To be within flesh. To be Subsumed, as unnatural an existence that it is, meant this state of constant, shapelessness, to be unbound as a living nexus of restless, ever-present evil. For many of his kind, it is euphoria, the grand achievement. To finally fulfill their destiny that has been physically etched into their writhing essence, ever since the elder days. Many generations since were literally bred for this sought-after moment.

But for “Niles”, it was a personal hell. A living, sweating, itching, trembling, constricting shroud of mistakes. To be human, it meant feelings that once triggered, will become ceaseless in both potency and pathology. Constantly bathed in sensory, constantly aching… Vulnerable both inside and outward. All because of this “sapience”, and they’re constantly aware of how much of an effect it holds over them.

Niles’ internal ranting was abruptly stopped, as a pained shriek escaped from the Tome, caused him to stop flicking through the pages. He proceeded to lift the book and bash it repeatedly on the counter until it stopped, just as causally.

The former Subsumed mused once again. No wonder, it thought to itself, that these monstrous heathens are so insane. Apes drunkenly drowning within their transient successes, unaware of the problems looming over them the moment their inevitable failure cripples them for good.

Being an old Subsumed, Niles held plenty of knowledge about the vast world they’ve live in. But this Tome is considered so famous and helpful, there’s something of a sick curiosity that had taken over. Written by a man who refused to pass until its completion? The fact that it manifests around those who truly need it? With it being alive, the contents itself can bleed and reorganize itself with now-current knowledge once outdated? People and Subsumed have killed for much less.

So, the Subsumed leaned into this human’s fist, relaxed as it turned to the Tome’s section on Subsumed. “Hopefully, for the sakes of the fools that wasted their lives for you, this is accurate…” Niles mused, scanning the first paragraph with its stolen eyes.

Living Shadows. Skinwalkers. The Night Terrors. The Fair Folk.

They are the reason why the darkness is so unknown to us. Why we’ve come up with stories of demons, of unfair misery, and how evil is created.

The Subsumed are creatures of the night. Our forsaken brothers and sisters that refused to move on from the cruelty of this world we’ve found ourselves in.

Ritualistic and superstitious at their core, they are empowered by a grudge that stretches millennia. A grudge, that they have collectively cast on themselves along with those after. A grudge that calls for causing such terror on humanity, that they will break down, back to the same level these interlopers are.

Niles scoffed. The description was only true from the standpoint of such an overdramatic perspective. So quick to judge without taking a moment to look at how uncanny they are.

So tainted by vainglory, they build monuments to their egos on the desolate lands they claim. So gluttonous, they’ve created systems to efficiently harvest their kills, and further prepare their remains to suit their stomachs.

If Niles’ kind are interlopers, the “victims” they prey upon are harbingers laying in wait.

Subsumed are “born” within undisturbed shadows, darkness that hasn’t been broken by light for far too long. They fester within this shade, the heavier, the better for them—and start off as “Novices”.

Novices are the Subsumed at their purest state of being, as well as the most vulnerable. Formless masses that need to lurk within the shadows for their survival. Therefore, take away the shade, and one can easily kill a Novice.

The one thing—the most important thing—to keep in mind about these creatures is their singular purpose. Their eternal drive fuels every step, and every action they take. As a result, there are several “Roles” within this deathly culture aims for.

Groundling Subsumed is usually the path every one takes from Novice, though this is not a guarantee. They are, however, the most common Subsumed type one would encounter, likely than not.

These Subsumed have either gained enough shadow to give themselves a stronger constitution or have joined a brood that gives them the much-needed direction they crave. Either sense, the Subsumed gain a trait, such as fangs or horns, and their entire frame contorts to feed into this trait, becoming so intertwined that the new appendages double as a new identity. These are called “Guises”.

