Shadow Taking Over

12- Unexpected

"Who says you're going to bring me in at all?"

Senka swiped at him, tearing his white tee shirt in four separate tears. The tips of their claws inflicted the skin without leaving a mark behind. Ace groaned and clutched his chest. In swaying steps, he increased the distance between them. Senka did not attack again. They waited. They watched.

Ace leaned over to a small open space between the wall and the shelf. From there, he retrieved a belt of knives. The knives were of varying metals, cuts and types. Ace dragged his finger over the line before choosing one of the thicker models: a hunting knife. He then looked to Eve, glancing over her as if sizing her up. He tossed a twins set of finer, combat efficient knives toward her feet. The knives passed through Senka with ease. Eve backpedaled quickly as they clattered on the hardwood. At first, she bent to pick the knives up. Then, she decided against it and took a wary step back.

"If you intend on taking me, you will do it yourself," Ace said. "I am not going to fight whatever that thing is."

"I'll melt them," Eve replied.

The shadow seemed to have an idea. They faced Eve, dipping their head low to the ground to peer at the knives. The grotesque beast dissipated so that Senka could transform again. Senka needle-nose dove onto the tip of the blades to make them jump. Eve caught each with surprisingly accuracy. Before the heat of her hand could attack the metal, Senka spread out their body over each knife. A long chain of black now connected the hilts so that Senka could spread over both. Eve's fire could not surpass Senka. In awe, and slight confusion, Eve looked over her new weapon.

"Good." Ace smiled. "Now then, this is your last chance to retreat from whatever you were sent here to do."

Eve seriously considered taking this offer. How easy would it be to sink into the shadows and slip away? How easy would it be to leave the state, leave the country? Would Lance find her?

Her flickering gaze caught sight of the brand on her wrist. No. She could not escape Lance. She had to follow his orders. Eve grit her teeth together and tightened her grip on the hilts. Despite how much she despised her father, and everything he was planning for her, Eve found herself having fun. Actual enjoyment out of this whole experience this far. Even with all of the missteps along the way, she thought, this was the best time she had had in long while. Although she didn't want to do this part, and wasn't exactly sure how to...

"I have no choice," Eve concluded.

That clicked something in his mind. Ace reversed his grip on the hunting knife and held it horizontal. He waited in absolute silence.

And now she was here, standing, waiting to strike. The only combat skills she obtained in her years of living were basic defensive and offensive moves with fists. Alice taught her what she knew when Eve reached the age of seven, but she later refused to continue the training after deciding to lead a life of pacifism. That plan went down the drain. Her higher points of training were in the defensive field. Judging by Ace's stature, he was an offensive attacker.

He rushed her, catching her completely off guard. She barely had time to deflect the blow to her chest. Eve took a minor step back and wildly sliced at his torso. With a sidestep, he avoided the attack and countered. The back of the couch took his blade as she pivoted. He used his empty hand to jab her jaw. Stunned, she stumbled on shaky legs. Ace punted the couch into the wall to free his weapon. Eve brought the knives in front of her defensively. He went for the kill.

Time slowed. Darkness gathered at her spine, digging into the creases to force her back to arch. Her hair, skin, muscles, bones, and down to her internal organs, phased and were replaced by shadow. The hunting knife travelled past her without a hitch. She melted into the floor and swam for the nearest dark patch.

"Well now that's just cheating." He grinned.

Eve huddled in the farthest reach of the table's shadow. She watched him circle the room, eyes to the floor. Slowly, when his back turned, she slithered out of hiding. Her eyes set on the exit. Yes, she had to somehow capture him, but perhaps now wasn't the best moment. A sudden crack broke the surface between the shadow and the floor. Ace was above her, crouched on a knee. He stabbed his blade into the wood just inches from her. Eve zipped away, hopping from shadow to shadow. He followed suit with his weapon, stabbing and thrusting the blade every which way she turned. To avoid one blow, she leapt out of her shadow form. She rose up from the floor seconds before his blade could impale her. The landing wasn't perfect, but it gave her the opportunity to land one blow. Her fiery fist collided with his jaw. Without proper footing, she flailed.

Ace cast the hunting knife aside and went for her neck. He spun, sending his foot hard into her abdomen. Eve flew a short distance and smacked a wall. Senka and her weapon clattered out of reach. Grunting in pain, Eve slid downward. He closed the gap between them. His forearm pressed against her throat to keep her very still. Eve attempted to burn him. Her hands weakly clawed at his arms until she could find a grip. He applied more pressure. To her surprise, it wasn't working. She squeezed his arm as tight as she could, but he would not burn. As Ace kept choking her, her oxygen levels were decreasing at a plummeting rate. Without proper oxygen flow, it seemed as though she could not leave a single scorch mark on him. Her skin was lukewarm. She wanted to send her shadows at him, however it was a bit difficult to concentrate at the moment.

He leaned in. His whisper sent unnerving chills throughout her body.

"I'm going to let go, but you will remain against this wall. If you attack me again, you die. Understood?"

Eve gulped fire and nodded quickly. As promised, he released his hold on her and took one step back. Eve inhaled sharply and gagged. Shadows rushed to her neck, tending to the marks that defined the surface. She caressed two fingers over them. Words wouldn't come. She merely stood there in horrified silence.

"Now then, I'm glad we could sort that out."

He crossed the room and retrieved his glass of alcohol from where he had left it. It had surprisingly survived the fight. Eve gave the room a quick sweep. The place was a wreck. It now had a likeliness to the neighboring apartments. Or perhaps a tornado had blown through. Ace collected his knives hand stowed them back where he had found them. He looked generally unscathed, besides where Senka tore into him. Plus, a very small imprint of her fist painted his jaw.

"Who.. who are you?" Eve breathed.

"I was thinking that you could tell me the same thing."