War of the Shadow Ch 1

Chapter 1

Just Another Day

“Come on,” whispered a slender young man to his friend. They went silently across the foggy docks of New York City. Their white robes trailing behind them as they listened for the faintest of sounds. Darkness crept all around them, shifting and changing. Awaiting the perfect moment.

“It’s right there,” said the broad shouldered companion. He pointed at the warehouse they had just reached.

“There should be a fire escape around here somewhere.” The slender boy peered around the corner, scanning for movement. He motioned for his friend to follow. Above them was a ladder attached to a metal balcony. It was too high to reach but that wouldn’t be a problem. The sender boy held his hand towards the ladder, His mind grabbed hold and as his hand moved down the ladder went with it and touched the ground. “I’ll go first and give you signal that it’s safe.”

“Be careful, Colin,” said Colin’s friend. Colin Banks slowly climbed the ladder, making sure not to make a sound. His robe blew in the cool night air. Memories stitched on the breast gave him the confidence to do what had to be done. A blue claw, red and gold wings, and a lightning bolt stood out against the plain white robe.

You worry too much Bobby, Colin thought looking down to the older boy from the balcony. He swept the room connected to the balcony with his mind before sending Bobby a message.

Come on up.

Right. Bobby Roberts climbed the ladder with ease. His muscle gave him a physical advantage but at a time like this it would do little good. He reached the balcony without a sound and lifted the window to get into the room.

“Do you have the paper?” Colin asked.

“Right here,” Bobby said pulling out a folded piece of paper. They were in an office above the storage section of the warehouse. Colin stepped silently to the door of the office. He cracked it, allowing a faint amount of light to come into the room. He could hear voices coming from down the hall and he poked his head out enough to see who it was. Bobby went over the paper by the faint light. Three people in flowing black robes stood in front of another office door.

“Why do we need to guard these again?” asked a female.

“Because we were ordered to,” said a gruff man, “ do you want to make Hades mad?”

Witches, Colin said telepathically to Bobby. He folded the piece of paper and stuck it in his robe before peeking out the door with Colin.

It’s in that office.

It always has to be the hard way with these guys, thought Colin. “You flash ‘em and I’ll blast ‘em.” Bobby nodded.

“Step back a little,” he said. The room started to grow brighter. It was like an aurora was flowing around Bobby. He pushed open the door and sent a large flash of multi colored light down the hall at the Witches. The flash dissipated. Colin came into the hall, with three shakes of his hand he sent electricity into the three Witches sending them to the ground, unconscious.

“Nicely done,” Colin said with a friendly smack on the back

“Not bad yourself,” said Bobby with a smile. “Lets finish this job and head home.”

“Right behind ya.” They went to the door the Witches had been guarding. Colin could already feel the sickening darkness pulsing from inside. It laced his veins with a tainting film like oil on water. The door opened.

Sitting atop a pedestal, like an idol, was a small purple orb. Runes glowed and changed on its surface. Decaying disgusting darkness pulsed out from it and into the city. A Spell Generator. It seemed to sense their presence as a wall of black film surrounded it.

“Another difficult one,” said Bobby. He pulled out a long axe from the holder on his back. The two golden blades shimmered even in the darkness. Colin reached into his robes and pulled out two solid gold handguns. He aimed at the film. The triggers squeezed releasing two small orbs of golden light. Warmth pierced through the cold darkness. Bobby swung his massive blade leaving a trail of light as it sliced through the

air.

The dark barrier collapsed under the attack, leaving the orb open. Bobby swung his axe swiftly before pointing the spearhead at the orb. Runes pulsed along the handle. They became faster and faster until the light glowed constant. A beam shot from the axe into the orb. A sweet melodic note hummed as the orb cracked. First, darkness escaped the cracks, then it turned to light. With a final burst the orb shattered taking the sickening darkness with it.

Drifting smoke filtered into the room through the vents. Silently weaving around the two boys. Low growls broke the silence as yellow, glowing eyes faded into appearance.

“Damn,” said Bobby readying his axe. Colin pulled out his guns and channeled his energy into them. The smoke became solid. Large bulky creatures blending into the night, their eyes locked onto Colin and Bobby.

“Shadows,” whispered Colin. “We can take em. There’s only a few.” He was trying to convince himself more than Bobby. It wouldn’t be easy. Shadows were deadly, and even more since so their rising.

