World of Zaylyn: Book #3: Awakening of the Dragon King, Baracken

By Katrina Mandrake-Johnston

The Killnarin, summoned into Zaylyn, were sent back by the slaying of Dranngore with The Sword of Anthrowst, but not before they killed the members of the wizard’s guild. The destruction of the dragon’s crystal, that the guild had been using to absorb the magic and life-force of others for themselves, also released the dragon, Baracken, who had been subdued and imprisoned.
Unopposed by his brother, the dragon king, still deep in a magical slumber, his plan is to recruit an army of followers and reclaim lands deemed as belonging to dragon-kind, regardless of being inhabited by humanoid races. Due to imprisonment, Baracken is unaware of the Dragonites, human-dragons, existing for several generations now. Once discovered, this will infuriate him to no end.
Nodwel, the dwarf, is more concerned with protecting those against the werewolf.
The thieves’ guild’s attention is drawn, due to having two half-Dragonite members and fearing Candra’s continued involvement with The Black Shadow.
The all powerful demonic vampire-like being, The Black Shadow, with his growing involvement with the group, the people of Zaylyn, and recent events, many begin to fear that this new threat of the dragon is the least of their worries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Jun 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781490794945

Katrina Mandrake-Johnston

Writing stories as young as seven, I've always been a big fan of fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, and horror, enjoying movies, comics, books, and video games with good story backgrounds. Writing has always been my passion.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

THE MONSTER HUNTERS

Why’d the boatman insist we wait ’till dark before he rowed us in from the ship to shore? Their captain… odd how much respect a mere woman received from her crew. I got the strangest feeling that they were afraid, well, nervous at least in their dealings with her. Also, a pretty hardened bunch, don’t you think? A simple merchant ship, I think not, more like ruthless pirates, commented the man.

Not important. Whether they bought our story or not, his mustached companion added, they still ferried us across to Dee’ellkka Valley all the same. Most wouldn’t have, not for the amount of gold we had to offer up for the trip.

Yes, I agree, I’m just saying it was a little strange. That sinister little smirk of hers as we neared the bay? I tell you, something wasn’t right about her and that ship, then combing his bony fingers through his short dark hair, the wiry man asked, Bernt, you sure this is the right place?

It better be, Kren, answered his portly companion with irritation, After all we’ve gone through to follow up on this lead.

So the town, Shirkint, it’s not far? said Kren as he rummaged through his pack by the side of the road.

Apparently, he grumbled, Just hurry up with that damn lantern, would ya?

Got it. A match from the tinderbox burst into flame and then, once lit, the comforting glow of the lantern began to light their surroundings.

As Kren held the lantern high, the light fell over his partner and the familiar bushy black caterpillar of a mustache upon his plump face. His dark beady eyes glared at him impatiently.

Let’s move, Bernt barked, We’ve got some ground to cover yet.

The two men once again started their trek along the dirt road from the water’s edge towards the town. Eerie, commented Kren as he shone the light about.

What is? muttered Bernt, kicking a medium-sized stone to the side of the road where it grazed the trunk of a tree. It was mostly oak and birch in the area, and being late autumn, their leaves littered their path in places.

It’s night, granted. Stars and the moon are bright tonight. The dark, it’s… I don’t know, unnatural, he tried to explain, It’s silly, but it almost feels as if we’re being watched. You don’t think that…

You moron, Bernt snapped at him, Impossible. Superstitious non-sense, the lot of it.

Yeah, maybe, Kren commented nervously, Still, I’d feel a little better once we get to this town.

Quit yer belly-aching, would ya? We’re here to do a job. You gonna back out now, he laughed coldly, Afraid of the dark?

I know how to get it done, Kren assured him, I’m not backing down, not for that kind of money. You think he’s good for it though, truly?

Has been in the past, reminded Bernt.

Yes, you’ve dealt with him before. I keep forgetting that, he paused in thought a moment before adding, But just how certain is he that these creatures even exist? We could well be chasing some storybook fantasy of his. What if this woman can really turn into some horrid serpent creature. And what of venom? We weren’t told if there were a risk of that as well in this. Seriously, are we even really and truly prepared if these things are real?

I am, Bernt replied bluntly, aren’t you?

Well, yes, I suppose so. I mean this is the sort of thing I do, for the right bounty that is. They appear human though, isn’t that right? he asked him shining the lantern towards him.

