. Straight into the broken table. He tried to stop himself, but he ended up falling flat on his back with a table leg stabbing through his chest.

I had a chance to end this now.

I advanced on John, getting ready to smash at him with my staff, when the staff gave a flare of power in my hands, its shape shifted again to curve at one end, a blade flicking out at a right angle. Leaving me holding a scythe instead of a staff.

John stared at it in utter terror, as its glowed midnight blue.

“That’s... that’s impossible!” He coughed out, trying to get to his feet. “You’re a newborn. You can’t have that!”

I thought about what I’d seen and done this week. It was all at the hands of this man. A man that deserved to die. With everything I’d worked out, I knew he’d caused a lot of pain and suffering. But even with that, I didn’t know if I was right person to kill him for it all.

But I still swung the scythe without a word, beheading John. The staff glowed as it did, the blue blade and red runes igniting and flaring. I saw the Power being sucked from John into the Scythe, empowering it while it drained all that Power he had gained. Everything that he had been. Everything he would be.

I watched as everything that John had held dear was drained, and his limp body collapsed to the floor.

It wasn’t something I had wanted to watch. But I was obligated to, I’d done this. Even if he deserved it, I had to live with it.

I leaned down and went to go through his pockets, but I stopped. There was something more there. Something that I knew I needed more than anything else, or at least that Demon part of me knew this. I laid my hand over his chest, closing my eyes and focused on that thought, on that feeling. There was nothing for a moment, then I felt something surge out of him, and into me.

It didn’t invigorate me; it didn’t excite me. But it did make part of me pleased, whatever the hell it was. I fumbled through his pockets, looking for keys. I was going to need a car to get Alice to hospital. I found some in his pocket trying to think what to do.

Then my thoughtfulness was interrupted by a cry.

“Ryan! The place is burning!”

I looked up, Caoimhe was stood there, looking at me with wide eyes. Behind her I could see that John’s shot had gone through the wall in the corridor and had set fire to the room behind him. Fire was raging throughout and spreading quickly. I jumped up and started moving.

“Who else is here?”

“There’s the maid who is by the front door.”

“You get her. I’ll get Alice”

Caoimhe opened her mouth to argue but shook her head and obeyed as I ran through the house into Alice’s cell. As I was running the scythe retracted itself back down to the small bar letting me jam it into my pants.

I’d won. I couldn’t believe it. I felt full of victory, but that all came to a stop when I saw Alice. I didn’t need to double check to know she was dead. I knew it instinctively and without a moment pause. She wasn’t long dead. Probably passed while I was in the cell myself. And she wasn’t going to come back.

That sense of victory crumbled into nothing. I stared at her body, feeling shame that I’d failed her.

“Ryan, come on. You have to get out of here.” Caoimhe was here, and her hand was wrapped in mine, tugging. “You did all you could. And you survived, now you need to get out of here. Quickly. I got the maid out.”

“Why?”

“Because the alarms have gone off. The Sheriffs are coming, and not the mortal ones. Get your stuff, get out of here, and get yourself hidden.”

I looked down at her, and that fear in her eyes, so I deferred to her judgment. I gave one last look to Alice and left the room with Caoimhe. She stopped in front of one of the rooms.

“Get your stuff. In there, quickly.” She bolted into her own room while I went into mine. There on the table was my bag. I stuck the bar into my bag, quickly checking and pulled on my coat. I came out in time to see that Caoimhe had a bag of her own.

We ran through the house, more and more of it was burning, and smoke was starting to fill the place up. My night sight was no good in this mess, and my normal sight wasn’t going to work either. I ended up stumbling along against the wall, before Caoimhe grabbed my hand and pulled me out through the front door and into fresh air.

I coughed a little, breathing in the fresh air and looked back at the house. I could see the smoke and fire spreading. In the distance sirens were coming. I heard Caoimhe gasp a little and turned, looking to see what had caused her to make such a noise.

In front of me were three men, with hands on swords and a gun pointing at me.

“Ryan Vaughan. You are under arrest by order of Mr. Ortiz. Put down your bag and raise your hands.”

Great. These weren’t normal police; this must be the Sheriff’s Caoimhe was fearful of. I dropped the bag and raised my hands as they moved over, one covering me with the gun, another keeping his hand on his sword, while the third removed my coat and checked me for anything, before cuffing me and all together they dragged me towards a van.

I got thrown into the van, when one of the Sheriffs made a noise of annoyance. Looking back, I could see that Caoimhe had disappeared, as had my stuff. Where they’d gone, I had no clue, but I hoped she’d gotten away.

At least one good could have come from this.