Shadow of Doubt - Part 1

by W. J. May

  They passed the next string of lights, and when they came to the seventh light no longer working, they turned into the driveway of a dilapidated house. Coty opened the creaky wire gate and let Erebus go through first. Every sound seemed amplified between the house and garage walkway. Single file, they came around to the back of the house and were stopped by a very tall, large figure.

  The guard would’ve stopped any mortal in their tracks and had them rethink where they were going. From the dull light that showed from the back porch, Erebus could see the man had terrible scars on his face and neck. He suspected the disfigurement continued down, hidden by the man’s clothing. The guard said nothing, just raised a mammoth hand to make them wait.

  Erebus knew the man was a Shadow, a sixth sense told him without having to think about it. What he wondered was how this Shadow had been scarred. A Shadow’s skin should be flawless and perfect. They didn’t get sick and never felt pain. That this guy would have scars which hadn’t healed showed a warning to other Shadows. The Night Council had obviously stepped in, and he had been punished and was probably doing time working as a guard now.

  Coty interrupted Erebus’ thoughts and shattered the silence of the night air.

  “Dude! What the heck happened to your face?” Coty pointed and tilted his head to get a better look.

  “Naw-thang zat needs a sec-sec-cond look, pur-prutty boey.” The guard’s voice sounded scratched and broken, like it had been damaged. “I ca-can dew the zame to yers ifyada li-like.”

  “He’s fine, just an idiot.” Erebus pulled on Coty’s sleeve and started for the back door entrance. “Come on. Let’s get inside before you start trouble out here.” The guard had some serious anger issues, and he wasn’t about to let Coty help the guy work them out.

  “Are there enough here already?” Coty restrained against Erebus’ pull, his body half turned trying to talk to the guy.

  “Enuf.” The guard crossed his arms over his massive chest and turned away to face the empty, neglected yard. The back of his leather jacket had a skull with a gun that’d been shot and showed blood pouring out of the eye sockets and nose.

  Erebus relaxed when Coty turned to follow him. They walked across the warped porch steps. Erebus held his breath as they entered the house and walked down the narrow staircase to the basement of the house. It was more of a cellar, and the steps were made of wood that had nearly rotted away. When they reached the bottom, he inhaled a thick, musty stench that seemed to ferment inside his nostrils. It was putrid and probably thick enough to seep into his clothing.

  Dim lights led them down a constricted hallway to a larger, open area. The area seemed well lit, but the ceiling was very low. Erebus tried not to smirk when he heard Coty swear behind him after he banged his head. Old insulation, dust, and whatever else filtered and sprinkled down through the air from Coty’s noggin meeting to the edge of the ceiling.

  His grin disappeared, replaced by a sombre expression, when they entered the room. The house might be a rat’s nest, but this room belonged in a palace. It was like stepping through some portal, but Erebus knew that was impossible. However, the glass floor, gold walls, and pillars did make the room seem magical.

  Shadows stood in a large circle, not talking or even paying attention to who entered. They stared at the figure in the center of the room. A female sat tied to a chair, nearly naked. Most of her clothes had been ripped and torn away. She faced away from Erebus, and he could see bruising and cuts on her bare back. Blood and vomit pooled around her feet. He opened his mouth to avoid breathing through his nose, knowing the smell didn’t belong in this room. The rancid, sour smell hit him so strong he could even taste it.

  Erebus moved to the left of the circle and stood behind several other Shadows. He had no intention of making his way to the front line. He swallowed hard as he watched Coty move in the opposite direction and push his way through those standing to the five seated in high-back

  throne-style chairs.

  The Night Council were Shadows in charge of disciple and punishment. Stunning women, clothed in Renaissance dresses, who believed they were goddesses in their own right, even down to their golden high heeled shoes. Their names were engrained into Erebus’ brain like his own name: Disciplina, Indivia, Furena, Laverna, and Poena. They sat there on their judgement thrones waiting to pass verdict on this poor, human girl.