While it is possible to obtain more than one trait, doing this is considered spreading the Subsumed’s chances thin and their luck pressed. Subsumed that do not heed this warning, taking on too much of their brethren’s hides all at once, are christened Chimera Subsumed and are exiles as a result. As this is their first experience with individualism, they are very prideful and protective of these newly gained Guises. These traits inspire entire broods’ social structure. To take away a Groundling’s Guise, you take away their power.

The Masked-role Subsumed. What common Subsumed aim for, the various monsters and fears we hold as a people, they don as armor. Vampires, Werewolves, Specters, the Undead—the stories told in the dark, to ward youth away from such, these Subsumed are more often than not the origin.

After gaining more bulk, and a Guise as a muse, either a sole Subsumed or an entire brood performs a ritual. Using their experience observing, hunting, and/or murdering humans—the Subsumed extensively ask themselves what these humans truly fear, and what that looks like. Determining the answer, they maim themselves in a painful process to appeal toward the Fates That Be, showing them what they desire to be. Outlining the good, the bad, and the ill—and once the Mask is approved, the Subsumed becomes that Mask.

Masked Subsumed are purposefully deadly to humans. One must surrender to their unfortunate fate or try to run. The only vain hope for survival is learning the limitation these demonic beings have placed upon themselves. A Vampire’s weakness of holy, silver being Wolf’s bane. Only then, a Subsumed’s poor constitution will fall inward, and can result in rendering them back to Novice. But they would cause their own death, rather face that reality.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Niles nodded to themselves. The worst indignity. A role of a lifetime cultivated, sometimes with the aid of one’s brood—simply ripped away due to one human that decided to be smart.

But there was an odd sense of melancholy, when one’s role ended. No one could truly know if there was more to be done unless it was violently skinned away at the onset. Because, for some of Niles’ kind, there’s this vague and pitiful sentiment of realizing one’s role was merely small. Buying time for the entire kind to keep on, to at least forever ruin one human being, priming them as a vessel for someone else.

On that note, Niles glanced over to that section.

There are many ways for the Subsumed to do what their moniker entails. The “classical” method merely involves hunting the victim, inflicting grievous wounds for the Subsumed to creep inside of. While their nature as living shadows partially explains how this is possible, the sheer density gained due to their various roles should render this process impossible. It is entirely possible that the Subsumed are keeping the details of this method a secret, to keep this process a harrowing experience.

Niles smirked in response. And continued reading.

The next method is more often than not used by desperate novices, the “overshadowing” route. Due to humanity’s primal origins, there exists darkness within us all. And this darkness, be it true or metaphorical, raises in response to stress or anger, and in return subtly influences such. The Subsumed take a very risky chance: develop within the darkness of the human victim. If this process works, the Subsumed will instantly be tailored made to destroy their human host, and as a result, bypass all the struggle of ascension to other roles. But once the human overcomes their dark impetuses, the Subsumed will shrink into nothingness. With little chance to reconstitute.

The last method, “rapport”. Combining the mechanics of a Pact, the human and the Subsumed agree to terms by exchanging their essence with one another, and the Subsumed becomes the person’s shadow as a result. From there, the human becomes more like the Subsumed in a gradual transformation. A perfect pathway for the Subsumed in question, until they realize that they’ve become more human as a consequence. This dealing can irreversibly destroy the respective egos of both parties, and due to the wording of the agreement, can result in more damage. But if the Subsumed survives, this ends up a more tactical method to masquerade within human civilization.

Regardless of the method, it all ends with the Subsumed claiming the role of Vandal. After shattering a human’s soul from the inside out, but having enough remnants to draw from their essence, Vandal Subsumed seeks to undermine humanity—becoming killers, usurpers, and disrupters. Wearing their victim’s skin to hide in plain sight, and using their memories to act as humans and not let the vast differences between humans and Subsumed take over. But this zeal ends up being too much for some, and as a result, excessive transformation and wane indulgence quickly ruin the suit—killing the victim for the final time. While this is a loss, the Vandal Subsumed gains a more sapient form—paired with the experience gained.

