The Meeting of Four
-1-
The city of Crownpointe.
A city where the ordinary isn't always so...a city where the majority of its citizens remain unaware of what really surrounds them. Most people can't, or refuse to, see the fantastic...and they certainly don't believe in magic. Most people cling to their known reality, despite what they might "see," for the sake of saving their own sanity. They ignore or explain away the wonders and horrors that confront them on a daily basis.
A city where the wall of reality...of the ordinary, daily life of most mundanes...is becoming thinner through the boundary known as Shadow. Like a slow moving tide that is gaining strength, Shadow is rolling in once again and depositing creatures, artifacts, and relics like so much debris on the shoreline.
A city where the rebirth of magic--of wondrous creatures, items, and abilities, is bringing a new force into the mundane life of most humans. City by city the world is being transformed...and not for the first time.
-1-
The city of Crownpointe.
A city where the ordinary isn't always so...a city where the majority of its citizens remain unaware of what really surrounds them. Most people can't, or refuse to, see the fantastic...and they certainly don't believe in magic. Most people cling to their known reality, despite what they might "see," for the sake of saving their own sanity. They ignore or explain away the wonders and horrors that confront them on a daily basis.
A city where the wall of reality...of the ordinary, daily life of most mundanes...is becoming thinner through the boundary known as Shadow. Like a slow moving tide that is gaining strength, Shadow is rolling in once again and depositing creatures, artifacts, and relics like so much debris on the shoreline.
A city where the rebirth of magic--of wondrous creatures, items, and abilities, is bringing a new force into the mundane life of most humans. City by city the world is being transformed...and not for the first time.
-2-
Rhianna's brown eyes opened from her meditative state. She judged by the light coming in through the shuttered french doors in her bedroom that it was morning. She didn't have to be up early today, as she was between movies, but she had to take care of some business in the city.
Stretching under silky bamboo sheets of the purest white, Rhianna ran her slender fingers through her long, brown, wavy hair. She enjoyed laying in her bed during her meditative periods, even though she didn't sleep. A soft purring from her pillow caused a smile to cross her lips. Tandros, her cat, was not yet prepared to greet the day. Throwing back the covers, the elf slid gracefully out of bed. She felt the coming warmth of the mid-summer sun and padded naked to the bathroom in her bedroom suite.
"Brrrr! I should really wear slippers," she mumbled to herself, forgetting that first step into the bathroom on the faux marble floor was always cold no matter what the weather outside. She wiggled her toes into the luxurious forest green rug to warm her feet. Taking a moment to water the plants which hung in the bath area, Rhianna stepped under the low-flow shower head.
Once finished, Rhianna dressed in snug beige, cotton slacks paired with a silk dusty green tank top tucked neatly in her slacks and matching light sweater and low-heeled beige sandals--all which came from one of her three walk-in closets full of clothes and shoes. Rhianna had to admit she loved clothes. One of her indulgences that didn't really help the environment.
**************
"Good morning, Cora," Rhianna greeted one of the halflings that helped to keep her house in order.
The elf sat at breakfast nook table. Her laptop, cell phone, appointment book, and other necessary items needed for the actress' busy life was already in place. Carissa, Cora's sister, assisted Rhianna with her technological needs.
"Good morning, Miss Sheridan," Cora replied smiling broadly, her small, ruddy cheeks shining. Her straight, black hair was tied back out of her face. The three foot tall halfling set down a cup of herbal tea in front of her employer, then returned to climb the step stool that helped her reach the counter where she was preparing breakfast. There were stools all over the house and outside for the small but industrious halflings.
Rhianna had tried to convince the three Queltory siblings to call her by her first name, but all three halflings insisted on referring to her as "Miss"...even though they thought of her as part of their family. Rhianna turned her attention to her day’s activities by opening her laptop. That much she was usually successful at.
Tandros, her cat, had deemed it time to rise finally and was busy winding his way around the table legs waiting for his breakfast. Cora filled his dish promptly.
Outside old trees and tall hedges surrounded the large mansion and private land, cutting it off from view from anyone who might get too close. Calkin, the halfling brother, was already busy with giving his lady employer’s Aston Martin Vanquish a final polish for her drive down into the city.
Stretching under silky bamboo sheets of the purest white, Rhianna ran her slender fingers through her long, brown, wavy hair. She enjoyed laying in her bed during her meditative periods, even though she didn't sleep. A soft purring from her pillow caused a smile to cross her lips. Tandros, her cat, was not yet prepared to greet the day. Throwing back the covers, the elf slid gracefully out of bed. She felt the coming warmth of the mid-summer sun and padded naked to the bathroom in her bedroom suite.
"Brrrr! I should really wear slippers," she mumbled to herself, forgetting that first step into the bathroom on the faux marble floor was always cold no matter what the weather outside. She wiggled her toes into the luxurious forest green rug to warm her feet. Taking a moment to water the plants which hung in the bath area, Rhianna stepped under the low-flow shower head.
Once finished, Rhianna dressed in snug beige, cotton slacks paired with a silk dusty green tank top tucked neatly in her slacks and matching light sweater and low-heeled beige sandals--all which came from one of her three walk-in closets full of clothes and shoes. Rhianna had to admit she loved clothes. One of her indulgences that didn't really help the environment.
**************
"Good morning, Cora," Rhianna greeted one of the halflings that helped to keep her house in order.
The elf sat at breakfast nook table. Her laptop, cell phone, appointment book, and other necessary items needed for the actress' busy life was already in place. Carissa, Cora's sister, assisted Rhianna with her technological needs.
"Good morning, Miss Sheridan," Cora replied smiling broadly, her small, ruddy cheeks shining. Her straight, black hair was tied back out of her face. The three foot tall halfling set down a cup of herbal tea in front of her employer, then returned to climb the step stool that helped her reach the counter where she was preparing breakfast. There were stools all over the house and outside for the small but industrious halflings.
Rhianna had tried to convince the three Queltory siblings to call her by her first name, but all three halflings insisted on referring to her as "Miss"...even though they thought of her as part of their family. Rhianna turned her attention to her day’s activities by opening her laptop. That much she was usually successful at.
Tandros, her cat, had deemed it time to rise finally and was busy winding his way around the table legs waiting for his breakfast. Cora filled his dish promptly.
Outside old trees and tall hedges surrounded the large mansion and private land, cutting it off from view from anyone who might get too close. Calkin, the halfling brother, was already busy with giving his lady employer’s Aston Martin Vanquish a final polish for her drive down into the city.
-3-
With her straight hair held by back by a bandana wrapped around her head like a cap, Danica flowed smoothly from Downward Dog pose into Crow. She appeared to hover effortlessly for a few deep breaths balancing on just her hands with her knees resting on either side of her elbows, then released her legs back onto the mat. The soft, peaceful expression on her face never changed as she focused on the "now" of her life, stilling her thoughts. The remainder of her morning yoga asanas were completed in silence—inside her quiet mind as well as outside where the darkness was slowly slipping away once again. Always up before the sun, the young woman faithfully followed her morning routine each day as part of her desire to create positive energy in her life—deep breathing, an hour of meditation, then yoga.
As she was picking up her mat one golden claw snagged it and created a small slash. Danica sighed and stared at her hand, stroking the one-inch claw familiarly. “Just as well I buy several at once. Well, this one will last a while longer yet, I suppose.”
Walking across the polished hardwood floor toward the window blinds at her balcony, Danica whisked them open and stood for a while worshiping the rising sun. The sounds of the early morning commuters leaving the neighborhood began to float up from the street as Danica opened the window. She pulled off her bandana as she headed for the kitchen and ran her fingers through her hair. Although she couldn’t see the effects, the sun that was beginning to shine in through her window created a soft glow all through her gold and copper-colored hair.
Suddenly the phone rang, breaking the peaceful silence. It was almost as if there were small tinkling bells inside. Smiling Danica picked up the phone and greeted her mother in Draconic.
“Oh, you should speak English! What if it hadn’t been me? You should be more careful, sweetheart,” Mrs. Owens admonished her daughter as Danica easily pulled herself up to sit on a counter in the kitchen for a chat with her mother.
“Mom, I knew it was you, don’t worry! Besides no one else calls me this early in the morning,” Danica teased as she wiggled her toes, also painted gold to match her claws—she found the mundanes were ill at ease when her “nails” and toes were different colors. She sipped at her water bottle and continued chatting with her mother. The young woman watched the blessed sun—the giver of life to the world—begin to flood her condominium with healing, healthy light.
"So, are you and dad coming out next week?"
As she was picking up her mat one golden claw snagged it and created a small slash. Danica sighed and stared at her hand, stroking the one-inch claw familiarly. “Just as well I buy several at once. Well, this one will last a while longer yet, I suppose.”
Walking across the polished hardwood floor toward the window blinds at her balcony, Danica whisked them open and stood for a while worshiping the rising sun. The sounds of the early morning commuters leaving the neighborhood began to float up from the street as Danica opened the window. She pulled off her bandana as she headed for the kitchen and ran her fingers through her hair. Although she couldn’t see the effects, the sun that was beginning to shine in through her window created a soft glow all through her gold and copper-colored hair.
Suddenly the phone rang, breaking the peaceful silence. It was almost as if there were small tinkling bells inside. Smiling Danica picked up the phone and greeted her mother in Draconic.
“Oh, you should speak English! What if it hadn’t been me? You should be more careful, sweetheart,” Mrs. Owens admonished her daughter as Danica easily pulled herself up to sit on a counter in the kitchen for a chat with her mother.
“Mom, I knew it was you, don’t worry! Besides no one else calls me this early in the morning,” Danica teased as she wiggled her toes, also painted gold to match her claws—she found the mundanes were ill at ease when her “nails” and toes were different colors. She sipped at her water bottle and continued chatting with her mother. The young woman watched the blessed sun—the giver of life to the world—begin to flood her condominium with healing, healthy light.
"So, are you and dad coming out next week?"
-4-
Zane woke up in a cold sweat, breathing heavily out in a long ‘sssssssssssssss’ sound. It had been the snake dream again. Shaking his bald head and wiping the sweat off his face with one hand, he felt the wetness even in his mustache and goatee. Sitting up he swung his dark, muscular legs over the side of the bed. The covers were rumpled and balled up where, during the night, he’d wrestled with……something in the dark recesses of his mind. His feet thumped on the floor. Resting his forearms on his taut thighs, Zane gave a low groan before hauling himself up and into work out shorts and t-shirt.
Plodding through the still dark house, his dark skin making him nearly invisible except for his white t-shirt, Zane smelled the ocean as he opened the front door to retrieve the morning paper. Looking upward he paused to watch the early morning sky with day ready to break through. He could hear the surf pound gently down on the beach and looked forward to his morning run. With a dull smack the paper landed on the junk-filled table for later as Zane practiced his throwing. He quickly began to stretch out his strong, sleeping muscles.
Zane grabbed his sweat jacket, slipped it on, and then headed for the back door.
**************
The faint tendrils of the palest orange and pink in the sky as he left had transformed into early morning by the time Zane returned from his morning run along Whitesands Beach. He headed up the different shaped flat stones in the grass that lead from the sidewalk to his small backyard. Everything in Venice was small, which made Zane look that much larger and more imposing.
“Good morning, Zane,” Mrs. Henderson from next door waved from her front garden. “Lovely day already, isn’t it?”
Zane stopped for a moment and talked of the weather with the spry old lady. Soon he headed back into the house to eat a breakfast full of protein, shower, and begin another day of…….well, whatever it was that he did, Zane thought. He had to keep some routine in his life—it seemed to be ingrained in him from his military days—but it had been hard these past couple of years.
Those were his best days, Zane thought to himself as he headed to the garage that was crammed up against the white stucco house but had no entrance into or out of the house. At 6’ and all muscle, he barely fit between the inside wall and the door of his black Ford pickup. Of course it didn’t help that his truck was huge, too.
“Yeah, those were the days,” Zane repeated to himself. He stared at his dark hands, with their scaly backs, as he gripped the steering wheel in front of him. He sat in the garage for a moment, listening to the heavy motor of the truck rumble and wake up.
Plodding through the still dark house, his dark skin making him nearly invisible except for his white t-shirt, Zane smelled the ocean as he opened the front door to retrieve the morning paper. Looking upward he paused to watch the early morning sky with day ready to break through. He could hear the surf pound gently down on the beach and looked forward to his morning run. With a dull smack the paper landed on the junk-filled table for later as Zane practiced his throwing. He quickly began to stretch out his strong, sleeping muscles.
Zane grabbed his sweat jacket, slipped it on, and then headed for the back door.
**************
The faint tendrils of the palest orange and pink in the sky as he left had transformed into early morning by the time Zane returned from his morning run along Whitesands Beach. He headed up the different shaped flat stones in the grass that lead from the sidewalk to his small backyard. Everything in Venice was small, which made Zane look that much larger and more imposing.
“Good morning, Zane,” Mrs. Henderson from next door waved from her front garden. “Lovely day already, isn’t it?”
Zane stopped for a moment and talked of the weather with the spry old lady. Soon he headed back into the house to eat a breakfast full of protein, shower, and begin another day of…….well, whatever it was that he did, Zane thought. He had to keep some routine in his life—it seemed to be ingrained in him from his military days—but it had been hard these past couple of years.
Those were his best days, Zane thought to himself as he headed to the garage that was crammed up against the white stucco house but had no entrance into or out of the house. At 6’ and all muscle, he barely fit between the inside wall and the door of his black Ford pickup. Of course it didn’t help that his truck was huge, too.
“Yeah, those were the days,” Zane repeated to himself. He stared at his dark hands, with their scaly backs, as he gripped the steering wheel in front of him. He sat in the garage for a moment, listening to the heavy motor of the truck rumble and wake up.
-5-
Adam Kenton felt the one small consolation about his situation was that the dank sewage tunnel he was currently splashing ankle-deep through eventually drained into the ocean and not the waste treatment plant. He wiped the dripping blood from his forehead where he’d been slammed into a wall. The few rats, normal rats Adam thought gratefully, that inhabited this tunnel stared boldly at him with small, glittering eyes.
The beam of his flashlight shone into beady eyes. He kicked water with a heavy boot at a small group of three rats, huddled on the slim edge of the tunnel floor not covered with water. They scurried out of the way with many squeaking protestations .
“Go on! Go see what I left you, why don’t you!” he taunted the nasty, furry creatures with a slight grimmace, his voice echoing down the tunnel.
Reaching the steel ladder bolted to the tunnel wall that he’d come down sometime around three AM, Adam looked up into darkness and then back the way he came, also into darkness. The zombie he had successfully shot and decapitated, just in case, after days of tracking and quiet hunting, had put up quite a fight. But the woman who had hired him was paying a tidy sum to erase her now-dead husband’s foray into necromancy. Adam shook his head disdainfully as he began to climb the metal rungs, flicking off a bit of decayed flesh from the front of his torn shirt. From the woman’s account of the “incident,” as she called it during their first meeting in her expensive home, her husband had suffered a heart attack the night he first caught sight of their son coming home from the local cemetery in his zombie state. The one person who could control the zombie was dead.
Adam had thought the husband must have had some latent ability for spellcasting, had perhaps even been part Shadowkind and not realized it; although he made no mention of this to his client. She wouldn’t have understood and more questions would have to be answered by Adam—more than he was willing to go into. Raising the dead was not something just anyone could do even with the right materials and spell. Halfway up, the dark-haired man stopped and listened intently. His steel blue eyes narrowed. Had he heard a noise from the direction of where he’d left the body of the former high school football captain, dead from overindulging in alcohol one night? But no, once dead the zombie should stay dead—especially minus his head—so Adam continued climbing until he reached the round covering of the sewer entrance.
As he pulled himself out into the mostly deserted street of downtown Crownpointe, Adam gazed up into the early morning sky tinged with pale pink and orange. There would be time to reach his apartment, run through a few martial arts routines, check his injuries, then shower and head down to his office.
“Private Investigator/Shadow Hunter for hire,” Adam said quietly as he replaced the metal cover with a clang and quickly headed for his van to get out of sight. He was surely covered with bits of zombie flesh and goo, although this one hadn’t been a liquified zombie, for which Adam was eternally grateful. “Make my own hours and work as I please.”
Pulling out into the street he passed two homeless men shuffling along with squeaky shopping carts. Adam ran one hand through his short hair, creating odd-looking spikes with bits of the remaining blood, then sighed slightly, his adrenaline dissipating.
“Yep. All on my own. No one to answer to, nothing to be responsible for except myself…..”
The beam of his flashlight shone into beady eyes. He kicked water with a heavy boot at a small group of three rats, huddled on the slim edge of the tunnel floor not covered with water. They scurried out of the way with many squeaking protestations .
“Go on! Go see what I left you, why don’t you!” he taunted the nasty, furry creatures with a slight grimmace, his voice echoing down the tunnel.
Reaching the steel ladder bolted to the tunnel wall that he’d come down sometime around three AM, Adam looked up into darkness and then back the way he came, also into darkness. The zombie he had successfully shot and decapitated, just in case, after days of tracking and quiet hunting, had put up quite a fight. But the woman who had hired him was paying a tidy sum to erase her now-dead husband’s foray into necromancy. Adam shook his head disdainfully as he began to climb the metal rungs, flicking off a bit of decayed flesh from the front of his torn shirt. From the woman’s account of the “incident,” as she called it during their first meeting in her expensive home, her husband had suffered a heart attack the night he first caught sight of their son coming home from the local cemetery in his zombie state. The one person who could control the zombie was dead.
Adam had thought the husband must have had some latent ability for spellcasting, had perhaps even been part Shadowkind and not realized it; although he made no mention of this to his client. She wouldn’t have understood and more questions would have to be answered by Adam—more than he was willing to go into. Raising the dead was not something just anyone could do even with the right materials and spell. Halfway up, the dark-haired man stopped and listened intently. His steel blue eyes narrowed. Had he heard a noise from the direction of where he’d left the body of the former high school football captain, dead from overindulging in alcohol one night? But no, once dead the zombie should stay dead—especially minus his head—so Adam continued climbing until he reached the round covering of the sewer entrance.
As he pulled himself out into the mostly deserted street of downtown Crownpointe, Adam gazed up into the early morning sky tinged with pale pink and orange. There would be time to reach his apartment, run through a few martial arts routines, check his injuries, then shower and head down to his office.
“Private Investigator/Shadow Hunter for hire,” Adam said quietly as he replaced the metal cover with a clang and quickly headed for his van to get out of sight. He was surely covered with bits of zombie flesh and goo, although this one hadn’t been a liquified zombie, for which Adam was eternally grateful. “Make my own hours and work as I please.”
Pulling out into the street he passed two homeless men shuffling along with squeaky shopping carts. Adam ran one hand through his short hair, creating odd-looking spikes with bits of the remaining blood, then sighed slightly, his adrenaline dissipating.
“Yep. All on my own. No one to answer to, nothing to be responsible for except myself…..”