  Coty slid past the front line of watchers and stood in front of the wooden table. He leaned forward across it, his hand spread wide on the wood and spoke quietly to the Night Council. Erebus couldn’t hear what was said but could tell from his rigid posture and refusal to acknowledge the girl; Coty didn’t want to be there. His friend made a curt nod to the Night Council and moved to the left of the elaborately carved table, facing the girl with forced vacant eyes staring nowhere.

  Not good, Erebus thought. Either Coty couldn’t help the girl or he himself was in big trouble. Erebus moved to get a better view of his friend, the girl and those behind the table.

  The Night Council wore matching long golden cloaks over their dresses. Erebus thought they looked more like capes and was reminded of Coty’s earlier conversation about vampires. These five could pass for night creatures with their pale faces and beauty which looked chiselled from stone. They might be physically stunning, but their eyes looked evil. Erebus had wondered more than once if they took delight in the punishment of humans and others Shadows.

  Poena stood, her heels tapping loudly in the near silent room. She glided over to the female in the chair. Every move she made appeared calculated and snake-like. The room grew more hushed. Poena grabbed the female’s chin and forced her head up. The girl’s raven black hair fell from its loosely tied bun and rippled as Poena shook the girl.

  “You know what we are, child?” Poena’s voice came out soft but full of accusation.

  A chill ran down his spine, and Erebus wondered what the poor girl must be feeling. Relief and guilt filled him. Relief he wasn’t able to see her face and didn’t know her. Guilt immediately followed because of his relief and that he was helpless to do anything for her.

  The human must have replied, but Erebus had been too lost in his own thoughts to hear her.

  A vicious, morbid laugh escaped from Disciplina, sitting at the table, a long cigarette in a thin holder between her fingers.

  “Who are you?” Indivia asked.

  “Does it matter?” The girl shrugged, sounding defeated. “I’m human. Just a college student having a good time.” Her voice became a whisper towards the end.

  “Who told you of us?” Indivia demanded.

  “N-No one. I slept with some of your guys, and after I’d been with the shadow-girl,” the girl nodded her head in the direction of a female standing not too far from Coty. “I figured it out. It was easy.” The girl sounded proud. “Especially after I fooled around with the girl and the guy together.”

  “You were so smart to figure us out all on your own?” Indivia mocked. She looked like a snake coiled and ready to spring.

  “It wasn’t hard.” She shifted in her seat so her chin came free of Peona’s hand. The remaining overstretched strap of her shirt slipped down her arm, revealing a mound of breast flesh. “If I say that someone told me, can you let me go?” The girl looked around the room as far as her head could turn.

  Furina jumped over the table, faster than Erebus though possible in the layers of dress she wore. Furina slapped the girl, the sound echoing in the room. She then punched the girl in the stomach. “You have the audacity to try and bargain with us?” She hissed.

  “What else am I supposed to do?”

  “Fear us!” Furina screamed. “You know what we are.”

  “So what if I know you’re some kind of freaks? It isn’t like you possess any special powers.” The girl sounded annoyed. “What do you want me to do? Pretend you’re some kind of god and toss flow–” She stuttered when Furina slapped her twice; blood flew across the shiny floor. Furina wrapped her hand around the girl�
�s neck. The girl struggled but could go nowhere. When Furina stepped back, the girl spoke in a throaty voice, “Sorry, I meant goddess. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it.” She began to cry. She made no noise, but her entire body shook and trembled.

  “Are you trying for the sympathy vote?” Furina’s nostrils flared. “I want to become one of you,” the girl whispered.

  “Impossible.” Peona laughed, a loud high pitched bark. Erebus wished he could leave. His stomach churned and he felt ill. He shouldn’t have come.

  “I-I n-never meant t-to find out.” Blood ran down the girl’s hand as she tried unsuccessfully to get her hand free from behind her back.

