ShadesUmbra

I'll ride this shipping canoe with my friend in the ocean if I have to this ship isn't sinking.

[localpapereater]

Oh shipped here she comes!

For a request, I drew Ambre, one of @brownchickendog ‘s muses! I personally love her character and her design, I thought it might be rather neat to draw her in a windy sort of environment with lots of purples, so here we are.

[shadesumbra]

Chapter 14

He knew something was wrong with how often she was tugging at her hair. He had gotten used to her habits, so watching her introduce a new one meant that something had changed. Especially since it was not something she would often do in the comfort of her own home.

“Ambré, are you well?”

She didn’t answer, but instead kept tugging.

“Ambré.”

“Hm?”

“Are you well? You seem to be very distracted by your... tugging.”

“I’m fine, just, bothered.”

“By?”

“At home I would have scheduled haircuts to kee’ my hair at ‘ro’er length, as well as a solution to kee’ it tame.”

“Well, I am sure there are plenty of products on this planet that would work just as well. I use a few myself, though with different intent.”

“There are 'roducts just for hair here?”

“Why would there not be? What did you use on your home planet?”

“The juice of a kokuta fruit.” She squeaked.

“Well, we'll just have to find you a good hairdresser to replace what you knew at home.”

“Hairdresser?”

“They're also called barbers or stylists.”

Ambre's whole demeanor changed as she perked up. “I know one!” She scrambled over to a draw and pulled out a small card; slapping it down in front of Shade with a proud look on her face.

He picked it up, reading it out loud.

“Hayden's Hairstyles. A stylist for any hair needs. Ambré this is in Gotham!”

“...Yes?”

“Do you know how actively messy the city is?”

“...Noooo?”

“Well, consider this my warning. I’ll find you a good place in Opal you can go to.”

He stood up from where he was sitting, only to look down at Ambré, who had shuffled closer and was now giving him puppydog eyes. Or what he assumed was puppy dog eyes, he could only see her lip quivering.

He knew he really should just ignore her and find her a nice place in Opal, but she was trying so hard to convince him to go here.

“Why would you even want to go here? It’s not even in the state, where did you even get this card?”

“I found it on the ground when I was ‘acking u’ my stall for the day a few days ago!”

“You don’t even know if this place is still open?”

“...No...”

Shade let out a sigh.

“Ambré...”

“‘Leeeaaassseee?”

He looked down on her, with her quivering lip and folded hands, and sighed.

“Very well, let us go check it out.”

“Yes!” Ambré cried out with a fist bump into the air.

Opening a shadow door, he was not surprised when she practically leapt through. He quickly followed behind, knowing Ambré could unintentionally join a gang with her innocence if left alone.

When he stepped out, he was, in fact, standing in front of Hayden’s Hairstyles. The rainbow colored sign on white and black making it very hard to miss.

Ambré let out a small squee and pushed the door.

Only to get stuck and have Shade pull it open for her.

The door jingled, and the inside, to Shade’s surprise, was fairly well decorated. It did not look as extravagant as the sign had been, but more like a normal hairstylist’s.

The owner however....

They were clearly a dwarf. And they clearly had a thing for hair dye, if their rubix cube colored head spoke anything about them.

“Hey now sir, you don’t get to judge someone based on appearance when you look like you walked out of an historical reenactment. That makes you a hipster if you do.” They had said, pointing at him with a gotcha look.

From beside him, he could hear Ambré giggling.

“My... friend here found one of your cards, and was wondering if you could help her with a hair problem she’s been having.”

“You got it! Just take a seat in any chair and I will be right with you.”

Ambré found herself wiggling with joy as she sat down in one of the seats. Only a moment later was the person standing next to her.

“Hayden Ayala, at your service. How may I be of assistance?”

She opened her mouth to say something, but caught sight of the stylist's eyes in the mirror. She shrank into herself, embarrassed.

They blinked, blue eyes ringed with green staring at her curiously. Ambré straightened herself up and let out a forced breath through her nose.

“I need a trim on my fringe so that they go right to above my nose so no one can see my eyes, and my hair to go to my waist in the back.”

The small hairstylist gave her a smile and a thumbs up before getting to work.

Shade had sat himself down in one of the waiting chairs near the front of the salon, idly flipping through magazines that were on the tables.

The next magazine he picked up caused him to wince just by looking at the cover. A magazine that was dedicated to the crime side of Gotham. He held back a gag, but opened it anyway. Though he had to admit, while nothing was interesting to him, it was all very reasonable.

It was also made of pages from other recent magazines stapled together; most likely made by Hayden themself.

The door was suddenly ripped open, and his head was snapping towards a high, shrill voice.

“Haha Hayden! This is a hair emergency!”

The woman wore a red and black skin tight suit that covered most of her body, and white makeup.

And lord it was Harley Quinn.

“Harley! I’m in the middle of something.”

“But-”

“Sit!”

The criminal pouted, and begrudgingly slid down in the seat next to him. Shade just turned another page in the magazine.

“What’s your dealio?” The costume criminal spoke. And it had taken him a moment she was speaking to him.

“What?”

“With the old getup and stuff, you need a touch up for a play? Going to a costume party?”

“I am not, no.”

“So you’re just wearing it for fun?”

“This is what I always wear.”

“You always look like a figure in a wax museum?”

Shade let out a sigh. “Yes.”

“Well, you should change it up! Maybe hey a mohawk, or an undercut! I think you’d look great with an undercut!” She said, holding her hands up and framing his head in them.

Shade actually pulled back, putting a hand to his chest.

“Excuse me?”

“Oooh! That’s the scandalized-because-someone-young-said-something-I-don’t-like expression!”

“You just suggested something completely inane!”

“It would look great on you!”

“Harley!” The stylist barked. “You know damn well only hipsters get undercuts!”

“What about a mohawk!”

“Does this man look like he would punch someone with a metal chain wrapped around his wrist?”

“...No. You’re right. His face is too sharp for it. Sorry pretty boy.” She said, framing his face with her hands again.

He let out an annoyed sigh, but said nothing when he heard Ambré giggling at the exchange. And luckily, that was the last time it was mentioned.

“Aaaand there! All finished!”

Ambré gave the small stylist a thumbs up.

“Great! My turn!”

“Actually... I needed a thing for my hair...”

“Oh come on!”

“I can wait!” Ambré squeaked.

“Great! Move over shy-she, I have an emergency!” Harley said as Ambré hurried out of the chair.

Hayden frowned at the exchange, but instead walked to the back of the store. Unlocking a small door on a birdcage, a white pigeon flew out onto their shoulder.

“I’m so sorry. But Soup can keep you company until I am finished, and you will get a discount.”

Ambré let out a gasp. “I love it.” She reached out towards the bird.

The bird stretched its head out and bounced to the edge of Hayden’s shoulder before hopping onto Ambré’s hand.

Ambré looked like she might explode from excitement.

She sat down next to Shade, content with the bird on her hand.

“Why are you so excited? It’s a pigeon. You see them all the time.”

“Yes but I don’t get to hold them! They all fly away!”

Shade eyed the bird, with rainbow tipped wings and tail. The bird stared at him directly in the eyes. Ambré, watching the interaction, slowly moved her hand closer to Shade’s face. Soon enough the bird and Shade were face to face. Soup slowly extended his head and gave Shade a small peck before retreated to Ambré’s shoulder.

“It kissed you!”

“Birds do not kiss.”

“Then ex’lain what it just did!”

“It pecked me on the face.”

“It kissed you.”

Shade let out a breathy laugh at Ambré’s stubbornness.

“Thanks Hays! You’re a hairsaver!” The shrill voice squealed.

With a click of their tongue, and a finger gun, they tucked away the cash into the cash register. Ambré stood up and meekly made her way over to Hayden.

“Can you hel’ me now?”

“Yes! What did you need?”

“I need something to hel’ tame my hair.”

They leaned on one hand and tapped their fingers on the counter with the other.

“Like, keep from being frizzy tame? Or keep from going all over tame? Or keep soft tame?”

“...Yes.”

“Well then! I have the perf product for you!”

They hopped down from their counter and dashed into the back room. There was some swearing and a small crash, but they came out smiling, holding out a bottle.

“Introducing the all new do-it-all hair wash! Keeps hair soft, static free and tangle free! Made with all natural ingredients and smells flowery fresh! Because you’re buying a sample, you get a smaller bottle at half price. If you like, it’s sold at most stores!”

“Even in O’al City.”

They blinked at her before a lightbulb went off over their head.

“It should be sold in Opal. If not you can write a complaint to the company.”

Ambré turned to Shade, and he could tell she was going to beg him again. He had money out before she could even utter the L of her silent p please.

“Thank you.” She said, small and sincere.

Shade cleared his throat. “Well, yes. I wasn’t going to let you pay for this yourself on an artist’s salary.”

She gave him a small smile and Hayden gave a small laugh.Soup hopped down from Ambré’s shoulder and onto the counter, pecking at Hayden, demanding his treat.

Shade finished paying and led Ambré out the door. She waved to Hayden as they left, who waved back.

“That was nice! We should come back!”

“I don’t see why we can’t just go to someplace in Opal.”

“Hayden is nice!”

“They also seem to have frequent criminal customers.”

“...So?”

“So?”

“Don’t criminals need haircuts too? They seem like if they’re going to be on the news they should have the most clean haircuts.”

Shade opened his mouth, but closed it again.

“...You have a point, considering what kind of criminals reside in Gotham. Let’s go home.”

“Okai!”

After that, Shade found himself watching Gotham news carefully, since Ambré wanted to go back to that particular hairstylist one day.

And he really wasn’t surprised when he saw their name in the news for painting the front of the Gotham City Police Department building bright orange.

[shadesumbra]

Chapter 13

He wasn't expecting her to outright ask him to go out on a date. Well, it wasn’t technically a date, but by certain standards it did qualify as one.

She hadn’t asked to go to a restaurant, or a park, or even a fair.

Instead he was sitting idly at Ambré’s house, it was still a warehouse she had repurposed. He sat on a futon that Ambré had gotten from somewhere, reading. A cup of tea sat half drunk on a nearby coffee table. Ambré was shuffling back and forth doing something, he wasn't particularly paying attention. What had caught his attention was when she stopped, and had stood in front of her bookcase. Her normal action would to pull one off the shelf after a moment or so of scanning, but this time was different. She scanned,  then rescanned, and rescanned again.

He remembered the overly dramatic movement of her shoulders dropping when she leaned her head against the books.

And without warning she had spun on her heels and asked if he wanted to go to the bookstore. He had been so stunned by the sudden question that he had replied yes.

So here he was, standing in a small little bookshop tucked away in a dark little corner of Opal. The smell of paper was almost overwhelming and he was considering turning around and walking out. The store itself was extremely over packed, books were tightly fit on shelves, and those that didn’t fit were stacked on top of shelves. Or on nearby tables. However, the sight of Ambré practically stare eyed brought a smile to his face and he couldn’t help but stay.

“Are you looking for anything in particular Ambré?”

“No, just something new.”

“You’re going to have to be a tad more specific than that.”

“Well, a story I haven’t read yet. Maybe with a ‘lot twist, I don’t want something ‘redictable. Or something that has a ‘lot similar to something I already have.”

Shade’s eyes scanned the books on the shelf. To him they all looked the same, cheap writers just trying to earn a few dollars. Throwing words on a page with no thought and hoping it sells. And considering the speed Ambré was looking through this shelf, she probably thought the same way.

“Nothing interesting?”

“Only a few, everything just looks the same”

“Then why are you still looking?”

“Might find a diamond.”

“Ambré a book isn’t worth this much effort.”

“Well I didn’t have books at home. Books weren’t even a thing. It was all just ‘ictures.”

It had never occurred to him that such a thing might be the case. It was strange, a world without books.

He briefly wondered how hard it was for her to learn how to read.