-6-
"You look marvelous this morning, Miss Sheridan," Carissa bubbled as she entered the kitchen with her dust rag and small bucket of cleaning supplies. Like her older sister and brother, Carissa also had black hair but hers was cut in a short bob.
Like Rhianna, the three halflings were much older than they appeared. Now in their 90s, they could conceivably live to 150 years old. The three had been with Rhianna for eight years now, ever since she'd found them wandering and lost after being pulled through the wall of Shadow from wherever it was they originated. Instead of finding and banding together with their own kind, the three Queltory's bonded with the elf and had made their home with her ever since.
Eight years, Rhianna found herself thinking, as the two short sisters bustled around the kitchen. She had only been in this world for the past ten years herself, but with luck and a little elven magic, Rhianna had made a place for herself in modeling and show business. She'd appeared as a young woman to the majority of the mundane world who saw her as human. Sometimes even she forgot she was really around 137 years old now. But this world she'd stumbled into ten years ago would view her as young, vivacious, and beautiful for years to come. It would take decades for her to even seem to age, which would cause problems eventually. But Rhianna had a plan for that--when the time came. For now she ate her breakfast, sipping tea from a china cup in between bites.
"Should I pick up the dry cleaning today?" Carissa asked casually, avoiding looking directly Rhianna.
Not saying anything for a moment, Rhianna stared over the rim of her tea cup at the halfling and raised her eyebrows. "That's fine, but take your own car this time. No more trying to drive a regular car...I don't care if it's more exciting and daring. If you want to spice up your life, do it without almost killing yourself or wrecking one of my cars, please."
Rhianna was trying not to laugh at the memory and so kept her expression serious. Her pointed ears nearly gave her away by twitching. Cora harrumped at her little sister and gave her a warning look. Carissa had the decency to blush.
Going back to her schedule, Rhianna poked cautiously at her laptop.
"Here let me," Carissa said as she climbed up on a stool and kneeled in a chair next to her lady employer. Small fingers flying, the halfling soon had Rhianna's schedule on the screen. "9:00 AM, meeting with your agent regarding upping your salary for the re-occurring role in that television series," Carissa read.
"Oh honestly, I make enough money, you know. I wish Chuck would stop doing that," Rhianna said.
She was sometimes completely amazed at how much money she made, not to mention the large fortune she'd amassed from investing, despite the recent downturn in the market the last several years.
"Yes, well, you deserve it," Cora piped up from across the kitchen, an egg in both small hands. "All you have to do is sign the new contract."
Carissa went on. "Next is an interview for one of the fashion magazine at Chuck’s office, then lunch with Phoebe."
"Yes!" Rhianna cheered suddenly, startling Cora into dropping an egg on the floor. "It's been simply ages since Phebes and I have seen each other." The smile stayed on the elf's slightly triangular face as she thought about her best friend of the last nine years. "Anything else?"
"Hmm, just a formal dinner and art show opening at a new gallery later next week," Cora said.
Like Rhianna, the three halflings were much older than they appeared. Now in their 90s, they could conceivably live to 150 years old. The three had been with Rhianna for eight years now, ever since she'd found them wandering and lost after being pulled through the wall of Shadow from wherever it was they originated. Instead of finding and banding together with their own kind, the three Queltory's bonded with the elf and had made their home with her ever since.
Eight years, Rhianna found herself thinking, as the two short sisters bustled around the kitchen. She had only been in this world for the past ten years herself, but with luck and a little elven magic, Rhianna had made a place for herself in modeling and show business. She'd appeared as a young woman to the majority of the mundane world who saw her as human. Sometimes even she forgot she was really around 137 years old now. But this world she'd stumbled into ten years ago would view her as young, vivacious, and beautiful for years to come. It would take decades for her to even seem to age, which would cause problems eventually. But Rhianna had a plan for that--when the time came. For now she ate her breakfast, sipping tea from a china cup in between bites.
"Should I pick up the dry cleaning today?" Carissa asked casually, avoiding looking directly Rhianna.
Not saying anything for a moment, Rhianna stared over the rim of her tea cup at the halfling and raised her eyebrows. "That's fine, but take your own car this time. No more trying to drive a regular car...I don't care if it's more exciting and daring. If you want to spice up your life, do it without almost killing yourself or wrecking one of my cars, please."
Rhianna was trying not to laugh at the memory and so kept her expression serious. Her pointed ears nearly gave her away by twitching. Cora harrumped at her little sister and gave her a warning look. Carissa had the decency to blush.
Going back to her schedule, Rhianna poked cautiously at her laptop.
"Here let me," Carissa said as she climbed up on a stool and kneeled in a chair next to her lady employer. Small fingers flying, the halfling soon had Rhianna's schedule on the screen. "9:00 AM, meeting with your agent regarding upping your salary for the re-occurring role in that television series," Carissa read.
"Oh honestly, I make enough money, you know. I wish Chuck would stop doing that," Rhianna said.
She was sometimes completely amazed at how much money she made, not to mention the large fortune she'd amassed from investing, despite the recent downturn in the market the last several years.
"Yes, well, you deserve it," Cora piped up from across the kitchen, an egg in both small hands. "All you have to do is sign the new contract."
Carissa went on. "Next is an interview for one of the fashion magazine at Chuck’s office, then lunch with Phoebe."
"Yes!" Rhianna cheered suddenly, startling Cora into dropping an egg on the floor. "It's been simply ages since Phebes and I have seen each other." The smile stayed on the elf's slightly triangular face as she thought about her best friend of the last nine years. "Anything else?"
"Hmm, just a formal dinner and art show opening at a new gallery later next week," Cora said.
-7-
Having retired to Hawaii where the weather was mostly hot—all the Owens’ seemed to be slightly colder than everyone else no matter what the weather—and leaving their three daughters on the mainland, Mr. and Mrs. Owens were planning on a visit to California in the next couple of weeks.
“We’re hoping too, dear. We want to visit your brother’s grave soon; it’s already two years since he was killed,” Mrs. Owens said to Danica quietly, although the young woman most certainly did not need reminding that her little brother had been killed when he was 18.
“I know, Mom.” Danica’s almond shaped, copper colored eyes filled with a few tears as she thought about her brother and his death. Unconsciously stroking the small, gold sun medallion she always wore on a chain around her neck, Danica felt a surge of positive energy flow through her.
The young woman with the dragon blood believed that people died when it was their time, no matter what the circumstances, and she accepted his death as meaning to be, but she still missed his laugh, his enthusiasm for life, and his teasing nature. With the loss of her brother, Danica’s spirit for adventure seemed to diminish a little. Thinking of him made Danica shiver a bit and start to feel colder than she was already feeling. Sliding down off the counter and continuing to speak to her mother on the cordless phone, the young woman poked around the condo for her sweat jacket. She slipped it on, juggling the phone first in one hand then the other and pressing it between her ear and shoulder in her maneuvers to get the garment on and warm up.
“Okay…then call me when you’ve decided. I have to get ready for work now. Yes, my job at that “odd” school is still going just fine, Mom. No, I don’t want to get back to “digging up bones and stuff”…..you know that’s not all I did!” Danica laughed at her mother’s last minute chatter and instructions on how to be safe in the city. “Okay…okay…yes, bye, Mom! I love you, too.”
Blowing out her breath gently as she returned the phone to its cradle, she smiled. Talking to her devoted mother was quite an experience, Danica always thought as she made her way down the carpeted hall to the bathroom to get ready for another uneventful and normal day—just the way she liked them.
“We’re hoping too, dear. We want to visit your brother’s grave soon; it’s already two years since he was killed,” Mrs. Owens said to Danica quietly, although the young woman most certainly did not need reminding that her little brother had been killed when he was 18.
“I know, Mom.” Danica’s almond shaped, copper colored eyes filled with a few tears as she thought about her brother and his death. Unconsciously stroking the small, gold sun medallion she always wore on a chain around her neck, Danica felt a surge of positive energy flow through her.
The young woman with the dragon blood believed that people died when it was their time, no matter what the circumstances, and she accepted his death as meaning to be, but she still missed his laugh, his enthusiasm for life, and his teasing nature. With the loss of her brother, Danica’s spirit for adventure seemed to diminish a little. Thinking of him made Danica shiver a bit and start to feel colder than she was already feeling. Sliding down off the counter and continuing to speak to her mother on the cordless phone, the young woman poked around the condo for her sweat jacket. She slipped it on, juggling the phone first in one hand then the other and pressing it between her ear and shoulder in her maneuvers to get the garment on and warm up.
“Okay…then call me when you’ve decided. I have to get ready for work now. Yes, my job at that “odd” school is still going just fine, Mom. No, I don’t want to get back to “digging up bones and stuff”…..you know that’s not all I did!” Danica laughed at her mother’s last minute chatter and instructions on how to be safe in the city. “Okay…okay…yes, bye, Mom! I love you, too.”
Blowing out her breath gently as she returned the phone to its cradle, she smiled. Talking to her devoted mother was quite an experience, Danica always thought as she made her way down the carpeted hall to the bathroom to get ready for another uneventful and normal day—just the way she liked them.
-8-
As he drove east along Whitesands Boulevard, Zane left the small beach community he lived in behind. Soon the smell of the ocean no longer reached into the open window of the black truck that sped toward the New Age church where he worked. Turning to quickly into the driveway of the church, the motion caused his military dog tags hanging from the rearview mirror to swing wildly. Zane grabbed them in a large hand to stop the back and forth motion and slowed his speed down. In the split second before he let go, Zane wondered for the umpteenth time why he kept something that reminded him of that which he no longer could be a part.
Zane pulled into a parking spot in the back lot next to Neil’s station wagon. Both men usually arrived before 8:00 AM. Father Neil Mitchell--Neo-pagan, do-gooder, preacher of peace, love, and harmony, and Zane’s boss—was just unfolding himself from inside his car and gave a cheerful wave to his young manager.
“Morning, Zane! Coming to services today?” Father Mitchell asked. He tucked his button-down white shirt into dark dress pants and readjusted the Pelor medallion around his neck so it lay outside his shirt.
“Not today but maybe soon,” Zane replied patiently, jumping down out of the truck, leaving his black sunglasses on the dash. His black tennis shoes made a flat smacking sound on the asphalt. He wore a white, short-sleeved shirt with his jeans. “I’ve got too much work to do, Neil.”
The two men went through this ritual at least once or twice a week: Father Mitchell trying to convince his manager that belief in something greater than oneself—in the Church of Pelor’s case, the Shadowkind god of the sun Pelor himself—was beneficial in life; and Zane insisting that he was too busy but might check out a service at some point. To the former Lieutenant Commander Merrick, belonging to something bigger than himself had ended when most of his Navy Seal team had been killed and himself injured enough to warrant an honorable discharge from the only life he’d known.
“Ah, well, soon is something anyway,” the tall, 60-something priest acquiesced with grace as Zane unlocked the large building’s ancient-looking dark wood back door. There was no need for bars or metal screens on the doors of the church—no one was ever getting in without the right sort of key. Or intentions.
“I’m glad you talked me into painting the offices and back rooms this pale green, Zane.” Father Mitchell kindly changed the subject. “It’s very relaxing for when our people need to see us. Very relaxing,” he said and smiled serenely.
Father Mitchell left Zane to enter his simple yet comfortable office. He opened the windows first thing. The church had windows everywhere to allow in as much of the life giving sun as possible.
Zane furrowed his forehead slightly at “our people.” as he entered his own office. The Church of Pelor attracted several kinds of people: the Shadowkind, those mundanes who were attuned to Shadow, and regular mundane members. Most of these people believed the church’s teachings to be some exciting and original New Age spiritual idea. Knowing in general about the Shadowkind and embracing them were two different concepts; and Zane was quite skilled at pretending they mostly didn’t exist, despite being one himself.
Zane pulled into a parking spot in the back lot next to Neil’s station wagon. Both men usually arrived before 8:00 AM. Father Neil Mitchell--Neo-pagan, do-gooder, preacher of peace, love, and harmony, and Zane’s boss—was just unfolding himself from inside his car and gave a cheerful wave to his young manager.
“Morning, Zane! Coming to services today?” Father Mitchell asked. He tucked his button-down white shirt into dark dress pants and readjusted the Pelor medallion around his neck so it lay outside his shirt.
“Not today but maybe soon,” Zane replied patiently, jumping down out of the truck, leaving his black sunglasses on the dash. His black tennis shoes made a flat smacking sound on the asphalt. He wore a white, short-sleeved shirt with his jeans. “I’ve got too much work to do, Neil.”
The two men went through this ritual at least once or twice a week: Father Mitchell trying to convince his manager that belief in something greater than oneself—in the Church of Pelor’s case, the Shadowkind god of the sun Pelor himself—was beneficial in life; and Zane insisting that he was too busy but might check out a service at some point. To the former Lieutenant Commander Merrick, belonging to something bigger than himself had ended when most of his Navy Seal team had been killed and himself injured enough to warrant an honorable discharge from the only life he’d known.
“Ah, well, soon is something anyway,” the tall, 60-something priest acquiesced with grace as Zane unlocked the large building’s ancient-looking dark wood back door. There was no need for bars or metal screens on the doors of the church—no one was ever getting in without the right sort of key. Or intentions.
“I’m glad you talked me into painting the offices and back rooms this pale green, Zane.” Father Mitchell kindly changed the subject. “It’s very relaxing for when our people need to see us. Very relaxing,” he said and smiled serenely.
Father Mitchell left Zane to enter his simple yet comfortable office. He opened the windows first thing. The church had windows everywhere to allow in as much of the life giving sun as possible.
Zane furrowed his forehead slightly at “our people.” as he entered his own office. The Church of Pelor attracted several kinds of people: the Shadowkind, those mundanes who were attuned to Shadow, and regular mundane members. Most of these people believed the church’s teachings to be some exciting and original New Age spiritual idea. Knowing in general about the Shadowkind and embracing them were two different concepts; and Zane was quite skilled at pretending they mostly didn’t exist, despite being one himself.
-9-
As Adam sunk deeper into his mind during his chosen Tai Chi routine, his body became one with his mind, while everything around him in the converted back room of his office disappeared, except the present moment. He was alert and awake to the moment practicing a moving yoga combined with meditation. The heat from his strong, fluid movements formed a faint sheen of sweat over his chiseled, bare chest, a few drops trickling slowly down until they were stopped by the elastic waistband of his sweat shorts. The makeshift bandage around his head that had stopped his cut from bleeding was nearly in need of changing.
After slowly, almost reverently placing his palms together in front of his chest and bowing his head, Adam let his exhaling breath cleanse his spirit and prepare him for the day. “Namaste,” he said quietly, ending with the Sanskrit greeting of respect used in yoga.
Walking to the back stairs that led to his apartment, the private investigator stooped down and picked up his dirty clothes from this morning’s hunt. The shirt was beyond salvage, what with the garment being torn in so many places--not to mention covered with blood and gore, so into the trash bin it went. Once upstairs, Adam would throw the pants onto the floor of the laundry closet in the ‘have strange substances on them but still washable’ pile. Adam always seemed to have a large pile of those clothes.
He entered the "back" door of his apartment and locked it securely behind him. Walking through the large, mostly open apartment on the second level of the building, Adam headed straight for the master bedroom and bath. The shower water came out hard and hot, hot enough to wash off the grime of the sewers, the blood of the battle, and the sweat of his morning workout. Adam began to hum to himself as the faintly pink water turned clear.
After a good scrub of his body and hair, Adam stood with a towel wrapped around his waist in front of his mirror, leaned forward and examined the wound just below his hairline. It wasn’t all that deep and would probably heal fine on its own, but just to be sure he applied a bit of some magical salve that he’d purchased. Watching, as it never ceased to amaze him, Adam saw the edges of his wound begin to seal together in rapid healing. It would leave a scab for awhile until that dried up and fell off, but overall he was good to go for the day.
Feeling rather good, despite having had to leave the zombie in the sewer as he had no way to transport a dead zombie back to its mother, Adam whistled on his way out to the pale sun lit bedroom to get dressed. He was lucky to have no buildings blocking the front or back of his building which meant the large windows let in ample light. First he donned underwear and brown socks and a pair of brown, casual slacks, then hunted around for an decent shirt in the closet. He found a blue one that wasn’t too badly wrinkled but ended up knocking a box off the shelf above it as he grabbed for the shirt. With the shirt on but unbuttoned, Adam bent down to retrieve the box and spilled items. His hand wrapped around a piece of cloth with something inside.
“Don’t do it, man. Don’t open it,” he pleaded with himself, knowing full well what he was about to do.
As Adam unwrapped the Chicago Police Department badge his heart gave a lurch and a sadness flowed over the ex-cop.
“That was a long time ago now,” he remarked to the air. “A time best not remembered.”
After slowly, almost reverently placing his palms together in front of his chest and bowing his head, Adam let his exhaling breath cleanse his spirit and prepare him for the day. “Namaste,” he said quietly, ending with the Sanskrit greeting of respect used in yoga.
Walking to the back stairs that led to his apartment, the private investigator stooped down and picked up his dirty clothes from this morning’s hunt. The shirt was beyond salvage, what with the garment being torn in so many places--not to mention covered with blood and gore, so into the trash bin it went. Once upstairs, Adam would throw the pants onto the floor of the laundry closet in the ‘have strange substances on them but still washable’ pile. Adam always seemed to have a large pile of those clothes.
He entered the "back" door of his apartment and locked it securely behind him. Walking through the large, mostly open apartment on the second level of the building, Adam headed straight for the master bedroom and bath. The shower water came out hard and hot, hot enough to wash off the grime of the sewers, the blood of the battle, and the sweat of his morning workout. Adam began to hum to himself as the faintly pink water turned clear.
After a good scrub of his body and hair, Adam stood with a towel wrapped around his waist in front of his mirror, leaned forward and examined the wound just below his hairline. It wasn’t all that deep and would probably heal fine on its own, but just to be sure he applied a bit of some magical salve that he’d purchased. Watching, as it never ceased to amaze him, Adam saw the edges of his wound begin to seal together in rapid healing. It would leave a scab for awhile until that dried up and fell off, but overall he was good to go for the day.
Feeling rather good, despite having had to leave the zombie in the sewer as he had no way to transport a dead zombie back to its mother, Adam whistled on his way out to the pale sun lit bedroom to get dressed. He was lucky to have no buildings blocking the front or back of his building which meant the large windows let in ample light. First he donned underwear and brown socks and a pair of brown, casual slacks, then hunted around for an decent shirt in the closet. He found a blue one that wasn’t too badly wrinkled but ended up knocking a box off the shelf above it as he grabbed for the shirt. With the shirt on but unbuttoned, Adam bent down to retrieve the box and spilled items. His hand wrapped around a piece of cloth with something inside.
“Don’t do it, man. Don’t open it,” he pleaded with himself, knowing full well what he was about to do.
As Adam unwrapped the Chicago Police Department badge his heart gave a lurch and a sadness flowed over the ex-cop.
“That was a long time ago now,” he remarked to the air. “A time best not remembered.”