Yes, don’t tell me that has you all bothered now, does it? said his companion.

No, of course not. But I’m not a mercenary, mind you. It’s not just about the money, you know. I have no qualms about dispatching these foul unnatural beasts, but how do we know for certain if someone actually is one of these creatures, I mean if they don’t transform that is, and well I don’t feel right ’bout torturing to provoke a transformation. I wouldn’t feel right if we got it wrong.

Bernt sighed. Pathetic. I don’t know why I bring you. These serpent-shapeshifters, they are without navels, if you must know. You really gonna get that close enough to check? Lift up their shirt a bit, are you? You make a stupid move like that; making it obvious that we’re hunting them, by seeing what we’re looking for? You’ll be killed before you have a chance to check, you idiot. There are humans that believe these beasts have the right to walk among us, you know. How’s that gonna weigh on your conscience if one of them steps in to protect them from being eradicated like the vermin they are, eh? Those fools that think we should submit and invite goblins and Garcs, to rape our women, invade our communities, and defile our way of life? Are we supposed to bow down to accommodate elves and centaurs and the like into our society, taking our jobs, taking our homes, flirting with our women, their young corrupting our own children into thinking our races are on equal terms? It’s us humans that suffer for it. Their races are always looking for handouts, but when it comes to them returning the favor, then we are nothing to them. Yeah, I don’t like this idea of such a deadly creature being able to hide, pretend it’s one of us, right in plain sight. Kill first and ask questions later, else you’ll be the one that’s dead. Then, my noble friend, then you can check to see if the belly is smooth or whether we’ve just merely rid the world of a traitor to the human race. That’s what they are, don’t you dare compromise our mission because of someone getting in the way like that.

Kren’s wiry face contorted slightly and he finally said, You’re right. You can count on me to do what needs to be done. Any human minds that have been corrupted is, in turn, the doing of these foul beasts and therefore at fault for this as well.

Exactly, replied Bernt, calmer now.

But why do they not have navels? Kren asked out of a nagging curiosity.

Don’t know. The young are hatched from eggs. I suppose that’s why, he told him.

Alright, he said, cleared his throat, and added, Why is it that you were provided with all this information about our intended target and yet I was told near nothing at all?

Apparently, you have a loose tongue, he said, glaring out at him from beneath two black eyebrows that were only half as bushy as his mustache.

Oh, well…, he trailed off, Let’s not be reminded of that, now shall we?

Bernt chuckled coldly and said, Yeah, okay, whatever you say.

What is with this damn darkness? I’ve never seen anything like this. I’ve had better sight stuck in thick fog compared to this. I swear, it’s this cursed valley. We were warned about this place, he said looking nervously about, glad to see the trees thin out giving way to more grassy terrain, at least from what he could see by the light of the lantern.

Bernt snapped, You and your non-sense. There’s nothing to fear here. It’s a haven for half-breed mongrels mostly is what it is. Just remember to stay focused on our task, no matter what kind of mixed abomination shows itself upon the streets of this town we’re going to.

Noted, he agreed, but, ah, what about, the ah, stories, you know, about The Black Shadow.

Non-sense, his friend answered firmly, There is no way. Something that dark and evil as they say, with the immense power this creature is supposed to hold; it’s just not possible. The entire world would be in ruins, with death and torment everywhere, a playground for demons. If there is a creature somewhat similar to what these stories and rumours are based upon, well then they are greatly exaggerated, and you know well that we have both dealt with those kinds of situations. Remember the Beast of Bak’knat?

A grin spread across Kren’s thin lips as he remembered. Okay, yes, you’re right. The terrifying Beast of Bak’knat, with fire breath, claws the size of daggers, poison-tipped tail, and a howl that could shatter bones. Poor beast ended up being a deformed two headed deer. Remember, thing could barely breathe and then seeing it try to drink from the river? We did it a favor by putting it out of its misery and the townsfolk paid us for destroying a monster. It was a creature of gossip and nothing more. You truly think that’s what this Black Shadow is?

Bernt shrugged, saying, Sure, why not? Silly superstitions is all. We’re getting paid to check up on a different matter, and whether this serpent-shapeshifter is a fact or not is besides the point. Our employer is paying us to investigate and kill the woman.

You were told a lot it seems, about what she is. Didn’t tell me much in that aspect, nor of who she is, Kren commented, He say much to you?