The first Shadow attacked. It’s massive claw shearing the air. Bobby blocked. Colin opened fire on the second. It moved quickly, avoiding the shots. It closed on Colin, fangs barred, claws ready, darkness pulsing. The triggers pulled in a last moment chance for survival. The screech of nails and chalkboard echoed from the Shadows throat as it faded into nothing.

Bobby swung his axe with speed and precision. The Shadow’s claws were just as strong and, or it’s large size, just as fast. Block after block, with no advantage, until the screech of the other Shadow. It threw Bobby’s opponent off giving him the chance to strike, a fatal one. It released an equally unpleasant screech before fading into the darkness.

“That wasn’t too bad,” said Colin.

“It could have been worse.” The room started fill with black smoke. Yellow sprouted against the darkness. Two, four, six, ten, twenty. “I had to say it. What do we do!?”

“Running is a good plan,” Colin said trying to count the eyes. This is really bad.

“Where? Out the window?”

“Sounds good.” Colin turned and ran for the windows behind them.

“I was joking!” Bobby yelled as he ran behind Colin. The window shattered as the two boys leapt through. Shards of water and glass fell rained down along with boys. The thick clouds blocked out the moon light. The city lights glittered through the millions of raindrops flying to the ground.

Colin concentrated and pulled the rainwater into a five-foot deep pool of water in the ally below them. They plunged into it and Colin lost his concentration. The mass of water spilled onto the ground like a flood and left Bobby and Colin soaked. A Shadow leapt from the windows and Colin quickly shot it with his handgun. It fell to the ground, turning to vapor before hitting the ground. At least these shadows don’t leave such a mess, thought Colin.

“Hurry!” Colin cried as more shadows started to fall from above. They ran as hard as they could to avoid the oncoming Shadows. The street was vacant of all life that was usually normal in the City That Never Sleeps.

Two thin, tall Shadows landed before them. Black wings folded to the back as the large yellow eyes never wavered. Bobby pulled out his large axe. It pulsed silently but it was enough to make the Shadows falter. Colin pulled at the rain again. It swirled like a tornado as it fell on the creatures in a torrent. The other Shadows were gaining ground. They had to hurry. A few feet away lay a manhole cover.

“Get it open!” Colin called over the increasing rain, “I’ll buy us some time.”

Bobby focused as Colin turned to face the Shadows. He pulled out his guns and aimed into the darkness. Round after round pierced the rain. Beacons of light flying into darkness. Only one round left. Bang! Empty. Was it enough?

“Lets go!” Bobby said. The cover was off and the rancid stench escaped the tunnels below. They jumped down the sewer hole and landed in the dirty water. The cold ran was getting to them. Slower had the wet robes made them and exhausted. Breathing was just as bad with the terrible smell.

“The gate should be around this corner,” Colin said as they rounded the corner. Almost there. Almost home.

“ARHHHHHHH!!!!” The great yellow eyes stared down upon them from the tall dark neck. Cramped into a small annex of the tunnels it roared again. It’s great mouth opened wide revealing great white teeth sharp as blades. Black and purple flame started to form as the beast inhaled. Colin flung up his hands just as the flames launched. A golden shell of light surrounded the boys, protecting them.

“I can’t hold it much longer,” said Colin. The strain was too much. His body was giving out. They were more prepared than I thought. I wasn’t ready. I couldn’t…

“You can! Together we can do it!” Bobby held his hands next to Colin’s; giving what energy he had left. The shell grew brighter.

You must believe… said fading words in Colin’s mind. The shell of light grew brighter before pulsing outward. The black flames stopped but the Shadow remained. It was stunned.

“We have to hurry,” Bobby said grabbing Colin’s arm. They went past the shadow as it whipped its head into the walls. An old rusty pipe started to split down the middle as they approached. Rust fell away as the pipe bent and twisted into a circle. Crystal clear water poured down like a waterfall. They stepped into the water and felt the cool refreshing liquid wash over them as they were sucked down the tunnel of water.

The dark soil turned to cloudy water followed by clear ocean. It grew colder and colder in the salty tunnel until a shinning golden tower came into view. Closer it came and with it a soft warmth. The chilly water became a warm and darkened city. Through the golden wall into a shinning pool of light the boys found themselves inside the tower.

