The Unshadowed | Book 1 |

Chapter 18 ~ Dark Cadence

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~ Sinyaki, Russia ~

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Orion was listening to Fury Weekend music as he flew. His earbuds, iPod in his hand, his brownish blond hair covered by the hood of his maroon and grey hoodie, a black shirt, and jeans completed his signature look.

The electronics were cold to the touch, but Orion didn't mind. He just had a bagel, a sandwich, and a vanilla hazelnut latte. He felt completely in his zone and was in his own little world.

He almost forgot why he was in Russia until he suddenly remembered whom he was supposed to be meeting with. Demian had informed him Yuri liked rock music, so Orion thought he would get along with him.

He thought wrong.

Orion found Yuri in a nightclub, rocking out on his guitar while singing. He dropped out of college, formed a rock band called Winged Destroyer, and toured in various nightclubs. He had a less than satisfactory lifestyle, sleeping around with women after hours and drinking booze at bars. He didn't make much income, but he was very adamant when it came to his music band.

Yuri scowled at the sight of another irangel and strummed his guitar even more fiercely. Orion thought he was gonna pop a string with the way he was handling his guitar. He waited until the song was over and the band took a break before going over to Yuri, saying, "Hey, I need you to come with me."

"I'm not joining your flock or whatever," said Yuri, acting grouchy towards Orion. His wings glistened in the dark interior of the nightclub. Two women were giggling and flirting near him, obviously wanting a private night with Yuri.

Orion rolled his eyes and told them to back off. He used his volume control ability to lower the noise level of the room, making it absolutely quiet within their range while the rest of the room was unaffected. Yuri stared at him in surprise, but Orion pulled him close and said seriously, "You need to pack your things and follow me."

"Stars no," Yuri said, as if what Orion was saying was totally outrageous. "I've got a life here. I'm a rockstar, man. People love me even though I'm, like, alien to them."

"Yeah, a rockstar who's constantly drunk and wasted on the streets," said Orion, giving him a disapproving look. "Sorry man, but your sleazy life here is coming to an end. I'm taking you where you won't waste your life like this."

"No," said Yuri, starting to turn away. Orion seized his shoulder and tried to turn him around, but Yuri threw a punch at Orion, missing his head while pushing his hood back. Orion was no match for a fight, being skinnier and less of weight than Yuri, so he stepped back and pulled something out of his pocket. The sight of it stopped Yuri cold.

"I thought you'd try to rebel," said Orion, smiling smugly as he held up a tiny square electric shock device, the same kind Stripes used on Yuri and his friends before he turned Yuri into an irangel. Stripes had given it to him in case he needed to take further measures with Yuri. Turns out, Orion indeed needed to take further measures with Yuri.

As Yuri looked at it in astonishment, Orion said, "I'll shock you with this if you refuse to listen to me. There is a dangerous irangel out there. I need to get you to safety before he tries to make you into another of his puppets."

"What's this irangel got to do with me?" Yuri asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

"He wants to control people," said Orion. "He's already controlling four irangels and all the people in Armenia. If you don't come with me, he's gonna find you and try to control you. I don't think you want to become a mind controlled minion."