Eminence in shadow - Not Shadow

For The Master.

Alpha and Delta slowly sauntered into the living room; their eyes on every corner and crevice - searching for any observer of their actions.

Seeing no one, Alpha sighed in relief, motioning for Delta to follow with a finger.

Delta complaintly obeyed, sneakily slinking forward with bag in hand when it happened.

The lights turned on with a click, revealing Gamma in the corner; dressed leisurely in a robe - gazing at the two of them intently.

Beta can be seen hidden by a veil of shadow; her contacts gleaming with the reflection of the light, book in hand - evidently summoned away from research to observe whatever event was taking place.

Zeta stood by the side, eyeing the two with an impassive gaze; her tail swerving idly as they deepened into a squint.

Epsilon held by the door frame, eyes wide in confusion and doubt as the silence continued.

Eta subsequently strides in with a lazy gait, her eyes hazy with sleep - evidently summoned as well to observe the event taking place.

Alpha cringed; cursing internally as their eyes bore through both her and Delta intently - each running various theories and hypothesis in their heads for such an occurance.

"Lady Alpha." Gamma greeted, finally breaking the silence whilst striding closer.

Alpha turned to face her, with Delta falling in tandem.

"You're back ?" She asked.

"I am." Alpha confidently replied, turning to face her with a commanding glare - silently warning her to back off and discontinue her inquiry.

It would have worked on a lesser shadow garden members; intimidating them to back away from matters that were not their concern - but not Gamma.

Gamma smiled, nodding approvingly.

"That's good ..."

"Where are you off to so early ?" She asked, flashing a glance at Delta and her luggage.

The tension in the room became palpable when Alpha ignored her question, her eyes squinting into a glare before turning away to outright disregard her.

"Delta ...." she called out, with delta perking up in attention - awaiting her orders.

"Let's go." She ordered.

"Lord shadow has abandoned us hasn't he ?" Eta interjected through her sleepy demeanour, breaking the silent barrier and freezing the entire room in place.

The room fell silent, the hum of nocturnal insects permeating the environment as everyone digested Eta's question and waited for a reply.

Epsilon's lips quivered in denial as she contemplated such a probability.

Zeta didn't betray any emotion on her features, but the crestfallen droop of her extra ears and the freezing of her tail betrayed her true emotion.

Beta held through admirably with a straight expression, but the light quiver in her legs betrayed a similar emotion.

Gamma barely reacted, having already suspected such a probability.

Alpha cringed, struggling not to utter a curse as they waited patiently for a reply - from her or delta.

After a moment of silence she did, affirming Eta's suspicions with a few words.

"He did." She answered, the words drifting from her mouth as if they weren't her own - repeating the words putting them in a jarring perspective for her.

The five shadows wilted internally, each struggling to keep themselves together at the news.

"Why ...?" Zeta calmly asked, speaking for the first time.

"Is it because of something i did ?" Epsilon asked, edges from breaking down into to a panic.

"No." Alpha barked out, turning to face the five of them squarly.

"It's non of that." She added, trying to prevent them from falling into a sense of self-loathing like she did before.

"He just ... left." Delta interjected - giving her perspective on the matter.

"Maybe for something ...."

"But it wasn't because of anything we did." She finished, doubting her own words herself.

The Five shadows fell silent, brooding over the news again - trying to parse the reason for such an action from their master.

"Yet you are leaving too." Gamma said, finally bringing back the main topic at hand with the gesture at the bag in Delta's
possession.

Alpha nodded slowly, motioning for Delta to come closer - to prepare for their departure.

"To follow him no doubt." Gamma added with a sad glint in her eyes.

Alpha nodded again, with delta nodding in agreement to butress her claim.

Gamma's smile widened in agreement as she seemed to have reached a conclusion.

She promptly turned to face the other shadow garden members with a solemn, militaristic expression.

"I am going as well." She abruptly stated, giving them a bow of farewell for the timebeing.

Alpha and Delta cringed in shock and suprise; shocked by her statement and total disregard for her position.

"You are the second in command now !!" Alpha insisted with a shocked gasp.

"Well now Zeta is." Gamma replied nonchalantly, striding briskly to the stairs to get her things ready.

"I'm coming too." Zeta blurted out, turning to the direction of her chambers as well - passing the position to the next one in charge.

"Me too." Beta said, closing her book with a thud and turning to get her things ready as well.

Epsilon turned back in haste; scurrying to her chambers to get her things ready as Eta stood in the middle in shock.

Eta yawned and sluggishly moved to the stairs as well - on her way to get her luggage set up for the journey.

Alpha and Delta stood at the door, twitching in shock and suprise as they watched the ostensible disbanding of the Shadow Garden and the addition to their party.

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Big thanks to Sosome45 for giving me a little kick and inspiration spike for continuing this story.