The next few hours was spent on books. Looking at books, talking about books, deciding on books. To his surprise, he had quite a good time.

“Are you ready to go?”

“Ye’! Got all my books bagged.”

He quirked an eyebrow at the four bags she was holding. He turned towards the door, and only made it a few steps. A nearby stack fell on to him, causing him to tumble to the floor.

Ambré put down her bags and went to help Shade out of the mountain of books he was under, giggle.

“It looks like they like you!”

“They’re books Ambré.”

“Books have feelings too!”

He put his head in his hand but couldn’t help but snicker, she was such a child.

It was late into the afternoon when the two finally left the bookshop, Ambré carrying multiple bags.

“Did you need to get so many books?”

“I couldn't decide!”

“You could always have come back.”

“But now I don’t have to. Besides, I ‘aid they’re my books I’ll carry as many as I ‘lease.”

“Well, don’t ask me for help carrying your bags then.”

In return. Ambré stuck her tongue out at him.  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was only a few days later that Shade stepped through a shadow door into Ambré’s cozy little warehouse.

“Hello, how does the reading?”

“It goes well! I’ve been so ins’ired by some of the scenes that I just have to ‘aint them!”

“Oh?” Shade maneuvered so that he was behind Ambré instead in front of her and behind the canvas.

The painting was detailed, but it looked more surreal, as if she had taken drugs and was picking random colors.

“Ambré, are you aware that everything is the wrong color?”

“Maybe to you, but this is what my home looked like. It may seem strange to you, but your world looks strange to me.”

“That is fair, I suppose.”

The two fell into a comfortable silence as he watched her paint.

“You seem to know what you’re doing.” Shade suddenly said, cutting the silence.

“I’ve been ‘ainting a long time.” She glanced over, suspicion in here eyes. The emotion was hidden my her fringe. She looked back to her landscape painting and then to the page of the book.

Once again, the two fell into a silence. There was a tenseness in the air that only Ambré felt as she continued to paint. Each stroke of the brush slowly brushing away her anxiety.

“Have you considered selling these?”

“I already sell ‘ictures in the ‘ark though.”

“But have you considered commissions?”

“What are commissions?” She looked over to him, placing her brushdown, indicating he had her complete attention.

“People pay you extra to paint what they want.”

“...I could.”

“You should.”

“I will!” Ambré said, standing up excitedly. As she did she accidentally bumped into the stand her book was on, causing the setup to fall over Ambré was quick to try and save it, but only caught the book.

“You’re a klutz.”

“...I know.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He watched as Ambré tugged at the hem of her shirt and looked back up to her bookshelf.

“Something wrong Ambré?”

“I ran out of books.”

“When was the last time you went book shopping?”

She turned round, and he was sure she was blinking at him in confusion, considering the blank look he could see.

“...Two months ago.”

“Dear heavens, you already went through all those books in two months? You must like reading.”

He was sure Ambré was blinking at him again. But she turned her head down and pulled at the hem of her shirt.

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with liking to read that much, except the amount of books you go through,” he pulled her arm into his so that they were hooked together.

“To the bookstore?”

She looked at him again, and he could see the clear confusion. The small tilt of her head, the slight parting of her mouth.

“To the bookstore. Can I choose?”

“No problems with that.”

She walked him to the bookstore of her choice, a small little shop tucked away in a cozy little corner of the city. Books were stacked just about everywhere, and it seemed like there was an endless wave of them in all directions.

“Good heavens Ambré where did you find this? Silly question, right here, I should be asking how you found it.”

“I was just walking.”

“A lucky find if I do say so myself.”

She tilted her head at him as he rolled up his sleeves.

“There are quite a lot of books to go through, no wonder you only found a couple the last time you came. There’s no organizing system,” as he picked up two books of different genres that had been sitting next to each other.

“I left with four bags.”

“A couple, a few, four bags, same difference.”

She watched as him as he started to organize the books on the closest table, and then started pulling from nearby tables.

He looked up when she brought over a stack from a far table, and she was all but glowing.

The two spent the day organizing the books in the book store, and having a blast. As they organized they found books that Ambré might like. They talked about possible buys and laughed at covers.

At the end of the day, far after the shop had closed, Ambré left with six bags of books and the two left the shop more organized than it had ever been. Shade strolled next to her, holding a bag of his own.

Shade looked over, he could have sworn that Ambré was glowing.

“You seem to be happy with your day.”

“I go through books so quickly at home, it seems I should just buy the whole store!”

“A sentiment I often think to myself.”

Ambré glanced over to Shade once more, studying him for a moment.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Why would I not be?”

“...No reason.”

“If you’re sure. You do know you can talk to me anytime you’re worried about something.”

“...Okay.”

“Are you sure something isn’t bothering you?”

“Well, lots of stuff bothers me, I’m still adjusting to everything.”

“If you’re so sure you’re okay. But I’m here if you need me.”

“...I’ll kee’ that in mind.”

Ambré figisted with her bags, clearly unsure with the whole situation he noted.

“So, what have you read so far?”

She seemed to light up at that. The rest of the walk was filled with talk of books.

[shadesumbra]

Chapter 12

Shade let out the breath he didn’t even know he was holding. He didn’t understand why he was so against letting people know he was on an outing. Luckily though, Ambré had not come back through the encounter.

Where was she anyway? She had said it was custom to thank actors, and he had told her that she could try, but it would be difficult. He figured she would be back sooner.

Shade walked out the direction Ambré had went and it didn’t take long to find her.

She had gotten side tracked by a dog. The person who owned the dog didn’t seem too bothered by Ambré’s show of love to their furry friend.

Ambré looked up and the two locked eyes. She sprang to her feet, shouting a thank you behind her and ran over to him.

“I never got to touch a dog in the time I was here! I didn’t know they were so soft!”

“Loyal companions indeed. Though far too messy for my liking. Are you ready to go?”

“Oh blozkic, I never got to thank the actors.”

“I highly doubt you’re going to be able to. The likelihood of them coming out is low and the chance you’d even get to thank them is even lower.” Shade didn’t bat an eye at Ambré’s strange sayings anymore, he's long gotten used to them.

Ambré looked dejected for a moment before she brought her spirits back up. “So, what do we do next? Unless it’s common to just go home after a theatre show?”

“Not in the slightest, I was thinking we go out for lunch?”

“I can do lunch.”

“Perfect, because I know this lovely restaurant. Lets be on our way.”

Shade led Ambré through a smoky shadow door to the front of a fancy building. Ambré looked over to Shade and he gave her a soft smile. He held the door open for her. She entered, looking unsure. He knew a place like this was out of her comfort zone, but no better time to adjust than the present.

He entered in behind her and the man at the front gave the two of them a smile. He waved for them to follow as they passed a line of people, who all looked very annoyed at the two of them. Ambré looked over at Shade with a questioning look.

“Higher class places like this usually require those eating here to make reservations before hand.”

“Reservations?”

“To hold a spot for you and who you’re eating with.”

“Then why don’t we need reservations?”

“I eat here so often that I have my own reserved booth for whenever I come in.”

The man led the two of them to a table in a corner. The seats pointed so that they were across from each other, but faced the window slightly.

The view was one Shade enjoyed. It looked out onto the local park, which had many trees and flowers. But it also put him in a position where he could people watch. That was always a fun activity, watching people scurry about. Some people had interesting outfits on, others did interesting things, especially when they thought no one was watching. Most times he’s just curious, though there are times he does laugh at the antics that they pull.

The two sat down and the waitress brought over their menus. Ambré’s eyes scanned the menu before looking over at Shade.

“What?”

“I have absolutely no idea what most of this is.”

Oh. Oh he didn’t think about that.

“What is a sou’?”

“Soup?”

“Yeah that.”

“It’s a warm liquid that is usually served with vegetables or small pieces of meat.”

Ambré’s eyes scanned the menu again.

“And ‘ork?”

“Pork is pig meat.”

“Steak?”

“Cow meat.”

“...”

“Ambré?”

“What are those?”

“What are what?”

“A ‘ig and a cow?”

“Farm animals. I’ll take you to see them on another day.”

“They’re just bred for meat?”

“No, cows are a source of milk. They don’t have to be killed to obtain the milk either.”

“Oh, that’s interesting.”

Ambré looked back down at the menu before hiding her face behind it, an embarrassed flush coming over her face.

Strange, he didn’t think she could blush considering her lack of blood. He made a mental note to ask about that later. But right now…

“Is something wrong?”

Ambré mumbled a response he couldn’t quite hear.

“Ambré you’re going to need to be louder.”

She mumbled again.

“Ambré.”

“I want the ‘ork but I don’t want to make a fool of myself.”

“How is ordering the… oh. Ah.”

Ambré covered her face further.

Shade cleared his throat awkwardly. “I could order it for you?”

Ambré peered out from over the menu and Shade couldn’t help but think that was ever so slightly adorable.

“What do you want to drink?”

“Just water ‘lease.”

Shade gave a her a small nod and just at that moment, the waitress came up.

“Hello, my name is Jane and I’ll be your waitress for today. Is there anything I can get you to drink?”

“Dark tea for me, and water for her.”

The waitress looked toward Ambré and Ambré gave the waitress a small yes-nod, which in turn caused the waitress a small smile.

The two sat in a comfortable silence as the waitress came back with their drinks. Shade continued to flip through the menu slowly as Ambré fidgeted with her hair. Shade could easily tell she felt out of place and uncomfortable.

“So. You were blushing earlier.”

“Yeah?”

“But you don’t have blood? Or do you?”

Ambré seemed to perk up at the topic of conversation.

“No, I don’t have blood. But the layer of… Well I guess you’d call it skin. It’s like an outermost layer, there's a layer underneath, but the skin acts as a ‘rotective cover. Without it I could still blush, but it’s look more green, but the skin causes all the colors to be the o’osite of what they should be.”

“So a bruise would be orange and white?”

“Yea!”

“How strange, and how do you know this?”

“When we’re first… Well, it’s not really born, we s’rout from seeds. But between birth and I guess what would be considered ‘uberty here, we don’t have our second layer, and we develo’ our second skin then.”

Shade, as much as he hated to admit it, was fascinated. Ambré was far further from human than he had expected. It appeared that the only similarity she had with humans was her physical appearance.

Something he could relate too.

“So, if you don’t have blood, what do you have?”

“It’s kind of like chloro’hyll. I’m not sure if the chemical makeu’ is the same at all though.”

At that moment the waitress returned. “Are you ready to order your food?”

Ambré slumped behind her menu.

“I’ll have the steak and she’ll have the pork.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes ma'am.”

The waitress wrote down their orders, took their menus and left the two.

“I bet the doctors who took sam’les at the hos’ital know if the chemical makeu’ is the same,” Ambré mumbled, still obviously upset at the whole situation that had happened.

“We could always have your blood looked into.”

“I su’ose you’re right.”

At that moment Ambré let out a sneeze. It could only be described as a kitten sneeze. And Shade felt the smallest pang of something in his chest. Something he really couldn’t describe.

That was worrying.

Ambré went to speak again and let out a small barrage of sneezes, and Shade couldn’t help but laugh. When she was done Ambré covered her face with her hands and let out a small annoyed whine.

“You alright there Ambré?”

Ambré let out another small whine.

The waitress returned with their food, placing the respective plates in front of the two.

Ambré uncovered her face and looked down at the plate that had been put in front of her, but her eyes quickly wandered over the the multiple forks that lay by it.

“Uh?”

“Different forks for different types of food. Go with the biggest one, it’s a dinner fork.”

“Look at you, being all fancy with your multi’le forks and s’oons. Do you do this on the normal?”

On the normal. Now that was something he hadn’t heard before. Must be Ambré’s home dialect.

“Oh, so you assume I have the full set?”

“I do actually, yes.”

Shade let out a laugh as he cut into his steak. “I have part of the set, mainly the ones I use the most.”

“So the whole set?”