Bernt shook his head.

What was the name he gave us? Sinva? Kren asked wanting to go over the details once more before they arrived, Crossed him somehow? Didn’t say how, did he? Probably stole something or insulted him somehow, but as if that really matters, after finding out that she is also this horrible monster.

Yeah, that’s right. Is that a wall up ahead? Looks like we’re about to arrive at the lovely town of Shirkint, Bernt stated wearily, peering into the night beyond the light of the lantern, This is where she’s supposed to live, disguised in humanoid form. There’s a wall that runs all the way around the town, however the front gate is wide open, actually no gate, just a parting in the wall, or at least that’s what I’ve been told. I guess we’ll see soon enough.

Kren commented, I could use a drink, maybe something to eat.

When the two men entered the town, all was quiet and the streets were bare. The only other light that they could see was a dim glow from a lantern hanging on a wooden post outside a small stable. It was a little way north along the street in front of them. To the left of them was a little shop and to the right was another street that ran the length of the outer wall to the east past what looked to be more shops. Their windows were dark, obviously closed and locked up for the night. On the corner of these two streets, before the two men, was The Old Scabbard Inn. Its worn and faded sign swung gently over the thick and heavy wooden door before them. The large mottled window was covered in grime and barely any light could be seen through it.

Where is everyone? Kren asked nervously, I’m not liking this.

It’s a small town, not like what we’re used to. Most everyone has gone home for the night; nothing to be worried about. Come on, we’ll stop here at the inn for a bit, he instructed.

The short, bald, and pudgy bartender, behind the counter in the right corner of the room, nodded at them as they entered. His ugly face wore an unwelcoming grimace as he looked them over for a moment. The two men sat at the far end of the larger table by the window near the door.

The room was dimly lit by a few lanterns hung from hooks on the walls and bare candles in holders placed about the tables and the bartender’s area. Several tables lined the left wall. There were benches built against the wall and rickety looking chairs on the opposite side of the tables. At the back of the room, an archway led to a staircase to the upper floor and the guest rooms.

Think they have a room available? Kren asked his friend.

It’s late, but most likely they don’t get a lot of travelers, being a small town. Perhaps they do, I don’t know. However, not such a good idea at the moment. I’d like to check the area a bit before we make any commitments for the night, replied Bernt.

Can you believe this? Kren whispered, speaking about the other patrons seated at the tables, What exactly is that? That’s not what we’re looking for, is it? Looks half dragon or something.

He looked over to the strange humanoid dressed in brown suede seated at a table opposite a human woman in a faded yellow dress and with a fuzzy white shawl about her shoulders. As the legend goes, replied Bernt quietly, a dragon was supposed to have tricked a human into mating with her in some demonic spell that created these foul beasts. Dragonites they’re called or some just call them simply human-dragons.

Kren’s eyes narrowed and, with disgust, he said, Look at the way she’s smiling at that monster, dressed up like she is. Some twisted courtship between them, is that what I’m supposed to believe? They just let these things stroll in here, sit and be served as if they were some sort of person?

Kren looked the creature over to the point where the Dragonite finally interrupted his conversation with the woman to glare back at him as a warning that he was getting irritated by it. Completely hairless, with patches of scales here and there along his skin, large round eyes, large clawed hands, and a long reptilian tail; he was certainly a site to be seen.

Bernt whispered, Just calm the hell down. Things are different here, remember? Don’t you dare cause a scene. We have work to do. After we’ve collected on our prize, then we can remind a few of these arrogant monsters of their proper place.

A dark-skinned woman brought a mug of frothy ale over to the elf seated by himself at the far table, asked how the Dragonite and woman were doing, and finally came to ask if she could get the two men something to eat or drink. It didn’t sit right with them that they had been tended to last over the others, but they let themselves ignore that fact.

Ondaff, they be wanting two mugs, she called back to the bartender after they had ordered and paid her.

So come and get it, wench, he harshly barked back at her.

You lazy son of a… she muttered.

Myla? the elf called out to her, holding up his empty mug.

Already? she grumbled in disbelief. She then called over to the impatient drunk, answering wearily, Sorry. Right away.

The two men waited for their drinks and had both gulped down over half before Bernt said, That storyteller Rasindell; he travels around, but he is supposed to be here at this town right now. People say, that beneath his robes, that all that remains of him are the bones of his skeleton. What, who, and also where we should be looking for this creature; this is where our employer got the information, from Rasindell.

