shadows don't lie

Chapter Eight

Inei sat at the counter on a stool, watching Sylva make some bread. She had finished training for the morning and decided to go see the female, who had been more than happy to have the company, and Inei figured she could use the time as practice.

Talking blandly with Sylva, Inei uncoiled her shadows, spreading them out until they were all over the Palace, searching for something. With all of her training, she could now guide her shadows to reach out to encompass the entire Palace and some of the surrounding area, but it still wasn’t perfect. She directed her shadows to look for anything Azriel placed recently, and she withdrew her mind to let them search.

It was interesting the way that she could give basic directions and they would be able to follow and take initiative on the orders. Azriel had told her that eventually she would be able to have shadows everywhere at all times, telling her anything that she needed to know, or that she had directed them to learn.

“How was dinner with the High Lord and Lady the other night?” Sylva asked her, rolling out the dough on the counter. Inei winced. “I honestly don’t remember much, I think I had too much wine.” The female laughed and cackled, “Well that’s one way to do it. I believe your shadowsinger brought you back after, but I don’t know much else.”

Inei’s face turned pink as she remembered bits and pieces of the flying. “Well anyways, I’m glad it at least went okay.” Sylva continued, grabbing a tray to put the dough on. “Agreed.”

One of her shadows shivered and informed her, “One floor up, easy hallway, third door on the right.”

“Well that’s my cue to leave,” Inei grumbled. Sylva looked up at her and grinned. “He has you training even without him?”

Inei shrugged, “It’s annoying but it has been working so I don’t complain.”

“Alright, go find your mystery object.” Inei had told Sylva about the practice Azriel had her doing, and she had only grinned mischievously, saying that she would have to see if she could help, and Inei had just rolled her eyes.

Following the directions she had received, she went up the main stairs and wandered through the halls before stopping in front of an unfamiliar door. Inei pushed it open and looked around the room for what her shadows had detected, but didn't see much. She moved farther in, around the furniture were was covered with plain white sheets, and her eyes fell on a windowsill against the far wall.

Stepping up to it, Inei glared at the chocolate cupcake that sat on the edge, along with a note. Picking it up, she read the simple scrawl that adorned the middle of the paper.

“Now this is a chocolate cupcake.”  She growled and picked up the cupcake, plan already in mind for her revenge. She cloaked herself in shadows, thinking of Azriel before stepping forwards, and she appeared directly in front of him at the training balcony. Before he could react she swiped a finger through the frosting and smeared it on his face, and Azriel just stood there panting from exertion from his training.

Inei briefly recognized that he had stopped what he was doing when he learned that she was coming, which amused her for some reason. Glancing him over she saw that he was shirtless and gleaming with sweat, his veins pulsing with the beat of his heart, his shadows wrapped around his hands like shadowy gauntlets. She just watched him gape at what she had just done, and he reached up and wiped his face, still staring at her, and raised his eyebrows.

“Now that’s a chocolate cupcake.” She mocked, grinning in feral delight, and he swiped an arm out to grab her but she had already left, winnowing back to her room. Inei’s face had gone bright red as she had realized exactly what she had done. Not to mention, the sight of him shirtless.