Shan sipped from his drink as he considered the past. On this cold evening, there felt no better way to end it all than in his favorite tavern. He took a second sip and set the mug down as he stretched his toes out to the fireplace, warming them. He shook his head and chuckled when he realized it was a rather pointless action. He knew he would soon be dead.
He barely lifted his head when the tavern door swung open. A black robed figure barreled past some patrons, its head swinging around as it searched the crowd. Shan let out a nervous, yet weary, sigh as he signaled the barkeep for another round. The figure’s hood locked on Shan and it stormed over, knocking a drunk aside. Shan stood and offered a chair as well as a hand to the person, but the black figure merely sat without a word. Shan sighed again before sitting back down himself.
“Hello Stine. You’re all business this evening, I see.” said Shan softly.
The barkeep suddenly slammed another mug of beer on the table between them. He softly slid it across the table toward Stine, but it ignored the mug.
“It’s time, Shan, give it up. We both tire from this game you play.” It said in an oddly young voice.
“Oh… I am far more tired of this than you. Do you even know how long you have chased me? I had to send my children away because you wouldn’t leave me alone.” Shan said, his voice calm despite his anger.
“Just give it to me then. You can go back to them.” Stine said, its voice monotone.
Shan shook his head and chuckled as if to dismiss the thought.”You know that’s always bothered me about you. You’re so damn emotionless. Are you even from this world?” Stine remained silent and unmoving. Seeing no response, Shan continued, “I figured at some point you would lose interest and seek out another. Why mine in particular?”
Stine sat quietly for a moment before responding, “I need it.”
Shan shifted in his chair, his interest peaking. He never expected to get honest answers from this monster. “Why? What happened?”
“Enough questions.” Stine said and his hand slid across the table.
“Not yet!” Shan said as he tried to stall. “You’ll want to hear me out. Do you know where we are?”
Stine’s hand hesitated, but it did not rest back into its seat.
“We…” Shan gestured with his hand. “... are back at my beginning. My hometown. You and I have traveled back to where I was born and grew up into the man I am today. I fled from here with my parents after The Severing.” Shan took a steadying breath. “Seven hundred years is a long time for anyone to live. Did you cause The Severing, Stine?”
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Stine’s hand balled into a tight fist and it let out a cold, “No.”
Shan nodded in relief, “Then you are a victim just as much as the rest of us.”
Stine’s shoulders dipped as if weighed down.
“You know in all the years you have pursued me, I’ve been watching you when you got too close. You have remarkable skills and strengths I’ve never imagined. I’ve never seen you come close to losing in any of your conflicts. Even when we have fought, I was always the one to flee.” said Shan as he paused to take a long drink.
Unknown to the others in the tavern, Stine’s shadow began to grow.
“But lately I’ve noticed a change in you.” continued Shan. “Not only in the burden you carry, but also a change in your demeanor. You’re getting hasty. Desperate. Perhaps it is just that our game has gone over long, but is there something more?”.
Stine’s shadow interconnected with other shadows in the room, but no one noticed when one candle was extinguished.
“I think there is!” said Shan, his voice raising above the voices of the other patrons. “I believe you have precious little time remaining.” Shan tried to calm himself. He would need a clear head for what was to come. “So, I figured out how we are going to end our little game.”
The tavern slowly became noticeably darker with shadows in areas where there should be none.
“In your haste, you made two mistakes. I found two more, untouched. The first I was given by one of your victims. It does not look like the others, but I knew immediately what it was when I bent down to help her.” continued Shan, his voice somewhat shaky.
The growing darkness was obvious to him, and some patrons began to take notice. The most observant ones were leaving, but the drunks remained unaware. Shan flinched when he saw one man pulled into the shadows.
“The… the second mistake you made was killing one of my friends. He found one that could be used to fight you, but you did not know. You didn’t take his shadow in your haste.” Shan glanced to his left and saw a thin shadow reach out and slice a man’s throat. His choking sounds could be heard by all. One of the patrons screamed and everyone made a mad dash to exit the tavern. Shan rubbed his forehead, regret evident on his face. This was not the best place for this confrontation, but he needed to be here to make this work. Beside his chair a small swirling blue circle began to form.
Shan remained sitting, the fireplace behind him remained the only source of light. “I think it is time then, Stine.” Shan said as he ran his hand through his hair, producing a small yellow stone no bigger than a grain of sand. It glowed slightly before Shan clasped it into a fist. “This thing has been my hell. I never should have touched this, but it was the only way to keep it from you. I am done running, but I will never let you win.” With another movement a black glove appeared on his hand and Shan held the two items. Without hesitation, he threw them through the blue circle beside his chair.
Stine pushed off the table and vanished into the darkness.
Shan felt something new in his seven hundred years of life. He felt stunned, helpless, and fragile. He finally understood how all of Stine’s other victims must have felt right before death. Suddenly the fire behind him abruptly stopped and all light was lost. Shan felt himself rise into the air; something lifted him by his throat. He struggled with what he thought must be a hand, but he only grasped at darkness. He attempted to speak but could only get out, “Time… will… see… you… dead.”
There was a soft, almost childish, chuckle from the shadows and then an icy coldness cut across Shan’s throat. He was released to fall to the ground. Even as Shan gasped for life, there was a small voice in his ear, “Time has never been an issue.” Shan felt his life ending and his consciousness fade. When the end came, however, he was not allowed to rest. His shadow rose from his body and obediently followed Stine out of the tavern.