Queens of Darkness

Chapter Two

"There, I see it!" Kara called, pointing across the alley way.

I followed her gaze and spotted it instantly. My years of working in the dark Netherworld with the shadowy demons had trained me to have excellent night vision, although Kara's Guardian Angel skills hadn't been entirely lost on her either. Something about this demon was different though—it didn't look like any demon I knew. Just watching it made my stomach lurch.

We tracked it from the hall outside the apartment to the streets below. It was a tricky one. Following it wasn't easy. It seemed to be more intangible than solid, like a liquid shadow jumping from eave to doorway to car. Now we found it lingering on a wall.

"It seems to be going somewhere," I said, beckoning to Kara.

"Are you sure about this is a good idea? I feel like this is one of the most dangerous things I've ever done, and I feel I've done a lot of dangerous things before."

"Before, you were flaunting that as a plus. We'll be fine," I reassured her. I just hope my backup plan works.

Kara must have seen the worry on my face because she put her hand on my shoulder as an act of comfort. I resisted my instinctive reaction to recoil. Its only Kara, I reminded myself.

"Now look who's jumpy," she said, her voice helping me to calm my nerves. "Have confidence. Now that I think about it, I'm sure this isn't the first time we've faced danger together."

Her words brought back memories of my death at that treacherous warlock's hand while trying to save my sister. Miraculously, I was saved by the lady in the sky mansion, who told me she believed I deserve a second chance.

"Hey, that's weird."

My head whipped around as Kara's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "You're right, the shadow's looking at us... Now what's it doing?"

We watched in bizarre fascination as the shadow split into two more. "It's undergoing mitosis," Kara joked.

The two shadows turned their yellow eyes on us, then zoomed off in opposite directions.

"We have to split up," I said. "I'll go right, you go left. If one of us loses it, head back to the apartment building and wait for the other."

"Gotcha." She took off after the left shadow, and I began tracking the right.

As I ran down the dark streets and alleys, I felt a familiar presence. Demons. My shadow had stopped on a building, though out of fear, in taunting, or waiting for me, I couldn't tell. Could it sense the demons too, or my connection to them? Fearing a trap, I didn't want to take my chances. Whatever—or whomever—had created these shadows was pretty powerful. I glared at the shadow as if my gaze could keep it there while I initiated my backup plan. Turning, I picked the lock to the door behind me and ran up the stairs, stopping at a door. They were definitely in here. I kicked the door in and found two regular demons and three higher demons, one of which I recognized. A Seir was standing nearby.

"Morterdu!" I snapped. The higher demon turned his soulless black eyes to me, which widened when he recognized my form.

"Queen Lilith!" he gasped, dropping to his knees. The other demons followed, but the Seir remained standing.

He raised his eyebrow. "Who is this?" he asked, suspicion dripping from his voice.

"Show some respect. This is Queen Lilith of the Netherworld," Morterdu growled at him.

Reluctantly, the Seir knelt, still eyeing me doubtfully. I glared back. His eyebrow arched, but he quickly dropped his gaze.

"Insubordination is punishable by death," Morterdu interupted. "Would you like me to eat his soul?"

"Not this time," I replied. I turned to the Seir, letting my old steel enter my voice. "Be grateful for my mercy. Next time, I won't be so lenient, Darkling," I spat coldly. He nodded, and I resumed my address to Morterdu. "I came here for your assistance. I've been tracking a strange demon-like shadow in an attempt to find its creator, but they seem very powerful. This magic is not like I've seen before, and there is no one I trust more than you to help me in this." Except maybe Kara.

Morterdu dipped his head. "Gladly, My Lady."

"Do you still command the Demon Army?" I asked.

"Indeed," he replied. "And the older ones will still listen to you."

"How will they recognize me as a mortal?"

"Same way I did—that hair is impossible to forget," he said. I could have sworn I saw him smiling.

"Good demons, was that sarcasm, Morterdu?" Funny, my sister had said the same thing. "Alright, let's go," I said firmly.

I descended the stairs, with Morterdu and the others following. When I got outside, to my surprise the shadow was still waiting for me. "It's still here..." I exclaimed softly in wonder.

"Well what are we waiting for?"

"Nothing. Shall we?"

The shadow jumped off the wall, and we tracked it, winding this way and that way through the streets until it came to a halt. I peered around the corner into the open courtyard and nearly had a heart attack. My sister Kara was frozen in wax.

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This is the one going to Sarah. I dedicated the last one to get so she'd see it, but I'm switching it to this one now since it's already been posted. I'm working on Chapter Four now. Hopefully, I'll be done by November 15th. I plan for 10 chapters about this length for this short story fanfic. Comments, advice, corrections encouraged. Talk to y'all later!

-Misty out