Kren drained the last from his mug and commented, Odd coincidence. Perhaps we should go see what kind of vision we can get from this storyteller. Some sort of oracle, isn’t he?

You can, his portly, mustached companion laughed, There’s no way that I’m letting some long dead wizard invade my mind. We’ll just go on the information we have already been told; that should be enough. In fact, we should check the layout of the town and also the area we’ll be searching tomorrow.

Kren whined, Now, really?

Come on. Bring your lantern, Bernt commanded and led him out the door into the dark once more.

By the light of their lantern they made their way through the streets of the town, passing by a few shops and eventually some houses, gradually nearing the marketplace in the north-eastern part of the town.

I don’t like this, Kren whispered, There’s no one out here but us. We haven’t seen a single person since we’ve left the inn. All the houses are locked up tight, windows dark, no sign of movement. It’s so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Don’t be so paranoid, he snapped at him, The marketplace is where this woman is supposed to have set up shop, some sort of jewelry stall or something. We should be nearing this market soon. It will be empty, everything closed up for the night, from what I was told, but we’ll check it out and plan something from there. Maybe we’ll discover a good spot from where to watch her activities from, somewhere where we won’t attract much attention to ourselves. We just have a rough description of her; so we’ll have to speculate a bit.

The only sound was their boots scuffing along the worn cobblestone streets; they continued in silence.

Kren kept shining the lantern nervously around them.

Would you quit that? Bernt finally said.

I thought I heard something, he told him.

Non-sense. There’s no one out here but us. Why don’t you just…, he started to say and then paused.

There was the distinct sound of something small falling and trickling down the wall from the rooftop of the building next to them.

What was that? Kren gasped in panic, Someone’s on the roof.

Relax, you idiot. Probably someone’s cat out and about knocking debris from the gutters, he sighed with irritation, Would you stop it? Why would someone be on the roof anyways?

Following us? his thin companion whispered, and he shone the lantern over towards the wall. He went over to investigate.

Oh, come on, Bernt grumbled.

Broken shingles, Kren announced, You telling me a cat did that?

The burly man sighed, Would you just come on. I don’t want to be out here all night. No one’s following us. Leaping from rooftop to rooftop? Look at the distance between them, really?

Yes, alright, I see what you mean, he realized and started off down the street once more.

Suddenly, Kren jumped and spun around, the lantern shaking, clenched tightly in his bony hand. Did you hear that? he whispered in fear.

Hear what? Bernt muttered, Not again.

Someone said something, he told him.

There’s people in the houses; not surprising, he explained.

Really? Looks like everyone’s asleep, he said shining the light around, his eyes wide, Besides, this came from behind us.

There’s no one there. See for yourself, Bernt said and then, deciding to humour his friend, asked, What did they say?

Shh, he hissed, I don’t know; I couldn’t make it out. It was more of a hushed whisper. There… there it is again. You hear that?

Probably just the wind. I didn’t hear anything, he answered.

The thin man spun around again, shining the light forward. There!

Ow, get that light out of my eyes, Bernt said, shielding his face, What, it’s in front of us now, you fool, no one passed us. It’s the damn wind. I didn’t hear anything.

Oh, yeah? What wind? I don’t feel any, do you? Kren protested, and he opened the glass door of the lantern, See, where’s the wind? Not a flicker.

Close that, and stop shining it in my eyes, would ya? his friend grumbled at him.

Oh… no… the thin man stammered, It can’t be, and he raised a trembling finger to point behind his companion at something farther up the street.

The mustached man turned around, staring into the dark of the empty street before him. There’s nothing there, he told him and then everything went dark. Damn it, I told you to leave it closed. Where’s the tinderbox?

He turned around and to his amazement his companion was nowhere to be seen. Oh, I don’t believe it, Bernt exclaimed loudly with annoyance, That bloody coward and his superstitions. What’d he do, run back to the inn and leave me in the dark?

With a heavy sigh, Bernt started back in the direction of the inn.

Suddenly, the lantern fell to the ground with the sound of metal and broken glass. What the…? he said in confusion, looking at the lantern and then up to the rooftop from where it had fallen.

Something wet dripped down onto his forehead from above. He wiped at it, surprised that it felt almost slippery.

"This isn’t water, he thought to himself, What is this, blood?"