-10-
Standing out in the bright, early morning sunshine, Rhianna Sheridan stood basking in the warmth. She winked at the three dryads, who’d taken up residence with her. The wild, mysterious tree sprites lived, hidden away, in the foliage and near-forest that surrounded Rhianna's estate. They were mystically bound to her land and would defend the trees from any who would harm them. The dark haired elf knew that it was partly her defense of the environment that drew the dryads to her.
Her Aston-Martin Vanquish stood ready for her on the freshly swept stone driveway. Besides clothes, fast and expensive vehicles were another non-ecological indulgence of hers; but she tried to make up for it in other ways. Calkin hopped off his step ladder where he's been polishing the sports car and moved it away. His short, cropped black hair gave him a slightly wild appearance.
The silver car gleamed on the outside and the pale blue leather interior beckoned its passengers to settle in comfortably. Rhianna slipped right in and started the purring engine.
"Don't drive too fast now, Miss Sheridan," Calkin warned gently, knowing it would do no good.
Rhianna revved the engine and slipped on her faux-leather, light weight, summer driving gloves. "Now, Calkin, have I ever had an accident? No. Have I ever come near having an accident? NO! So relax and don't worry so much!" Rhianna waved as the halfling jumped safely out of the way as the elf took off down the driveway.
Donning her sunglasses against the morning glare of the bright sun, Rhianna pulled out onto the private road. Once she hit Shadyside Canyon Road where it ran north through the hills of the secluded Falcon Heights Estates and down into the city, the elf began to take the curves a bit faster, smiling and having the time of her life. Somehow the car glided along with ease, never once losing traction on the road.
"This is the life," Rhianna said to herself. "Fast cars and winding roads...but damn, here's civilization. Now I sit with the rest on the straight and narrow," she lamented, referring to the road straightening out and traffic slowing down before approaching the round-a-bout.
Rhianna still had plenty of time for her 9AM meeting with her agent...well, plenty of time considering how she drove. She turned up the CD player while she traveled into downtown Crownpointe.
Her Aston-Martin Vanquish stood ready for her on the freshly swept stone driveway. Besides clothes, fast and expensive vehicles were another non-ecological indulgence of hers; but she tried to make up for it in other ways. Calkin hopped off his step ladder where he's been polishing the sports car and moved it away. His short, cropped black hair gave him a slightly wild appearance.
The silver car gleamed on the outside and the pale blue leather interior beckoned its passengers to settle in comfortably. Rhianna slipped right in and started the purring engine.
"Don't drive too fast now, Miss Sheridan," Calkin warned gently, knowing it would do no good.
Rhianna revved the engine and slipped on her faux-leather, light weight, summer driving gloves. "Now, Calkin, have I ever had an accident? No. Have I ever come near having an accident? NO! So relax and don't worry so much!" Rhianna waved as the halfling jumped safely out of the way as the elf took off down the driveway.
Donning her sunglasses against the morning glare of the bright sun, Rhianna pulled out onto the private road. Once she hit Shadyside Canyon Road where it ran north through the hills of the secluded Falcon Heights Estates and down into the city, the elf began to take the curves a bit faster, smiling and having the time of her life. Somehow the car glided along with ease, never once losing traction on the road.
"This is the life," Rhianna said to herself. "Fast cars and winding roads...but damn, here's civilization. Now I sit with the rest on the straight and narrow," she lamented, referring to the road straightening out and traffic slowing down before approaching the round-a-bout.
Rhianna still had plenty of time for her 9AM meeting with her agent...well, plenty of time considering how she drove. She turned up the CD player while she traveled into downtown Crownpointe.
-11-
“Gooooooood morning, Danica!” a high-pitched male voice came from behind her as Danica faced the door on the common brick walkway to secure the top lock. She heard the bolt click into place securely, triggering the arcane lock spell she’d paid a mage to place on her door for protection. He’d included the windows in the spell for free.
“Good morning to you, Sean,” Danica replied, smiling as she turned to look downward at the gnome from three doors down. He was dressed in his flashy, expensive suit and carrying his smaller sized briefcase. He came up to just above her waist but had more energy and “presence” than most normal sized mundanes.
Danica’s pale rust colored blouse paired with light gray, light-weight crop pants caused the gnome to shake his head. He thought the young woman gorgeous—and never failed to tell her this fact that she seemed bound to ignore. Yet she insisted on dressing down. Danica rolled her eyes at his expression.
“I suppose you don’t approve of my shoes, either?” she asked teasingly, holding up one foot encased in a flat rust-colored, closed-toe shoe.
“Darling…….sweetheart,” the dark-tanned gnome began enthusiastically. “Look at you…you’re wearing your hair in an old lady bun, boring clothes, and sensible shoes. Boring, love. Boring! Sexy clothes is what you need!" Sean winked mischieviously. "And a little makeup would bring out those lovely dragon eyes, too!”
“Shhhh.” Danica laughed then shook her head. She didn’t mind Sean’s teasing, but she’d never been one to “present” herself to the world, preferring instead to blend in with the mundanes just because that is how she wanted to live her life. She liked being ordinary and free from the attention of people, especially men.
Deciding to change the subject, Danica gestured to the gnome’s short, neatly trimmed beard. “I see you decided not to shave it off. I’m glad—it suits you.”
Stroking his beard and grinning, Sean nodded his little head vigorously. “It’s very stylish these days, yes? Most gnomes have beards, I know; but I think I pull it off just a little better. I was thinking of blond stripes, though. What do you think?”
Danica laughed heartily at Sean’s love of style and flash. Both the young woman and the gnome turned as Mrs. Heartcliff came out of her door down the walkway for her morning walk with Scooter. The little dog yapped a mile a minute.
“Well, I’m off to another day at the office to improve on technology and make money, love. Enjoy your day!” Sean blew Danica a kiss from his stubby hand and strode off, winking at Mrs. Heartcliff as he passed.
The woman nodded politely. Scooter barked.
Danica started along the walkway toward the parking garage slowly, swinging her purse over her shoulder and getting a better grip on the books in her arms and her own carrying case. She, too, greeted her neighbor with the energetic dog.
“He’s so cheerful….for a little person, isn’t he?” the middle-aged woman commented as Danica passed her.
“Good morning to you, Sean,” Danica replied, smiling as she turned to look downward at the gnome from three doors down. He was dressed in his flashy, expensive suit and carrying his smaller sized briefcase. He came up to just above her waist but had more energy and “presence” than most normal sized mundanes.
Danica’s pale rust colored blouse paired with light gray, light-weight crop pants caused the gnome to shake his head. He thought the young woman gorgeous—and never failed to tell her this fact that she seemed bound to ignore. Yet she insisted on dressing down. Danica rolled her eyes at his expression.
“I suppose you don’t approve of my shoes, either?” she asked teasingly, holding up one foot encased in a flat rust-colored, closed-toe shoe.
“Darling…….sweetheart,” the dark-tanned gnome began enthusiastically. “Look at you…you’re wearing your hair in an old lady bun, boring clothes, and sensible shoes. Boring, love. Boring! Sexy clothes is what you need!" Sean winked mischieviously. "And a little makeup would bring out those lovely dragon eyes, too!”
“Shhhh.” Danica laughed then shook her head. She didn’t mind Sean’s teasing, but she’d never been one to “present” herself to the world, preferring instead to blend in with the mundanes just because that is how she wanted to live her life. She liked being ordinary and free from the attention of people, especially men.
Deciding to change the subject, Danica gestured to the gnome’s short, neatly trimmed beard. “I see you decided not to shave it off. I’m glad—it suits you.”
Stroking his beard and grinning, Sean nodded his little head vigorously. “It’s very stylish these days, yes? Most gnomes have beards, I know; but I think I pull it off just a little better. I was thinking of blond stripes, though. What do you think?”
Danica laughed heartily at Sean’s love of style and flash. Both the young woman and the gnome turned as Mrs. Heartcliff came out of her door down the walkway for her morning walk with Scooter. The little dog yapped a mile a minute.
“Well, I’m off to another day at the office to improve on technology and make money, love. Enjoy your day!” Sean blew Danica a kiss from his stubby hand and strode off, winking at Mrs. Heartcliff as he passed.
The woman nodded politely. Scooter barked.
Danica started along the walkway toward the parking garage slowly, swinging her purse over her shoulder and getting a better grip on the books in her arms and her own carrying case. She, too, greeted her neighbor with the energetic dog.
“He’s so cheerful….for a little person, isn’t he?” the middle-aged woman commented as Danica passed her.
-12-
“$1000……$450……,” Zane murmured as he finished entering numbers from yesterday’s donated checks and cash into the whirring adding machine. He watched the numbers add up on the narrow roll of paper being spit out at the top. He tore off the strip of paper and rubber banded it around the pile of stamped checks and neatly ordered cash. He would drop everything off at the bank later today before it closed for the weekend.
Leaning back from his desk, Zane reached back to the shelf for the zippered pouch and placed the bank deposit inside. Sounds of the other staff members arriving in the parking lot floated in through his open office windows as he secured the pouch in the safe. Soon the main sanctuary and classrooms of the church would be open for morning services and the various classes and workshops that were held throughout the day and evening. Along with these services, all the Churches of Pelor were involved with local efforts to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and raise money for any good work that the lead priest thought worthy and legitimate.
The phone rang suddenly and Zane picked up the receiver, tucking it between his ear and left shoulder. “Zane Merrick here. Oh, hey, Father Adair. How’re you? Yeah? I’m good, thanks. Yeah, it’s going to be a hot one today…again!” Zane laughed. “I’m still coming, you bet. I’ll have my truck filled with donations you can give out to your people. Oh, I’d say I’ll leave around nine…..I have to run by the bank, then I’ll be on my way. Right. Uh huh. You, too. See you then.”
After hanging up with the priest of the northside Crownpointe Church of Pelor, Zane punched in the inside code for the small warehouse at the end of the building. He let Jakob know he’d be pulling his truck around for the boxes marked for downtown to be loaded. Although he was helpful in the donation room, Jakob’s mood level was usually hard to judge at any give moment, so Zane preferred to warn the man of any impending visits to his territory.
* * * * * *
Zane was helping the tall man who worked in the donation loading area pile boxes and bags in the back of the black pickup and noticed again how unhealthy he looked. The gray pallor of his skin made it seem like the man never went out in the sun; he certainly kept to himself around the church. Zane had heard some of the members who spotted him remark that Jakob reminded them of an ancient Neanderthal man, what with his sloping forehead and jaw that stuck out. Jakob opened his mouth to yawn widely and his large teeth were quite visible.
“Yer loaded up. Now get out of the way,” Jakob mumbled irritably to Zane, giving the truck a slap and lumbering back into the dimness of the donation room.
The unfortunate looking man turned back briefly just as Zane looked up. Jakob gave a slight grimmace as Zane jerked his head slightly, caught off guard. Then Jakob turned with a ‘hrmph’ and disappeared between crates and boxes piled high. Zane’s mental block that helped him to avoid seeing Shadowkind distracted him once again from Jakob’s true nature of half-orc.
Leaning back from his desk, Zane reached back to the shelf for the zippered pouch and placed the bank deposit inside. Sounds of the other staff members arriving in the parking lot floated in through his open office windows as he secured the pouch in the safe. Soon the main sanctuary and classrooms of the church would be open for morning services and the various classes and workshops that were held throughout the day and evening. Along with these services, all the Churches of Pelor were involved with local efforts to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and raise money for any good work that the lead priest thought worthy and legitimate.
The phone rang suddenly and Zane picked up the receiver, tucking it between his ear and left shoulder. “Zane Merrick here. Oh, hey, Father Adair. How’re you? Yeah? I’m good, thanks. Yeah, it’s going to be a hot one today…again!” Zane laughed. “I’m still coming, you bet. I’ll have my truck filled with donations you can give out to your people. Oh, I’d say I’ll leave around nine…..I have to run by the bank, then I’ll be on my way. Right. Uh huh. You, too. See you then.”
After hanging up with the priest of the northside Crownpointe Church of Pelor, Zane punched in the inside code for the small warehouse at the end of the building. He let Jakob know he’d be pulling his truck around for the boxes marked for downtown to be loaded. Although he was helpful in the donation room, Jakob’s mood level was usually hard to judge at any give moment, so Zane preferred to warn the man of any impending visits to his territory.
* * * * * *
Zane was helping the tall man who worked in the donation loading area pile boxes and bags in the back of the black pickup and noticed again how unhealthy he looked. The gray pallor of his skin made it seem like the man never went out in the sun; he certainly kept to himself around the church. Zane had heard some of the members who spotted him remark that Jakob reminded them of an ancient Neanderthal man, what with his sloping forehead and jaw that stuck out. Jakob opened his mouth to yawn widely and his large teeth were quite visible.
“Yer loaded up. Now get out of the way,” Jakob mumbled irritably to Zane, giving the truck a slap and lumbering back into the dimness of the donation room.
The unfortunate looking man turned back briefly just as Zane looked up. Jakob gave a slight grimmace as Zane jerked his head slightly, caught off guard. Then Jakob turned with a ‘hrmph’ and disappeared between crates and boxes piled high. Zane’s mental block that helped him to avoid seeing Shadowkind distracted him once again from Jakob’s true nature of half-orc.
-13-
“What! Oh, you have got to be kidding with that……..,” Adam yelled at the politician being interviewed on WNN, the national news station, then realized his oatmeal was about to spill onto the carpet.
Standing in front of the television was Adam’s usual spot to eat breakfast while he caught up on the local, national, and world news; but his enthusiasm for responding and trying to eat sometimes made for a dangerous combination. He managed to keep his breakfast from ending up on the carpet which, for another day, remained clean.
* * * * * *
Following several cars behind the dark gold BMW, Adam glanced down at the open briefcase on the passenger seat of his van. Gray, nondescript, and a safe distance behind, the van that Adam drove could easily follow the well-dressed man without being noticed. The private investigator found that most regular citizens were so involved with their own selves and lives that they never realized they were being trailed. An 8 X 10 picture of Mr. Joseph Randolph, just coming out of an expensive restaurant alone but smiling looked back up at him. Well, Adam's subject hadn’t known the other day that his photo was being taken of course, but Adam had caught him feeling happy about something.
He only hoped it wasn’t what his wife, one of his current clients, was suspicious of and was paying Adam a great deal to find out. Divorce could be a very emotional and heart wrenching event; although, in this case, extremely expensive for Mr. Randolph as well. It was Adam’s hope that Mr. Randolph was not having the affair his wife was suspicious of and that their marriage wasn’t about to take a turn down that painful road….
“I’m sorry, Adam, but I just want out. I want the divorce,” Shayna Kenton announced, holding the documents toward her husband, her hand shaking slightly. “I never know if you’re coming home after work…,”
“Sweetheart, please…I’m a cop. There are risks, yes, but you know it’s what I love. You knew that going into this marriage." Adam was fighting back the tears of losing his wife as they sat at a quiet bar table in downtown Chicago , but he couldn’t give up his job—he just couldn’t. It gave him something to belong to, something to fight for, a way to protect others.
“It’s not just that…some of the things you used to talk about…and you spend too much time on the job,” Shayna began, then stopped. “Well, I can’t handle it anymore. I’ve made up my mind. Here are the papers…my lawyer will call you. I suggest you get a lawyer of your own. Kira and I are packed, we’ll be at my folks'. Don’t make this harder than it is, Adam. Please.”
Adam had made the mistake of trying to tell his wife about Shadowkind and his childhood, but quickly stopped when it was clear she did not have the open mind he believed her to have during their courtship. He had stopped but felt that a part of his past, and himself, was being denied expression. Perhaps he had pulled away a bit and delved more into his job than he meant to.
Adam nearly missed seeing Mr. Randolph make a right hand turn, but managed to move over and stay a two cars behind. He focused his attention back to his surveillance and away from his painful past.
Standing in front of the television was Adam’s usual spot to eat breakfast while he caught up on the local, national, and world news; but his enthusiasm for responding and trying to eat sometimes made for a dangerous combination. He managed to keep his breakfast from ending up on the carpet which, for another day, remained clean.
* * * * * *
Following several cars behind the dark gold BMW, Adam glanced down at the open briefcase on the passenger seat of his van. Gray, nondescript, and a safe distance behind, the van that Adam drove could easily follow the well-dressed man without being noticed. The private investigator found that most regular citizens were so involved with their own selves and lives that they never realized they were being trailed. An 8 X 10 picture of Mr. Joseph Randolph, just coming out of an expensive restaurant alone but smiling looked back up at him. Well, Adam's subject hadn’t known the other day that his photo was being taken of course, but Adam had caught him feeling happy about something.
He only hoped it wasn’t what his wife, one of his current clients, was suspicious of and was paying Adam a great deal to find out. Divorce could be a very emotional and heart wrenching event; although, in this case, extremely expensive for Mr. Randolph as well. It was Adam’s hope that Mr. Randolph was not having the affair his wife was suspicious of and that their marriage wasn’t about to take a turn down that painful road….
“I’m sorry, Adam, but I just want out. I want the divorce,” Shayna Kenton announced, holding the documents toward her husband, her hand shaking slightly. “I never know if you’re coming home after work…,”
“Sweetheart, please…I’m a cop. There are risks, yes, but you know it’s what I love. You knew that going into this marriage." Adam was fighting back the tears of losing his wife as they sat at a quiet bar table in downtown Chicago , but he couldn’t give up his job—he just couldn’t. It gave him something to belong to, something to fight for, a way to protect others.
“It’s not just that…some of the things you used to talk about…and you spend too much time on the job,” Shayna began, then stopped. “Well, I can’t handle it anymore. I’ve made up my mind. Here are the papers…my lawyer will call you. I suggest you get a lawyer of your own. Kira and I are packed, we’ll be at my folks'. Don’t make this harder than it is, Adam. Please.”
Adam had made the mistake of trying to tell his wife about Shadowkind and his childhood, but quickly stopped when it was clear she did not have the open mind he believed her to have during their courtship. He had stopped but felt that a part of his past, and himself, was being denied expression. Perhaps he had pulled away a bit and delved more into his job than he meant to.
Adam nearly missed seeing Mr. Randolph make a right hand turn, but managed to move over and stay a two cars behind. He focused his attention back to his surveillance and away from his painful past.
-14-
By the end of the telephone meeting between her agent, Chuck, and the producers of the television series in which Rhianna had a recurring role, the producers had willingly agreed to increase Rhianna's salary by, well, a great deal. She agreed to work a bit more now and then in return.
"After your interview with the magazine, why don't we go over some scripts," Chuck suggested once the phone call had been concluded. He ran a hand through his short, white hair. "There are several of the fantasy type that are so popular now--witches, vampires, fantasy world ones."
"Not on your life!" Rhianna exclaimed. "I have lunch with Phoebe, then the day and weekend are mine! Besides I'm thinking of taking a break from movies," she announced, not bothering to ease into the discussion she'd been planning on having with her agent.
The older man's eyeballs nearly popped out of his head and he stared at his favorite...and most lucrative and high-profile...star. "Rhi, darling...are you sure that's wise? I mean you've got to keep yourself out there. The other actresses, well they'd love nothing more than to take your place in certain movies you know."
