Secrets of Night

Chapter 23

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One confusing conversation later, I stare blankly at the wall, absorbing all of this new information. Ok, add two sisters and five brothers to two brothers and one sister, take away three sisters and we are left with seven brothers plus your truly, so eight total. Ok, glad we got that straight now.

"Since we got you away, we need to disappear."

I shake my head, a brilliant idea popping into my mind. We might have another more long term way to throw the Pierce's from our trail and that would be a shame to waste. Especially after everything they've put me and now my family through, I think a little bit of payback is in order. Who knows, maybe I'll even get to beat the snot out of Connor if they send him after the Shadow. Now, that, that would be the sweetest revenge, I've never gotten to properly show him that I have no problem backing up my commands like he does with his threats. He clearly doesn't think I'm strong enough to be Shadow and that would be so so incredible to kick him to the curb as my final act on the way out of town.

"No, we can't do that. You ever heard of Shadow?"

He nods and gives me an inquiring expression, clearly questioning what relevance it has to us. Heh, lots, my friend.

"Yeah, a few times on the news. Why?"

I grin and cross my arms across my chest, tossing my hair over my shoulder with a toss of my neck.

"Well, you're looking at it. If Shadow disappears at the same time I do, the Pierces will know they have the right person. If Shadow is still active, they may doubt that they have the right girl. They think I have red eyes and Shadow has silver, so if we keep them guessing and looking for the same person, they'll keep running in circles."

He grins mischievously and nods, quickly approving of my plan.

"Of course you are. You are totally my sister! Alright, we'll stick around here for a while before we look for the rest. I'll locate Lazarus and we can head over to his place, if anyone would have even the slightest inclination of where the rest of our siblings went, it's him."

I nod and smile at him as he turns back to work on his computer.

"Sounds good!"

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Fighting off the nagging evening wind, I flip my hood up, shoving my hands in my pockets and extending my stride, as I patrol the streets. Tyler and I have been hiding out in a cheap motel as I have continued to be Shadow these past three weeks. Like usual, I've been causing chaos for the police and Pierce's alike, but I still haven't gotten my rematch with Connor which is a shame. One of the main reasons I've been sticking to this miserable city is in case I run into him on the street. Sure, I could go to the barn and kick his ass if I really wanted to, but then I'd risk being seen by the Pierce's and being tracked back to Tyler.

A soft whisper in the wind brings something to my ears, something unrecognizable, but something that intrigues me. The inferno piques, stirring a stream of heat through my stomach, the sound appearing to captivate it as strongly as it does me. Giving up control to my instincts, I turn on my heels, racing towards a part of the city I know all too well, but my feet refuse to choose a different path. I know where I'm going, I know I don't want to go there, but I can't seem to stop myself. My body pushes my legs faster and faster, sending me flying into the alley like a mad man, the inferno guiding me on blind faith. I leap into the air and embed my heels in what feels like a human ribcage as my eyes finally focus on the image before me.

A man crumples to the ground before me under the influence of my powerful kick, his head thudding on the concrete beneath our feet; he doesn't get back up. Vaguely aware that I have obviously entered some sort of confrontation, but not entirely sure as to what, my eyes dart around the familiar alleyway. Four figures square off just a stone's throw from where my target now lies, two heavily tattooed, but only one figure strikes me as a friendly. My forehead furrows as my eyes squint in confusion, uncertain why this particular person would illicit such a response from the inferno and the name escapes my lips in a confused whisper.