The Animal Inside

Chapter Nine: The Shadow Master

“What? Never seen a villain before?” chuckled the Shadow Master, glancing at our dumbfounded faces. His voice was smooth and relaxed, with a hint of smugness hidden behind his words. The club was silent. No one dared to move. No one dared to speak.

As he stepped further into the club, his shadows began to seal the wall behind him, trapping us inside. Gaia grasped my arm, pulling me closer to her. I could tell without looking at her that she was terrified. I didn’t blame her. I was as well. In fact, I was fairly sure I was shaking.

“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongues? Surely someone wants to know what I’m doing here. Speak up. Let your thoughts be voiced.” Everyone remain quiet, until a familiar voice piped up.

“What are you doing here? We are not a threat to you. What could you possibly want with us?” Noa asked.

“Finally. Someone with the guts to speak up. Well it’s quite simple, my dear. I am here to strike fear into the hearts of the people, terrorise the innocent, etcetera etcetera,” he said. “Let’s get on with it, shall we?”

An evil grin spread across his face, and he thrust his arms out in front of him. The shadows that were around his feet shot out like bullets, flying towards people and throwing them into walls, tables and chairs. Screams filled the air. It was chaos.

I looked around wildly. Everyone had scattered, hiding, hoping to escape the Shadow Master’s wrath. I was frozen in place.

Several people were trying to fight off the shadows with their Powers. Some were manipulating the air, moving the shadows away from them and their friends. Some tried throwing fire at them, but the fire flew straight through them, landing on the floor and sparking into life. I saw Noa concentrating hard. I followed her line of sight and saw the shadow she was concentrating on move violently, attempting to get free of Noa’s psychic hold. Gaia had disappeared from my side. I looked around wildly for her.

Suddenly a strong arm grabbed me. I screamed. A hand covered my mouth.

“Now, now, now. What’s with all the fighting?” said a voice from behind me. The shadows stopped in their tracks. Everyone else froze, looking at me and the person that held me. I realised it was the Shadow Master.

“Stop the fighting or I kill her.” He held out his hand. A shadowy haze floated around his hand. It was there for a moment, then it disappeared, leaving a dagger in his hand. The dagger had a clean, sharp blade. The handle was as black as the shadows he commanded. The Shadow Master held the dagger to my neck. I could feel the cold blade against my skin. It seemed so close that it would cut me if I even swallowed.

“Try to free her and she’s dead in an instant. I don’t think you want an innocent person’s blood on your hands.” His voice was cruel.

I looked around hopelessly. My eyes met Gaia’s. She stood in shock. Glancing around, I saw others begin to lower their hands in defeat. Even though they didn’t know me, they didn’t want to be responsible for my death.

“That’s better. Now then, I want you all to listen to what I have to say. Then, I will let her go and you can continue your partying. Understood?” The Shadow Master looked around the room. “Good. Now, listen to me carefully...”

Suddenly, a blurred figure rushed past me and attempted to throw the Shadow Master across the room, thus separating him from me. The attacker didn’t count on the Shadow Master’s strong grip, and I went flying back with him. We crashed into a table, it crushed by our weight. I struggled, attempting to free myself before the Shadow Master could come to his sense. However, his grip on me remained like iron. He pulled himself (and me) up. I could feel his body shaking in anger. He threw me aside, and I landed awkwardly on a broken table. I glanced down at myself, and noticed that glass from the tabletop had cut me in several place. Before I could get up, the Shadow Master commanded his shadows to bind me. They slithered around my body. They didn’t feel like much, no thicker than air. I went to move, and found I could not. I was trapped in shadowy chains. I watched the Shadow Master stride over to his attacker, who I know recognised as Lock. I could see the look of pure rage on the Shadow Master’s face, and the look of fear on Lock’s.