Rhianna laughed inside at Chuck's concern. He didn't realize she was an elf and could come and go in the industry as she pleased, never losing her status or stardom unless she chose to "disappear." He was so out of tune with Shadowkind that he'd vehemently deny it if anyone told him the fabulous Rhianna Sheridan was a very charismatic elf. But she didn't want to hurt him as he'd been good to her over the years.
"Alright, send the scripts to the house, Chuck....as usual. I'll read them later when I have time. And don't keep harping on the the 'you need to keep your face in the public eye at all times' bit either....it won't hurt to take a small break. I promise it'll work out fine."
“Now, where are they?” Rhianna inquired about the magazine reporter and photographer as she pushed her wavy brunette hair off her shoulders. “Time to impress the snooty magazine."
Rhianna laughed and watched as Chuck rose, shaking his head, and went to a smaller office where he’d had the two fashion magazine people wait.
"After your interview with the magazine, why don't we go over some scripts," Chuck suggested once the phone call had been concluded. He ran a hand through his short, white hair. "There are several of the fantasy type that are so popular now--witches, vampires, fantasy world ones."
"Not on your life!" Rhianna exclaimed. "I have lunch with Phoebe, then the day and weekend are mine! Besides I'm thinking of taking a break from movies," she announced, not bothering to ease into the discussion she'd been planning on having with her agent.
The older man's eyeballs nearly popped out of his head and he stared at his favorite...and most lucrative and high-profile...star. "Rhi, darling...are you sure that's wise? I mean you've got to keep yourself out there. The other actresses, well they'd love nothing more than to take your place in certain movies you know."
Rhianna laughed inside at Chuck's concern. He didn't realize she was an elf and could come and go in the industry as she pleased, never losing her status or stardom unless she chose to "disappear." He was so out of tune with Shadowkind that he'd vehemently deny it if anyone told him the fabulous Rhianna Sheridan was a very charismatic elf. But she didn't want to hurt him as he'd been good to her over the years.
"Alright, send the scripts to the house, Chuck....as usual. I'll read them later when I have time. And don't keep harping on the the 'you need to keep your face in the public eye at all times' bit either....it won't hurt to take a small break. I promise it'll work out fine."
“Now, where are they?” Rhianna inquired about the magazine reporter and photographer as she pushed her wavy brunette hair off her shoulders. “Time to impress the snooty magazine."
Rhianna laughed and watched as Chuck rose, shaking his head, and went to a smaller office where he’d had the two fashion magazine people wait.
-15-
The dark blue Nissan Altima, it windows rolled down to let in the morning heat, zipped northeast along the streets of Whitmere subdivision, and carrying Danica toward work. Knowing she didn’t really have to be there until 9:30, the young woman with dragon blood in her veins decided to swing east and discuss something with Father Mitchell at the Church of Pelor. It was a quick detour down Whitesands Blvd toward the church. Tapping her fingers to the radio station, Danica sang along.
After driving up the driveway past the trees that led to the church, Danica was glad to see the front parking lot contained only a few cars so far this morning—mid-morning meditation services didn’t begin for a while yet. Danica had attended during the day occasionally and found those classes and services had more Shadowkind than mundanes. Only the good Shadowkind or those who needed assistance seemed drawn to the Church of Pelor and its beliefs—those who wished to do others harm, and Danica knew they existed but not to what extent, tended to avoid the churches at all costs.
Danica pulled her car into a spot near the front door. She headed up the steps to the soothing white and tan building. The large brass sun-shaped symbol of the sun god himself hung above the front, glass doors. The blinds were drawn up in welcome—although later when the sun shone too bright and hot, they would be lowered. Even Pelor could be too powerful for his followers sometimes. Lucky to be on a small plot of land and surrounded by grass, trees, and flowers, the church was truly a sanctuary and a lovely place in which to just relax.
“Morning, Katie. Is Father Mitchell available to talk?” Danica approached the young, redheaded woman behind the welcome counter in the lobby. The light blue carpet was inlaid with symbols of Pelor, comfortable straight-backed chairs lined the long narrow room, and pamphlets and books were arranged neatly in the book rack against the wall near the receptionist’s counter.
Katie looked up from her work and smiled. “Danica! Hi there. Yeah, go on back. You know the way. I’m sure Father Mitchell will be glad to see you. I’ll buzz him to let him know you’re on the way.”
Waving in thanks, the gold and copper haired girl pushed through the doors that led into the main hallway. To the right were the double doors leading into the large sanctuary room where the services were held, while to the left were several numbered doors. Danica walked past those doors, turned a corner to the right and headed down another hallway with more doors—all rooms used for various classes. Finally she reached the back of the church and pushed through free hanging yellow beads that clinked lightly against each other as they were released. Her shoes made a slight noise on the tiled floor of the office area.
"Knock, knock. Father Mitchell? Are you here?” Danica poked her head inside the office and found the priest just standing up to greet her.
“Danica, my dear, do come in!” Father Mitchell took Danica’s hands in his own, leaned forward, and kissed her gently on one cheek. “Have you finished the book I gave you already?”
Danica laughed as Father Mitchell waved her to the couch. The young woman sat down sideways with her back facing the door, and Father Mitchell took the opposite end of the couch. “Oh, my goodness no! That will take me a bit longer to read, I’m afraid. The world’s religions aren’t an easy subject to just skim through.”
The summer air wafted in through the open windows and brought with it the muffled sounds of the cars that trundled along the streets beyond the trees surrounding the church.
“Well, then what brings you here? Although I am never adverse to your just dropping by for a chat,’ Father Mitchell winked, then looked seriously at her. “But you’ve come with a purpose, I can tell.”
“I have….and I’ll get right to the point, since I do have to get to work and I know you have services in a bit,” Danica said in a straightforward manner. “I have something at home that I need to identify, and I know that you, well, might know people who can tell me more.”
Danica knew that all the priests of the independent Church’s of Pelor had certain Pelor-granted powers and that there was more to the priests than met the average—or even Shadowkind—eye. Father Mitchell looked at her curiously and was intrigued.
“Please, do go on. This sounds most fascinating.”
“Two years ago, when I was on my last dig in Egypt, we came upon some a small tomb with the usual mummy in the sarcophagus, canopic jars, a bit of treasure, and so forth. I was poking around in a corner, alone…..,” Danica paused remembering back to the dry, hot pyramid and how exiting it was. Then she went on to describe the long tube made from black alabaster which she’d found buried with the ancient Egyptian artifacts. She’d known it didn’t really belong there, just like she knew that it shouldn’t fall into mundane hands. There was an odd sort of writing, or symbols, carved on the sealed tube that just didn’t belong in the era it in which was supposedly buried.
“Hmmm, sounds very interesting…,” Father Mitchell said, intrigued. The Shadowkind human leaned forward a bit. “And so you…….?” he inquired with a twinkle in his eye, knowing Danica as he did.
“I…..well, I slipped it into my bag. If the others had gotten hold of it, it would have caused too much confusion which would have lead to many questions. I just sensed something about the tube…it wasn’t made by mundanes,” she finally admitted. “And I haven’t been able to find out any information about it at work. Our resources are extensive, but even we don’t have everything on Shadow artifacts.”
Father Mitchell expressed a desire to see this alabaster tube, to which Danica agreed to bring when she could. For now it was hidden away, sometimes remembered and sometimes forgotten by its latest owner. The young woman stood up and prepared to leave, turning the conversation to a question about a class on advanced meditation to be held at the church. Father Mitchell glanced up to the door behind her and gave a small wave, presumably to someone; but when Danica turned around the doorway was already empty. She heard the sound of the back door closing with a click of the latch.
After driving up the driveway past the trees that led to the church, Danica was glad to see the front parking lot contained only a few cars so far this morning—mid-morning meditation services didn’t begin for a while yet. Danica had attended during the day occasionally and found those classes and services had more Shadowkind than mundanes. Only the good Shadowkind or those who needed assistance seemed drawn to the Church of Pelor and its beliefs—those who wished to do others harm, and Danica knew they existed but not to what extent, tended to avoid the churches at all costs.
Danica pulled her car into a spot near the front door. She headed up the steps to the soothing white and tan building. The large brass sun-shaped symbol of the sun god himself hung above the front, glass doors. The blinds were drawn up in welcome—although later when the sun shone too bright and hot, they would be lowered. Even Pelor could be too powerful for his followers sometimes. Lucky to be on a small plot of land and surrounded by grass, trees, and flowers, the church was truly a sanctuary and a lovely place in which to just relax.
“Morning, Katie. Is Father Mitchell available to talk?” Danica approached the young, redheaded woman behind the welcome counter in the lobby. The light blue carpet was inlaid with symbols of Pelor, comfortable straight-backed chairs lined the long narrow room, and pamphlets and books were arranged neatly in the book rack against the wall near the receptionist’s counter.
Katie looked up from her work and smiled. “Danica! Hi there. Yeah, go on back. You know the way. I’m sure Father Mitchell will be glad to see you. I’ll buzz him to let him know you’re on the way.”
Waving in thanks, the gold and copper haired girl pushed through the doors that led into the main hallway. To the right were the double doors leading into the large sanctuary room where the services were held, while to the left were several numbered doors. Danica walked past those doors, turned a corner to the right and headed down another hallway with more doors—all rooms used for various classes. Finally she reached the back of the church and pushed through free hanging yellow beads that clinked lightly against each other as they were released. Her shoes made a slight noise on the tiled floor of the office area.
"Knock, knock. Father Mitchell? Are you here?” Danica poked her head inside the office and found the priest just standing up to greet her.
“Danica, my dear, do come in!” Father Mitchell took Danica’s hands in his own, leaned forward, and kissed her gently on one cheek. “Have you finished the book I gave you already?”
Danica laughed as Father Mitchell waved her to the couch. The young woman sat down sideways with her back facing the door, and Father Mitchell took the opposite end of the couch. “Oh, my goodness no! That will take me a bit longer to read, I’m afraid. The world’s religions aren’t an easy subject to just skim through.”
The summer air wafted in through the open windows and brought with it the muffled sounds of the cars that trundled along the streets beyond the trees surrounding the church.
“Well, then what brings you here? Although I am never adverse to your just dropping by for a chat,’ Father Mitchell winked, then looked seriously at her. “But you’ve come with a purpose, I can tell.”
“I have….and I’ll get right to the point, since I do have to get to work and I know you have services in a bit,” Danica said in a straightforward manner. “I have something at home that I need to identify, and I know that you, well, might know people who can tell me more.”
Danica knew that all the priests of the independent Church’s of Pelor had certain Pelor-granted powers and that there was more to the priests than met the average—or even Shadowkind—eye. Father Mitchell looked at her curiously and was intrigued.
“Please, do go on. This sounds most fascinating.”
“Two years ago, when I was on my last dig in Egypt, we came upon some a small tomb with the usual mummy in the sarcophagus, canopic jars, a bit of treasure, and so forth. I was poking around in a corner, alone…..,” Danica paused remembering back to the dry, hot pyramid and how exiting it was. Then she went on to describe the long tube made from black alabaster which she’d found buried with the ancient Egyptian artifacts. She’d known it didn’t really belong there, just like she knew that it shouldn’t fall into mundane hands. There was an odd sort of writing, or symbols, carved on the sealed tube that just didn’t belong in the era it in which was supposedly buried.
“Hmmm, sounds very interesting…,” Father Mitchell said, intrigued. The Shadowkind human leaned forward a bit. “And so you…….?” he inquired with a twinkle in his eye, knowing Danica as he did.
“I…..well, I slipped it into my bag. If the others had gotten hold of it, it would have caused too much confusion which would have lead to many questions. I just sensed something about the tube…it wasn’t made by mundanes,” she finally admitted. “And I haven’t been able to find out any information about it at work. Our resources are extensive, but even we don’t have everything on Shadow artifacts.”
Father Mitchell expressed a desire to see this alabaster tube, to which Danica agreed to bring when she could. For now it was hidden away, sometimes remembered and sometimes forgotten by its latest owner. The young woman stood up and prepared to leave, turning the conversation to a question about a class on advanced meditation to be held at the church. Father Mitchell glanced up to the door behind her and gave a small wave, presumably to someone; but when Danica turned around the doorway was already empty. She heard the sound of the back door closing with a click of the latch.
-16-
About 9:00 Zane passed by Neil’s office on the way out, after having returned to gather up the deposit for the bank, to wave goodbye. He’d heard a woman’s voice—a very pleasant and peaceful voice—and didn’t want to interrupt. As he waved to Neil, Zane took in the gold and copper colored hair done up in a neat, simple bun of the woman to whom Neil was talking. Then the tall, African American man was out the back door and heading for his truck full of donations.
After a quick trip into the bank, the drive past downtown Crownpointe and into the poorer side of town was slowed down by traffic. With his dark sunglasses on, Zane kept himself occupied by planning his next backpacking foray into one of California’s many wilderness areas, probably Sequoia or Kings Canyon further north.
Just as Zane was imagining the immense solitude and physical exertion he would encounter, his turn off came up on him. He signaled briefly. The area became more run down and in need of repair as Zane made his way through this part of the city. The church itself bordered several areas of differing socio-economic levels, but all of them were in need of the services of the church. After Zane turned the corner that would take him to the driveway of the church, three young gang members blocked his entrance about 100 yards before the church’s property.
Although none of them would admit it to the others, they were scared to enter the vicinity of the church. No fence of any kind surrounded the church’s buildings or property, yet they never had problems of loitering or theft. Another friend of the three young men, who were more wannabe gang members than hardened criminals, had spotted Zane’s impressive black truck when he turned the corner and noticed the variety of saleable items in the back. He’d called his three partners on a cell phone to warn them.
Stopping the truck quickly so as not to hit any of the youths, Zane sighed and stared out through his dark glasses. Taking them off slowly, his face expressionless, the large, ex-Navy Seal lay them on the dash. He watched the boys draw knives in broad daylight, although they kept them concealed in front of their bodies. The dark-haired one motioned Zane to get out of the truck.
“Man,” he drew out the word, eyeing Zane as the large black man stepped down from the vehicle, his white, short-sleeved dress shirt and jeans giving him a look that claimed the man didn’t belong in this part of town. “We sure do like this trunk you got here. Hand ‘em over, ” he demanded, gesturing with his sharp knife to the keys Zane has slipped into his pocket.
His two friends laughed and began to spread out around Zane, who’d closed the driver’s door and was standing with his large arms crossed over his chest. Since they had the knives, and were rather cocky and arrogant, the young men had no fear of the large man in front of them. Besides, they had nothing to lose and much to gain by acquiring this fine truck and the items in the back.
“Don’t do this.” Zane was not asking or pleading but telling the boys outright. While not afraid, Zane was angry……angry that the children of today were being driven to violence, theft, and other illegal activities for a multitude of reasons stemming from society’s inability to take care of its people. “First, you don’t have to steal and threaten people to make something of yourselves in life.”
The boys laughed harshly and glanced at each other. “Are you crazy, man? Just hand over the damn keys and shut up!”
“Look I work at a youth club sponsored by the Church of Pelor. We can…..,” Zane began, hoping to get them to meet him at the club later on; but he knew they probably wouldn’t.
“Hey, we’ll kill you right here if we have to. Now shut up, hand over the damn keys, or you’ll find your guts spilling out into the street!” The dark-haired leader hissed angrily, bored at being thwarted by this rich man in front of him.
Dedicated to helping the kids of the inner cities and poorer areas to break free of their environment, Zane was far from naïve about what reality had in store for the kids and that many could not be reached. He decided his first plan was going to fail. Now the ex-soldier got angry at the boys, not just the situation.
“I don’t think so. You see, you don’t want to mess with me,” he replied calmly and truthfully, not moving an inch or even uncrossing his arms.
While he didn’t threaten them, the boys began to sense that Zane could, and would, beat the crap out of them despite the knives. But the leader was now angry himself and moved toward Zane threateningly. But what he saw made him stop short and back away, startled. His two partners also saw Zane’s dark brown eyes turn black as night and glisten as if wet. Then his black irises seemed to grow wider and wider until they obscured the whites of his eyes.
“Screw you, man!” the dark-haired leader yelled and backed away quickly. Then all three boys were walking quickly backwards, trying not to trip over each other, still staring at Zane. They were scared but unwilling to actually run. Finally, one turned to bolt away, and the rest gave in.
Blinking his eyes, aware of what the boys had seen but not why his eyes did that, Zane dropped that mental veil again and told himself the boys had been scared off by his words and size. Nothing more.
“Damn. They’ll end up in jail or dead someday,” he said to himself, as he climbed back into the truck to drive the final yards to the Church of Pelor to deliver the donations.
After a quick trip into the bank, the drive past downtown Crownpointe and into the poorer side of town was slowed down by traffic. With his dark sunglasses on, Zane kept himself occupied by planning his next backpacking foray into one of California’s many wilderness areas, probably Sequoia or Kings Canyon further north.
Just as Zane was imagining the immense solitude and physical exertion he would encounter, his turn off came up on him. He signaled briefly. The area became more run down and in need of repair as Zane made his way through this part of the city. The church itself bordered several areas of differing socio-economic levels, but all of them were in need of the services of the church. After Zane turned the corner that would take him to the driveway of the church, three young gang members blocked his entrance about 100 yards before the church’s property.
Although none of them would admit it to the others, they were scared to enter the vicinity of the church. No fence of any kind surrounded the church’s buildings or property, yet they never had problems of loitering or theft. Another friend of the three young men, who were more wannabe gang members than hardened criminals, had spotted Zane’s impressive black truck when he turned the corner and noticed the variety of saleable items in the back. He’d called his three partners on a cell phone to warn them.
Stopping the truck quickly so as not to hit any of the youths, Zane sighed and stared out through his dark glasses. Taking them off slowly, his face expressionless, the large, ex-Navy Seal lay them on the dash. He watched the boys draw knives in broad daylight, although they kept them concealed in front of their bodies. The dark-haired one motioned Zane to get out of the truck.
“Man,” he drew out the word, eyeing Zane as the large black man stepped down from the vehicle, his white, short-sleeved dress shirt and jeans giving him a look that claimed the man didn’t belong in this part of town. “We sure do like this trunk you got here. Hand ‘em over, ” he demanded, gesturing with his sharp knife to the keys Zane has slipped into his pocket.
His two friends laughed and began to spread out around Zane, who’d closed the driver’s door and was standing with his large arms crossed over his chest. Since they had the knives, and were rather cocky and arrogant, the young men had no fear of the large man in front of them. Besides, they had nothing to lose and much to gain by acquiring this fine truck and the items in the back.
“Don’t do this.” Zane was not asking or pleading but telling the boys outright. While not afraid, Zane was angry……angry that the children of today were being driven to violence, theft, and other illegal activities for a multitude of reasons stemming from society’s inability to take care of its people. “First, you don’t have to steal and threaten people to make something of yourselves in life.”
The boys laughed harshly and glanced at each other. “Are you crazy, man? Just hand over the damn keys and shut up!”