Shade almost choked on his steak. Ambré was getting good at quips. Good lord he wasn’t expecting that. He swallowed and let out a laugh.

“No no, out of the set of nine I have six.”

“That’s basically a whole set.”

“Since when is six out of nine a whole set?”

“When it’s three away?”

“Still not a set.”

“But it’s closer to a set than halfway.”

“Nine is an odd number.”

“You can have half a fork, just don’t ex’ect to use it much.”

Shade snickered and froze with his knife halfway through a cut.

“Shade?”

“Terribly sorry, I just remembered something. Nothing important that requires my attention right now.”

He saw the ever so subtle expression change on Ambré’s face that was almost completely covered by her fringe.

“So, do you plan on continuing to play the hero?”

Ambré cut a piece out of her pork and chewed on it, as if she was stalling.

“I don’t… really know. I guess that de’ends on what ha’ens?”

“In my opinion, Opal is in good hands now. With Knight and the O’Dares around. And myself as well.”

He saw Ambré lift her head ever so slightly, as if peering up at him.

“I su’ose you’re right,” she poked at her pork, uncertainty in her voice.

“And what about your powers?”

“What about them?”

“Well, if you do plan on continuing to play the hero, I would like to know how they work.”

“They’re shadow illusions, there’s not much more to them than that.”

“I find that hard to believe. If they were shadows I would be able to see right through them.”

Ambré shoved another piece of pork into her mouth.

“They’re… not exactly shadows. It’s more like, bent light.”

“Go on.”

“Well, white consists of no colors, while black consists of all colors. So by bending light, I can mani’ulate what colors people see. Kind of like a diamond.”

She poked at her pork again, and he could feel her eyes on him. He couldn’t see it, but behind the fringe, Ambré had her eyes narrowed at him.

“That was a very sudden change of to’ic we had.”

“That’s how conversations work sometimes.”

It was faint, and he almost missed it. But he could of sworn he heard a soft “Not with you they don’t.” He chose not to reply, deciding to let the comment slide.

The two sat in silence for the rest of the lunch. Shade could feel Ambré’s eyes on him every so often. It was near the end of the meal when Shade broke the silence.

“How about after lunch we go for a walk in the park?”

Ambré poked her fork at the small pieces that were left on her plate. “I don’t know, I… will there be ducks?”

“There’s a pond, so most likely,” he could see Ambré completely perk up at the possibility of ducks.

“Let me pay and we can be on our way.”

Before long, Shade had paid and the two were walking along side a small pond, Ambré  admired the nearby ducks.

“You could feed them.”

“We’re allowed to do that?” The excitement obvious in her voice, her whole body twisting faster than he ever thought possible to look at him.

“There’s a machine right over there,” using his cane to point to a nearby dispenser.

“THERE ARE BREAD DISPENSERS FOR DUCKS?”

“Not bread, food.”

“SAME DIFFERENCE!” And in a blink of an eye, Ambré had darted over to the dispenser and was puttings quarters in it.

Shade watched as Ambré cooed at the ducks as she fed them. His attention turned to the water, watching as the gentle ripples crashed into a rock in the center of the pond.

When he turned his attention back to Ambré, she was gone. His eyes scanned the surrounding area and he spotted her in a nearby vendor tent. Making his way over, he passed a few tents on the way, all trying to get his attention.

He stepped into the tent. Oh joy, it was a hat tent. He turned to Ambré who was currently  standing in front of a mirror adjusting a beret, and wearing it completely wrong. He silently walked over and fixed it so that she was wearing it correctly.

“It matches my jacket!”

“So it does, un chef-d'œuvre.”

Ambré paused, and started what Shade thought was counting, on her fingers. She did this for a moment before covering her face in a fit of giggles.

“Merci! Vous êtes aussi un œuvre d'art! Bien que vous soyez 'lus un chef-d'œuvre que moi!”

Shade paused, stunned by Ambré’s response.

“I enrolled for a French class when I realized how much you used it.”

Shade stood there in a stunned silence before bursting into laughter.

“I was not expecting that! You continue to surprise me everyday.”

Ambré gave him a bright smile. Combined with her new beret that matched her jacket, she looked awfully cute.

…

Aesthetic appeal does not equal attraction.

“I’m going to go show the ducks!” And with that, Ambré ran out of the tent.

She was such a child sometimes. A twisted grin made its way onto Shade’s face. He could work with that.

[shadesumbra]

Chapter 11

It had been a month ago when he read about it in the newspaper. Bruce Wayne bought three first edition books worth one million each.

Three books he didn't have in his collection.

Of course he couldn’t go after them right away, as much as he wanted to. He had to wait until the buzz settled down and the spotlight was somewhere far different. Now, one month after the books were purchased, and the news now focused on Superman’s latest battle, he would strike.

Metaphorically speaking, actually striking would probably cause some damage to the books.

It was past midnight as Shade stands at the Wayne manor gates. From the darkness his eyes scan the grounds. By the looks of it, most everyone was asleep, or at least in their room. He knew kids didn’t go to bed on time. The only lights that were on were minor lights on the upper floors of the mansion. Perfect.

He whisks himself through the shadows inside to the foyer. Going straight into the library could risk him getting caught. His footsteps were silent as he walks into the library, and really, he has to take a moment to appreciate it all. Bruce Wayne may be an air-headed dolt, but he knew how to collect. Shade ran his hand gently over the spines of some of the nearby books. They’re in practically perfect condition.

Kudos Wayne. Give credit where credit is due.

Eventually he makes his way over to where the newest first editions are. A small smile comes across his face. They are beautiful. His shadows pick the lock and open the glass case.

However, just as he reaches in a fire poker blocks his hand.

“Most cat burglars around here tend to dress the part sir.”

Shade’s attention was instantly drawn to the person who had blocked him.

Ah, the butler. This he wasn’t expecting. An easy problem to fix.

Though…

“Oh. So you want a joust?” He lifted his cane in a an offensive pose, as if daring the other man to strike.

And he did.

It was quick and precise, but Shade was quick to defend. And then it was his turn. He made a quick strike, which his opponent was just as quick to defend. Even in the man’s old age, he was still quick with his movements. Quicker than what Shade was expecting from someone this man’s age. With age comes experience he supposed.

A smile crept onto Shade’s face. Oh, he could definitely have fun with this.

The two made their way around the room. The attacks becoming more and more advanced and the maneuvers more complicated. For the first time in a long while, Shade was having the time of his life. And he couldn’t help himself, he was grinning like an idiot because of it. And even though he knew the other man was just protecting property, he could see the faint, wry smile on the other man as well.

The two continued for a little while long, and Shade briefly wondered why no one else had come down to check on what was going on. Especially with all the noise they were making. They were all probably out, Wayne was a party boy. He wouldn’t doubt that all Wayne’s kids were too.  

He was pulled out of his thoughts when his opponent bumped into a nearby side table, the vase falling to the floor. The man reached for it, bit just barely missed grabbing it. Shade’s hand shot out before he really knew what he was doing and his shadows saved the pottery.

He brought it to him. “I should keep this, just as a thank you for saving it.”

“I think not.”

Shade laughed and the man gently took it from Shade’s arms and put it back into its place.

“I can see that this is getting either of us nowhere, so may I suggest we talk it over with a cup of tea?” The man suggested.

Shade didn’t think his smile could get any wider. Oh but he was wrong. “I’d love to.”

The man led Shade down to the kitchen, and he quickly put a kettle on the stove.

“So is there any particular reason why you skipped over hundreds of priceless books for three first editions?”

“Simple. I don’t have them.”

“Oh, and I suppose breaking in and stealing them from a highly guarded billionaire is the easiest way to get them?”

“It is when you’re a criminal.”

The man let out a small laugh. “There’s a vendor who goes by the name of Penskili who makes it his business to find and restore old books. It would be much easier to talk to him.”

The kettle began to whistle and the man wasted no time in getting the tea ready. He was about to pour the two cups when Shade interjected.

“I’d prefer to make my own if that’s okay.”

The man nodded, leaving the teapot and milk on the counter for Shade. He watched as Shade poured in the milk first, then the tea.

“That’s a very old fashioned way to prepare your tea, I’d say you were trying too hard if it were my place.”

“I suppose it is your place to say it, considering I’m still technically breaking and entering. Though, old habits die hard,” he took a sip. Oolong, and expensive too.

“Oh? And when did you develop such old fashioned habits?”

“It was common place as a child as to not break the cup.”

“Heavens, you must of grown up with quite frail crockery.”

Shade let out a “mh” as he took a sip. “So, do I get the pleasure of a name, or do I just call you ‘Butler’?”

“Alfred, and how about you?”

“Shade.”

“Ah, so I don’t get the honor of your actual name.”

“Very few people get that honor.”

“I suppose for a criminal, that is fair.”

The two sat in a comfortable silence while they drank their tea. This was the last thing Shade had expected when he had come to Wayne manor to steal those first editions. Oh but he was having such a delightful time. He supposed he could leave these copies. He made a mental note to find Penskili at a later date.

He stayed a while longer and the two had a surprisingly enjoyable chat. Alfred had quite the wit to him, and he did love battling wits.

"Congratulations bu- Alfred, you've significantly charmed me enough to leave your books alone for the time being,” He stood up and placed his hat back on top of his head that was previously sitting on the table. “This was the most fun I’ve had in quite awhile. I may have to return just for another jousting match. Pip pip.” And with that he walked through a shadow door and disappeared.

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Alfred watched as the man, Shade, left in a swift of smokey shadows. He wasn’t quite sure if he should be worried or not. The man did say he might return. But in the end he hadn’t really taken anything. Everything about their interaction screamed that Shade was doing what he was doing out of both boredom and a collector’s will.

Alfred stood up and quickly cleaned up the dishes the two of them had used. Adding in the milk first, the man must either be trying too hard or really must be that old. And considering what goes on in Gotham, he wouldn’t doubt that Shade really could be that old.

After cleaning the cups, Alfred was quick to make his way downstairs to the batcave. If there was anything about Shade in the world, the batcomputer would find it. He was sure that Master Bruce wouldn’t mind him using it for such a task, after all, Master Drake did download quite a few games onto it.

The only sound in the batcave was the clicking of keys and the small clicking of bats. It didn’t take long for the batcomputer to find what Alfred was looking for.

Shade used to be a criminal in Keystone fighting Jay Garrick before the worlds merged. He retired shortly before the event, and came out of retirement to battle with the other Flashes that popped up. There is no known birth record, but Opal City records show of him buying property in the city during its development.

So Shade was that old. Possibly older than he lets on. Yes, Alfred could see how living that long could get boring. And how it would be easier for Shade to just steal rather than go through people. People could be quite a hassle.

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It was a week later that Alfred saw Shade again. Alfred, doing his typical butler duties, was standing in the lobby while he waited for Bruce Wayne to come out of the theatre. It wasn’t a show Wayne particularly wanted to go to, but he had to keep his social standing up. It was there that a glimpse of black caught Alfred’s eye.

Oh, it was Shade. What an unexpected meetup.

“Come to steal some priceless stage prop? Or perhaps take an actor for ransom?”

Shade turned on his heel toward the direction of the voice, and gave a laugh. “As strange as it may seem I do delight in the occasional show without causing mayhem or pulling off a crime.”

"Why, how fortunate to meet in better circumstances, Mr. Thief."

"I could say the same, Butler."

"But did you come alone?"

"...Yes"

Alfred noticed the split second of hesitation, but didn’t push it. If Shade was going to try anything, there’d be someone there to stop him. Besides, Alfred had read up on Shade as much as he could. Shade like to make a show out of his crimes to attract the attention of the hero he intended to fight. Usually, he only did the crime just to attract the hero, if Shade had plans to try anything he would of already of done them.

It’s not like Shade ever fought with anyone other than the Flash anyway.

For a criminal, Shade certainly did have a lot of honor. Which was something that surprised him, considering most of the Gotham Rogues and Metropolis villains.