He thought he saw a dark shadow slip fluidly down from the rooftop to the street below, but he wasn’t sure. Everything was cast in darkness. A wild panic gripped him and soon he found himself pounding loudly on the door of the house across from him.

Open up! he called out, his voice wavering, Open up, damn it! We need some help out here!

Bernt thought he saw someone pull back the curtain slightly in the upper window and then quickly pull it shut again. "There, looks like someone’s coming," he thought with a bit of relief.

An eerie sound echoed down the street, something that sounded halfway between a chuckle and a growl.

Open up! he shouted again, pounding frantically on the door. "No one’s coming," his mind screamed at him.

He gave the door a mighty kick, but to his surprise it held firm under the force.

He began to run blindly through the dark, soon finding that he was coming into the marketplace.

"Wide open space, his mind reasoned, at least I’ll be able to see what’s coming."

Bernt searched wildly around in the darkness. "What the hell happened to him? Did he run back to the inn? Is he dead? No, just get a grip, he told himself, It’s not The Black Shadow. There’s no way. Some sort of vampiric demon, or whatever he’s supposed to be? It’s not possible. Some all powerful evil creature of the night? Able to hear one’s very thoughts?"

A deep rumbling laugh filled the air around him, seemingly from every direction.

A torch burst into flames to the north, then another.

"What is that? Looks like a stage? The storyteller? Rasindell? That undead skeletal wizard? Is this his doing? It can’t be, but the stronger magic users were all hunted down or at least forced into hiding, all those that didn’t belong to the wizard’s guild. Who or what is after me?"

The hollow sound of boots upon cobblestones came echoing toward him, calmly approaching the marketplace. The many empty stalls and tables that surrounded him offered him no salvation.

A dark shadowy figure emerged from the street into the open where the moonlight had improved visibility for the man. He could see that the figure was dressed in black; shirt, pants, gloves, boots. He nervously eyed the black hood and the black flowing cloak. He watched in terror as two dark red eyes began to glow from out of the darkness beneath the hood of the approaching figure.

Fear gripped him, his mind repeating the same name over and over in terror, "The Black Shadow. The Black Shadow."

He was still a distance away. "Could I outrun such a creature? he thought in desperation, Possible to stand and fight?"

A cruel laugh emanated from The Black Shadow.

"Can he really hear my very thoughts?" wondered Bernt.

The man in black tossed something toward him, it traveling quite a fair distance between them, to land at his feet.

The portly man recoiled in shock and terror as he looked down upon a bloodied arm, the limb appearing to have been torn from the rest of its body.

You killed Kren? Do you find this humorous, you foul thing?! Bernt shouted.

The fingertips of The Black Shadow’s right hand elongated into a deadly-looking claw, and, with eyes glowing as red as blood, he began to dash forward to close in on him.

The man ran, as fast as his thick legs could carry him, racing toward the light of the torches at the stage. No one else was there except the storyteller. He was sitting lifeless upon a wooden chair in the center of the stage, a grey tattered robe draped over the bones of his head and body.

Sharp searing pain erupted from his back as The Black Shadow sliced into him. A scream escaped his lips as he fell to the ground. A gloved hand lifted him up with incredible strength, where he wriggled desperately in the air near a foot off the ground and clawed madly at the hand that held him by his throat.

With a low growl The Black Shadow squeezed until he heard a satisfying crunch. He let the man drop, where he lay dying, choking on the blood that gurgled up through his nose and throat. Next, The Black Shadow pounced on him, sinking his fangs deep into the flesh of his neck until he drained him of what blood and life he had left.

The Black Shadow leapt to the rooftop of the building overlooking the stage. His lips wet with blood, he sat there crouched at the edge of the roof looking out at Rasindell, the storyteller.

He had rescued Rasindell long ago, given him the means to create a daughter out of a spider, had made him into an undead creature able to relay the legends of their world after his death, and had rescued the boy he had grown so fond of in his storytelling. Oddly, the reasons behind his own actions in doing these things eluded him.

The bony figure slowly turned his skull to stare over and up at The Black Shadow. Surprisingly, Shadow’s vision began to slowly cloud.

"Is Rasindell trying to use his power on me? Can he? Is this possible? Shadow thought in astonishment, I suppose it is, if I let it. What is there that he could possibly show me that I don’t already know?"

He let the power of the storyteller envelope him to see what he would be shown.