“Look I work at a youth club sponsored by the Church of Pelor. We can…..,” Zane began, hoping to get them to meet him at the club later on; but he knew they probably wouldn’t.
“Hey, we’ll kill you right here if we have to. Now shut up, hand over the damn keys, or you’ll find your guts spilling out into the street!” The dark-haired leader hissed angrily, bored at being thwarted by this rich man in front of him.
Dedicated to helping the kids of the inner cities and poorer areas to break free of their environment, Zane was far from naïve about what reality had in store for the kids and that many could not be reached. He decided his first plan was going to fail. Now the ex-soldier got angry at the boys, not just the situation.
“I don’t think so. You see, you don’t want to mess with me,” he replied calmly and truthfully, not moving an inch or even uncrossing his arms.
While he didn’t threaten them, the boys began to sense that Zane could, and would, beat the crap out of them despite the knives. But the leader was now angry himself and moved toward Zane threateningly. But what he saw made him stop short and back away, startled. His two partners also saw Zane’s dark brown eyes turn black as night and glisten as if wet. Then his black irises seemed to grow wider and wider until they obscured the whites of his eyes.
“Screw you, man!” the dark-haired leader yelled and backed away quickly. Then all three boys were walking quickly backwards, trying not to trip over each other, still staring at Zane. They were scared but unwilling to actually run. Finally, one turned to bolt away, and the rest gave in.
Blinking his eyes, aware of what the boys had seen but not why his eyes did that, Zane dropped that mental veil again and told himself the boys had been scared off by his words and size. Nothing more.
“Damn. They’ll end up in jail or dead someday,” he said to himself, as he climbed back into the truck to drive the final yards to the Church of Pelor to deliver the donations.
-17-
For the next couple of hours Adam tailed his target throughout the man’s morning routine. The private investigator knew from his time gathering information on Mr. Randolph’s habits, that Friday mornings were spent away from his office, if possible. His breakfast at Monroe’s had not involved another woman but three other equally well-off men who could afford to eat at the expensive restaurant and be away from work. Luckily, the suit jacket that Adam kept in the van went with his brown pants and had been acceptable enough to enter the restaurant. He’d sat in the corner in back of his target, keeping his head down over newspaper but keeping an eye on the suspected philanderer.
Later at the health club, Adam was able to secure a guest pass to have a look around with the guidance of a lovely young woman. He’d managed to convince this young woman to allow him to wander around randomly with her explaining as they went. In this way he was able to keep an eye on Mr. Randolph during a long game of racquetball and a workout in the weight room. However, Adam was fairly certain the man wouldn’t be able to meet for an affair during his time in the steam room and shower—although, one never knew--and so waited out front as if perusing through the various brochures on the health club’s facility and ammenities. Either way, Adam wasn’t going to bother trailing someone into a steam room at this point.
Finally, as Adam was beginning to get bored of Mr. Randolph’s, so far, ordinary Friday, the man arrived at his office downtown. Adam decided to head back to his own office, write up what information he’d gathered so far, and report to Mrs. Randolph by phone. He’d schedule another surveillance next week on Wednesday evening, a time when Mr. Randolph apparently had more free time away from the office.
Later at the health club, Adam was able to secure a guest pass to have a look around with the guidance of a lovely young woman. He’d managed to convince this young woman to allow him to wander around randomly with her explaining as they went. In this way he was able to keep an eye on Mr. Randolph during a long game of racquetball and a workout in the weight room. However, Adam was fairly certain the man wouldn’t be able to meet for an affair during his time in the steam room and shower—although, one never knew--and so waited out front as if perusing through the various brochures on the health club’s facility and ammenities. Either way, Adam wasn’t going to bother trailing someone into a steam room at this point.
Finally, as Adam was beginning to get bored of Mr. Randolph’s, so far, ordinary Friday, the man arrived at his office downtown. Adam decided to head back to his own office, write up what information he’d gathered so far, and report to Mrs. Randolph by phone. He’d schedule another surveillance next week on Wednesday evening, a time when Mr. Randolph apparently had more free time away from the office.
-18-
Laughing with the magazine reporter who had interviewed her and waving to the photographer, Rhianna watched them leave her agent’s office later than anticipated. It was now nearly noon. But she'd given a good--in showbiz standards at any rate,-- interview, saying a great deal about her career and less about herself. By now the elf knew how to play the game.
And her career was more of a game to her than anything--Rhianna just happened to have the talents from her former reality that corresponded with the talents of acting over here. The fact that she was "magically" endowed with beauty, charm, skills, and elven magic just made it that much easier to succeed in this world. She remembered that she’d been a moderate success back home, but not many memories of her previous life remained.
The dark haired elf didn’t really have a purpose in life, except doing what she could for the environment. So she threw herself into acting and creating and being happy in this world but never really feeling fulfilled. She wished she could find something else, hence the break. Maybe retreating and thinking would turn up something interesting.
"Ahhhhh, sweet freedom to be alone," she whispered, grinning, as she left her agent's downtown office. No one bothered Rhianna on the street despite her beauty and obvious familiarity to those who saw her. Who didn't know Rhianna Sheridan from her modeling days, countless hit movies, television appearances, and interviews? Mostly no one. But somehow she was left alone once she donned her sunglasses to protect her green eyes against the sun’s brightness. She walked to the parking structure to retrieve her car.
Lunch with Phebes was going to be the best part of the day.
And her career was more of a game to her than anything--Rhianna just happened to have the talents from her former reality that corresponded with the talents of acting over here. The fact that she was "magically" endowed with beauty, charm, skills, and elven magic just made it that much easier to succeed in this world. She remembered that she’d been a moderate success back home, but not many memories of her previous life remained.
The dark haired elf didn’t really have a purpose in life, except doing what she could for the environment. So she threw herself into acting and creating and being happy in this world but never really feeling fulfilled. She wished she could find something else, hence the break. Maybe retreating and thinking would turn up something interesting.
"Ahhhhh, sweet freedom to be alone," she whispered, grinning, as she left her agent's downtown office. No one bothered Rhianna on the street despite her beauty and obvious familiarity to those who saw her. Who didn't know Rhianna Sheridan from her modeling days, countless hit movies, television appearances, and interviews? Mostly no one. But somehow she was left alone once she donned her sunglasses to protect her green eyes against the sun’s brightness. She walked to the parking structure to retrieve her car.
Lunch with Phebes was going to be the best part of the day.
-19-
“Excuse me,” a male voice penetrated both Danica and Jeremy’s concentration as they double checked the order of books that had just been delivered on the loading dock.
The university where Danica was employed, the Institute for Continuous Education, combined their classroom bookstore and student library in the same building because the school itself was fairly small. Danica was in charge of both facilities, as well as the employees under her. She’d been in her office most of the morning and had just come into the quiet bookstore section to help out. The bookstore was also open to the public. Besides Shadowkind, only Shadow-attuned mundanes noticed the street-front entrance.
“Hi, can we help you?” Jeremy answered in a friendly tone. Danica stood upright behind him and smiled as well.
“I’m new here,” the student explained nervously. “I can’t find Dr. Allison’s Guide to the Mystic Arts. I’m probably looking in the wrong section or something. I wanted to have my books by classes this evening.”
The two employees could tell this young man, a mundane, was nervous because of the nature of the school’s curriculum: magic, monsters, and species from beyond the veil of Shadow. The school hoped to educate the small percentage of mundanes who were receptive to Shadow creatures and magic, in order to make them understand at least the basic facts. Classes were held in the evenings and on weekends, but the bookstore and library were open most of the day as well as during class times.
Danica put her hand on Jeremy’s shoulder as he began to rise out of his chair. Her golden claws sparkled against the man’s black shirt. “I’ll help. You stay and finish,” she offered. Smiling to the young man, Danica motioned him to follow her.
As they headed down the correct aisle, the student’s shoes squeaked on the linoleum floor. Modern shelves lined the room and bright lights over head chased ordinary shadows from every corner.
“The school doesn’t look like what I imagined,” he said hesitantly. “I mean…well…,”
Danica laughed understandingly. “I know. We get that from new students. You expected dark wooden cases, spider webs hanging from the corners, dim lights…perhaps even candles all around, and people walking around with wands, right?”
The sandy-haired student laughed sheepishly. “Well, sort of, yes. This is all new to me. I saw my first…….well, it looked like what is called an ogre in fairy tales…a couple of weeks ago. One thing led to another..., and now I’m here to learn about what I heard are called Shadow creatures.”
Danica nodded and wondered if the student could see her claws yet. Probably not, since he’d not said anything. For wanting to blend in with humans and keep a normal life, this was an odd place for Danica to be working But it had been the first job she’d secured once coming to the Crownpointe area. She had decided to remain here as she moved up. She also spent part of her time consulting with museums on their acquisitions, and so kept herself involved with artifacts from different cultures.
“Here you go…..one Guide to the Mystic Arts.”
The dragonblooded human picked up the primary text for all courses taught at the school and handed it to the young man. “Welcome to the school, too. It’s important that people understand what’s really going on out there, so it’s always good to see new students arrive.”
The student hefted the book on top of the others in his arms, then thanked Danica and wandered toward the checkout counter. The manager slipped through a door and back to her office upstairs.
The university where Danica was employed, the Institute for Continuous Education, combined their classroom bookstore and student library in the same building because the school itself was fairly small. Danica was in charge of both facilities, as well as the employees under her. She’d been in her office most of the morning and had just come into the quiet bookstore section to help out. The bookstore was also open to the public. Besides Shadowkind, only Shadow-attuned mundanes noticed the street-front entrance.
“Hi, can we help you?” Jeremy answered in a friendly tone. Danica stood upright behind him and smiled as well.
“I’m new here,” the student explained nervously. “I can’t find Dr. Allison’s Guide to the Mystic Arts. I’m probably looking in the wrong section or something. I wanted to have my books by classes this evening.”
The two employees could tell this young man, a mundane, was nervous because of the nature of the school’s curriculum: magic, monsters, and species from beyond the veil of Shadow. The school hoped to educate the small percentage of mundanes who were receptive to Shadow creatures and magic, in order to make them understand at least the basic facts. Classes were held in the evenings and on weekends, but the bookstore and library were open most of the day as well as during class times.
Danica put her hand on Jeremy’s shoulder as he began to rise out of his chair. Her golden claws sparkled against the man’s black shirt. “I’ll help. You stay and finish,” she offered. Smiling to the young man, Danica motioned him to follow her.
As they headed down the correct aisle, the student’s shoes squeaked on the linoleum floor. Modern shelves lined the room and bright lights over head chased ordinary shadows from every corner.
“The school doesn’t look like what I imagined,” he said hesitantly. “I mean…well…,”
Danica laughed understandingly. “I know. We get that from new students. You expected dark wooden cases, spider webs hanging from the corners, dim lights…perhaps even candles all around, and people walking around with wands, right?”
The sandy-haired student laughed sheepishly. “Well, sort of, yes. This is all new to me. I saw my first…….well, it looked like what is called an ogre in fairy tales…a couple of weeks ago. One thing led to another..., and now I’m here to learn about what I heard are called Shadow creatures.”
Danica nodded and wondered if the student could see her claws yet. Probably not, since he’d not said anything. For wanting to blend in with humans and keep a normal life, this was an odd place for Danica to be working But it had been the first job she’d secured once coming to the Crownpointe area. She had decided to remain here as she moved up. She also spent part of her time consulting with museums on their acquisitions, and so kept herself involved with artifacts from different cultures.
“Here you go…..one Guide to the Mystic Arts.”
The dragonblooded human picked up the primary text for all courses taught at the school and handed it to the young man. “Welcome to the school, too. It’s important that people understand what’s really going on out there, so it’s always good to see new students arrive.”
The student hefted the book on top of the others in his arms, then thanked Danica and wandered toward the checkout counter. The manager slipped through a door and back to her office upstairs.
-20-
After having decided to stop in at the youth club on his way back to his work, Zane ended up having lunch with the owners. The Alonso’s were eternally grateful to the Church of Pelor for their financial support, although the couple did not participate in the beliefs of the church. Zane had taken a liking to the Alonsos and began to volunteer at the youth center in working with the children and teens who made it their after school and weekend hang out. Eventually, Father Mitchell had offered to include the work at the center as part of Zane’s job. If Zane needed the extra money when he helped out on weekends or evenings, he could include the hours for pay.
The mundane Alonsos, who had no idea whatsoever about anything related to Shadow, and Zane spent a pleasant hour together just talking and eating homemade Mexican food in the office.
The mundane Alonsos, who had no idea whatsoever about anything related to Shadow, and Zane spent a pleasant hour together just talking and eating homemade Mexican food in the office.
-21-
“Damn,” Adam remarked, watching as part of his chicken wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla with shredded vegetables and sauce dripped onto his desk. Luckily it missed his keyboard by a good quarter of an inch. “Do we have extra napkins?”
“I’m not cleaning up after you anymore, Adam,” his secretary, Lorelei, remarked jokingly from her desk in the front of the long office. A hand with long, deep purple fingernails appeared in front of him holding a wad of paper napkins.
Adam grabbed the offering and grinned as he looked up at the 50ish woman in front of him. “Thanks. And I’d be happy if you just answered the phones once in a while instead of doing those nails of yours all the time,” he added with a grin.
“Ha ha.” Lorelei mock glared at her younger boss and returned to her own desk. She tucked a wisp of dyed brown hair behind her ear and continued working on entering the report about this morning's zombie kill on the computer for the files.
The phone rang several times during the next hour, but no new clients entered from the busy city street of Cedar Crest Ave., so Adam and his secretary were able to catch up on their back log of work.
Taking a break to stretch his neck and back, Adam glanced over at the photo on his desk. He smiled tenderly at the little girl in the picture—his daughter Kira. Dark brown hair and blue eyes that matched his own, yet she had her mother’s beautiful, refined features. Adam frowned as he realized how long it had been since he'd seen the little girl. She was seven now, and it had been two years since the divorce. He tried to get back to Chicago to see his daughter when he could, but his wife had made the task somewhat more difficult when she married again.
Adam had loved being a father and husband, having a family to work and provide for, and especially to protect….
“I’m not cleaning up after you anymore, Adam,” his secretary, Lorelei, remarked jokingly from her desk in the front of the long office. A hand with long, deep purple fingernails appeared in front of him holding a wad of paper napkins.
Adam grabbed the offering and grinned as he looked up at the 50ish woman in front of him. “Thanks. And I’d be happy if you just answered the phones once in a while instead of doing those nails of yours all the time,” he added with a grin.
“Ha ha.” Lorelei mock glared at her younger boss and returned to her own desk. She tucked a wisp of dyed brown hair behind her ear and continued working on entering the report about this morning's zombie kill on the computer for the files.
The phone rang several times during the next hour, but no new clients entered from the busy city street of Cedar Crest Ave., so Adam and his secretary were able to catch up on their back log of work.
Taking a break to stretch his neck and back, Adam glanced over at the photo on his desk. He smiled tenderly at the little girl in the picture—his daughter Kira. Dark brown hair and blue eyes that matched his own, yet she had her mother’s beautiful, refined features. Adam frowned as he realized how long it had been since he'd seen the little girl. She was seven now, and it had been two years since the divorce. He tried to get back to Chicago to see his daughter when he could, but his wife had made the task somewhat more difficult when she married again.
Adam had loved being a father and husband, having a family to work and provide for, and especially to protect….
-22-
Lunch was even more fun than Rhianna had expected. She and Phoebe were sitting at a quiet table in their favorite Chinese restaurant near the popular Arcana Mall. The decor of live plants, soft, muted colors, and Asian inspired furniture and wall treatments created a peaceful atmosphere. The owner was preparing a special vegetarian meal for the two women after he'd spotted Rhianna come in. His favorite actress rarely left without a meal prepared by him personally.
"So, London ended up being a longer trip than you thought?" Phoebe asked inquisitively as both women dipped fresh vegetable egg rolls into a favored plum sauce.
"Oh it did! I loved doing Shakespeare, but the tickets just kept selling despite the notices the play was ending. But it was a great experience--all the performers were incredible." Rhianna had recently returned from across the sea after finishing up a movie and agreeing to perform Shakespeare with a dear director friend.
"What about you, Phebes? I can't believe it's been two months since we’ve seen each other. I've missed you so much!" Rhianna smiled at her friend and sipped hot green tea.
"Well, I’ve acquired another large project for my business! You should see this house, Rhi! Huge! It's going to bring in millions the way my new clients are talking. Thanks to the Church of Pelor and you, I'm going to be even more successful now."
The petite, slender woman with long, silky blond hair winked at Rhianna as Mr. Chin personally began to bring out the first course. Phoebe’s new clients were members of the church and elf friends of Rhianna's.
Phoebe was a successful interior designer with her own company, started back when Rhianna was just beginning her own modeling career. The two women had met and become fast friends--both recognizing someone they could trust for a lifetime. It took Phoebe about a year to become aware of Rhianna's true self, and after that she quickly became somewhat attuned to the world of the Shadowkind all around her. Both women attended the Church of Pelor when possible and, due to their fortunate financial situations, gave a great deal to various charities and beneficial organizations.
A comfortable silence was interspersed with conversation between the two best friends as they ate their lunch. By about 2 PM, the friends were hugging in front of Phoebe’s car and promising to call each other soon. Once she waved goodbye to her departing friend, Rhianna decided to take a walk around the Angel’s Walk Mall across the street.
* * * * * *
Absolute Spirit was Rhianna’s favorite shop in the mall, after all the clothes shops. The New Age store was filled with fascinating items such as jewelry, chakra wands, pentagrams, candles, Wiccan jewelry, incense, books, tarots decks, witchcraft, Celtic, and unique pagan treasures, along with other metaphysical, astrological and new age gifts promising “magic” of some sort to those who purchased them. Rhianna knew in the hands of the mundane, these items were mostly harmless and held power only in their minds. But to Shadowkind and Shadow creatures many of the articles here were very useful. Or dangerous.
The sales girl with lavender-dyed hair, a half-elf who had the appearance of a 25 year old woman, greeted Rhianna. The half-elf saw immediately that her customer was a full elf, which meant she’d come from beyond the veil at some point. But the salesgirl remained behind the counter, as she wasn’t sure if the slim, beautiful elf would look down on her for having one human parent. The half elf knew that elves from beyond Shadow could be very aloof.
But Rhianna spoke back in Elven to the girl in a friendly manner and then continued poking curiously around the shop.
"So, London ended up being a longer trip than you thought?" Phoebe asked inquisitively as both women dipped fresh vegetable egg rolls into a favored plum sauce.
"Oh it did! I loved doing Shakespeare, but the tickets just kept selling despite the notices the play was ending. But it was a great experience--all the performers were incredible." Rhianna had recently returned from across the sea after finishing up a movie and agreeing to perform Shakespeare with a dear director friend.
"What about you, Phebes? I can't believe it's been two months since we’ve seen each other. I've missed you so much!" Rhianna smiled at her friend and sipped hot green tea.