“I must thank you before I forget. That vendor was able to retrieve me those books I was after. Though stealing them would of been much cheaper.”

“I’m sure it would have, but you’d also have your face on wanted posters in Gotham. Then how would you be able to enjoy your casual nights out without crime?”

“Touché.”

At that moment Bruce Wayne came out. Shade tipped his hat to Alfred and moved away.

“Who was that Alfred?”

“Just someone I sparked a conversation with to pass the time.”

The two left, and the doors closed just in time for Alfred to miss the breath that Shade was holding.

[shadesumbra]

Chapter 10

When Shade woke up the next day, he felt stiff. He wasn't exactly sure what time he had fallen asleep, but today he had awoken before the sun was up. He pulled himself from bed and made his way to his kitchen.

He made himself the usual, tea, toast and eggs.

The clinking of pots and pans and the sizzling made his house guest stir, but it was the whistle of the kettle on the stove that made her sit straight up. Shade almost jumped when he saw the movement.

The previous day’s events came rushing to mind. He had forgotten that he brought Ambré over to recover.

She looked around, her eyes landed on him, still in his pajamas. She rubbed her eyes, shook her head and promptly buried herself back into the couch underneath the heavy blanket.

Well… Ambré had just seen him in his pajamas. What a great way to start the day. He let out a sigh, taking his food and kettle of hot water he sat down at his kitchen table. What was he going to do about this?

About Ambré.

Why did he care enough to aid her through those pictures? It’s not like he cared very much about her.

Even if she was interesting to have around.

That. That had to be it. She was interesting to have around. She’s unique. Of course she is, she’s from another dimension.

Stories of a world no longer. Her tenacity to adjust and live in a place completely different from her own. Her unique perspective and seemingly neverending wonder. Her little quips in seemingly just about any situation they were in. Her gall to stand up to him.

Okay, maybe that last part was less gall and more stubbornness, he wasn’t exactly sure at this point.

But Jack likes her. And for whatever reason he did tend to put a lot of stake into Jack’s opinion, as foolish as Jack was.

He was interested to see what happened next. To see what she did next.

How was he going to explain it to her? Would she even want an explanation? She’s either shrugged off or ignored any awkward moments before, hopefully she would do that again. He hope that she wouldn’t get angry that he had to strip her of her frozen clothing.

His eyes wandered to the window as the rising sun caught his attention. He had no clue when she was going to wake up, it could be now, or in a few hours. Maybe even tomorrow. Doubtful it would take that long, she did just wake up a few moments ago and fell back asleep. But then again, who knew.

It was around noon when she actually began to stir again.

She rubbed her eyes and sat up, taking in her surroundings. He could see that her guard was up, considering she was in an unknown area, he wasn’t surprised.

“Don’t worry, you’re in my home.”

Her eyes snapped to him and she relaxed. She pulled the blanket around herself and resituated herself so that she was sitting.

“You’re clothing is drying still. I’m afraid I don’t have anything to lend you however.”

“Oh. I was more worried about you.”

“Me? Ah, yes. The whole not-needing clothing thing,” He cleared his throat. “For someone who comes from a species of plants you have a surprisingly human figure.”

“That’s because I’m a venus fly tra’. Every species has their own general sha’e. Like, sunflowers are really tall and skinny, un-naturally human looking, but dandelions are really short.  I su’ose it could also be that I come from an Earth ‘arallel, so I guess it was the ‘ossibility is always there?”

“Hm.” He brought her a cup of tea.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like I want to go back to slee’ for a year,” She said, taking the cup and sipping from it.

“You were flash burnt then flash frozen. I can’t imagine anyone would be okay after that.”

“You look okay.”

“I’m not a human.”

“Oh,” She took another sip from her cup and a silence fell between the two.

He wasn’t quite sure if it was awkward or comfortable.

“Yesterday was eventful,” Ambré broke the silence.

“It certainly was.”

Ambré looked around the room she was in. While well taken care of, it was very antique looking, much like Jack’s shop. He must be a serious collector. The small fireplace was the first to catch her attention, though not for long. Her attention wandered to the cabinet nearby, which was filled with books and trinkets of all sorts.

“What’s that?”

“Hm?” Shade’s attention was drawn to the direction Ambré was looking. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”

“That thing with the circle on the front and stick on to’?”

“Oh, that is an old fashioned rotary phone. While they don’t work anymore, it’s a nice memento to keep around.”

Ambré stayed silent, though it was obvious by the way she reacted she had another question.

“You can ask more questions, it’s not like-”

“What’s a ‘hone?”

Well, he wasn’t expecting that. But none the less, an easy question to answer.

“A piece of modern technology that lets people make distance calls from just about anywhere. There are some technicalities, but that’s the main idea.”

Ambré, from what he could tell, looked surprised.

“There was never such a thing back home. We had to write letters, and even then, the distance between cities was difficult to travel.”

“Yes, phones can be quite useful. Though I do prefer the old fashioned letter, sometimes the situation calls for instantaneous contact.”

Ambré took another sip of her tea, then let out a yawn. She snuggled further into the blanket.

“How are you feeling? You look tired still,” Shade momentarily found himself wondering why he had asked.

“I feel stiff, and tired, and slow.”

“You should get more rest, I’m not sure how close your biology is to the plants on Earth, but if it's anything like it’s going to take some time before you’re up and about again.”

Ambré let out a small sigh. She put down her teacup gently and laid back down, burying herself into the blanket.

She was quick to fall back asleep, and Shade let out a sigh. At least he knew she was doing alright. She may need some more time to recover, but right from the start she had questions, that was a good sign.

Of course it’s not like he cared much. It just meant she would be out of his house faster.

The rest of the day was uneventful, as was the next day. As well as the next. Shade watched over Ambré as she slept for three days, stirring very little. It was on the third day that concern began to creep its way in. Her minimal movement and her long rest caused doubts to form in the back of Shades head. It’s not like he could check her heartbeat, she didn’t have one.  

The amount of relief he felt when she awoke on the third day worried him. He didn’t understand why he was so relieved. Why did he care at all?

“You’ve been asleep for awhile.”tirring

“How long is awhile?”

“Three days.”

“Oh geez,” She rubbed her eyes under her bangs.

“You’re looking better. Your clothing is clean, whenever you’re ready to head back to your… home, I’ll bring you,” He turned back to his tea. He heard the shuffle of fabric, but didn’t look up. Even if Ambré didn’t need clothing, it was still awkward.

“Alright, I’m all dressed. We can get going.”

Shade stood up and opened a shadow door. The two walked through and appeared in Ambré’s warehouse.

“It’s a shame about the art museum tri’.”

“Indeed. I know there are quite a few pieces I’m sure you would of really of liked.”

“We should do something else to make u’ for it. Something you like!”

Shade was taken aback from this. It certainly wasn’t something he expected.

“Well, I’d have to think on it.”

“That’s okay, I still have a lot of ‘ainting to catch up on.”

“Well, I’ll let you get to work then,” He turned on his heels and went through his shadow door before she could respond.

As soon as he was home he practically collapsed against the counter. What was wrong with him? He had just agreed to go on another date.

No. No it was not a date, It was an outing. And he didn’t agree. He said he’d have to think about it. He could say he didn’t want to go anywhere. He could stop this insanity right now.

But…

But he didn’t want to.

For some reason. He wanted to go on another outing with Ambré. He wanted to hear more of her quips and watch her poke at things and answer her questions. He wanted to watch her over-the-top body language and deal with her sometimes childish behavior.

[shadesumbra]

Chapter 9

Shade let out a breath through his teeth. He still couldn’t believe that he had set up another outing with Ambré.

It wasn’t a date. He was simply using this as an opportunity to get more information out of her.

It was almost eleven, he should go pick her up. Opening a shadow door, he made his way to the small warehouse Ambré had settled down in. It looked more homely than the last time he was there. Which was a good thing he supposed. The walls were painted a light color, and smaller pieces of furniture were placed around. It still looked very much like a warehouse, but now it was less dreary.

Ambré came out from a door on his left. She wore a dark colored blouse and leggings. Her hair pulled into a low ponytail. He wasn’t certain, but he could've sworn she smelled faintly of roses.

“Are you ready to go?” He asked.

“Ye’! Oh, I’m so excited. A building for just art!”

He led her through a shadow door and the two emerged outside of the art museum.

“I’m going to be able to com’are and contrast the styles from my home com’ared to here, and I’ll be able to ‘ick up new techniques, and maybe even get a few ideas for my own ‘aintings!”

“You seem more excited to go here than you were the cultural museum.”

“Oh I am! Art is such an ingrained ‘art of my life! We didn’t have museums like this back home. We all just ke’t it in our houses, or gave it away as gifts. There wasn’t any large ex’osure like this!”

“Most of these artists are long dead.”

“Oh. well. At least their work is being ‘reserved.”

At least she was optimistic.

The two entered the museum and Ambré was instantly in awe.

“There are just floors and floors and floors of art?”

“Indeed.”

“How high does it go?”

“Twelve floors, if I remember correctly.”

Shade couldn’t see, but he was sure her eyes were awe struck and filled with glee.

Without warning she grabbed the sleeve of his jacket and dragged him up the first flight of stairs. He knew she was excited, but he didn’t think she was this excited. And that was where it started. Ambré dragging Shade throughout the museum on what started as a peaceful outing.

About halfway through the museum was when it stopped being so peaceful.

The glass of the roof broke and a man came down, landing on the floor Shade and Ambré were on. He smiled a hard smile, which faltered when he saw Shade. But it came right back as he aimed a gun at the two of them and pulled the trigger. Neither Shade nor Ambré had a chance to react as a beam of energy flew toward them. It struck the two of them, their ears rung, the world went white, then black.

Shade was the first to wake up. Even in his dizzy state, he instantly noted the area they were in was certainly not the Opal Museum of Art. It looked like a grassland of some sort, but it felt… Wrong. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but the area around him didn’t look like it belonged. He let out a sound that was somewhere between a sigh and a growl before turning to Ambré. She hadn’t stirred yet, so he thought it best to try and wake her up. He crouched down and gave her a gentle shake on her shoulder.

“Mh.”

“Ambré wake up.”

“Mh.”

“Ambré wake. Up.”

She made an annoyed groan but obliged, Sitting up, she wasn’t immediately aware of her surroundings. It took a moment before she fully came to.

“Wait where are we.”

“That’s a good question. What do you remember?”

“Standing in the museum, that guy coming through the ceiling, and being shot?”

“That doesn’t help our situation at all, since that’s exactly what I remember as well.”

Shade stood up and looked around again. Perhaps there was something around that would give them a clue as to where they were, or how they got there.

“The Grassy Lands.”

“Yes Ambré, I can see that.”

“No, The Grassy Lands, the ‘ainting.”

“What?” Shade turned to her.

“There’s the tree in the foreground. And that’s the tree in the background. And that cloud is the same exact sha’e. And it’s not moving,” She pointed to each as she listed them off.

“So we’re in the painting? We’re still in the museum, I’ll just bring us back,” he tried to open a shadow door, only for it to half form and fizzle out.

“What?”

“Maybe we can’t go back because there’s no back to go?”

“What are you talking about?”

“We’re in the ‘ainting. The scene we see exists on a flat dimension. But we’re here, in the third dimension of the ‘icture. Maybe there’s no museum to go back to because there’s no museum at all.”

“You’re saying we’re not in the same plane of existence as Opal anymore?”

“Maybe?” She shrugged.

“Well isn’t this just peachy?”

“I’d like to say that it isn’t but that swirly ‘ur’le thing over there is telling me it’s a lot more com’licated than that.”

Shade swiveled on his feet toward the direction she was facing. There was in fact a swirly purple portal.

He tried to summon a shadow door so that they could get closer, it was quite a distance away. However, just like before, it only half formed before disappearing into nothing.

