Mind of War (On Hold)

Danger in the Night

Hours had passed as Kai and Song discussed the details of the plan once they encounter the Guardians. Kai took a deep breath, "So we will use the Shadowhunter weapons that we do have to shake up the Guardians. From the different angles we talked about, the plan seems pretty solid. And I think we have plenty of contingencies, I'm just wondering why they are collecting all of those weapons."

"I have no idea yet, but Kai, you seem to see the Guardians an awful lot. Could they be residing nearby your house, or maybe even Free's house?" Song asked.

"Well, if you mean my house as the cottage, then probably not. I haven't really been staying with Bliss as of late, she's been wanting her own space. But, I see them mainly when I leave Free's house, I visit her every afternoon. Me and you shadow hunt most mornings, I don't ever see them then, so yeah, mainly in the afternoon after I leave Free's house. Why are you asking?"

"So we can start pinpointing their location. Little details like this gives us an edge. It's all about the strategy," Song replied.

"Yeah, yeah, you can strategize all night while I go home and get some sleep." Kai yawned, it was getting late.

Song could feel a strange sensation rising in her chest and she almost asked Kai to stay, but if he had asked her why, she knew that she would not have an answer.

"Are you okay?" Kai asked sensing her change in expression.

"Yeah, I was just thinking about something. Kai be safe on your way home," Song said absentmindedly.

"Alright," he replied warily, "try to get some sleep Song."

"I will," she whispered as she walked Kai to the door.

Song closed the door behind him, he had plenty of time to get home before the Shadow wreaked their normal chaos. Something felt off and she could not put her finger on it. Song could not shake the eerie feeling like someone was watching her. Was this what Creed was feeling earlier? Maybe I just a little jumpy. I might need to go to bed early. She told herself. Song really wanted to stay up and talk to Creed when he came back, but she felt she would be fresher after getting some rest.

As she walked upstairs and into her room, she heard the door open. The sound of keys hitting the table confirmed that her father was home. She left her room and peered downstairs, "Hey dad!" She smiled at him. His amber eyes met hers as he gave her a tired smile, "Hey Song."

Her and her father yawned at the same time, "It seems like we both had a long day, so get some rest, Song. You don't want to wear yourself down." He peeked into the kitchen and smiled. "Thanks for making dinner too, I'll clean up after I eat."

"It's okay, I can clean up in the morning, you need to get some rest too," she smiled at him before heading back for her room.

Song got ready for bed, but still the feeling of being watched remained. She did not remember when she closed her eyes, or climbed in the bed as a matter of fact, but her father was right. She was definitely tired and needed to get a good night's worth of rest. She was quickly claimed by sleep.

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Song was not sure how long, she had been sleep when she thought she felt someone's presence. She was so tired that she refused to open her eyes, as she laid in her bed in peace. But that eerie feeling, that she could no longer deny was calling her name, when she came to the conclusion, someone is in here. Song could almost feel the intruders footsteps.

Her mind was alert although her body remained still and peaceful. She wanted to catch the person off guard, but she felt slight pressure on her bed and a whispering voice.

As her eyes fluttered open, Song caught a glimpse of a woman's hazel eyes peering at her hissing, "Where is it?"

Song shrieked as she grabbed her pillow as shoved it in the woman's face. The intruder backed away to avoid being suffocated. Song kicked her in the stomach and was on her feet instantly. She realized that the woman was armed with a dagger with a blood stained blade. As the hazel eyed woman swung, Song ducked and pushed her into the wall.

"Where is it? Hand it over!"

Song had a brief clue of what she was referring to as she smacked the woman hard in her right ear, throwing her off balance. The woman went to thrust her blade at Song, when she grabbed her pillow to catch the blade. Song's back was against the window, as she saw the blade beginning to cut through her pillow! She kicked the woman in her knee and a loud pop was heard as she fell to the floor cutting the pillow in the process. Just as Song prepared to kick her in the face, she saw the broad figure of her father.

He grabbed the woman by her throat and threw her across the room. She hit the wall with a slam before falling against the floor, her dark hair wild all over her face.

"Song, are you okay?" He asked.

She nodded, as the woman rose again, "Dad, look!"

As her father turned, his muscular arm caught the blood stained blade as it sliced his skin, creating a large wound. His blood dripped on the floor.

"Dad!"

"I'm fine," He groaned briefly, before snatching the woman's head back by her hair and smashing his fist in her face. She fell to the floor, collapsed.

Song noticed that the woman's amulet was gray, she was possessed by the Shadows. She looked to her father and saw the his wound was turning black. He clutched his chest and whispered, "What's happening to me?" His eyes were beginning to lose their luster and his golden amulet began to darken.

"Dad!" Song shouted. An idea popped into her head and she sailed under her bed to retrieve the cherry wood box. As the box made contact with her fingertips, she heard the woman groan, "Look at you, within minutes you'll be just like me, living for the darkness. Or I could just end you now," she laughed, a touch of insanity was in her cracked voice.

Song grabbed a throwing knife as she emerged, the woman was hovered over her father, who was staggering to his feet. Blood was pouring from the woman's nose and face as well and from her father's wound. He kicked her to the floor again, she was feebly on her knees. Song took her chance and threw the knife hard into the woman's back the moment she got back on her feet.

The hazel eyed woman clutched her chest as her amulet lighten to a jade green color. She whispered, "I'm sorry Song," as she collapsed to the floor and fell unconscious.

"Dad, you're bleeding," Song cried out to him and she headed in his direction.

He looked confused, when he looked up at her he shook his head, "Cadence?" He began to stagger towards her, shaking his head every few steps almost as if to shake the Shadows from consuming him. He reached out towards her, "Cadence? Please Cadence."

"No, it's me," she backed away from him, noticing how dark his amulet was becoming. "Dad?" Song reached for another throwing knife as a tear slipped from her light amber eyes as she said, "I'm sorry, dad." With a quick motion, she threw the knife into his shoulder. He grabbed his chest again before falling to his knees. Within minutes his amulet returned to it's golden color, and the blackening wound turned crimson again. Now he had blood gushing from his shoulder too. Mr. Valor pulled himself to his feet, "It's okay Song, I'm fine, my little gem."

"No, dad you're losing a lot of blood," she replied. And that was the last thing he heard and the room started spinning before all turned black. The only thought on his mind, was that Song was safe.