Shadows on the Sea

Questions and Answers

The newcomer stood slowly and walked toward The Dark Lord, who gave him an exasperated look. "I told you to stay behind."

The newcomer shrugged cheerfully and transferred his gaze to Chosen. A look of brief interest flashed through his silver-gray eyes, and he advanced on the black hollowhead. Second felt his sister tense.

...But the stranger didn't do anything other than stick out his hand for a shake. "Pleased to meet you, Chosen One. My name..." He bowed slightly. "...is Victim."

Chosen eyed him, but shook his hand all the same. "If it's not too rude, who are you?"

Victim shrugged. "No one. Everyone. Depends on who you ask." He straightened. "For now, let's go with the fact that I am a friend of Dark's."

Chosen tipped her chin up in acceptance of this, and then directed her gaze back at the red hollowhead. "You didn't answer my question."

"Because there's nothing I can say that will alter your opinion," Dark huffed, folding his arms and looking away.

"Sure there is," Chosen told him sarcastically. "You could go down on your knees and beg my forgiveness and that of Second here."

Dark didn't hesitate to drop to his knees, but Victim stopped him. "That's not necessary."

He opened one hand to Chosen while dragging Dark to his feet with the other. "Can we talk?"

Chosen crossed her arms. "You and me, maybe. Me and him? Not a chance."

Second slapped her arm. "You're being mean, Chosen."

Chosen scowled at him. "You know what? I lived with him for seven or eight years, and then he tried to kill you. And your friends. And me." She transferred her glare to Dark. "I think I'm justified in hating him."

Dark narrowed his eyes at the tops of the trees and didn't say anything.

Victim sighed. "Look, we're not getting anywhere with this conversation." He took a deep breath. "Chosen One. I can vouch for The Dark Lord's integrity. He is not planning to hurt you or your brother."

Dark's head snapped toward him, a confused expression etched into his eyes. "What do you mean, 'your brother?' I'm Chosen's only sibling."

Victim shook his head wryly. "'Fraid, not, Dark." He pointed at Second with his chin. "You're looking at your younger sib."

The full heat of Dark's attention fell on Second, and in two swift strides Dark was next to Second, sinking onto one knee in front of him, emotions crowding through his eyes like storm clouds. "You're my- I thought- but-" He stopped and contented himself with examining Second.

Chosen reached toward Second to pull him away from Dark, but Sec stopped her with a firm shake of his head. "Dark. It's okay. I knew you were my brother before now, and... well, I'm not ashamed to be related to you."

Dark nodded and rose to his feet, still taller than Second even though he was only a few years older than him. "Thank you," he answered Second, tipping his head down in a respectful nod. He looked hopefully at Chosen over Second's head, and Chosen met his eyes with a glare that could have burned the atmosphere off Venus.

Dark sighed. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry," he told Chosen. "I would never hurt you in my right mind."

"It's worth nothing," Chosen snapped back at him.

Dark opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say a word, Victim hushed him. "Shhhhh," he hissed. "I'm coming."

Dark immediately threw his hood back up over his face, obscuring his features once again, and looked over at Victim. "How long until you get here?"