“Why aren’t my shadows working?”

Ambré shrugged again. “The reasons for that could range from logical to absolutely ridiculous.”

Shade snarled, then without hesitation he walked toward it. It was quite a distance away, across a good portion of the grassland. Ambré followed close on his heels, not wanting to be left behind.

“Any idea what it is?” Ambré asked when they reached it.

“No but we’re about to find out,” Shade stepped through, quickly followed by Ambré.

It took a moment before he regained their senses, but when they did it hit him like a brick. Heat.

Shade looked up, a desert. This just kept getting better and better. He looked around to see if he could find the next portal anywhere, to no avail. It must be behind one of the sand dunes. This was going to be a fun trek, he could already tell.

Ambré was slower to get up. Shade wasn’t looking at her, but if he was, he would of saw the fear and panic on her face. However, she hid it before he saw.

“We should get going if we want to find the next portal,” Shade stated.

“Do we know where we’re going?”

“As of right now, all we can do is go forward.”

Ambré got up and the two of them started off. Silently suffering as they walked through the heat in their dark clothing and struggling with the loose sand that made it difficult to walk.

“I didn't know sand was so horrible,” Ambré complained.

“We’re in a desert, this is the worst sand could ever get.”

There wasn’t much conversation between the two of them as they walked for what felt like forever. After the two struggled to reach the top of a particularly tall sand dune Shade had spotted the next portal.

“There, all we have to do it make it down this and then a little and we’ll be out of here.”

Shade had begun to walk when he felt the harsh shifting of sand behind him. He turned to see Ambré sitting, her head hanging while she panted hard.

“It’s only a little farther Ambré.”

“I can’t.”

“Don’t be pessimistic, the portal is-”

“I can’t. I’m a ‘lant Shade,” Was all she managed to get out between dry pants.

Shade understood immediately. While the heat of this artificial desert was only an inconvenience to him, it had a serious effect on Ambré. He quickly made his way back to her and hoisted her arm over his shoulder.

He hoped that there was water in the next painting, or at least a shady spot for her to sit in.

It took what felt like another forever for the two of them to finally make it to the next portal, and when they did Shade wasted no time walking through.

Once again his senses where null, but when he came to, the world around him wasn’t nearly as bad. They were in a swamp this time. Yuck.

But at least Ambré had water and someplace cool to sit.

He leaned her prone form against a nearby tree and attempted to use his shadows to form a cup, which only partially worked. He had formed a cup, but it was smaller than he had planned it to be. It would have to do, it’s not like he could do much about it right now anyway.

Scooping up some of the swamp water he brought it to Ambré.

“Here, drink this.”

“What is it?”

“Water.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s swamp water, and the only thing there is right now. It’s either drink it or go dry.”

Ambré begrudgingly took the cup. As soon as the water hit her lips, she drank from the cup greedily. Shade took the cup and refilled it, returning it to her. This process was repeated a few more times before Ambré had refused the cup.

“Feeling better?”

“Somewhat,” She shakily stood up. “Let’s get going, I don’t want to be in ‘aintings anymore.”

The two trudged through the mush of the swamp. Shade felt disgusted that he had to do this. Whoever had sent them here was going to pay. He looked back. Ambré on the other hand didn't look like she had an issue with it. It was probably the plant in her. It may have been disgusting, but at least Ambré wasn’t literally dying.

He looked forward again, but instantly looked back when he heard a yelp of surprise from behind him.

Ambré had slipped and was now covered from head to toe in swamp. She didn’t look amused.

Shade on the other hand, couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“You have some moss in your hair,” He snickered.

“This moss is my new friend it’s name is Bert,” she stood up and plucked it out of her hair. “Now I’m going to be water logged and heavy. Fun.”

“At least it’s not dehydrated.”

“That is true.”  .

With that the two continued on in silence again. Wading their way through the murky water, they finally reached a small island where the next portal waited.

“Who knew ‘aintings could be so big.”

“I knew paintings were big I didn’t know they were so three dimensional.”

“We all learned something today then,” Ambré said as Shade helped her onto the island. As soon as she was up the two stepped through the portal.

Once again his senses were impaired. But this time when they came back he was met with a biting cold that stung his very core. Looking up, his face was met with a harsh wind and snow.

They were in a snow painting. This somehow got worse. They were soaked to the bone and now they were in a snow painting.

His eyes widened and his head snapped toward Ambré.

“Ambré.”

No answer.

“Ambré!”

She was still lying on the ground, her body shivering violently. He had to get her out or she was going to die, and much faster than the desert. He quickly took his jacket off. After sitting her up he wrapped it around her. He was already much bigger than she was, so it covered quite a lot of her, and because he was taller, it had stayed fairly dry.

It wasn’t going to stay that way for long with how hard the snow was falling. He scooped her up and carried her bridal style. And continued in the only direction he could. Forward.

He trudged on in silence. He wished Ambré would make one of her pointless comments, or some sound of annoyance, something. Anything. He looked down at her. She had curled up as tight as she could against him in an attempt to block as much wind off herself as possible. Her lips had  faded from their typical dark grey to a lighter shade. Apparently her lips were naturally the same color as her hair, he would never have guessed. He pulled her tighter and continued.

It was later when he tripped in the snow. Ambré went tumbling. Shade, though he would never admit this in his lifetime, swore a string of curses that would put even Klarion’s magic to shame.

He wasn’t prepared for the swirl of the world in front of him. Another portal opened, but this one was yellow rather than purple. Without thinking he kicked himself off the snow as best he could and sprang through it. He landed on the floor of the Opal Art Museum where he saw Jack fighting with his attacker. He snarled and conjured up shadows, shooting them all violently at the man. The splatter of blood against the floor was his confirmation and his satisfaction.

“You didn’t need to kill him Shade!”

“Yes I did.”

“Where have you been anyway?”

“Trudging through paintings after he had gotten the jump on me.”

“I never knew you much as one to go to a museum in the daytime alone.”

“I didn’t come alone, I came with…” It hit him. Ambré was still in the painting, freezing to death.

“Open the portal back into the painting!”

“What? Shade wh-”

“Do it!” Shade barked, cutting Jack off.

Jack jumped and quickly rushed to retrieve the gun off the now dead man. He aimed it at the painting Shade had just come through. In an instant Shade had gone back through.

Again, he woke up in a dizzy state. His eyes scanned the area for Ambré, and a sense of panic set in when he didn’t see her. Had he not gone through the same spot he came out? How far was he?

“Ambré!” He shouted.

No reply.

“Ambré!”

He didn’t hear her soft whimper over the harsh winds.

His eyes scanned the area again. Maybe she was covered. There was a lot of snow. If she was covered and he didn’t find her in time...

Oh God he didn’t want to think about that.

He spotted it, a dark spot peeking out from a small bump in the snow. As quickly as he could he made his way over to it and dug it out.

Ambré.

He scooped her up and hurried back toward the portal which Jack had left open. The two of them tumbled onto the floor of the museum and Shade didn’t even bother to listen to Jack as he started to question what was happening. He summoned a shadow door and in a blink of an eye was back at his house.

He got the the foot of his couch and froze in place. He would have to strip Ambré to get the soaking and freezing clothing off.

He hoped that she wouldn’t be too upset with him.

He worked quickly, and was slightly surprised to see that Ambré’s anatomy was, although in the same shape of a human in shape, completely different in how it looked.

She was a plant after all, he really shouldn’t of been surprised.

He wrapped her hair in a towel and wrapped her body in a heavy blanket. She had lost her hair tie somewhere within the paintings. After, he started a fire in the small fireplace that he had.

Shadows smoked off of him, leaving him in a new, dry outfit. Making himself a pot of tea he sat down and took a deep breath. She was going to be okay.

She had to be okay.

…

Why?

Why did he care?

Why did he care if this woman, or whatever she was, would make it? Sure, she had saved Opal on three separate occasions, but as long as Opal was safe he didn't really care. So why did he care if she was safe?

He thought back. He had visited her during the week of the last date and this one.

They weren’t dates they were outings.

He got lost within his thoughts.

After awhile he gave a sigh and went to take a sip of his tea. It was cold. Why was his tea cold. He looked up at the clock.

Hours had gone by. That would explain that.

He looked over at Ambré. She was looking better. Her lips had returned to the dark color that matched her hair. She was curled up, and had pulled the blanket tight. He made his way over and gently unwound the towel from her hair. The towel was soaked, and her hair was still damp, but at least it wasn’t soaked and heavy like before.

Tossing the towel in the laundry bin, he returned to his tea. It was cold now, no use in drinking it. Discarding it down the sink, he put the cups and pot aside to be cleaned later.

Sparing one glance over to Ambré, he made his way to his bedroom. Shadows once again smoking off of him, this time leaving him in sleepwear. He collapsed on the bed and was out cold in seconds.

He would figure out why he cared tomorrow.

[shadesumbra]

Chapter 8

He woke up that morning at seven am, like usual. His memories from the last few days missing, but his worry was nonexistent. His thoughts, calm.

Being an immortal so long, you begin to slip into routine.

Habits become tradition, and the repetition can make events blur together. To him, he fully admits, this has led to... Forget certain events.

Minutes, maybe a few days at a time. Naturally, they must have been too dull to remember, nothing important.

He walked over to the calendar. It was always marked properly when he come to from his bouts of memory loss. On the calendar today however, there was a reminder.

11:00 AM MUSEUM DATE.

Like a… A date?

He stumbled back. He had a date. Shade hadn't gone courting since his wife and himself were together, and now suddenly he had a date?

What was he thinking? He couldn’t even remember who he had set the date up with! Where was he supposed to be them? Was he supposed to pick them up? Meet them there?

Dear God what was he supposed to do?

He took a minute to regain his composure. He would take a walk, the date wasn’t until eleven, he had time to figure this out. He took a deep breath and headed out the door. He didn’t have a destination in mind, just forward. This was what led him to the doors of Jack Knight’s antique shop. Might as well go in. The likelihood he’d get the answers he was looking for were slim to none, but it was a better chance than wandering.

The ding of the door caught Jack’s attention, and when Jack saw Shade, he smiled a wide and bright smile.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Nerves got you for your date?”

Oh. So Jack knew. Slim chances indeed, since he wouldn’t of been the one to tell him.

“Hardly.”

“Ah, you don’t have to be worried, Ambré seemed excited.”

“Oh? You’ve talked to her?” He had a date with Ambré. He had a date with Ambré.

“She’s my newest regular. Comes in every Saturday evening and asks questions about everything. And I mean everything. Really puts me to the test. But last Saturday she seemed more excited than usual. Told me you said you’d bring her to the museum and answer all the questions she had. I can’t believe you asked her out on a date Shade.”

“It is not a date. She simply wants to know more about Earth.”

“What?”

“She’s from another dimension.”

“Okay, yeah. I can see why she acts the way she does now. But it’s still technically a date.”

Shade grumbled. He could argue with Jack all he wanted but Jack wouldn’t budge on his opinion.

“I have to go if I’m going to be on time,” With that, Shade turned and opened a shadow door.

“Don’t forget to wear something fancy!” Jack called after him.

By 11am Shade found himself in the lobby of the Opal Museum of Cultural History, waiting for Ambré.

“Dress fancy” Jack had told him, like he wasn’t already a walking ballroom compared to the rest of Opal City.

That’s when he spotted her. She wore a simple vintage-looking spring dress and her hair was pulled back in a tight braid, her fringe still covering her eyes however. From what he could see of her face, she seemed to be just as excited as Jack said. He’d be lying if he said the style didn’t look good on her.

He’d be caught dead before he said adorable.

“I’m so glad you invited me on this tri’ today. Those books you gave me have been hel’ful but don’t make much sense if you don’t know what they’re talking about. I wanted to thank you in advance for saying you’d answer my questions.”

“It’s no big deal, really.”

“It is to me! Earth history is so different than Vuloxichus’.”