"Well, I’ve acquired another large project for my business! You should see this house, Rhi! Huge! It's going to bring in millions the way my new clients are talking. Thanks to the Church of Pelor and you, I'm going to be even more successful now."
The petite, slender woman with long, silky blond hair winked at Rhianna as Mr. Chin personally began to bring out the first course. Phoebe’s new clients were members of the church and elf friends of Rhianna's.
Phoebe was a successful interior designer with her own company, started back when Rhianna was just beginning her own modeling career. The two women had met and become fast friends--both recognizing someone they could trust for a lifetime. It took Phoebe about a year to become aware of Rhianna's true self, and after that she quickly became somewhat attuned to the world of the Shadowkind all around her. Both women attended the Church of Pelor when possible and, due to their fortunate financial situations, gave a great deal to various charities and beneficial organizations.
A comfortable silence was interspersed with conversation between the two best friends as they ate their lunch. By about 2 PM, the friends were hugging in front of Phoebe’s car and promising to call each other soon. Once she waved goodbye to her departing friend, Rhianna decided to take a walk around the Angel’s Walk Mall across the street.
* * * * * *
Absolute Spirit was Rhianna’s favorite shop in the mall, after all the clothes shops. The New Age store was filled with fascinating items such as jewelry, chakra wands, pentagrams, candles, Wiccan jewelry, incense, books, tarots decks, witchcraft, Celtic, and unique pagan treasures, along with other metaphysical, astrological and new age gifts promising “magic” of some sort to those who purchased them. Rhianna knew in the hands of the mundane, these items were mostly harmless and held power only in their minds. But to Shadowkind and Shadow creatures many of the articles here were very useful. Or dangerous.
The sales girl with lavender-dyed hair, a half-elf who had the appearance of a 25 year old woman, greeted Rhianna. The half-elf saw immediately that her customer was a full elf, which meant she’d come from beyond the veil at some point. But the salesgirl remained behind the counter, as she wasn’t sure if the slim, beautiful elf would look down on her for having one human parent. The half elf knew that elves from beyond Shadow could be very aloof.
But Rhianna spoke back in Elven to the girl in a friendly manner and then continued poking curiously around the shop.
-23-
It was nearly 2 PM when Danica realized she was starving and hadn’t had lunch yet. She decided to take a long lunch and drive out to Arcana Mall and pick up her package from Absolute Spirit, the New Age shop from which she’d ordered some special incense. After informing her assistant of where she’d be, Danica took the elevator down to the underground parking structure.
The mall was crowded with shoppers and those just wanting to window shop and escape the heat outside. Winding her way between slower moving bodies, Danica stopped by the New Age shop before going for food. Stepping over the threshold of the store was always relaxing for Danica. She enjoyed the scent of the burning incense and the mystical music in the background. Once inside the shop, the echoing sounds of the mall seemed to magically disappear, leaving Absolute Spirit with a spiritually nurturing atmosphere.
The only other customer in the store was, to Danica’s surprise, a female elf. Usually elves kept to themselves, so seeing one obviously enjoying herself out shopping surprised Danica. She tried not to stare at the dark haired elf, but had to take a second look when she realized who the elf was: Rhianna Sheridan, the famous actress.
“Hi, may I help you?” A soft voice broke through Danica’s surprise. She turned toward the young woman behind the counter but could feel the actress's eyes on the back of her head.
“Um…oh, yes, I came to pick up an order…of incense,” Danica replied, handing over her receipt to the young lavender-haired half-elf.
“Oh sure! Let me go in back and find it for you. Just a moment, please.” The sales girl smiled and walked to the end of the counter, then headed through a door to the right which led into the store room.
Danica occupied herself with looking at the Tarot cards on the counter so she wouldn’t have to turn around and embarrass herself again by staring at the actress that the mundane world saw as human.
The mall was crowded with shoppers and those just wanting to window shop and escape the heat outside. Winding her way between slower moving bodies, Danica stopped by the New Age shop before going for food. Stepping over the threshold of the store was always relaxing for Danica. She enjoyed the scent of the burning incense and the mystical music in the background. Once inside the shop, the echoing sounds of the mall seemed to magically disappear, leaving Absolute Spirit with a spiritually nurturing atmosphere.
The only other customer in the store was, to Danica’s surprise, a female elf. Usually elves kept to themselves, so seeing one obviously enjoying herself out shopping surprised Danica. She tried not to stare at the dark haired elf, but had to take a second look when she realized who the elf was: Rhianna Sheridan, the famous actress.
“Hi, may I help you?” A soft voice broke through Danica’s surprise. She turned toward the young woman behind the counter but could feel the actress's eyes on the back of her head.
“Um…oh, yes, I came to pick up an order…of incense,” Danica replied, handing over her receipt to the young lavender-haired half-elf.
“Oh sure! Let me go in back and find it for you. Just a moment, please.” The sales girl smiled and walked to the end of the counter, then headed through a door to the right which led into the store room.
Danica occupied herself with looking at the Tarot cards on the counter so she wouldn’t have to turn around and embarrass herself again by staring at the actress that the mundane world saw as human.
-24-
Still full from a too-large lunch, Zane drove slowly back down the freeway. On the way he thought he should finally stop by the mall and buy those new t-shirts he needed. It was only about 2:00 PM with plenty of time left to get back to the church to finish up his work day. The Arcana Mall had the one store that carried the brand of shirts that fit him better than even those found in the department stores.
Parking in the structure across the street—Level 5-blue—, Zane walked across the enclosed catwalk linking the mall with its parking to enter on the top floor. The busy mall and its noises faded for Zane as the bald-headed man tuned everything out. As he made his way quickly down the stairs that matched the escalators, a New Age shop caught his eye. Zane shook his head dismissively and intended to keep walking. Zane’s interests didn’t lie in that direction, and he had no need or reason to enter the store.
Suddenly he found himself entering the strange smelling business. He blinked when he caught sight of the back of a young woman with gold and copper hair, wrapped neatly in a bun, who was standing at the counter. Zane was positive it was the same woman from Neil’s office earlier this morning; although, the tall ex-soldier had no idea why he cared. Shrugging, he decided it wouldn't hurt to have a look around in case something that his boss might like caught his eye.
Walking in the opposite direction from the young woman at the counter, Zane bumped into another customer with his large frame.
“Are you alright? I’m sorry about that,” he began as he steadied the much shorter woman from falling over.
The woman glanced up calmly, and Zane realized that she was a full elf. The force of her Shadow being hit him hard for some reason, and he had a difficult time blocking out her sharply pointed ears, slightly triangular face, and luxurious brown eyes. Finally, she appeared as a human woman, and he quickly mumbled another apology, let go of the woman’s shoulders and moved quickly away. He thought he heard the elf laugh quietly and speak in what sounded like a foreign language, but he couldn’t be sure. Zane decided he didn’t particularly need or want to be here and quickly turned to exit the spiritually focused shop.
Parking in the structure across the street—Level 5-blue—, Zane walked across the enclosed catwalk linking the mall with its parking to enter on the top floor. The busy mall and its noises faded for Zane as the bald-headed man tuned everything out. As he made his way quickly down the stairs that matched the escalators, a New Age shop caught his eye. Zane shook his head dismissively and intended to keep walking. Zane’s interests didn’t lie in that direction, and he had no need or reason to enter the store.
Suddenly he found himself entering the strange smelling business. He blinked when he caught sight of the back of a young woman with gold and copper hair, wrapped neatly in a bun, who was standing at the counter. Zane was positive it was the same woman from Neil’s office earlier this morning; although, the tall ex-soldier had no idea why he cared. Shrugging, he decided it wouldn't hurt to have a look around in case something that his boss might like caught his eye.
Walking in the opposite direction from the young woman at the counter, Zane bumped into another customer with his large frame.
“Are you alright? I’m sorry about that,” he began as he steadied the much shorter woman from falling over.
The woman glanced up calmly, and Zane realized that she was a full elf. The force of her Shadow being hit him hard for some reason, and he had a difficult time blocking out her sharply pointed ears, slightly triangular face, and luxurious brown eyes. Finally, she appeared as a human woman, and he quickly mumbled another apology, let go of the woman’s shoulders and moved quickly away. He thought he heard the elf laugh quietly and speak in what sounded like a foreign language, but he couldn’t be sure. Zane decided he didn’t particularly need or want to be here and quickly turned to exit the spiritually focused shop.
-25-
“Oh no,” Lorelei exclaimed, sighing in frustration at the fairly small office copy machine.
“What? What’s wrong?” Adam tore himself out of his memories and into the present. He glanced up at his secretary.
“Darn it, we just ran out of toner. I thought I had another box of it, but I don’t.” Lorelei was searching through various boxes next to the copy machine.
Adam stood up quickly and reached for his gun on the desk. Sliding it into the holster strapped under his arm, he secured the Baretta 92F in place. He smiled broadly. “Never fear. I’ll drive out to the office supply store in the mall and pick some up to last until you can order more.”
Lorelei laughed as she turned to face her boss. With her hands on her hips, the middle-aged woman mock scolded him. “You’ll do anything to not stay in the office, won’t you? But alright, we do need toner anyway. So you go, and I’ll hold down the fort.”
Escaping the office was a relief for Adam, and he yanked on his lightweight jacket to conceal his gun. Soon, his gray van was cruising along toward the Arcana Mall, the hot summer sun beating down on the windshield and held at bay inside the vehicle by the air conditioner.
“What? What’s wrong?” Adam tore himself out of his memories and into the present. He glanced up at his secretary.
“Darn it, we just ran out of toner. I thought I had another box of it, but I don’t.” Lorelei was searching through various boxes next to the copy machine.
Adam stood up quickly and reached for his gun on the desk. Sliding it into the holster strapped under his arm, he secured the Baretta 92F in place. He smiled broadly. “Never fear. I’ll drive out to the office supply store in the mall and pick some up to last until you can order more.”
Lorelei laughed as she turned to face her boss. With her hands on her hips, the middle-aged woman mock scolded him. “You’ll do anything to not stay in the office, won’t you? But alright, we do need toner anyway. So you go, and I’ll hold down the fort.”
Escaping the office was a relief for Adam, and he yanked on his lightweight jacket to conceal his gun. Soon, his gray van was cruising along toward the Arcana Mall, the hot summer sun beating down on the windshield and held at bay inside the vehicle by the air conditioner.
-26-
Peering down the well-worn, polished wooden counter and toward the half open door through which the half elf had disappeared, Danica absently tapped her claws on the counter a couple of times. She wondered what was taking the girl so long to locate the special ordered package of incense. Well, perhaps it was misplaced, the dragonblooded woman decided, but it wasn’t wise to leave the store unattended in this manner. Tired of reading and rereading the sign on the counter which advertised the various astrological services the shop offered, Danica changed position in order to lean her back against the counter. As she swept her eyes across the table of aromatherapy oils, Danica observed Rhianna Sheridan, the seemingly ageless actress, who was directly on the other side of the table. If Danica wasn’t mistaken she remembered, at age seventeen, watching the actress in her first movie. This must have been at least ten years ago. Being an elf had its advantages, Danica mused silently. Glancing up at that moment, Rhianna gave a curious nod to the exotic-looking young woman.
Zane was heading toward the strange shop with long, determined strides, his eyes set straight ahead toward the door. It seemed the only sound in the shop was the quiet, mystical music and his tennis shoes thudding on the floor. All the activity outside the mall was muffled and far away. Zane’s only thought at the moment was to vacate this shop and return to where he could more easily avoid the awareness of anything to do with Shadow. The tall, black man was struggling to not glance over at the girl with odd copper and gold hair. But despite his determination, Zane’s gaze was drawn to her face as she tore her eyes away from the familiar looking elf and stared straight at him. Danica opened her eyes wide in surprise, and Zane froze for a moment, staring back at her. His gaze traveled down to her obvious golden claws, and Zane attempted again to leave the store. He only managed a few steps before he couldn’t help but dart his eyes between the young woman and the elf. Danica sensed immediately that he was a Shadowkind of some sort but which one she couldn’t determine. She continued to stare at him with her almond shaped eyes.
From across the artfully arranged table of bottles of scented oils, Rhianna curiously watched both the muscular, bald man and the beautiful Asian girl. The three strangers remained frozen for a split second in some sort of peculiar connection with none of the them capable of breaking free. Then they were jarred abruptly out of their hypnotic-like states by a piercing scream from the back room. The small group jerked toward the sound and stared at the half-open door, the darkness inside black and motionless. Unmoving for what seemed an eternity but in truth was mere seconds, Rhianna, Zane, and Danica responded suddenly and bolted toward the scream.
Being closest to the storage room door, Rhianna ran the short distance on slender, strong legs. She grasped the door handle and pushed the open door—painted white to match the wall—open to its widest. Zane had been right behind her, forgetting his almost dire need to escape the store. A soldier, even an ex-soldier, didn’t just leave someone behind who’d screamed as if her life were being threatened. He towered over Rhianna as he came up behind her. He maneuvered passed the elf as he physically moved her aside and was the first to step into the bedroom-sized storage room. Rhianna followed, and Danica entered last but was forced to move to the far side of the small room, across from the door.
The small, rectangular room had limited room in which to move around. Tall shelves lined three walls of the walls. They were filled with everything from the ordinary—such as candles, tarot cards, and incense products—to the more unusual healing crystals, chakra wands, and pentagrams. The merchandise was stored in and out of boxes, with larger boxes stacked on the cement floor. As if to keep with the atmosphere of the mystical nature of the store, the room was lit by only two light bulbs out of the four mounted in the ceiling fixture. No one had bothered to replace the two burnt out bulbs. Shadows lingered in the corners and in between boxes on the shelves.
The lavender-haired half-elf was standing in the middle of the small room. her arms were held stiffly at her sides with her fists balled up. She seemed frozen in place, staring downward. The three strangers standing across from her followed her gaze to the inside of a round box on the floor, the size of a large hat box. It had been dropped hastily. The lid was lying upright, propped up against the box.
The silence was deep until Rhianna gasped harshly and backed up into a short, narrow table next to the wall. Her purse dropped from her hands, landing clasp side down on the floor with a slight click. Shrieking in surprise, Danica tried to press herself against a shelf and clutched onto her purse so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Zane just shook his head as the veil in his mind lifted further up than ever before--so far that had Zane not been so mentally and physically strong the assault of Shadow into his mind would have driven him crazy.
Zane was heading toward the strange shop with long, determined strides, his eyes set straight ahead toward the door. It seemed the only sound in the shop was the quiet, mystical music and his tennis shoes thudding on the floor. All the activity outside the mall was muffled and far away. Zane’s only thought at the moment was to vacate this shop and return to where he could more easily avoid the awareness of anything to do with Shadow. The tall, black man was struggling to not glance over at the girl with odd copper and gold hair. But despite his determination, Zane’s gaze was drawn to her face as she tore her eyes away from the familiar looking elf and stared straight at him. Danica opened her eyes wide in surprise, and Zane froze for a moment, staring back at her. His gaze traveled down to her obvious golden claws, and Zane attempted again to leave the store. He only managed a few steps before he couldn’t help but dart his eyes between the young woman and the elf. Danica sensed immediately that he was a Shadowkind of some sort but which one she couldn’t determine. She continued to stare at him with her almond shaped eyes.
From across the artfully arranged table of bottles of scented oils, Rhianna curiously watched both the muscular, bald man and the beautiful Asian girl. The three strangers remained frozen for a split second in some sort of peculiar connection with none of the them capable of breaking free. Then they were jarred abruptly out of their hypnotic-like states by a piercing scream from the back room. The small group jerked toward the sound and stared at the half-open door, the darkness inside black and motionless. Unmoving for what seemed an eternity but in truth was mere seconds, Rhianna, Zane, and Danica responded suddenly and bolted toward the scream.
Being closest to the storage room door, Rhianna ran the short distance on slender, strong legs. She grasped the door handle and pushed the open door—painted white to match the wall—open to its widest. Zane had been right behind her, forgetting his almost dire need to escape the store. A soldier, even an ex-soldier, didn’t just leave someone behind who’d screamed as if her life were being threatened. He towered over Rhianna as he came up behind her. He maneuvered passed the elf as he physically moved her aside and was the first to step into the bedroom-sized storage room. Rhianna followed, and Danica entered last but was forced to move to the far side of the small room, across from the door.
The small, rectangular room had limited room in which to move around. Tall shelves lined three walls of the walls. They were filled with everything from the ordinary—such as candles, tarot cards, and incense products—to the more unusual healing crystals, chakra wands, and pentagrams. The merchandise was stored in and out of boxes, with larger boxes stacked on the cement floor. As if to keep with the atmosphere of the mystical nature of the store, the room was lit by only two light bulbs out of the four mounted in the ceiling fixture. No one had bothered to replace the two burnt out bulbs. Shadows lingered in the corners and in between boxes on the shelves.
The lavender-haired half-elf was standing in the middle of the small room. her arms were held stiffly at her sides with her fists balled up. She seemed frozen in place, staring downward. The three strangers standing across from her followed her gaze to the inside of a round box on the floor, the size of a large hat box. It had been dropped hastily. The lid was lying upright, propped up against the box.
The silence was deep until Rhianna gasped harshly and backed up into a short, narrow table next to the wall. Her purse dropped from her hands, landing clasp side down on the floor with a slight click. Shrieking in surprise, Danica tried to press herself against a shelf and clutched onto her purse so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Zane just shook his head as the veil in his mind lifted further up than ever before--so far that had Zane not been so mentally and physically strong the assault of Shadow into his mind would have driven him crazy.
-27-
Out in the bustling mall, Adam passed by Absolute Spirit on his way to the office supply store. He stopped mid-whistle and caused the two ladies walking behind to nearly crash into him. They made small noises of displeasure and maneuvered around him, walking quickly away with heels clicking on the tiled floor. Adam paid them no attention as he frowned, sensing something wasn’t right in the New Age shop. The shadow hunter’s ability to sense trouble was suddenly tugging at his mind, as was his cop’s instincts that something was very wrong. Quickly unzipping his jacket, Adam reached in to unsnap the strap on his gun holster. The hair was standing up on the back of Adam’s neck, and he didn’t like it one bit. He walked quietly into the store and stood still, waiting. There were no customers currently inside, and the activity of the mall seem to dampen within the store. The private investigator had a suspicion that Shadow was involved somehow. Adam was getting the same feelings he had when out shadow hunting.
The empty store was quiet—a quiet which was far from peaceful. In fact, it was unnerving and heavy with the unknown. Spotting the open storage room door, Adam moved silently toward the dark wooden counter and approached down its length. He took great care to stay out of sight of the open door. Drawing his gun cautiously and releasing the safety with a soundless click, the ex-cop put his back up against the door. Lightning fast he pivoted until he was facing the inside of the room with his gun pointing straight ahead.
Behind Adam, the front door of the store swung silently closed and latched itself shut with a soft click of the bolt. The lights in the store dimmed, making it difficult to see in through the glass windows from the mall. Most of the shoppers outside didn’t really notice anything unusual; and, indeed, several who were passing by immediately blocked anything out of the ordinary from their consciousness. The store had just been closed all along as far as they were concerned. Of course, there were those few who shuddered knowingly and decided to put a great deal of distance between themselves and Absolute Spirit.
