Hearts of Black: The Shadow Woman

by Jeremy Jexter

privy?”

  “Yes, let’s start with revealing why you came here.”

  “You told me to contact you if I have any information on the Shadow Woman.”

  “Do you?”

  “Maybe… what will I get in exchange if I do?”

  “Amelia, if you know something you must tell me, lives are at stake.”

  “Human lives are at stake. How much do you think a human life is worth next to a cthonican’s?”

  “Every innocent life is sacred. Innocent lives must be protected from harm and the guilty must be punished accordingly.”

  “Why, aren’t you the chivalrous one. You always were, and certainly deserved of the Knight Captain title”—she leaned in close and whispered in his ear—“your loyalty to your kingdom is admirable. I bet you’ve never broken a vow”—she tapped a forefinger softly against his lips—“oh, but there’s one. Mage knights are supposed to be pledge vows of chastity. You broke that one.”

  “You made it difficult,” he said, clearing his throat as his body began responding to her touch.

  “So should I apologize?” she asked.

  “If you do, then I would have to as well. What would your family have thought, knowing that a man of no noble background had—”

  She kissed him before he could say another word. It was a tender kiss that lingered on his lips. She pulled away softly and whispered in his ear. “What if you were to break that vow again?”

  “My will is much stronger than before.”

  She grinned and rose from his body, now sitting atop and looking down at him. Amelia flipped her hair from one shoulder behind her back, and placed a hand on the front of her robe.

  The first button came undone.

  “You could resist me?” she asked.

  The second button came undone.

  He watched her hand unblinkingly, feeling a warmth spread through his body. “You’ll have to get up, Viscountess, or I’ll have to use my magic on you.” He brought his hands up to her stomach, thinking of hoisting her off with a gentle, repelling spell.

  She chuckled. “Use it on me, Captain. I doubt you will, I—” just then her eyes widened and her mouth fell open. She laughed as he looked up at her wordlessly. “It would appear as though I have already used some magic on you,” she said, grinning knowingly.

  Just then a knocking came at the door. It sounded again, and again… and again. Amelia sighed and raised herself up from Dante’s body—floating upwards then towards the back of the room.

  Dante cleared his throat and got up. He paced over to the door, opening it just enough to peek outside.

  “I’m sorry, did I wake you?” Rina asked, dressed in a dark cloak under which her sword’s hilt could be seen.

  “Oh no… I was awake, is something the matter?”

  “We shall be on our way now to explore the Black Rose Fields, Naro has already gone off. He said he had something to take care of.”

  “Did he say what it was?”

  “No, only that he’d meet me there.”

  “I see, hopefully you find some clues.”

  “Yes we are hopeful,” she said. “Thank you for allowing this Dante, you could have easily sent me back to the kingdom but you chose not to.”

  “Well, it wouldn’t hurt to use some extra help on this case.”

  “Well goodnight then, we will tell you what we discovered later,” she then turned and left quickly, heading down the stairs and out of sight.

  Dante exhaled sharply then closed the door. As soon as he turned around Amelia was in front of him.

  “Quite the young lady,” she said, “becoming the mage knight vice-captain at such a young age, just as you.”

  “She is talented.”

  “So am I. Now, where were we?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  “You had some info, what was it?”

  “Are you sure you want to discuss work?”

  “As I said, human lives are at stake. I was distracted before, but now I need to know what you know.”

  Amelia sighed and released him. “The woman whom the townsfolk spoke of, I saw her in the Black Rose Fields every night.”

  “What?! So she really does frequent them often.”

  “Apparently. She always stands there alone, performing some sort of magical ritual.”

  “Why did you not tell me this when we had met before?”

  “I am not obliged to help humans.”

  “Do you hate us so much?”

  “It is merely a reflex reaction. Besides, if I had told you, then you would have left immediately.”

  “Very well then… so where precisely did you see her?”

  “In the eastern part of the Black Rose Fields, from through my window.”

  “Then I must hurry there!” Dante exclaimed before scrambling to get dressed.

  “I shall come with you.”

  “What?”

  “I know those fields better than anyone, I can take you to exactly where I saw her,” she insisted, “besides, it will give me a means to prove my innocence to you.”