“Oh? How so?” He led her inside.

“Well, there isn’t nearly as much conflict. Nor is there as much change. There are ‘laces here that went through all kinds of rebellions! There are systems I didn't even know existed. Tools no one on my ‘lanet would of ever of thought of!”

Shade paid for the tickets and the two walked into the museum.

“I mean, how… Does….” Ambré was left speechless as she took in the sight of the museum.

“Not quite what you were expecting?”

“Not at all.”

Shade was taking somewhat of a walk down memory lane. There were a multitude of items here he had considered stealing at one point. A few that he even had. Maybe he should return that jade vase, to complete the set…

The two walked through the museum, Ambré thoroughly inspecting everything, asking what seemed to be an endless stream of questions. In Shade’s opinion, she looked like a kid in a candy store.

Still, he was amazed on how much she actually enjoyed this trip. Even without exactly knowing what each piece was, or the historical significance, they all fascinated her. He noted how she lingered in certain exhibits longer than others. Especially anywhere that had any kind of craft. She inspected those longer, like she was dissecting how they were made in her mind.

“Why did your kind build so much?”

“It helped make living easier. Most everything we have, we’ve built.”

“Everything?”

“Everything. Why do you ask?”

“We had to build very little. Our houses, de’ending on where one lived, were giant ‘lants. I lived in a tree. Our silverware were vines that naturally grew the way they did when we used them.”

“What about clothing?”

“We didn’t need clothing. We were ‘lants. Clothing was saved for s’ecial occasions, and most of those were hand-me-downs. When I discovered that everyone wears clothing all the time here, well, that was ‘robably the biggest culture shock I had.”

Ambré looked down. “Bowls used to be the to’s of these ‘lants that would bloom. When the end of the season came, they would harden. If they weren’t ‘icked for uses, they’d fall off and deform. ‘Aints were just the natural syru’s of certain ‘lants. They worked a lot like oil ‘aints do here. Some worked like watercolor, some like acrylic,” a soft smile graced her face. “My favorite ‘aint was from a ‘lant called a sicero tree. It was this ‘inkish-greyish color.”

Shade didn’t really know what to say. How do you comfort someone who lost their home like

that?

Ambré didn’t seem to take offense, or even notice. She just moved on to the next thing to look and continued to ask questions.

He also noted how she lingered around any exhibit that had bones, or models of living things.

“It’s amazing that you have ‘hysical records of older s’ecies!”

“Did you not?”

“Not like this. Most s’ecies are made of mostly ‘lant matter, so when they died there was nothing left when they decayed. We only had drawings. Of course, they were amazingly done, but it’s nothing like seeing the real thing.”

While Ambré’s babbling wasn’t anything new, there was one specific line that caught his attention.

“‘Of course, they were amazingly done?’ What does that mean?”

“We held art very highly. It was honored in every society. Every kind. Even graffiti.”

“Is that why you’re a painter?”

“Mh-hm. Techniques are ‘assed down from generation to generation within societies. I came from a city that was a ‘ainter city. You could always tell where someone was from by the media they and techniques they used.

Shade knew she couldn’t pronounce the letter p. That didn't stop him from awkwardly clearing his throat.

“What?”

Oh. She heard him. He had to think fast.

“There is an art museum in Opal city as well. I’m sure you’d find that interesting,” RED ALERT RED ALERT WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?

“There’s a museum for art? I’d love to see!”

Great. He had just set up another date with her. This was just peachy. At least he’d be able to get more information out of her without suspicion.

The rest of the day went smoothly. Ambré still asked a million and one questions, and Shade answered a million and one questions.

Though, Shade had to admit, watching Ambré soak up every bit of information like a young child at school was almost endearing.

She was practically glowing when the two finally left the museum.

“This was so great! I learned so much!”

“I’m glad I could help. How about we make our art museum trip next Monday?”

“I can do Monday! Same time as this tri’?”

“Same time. I’ll pick you up next time.”

She looked stunned for a moment, but then seemed to glow again. “Okay! See you next Monday Shade!” And with that she was off.

Shade stood on the steps for a while longer.

What has he done?

[shadesumbra]

[shadesumbra]

Chapter 7

It was a week later when Shade was finally able to talk to Umbra again.

Unfortunately, she was still in the hospital. He had assumed she’d be out by now.

Carrying a small potted plant, he made his way to the check-in counter. With a quick check-in and directions he made his way to the room she was being held in.

She was in a private room, with a ridiculous amount of machinery.

“I don’t suppose you’d mind my company?”

“If you’re not a doctor you’re more than welcome.”

“Do you have something against doctors?”

“They’ve ke’t me here longer than I need to be so they can ‘oke me with needles and run tests.”

“Doesn’t sound pleasant.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“I’ve brought you a bonsai tree, although I don't suppose you've anywhere to put this, considering I last met you living in a rusty warehouse"

"Is this the attitude you always have for visiting the injured?"

"Well I don’t usually walk through the door so I'm being generous."

Shade looked over her. She looked miserable, even more so than being stuck in a capsule and drained of her energy.

“I have a few questions I still need to ask you.”

“I’d rather not. I’ve had to answer so many while in here. I feel worse now than when I got in here.”

“You look worse.”

“Thanks.”

An idea came to Shade.

“If I sign you out and give you time to change, would you answer my questions?”

“Most of them.”

“Most?”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t aware this was life story hour. Should we take turns? I’ll start from my birth.”

“Touché. I’ll be right back.”

Within the hour they were leaving the hospital, after only some mild threats to the doctors.

Because of course she needed to be stuck in a hospital bed. That’d help her condition get better.

When the two of them were outside, Shade opened a shadow door and brought her to the warehouse she had set herself up in. It didn’t take as long as he expected for her to change. Though she did come back with wet hair.

“I wasn’t aware there was a shower here.”

“I ‘oured a bottle of water on myself.”

“Why.”

“I’m a ‘lant!”

“...Yes I suppose that does explain that.”

Nothing else was said as Shade led her through another shadow door. The two stepped out at a small cafe. He led her to the counter nearby.

“Order whatever you want.”

“I have no idea what most of this is.”

“Hm,” he turned to the person behind the counter. “Two cups of peppermint tea.”

He led her to a nearby table and she looked back at the counter.

“Uh?”

“It’ll be done in a few minutes. Now. Questions. Is your name actually Umbra?”

“...No…”

“What is it?”

“...Ambré.”

“How convenient. What is your actual name?”

“No that is actually my name.”

“Well isn’t that just dandy?”

“You literally only go by Shade in your own home you don’t get to use that tone of attitude with me.”

“As far as I can see, you agreed to answer my questions.”

“Yeah but we never agreed on your attitude.”

“You agreed to that as soon as you agreed to talk to me. Next question. I’ve noticed you can’t pronounce the letter p. Why is that?”

“Because it doesn’t exist in my home?”

“You’re speaking English fairly well.”

“I’m from an alternate-verse. I don’t see you getting on other ‘eo’le’s cases about s’eaking the same language.”

“One, they’re not here and two, those universes are almost identical.”

“In my home you’d sound like a freak ‘ronouncing that sound, so it goes both ways.”

“On that topic, should I be expecting any more from your universe to be dropping by?”

“Most likely not. At least not from my ‘lanet. Or the sister ‘lanet.”

“Oh?”

“Carlio was an outcast and my ‘lanet is dead,” she looked him square in the eye, giving him a hard stare.

“Ah. Yes. That would be a good reason. I take it that’s also why you settled down in Opal?”

“...Yeah,” she looked out the window. Not even looking back when a pot of tea with a side of milk was placed on the table.

“There’s something more to that.”

“... I’m not ready to answer that.”

He was going to press her further, but then again she did say she was going to answer most of his questions. He’d find out at a later date. He always did in the end.

He poured some of the milk into his cup before pouring tea into his cup. Ambré followed his actions. She looked down at it, then to him.

“Tea. A specific plant leaf in hot water.”

“And what you added?”

“Milk. It cools the tea.”

“Does it matter which is added first?”

“Not anymore, but old habits die hard.”

He brought the cup to his mouth before the irony of the situation hit him.

“You’re a plant.”

“...Yeah?”

“You’re drinking tea.”

“Humans eat meat.”

“But not other humans.”

“Not all ‘lants are the same strain? I’m descended from a venus fly tra',” she smiled a toothy smile, showing off slightly pointed teeth.

“You’re a carnivore than?”

“...Carnivore?”

“You eat meat to survive.”

“Ah, yes,” Ambré looked down at the cup she was drinking out of, then to other tables. “Why are we drinking out of these cu’s and not those?”

“This is tea. Use a tea cup, only a heathen would use anything else.”

“A what.”

“The tea cup or the heathen part?”

“...Yes.”

“A tea cup is a particular cup used for tea. A heathen is one who does not belong to a widely practiced religion, which is a belief and worship of a higher power.”

“And you?”

“... While I am technically a heathen, I do use it as an insult. It rolls off the tongue well. What about you?”

She took a sip from her cup and avoided eye contact. “There was this ancient tree. We called it… Well it would be translated to Ancient Soul, or Mother Life. There really isn’t a specific descri’tion for it in English. But every… year… we’d offer thanks. It was believed that mother life was the first of our kind, and her seeds s’routed into our ancestors.”

Shade stayed silent.

“You said widely ‘racticed religion, does that mean this world has many?” Ambré asked.

“Too many to count.”

“How diverse.”

The two sat in silence for a few minutes before Shade spoke up.

“I’m going to teach you how to say the letter p.”

“What. No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to. Teach me something im’ortant.”

Shade let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ll leave you with some books. Do you know how to read?”

“Don’t ‘atronize me.”

“I’m not.”

“Oh. Well. Yes.”

“Come along then, I’ll bring you back to your… living space.”

“How ‘olite of you. You feeling okay?”

“It’s faster than walking.”

“I’m sorry not all of us can tele’ort.”

Shade opened a shadow door and the two of them stepped in. Stepping out into the warehouse Ambré has situated herself in, Shade walked back through and the shadow door closed behind him.

A few minutes later he came back with a small stack of books.

Placing them down on a nearby cleared off table he turned to Ambré.

“I’ll be back in a few days to collect these. Please don’t put them off until the last minute.”

“I’ll do that just for you.”

“Not put them off or will put them off.”

“I’ll leave that u’ to you to decide.”

“Charming,” with that he was gone.

He was true to his word, a few days later he came back. He returned through a shadow door, the oily shadows licking the area around them. He found Ambré snuggled up in a chair with one of the books.

“You really did leave these for the last minute.”

“I did not! This is the last book I have to read. By the way, that book mentioned human biology and size and sha’e, all that. Are there exe’tions?”

Shade approched Ambré. “Oh yes, I know-” Shade hit his head on a low-hanging metal pipe that was connected to the ceiling. Ambré burst into a fit of laughter.

“Watch out there’s a ‘i’e!”

“Thank you for the warning. But yes, there are exceptions. I know of one personally. Culp. he has shadow powers identical to mine.”

“What a strange name.”

“Culp? How is it strange?”

“Sounds like the… um, like, the stringy stuff in orange juice?”

“Pulp?”

“Yeah that!”

“... I’m sure he wouldn’t like his name being compared to a fruit.”

“I’m sure Cul’ would be fine with it.”

“Culp.”

“That’s what I said, Cul’.”

“No, Culp. C-u-l-p.”

“C-u-l-’.”

“No- Cul- I forgot. You can’t pronounce the p sound.”

“No I can not. How is sir fruity center an exe’tion?”

Shade twitched ever so slightly.

“He’s short. Shorter than the average human.”

“Like, just a little shorter or?”

“Fully grown he’s the size of young child.”

“That must suck. How does he-... wait no. Not a thing on this ‘lanet.”

“What?”