The empty store was quiet—a quiet which was far from peaceful. In fact, it was unnerving and heavy with the unknown. Spotting the open storage room door, Adam moved silently toward the dark wooden counter and approached down its length. He took great care to stay out of sight of the open door. Drawing his gun cautiously and releasing the safety with a soundless click, the ex-cop put his back up against the door. Lightning fast he pivoted until he was facing the inside of the room with his gun pointing straight ahead.
Behind Adam, the front door of the store swung silently closed and latched itself shut with a soft click of the bolt. The lights in the store dimmed, making it difficult to see in through the glass windows from the mall. Most of the shoppers outside didn’t really notice anything unusual; and, indeed, several who were passing by immediately blocked anything out of the ordinary from their consciousness. The store had just been closed all along as far as they were concerned. Of course, there were those few who shuddered knowingly and decided to put a great deal of distance between themselves and Absolute Spirit.
-28-
“What the hell….?” Adam frowned and kept his Baretta steady.
Adam suspiciously regarded the players in the strange scene before him. Closest to him stood a tall, bald, African American man who appeared as if he could do some serious physical damage; and most likely military or ex-military, Adam surmised, taking in the man’s bearing. To Adam’s right, and nearly sitting on a narrow table, was a slender female elf with dark hair. There was a vague familiarity about her. Over near the far wall across from the door was a young woman with the most unusual colored hair. She was trembling slightly and not staring at Adam as the other two were. Adam followed her gaze to a box on the floor in front of the final person in the small room.
Rhianna sensed this stranger with the darkest blue eyes she’d ever seen wasn’t going to actually shoot them. She relaxed slightly. “We don’t know,” she answered his question, although he had never completed it. “But look there, a magic stamp of delivery. That’s the god Hermes, the messenger,” she added.
The elf pointed with a manicured finger to the ornate postage stamp—about the size of playing card—that was adhered to the lid of the round, cardboard box.
“A what?” Zane asked sharply before he realized he didn’t really want to know.
Danica gasped. “I’ve only ever seen one before in my life,” she whispered. “The package is instantly transported……but usually it goes to the front door or a mail slot.”
Indeed it had been delivered exactly as Danica explained. Except the UPS delivery person had noticed it sitting by the front door and had loaded the round, sealed box onto her cart as she brought the morning delivery just today. The half-elf hadn’t even noticed the strange package until she went to retrieve Danica’s special order. She’d made a terrible mistake in letting her curiosity get the better of her as she had reached for the package.
“No…..,” the half elf finally spoke, her voice quivering with fear. “No, it can’t be. I……I never even thought about…..oh why did I open it? Why?” Her face paled considerably more than it already was. The lavender-haired girl tried to back away but there wasn’t any place to go except against a large crate sitting on the floor. She glanced up at the strangers in front of her as if seeing them for the first time.
“Well, what’s that in there?” Adam asked, confused at just exactly what was going on.
Zane spoke up before anyone could say something to make this situation worse. By his tone of voice he warned he would accept no contradictions. “A giant, fake spider or something. Or a dead one as a sick joke. I don’t know…..but it’s nothing to get worked up about,” he tried to convince himself.
Adam stepped a few feet further into the room to peer closer into the box, keeping his finger resting slightly on the trigger of his gun.
“We just over-reacted when we first saw it.” Zane continued and nearly scowled at the two women who’d come into the room with him.
Without warning the glossy, black spider—about twelve inches long—rose up on thick, hairy legs and shook itself violently. The UPS delivery person had accidentally dropped the box and stunned the spider—otherwise, it would have attacked the moment the half elf opened the box. Everyone stumbled back as much as they could in astonishment and disbelief. As if on cue for a special effects stunt, the spider’s six eyes on top of its black head opened and began to glow a dull topaz color. Before anyone could react, it launched itself in a blur at the salesgirl who’d been unfortunate enough to open the mysterious box.
The four strangers yelled in surprise. They could only watch in horror as the spider latched itself onto the girl’s upper body. With its head raised in victory, the spider sunk needle-sharp fangs deep into her skin. The smooth, glimmering body concealed the girl’s entire chest as its segmented legs wrapped part way around her torso Flailing backwards and then sideways, the half elf tried to push the thick-bodied spider away as she screamed in utter pain. In seconds the venom was injected into her body and began its journey through her veins. The spider jumped sideways off of her torso and landed with a thud on the floor. The storeroom erupted in chaos.
Adam suspiciously regarded the players in the strange scene before him. Closest to him stood a tall, bald, African American man who appeared as if he could do some serious physical damage; and most likely military or ex-military, Adam surmised, taking in the man’s bearing. To Adam’s right, and nearly sitting on a narrow table, was a slender female elf with dark hair. There was a vague familiarity about her. Over near the far wall across from the door was a young woman with the most unusual colored hair. She was trembling slightly and not staring at Adam as the other two were. Adam followed her gaze to a box on the floor in front of the final person in the small room.
Rhianna sensed this stranger with the darkest blue eyes she’d ever seen wasn’t going to actually shoot them. She relaxed slightly. “We don’t know,” she answered his question, although he had never completed it. “But look there, a magic stamp of delivery. That’s the god Hermes, the messenger,” she added.
The elf pointed with a manicured finger to the ornate postage stamp—about the size of playing card—that was adhered to the lid of the round, cardboard box.
“A what?” Zane asked sharply before he realized he didn’t really want to know.
Danica gasped. “I’ve only ever seen one before in my life,” she whispered. “The package is instantly transported……but usually it goes to the front door or a mail slot.”
Indeed it had been delivered exactly as Danica explained. Except the UPS delivery person had noticed it sitting by the front door and had loaded the round, sealed box onto her cart as she brought the morning delivery just today. The half-elf hadn’t even noticed the strange package until she went to retrieve Danica’s special order. She’d made a terrible mistake in letting her curiosity get the better of her as she had reached for the package.
“No…..,” the half elf finally spoke, her voice quivering with fear. “No, it can’t be. I……I never even thought about…..oh why did I open it? Why?” Her face paled considerably more than it already was. The lavender-haired girl tried to back away but there wasn’t any place to go except against a large crate sitting on the floor. She glanced up at the strangers in front of her as if seeing them for the first time.
“Well, what’s that in there?” Adam asked, confused at just exactly what was going on.
Zane spoke up before anyone could say something to make this situation worse. By his tone of voice he warned he would accept no contradictions. “A giant, fake spider or something. Or a dead one as a sick joke. I don’t know…..but it’s nothing to get worked up about,” he tried to convince himself.
Adam stepped a few feet further into the room to peer closer into the box, keeping his finger resting slightly on the trigger of his gun.
“We just over-reacted when we first saw it.” Zane continued and nearly scowled at the two women who’d come into the room with him.
Without warning the glossy, black spider—about twelve inches long—rose up on thick, hairy legs and shook itself violently. The UPS delivery person had accidentally dropped the box and stunned the spider—otherwise, it would have attacked the moment the half elf opened the box. Everyone stumbled back as much as they could in astonishment and disbelief. As if on cue for a special effects stunt, the spider’s six eyes on top of its black head opened and began to glow a dull topaz color. Before anyone could react, it launched itself in a blur at the salesgirl who’d been unfortunate enough to open the mysterious box.
The four strangers yelled in surprise. They could only watch in horror as the spider latched itself onto the girl’s upper body. With its head raised in victory, the spider sunk needle-sharp fangs deep into her skin. The smooth, glimmering body concealed the girl’s entire chest as its segmented legs wrapped part way around her torso Flailing backwards and then sideways, the half elf tried to push the thick-bodied spider away as she screamed in utter pain. In seconds the venom was injected into her body and began its journey through her veins. The spider jumped sideways off of her torso and landed with a thud on the floor. The storeroom erupted in chaos.
-29-
Danica shrieked again and brought her hands up to her face, frozen, She could only stare at the convulsing half elf on the floor. The girl had knocked three boxes of candles over on herself and was half hidden from view. The venom was already starting to take effect.
“She’s been poisoned!” Adam yelled. “The damn spider bit her!”
He quickly aimed his gun at the venomous spider with threads of venom dripping from its fangs. It was crouched low to the ground searching for a way to escape, its only movement a slight vibration from the recent attack. Adam was planning on having it soon be splattered against the shelves.
“No!” Rhianna shouted. “You can’t shoot in here!”
“What? Why the hell not?” Adam didn’t take his eyes off the spider and started pulling the trigger back.
Zane grabbed Adam’s wrist. “She’s right, man. You don’t know what’s on the other side of the walls. Could be other stores. That piece looks like it’ll send a bullet right through the walls.”
Zane felt naked being unarmed, but he never carried his gun with him—not since he left the military. They would have to find another way to destroy the creature in the room.
“And it’s too enclosed in here,” Rhianna added, not wanting to get shot by a ricocheting bullet.
“God d*mn it!” Adam said through clenched teeth as he replaced his gun in the concealed holster. “Then what the hell are we supposed to do with it? Just let it walk out into the mall?”
Meanwhile, Danica had quickly come out of her shock and was attempting to pull the boxes off the girl without getting close to the seemingly frozen spider. Perhaps it was dead, she fervently hoped , as she managed to pull the girl closer to her by the feet. Danica felt someone begin to pull with her and glanced up quickly. The slender actress was pulling with a strength not apparent from her appearance. The girl’s ragged bite wound was dripping blood and a black gooey substance. The two women could only see the whites of her eyes, and foam was forming from between her slightly parted lips.
“I don’t know how long she has,” Danica said worriedly. “But I might be able help her.”
Just as the two women pulled the half elf away from the spider, it suddenly rose up on its long, bristle-covered legs and hissed at Zane and Adam. The men jerked backwards and tried to move. There was no place to go more than a few steps. Zane attempted to block the door should the giant spider attempt to escape. Adam reflexively pointed his gun again but there was no time to shoot. The spider, its sharp fangs dripping with red blood and black, sticky venom, jumped with a speed unknown to normal spiders toward the nearest man. Zane was strong and instinctively shot his fist out to hit the spider, but he wasn’t as swift as Adam.
The martial artist delivered a smacking blow to the spider so fast that Zane only saw a blur of Adam’s arm. The deadly spider was hurled against the shelves and slammed hard into one of the supports. It lay on its back, stunned and motionless. The back of Adam’s hand dripped blood where the barbed bristles on the spider’s legs had come in contact with it. Before anyone could stop the spider, the black creature dragged itself groggily away behind a group of heavy boxes on the bottom of a shelf.
“Now where did it go?” Zane said in horror.
The thought of that giant spider still alive meant the situation was no where near being under control.
“Over there…somewhere,” Adam pointed to the darkened shelves. At least they had a moment to figure out what to do. Leaving the room was not an option—the spider had to be killed first. “Watch for it, “ he warned. “It could be using the shelves to move around.”
The ex-Navy Seal and the shadow hunter stared hard into where the spider had fled, attempting to see if he’d moved.
“It’s a monstrous spider…sent to kill, apparently the half elf,” came a voice behind them.
Both men turned their heads slightly to stare at Danica. She was now holding the sun medallion which she wore around her neck: it was also her holy symbol. “I remember reading about them at work. Of course, this is just a small one.”
“Where you work?” Zane echoed. “I really don’t want to know where you work if you can find out about giant, venomous spiders and magical stamps,” he declared.
All Zane was interested in was killing the deadly spider and forgetting about this whole incident. And that’s just what the ex-soldier intended to do.
“Shhhhh, I have to concentrate, otherwise I can’t work the spell,” Danica whispered.
She began to breath deeply, trying to focus and draw on the higher power of the universe in order to link into the magical source and belief she had deep within her own being. This unshakeable belief in her abilities, unlocked through meditating to the higher power of the universe, allowed her to cast divine spells. Danica focused on tuning out what was going on around her—she had to concentrate even if there was a deadly spider loose in the store room. The acolyte had to prepare spells ahead of time through her morning meditation, but in special circumstances she could cast a spontaneous curing spell so long as she’d meditated at some point beforehand.
“Is she for real?” Adam whispered to the elf as they watched Danica place her free hand on the half elf’s chest and being to speak in what sounded like a foreign language.
Although she rarely did spells in front of others, Danica recited her spells in Draconic in case a mundane ever overheard what she was saying.
“I think she’s an acolyte,” Rhianna answered, glancing up from where she was kneeling on the floor, to look at the brown haired, blue eyed man.
Zane was trying not to listen. Instead, he was attempting to track the large spider without physically moving. Suddenly Rhianna shot up and pointed above the men’s heads. Her eyes opened wide.
“Look! There!” She backed into the shelves and knocked over a box of ornamental but still sharp knives.
Danica was deep in her trance with her eyes closed and didn’t notice as one struck her arm, ornate handle first. Rhianna bent down quickly and grabbed the knife from the floor. She took aim carefully, narrowing her eyes.
Both men wrenched their heads up and swallowed hard. Clinging to the ceiling above them was a black mouth with needles for fangs and six glowing, topaz eyes. Shadow creature eyes with hatred and murder in them. This hunting spider was out to kill. Just as the spider was about to leap onto Zane, a knife came whizzing across the small room and lodged itself into the ceiling. Three of the spider’s jointed legs dropped from its fuzzy body. The creature toppled unevenly to the ground with a dull thud. It tried in vain to bite Adam’s leg, but Zane delivered a powerful kick and sent the spider spinning across the floor. His ankle came in contact with a the barbed bristles, but Zane didn’t feel the gash or the blood begin to seep through his sock.
Inhaling deeply and letting out a low growl of anger, Zane hefted a large, heavy crate in his arms. He carried it over and stood above the spider. His muscles bulging with the extreme effort, Zane aimed and let drop the wooden crate. Something inside rang with a heavy metallic sound as the crate landed directly on the creature. The spider died with a sickening squishing sound. Black goo oozed out from underneath the crate and began to spread, while two of the black spider’s segmented legs stuck out, twitching reflexively until the spider died for good.
“Get back,” Zane nudged Adam out of the way with his shoulder as the goo formed a puddle near their feet and then stopped moving.
A heavy silence ran through the air of the store room. Danica had succeeded in her spell, but the poison would only be delayed for an hour. Any damage done before the spell took effect wouldn’t be reversed. Danica only hoped the poison wasn’t fast acting. The four strangers remained silent. They stared back and forth at each other in amazement. Danica broke the link by looking down at the half elf and stroking her short, lavender hair.
“Oh!” Rhianna suddenly exclaimed.
The others paid scant attention at first as the elf darted out of the store room and into the main part of the dimly lit shop. But she returned instantly to explain.
“I thought maybe we’d drawn attention, but the store’s locked up tight,” she announced, curious at to why but having no answers. “And the lights are mostly out as if the shop is closed.”
As Zane was moving to check this information for himself, the lights flickered back on, the doors unlocked and swung wide open. He and Rhianna could see two mall security guards approaching self-importantly. The two ducked back into the storage room. With merchandise knocked over, a knife stuck in the ceiling, three huge spider legs laying on the floor, an unconscious girl with a large bite in her neck, two eight inch spider legs sticking out from under a crate, and black goo on the floor, the situation appeared about as far from normal as it could get.
“Here comes security,” Zane reported, wondering how all of this could be explained. He was focusing intently on bringing back down his mental curtain against Shadow, so he didn’t even have to try to explain to himself.
“We’ll tell them--,” Adam began, almost gleefully. His adrenaline was racing. A strange tingling sensation of excitement at having helped protect and save these people was coursing through his body.
“No, I’ll take care of this. Just let me do the talking,” Rhianna insisted, smiling almost mischievously at the other three who’s names she still didn’t even know yet.
Two mall security guards, dressed in crisp white shirts, blue pants and shoes with their walkie talkies clipped to their chests near their shoulders, entered the back room with authority.
“What’s going on in here?” one asked harshly, his hand on his gun.
One of them had noticed the shop was closed up tight and the lights turned nearly off. Suddenly the doors had opened on their own and the lights had switched on again. This particular guard was more in tune with Shadow than he realized; although, what he saw mostly confused him. He often wondered there was something wrong with him. His partner, the one doing the talking, had no clue what was going on in regards to Shadow.
Rhianna moved in front of them to conceal what she could of the room. Zane and Adam both moved up behind her after realizing her intentions. She gently touched the guards' arms with feather light touches. They both visibly relaxed and turned their attention to the beautiful, petite woman in front of them.
“This young woman here,” she gestured to the half elf on the floor, “had an unfortunate accident. We just happened to be in the store and heard her fall.”
Both security guards glanced over at the salesgirl on the floor. Danica was still kneeling next to her. It was obvious that the girl had a large bite on her neck and the blood, although no longer flowing, was readily apparent. Both men looked for a moment, blinked, then nodded agreeably. If the beautiful woman said it had been a fall, then the girl had most certainly fallen.
“Now, if you two would help us out by calling 911, we can get her to the hospital,” Rhianna suggested encouragingly. For some reason men responded to Rhianna’s charms but women were harder to convince.
“Right. I’ll call emergency. You stay here,” one said to his partner.
“Oh, well, you both should go. They might need help finding the store or carrying in their gear,” the elf suggested, smiling.
“You know,” the guard who had planned on staying said to his partner,” I should probably go with you. But all of you stay here, understand?” he turned to the four people in the room. “We’ll have questions and reports to fill out.”
The snakeblooded human, the elf, the shadowkind human, and the dragonblooded human all nodded agreeably to this command. The two security guards walked out to call and wait for emergency help.
“She’s been poisoned!” Adam yelled. “The damn spider bit her!”
He quickly aimed his gun at the venomous spider with threads of venom dripping from its fangs. It was crouched low to the ground searching for a way to escape, its only movement a slight vibration from the recent attack. Adam was planning on having it soon be splattered against the shelves.
“No!” Rhianna shouted. “You can’t shoot in here!”
“What? Why the hell not?” Adam didn’t take his eyes off the spider and started pulling the trigger back.
Zane grabbed Adam’s wrist. “She’s right, man. You don’t know what’s on the other side of the walls. Could be other stores. That piece looks like it’ll send a bullet right through the walls.”
Zane felt naked being unarmed, but he never carried his gun with him—not since he left the military. They would have to find another way to destroy the creature in the room.
“And it’s too enclosed in here,” Rhianna added, not wanting to get shot by a ricocheting bullet.
“God d*mn it!” Adam said through clenched teeth as he replaced his gun in the concealed holster. “Then what the hell are we supposed to do with it? Just let it walk out into the mall?”
Meanwhile, Danica had quickly come out of her shock and was attempting to pull the boxes off the girl without getting close to the seemingly frozen spider. Perhaps it was dead, she fervently hoped , as she managed to pull the girl closer to her by the feet. Danica felt someone begin to pull with her and glanced up quickly. The slender actress was pulling with a strength not apparent from her appearance. The girl’s ragged bite wound was dripping blood and a black gooey substance. The two women could only see the whites of her eyes, and foam was forming from between her slightly parted lips.
