I contacted one of the Cleaners to help me find Isheram. They were quick to respond, and they led me to my destination. During the walk, I took the time to learn more about BD.
“What kind of wyvern are you to be able to shapeshift?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “It seems like an ability that only I have amongst dragons. I can turn into many things, but my strength is limited.”
“Even in a world of magic, anomalies still pop up.”
“What makes you say?”
“I imagined a world of magic would be full of reality-breaking things. I’ve envisioned a place where there wasn’t such a thing as weird.”
“If such a place existed, would you go there?”
“Depends on the world. Imagination makes things seem better, but we can never know the nuance of such things until we see it.”
The Cleaner taking us through the halls stopped at the door and knocked. From inside, Isheram’s voice boomed from the inside. “Come in.”
The Cleaner opened the door but didn’t follow me inside the room. They waved good by and closed the doors.
Although the room's decoration was pleasant, it was pretty small, resembling a walk-in closet. The balcony was many times bigger, with white marble sitting arrangements, various moon-flourishing plants, and fountains with what I thought were birds splashing through the water. Isheram sat at a small desk in the room with two other gargoyles standing at attention facing him. They looked like the same gargoyles that Isheram sent after Shadow Fang.
Isheram continued to talk to the soldiers after acknowledging my arrival. “We will continue this conversation later. I will talk to Dark Morning about the bounty price. Dismissed!”
“Yes sir!” and they both took off towards the balcony.
“Silver.” Isheram stood up from his current set and led me outside to the marble furnishings. The air was crisp and cool, accompanied by heavy winds as I sat on the chair. BD nestled on my lap. The chair wasn’t comfortable as it had no cushion, but it felt wrong to point that out.
BD’s voice popped into my head. It’s better to tell the truth than to say nothing, for that, too, could be treated as a lie.
“Hey, Isheram,” I said, acting on BD’s words. Isheram placed a cup on either side of the table, giving me the ok to go on. “You wouldn’t happen to have a pillow lying around?”
He seemed confused at first while he poured drinks, only to realize I was made of flesh. “I keep forgetting about that,” he said as he went to get a pillow from his desk compartment. The flat pillow wasn’t helping, but at least he tried.
There was an alcoholic smell coming from the drink that was poured. Hesitantly, I took a sip and could barely down the intense flavor. The bitter alcohol overpowered any other flavor I could discern, and I struggled to drink anymore.
“You’ve never had a drink before, have you?” Isheram asked.
“No,” I replied, with my face twisted with disgust.
Isheram seemed disappointed in himself. “You would think I would have gotten this down. This is your first time back, and I thought I could impress you with what I’ve learned.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve looked up to you. Well, to Silver. I just… sorry.” Isheram sat down across from me and continued. “You’re not the same person I knew, and you may not remember who I was. You only know me now.” He was able to collect himself again. He was back to speaking in the tone he used when I first met him.
Best to move on then. “I want to start looking for Shadow Fang.”
“Confident, are we?”
“Impatient, to be honest. I just feel like I can’t wait around knowing he’s out there. So, where is he now?”
“Unfortunately, we lost him again.”
My heart sank, but deep down, I figured this would happen. Based on what I’ve been hearing about the criminal, he would be a hard man to find. “Looks like I am waiting then,” I said, feeling defeated.
“Not necessarily. If you want to start looking for him, I suggest you go to Las Vegas.”
“Why there? Why would you not go now if you think he is there?”
“It’s not that I think he is in Vegas, but it is one of the vampire’s biggest territories. Any news involving their own would eventually get there, which should be a good place to gather information on what Shadow Fang has been up to in the last years.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to ask around the last place I saw him? Vegas is on the complete opposite side of the States.”
“It would be redundant to send you back since my men are investigating the area. Plus, it seems Shadow Fang's place of operations, if he has one, isn’t in South Carolina.”
Isheram had more time to investigate Shadow Fang’s activities, so I confidently took his advice and marked Las Vegas as my first stop. There was one more question I wanted to ask. “Will you be joining me?”
“I would only slow you down. I would still turn to stone in the day even if I had something to disguise myself. In return, I would have to decrease my powers to avoid that fate.” Despite sounding disappointed, Isheram smiled and spoke with awe in his voice. “You will find others to help you. You always do.”
Isheram’s last statement reminded me of Clarence and how he helped me. I smiled at the memory, got out of my seat, and began to leave the office.
“So you're leaving then?” asked Isheram.
“Yes. I want to see this end with my own hands.”
“Then take care.” And with that, I left.
I grabbed only what I thought I needed and stuffed them in a small one-strapped bag I had brought with me from. There was money on my bed when I returned to my room in the castle and a knife similar to the one Isheram used to create the portal to Skyland. BD assured me both items were mine to take. The money came to over one thousand dollars in cash, making me wonder how much more I could have. The thought of taking the sword on the wall crossed my mind. It seemed too much for what I planned on doing.