  Dante put his sword on his waist and stalked towards the door. “I already told you I do not believe you had anything to do with the killings.”

  Amelia side-stepped in front of him, effectively blocking his way. “I think you have your doubts. If your heart no longer bears any love for me, then at least let me have the opportunity to quell the hate which has taken its place.”

  “I do not ha—”

  “We had better get going then, Captain,” she said, stepping to the side. Dante looked at her for some time then headed through the door and down the stairs where the Innkeeper was waiting with a letter in his hand.

  “Oh! Viscountess Amelia!” Merun exclaimed upon sight of her. He bowed curtly. “I had no idea that you were here.”

  “I do not need to announce my presence at my husband’s inn, do I?” she asked, albeit in a friendly tone, bearing a warm smile with it.

  “O-oh! Not at all! Not at all!” he stuttered, “I was just curious since I had barely been absent from the front desk and had not heard when you came through the door.”

  “It is alright. I merely came to”—she looked at Dante—“make an inspection of the rooms. That is when I found Sir Legothe here and thought to inquire as to the case of the Shadow Woman.”

  “I see, I see. Ah, Captain! Good that you are awake,” he said, now looking at Dante merrily. “Naro Verillian said you were asleep and asked that I give you this when you awoke. He said it was important.” He handed Dante a small, sealed letter.

  “Thank you,” Dante said, looking at the letter curiously along with Amelia who stood next to him.

  “Oh, no, no whatever you need, Captain.”

  “I will be off quickly now, there is a lead on the Shadow Woman.”

  Merun clapped his small hands together. “Excellent! cthonican scum, I despise them all, the violent cretin.”

  Dante cleared his throat, then glanced at Amelia who’s smile faded as she glared at Merun. “Well… not all are so violent,” Dante insisted, “Vice-Captain Rina for example recently apprehended a quite docile werewolf. He never even raised a finger against her.”

  Merun scoffed. “I suppose he knew better than to try anything against a human as great as the Vice-Captain. I urge you not to turn your back to those wretches, Captain,” he said. Amelia narrowed her eyes at him as he continued. “Anyway, I hope you find the filthy monster and cut her to pieces with your sword! Then burn—”

  “Stop it! Stop it!” Amelia yelled suddenly, her nostrils aflare. She gazed maddeningly at Merun whose mouth had dropped open in shock. Dante could feel her aura expanding outward—just as when he had questioned her at the manor, but with one important difference.

  This time her aura bore a hostile energy.

  He almost put a hand on her shoulder then stopped himself—he knew it would seem odd in front of the Innkeeper for him to be on such close physical terms with the Viscountess of Tarien.

/>   “I-I-I…” Merun stammered as he looked from Amelia to Dante confused.

  “Do not speak such foul things in front of our most esteemed guest!”—she stepped forward towards Merun—“we are not barbarians are we?” she asked through gritted teeth. “Naro verillian, who is well known throughout the land to be a cthonican, is also a guest here for the time being. How would he feel hearing such insults?”

  Dante could tell it took all her will to maintain her composure, and he hoped Merun would not say anything else that provoked her. He knew if it happened, it might be the last thing the Innkeeper perhaps ever did.

  “O-of course! I-I apologize!” Merun replied with beads of perspiration becoming visible upon his forehead. “Viscountess, please forgive me, I erm… I got a bit carried away. It won’t happen again—”

  “No it won’t, because if it does, you will no longer have a job,” she replied in a scathing tone before walking out through the door, slamming it in furiously.

  Dante looked at Merun who stood wordlessly—dabbing his forehead with a scarf he had procured from his robe. Dante cleared his throat and took a deep breath in. Such a close call. “Well I will be off now,” he said, walking off and exiting the inn where Amelia had been waiting with her hood pulled over her head.

  “Remind me to tear Merun Myrklin to pieces once this Shadow Woman issue is put to rest,” Amelia said, seething as they walked off down the street.

  “He knows no better, but one thing is for sure, if a cthonican has slain a human then I will have to do the same to them,” Dante said. “Anyway, do you think threatening to kill him will make you look any more innocent?”