But there have been cases where both the creature and the victim possess overlap, and as a result, reach the unstable equilibrium of a Symbi Subsumed. One cannot tell where the monster ends and the human begins, or vice versa—not even themselves if the symbiotic relationship is maintained. While a Symbi Subsumed lacks the handicaps of both Subsumed and human, the union can easily thin the moment one side becomes more aware than the other.

Thus proving despite the species-wide animosity, these shadow demons do covet humanity on some level.

Despite having a critical distaste at the idea of ever taking over a human… Niles couldn’t help but enjoy the experience. There was just… Something intrinsic to feel the constant onrushing of his being barely being held back. How the human being, with the various tools in their kit—the wonderful reminders that a Subsumed has, realize that they CAN do this idea they thought impossible.

And the idea of knowing that this departed soul, what once was a man, would want nothing but have this “interloper” not take away what was fundamentally his… It was still hell, Niles couldn’t deny it. But that thought keeps the Subsumed happy, still.

Keeps the hope alive, wanting to reach the absolute apex and honor that it was robbed of.

And with that, Niles turned the page. It’s stolen eyes looking at such.

The Terrorizer. A role so engrossing, every local Subsumed cast aside everything to witness the one who causes Terrortide.

As the Terrortidings were explained at length in a previous section, along with the history—this section will delve deeper into the role of the Terrorizer. The Terrorizer becomes a temporary leader of the Subsumed, their word physically becoming law around every shadow Subsumed haunt. Every Subsumed, regardless of their roles, mutilate themselves in the Terrorizer’s visage, erect effigies in their honor, and help spread their physical word across the lands until they have succeeded in amending the grudge that will drive every single one before, now, and after.

However, their words are under high scrutiny. There are plenty of Subsumed, while obeying the subject of Terrortide’s necessity, will look for any fault in the current Terrorizer. And once that word fails them, the Subsumed will be more than happy to resume their previous roles, as if nothing happened. The legacy of the Terrorizer is quickly forgotten and the debt accrued naturally from the Fates That Be will never let them live down.

If. Said legacy ended doesn’t end up notable.

Then the opposite occurs.

On the grounds of a Terrorizer lives up to their words, extends the tidings through even greater violence, or simply survives the entire existence—the Subsumed gains the role of a Horror. A legendary role, a Horror becomes their story. As long as their tale is spoken in the dark, the Subsumed will live on as an aberration—appearing as if they were always there, and must perform further actions to keep their story alive. Only a grand few have achieved this, such as Bloody Mary—The Headless Horseman—Dracula. Names heard every generation, no matter how long it’s been.

Legacy of the highest order.

Niles couldn’t enjoy the thought. The cursed bell that rang through his stop cut through that serenity.

“I told you I’d return,” Isabella Moses extended her hand towards it. “Now. Hand it over or I will force you.”

“With what strength—you can barely stand on your own ever since your humiliating phone call,” Niles sneered at the monster before her.

The string-like, tangle of black hair tumbled past her flexing shoulders. Hunched over, despite having a lime green long skirt, one could see the legs under trembling. Her suit top was unbuttoned, showing that her yellow dress shirt clung to the body with sweat. Her glasses crooked, but her stare wasn’t distracted or unmoved.

“Exactly. You know I have nothing to lose.”

Niles didn’t break its stolen face, kept it stained with pensive confidence. “You wouldn’t. I could end up being unleashed again. You won’t ever end your legacy on such a pathetic loss.”

The Mermaid Consumed squinted her eyes, letting them grow dark. Somehow effective, despite being exhausted.

“If that gives me a chance to take you with me, then I’ll take the plunge. Now give it to me, our agreement is reached anyways.”

All of this strength, somehow sprung forward despite crippled with such innate weakness. In the face of clear oblivion, yet facing it as if it were a friend.

Humanity was so… Frustratingly interesting.

Niles set the book aside. Content with watching, waiting again. He was good at that, it was his purpose for what was countless millennia.

A Subsumed of Shadows requires such grit.