  “Doesn’t matter. The minute you learned about us, your fate was sealed.”

  The girl’s shoulders slumped, her head dropping forward. The fight seemed to drain from her. “Please…please…please,” she whispered over and over again

  “Things change when death knocks on your door, doesn’t it, sweetie?” Poena’s voice purred. She looked around the room, venom in her eyes. “Let this be a lesson for all of you. Share our secret and not only will we, the Night Council, find out, but the human and the Shadow’s life will be diminished. This one is diminished tonight, and those of you involved must remain behind.

  “You know how set apart you are to be created as a Shadow? Yet, many of you think you’re bigger than the Night Council. You’re paid handsomely to keep your secret and yet, you fools still make mistakes and bring problems to our door. Our door!” Poena stomped a foot, and marble cracked beneath her. She strode around the inner circle, pointing and touching those within reach. “You have immortality. You’re all idiots!” Poena screamed. She strode over the center of the circle and shoved the girl so her chair tipped over. The girl lay on her back, her mouth open in a silent scream.

  Indivia rose from her throne. “The Night Council set up laws for all of us to live by long before many of you were even created. Those simple rules are for our survival. We are immortal, but we’re not invincible. We are vulnerable, and do you think for one moment, these humans will not cage us like animals? They wouldn’t understand we need to be within our shadow by dawn. We can only survive from sunset to sunrise. Are you fools too stupid to remember that as well?

  “We would no longer be able to mix among the human race if one or more of us were caught. That is, if any of us were to survive once our secret was out. Tell one of them and you might as well have a billboard add or internet advertising banner. It has always been zero tolerance for us. That’ll never change.”

  Poena strode back to her chair, resting her hands on the back. Her knuckles became whiter than the paleness of the rest of her skin, but her face grew red. “Get out. All of you! The men who slept with this woman stay, and the female Shadow will be found out and made an example of. Remember this,” her arm swept across the room, “all of you, and don’t make the same mistake.”

  Coty stepped forward and bent down, reaching out to straighten the girl’s chair. He leaned close to the girl’s ear.

  “Leave her!” the Night Council shouted in unison.

  Indivia spoke to the circle. “The Night Council has work to do. We have your mess to clean

  ate at him. She begged and pleaded for her life.

  The noise didn’t belong in this magical room, but it belonged in the rundown house and putrid hallway. He ran up the stairs to get outside. He saw the guard standing on the deck with a toolbox and large black plastic bundle. He didn’t pause to consider why the guard needed it. One look was enough to explain. It was all so wrong.

  Breathing seemed impossible. Erebus struggled to supply the amount of oxygen his body was begging for. He heaved in long drags of cold oxygen, blowing hot clouds of breath which disappeared into the night air. Slowly controlling his racing heart, he thought about Coty, which only set it thundering again. Pausing in front of the house, he debated on waiting for his friend. Deep down, he knew Coty would be detained for a while, but he’d be safe. The Night Council wouldn’t hurt those involved who hadn’t broken the law. Coty hadn’t told the girl what he was; he’d just made the mistake of sleeping with her.

  No wonder depression clung to Erebus like a second skin. He hadn’t been to a Night Council gathering in years; now he remembered why. He detested his kind and hated himself. Nothing he could do would save that poor girl. If he stepped in now, they’d both be killed. When the Night Council made their decision, it was final. Arguing would only lead to distrust and punishment.

  He’d been there once and learned his lesson. He needed to do what Shadows always did best, walk away.

  Right now, he just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible and try to clear his head.

  Screw walking away, he wanted to run.

  Chapter 4

  Rum Jungle

  A cool breeze stirred, and Erebus shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets. He’d grown tired of running. He’d slowed to a jog and then finally to a walk, head down, watching one foot lead the other. Even if his conscience hadn’t registered it yet, he knew where he was going.