  She remained silent for such a long time that he used the opportunity to peruse Naro’s letter, which read:

  Dante,

  I apologize for my brashness before concerning the war. However, noticing that we agree completely on the matter, I have something important to tell you later.

  It concerns something at the castle which… how to explain in writing… something a mage knight captain such as yourself ought to know. Meet me at the old windmill in the morning at six. I shall tell you then.

  Oh, if you could bring sweet treats, say, a sugary cake or two it would be delightful.

  Lady Rina hates them so, as you know. I ought to have stayed at an inn when I tarried to Tarien. I made the mishap of visiting her home upon my arrival and was too hasty to accept her offer for comfortable room and board. She had ensured the presence of sweets in the pantry was all but non-existent. Not even a crumb for this poor, young werecat! I have no inkling how I survived so long, I was on the brink of tears each night before retiring to bed anyway, do tarry in the morn’ alone at six.

  P.S. Show no one this letter and tell no one about our planned meeting. Most importantly, no matter what happens to me, no matter what you see, tarry to the windmill.

  Your friend,

  Naro V. Verillian.

  Dante raised his brows at the cryptic request, wondering why Naro had not asked him before and especially his words: No matter what happens to me, no matter what you see, tarry to the windmill . He folded the letter and tucked it into his cloak as the sound of Amelia’s voice brought back his attention.

  “Of course you would side with him.”

  “What? Who?”

  “The fool Merun, he is human after all. Cthonicans deserve only death in the eyes of you all.” She looked at him angrily, fiddling with the hood of her robe to better conceal her identity, as a pair of soldiers passed by. “I know you bear little love towards our kind.”

  “When one’s entire family is slain and village is destroyed by a cthonican horde, it leaves little room for other feelings,” he replied as they walked by another group of soldiers who tipped their caps to him. They would have shown her the same accord had they been able to recognize her face which was well veiled by the hood.

  “I know it has been rough for you, so much pain and hatred,” Amelia said. “That’s why you and the Vice-Captain joined the royal army in the first place, as you told me long ago”—she put a hand on his arm—“you are on such good terms with Naro, who is a cthonican. Why can you not see past what I am and regard me as you once had? You no longer smile when I touch you, when I kiss you—”

  Dante gritted his teeth and pulled her suddenly into a deserted alley, pinning her against the wall at the shoulders, “Do you know how hard this is for me? It is NOT the same with Naro. He has long been my brother-in-arms. That is our relationship, which means nothing that he is cthonican. I do not wish to kiss him, feel the warmth of his body or stroke his hair”—he breathed in deeply—“With you it is different. Do you not think I still… it is hard for me to be close to you. I am at war with your people and it pains me to have to be in your presence. Not because I hate you but the opposite… or… I don’t know, I just can’t… we cannot be together as before. You are married now in any case, you should focus on your new life and be grateful for it, and that no one else knows your secret.” He huffed as he finished his tirade, feeling as though a huge weight had been taken off of his shoulders.

  She removed her hood and brushed away his hands. “One can be grateful for many things in life. The presence of friends, family, food, clothing, shelter. Being grateful does not equate to being happy, you would know this. You know you are not happy.”

  “Perhaps I am not, but I am content,” he replied, wiping his face with a gloved hand.

  “I saw the look in your eyes when we were at the inn. The same look you had the night after the cthonican hordes attacked, when we were together in the cave, when we—”

  “As I said, despite however else I may feel, it’s hard for me to be close to you.”

  “You wanted me then, and deep inside you want me now, admit it”—she shook her head vigorously—“why fight it, you… you fool!”

  Dante grunted and quickly exited the alley, where she remained—concealed in the embrace of shadows. He could not be in her presence a second longer. Thoughts of the war flooded his mind. How many cthonicans had died by his sword? How many will he slay again in the future? What they shared in the past felt like a distant memory—blocked by the mixed feelings he now bore.

  Despite any longing desires he might have, he knew they could never be together. Even if they wanted to, his position as the knight captain made it impossible. He was the sworn enemy of her people and she of his—he thought she would be better off with the Viscount—a man of dubious repute but who yet still, had nothing in the way of his love for her.

  As unscrupulous as he might be, he had no cthonican blood on his hands.

