DARKNESS IN THE LIGHT

Other Side

Adrian crouched lower on the rooftop, his fingers resting gently on the edge of the tiles. He could see a figure walking alone, hands stuffed in pockets. Occasionally, they raised a hand as if they were rubbing their face. He could feel a faint tingle in his fingers - that person was an Elemental. And it was too young to be that old lady who Natasha had helped. She had made his fingers feel hot. He could tell she was another Fire Elemental, but what puzzled him was how Natasha had been so at ease with her. He had been warned that Natasha rejected any connection to her past and that he would have a tough job getting close to her again. He had a feeling she had been enchanted. A subtle one,  so she didn't realize. After all, she wasn't expecting another Elemental to be there, right? 

The person passed under a streetlamp and froze. He recognized that distinctive profile and tensed. Natasha seemed to be looking back at something. She looked unnerved and slightly disturbed. Warning bells went off in his head and he began to crawl across the roof, searching for a way to swing down fast.

He could hear her voice as clearly as if he was right beside her. She was saying something about Stacy. The waitress had emerged from the shadows. The last time he had seen her, she had been very prettily put together, with hair tucked into a bun and a nearly pressed uniform. Now she looked ravaged.

She had grabbed Natasha by the arm and dragged her into an alley.

Adrian jumped off the roof, landing soundlessly. He ran towards the place the girls had vanished. I hope I'm not too late, he thought desperately. Please.

He was nearly there when a gust of wind spiralled through the area. He recognized the signature nature of Natasha's powers in the tingle through his fingers. No, not her.

A body slammed into trashcans. Natasha was kneeling beside Stacy's prone form. She was covered in blood and her fingers trembled as she checked for a pulse. He knew what she was looking for. Stacy could die from an enchantment. Because he could tell she had been enchanted. His fingers were frozen.

Adrian melted back into the shadows as Natasha emerged with Stacy on her shoulder. He heard her voice distinctly as she murmured - Adrian, strike 1.

She thinks it was me! He thought in shock. But why would I do that?

Probably because you told her you were sent to kill her, dummy, his brain replied.

Shut up. He shook his head. Great, now I'm arguing with myself.  I have to clear things with her tomorrow.

He turned and disappeared into the shadows. This is dark, he thought. Why do I keep doing this?

                                                                          ******

Natasha scrubbed the counter furiously. She was working a double shift to cover for Stacy at the café. Everyone thought that Stacy was simply sick, even her parents. Natasha felt bad for having enchanted them, but that was the only way she could get Stacy out of there without questions.

A shadow fell over her as she ducked under the counter for more coasters.

"Nat."

She straightened up with a studiously blank face. "Good morning. Welcome to Cafe Latte. Please take a seat, I'll be right over to take your order."

"Nat, please just listen to me."

"I'll be there as soon as I serve them." She slid out from behind the counter with a tray of drinks. Ignoring Adrian, she headed over to a group of people sitting in a corner booth. Her face was covered with a huge smile as she set the drinks down and chatted with them. Adrian felt a pang of jealousy as one man, a burly, black haired guy wearing a matching hoodie, laid a hand on hers. 

"Natasha, new style? You're wearing turtlenecks now?" He asked, smiling.

She grinned back. "Busting out the winter clothes, Burke. But nothing replaces the hoodie. I love it too much." She sounded slightly hoarse.

His face fell with concern. "Are you sick too? Got something from Stacy? You shouldn't be working either, darling."

"I'm fine, Burke. Just a little sniffle." She jerked her head towards Adrian. "I'm gonna go catch up with my old friend. I'll see you at the bakery later, 'kay?"

He nodded and ruffled her hair. She wended her way through the tables to where Adrian was sitting and slid into the seat opposite him.

"How badly were you hurt last night?" He asked immediately. She didn't reply. Her face hardened and the hand that lay on the table began to curl. He began to feel light headed, and found it was getting harder to breathe. "What....Are....you-"

"I don't talk to people who are too cowardly to attack me face on." Her voice was low, but a pleasant smile stayed on her face. He had no doubt it was proving to the onlookers that they were having a completely normal conversation. And they would be, if Natasha wasn't pulling the air out of his lungs.

"Count yourself lucky that Stacy survived. If she hadn't, I would kill you right here, right now, irrespective of who was around. I thought that even though you were being their lap dog, you would do it straight on, not use a weaker person. I'm leaving it this time, Adrian. One strike. You have 2 more chances to do whatever you have to, before I begin. And if you touch anyone in this town, I will pull your toenails out one by one and burn them before you. You will wish you had never seen me again."

Her fingers opened. He slumped down, sucking in deep breaths. She simply sat there and watched him with a curious expression.

"Natasha! You're supposed to be working!" A heavyset woman in her forties yelled from the kitchen door. She turned and smiled at her, lacing her fingers with Adrian's in the same movement. "Just a moment, Mimi. He's an old friend. I've served everyone."

Mimi looked at their hands and softened. "Young love, eh Nat? Never said a word before. Take your time."

Natasha smiled sweetly at her before turning back to Adrian. "Don't follow me again."

She drew her hand away. He hunched over, pressing his hand to his chest and cradling it. He looked up with tears of pain in his eyes. "You've got them all fooled," he gasped. "They all believe you."

"How do you think I survived this long?" She asked quietly. "After everyone kicked me out and practically disowned me? I made do."

"Nat, please believe me. It wasn't me."

"Who else could it have been, Adrian? Stop trying to deceive me. It won't work."

She turned her back on him.