  Leaving behind the crappy end of town with the hidden palace, he continued past tall office buildings towards Lake Street. He could already hear the sound of the waterfall from Falls Creek above the traffic noise.

  Once inside the park, he could finally begin to breathe again. His feet took him towards the hundred-foot waterfall where he finally lifted his head. In the dark, he could see the white foam from the water. Falls Creek was the crowned jewel of the Ithaca gorges and for Erebus, his survival place. It was what had drawn him to Cornell in the first place.

  He stared at the water, watching it fall without end. Kind of like my life. I’m falling, and it’s never going to end. There’s no way out of this. He sighed, his thoughts drifting to the one thing that had actually made him feel different for the first time in a very, very long time. I need to stay away from Aurora. The meeting gave proof to that. If she ever found out, she’d be the girl tied to the chair. Even if that were miraculously avoided, she’d never be able to comprehend who, or what, he was.

  Coty had given him good advice. He had to be careful. It was clear as day Shadows weren’t allowed to interact with humans, except to use them. Their entire being cried out for simple, instant lustful gratification. Hell would hold no terror against the Night Court if they heard a Shadow was looking for love. They’d never believe it, anyways. Shadows had no idea what love could even mean.

  Why did he have to be so damn different? Like Coty, the rest of the Shadow world had no problem living the high life. He couldn’t imagine one of them that was different like him.

  Thinking of the others, he was reminded of a certain female Shadow who would create mayhem if she ever found him with a human. Nanny would destroy him if she even considered the possibility he could love a mortal. Nanny could probably do more damage than the five Night Council queens combined.

  He settled onto a wooden bench that overlooked the waterfall. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees and made a conscious effort to think like Coty.

  Keep it simple. Hang out, have some fun, then leave. People had relationships with no strings attached. Other Shadows did it all the time, and so could he.

  If I feel I’m getting in too deep, I can leave. Find a new spot, a new waterfall. He’d never been to Niagara Falls; maybe a stint in Canada might be a good change of pace.

  A repeated vibration brought his thoughts back to where he was. He pulled his phone out and flipped the screen on. He already knew who it was. Aurora had sent another text.

  Aaron Buss, this is my last text. I know this is the right number. Drank toooo many spiced rum n cokes. R U ignoring me? My gals think U R a ghost.

  Despite the events of the evening, the corners of Erebus’ mouth twitched upwards. First a vampire and now a ghost, what was going to be next?

  Screw responsibility. He’d act like a Shadow tonight and not care about the repercussions. There wouldn’t be any. He’d get
a taste of Aurora and simply walk away before dawn. Once he had a taste, it would be enough.

  He rose and started jogging towards Lake Street to hail a cab.

  Erebus leaned against the bar inside the Rum Jungle. He ordered a Molson Canadian and a pitcher of Captain Morgan and Coke. The place was already packed with people, music blaring, and the dance floor crowded. He watched the dance floor a few moments and then scanned the room as he waited for the bartender. If he didn’t see Aurora he’d drink the beer and then leave. His heart sped up erratically when he spotted her. She stood, laughing with a group of girls on the other side of the dance floor.

  He held his breath while he admired her body, unnoticed from across the room. Iridescent sparkles from her tank top drew his gaze to her round, perky breasts. Black jeans fit tight against her toned legs and buttocks. His body ached with a primal desire. He wanted to touch her, to experience the feel of her creamy skin and see if it heated from his contact.

  His eyes traveled from her hands up to her slender shoulders. She liked to talk with her hands. She wore her hair straight tonight, making him wonder if it was naturally curly. They’d have to spend the night together for him to find that out. He reminded himself to blink and breathe. He was getting way ahead of himself.

  The bartender brought his order, which he paid for, and out of habit, included a large tip. He checked himself in the mirror behind the bar before turning. His dark hair rested in place, hardly mussed from the run to find a cab. He was surprised to see his steel eyes actually looked shiny tonight, and he had no idea why.