BD led me down the halls and eventually exited the castle. There was an eagerness to my steps and a desire to leave this eternally dark place. Excitement clouded my thoughts as I could think of one thing only.
We landed at the portal gates, the ones I entered through. BD walked me through how to use it, and soon a swirl of power opened the path that would lead me back to the world I knew. Before anything could stop me, I walked in.
Coming out of the portal, I nearly landed on my face again. With BD’s help, I managed to land somewhat on my feet.
“You’ll get used to it.” She said in response to my frustration.
“Everyone keeps saying that.” Looking around, I realized how rocky the area around us was. The sun’s light almost reflected off the sand and white rocks, making it hard to see at first. I asked BD, “Where are we exactly?”
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“More than likely Nevada since our destination was Las Vegas.”
“Why aren’t we in Las Vegas then?”
“The people who made the portals didn't know where the biggest cities would be built. I think we are in Paradise right now, south of Vegas.”
“Couldn’t we use the knives?”
“Those can only get us back to Skyland.”
“Crap. Well, I guess we’ll start walking.”
“Actually, I can change into a motorized vehicle.”
I took a moment to consider the option. There was a town nearby, and it wouldn’t be too far of a walk. “Let’s see if a bus can take us.”
“Do you not have a license?” Asked BD.
“I do,” I responded. “I just want to see what the town has first.”
“That sounds like an excuse.” BD sounded irritated.
“It is,” I said defeatedly. “Can you blame me for still wanting to take things slow?”
“Not really,” she said with a pout. I scratched her neck to cheer her up and made my way to civilization.
Once we started getting into the central part of the city, I noticed BD wasn’t on my shoulder anymore. Or at least a black and white bird replaced the two-armed winged lizard. “Why a bird of all things?” I asked.
She whispered, “Birds can fly, but more importantly, this form allows me to stay on your shoulder without looking… weird, I guess.”
“You really like being on my shoulder, don’t you?”
“It’s warm here.” Though she couldn’t purr in this form, I could tell she was happy with her answer.
As I walked, I saw a sign that said Jeffery’s Radio Shack. Looking through the window, I could guess they sold music and other devices for listening to music. I could hear a song that I vaguely recognized, but it put me to ease. Thinking I had time to kill, I wandered into the shop to get a better look at their selections and maybe buy something since I had money. Once inside, the room's cold air reminded me how hot it was outside as my sweat now felt like ice water. BD cuddled closer to my neck due to the temperature change. Something else I realized was my hood sleeves had shrunk and disappeared, making it look like a no-sleeved hoodie. Magic at work again. The store's contents were well organized, with signs with bold text indicating where something was. In the back were musical instruments from guitars lined up behind glass and keyboards plugged in, ready to be played.
There were only two other people in the store. A dark-skinned woman sat behind the counter reading a magazine, using her breath to turn the pages. I second guessed whether or not she was using an asendeit ability or if she, too, had magic. There was no way to find out, and it didn’t matter. Across from her, on the other side of the store, stood a man, maybe a few years older than me, wearing one of the free-use headsets. I walked over to the counter.
I got the woman’s attention, and she looked up at me with a welcoming smile. “Hey, I want to listen to something. What do I need to do?” I asked.
She pointed to a list of payments on the counter with prices next to how long one can use the headsets. “There are default choices, but if you want to listen to something from our other selection or your own, just ask me.”
From behind her, a male voice called, “Cutrena, where do you want this package to go?”
“Did you ask Sara?” the counter woman replied.
“She hasn’t replied yet.”
Cutrena sighed. “Just leave it in the corner, then. By the way, where’s Lizzy?”
“Out.”
“Is there anything I can help with?” I asked.
Curtrena turned her attention back to me. “We can handle this, but it was kind of you to offer.” I paid for the time to listen to music and went to a headset.
While looking through the music selections, one of the artists' names caught my eye. “Cutrena Sulfix”. The song had a flute in the forefront with an accompaniment of electronics. It was upbeat and calming. It gave me a chance to think as BD nestled on my shoulder.
I closed my eyes while enjoying the music. My mind drifted as I found relaxation in doing something mundane. Thoughts would pop up occasionally, but I ignored them to not be broken out of my serenity. Such a task started proving difficult as some ideas turned to images. They were random, unrecognizable, and too fast to linger on. I opened my eyes and started to rub my temples. I didn’t have time to wrap my mind around the events because I saw a man in a hoodie and sunglasses walk past the window as I looked up. His face was covered, and his left sleeve was limp. Just as he passed the door, I made it outside, standing behind him. I didn’t notice BD falling off of me. My mouth felt hot as I uttered his name out loud.
“Shadow Fang!”
The man stopped dead in his tracks, and after a quick second, his shoulders relaxed. He slowly turned to me, and he uttered a curse after seeing me. A sigh slipped through his lips before he spoke.
“To think you would catch up to me as fast as you have,” said Shadow Fang.
“To think a vampire like yourself would risk walking in broad daylight,” I growled.
