Finding Darkness

Chapter 19

We all grow serious, Astral trembling a little. He keeps saying something about the evil that's coming. I don't know. Again, I don't pay much attention to the words.

"So, this could be the work of that shadow you saw, Cat," I muse.

Cathy nods.

Astral looks at us both, surprised etched on his face. "By 'shadow,' you mean...?"

I nod. "Yeah. The one you call 'Black Mist.' Can you tell me anything yet?" I watch him closely for any of the signs when we're on this topic.

Astral takes a shaky breath. "I cannot," he says simply.

"Why not?" I ask, surprised that he won't tell. "You're the one who keeps talking about him. You should be able to tell me something."

"I am aware of that, Yuma." He clutches that paper in his hands as if it's the only thing that's keeping him from going mad. "But he does not like humans knowing of his existence. He made me swear that I would not tell. He took measures I cannot say."

"Like what?" Cat asks gently.

Astral stops talking now. The paper is nothing now but a crumpled ball, and even that is an understatement. We all exit the lab. I slide the door back to its place as a wall and lock it up. Astral jumps as a tap on one of the hall windows is heard. He goes to see what it is.

"Stay here," he warns. "This may take a while."

Cat and I wait for a few hours. When he doesn't come back, I say, "I'm going to go see what's up, okay?"

Cat nods. "Alright. Be careful. It might be something dangerous."

"Okay." I cautiously walk out of the study. I hear Astral's voice talking to someone, but I don't know who it is. He sounds almost like him, except evil and dark. I move closer so I can see them both but they can't see me, and I see the shadow that Cathy described. I can catch their words now.

"I trust you didn't reveal my existence to anyone, Astral. It would be a shame if you did," says the dark voice. He laughs with amusement. The voice belongs to a figure that looks like Astral in every way except for the full-black eye, the red markings, the black coloring, and the smug look. He leans in the open window, his arms resting on it with a knife weaving in and out of his black fingers with ease.

"There would be no way I could tell, and you know that very well, Black Mist," Astral says, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Besides, one already knows you are here. She also knows how you look. She saw you in broad daylight, too. The day you decided to pay a quick visit to the burned building."

Black Mist snickers. He smiles at Astral. "Tell me where she is." He gives him an innocent look. "I promise that her death will be quick and painless."

Astral stiffens. "Why would I tell you? You'd torture her just like you would very much like to do to me. I can sense in your mind you would enjoy every second of it." I can hear the hostility in his voice.

Black Mist laughs. "If you don't tell me, I'll just have to kill your little human friend there." His gaze settles on me. Uh-oh.

"I told you to stay put!" Astral exclaims as he rushed toward me. At the same tome, Black Mist dashes in my direction, his knife ditched and a smile wide enough to reveal fang-like canines. His claws are positioned to stab my heart.

I brace myself for the blow that's sure to come, and I shut my eyes so I don't have to see his evil look of blood-thirst. Nothing happens. I open my eyes and see Astral on the ground, clear blood flowing non-stop from his side.