The Villain Complex

Shadow Beast

Chapter Nine: Shadow Beast

There was a lump in my throat as I walked down the creaked streets of Vergessene Stadt.

"Hey, Erik?" Galen glanced over his shoulder at me, his eyes having a slight glint and a sincere smile across his face. "Have you ever been out of here before?"

I shrugged at his question. Quite frankly, I honestly didn't care to answer. "Answer him, Schatten." Darwin ordered, tinkering busily with a pistol on his belt. "Whatever."

I rolled my eyes, muttered and huffed lightly. I could feel Darwin's sharp glare burn through my skin at that moment, I swallowed back my trembling nervousness and answered. "Well, I lived in Greece for a while." I answered him as vague as possible.

This wasn't a subject I preferred to talk about.

We continued to walk, my hands in my pockets as I scanned the surrounding area. I had to be aware. I had messed with Legion, any step might be my last.

Suddenly, a slender hand grabbed my should. it caused me to yelp in surprise. I spun on my heel, my eyes widened. "Hey, Erik, remember me?"

The lanky, dirt covered man questioned, his eyes gleaming with dark intent. Oh wonderful, it was the homeless bum from a week ago. And he had brought friends, beautiful.

I scanned his body. Well, he was ugly, he also had a pocket knife. The blade looked dull and rusted. The handle of the dull pocket knife was wrapped in a disgusting piece of blood spotted cloth. This guy, he was the head of the pack.

"Yeah, I remember you." I nodded, keeping a cool head. The last thing I needed at the moment was a bunch of street rats getting an ego because they thought I was scared of them.

I observed them for a moment. They must have had some strict dress code. The guy, who I assumed was leader, was cladded in a scarlet tench coat.

The two behind him worn something that looked like jacket, but it had thin, metal plates burnt on the chest, forearms and back. I had caught a glimpse of some bounty hunters from out of town wearing jackets similar, but these were far more... makeshift.

Both of them had wooden boards with four nails hammered through. It had to be one of the crudest weapons I had seen in ages. Darwin and Galen turned around, confused by the slight ruckus. "What is going on?" Darwin commanded, yanking his pistol from it's hoister.

"I was just... Chatting... With our good friend here, Erik." He replied slyly, a wry smirk plastered on his thin lip. I scoffed. This guy was an idiot. I had already bested him a week ago, and many times before that. Well, then again, persistence is a foul's gold.

"Oh," Darwin mumbled, his aware look dropping for a more eased expression. He lowered his gun, seeing the man no longer as a threat. "Good, now, let's take care of this little punk." The homeless man sneered, pressing the cold blade pressing my neck.

Gasping softly, I summoned darkness. "Σκοτάδι, σκοτώνουν τα ανόητοι!(1)" Suddenly, an abyss appeared a few inches from my feet and Darkness soared out of the hole. "oh, crap!" He screamed, Stumbling back and tripping. Darkness let out a demonic screech and spiraled over the men.

"What was that?!" Darwin squeaked, his voice sounded shocked. "Oh my god...." He gasped as he saw Darkness. "Darwin, what are you gasping abo..." I could hear him become instantly as he bestowed Darkness.

"Είναι .... Είναι ένας δαίμονας!(2)" Galen exclaimed, I could hear a mix of fear and excitement in his voice. "Da-Darwin! I-It's a demon! A dark angel!" I could hear a faint click, which I could only assume was Darwin pulling out his gun to shoot. I glanced back at them, adrenaline rushing through my veins.

Right before the men could escape my sight, I commanded. "Σκοτάδι, να καταστρέψουν τους πριν ξεφύγουν!(3)" Darkness let out an bird-like squeak and shot towards them like a bullet.

I gasped softly, hearing the loud sound of bullets firing behind me.

One...

Two....

Three....

Three of the homeless men fell to the ground, dead. Darkness quickly cut down the last one, the leader. He didn't even make a sound as be died. "Σκοτάδι, σας ευχαριστώ, παρακαλούμε να επιστρέψετε στη γη(4)" I ordered, rather kindly. I loved Darkness, he was my companion. Darkness happily squeaked and flew towards me. "Very good, Darkness." I cooed, rubbing the dark creatures head. his skin's like ectoplasm, it left my hands sticky and wet. I laid a soft kiss on his head and watched him fly into the ground, disappearing.

"Kid, what did you do there?" Darwin questioned me, his voice in awestruck. "I summoned Darkness." I answered, turning to face them. I could see the shock on their faces. "Y-You summoned a demon..." Galen stammered, throwing hands on my shoulder. Causing me to quiver a bit. "Not really...." I rubbed the back of my neck, nervously chuckled. "Listen, kid." I saw Darwin put his gun in its hoister. "You, you got a gift."

"A gift?"

"Yeah, a gift." He treated the word gift like a piece of gum, smacking it around. "A perfect gift we can use to win this World War." I saw a proud smirk cross his lips.

Translations:

1. Darkness, kill those fools! -- Σκοτάδι, σκοτώνουν τα ανόητοι!

2. It's.... It's a demon! -- Είναι .... Είναι ένας δαίμονας!

3. Darkness, destroy them before they escape! -- Σκοτάδι, να καταστρέψουν τους πριν ξεφύγουν!

4. Darkness, thank you, please return to the earth. -- Σκοτάδι, σας ευχαριστώ, παρακαλούμε να επιστρέψετε στη γη