  Dante stopped and put a thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose. He needed to focus. However, his attempt to do so was interrupted upon hearing a scream resounding from the other side of the street. Composing himself, he drew his sword and looked about—seeing a group of soldiers and mage knights heading towards the town square in the distance, their swords at the ready.

  A Tragic Death

  Dante quickly ran after the soldiers and knights to the town square where a large crowd had gathered, along with citizens who peeked through their house and shop windows.

  Dante’s eyes widened at the sight he beheld.

  Lying on the ground, bloodied, and with his own sword stuck through his chest was Naro Verillian—a black rose lying beside him.

  “W-what!? N-Naro!” Dante yelled, pushing through the crowd and looking at the body on the ground. “It… it can’t be! What happened? Did anyone see anything?!” He looked around from the citizens to the knights.

  “N-no, Sir!” A knight said.

  “We were patrolling this area and did not see a thing!” said another in astonishment.

  “I-I, s-saw her!” A little boy yelled. “The Shadow Woman! She was here w-with him”—he pointed to Naro’s body—“and then he… he—” before he could finish, a woman who Dante assumed to be the boy’s mother covered his mouth and hid his face into her tunic.

  �
�Do not speak of the Shadow Woman!” she yelled fearfully.

  “This… this is impossible,” Dante said, staring at Naro’s body as Amelia walked over to the crowd and stood by.

  She clucked her tongue. “So, it really is Naro Verillian?” she asked Dante who nodded slowly, still staring at the corpse. “Oh dear, what a pity for the beloved cthonican of the Kingdom of Nyaria.” There was no note of emotion in her voice.

  “Did anyone else see anything?” Dante asked, before deciding about questioning the little boy further. He then noticed a young man, who was a bit more shocked by what had happened than anyone else, trying to leave the crowd. “Halt!” Dante exclaimed, quickly dashing and grabbing him by the arm. He turned the young man around and held him roughly by the collar of his tunic.”

  “I… I saw nothing!” the young man exclaimed.

  “You lie! I can see it in your eyes, what did you see?”

  “P-please... don’t make me say!” he tried desperately to escape from Dante’s grasp. “Whoever speaks of the Shadow Woman will be killed!”

  “Nonsense! Say or I will smite you with magic and throw you in prison!” Dante growled.

  The young man swallowed hard. “I… the Shadow Woman… I saw her leave his body and fly away towards the Eastern Black Rose Fields. That is all I swear!”

  “Handle this!” Dante yelled to the nearby soldiers who nodded nervously and took the young man away for questioning. Dante pointed to a knight mounted upon a griffin. “You there, give me your griffin!” he ordered the knight who immediately complied.

  Dante wasted no time in mounting the large bird, then drew his sword. “All citizens remain inside for the course of the night!”—He pointed his sword to each of the soldiers and knights—“soldiers on foot, stay vigilant and keep an eye on every street and door. Mage knights, take Naro Verillian’s body away then come to the Eastern Black Rose Fields, and scour the area for the Shadow Woman. I shall head there now!” He hoisted the griffin’s reins, turning the grand creature and noticed that Amelia had disappeared.

  At his behest, the griffin flew in the direction of the town’s eastern exit. “Open the gates! The Shadow Woman has struck again!” he yelled to the soldiers guarding the large gates. They quickly pulled down on large levers beside them. The gates soon opened granting him exit. Naro chose to venture through the forest—sensing that the Shadow Woman might perhaps flee upon seeing him approach, if he flew directly to the fields from above.

  He ogled the expanse of forest before him, where somewhere in the distance, the Eastern Black Rose Fields were situated. His mind was numb as it quested for answers.

  How could Naro—of all people, who had been famous for fighting an entire legion of cthonican hordes on his own—be killed so easily, and at that, with his own sword? Where was Rina right now, and was she okay? Where had Amelia gone? He yelled with rage as the griffin entered the forest, disappearing into the expanse of shadows wherein its form disappeared in a matter of moments. Dante was determined to get answers and most of all, slay the Shadow Woman at all cost.

  The Black Rose Fields

  The wind was cold and the air was thin—it barely mattered to Dante who had his mind