Shaded Death

Chapter 3- Strangers

There was laughing. Laughing.

"You missed. Again!" Giggled the stranger's voice.

"Of course I missed. I wouldn't want to hit you, darling."

Then a face appeared. She was around her mid-forties, her black hair already having streaks of grey. It was pulled back into an intricate braid that lay down her back, all the way to her waist. She wore a simple brown outfit, much like Julius'.

Shade watched this all with wide eyes, while involuntarily scooting back, used to being able to sink into the shadows.

"Oh, sure, Julius." She froze, her leaf-green gaze—Which, like Julius', sparkled with usual humor—showing a glint of uncertainty when she saw Shade. But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, and she looked to Julius, smiling, "And it seems we have a guest!"

"Yes, we do, sweetie." He paused, then added jokingly, "Which is why I missed. Wouldn't be a good reputation if he saw, huh?"

The woman let out a short bark of laughter- a single note of understanding that it was a joke, "Well? Who do I have the privilege of meeting this fine afternoon?"

Shade gave a jolt. Afternoon?! The chase that separated him from Frost had been around the sixth hour of the day, where the sun started its fall and darkness was appearing. Shade gave a small gesture of greeting, absentmindedly saying a "Hello," then turned to Julius, his brows knitted together in concern.

"How long was I out?"

Julius blinked, glanced at the woman—who Shade had yet to learn her name— then looked back at Shade, "Er, well, that would be... a day and a night... as well as today's morning up until now. So I guess one and a half days?"

Shade's brows knitted closer together, digesting the information grimly. Suddenly, though, realization dawned on him, and he released the tension in his brows, eyes widening ever so slightly. His eyes became unfocused, his mouth opening ever so slightly.

"You... You found me two days ago...?" He said softly, his magenta eyes- now focused- stared into Julius'.

Julius resisted the uncomfortable urge to squirm from where he sat next to his—currently Shade's— bed. He knew what was coming and wasn't looking forward to it at all.

"Yes, close to two days ago."

Shade stared at Julius for a long moment, magenta gaze filed with disbelief. He murmured something, then let out a groan as he struggled to swing his legs to the side of the bed and get himself to his feet.

"Wait. Huh- Whoah, where're you going? Get back to bed; your wound needs to heal, and- hey, stop, Shade. Stop!" Julius stepped in front of Shade, laying his hands on Shade's shoulders. Shade stared at him with a gaze that blazed a fire of fury.

"You calm, Shade?"

"Sure." Growled Shade softly.

"What did you say before?"

"I said, 'get me my things.'"

"Why?"

"Well, you took it from me- we both know that. But we need to know where you put them so I can get them back.

"But why?!"

"Because!," Shade almost shouted.

There was a long silence, the lady staring awkward, and Julius and Shade gazing at each other, one with fury, one with calmness.

"Okay..." Julius said softly. He turned away from Shade and into another room, where he came back with a handful of items.

"Here you are, son... but please, I beg of you, don't go be doing what I fear you're going to do."