My Darkest Shadow

Chapter 27

The sky was black when we arrived at Lila's home on the outskirts of the city. In a row of identical run down bungalows, it was set apart by the woman with the black frizzy braid standing hunched on the porch. She raised a hand in greeting when we exited the car. Kael's arm around my shoulders guided me up the steps and to the door.

Lila gave Kael a quiet, "Hey boss."

When I passed, cowering and shivering against Kael's side, the corner of her mouth tucked up in pity. I looked away from her silent appraisal. No part of me desired an introduction. Mercifully, Kael didn't offer one.

Inside, the house was crowded with boxes of junk piled high to the ceiling. Everything from clothes to chipped pottery filled the space. There was a path wide enough for us to walk single file. Normally, I would feel disgusted at the sight. Tonight I felt nothing. It made an impression only because the tight walkway forced me to support myself completely for the first time in hours.

At the far end of what might have been the living room, there was a door. Kael reached around me and opened it. Presuming we were to go in, I descended the stairs, nearly hitting my head on the low ceiling.

Though the stairs were dark, the basement was well lit. Bright white lights reflected off yellow textured walls. This space wasn't a hoarder's lair like upstairs, but it was filthy. The small kitchenette was littered with dishes and my feet fell on linoleum that was torn and stained.

Kael opened a door across from the kitchen. It was hard to see inside, but there was a bed frame against the far wall. Rest was pointless. Closed eyes would bring on Maria's lifeless face and the cold that spread through my body every time she came to my mind's eye. Even awake, I saw little else.

"Hey, boss, we need to talk," Lila said in a low voice behind me. She sounded worried.

"Deal with it, Lila." Kael's tone didn't leave room for discussion.

When I looked back, the two were glaring at each other. Lila wouldn't relent until she'd spoken with him. "It's fine, Kael," I whispered. My voice couldn't muster more volume if I tried. "I just want to be alone. It's fine."

Without waiting for a response, I shuffled into the darkness. A bulb over head flickered on moments later. It swayed back and forth above me, its light barely reaching the bed. The door closed softly.

Solitude was a poor compromise to rid me of Lila. The hollowness in my heart made every inch of me ache. It was due to Maria's absence, but I felt it more now that I was alone. Stiffly, I took a seat on the bed and stared at the door. Both my fists curled into the tattered quilt on the bed. Lila had ten minutes. Then, I would talk to him. We had to do something about Arthur.

The walls were thin. Their discussion started before they left the kitchen. To her credit, Lila tried to whisper, but her gravelly voice wasn't made for it.

"He's pretty torn up but making threats and demands like he's the queen of England." She waited for a response.

After a few seconds of silence, she went on. "What happened back there? You lost your temper didn't ya? It's a rough blow but she'll get over it. Don't look at me like that, she will ok? Look at it this way, there's one good thing outta this. We've got..." Her voice faded as they walked away.

Staring at the wall, I tried to relax and not think. Every time Maria's face came to my mind's eye I would close my eyes. Like a white board, I would wipe away the images, open my eyes, and try again to see something else. Millions of morbid plots came to mind against Arthur. If Lila had him, perhaps they'd be fulfilled.

I didn't know how long I waited, staring at the door, seeing Maria's face, and plotting against Arthur. It was longer than ten minutes. My neck, back and legs felt stiff. Rolling my neck, I noticed injuries I couldn't account for. There was blood on my arms and dress. Scratches covered my limbs. I ran my hands over my arms, wondering how I could bemoan any injury when Maria was dead, shot by a member of her own family.