CHAPTER 2

EZMEARA

The Black Shadow’s mind brought forward a memory under Rasindell’s influence. Asdella had been on her way home from school when her cousin approached her from out of the trees. It had been quite awhile since she had last seen her, and Asdella had wondered what the occasion was. They sat there at the side of the road by the forest’s edge in the late afternoon.

Asdella, a marvelous thing has happened. I’ve met someone, Ezmeara told her, her face flushed with excitement and joy, Oh, it’s amazing! All the wondrous things he’s shown me. Oh, I wish I could tell you. I just have to share it with someone. I doubt you’d even believe some of the things. Oh, and when I’m with him, standing beside him, the incredible feeling I get inside. I really do think I’m in love this time. Asdella, he’s only kissed me once, but the passion and desire in it, oh, I felt like I was on fire, it was amazing. I’m so incredibly afraid when I’m near him, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t think I could ever let him go, even if I wanted to, and I don’t.

What do you mean afraid? Asdella asked with worry, Why would you be afraid of someone you feel so strongly for? He hasn’t ever hurt you, has he?

Oh no, no he hasn’t. But he could, very easily, she said to Asdella with fear in her eyes as she considered the possibility.

Ezzy, damn it, just tell me what’s going on. You’re scaring me, Asdella said taking her by the shoulders and staring her directly in the eyes.

It would never come to that. He loves me. He needs me. That is strong enough for him to overcome the hunger, she tried to explain, but the tear that escaped her eye betrayed her.

No, you listen. I need you to tell me everything. It will just be between you and me, okay, no one else. It will be all right, don’t you worry, Asdella tried to coax.

Okay, she submitted, but you must promise not to say a word to anyone. If anyone knew, there are those that would harm me in order to hurt him.

What have you gotten yourself into? Asdella exclaimed, His hunger? Your fear of him? You have to tell me. Of course I promise, but if you’re in danger…

Understand that I really do love him, and then she said hurriedly, He’s The Black Shadow, but he’s changed, he really is trying his best to be a man and not a monster.

Is this some sort of cruel joke? Asdella asked her in disbelief.

Ezmeara shook her head, and a moment of silence passed between them. Then her cousin went on to explain how they would often talk for hours at a time, and how he had confided in her, telling her several of his well kept secrets and fears, and assuring her that he truly wants to fight his evil nature and do good with his powers. She told Asdella about the control his hunger had over him and the severity of it if he ever lost control and let the hunger consume him. She explained that the evil inside him was constantly and desperately trying to get out, trying to make him do horrendous things, and that the true extent of his power reached far beyond all that was comprehensible. She told Asdella all she knew, but even Ezmeara did not know all that The Black Shadow was. It was, however, enough to be aware of the danger and know where it stemmed from. She told Asdella how he took her flying with him and how they had watched the sunrise together above the treetops, and about so many other amazing things he had shown her and told her about.

Shadow halted the vision Rasindell was showing him. He did not want to think about her and did not want to see it again from Asdella’s perspective, nor hers.

Instead, he tried to remember how delighted Ezmeara had been, flying with him in the night sky by the light of the full moon, how she had smiled, how they had talked, how intrigued she was in her curiosity about the world they lived in. He remembered the excitement she felt in leaving her family’s cottage within the middle of the night in coming to meet him by the edge of the forest, eager to embark on whatever adventure and marvel that was in store for her.

Her soft cascading curls of pale orange that always held the scent of fresh strawberries… Her pale creamy skin, warm against his cheek when she had dared to hug him… Her gentle touch, her exquisite mind, and kind nature.

He had taken her to watch the dances with ribbons at the village of Dexcsin. She had been so delighted and had argued about why it was necessary to only watch from the tree line when she wanted to join in instead.

She knew what he was, of his need to feed; however, he had never let her see him in the act. She also did not know that he had a female form to his being. She saw him more as a man than a monster. He remembered the first time she had dared to kiss him and how wonderful that feeling had been.

Rasindell’s vision resumed.

Asdella, I’ll be fine. I know to keep my distance when I should. I know not to do anything to arouse his hunger. Getting as close as to have that kiss I told you about was taking a risk, I know. But I feel so safe the few times he’s dared to hold me in his arms, even though I know I should be fearing for my life. It doesn’t seem to matter. Perhaps it is, in fact, the underlying danger that makes our flirtations so exciting.