“It’s not that hard if you live long enough. By the way, how are your parents?” I clenched my teeth. They feel harder somehow and sharper. “I ask genuinely.”
“You're the reason that got hurt at all.”
“The worst thing I did was give them a memory they won’t forget. Beyond that, they are fine.”
“Even still, you will pay for your crimes.”
“What do you understand about what I have done in the past?”
“So you deny what I said?”
Shadow Fang's face twisted with anger. “No, but I would rather not be accused by someone who doesn’t remember the laws he vowed to uphold. Hmm. It doesn’t matter. The point is--”
“AAHH!” I yelled. My head started to ache as images of events began to flash before me again. Just like before, as soon as it started, the pain went away along with the images. With my eyes opened and adjusting to the sun, I saw Shadow Fang make a break for it. “Hey!” I growled as I gave chase.
As I ran after him, I started getting a gnawing sensation from the back of my head, like I was forgetting something, but I ignored it lest I lose sight of Shadow Fang. At some point, Shadow Fang made a massive leap in the air to get across the road while car horns sounded.
I didn’t have the confidence to jump as high as Shadow Fang, so I managed to weave through the cars, barely getting hit by each one. I lost some distance from him, but his scent was strong, so I wasn’t losing him any time soon. Thankfully there weren’t many people on the street, but that didn’t make chasing him easier. He was jumping off walls and sliding under whatever was in his way. I had to take a long way around.
All of a sudden, Shadow Fang abruptly stopped and then jumped backward. A gust of wind picked up where he was hitting the ground like a blade. Soon after, something fast hit me in the back of my head and knocked me down. I stopped myself from face-planting by going into a pushup position and then catapulting myself back on my feet, only to see a girl take a swing at me with bladed tonfas.
The girl had short white hair, eyes much like a cat's, and was wearing something under her casual clothes. Armor? The tonfa blades each had serrated edges and were lined with silver. This girl hunted monsters. DON’T WORRY. If my blood wasn’t pumping before, it was now.
I barely avoided the first attack and was ready for her second. Though I blocked the second, she used her momentum to kick me to the side, not letting the fact I stopped her blade with my bare hands faze her. She was way too strong to be an everyday human. Even as an asendeit, it didn’t explain her eyes. I was able to stay grounded, which seemed to surprise her, but she was able to put some distance between us.
Shadow Fang also had his hands full. I could only tell that his opponent had a black bowie and a white Gothic sword. Shadow Fang’s shadow arm was now extended as well. He used the arm to leap across the other side of the street. The guy with the two swords followed suit and dashed across at a break-neck pass. The girl noticed and lept to the other side, not unlike Shadow Fang, just without the shadow arm. I gave chase too, but they were all faster than me.
I was losing ground fast, and Shadow Fang was slowly disappearing from my site. Frustration began boiling up in me. I wanted to scream, but I didn’t. I could run just as fast if I wanted to; I needed to. I closed my eyes while I ran.
Inhale.
Exhale.
With one good leap, I was over the streets, but in the process, I slammed into the wall of a building. Despite cracking the wall, I ignored the damage and sprinted to the others. My teeth felt stiff, my fingers were tense, and my eyes burned, and I caught up to them with no problem this time.
I leaped over the girl and used my claws to move on the walls, all to pounce on Shadow Fang. As my claws came down on him, he dodged me with part of his hoodie getting ripped. From him came a scream, but not because I cut him. The sunlight must have reached him. Must still have some sensitivity to sunlight.
I went for another strike, but my claws were deflected. Before me were Chase and another leatherback standing between Shadow Fang and me. Just before I could register the newcomer, the second leatherback was attacked by the guy with the two swords, and I was slammed down by the white-haired girl. My mind was dazed with the overload of information, from Chase’s arrival to trying to not get knocked out by the white-haired girl. She was trying to find a weak point or at least an opening, but she could not keep me down. Her fighting style kept changing from precise and powerful blows to rapid jabs. Even her eyes seemed different.
From the corner of my sight, I saw the two-sword guy get pushed back by Shadow Fang’s arm. Somehow both he and the leatherbacks managed to put me and the other fighters into the shadows of an ally. Once there, his arm expanded, wrapping all three of them into the void. I was distracted watching Chase disappear, and I didn’t notice the white-haired girl drop a smoke bomb.
As the smoke cleared, I was alone, with many people staring at me. Cars were stopped, and I could hear sirens in the distance. With no immediate danger around, I collapsed against the side of the building. My head was hot, and my eyelids were heavy. So much information was being relayed to me by the same loud voice, but this time it was tamer than before. As helpful as it was, it was probably half the reason I felt so drained.
I couldn’t tell how long I was sitting there, but I could hear a loud voice speaking to who I believed was the crowd. I opened my eyes and saw the man from the music store holding something in his hands. He was showing it to the public as he approached me.
“Superhero here. Everything is under control, people. The police are on their way. You are safe now.” Once he got to me, he put the thing into his pockets and said to me, “I need you to come with me.”