“There were these huge trees that s’routed fruit. I really can’t describe it, there’s nothing Earth equivalent. Anyway, children would ‘ick berries from the bushes while adults would climb the trees. If he never grew ‘ast the height of a child he’d never be allowed to climb the trees. It was ‘ractically a rite of ‘assage into maturity,” She smiled at the memory, then frowned sadly.

“No Earth equivalent?”

“It’d be like trying to describe vanilla. The only way to describe vanilla is with vanilla.”

“A point well made. What did you think of the books?”

“Well, the book on biology is interesting, considering it’s completely different than my own. The one on language was confusing. The one about food was very informative though. These history books were really helpful too.”

"C'est comme ça."

"What?"

"It is what it is"

“What?”

“It’s French.”

“Oh, the language thing,” she picked up the book, “Why do humans need so many languages?”

“Before humans made contact across the ocean they developed in separate societies around the world.”

“That’s a weird conce’t. Everyone in my home was connected in a sense. Then again, we were all ‘lants, not mammals.”

“Yes that would create quite the cultural difference.”

“This has been such a cultural shock I feel like I’ve been thrown into water after sunbathing.”

“Hm, that reminds me, I feel I should apologise for earlier behaviour, let me make it up to you. I’ll buy two tickets to the museum. You can ask as many questions as you'd like about anything there and I’ll answer them.”

“Really! That’d be great because I have so many questions. Books do a great job at ex’laining about but not how.

“Perfect! Next Tuesday it is.”

“Uh, that’s three days from now?”

“Exactly. I’ll come and get you at eleven in the morning?”

“Eleven in the morning on Tuesday!”

Shade opened a shadow door, the dark inky shadows swirling. “ It’s a date then.”

[shadesumbra]

Shade @ Jack in chapter 6 for implying he had fond emotions for anything other than his city

[shadesumbra]

Chapter 6

Umbra had been quite sneaky. No matter how many times Shade had tried to talk to her, she disappeared.

Like always, without a trace.

He had tried to focus on the shadows she was using, following her while she was hidden. But as soon as she removes the illusion he lost her. Usually in a crowd.

She was smart.

But he was smarter.

He appeared in the small workspace she used to paint her pictures. Which he learned she sold at a different place, changing locations every three days. No pattern to where she went. Most likely to avoid him.

Not this time. He made himself comfortable in the corner where the shadows were cast by the light and waited. She’d be here any moment.

And he was right. He watched as she made her way in and turned on the dim lights. Putting down her bag and taking off her jacket, she wasted no time in setting up. Pulling out paints and moving canvases. She pulled a half finished picture to where she planned to work and started picking out the paints she planned to use.

Of course, plans often got interrupted.

He stepped out of the shadows and cleared his throat. Her reaction was instant, she turned around and upon seeing him, ran. But he was prepared this time. He brought his shadows up to cover the exits, and she ran face first into them.

She stumbled back holding her nose. Apparently she had run into his wall of shadow hard enough to make her nose bleed. She really didn’t want to be around him.

Of course that wasn’t going to stop him from finding out what he wanted to know.

“An explanation. Who are you and why did you help me.”

She pressed herself against the shadow blocking the door. He took step closer. He was a whole head taller than her, no wonder she was intimidated.

“Start talking.”

“No.”

A wispy shadow came out from the shadow behind her and wrapped around her neck and pulled tight.

“Start. Talking.”

She reached back over her shoulder and clung to the shadow. She brought her legs up and with a hard kick, hit Shade directly in the chest.

He stumbled back, wind knocked out of him. It only took a moment for him to regain himself. But he was enraged. He lifted his cane with intent to kill.

“An alternate dimension!” She shouted.

He froze. That was something.

“An alternate Earth,” her voice was quiet. “Vuloxichus. ‘lant-based society.”

Shade’s eyes narrowed.

“And Carlio?”

“Sister ‘lanet. Yuloxichus. Technology-based.”

“So why were the two of you here?”

She was shaking. Hard. She quietly mumbled something that he couldn’t make out.

“Say that again, louder.”

“I snuck onto Carlio’s shi’.”

“And why were they here?”

Her eyes cast downwards.

“Answer.”

“Remember when they tried to take the cities of the world?” Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper.

“It’s difficult to forget.”

“Remember when their ship ex’loded?”

“Also difficult to forget.”

She scuffed her shoe at the floor.

“Talk.”

“The ‘lanet Vuloxichus is a lot smaller than Earth.”

“So?”

“It took Carlio one bottle to fit one Earth city. It took them three bottles to fit all of Vuloxichus. Earth would've taken a lot more. ‘Robably around seven or eight.”

“So?”

“Those bottles never got off the shi’ when it ex’loded the first time.”

Shade went quiet. So that’s what she meant when she said she wasn’t going to let it happen again.

Without warning, the roof of the building exploded. Shade used his shadows to make cover for him and Umbra. When he removed them he saw cultists come down on ropes.

He felt rage bubble up in him. Did they not know when to stop? Did they not know what he would do to them?  They were about to find out.

There was an explosion of shadow beasts, and the cultists were not ready for it. Many died on the spot while others fled. The shadow covering the door was lost within the chaos, and Umbra had tried to sneak away. Shade’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.

“Not you. You’re staying.”

A small container fell onto the floor near Shade’s feet. After a moment it released a sweet smelling gas.

He knew that smell. They’ve used this on him before.

He didn’t get a chance to react before his body fell to the floor. He heard a small thunk, and through the haze, saw Umbra had fallen too. The last thing he saw before his mind was taken by darkness was cultists in gas masks.

When he woke up, he was in a sitting position against glass. He blinked the fogginess from his eyes and looked around. He was in some kind of glass container. Nothing his shadows couldn’t handle.

He summoned forward shadows to break the glass, but as soon as they hit, the glass absorbed them.

“Do not try, it was made to hold you.”

The voice came from his left. Another cultist. This one however, had a fancier robe than the rest. Most likely the leader.

“If you think you can hold me you’re wrong.”

“Correction, I know it can hold you. It was made specifically for that. Just like the knockout gas. It took us a long time to collect enough residue to make a sufficient sample. Even longer to make a mixture that would work on you. However, unless you also have super strength or a glass shattering voice, you’re stuck in there.”

Shade snarled.

“Worry not though, you’re not our primary target anymore. Though a lucky catch, not what we need,” He stepped out of the way and made a sweeping motion toward the capsule that Umbra was in. She was awake, and she was certainly making her displeasure know. He could see her shouting and ramming up against the glass.

“We had to mute her microphone, she is horribly impolite.”

“I would be too if I was stuck in a glass capsule by insane cultists. Oh wait.”

“Now now Shade, there’s no need for that. You’ll be released when we’re done and out of harm's way.”

“And after you destroy Opal in the process,” Shade snarled.

“A minor inconvenience I assure you.”

“Come here and say that to me when I’m not stuck in this capsule.”

“Tsk tsk Shade. You of all people must know that sacrifices must be made for the greater good.”

“I don’t care about the greater good, I care about Opal.”

“By the power dynamic right now it seems you don’t have a choice right now,” He leaned against a control panel, accidently clicking a button.

“-ST WAIT UNTIL I GET OUT OF HERE YOU BRAINLESS ROCK FUCKERS YOU’RE GOING TO WISH YOU NEVER EVEN-”

“Oops. Well, now you can see why we had to mute her.”

Shade looked over to Umbra in somewhat of a stunned silence. He wasn’t expecting that from her from what he’s seen.

“Let us not delay, we have a ritual to perform.”

He walked out of the room, leaving Shade and Umbra alone in their capsules. For once in a long time, Shade really had no clue what to do. He couldn’t use his shadow powers, and he couldn’t talk to Umbra to work together. If only he had his cane.

His attention was drawn to the lights above Umbra’s capsule lighting up. He watched as the machinery danced to life, parts spinning and twirling and lights blinking. His eyes widened as the roof and floor of Umbra’s capsule began to glow and he watched her body react with noticeable pain.

Even through the muted glass he could hear her scream.

He watched as the dark energy was pulled from her and through the machine. The energy didn’t seem to stay one color, but instead faded from color to color. The energy was pulled through the machine and into the next room. This must work similarly to how it was when he was being used as a power source.

That didn’t last. He saw the malfunction of the machine as it tried to handle whatever energy it absorbed. The machine sparked and parts stopped moving. It didn’t take long for the cultist that was there earlier to come running back.

“No no no no no! It was supposed to hold! There isn’t a single flaw in the design! Why isn’t it holding!”

He could see the energy getting back up within the machine. He watched as it backed up all the way back to the glass capsule. The machine couldn't hold the energy, just move it. Being forced to hold it was causing serious issues.

The glass of Umbra’s capsule exploded, the glass shards shooting in all directions. Many of those shards lodged themself in the man that had re-entered the room. He certainly wasn’t going to be causing any more trouble now.

Some of those glass shards had hit Shade’s capsule, causing the glass to crack. Shade gave a hard ram with his shoulder and the crack got bigger. He did this once again and fell through the glass. He may have fallen on the shards that littered the ground, but at least he wasn’t going to end up like the cultist.

He stood up and looked over to Umbra, who had fallen unconscious. He tried to approach but her energy was still in the machine, causing it to malfunction. He needed to get her out of here.

He still needed answers.

It was a risky act, but he dashed forward when the machine lulled. He scooped her up and held her bridal style before leaping back from the machine just in time. The moment he jumped back a small explosion came from the machine, causing smoke to rise and smoke alarms to go off.

Why were there smoke alarms. At this point it didn’t matter, he had to get out.

He opened a shadow door and stepped in, only to step right back out in the same spot. They must have some sort of enchantment around the place. Damnit. He’d have to get out of here manually.

He shifted Umbra so that her weight was more on one of his arms and made his way to the door. Using his semi-free hand, he opened it. On the other side was the ritual setting, though the room was empty. The symbol he had seen in the clock tower was painted on the floor. However, on a much bigger scale. Everything else seemed to be knocked over, and there wasn’t any other living being in the room.

Although there were many dead cultists. Their bodies slumped against the walls. They seemed to have been hit, probably with raw energy.

He made his way around the edge of the room and to the only other door. That was when a rumbling caught his attention. He turned back toward the rune.

It was glowing. It shouldn’t be glowing. Why was it glowing.

It had activated. And this time there was no counter rune painted over it.

He looked closely, he could see the energy flowing around the rune. Quickly placing Umbra down so that she rested against the wall, he dashed back over. Maybe he could conduct the energy. After all it was shadows.

He got as close as he could and commanded the energy. It reacted, just not how he wanted it to. It lashed and fought back. So he tried harder.

The sensation he felt in that moment was something that he would never feel again. All at once  he felt like he was both falling and floating, both weightless and heavy, both freezing and burning. He pulled back, some energy pulling back with him. If he had a heartbeat it would be pounding in his head.

The energy that had pulled back with his drifted toward Umbra. It settled back into her, giving her just the jump she needed to jolt her awake, just barely. She tried to focus, tried to make sense of what was going on. But all the only thing she could make sense of was her stolen energy swirling around.

She wobbled and got to her feet, and stumbled over to the edge of the rune. Using what physical energy she had left, she stood up straight and commanded the energy. She didn’t have the concentration to call it back to her, but she could keep it from doing whatever it was doing now.

Released from the hold of the ritual, but with no place to go, the energy left. Some of it dissipated, however most of it flew around until it had found the door. It dipped out of the room, and out of the building, up toward the sky. Umbra had collapsed as soon as she couldn’t feel the static of the energy in the room.

Shade caught her falling body, and another rumble caught his attention. The summoning had started, and there was no stopping it. He watched in horror as the rune began to rip open. He could see the Hellish landscape below, and with a newfound determination, refused to let it continue. He used his shadows to cradle Umbra against the wall again, then pointed his full attention to the now Hellscape that sat where the rune once was. He called forth shadows on a mass scale and laid them out like a blanket. He could feel the energy where the world fissured and Hell began.