Listen to what you’re saying, Ezzy! You would risk your very life for a little affection? You’re not thinking clearly! Asdella tried to reason with her, Has he tricked you somehow? Altered your perception of things? How can you stand by him, knowing of all the lives he’s taken, all the lives he will take in the future?

He needs me, Asdella. I can’t let him face this alone. If there is even a slim chance that I might be able to help him come away from his evil ways, to give him something to fight for, to praise him when he succeeds even a little in the right direction, to show him that he indeed is making a difference and that it’s not going unnoticed and that it is important.

"And what of Nexzath and Blandorf? They too are hoping to do the same," thought Shadow.

And if it costs you your life? Asdella asked her with concern, Is that worth it?

I am hoping that love can overcome the danger, but of course I’ve considered what would happen, she explained, Dear cousin, this is why I have come to you today. Each night, I have watched that hold over the hunger and the evil deteriorate further and further. He is becoming more and more aggressive. So far, these past few days, he has managed to hold himself back from killing his victims when he feeds.

Listen to yourself! You speak as if this is normal! Have you not heard the rumors? Know you nothing of the horrors he is held responsible for? How can you say this so calmly? Asdella asked her, shocked and afraid for her.

Asdella, said her cousin, pulling her closer, I need you to hear me out. So far he is resisting, but I can see that his efforts are waning. It’s not for lack of trying, please believe me. The more he resists his evil nature, the more fiercely it drives him. She hugged Asdella tightly saying, I’m so afraid. The next time he feeds, I doubt he will be able to stop himself from killing, and if he avoids feeding for too long, he’ll feed uncontrollably and all our efforts will be lost. I can’t let him revert back, accepting the evil inside him and letting it take him over. I can’t let that happen. I know there has to be hope. The small part of him that is fighting for good, the part of him I love, cannot be allowed to be lost. I can’t let that part of him be drowned out by the evil inside him, not when I know the pain he feels because of this cursed life he must lead. By being with him, I have helped save several lives that would have been otherwise lost. I have helped him to resist the full extent of his hunger, even if his hold is now dwindling. The days he resisted mattered. He will remember this, I know he will. And… and he will remember me.

What?! What are you saying?! Asdella looked to Ezmeara in confusion, watching the tears run down her face.

I have to go, Asdella, she told her wiping away her tears, I am to meet him soon.

No, Ezzy, wait, Asdella said, watching her cousin head off into the woods.

Asdella’s mind was full of fearful questions. "Would he know she had told? Would he be angry with her? If I follow after her, will I come face to face with The Black Shadow himself? Would he attack me, if I race after her? Would the fact that I am her cousin mean anything to him, if the hunger takes him over like she says? And if his ability to resist the kill has dwindled, so when he does feed, if he did attack, would he be able to stop? If the hunger pushes him so intensely to feed, stronger than before, is she in danger? She seemed to think so. She loves him so blindly that…"

Asdella raced off into the woods after her cousin, her shoes crunching over the forest debris.

"No… No, she couldn’t be. She believes that the next time he feeds, he will kill. There’s no escaping this. She’s not going to let him kill an innocent. Damn it, she’s going to sacrifice herself instead and hope he can regain control afterwards. She’s going to hope it doesn’t happen, hope it doesn’t go as far as her death, hope that it will only come to him feeding slightly from her and the shock of what he was doing would bring him back to his senses in time to save her."

Her long skirt caught on a bush, and as she yanked it free, she called out her name.

"I know she’s thinking that, and I know damn well that she believes this to fail, that she will lose her life in this. Why didn’t she just tell me what she was planning! I can’t let her do this! If she believes so strongly that she can somehow save lives this way… No, I can’t let her risk her life any further. I have to stop her somehow."

"I had not intended to kill her! Shadow thought with a frustration that almost resembled guilt, I was aware of Ezmeara’s thoughts. The hunger burned so intensely, and she had become an obstacle against what my dark urges truly wanted. I should not have come to meet her, but I did, knowing well what could happen. She accepted it; giving me her trust. She embraced me in her arms; the soft warm flesh of her neck against my lips. I could not resist, and once I started, I could not pull myself away. I still remember the taste of her blood, the fear in her mind, and the foolish hope she held for me that I could somehow overcome what I truly am, if it was for her."