The ring behind them rumbled slowly back into a tall pillar of stone. The circular room shook with the movement. Rocking the other pillars that lined the room.

“Did you break the spell?” asked an old man from behind a control panel. He moved a strand of his greasy gray hair out of his eyesight as he started to write on a clipboard. Old as he was Cain never wavered in his job.

“Of course,” said Colin, “There were more shadows than usual but we managed to get back in one piece.”

“I’ll make a note of it. How was the generator protected?” Asked Cain never looking from his clipboard.

“Some sort of barrier emitted by the generator. It wasn’t very strong but it did slow us down,” answered Bobby.

“I see. So the Witches are making more complicated spells. Seems like our efforts are having an impact. Good work.” He gave a grisly smile to the boys. Frightful even.

“How about the others? Have they come back yet?”

“Not yet but they left a little after you two. It shouldn’t be too long. Why don’t you two go get some food or a nap?”

“I could go for some food,” said Colin. Bobby nodded and they headed for the door. It swung open softly letting them into a long dimly lit hall.

“I hope they’re okay,” said Bobby.

“They’re fine. We’ve gotten pretty good at this ya know.” They stepped onto a lift. It rose quickly upwards to the one hundred-fiftieth floor of the three hundred-story tower. “Lifts sure have been running faster lately.”

“They have to be now. More to do and not much time to do it.” It wasn’t a long ride between the levels and soon Colin could smell the hot pancakes, waffles, and toast wafting through the middle of the tower.

The cafeteria took the entire floor and was littered with carts of food and drink from all over the world. Anything and everything one might want could be found on the proper cart. A young girl waved her arm to the boys. She smiled once they looked and continued to eat.

“She’s here early,” said Colin grabbing a plate of food. Bobby simply shrugged and continued to fill his plate.

“How’d it go?” asked the girl once they sat down.

“The usual, why are you here so early, Alice?” She pushed her now short hair behind her ear as another spoonful of eggs entered her mouth.

“Apollo wants me to try the sun thing again,” words barely bypassed the eggs. Bobby was to busy eating to notice but looked at her oddly.

“How very, err…lady like.”

“Shut-up!” She kicked his shin under the table.

“Ouch!”

“I need my strength in order to pull it off. I’d like to see you try.”

“I would if I could blaze like the sun.” She seemed to enjoy doing something Colin couldn’t. There didn’t seem to be much he couldn’t do theses days. She pushed the plate and stood up. The long grey cloak slipped in front of her tiny form. “Leaving so soon?”

“It’s almost six. I do rise like the sun ya know.”

“I bet.” She laughed a little before walking past them towards the lift. Colin caught himself watching her walk away. Bobby flicked him on the ear before he turned back around. “What was that for!”

“You can’t look at her like that. You might get the hots for her and didn’t you already go that route once?”

Colin opened his mouth to answer but the lights went red and the alarm started to blare. They leapt to their feet and ran towards the lift. There were only two reasons the alarm would go off. A shadow or a witch, which could only come through one of the gates.

“Hold that thought,” said Bobby as they raced for the lifts. The whole floor erupted in panic. Tables flipped and food splattered the floor. “Sheesh, they really held together.” The lift was descending as a few people started to make order of the cafeteria.

“Well, it’s not like the alarm goes off everyday is it?”

“I guess.” Bobby sighed and rode the lift in silence. It only took a few moments to get to the proper floor. Lifts passed them bye like ants. The red lights stopped just as the two reached the door to the gate room.

Sabrina stood over the puddle of black ooze as it dissolved. Melissa had her Bow on the ground as she caught her breath. “That was rough,” she said looking at Bobby and Colin. Her blonde hair flittered around her blue eyes as she took deep breaths.

“So glad you two could finally get here,” said Cain. He looked more gnarled then usual. Colin shrugged and took a seat. Not much they could about it now.

“Looks like you guys handled it just fine,” Colin said closing his eyes, “What do you need us for?” Sabrina smacked Colin in the back of the head, Her violet hair flowed gracefully even after battle.

“You’re just lucky Melissa was here, our powers only slow the Shadows down, ya know.” Colin still shrugged. He didn’t want to let them see how worried he was. It was better he stayed cool and collected instead of a total wreck.

“It’s just another day as operative.” The room rumbled as another gate started to open.