Veil of Shadows

Chapter 53. To Whatever End

Help wasn't going to arrive in time.

Shadow had been left out of Midnight's scheming - and he was somewhat glad, as it gave him the chance the make up plans of his own. His generals weren't going to make it to the castle in time to assist in their escape.

The guards would find them soon - and perhaps King Notch himself would realize where they were hidden.

Glancing back over at the others, he knew immediately that he had to do something. He wouldn't stand a chance against an entire legion of guards, no matter how much skill he had in combat.

Shadow's Ender Sense went off, and after a moment of confusion, he realized that Notch was closing in on the entrance of the hidden room. His heartbeat increased dramatically, and he looked over at the others once more.

It was, admittedly, a plan doomed to failure from the start. But he had to do something. Maybe Shadow could hold off King Notch long enough for reinforcements to find their way here. And if not...well, he would go down fighting.

After one final glance to make sure that nobody was paying attention to him, Shadow slipped into the hallway and sprinted for the entrance, unsheathing his sword as he ran.

A deadly calm had settled in his veins, and as the stone and rock walls blurred past him, he grinned. Perhaps he was racing for his own demise, but...if this wasn't a glorious way to go out, he didn't know what was.

Equinox's words had proved true after all. "The only thing Shadow has to fear is himself."

The truth was, Shadow did fear himself. He feared what he had become in order to lead a rebellion. He feared everything he had to do to achieve his goal. He feared himself because he did not feel remorse for it all.

Everything, every act, every plan and every word spoken, had led up to this. And now he was about to face the person who had been the axis of his revolution; their focus had been to dethrone Notch and bring about a better ruler.

But how could he face his enemy with courage if he could not face himself for what he'd done?

Maybe that was why he did not think twice. Maybe that was why he did not look back. Maybe that was why his breathing was even as he came to the conclusion that he would not leave this confrontation alive.

~

Ranger was pacing from one side of the room to the other, unable to stay still for even a few moments. "What makes you think that Red won't just destroy anything and everything in her way?"

"Leave that to me. I'm thinking of something." Midnight replied, deep in thought.

"Well, I hope you think of something good, because she has a thing for blowing stuff up."

"Yes. I noticed."

Pro spoke up from her seat at the table "Ranger, you're well on your way to carving a line in the floor. Try to relax."

"Relaxing is for the weak."

Ranger sighed sharply. "Red, shut up."

"Why should I? Your reactions are rather entertaining."

"You almost made me kill my best friend. I will never forgive that."

"I've done it before. Making you kill your friend, I mean."

"Don't remind me. Oh, and shut up."

"I can still remember the look of sheer terror on her face-"

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

Pro looked at her, only slightly weirded out. "Even though I know why you're talking to yourself, it's still kind of odd."

Ranger stared at her. "Odd is an understatement."

"Are you calling me odd?"

"Are you incapable of shutting your mouth for more than thirty seconds?" Ranger paused, looked up at Pro, then muttered "No, not you. Red's driving me crazy."

Pro smiled faintly. "As I said, try to relax. The more stressed out you are, the more distracted you are. The more distracted you are, the more you lose focus. The more you lose focus, there's a better chance of Red taking over."

Taking a deep breath, Ranger leaned against the wall, closing her eyes and trying to stop herself from having another loss-of-control moment.

"Look! I'm Spider-Man!" Toxic called from the ceiling, where she had managed to reach some of the stone archways above them and now stood directly above the group.

A tendril of shadow shot from her hand and embedded itself deep into the wall opposite of where she stood, and she jumped from the archway, swinging on a shadow rope until she reached the wall, grabbing a loose brick and managing to keep from falling to the ground.

"Impressive, but how do you plan on getting down?" Ranger called back.

"Doesn't matter." Toxic replied, waving dismissively with her free hand. "I'll figure it out later. I can see the entire room from up here!"

There was an awkward pause, then Toxic spoke again. "I'm acting like a seven year old, aren't I?"

"Boredom can do that to a person." Wolf commented. Blaze heard, and looked around the room, confused. She couldn't see the Brine anywhere, but her voice had been plain as day.

"I'm under the table."

~

Salia dismounted from her horse and stood at the top of the hill, overlooking the castle of King Notch. Made of white marble, rising high above the landscape, it was a sight to behold. Such a pity its owner was a power obsessed tyrant.

Looking over her shoulder, she said to the Knights "You know your orders. Engage the guards at the front gate and get it open at all costs. No matter what, above all else, we have to keep that front gate open and in our possession. Keep your shields up to deflect arrows. Down with the God-King."

There was no response this time. Instead, they all saluted silently, and Salia saluted in return. Then the Knights unsheathed their weapons and began the march toward the front gates, Salia in the lead. She kept her gaze fixed on the gates that were their target.

She could do this. She would lead this army into battle - the battle that would decide once and for all if they had a chance at winning the war. For the sake of all the men, women, hybrids, and sorcerers who claimed the title of rebel, Salia would not falter.

She would do her part, to whatever end.