“I don’t know how long she has,” Danica said worriedly. “But I might be able help her.”
Just as the two women pulled the half elf away from the spider, it suddenly rose up on its long, bristle-covered legs and hissed at Zane and Adam. The men jerked backwards and tried to move. There was no place to go more than a few steps. Zane attempted to block the door should the giant spider attempt to escape. Adam reflexively pointed his gun again but there was no time to shoot. The spider, its sharp fangs dripping with red blood and black, sticky venom, jumped with a speed unknown to normal spiders toward the nearest man. Zane was strong and instinctively shot his fist out to hit the spider, but he wasn’t as swift as Adam.
The martial artist delivered a smacking blow to the spider so fast that Zane only saw a blur of Adam’s arm. The deadly spider was hurled against the shelves and slammed hard into one of the supports. It lay on its back, stunned and motionless. The back of Adam’s hand dripped blood where the barbed bristles on the spider’s legs had come in contact with it. Before anyone could stop the spider, the black creature dragged itself groggily away behind a group of heavy boxes on the bottom of a shelf.
“Now where did it go?” Zane said in horror.
The thought of that giant spider still alive meant the situation was no where near being under control.
“Over there…somewhere,” Adam pointed to the darkened shelves. At least they had a moment to figure out what to do. Leaving the room was not an option—the spider had to be killed first. “Watch for it, “ he warned. “It could be using the shelves to move around.”
The ex-Navy Seal and the shadow hunter stared hard into where the spider had fled, attempting to see if he’d moved.
“It’s a monstrous spider…sent to kill, apparently the half elf,” came a voice behind them.
Both men turned their heads slightly to stare at Danica. She was now holding the sun medallion which she wore around her neck: it was also her holy symbol. “I remember reading about them at work. Of course, this is just a small one.”
“Where you work?” Zane echoed. “I really don’t want to know where you work if you can find out about giant, venomous spiders and magical stamps,” he declared.
All Zane was interested in was killing the deadly spider and forgetting about this whole incident. And that’s just what the ex-soldier intended to do.
“Shhhhh, I have to concentrate, otherwise I can’t work the spell,” Danica whispered.
She began to breath deeply, trying to focus and draw on the higher power of the universe in order to link into the magical source and belief she had deep within her own being. This unshakeable belief in her abilities, unlocked through meditating to the higher power of the universe, allowed her to cast divine spells. Danica focused on tuning out what was going on around her—she had to concentrate even if there was a deadly spider loose in the store room. The acolyte had to prepare spells ahead of time through her morning meditation, but in special circumstances she could cast a spontaneous curing spell so long as she’d meditated at some point beforehand.
“Is she for real?” Adam whispered to the elf as they watched Danica place her free hand on the half elf’s chest and being to speak in what sounded like a foreign language.
Although she rarely did spells in front of others, Danica recited her spells in Draconic in case a mundane ever overheard what she was saying.
“I think she’s an acolyte,” Rhianna answered, glancing up from where she was kneeling on the floor, to look at the brown haired, blue eyed man.
Zane was trying not to listen. Instead, he was attempting to track the large spider without physically moving. Suddenly Rhianna shot up and pointed above the men’s heads. Her eyes opened wide.
“Look! There!” She backed into the shelves and knocked over a box of ornamental but still sharp knives.
Danica was deep in her trance with her eyes closed and didn’t notice as one struck her arm, ornate handle first. Rhianna bent down quickly and grabbed the knife from the floor. She took aim carefully, narrowing her eyes.
Both men wrenched their heads up and swallowed hard. Clinging to the ceiling above them was a black mouth with needles for fangs and six glowing, topaz eyes. Shadow creature eyes with hatred and murder in them. This hunting spider was out to kill. Just as the spider was about to leap onto Zane, a knife came whizzing across the small room and lodged itself into the ceiling. Three of the spider’s jointed legs dropped from its fuzzy body. The creature toppled unevenly to the ground with a dull thud. It tried in vain to bite Adam’s leg, but Zane delivered a powerful kick and sent the spider spinning across the floor. His ankle came in contact with a the barbed bristles, but Zane didn’t feel the gash or the blood begin to seep through his sock.
Inhaling deeply and letting out a low growl of anger, Zane hefted a large, heavy crate in his arms. He carried it over and stood above the spider. His muscles bulging with the extreme effort, Zane aimed and let drop the wooden crate. Something inside rang with a heavy metallic sound as the crate landed directly on the creature. The spider died with a sickening squishing sound. Black goo oozed out from underneath the crate and began to spread, while two of the black spider’s segmented legs stuck out, twitching reflexively until the spider died for good.
“Get back,” Zane nudged Adam out of the way with his shoulder as the goo formed a puddle near their feet and then stopped moving.
A heavy silence ran through the air of the store room. Danica had succeeded in her spell, but the poison would only be delayed for an hour. Any damage done before the spell took effect wouldn’t be reversed. Danica only hoped the poison wasn’t fast acting. The four strangers remained silent. They stared back and forth at each other in amazement. Danica broke the link by looking down at the half elf and stroking her short, lavender hair.
“Oh!” Rhianna suddenly exclaimed.
The others paid scant attention at first as the elf darted out of the store room and into the main part of the dimly lit shop. But she returned instantly to explain.
“I thought maybe we’d drawn attention, but the store’s locked up tight,” she announced, curious at to why but having no answers. “And the lights are mostly out as if the shop is closed.”
As Zane was moving to check this information for himself, the lights flickered back on, the doors unlocked and swung wide open. He and Rhianna could see two mall security guards approaching self-importantly. The two ducked back into the storage room. With merchandise knocked over, a knife stuck in the ceiling, three huge spider legs laying on the floor, an unconscious girl with a large bite in her neck, two eight inch spider legs sticking out from under a crate, and black goo on the floor, the situation appeared about as far from normal as it could get.
“Here comes security,” Zane reported, wondering how all of this could be explained. He was focusing intently on bringing back down his mental curtain against Shadow, so he didn’t even have to try to explain to himself.
“We’ll tell them--,” Adam began, almost gleefully. His adrenaline was racing. A strange tingling sensation of excitement at having helped protect and save these people was coursing through his body.
“No, I’ll take care of this. Just let me do the talking,” Rhianna insisted, smiling almost mischievously at the other three who’s names she still didn’t even know yet.
Two mall security guards, dressed in crisp white shirts, blue pants and shoes with their walkie talkies clipped to their chests near their shoulders, entered the back room with authority.
“What’s going on in here?” one asked harshly, his hand on his gun.
One of them had noticed the shop was closed up tight and the lights turned nearly off. Suddenly the doors had opened on their own and the lights had switched on again. This particular guard was more in tune with Shadow than he realized; although, what he saw mostly confused him. He often wondered there was something wrong with him. His partner, the one doing the talking, had no clue what was going on in regards to Shadow.
Rhianna moved in front of them to conceal what she could of the room. Zane and Adam both moved up behind her after realizing her intentions. She gently touched the guards' arms with feather light touches. They both visibly relaxed and turned their attention to the beautiful, petite woman in front of them.
“This young woman here,” she gestured to the half elf on the floor, “had an unfortunate accident. We just happened to be in the store and heard her fall.”
Both security guards glanced over at the salesgirl on the floor. Danica was still kneeling next to her. It was obvious that the girl had a large bite on her neck and the blood, although no longer flowing, was readily apparent. Both men looked for a moment, blinked, then nodded agreeably. If the beautiful woman said it had been a fall, then the girl had most certainly fallen.
“Now, if you two would help us out by calling 911, we can get her to the hospital,” Rhianna suggested encouragingly. For some reason men responded to Rhianna’s charms but women were harder to convince.
“Right. I’ll call emergency. You stay here,” one said to his partner.
“Oh, well, you both should go. They might need help finding the store or carrying in their gear,” the elf suggested, smiling.
“You know,” the guard who had planned on staying said to his partner,” I should probably go with you. But all of you stay here, understand?” he turned to the four people in the room. “We’ll have questions and reports to fill out.”
The snakeblooded human, the elf, the shadowkind human, and the dragonblooded human all nodded agreeably to this command. The two security guards walked out to call and wait for emergency help.
-30-
“Now what?” Adam said from across the small room, his hands full of Band Aids, antiseptic wipes, and a few paper towels. Once he saw the elf could handle the guards, he’d moved off to search out a first aid kit. His hand was still bleeding as was the bald man’s ankle, from what Adam could see. Plus the girl should have her wound bandaged. Adam intended on doing this while security called for help.
Before anyone could answer, a door that led to the service corridor was yanked open. Three male half elves came rushing into the storage room, frantic expressions on their slightly triangular faces. The four rescuers in the room stared in the direction of the service door, intrigued and amazed that the strangeness of this day didn’t seem to want to end. The three half elves’ expressions turn to horror as they took in the scene in the storage room without speaking. The half elves' looked from the unconscious girl on floor with the bite on her neck, to the empty box with the magical delivery stamp, and finally to the spider legs sticking out from under the crate.
“Hey!” Zane called out, shattering the silence, and pointed to the spider’s legs that had been cut off by Rhianna’s knife throw and dropped to the floor.
Rhianna, Zane, and Danica watched in amazement as the spindly, bent legs began to waver in their solidity. They slowly began to diminish in visibility, as if made of a clear substance. The legs slowly began to disappear right before their eyes. Rhianna noticed that the legs sticking out from under the crate were also disappearing and pointed in surprise. Adam had seen this strange event several times before during his hunting ventures.
“Yes, Shadow creatures are reclaimed by Shadow,” the blond half elf remarked matter-of-factly as the other two rushed over to the girl.
The tallest one easily picked her up from where she lay. His long, dark hair was held back in a ponytail. The shorter one, about 5’4”, checked her pulse. They rushed toward the service corridor door.
As Adam put his hand out to help Danica stand and steady her while the feeling came back into her legs, the blond half elf motioned the four to follow the other two who were quickly disappearing. Without thinking further, the women gathered their purses, and with the two men exited out the service door.
“Shar eirdyr o ?” Rhianna asked quietly as she passed the blond half elf who didn’t seem to be moving.
Danica paused with the dark-haired elf.
He bowed slightly out of respect at the elf asking what about him. He shook his head and smiled grimly. “Damage control,” he remarked as he gestured around the store room. “I can hear the emergency team coming now. You’d best hurry.”
He ushered Rhianna and Danica out the door behind the others and shut it firmly. The dragonblooded human shivered in the corridor, although none of the others seemed to notice the cold.
With the four strangers walking quickly behind them, the two half elves hurried down the empty service corridor. All their footsteps echoed loudly on the hard floor. Adam was certain they would be heard all through out the mall as the group passed the doors leading back into the mall itself.
The four wondered where they were headed, and, more importantly, did they really want to be going “there.”
“We are in your debt,” said the shorter half elf as he finally spoke to the four people following behind. “We had information that a monstrous spider was being sent to kill Neda. You saved her life, and now we'll get her quickly home to cure her. You won’t understand, and I won’t explain, but she’s very important to our people. We were hiding her away.”
“Well, I must say you didn’t do a very good job,” Zane interjected, becoming annoyed with this whole situation now. He was ready to just leave. “She was rather out in the open there in the shop.”
Danica stared at him be quiet and not be rude, but Zane just scowled and ignored the girl with the claws.
The half elf looked rather dejected. “You’re right….that was our mistake. We never thought they’d look for her out here. We’ll take better care in the future. And thanks to you,” the half elf stopped quickly in front of a set of EXIT doors leading back into the main mall while his friend continued on with Neda, “there will be a future.”
He reached into his pants pocket and took out four business cards which he handed to Rhianna, Zane, Adam, and Danica. “I don’t know who you all are, but you could be of invaluable help to……well, you have talents it seems or else Neda would be dead, and all of you as well. Take these. If you’re willing to meet at this address this evening…say about 7:00, you can have any questions you might have answered. If you sign on, you could be of even more assistance than today. Not just to us, but everyone.”
With this mysterious statement, the half elf turned and ran down the corridor after his partner and the unconscious girl. Adam wanted to follow and investigate further, and Rhianna was curious herself. But Zane already had his hand on the door. His military training was warning him this was no place to be trapped. He pushed the door open in a hurry, and they all piled out into the mall near some potted plants, standing a bit uncertain near the wall. So far, no one had said a word, although Adam looked as though he was eager to talk.
The private investigator absently handed Zane half the paper towels, antiseptic wipes, and Band Aids he held in his hand. Both men were still bleeding somewhat, leaving drops of blood along the way; although, neither one felt any pain at the moment. After taking the medical supplies, Zane just shook his head as if to dispel all that had occurred between the time he walked into the New Age store and this moment. He turned abruptly, without saying a word, and walked with long strides away from the group. The other three watched his broad back, held straight and strong, grow smaller as Zane moved further away from them. Soon he had turned a corner and disappeared.
Danica, Adam, and Rhianna all looked at each other, wondering who would be the first to speak. Seconds later Rhianna just shrugged—she was curious, but given who she was in life, she wasn’t sure she should, or could, get involved. Giving a small wave, the elf, with light steps, turned and left. Finally, Adam opened his mouth to say something, but Danica shook her head. She had decided she wanted to keep her normal life. Before long, Adam was alone, watching the young woman—she definitely had Shadow blood in her, they all had, Adam had observed—leave as well.
People were starting to stare at Adam as they made their way along the mall’s walkway. He soon noticed their stares and glanced down to see spots of crimson on the floor. He shoved Band Aids and wipes in his pockets, then covered his hand with a paper towel to staunch the trickling blood. Turning quickly, the Shadowkind human made his way outside.
It was now 4:00 PM on Friday. In the city of Crownpointe, four lives had been forever changed. It was only a matter of time before this knowledge became inevitable.
Before anyone could answer, a door that led to the service corridor was yanked open. Three male half elves came rushing into the storage room, frantic expressions on their slightly triangular faces. The four rescuers in the room stared in the direction of the service door, intrigued and amazed that the strangeness of this day didn’t seem to want to end. The three half elves’ expressions turn to horror as they took in the scene in the storage room without speaking. The half elves' looked from the unconscious girl on floor with the bite on her neck, to the empty box with the magical delivery stamp, and finally to the spider legs sticking out from under the crate.
“Hey!” Zane called out, shattering the silence, and pointed to the spider’s legs that had been cut off by Rhianna’s knife throw and dropped to the floor.
Rhianna, Zane, and Danica watched in amazement as the spindly, bent legs began to waver in their solidity. They slowly began to diminish in visibility, as if made of a clear substance. The legs slowly began to disappear right before their eyes. Rhianna noticed that the legs sticking out from under the crate were also disappearing and pointed in surprise. Adam had seen this strange event several times before during his hunting ventures.
“Yes, Shadow creatures are reclaimed by Shadow,” the blond half elf remarked matter-of-factly as the other two rushed over to the girl.
The tallest one easily picked her up from where she lay. His long, dark hair was held back in a ponytail. The shorter one, about 5’4”, checked her pulse. They rushed toward the service corridor door.
As Adam put his hand out to help Danica stand and steady her while the feeling came back into her legs, the blond half elf motioned the four to follow the other two who were quickly disappearing. Without thinking further, the women gathered their purses, and with the two men exited out the service door.
“Shar eirdyr o ?” Rhianna asked quietly as she passed the blond half elf who didn’t seem to be moving.
Danica paused with the dark-haired elf.
He bowed slightly out of respect at the elf asking what about him. He shook his head and smiled grimly. “Damage control,” he remarked as he gestured around the store room. “I can hear the emergency team coming now. You’d best hurry.”
He ushered Rhianna and Danica out the door behind the others and shut it firmly. The dragonblooded human shivered in the corridor, although none of the others seemed to notice the cold.
With the four strangers walking quickly behind them, the two half elves hurried down the empty service corridor. All their footsteps echoed loudly on the hard floor. Adam was certain they would be heard all through out the mall as the group passed the doors leading back into the mall itself.
The four wondered where they were headed, and, more importantly, did they really want to be going “there.”
“We are in your debt,” said the shorter half elf as he finally spoke to the four people following behind. “We had information that a monstrous spider was being sent to kill Neda. You saved her life, and now we'll get her quickly home to cure her. You won’t understand, and I won’t explain, but she’s very important to our people. We were hiding her away.”
“Well, I must say you didn’t do a very good job,” Zane interjected, becoming annoyed with this whole situation now. He was ready to just leave. “She was rather out in the open there in the shop.”
Danica stared at him be quiet and not be rude, but Zane just scowled and ignored the girl with the claws.
The half elf looked rather dejected. “You’re right….that was our mistake. We never thought they’d look for her out here. We’ll take better care in the future. And thanks to you,” the half elf stopped quickly in front of a set of EXIT doors leading back into the main mall while his friend continued on with Neda, “there will be a future.”
He reached into his pants pocket and took out four business cards which he handed to Rhianna, Zane, Adam, and Danica. “I don’t know who you all are, but you could be of invaluable help to……well, you have talents it seems or else Neda would be dead, and all of you as well. Take these. If you’re willing to meet at this address this evening…say about 7:00, you can have any questions you might have answered. If you sign on, you could be of even more assistance than today. Not just to us, but everyone.”
With this mysterious statement, the half elf turned and ran down the corridor after his partner and the unconscious girl. Adam wanted to follow and investigate further, and Rhianna was curious herself. But Zane already had his hand on the door. His military training was warning him this was no place to be trapped. He pushed the door open in a hurry, and they all piled out into the mall near some potted plants, standing a bit uncertain near the wall. So far, no one had said a word, although Adam looked as though he was eager to talk.
The private investigator absently handed Zane half the paper towels, antiseptic wipes, and Band Aids he held in his hand. Both men were still bleeding somewhat, leaving drops of blood along the way; although, neither one felt any pain at the moment. After taking the medical supplies, Zane just shook his head as if to dispel all that had occurred between the time he walked into the New Age store and this moment. He turned abruptly, without saying a word, and walked with long strides away from the group. The other three watched his broad back, held straight and strong, grow smaller as Zane moved further away from them. Soon he had turned a corner and disappeared.
Danica, Adam, and Rhianna all looked at each other, wondering who would be the first to speak. Seconds later Rhianna just shrugged—she was curious, but given who she was in life, she wasn’t sure she should, or could, get involved. Giving a small wave, the elf, with light steps, turned and left. Finally, Adam opened his mouth to say something, but Danica shook her head. She had decided she wanted to keep her normal life. Before long, Adam was alone, watching the young woman—she definitely had Shadow blood in her, they all had, Adam had observed—leave as well.
People were starting to stare at Adam as they made their way along the mall’s walkway. He soon noticed their stares and glanced down to see spots of crimson on the floor. He shoved Band Aids and wipes in his pockets, then covered his hand with a paper towel to staunch the trickling blood. Turning quickly, the Shadowkind human made his way outside.
It was now 4:00 PM on Friday. In the city of Crownpointe, four lives had been forever changed. It was only a matter of time before this knowledge became inevitable.