Soon Asdella came to the clearing, and as she stood there trying to catch her breath, she beheld an awful sight. A figure dressed all in black with a hooded cloak drawn up about his face, who could be none other than The Black Shadow, was standing over her cousin. Ezmeara lay unmoving on the forest floor.

The Black Shadow looked up to Asdella, being aware of her presence all too well.

There was only silence between them. Tears were streaming down Asdella’s face.

"How could he?! she screamed within her mind, This is what he does to someone he says he loves? This is what he does with her trust?! Am I to be next? She didn’t deserve this! She believed in you, damn it! This is how you repay her? This is how you repay her love? Why didn’t you go find someone that deserved to die. Not her! Not her!! All she ever did was think of others before herself! Even a horrible monster like you! She didn’t deserve this!"

Asdella’s light blue skirt ruffled around her in the breeze below the white loose-fitting blouse she wore. She could not bring herself to say a single word, but her mind said with hatred, "Why couldn’t you have waited?! I would have taken her place. She was a better person than I am! How could you do this! I hate you! You should be the one to die, not her! If you’re so powerful, then destroy yourself, and then no one else would have to suffer your evil! If you’re going to kill me too, then get on with it, you demon! Was it fun stringing her along? Playing your little games? Tossing her emotions around? Did you enjoy the look on her face when you betrayed her?! Did you see the love she held for you as a foolish weakness? She was probably the only person who ever could possibly have any feeling other than fear and hatred for you. You horrible monster! How could you do this to her?!"

The Black Shadow fell to his knees beside her cousin. An invisible force passed over Asdella, his emotions seeping into her mind in his anguish. She could see within her mind that he had realized what he had done. The tears were streaming down his face as well, but his remained hidden in shadow beneath his hood. He had been aware of Asdella’s thoughts, and her words had struck him like a thousand knives.

He stroked Ezmeara’s cheek as she lay still before him. He wanted so desperately to breathe the life back into her. He wanted to hear her voice, to see her smile, to feel her soft touch… He didn’t want to be alone, not after he had finally found her.

Asdella watched, despising him completely. She couldn’t care less about how he felt. He had murdered her cousin and all she felt for him was hate, not even fear.

The Black Shadow was sobbing heavily now, and Asdella could see that perhaps there was something there other than the awe-inspiring creature everyone else saw. The ground began to shake and tremble with his heartbreak and sorrow. The trees around them started twisting and contorting in waves of pain, hopelessness, and frustration. Several large rocks exploded with the anger he felt, and Asdella knew from what her cousin had told her that he was still maintaining a great control over his powers despite this.

He finally stood, stared at Asdella for a few moments, as if he wanted to say something to her but knew that there wasn’t anything he possibly could. After the surroundings had calmed and he had regained his control, he ran off a little way into the forest before taking to the air.

That was the one thing The Black Shadow could not do. If he really wanted to, he had the power to bring someone back to life. Healing and restoring a body was easy, and even guiding a person’s soul back into it was possible for him. However, if he had been the one that had killed the person, he could not. He had once thought that he simply shouldn’t for risk of the evil corrupting everything surrounding it, to slay and then return the life he had just taken. Before that, the thought was inconceivable to him, being a much darker creature of instinct. Now he was coming to realize differently. If he were responsible for the death, perhaps indirectly as well, he could not do it. He did not know why, but it was not possible, even with all his immense power; it went too much against what he was as a whole.

"Why was Rasindell showing him this, reminding him of what happened, how Ezmeara had felt, how Asdella felt? he asked himself, I see that he has chosen to relay the events through Asdella’s memories. I suppose it is impossible for him to access and use my own memories in his power, and I am also grateful to him that he had not chosen Ezmeara’s.

"Those two men I just killed, am I supposed to feel guilty? What good would that do? What good would it have done had I tried so desperately to hold back from killing them? All that would have done would have just made me seek out more, my evil nature unsatisfied in that compromise. They posed a danger to the people of Shirkint. Well, most likely not, but they were a better choice to become victims than others. Even Soolina had thought so, in sailing them here. And I did wait and watch them, weighing my decision about them carefully. I am aware that I could have quickly and simply fed, but instead I had enjoyed the fear I created in them. Also, I could have taken the other man first, but I suppose because he had been a little braver in the beginning, that I saw this as some sort of challenge for me to inflict more terror. Perhaps that is the reason why. Either way, I had no intentions of letting them live. It simply had not occurred to me at the