He used his shadows and he pulled. He pulled the two ends of the broken world back together. Of course something was fighting him, and hard. A voice rumbled in a language he couldn't recognize, and he only pulled harder.

Large spikes broke through parts of his shadows, and he filled them in as quickly as he could. But they just kept poking through. His progress of closing the hole was slow, and if whatever was on the other side kept breaking his shadow, he’d never be able to close it.

He’d never say he was worried out loud.

Another spike broke through, but it happened only once more. He covered the hole it had created and continued to work. He expected more to show up, but they never did. After a few minutes of laboring work, he had done it. He had close the fissure to Hell.

He stumbled back and relaxed against the wall. The falling of Umbra’s arm caught his attention.

“What did you do.” It was more of a command than a question.

“I made it think that your shadows weren’t there anymore, and that the hole wasn’t closing.”

“How.”

“I made a s’ot underneath look like the world above.”

“That couldn’t of been easy.”

“The ceiling is ‘retty uniform it wasn’t that hard.”

He let out a dry laugh. “This is the third time you’ve saved Opal.”

“I can’t believe I’m a su’erhero now.”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“You’re right, that’s you.”

“I am not a superhero.”

“You ‘ulled the seams of reality back together and closed a hole to another world. I think that’s ‘retty su’er.”

“To Hell.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“The absolute worst.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

The two fell into a comfortable silence after that, both too exhausted to move or speak. It was a few minutes later when Shade felt something fall onto his shoulder. Looking over, he saw Umbra had fallen asleep on him. He didn't shrug her off, considering she just had energy ripped from her and helped him close a fissure to Hell.

Just this once he’d let it go.

He sat there, exhausted, for what he thought was only a few minutes. He was awoken by Jack. Turns out he had drifted asleep for at least an hour. Police surrounded the area, and none of them really wanted to bother him. A good call in the long run.

“Aaw you made friends with my newest regular.”

"Jack if I were not exhausted I would be choking you to death."

“Yeah but you’re not.”

“Mh,” Shade really was too exhausted to argue back. Within moments of the conversation ending, he was already drifting back to sleep.

Before he could though, Matt had walked over and started talking to him.

“You want a shoulder to lean on to make it to the car lovebird?”

“You're just full of wit today Matthew”

“But really, want some help?”

“What about her?”

“Jack said he’d carry her. Don’t worry, your love bug is in good hands.”

“Har. Har.”

Neither of them said anything while Jack picked up Umbra and Matt helped Shade. Putting one of Shade’s arms around his shoulder, the two made their way to Matt’s new car, police issued.

“What happened to your old car?”

“This cult happened.”

“They do get around.”

“I never thought a single cult could be so much trouble.”

“We’ve faced worse.”

“True.”

Matt helped Shade to the passenger’s side while Jack laid Umbra down in the back. As soon as Shade was sitting he pulled the seat belt over himself. Matt made it over to the driver's seat. He looked up and saw that Shade was out like a light.

When Shade woke up, he found himself sprawled out on his couch.

Thanks Matt.

He got up, unaware of what time or day it was.

He stood up and quickly took a shower and got dressed in a new outfit. He was glad he had that shower installed, it was more time efficient than a bath.

With a quick wisp of a shadow door, he brought himself to Matt. Turns out Matt was in the waiting room of the hospital.

“Matt.”

“Shade. Did you know your sweetheart isn’t a human?”

“I had a feeling.”

'“You don’t deny she's your sweetheart than.”

“To the point Matt.”

“Well, she doesn’t have a heartbeat, or blood, or any recognizable organs.”

“That would make sense.”

“What are you not tellin’ me.”

“Before we were put into this situation where we had to deal with the cult, I was interrogating her. Turns out she’s from an alternate Earth that is plant-based.”

“So she’s a plant.”

“Indeed. How is she?”

“The doctors really couldn’t tell, considerin’ she’s not human. But rest assured your lover is in good hands Shade.”

“Matthew.”

“We found you cuddled up with her and I’m not supposed to say anythin’?”

“No.”

“You’re no fun.”

“I never claimed to be. Is she awake? I have more questions to ask her.”

“Unfortunately not. The doctors were gonna let her rest and ask her how she’s feelin’ when she wakes up. Nothing much they can do for somethin’ they can’t treat.”

“Contact me when she wakes up. We need to continue our discussion where we left off.”

With that he was gone in another wisp of shadows.

…

He forgot to ask what the time and day was.

[shadesumbra]

Chapter 5

Matt really hadn’t been planning on a crazy adventure that day.

Then again he never did anyway.

It was raining hard that night and he was on his way home. Driving of course, who’d be mad enough to try and walk home in the rain?

That woman apparently. He saw her from a distance, and she was soaked. She must of been walking for awhile, maybe she got caught out without an umbrella and gave up by this point. Sounds reasonable.

Too bad that wasn’t the reason. Matt saw someone jump out of the shadows and attack her, but she was prepared. She took off, feet pushing her forward as she ran from the now small group of people.

Matt didn’t really think about what he was doing when he drifted his car into a nearby parking space, flung the door open and called for her to get in. And she obliged.

The two of them took off down the street before she even made an attempt to put her seatbelt on. When they were a few blocks over and he was sure they were safe, he decided to make conversation.

“What a bunch of creeps.”

“They’ve been following me for at least a week.”

“And you haven’t gone to the police?”

“The ‘olice came to me, those guys are ‘art of a cult that’s been in the area lately.”

Oh, those guys. He remembered now, Hope told him about when they had abducted a woman for some reason. The building was burned down before they got any answers. Maybe this was the same woman. It had to be, Hope told him that the woman wasn’t able to say the letter p.

“You the same woman that they abducted before?”

“Unfortunately.”

“You know why they’ve chasing you?”

“If I did I’d change it so they weren’t.”

“Hm.”

The brightness of high beam headlights shined through from the back of the car from behind them. Matt looked into the mirror on his side to see a car speeding toward them. Matt stepped on the gas.

He never thought he’d be on the fleeing end of a high speed chase. Especially as a cop.

“These couldn’t be the same guys on the street, there’d be no way they could catch up!”

“I think there’s a lot of them.”

“Great,” he took a sharp turn. Maybe if he could get to his apartment…

“‘Ark the car!”

“What!”

“Ark the  car! Trust me! Before they catch u’!”

Matt sucked in a breath through his teeth, but did what she said. She had to be crazy. He pulled the car into a nearby parking spot and turned it off. He was slightly surprised when she leaned out the window. He saw a shadow dip over the windows and disappear. She pulled herself back into the window and held her breath. Matt was stunned when he watched the cultists drive right by them. She released the breath she was holding.

“What did you do.”

“I camouflaged the car.”

“How.”

“...Magic?”

“I might of just figured out why the cultists are after you, why didn’t you mention you had magic!”

She sunk into her self. “Yeah let’s just go around saying I have magic great idea I totally don’t sound crazy.”

“You have a cult on you it’s not that unbelievable!”

The two of them went silent as they saw a cult member walk by. He stopped next to the car, looked up, and then kept walking.

“What was he holding?” She whispered.

“I don’t know but we better get out of here, it looks like they’re catching on.”

Matt waited for the cultist to turn a corner before he turned the car back on.

“I’m gonna bring you to my apartment, you’ll be safe until we can figure out what’s goin’ on and how to keep you safe.”

He pulled out his phone to try and call Hope, she’d be able to help.

If his phone got service. Why was his phone not getting service.

The shining of high beam headlights behind him caught his attention.

How did the cultists find them? He took off down the street again, only to be blocked by another vehicle full of cultists. This was a one way road and there was no way he could slip past them. His attention was turned to a knock on his window. He rolled it down ever so slightly

“Give up the girl and you can go.”

“Sorry, can’t do that,” he locked the car doors in stubborn denial.

He gave the woman a small “Hang on” before he stepped on the gas and drove toward the car in front of them. The sound of gunshots rang out and a bullet whizzed past his window. Oh so that’s how they’re gonna play? He pulled out his revolver and shot back.

Somewhere else, Shade felt something crawl up his spine.

Cultists dove out of the way as Matt sped forward. He pulled a hard right into an open parking spot and brought his car onto the sidewalk.  He was narrowly able to get his car past, and not without damage either.

“Shit! That’s going to cost somethin’.”

“What did you just ‘ull!”

“An escape maneuver that’s what.”

“How did you know that going to work!”

“I didn’t, but it did, so it’s fine,” he sped forward again.

What neither of them planned for was the man who had clung onto the roof of Matt’s car. They only learned he was there when a sword was stuck through the roof.

“Why do they have swords!” The woman shouted.

“Fuck if I know! Keep hangin’ on!” He made a sharp turn and heard the thump of a body. Good, at least he’s gone.

He made another turn.

Oh, that was a bad turn to make.

A very bad turn.

In front of them was a huge group of cultists.

Cultists in cars too.

He wasn’t able to reverse because two pulled in behind him and blocked his path.

He wouldn't be able to bullshit his way out of this one the same way as before.. He pulled out his revolver and his pistol as a few approached.

“This is gonna get messy, you might wanna close your eyes.”

He flung open the door and began shooting. They already tried to shoot him in his car and one put a sword through his roof. It was self defense at this point.

He fought as long as he could, but there were simply so many. They seemed to swarm like ants. In a short while he was overpowered. They pinned him to the floor as they pulled the woman out of the car. But she did fight back something fierce. He was sure that at least two guys left with broken noses.

The two of them were dragged into a nearby warehouse. Though the girl definitely did not go without trouble. Who knew one girl could make so much trouble. In the end it took three men to drag her inside.

They were dragged into a room with a machine. Matt was shoved back and held by two men, while the group tried to push the woman inside.

Keyword, tried.

She put up even more of a fight than she did outside. Matt took this time to look around. The machine itself looked like some sort of capsule, anything else connected to it though, he couldn’t tell. On the far side of the room was some for of command console. Above it a command screen. One a nearby wall was an array of pictures. Many pictures of Jack and the Woman were on the wall. Even a few of Shade. Not nearly as many of Shade. He was a pretty elusive guy through and through.

The two people that were holding him looked distracted by the scene the woman in front of him was pulling, and he took this opportunity to take them down. He brought up his foot and stomped the one on his right in the shin as hard as he could. They let go and with his now free hand punched the other in the face.

With all his might he took one of his guards and flung them toward the group. This alone took a few of the cultists off of the woman. Matt charged forward and began swinging left and right.

It started to looked like a bar room brawl.

Shade again felt something crawl up his spine.

The woman, now slightly free, yanked a pipe from a nearby machine and began to swing it around.

In a few minutes the two of them had the room cleared, and Matt made his way to the console. Buttons, levers, dials. What really caught his attention was the radar. On it was three beeping circles. His eyes narrowed. One was still, one was moving at a fast speed, and one dissapeared and appear somewhere else.

It clicked. The Woman, Jack, and Shade.

How were they tracking these three people, and so precisely. He opened the draws nearby. Papers, maps, books.

A radar.

That’s how the cultists were able to find him and the woman again earlier.

He snatched one and shoved it in his pocket, along with a bunch of the papers and maps. Anything he could carry really.

He turned around at the sound of glass shattering. The woman had been breaking the machine the whole time he was looking around. And considering that wasn’t long, she had done a pretty good job at making sure it was unusable.

The sound of footsteps caught both their attention, so Matt grabbed the woman’s wrist and pulled her out the door opposite they had come in. Hallways. Brilliant. The cultists had guns and swords and the two of them were stuck running down long hallways. No time to lose.

He pulled her forward, and took the hallway to the right. He had no idea where he was going. The sounds of footsteps echoed behind them.

“Shit.”

“Just kee’ running they won’t follow us.”

“What why?”

He looked behind to the woman, and the sight of them running down the left hallway got his attention instead.

“More of your magic?”

“It’s dark in here so the fakes are going to be running for awhile.”

“Dark? Your powers work better in the dark or somethin’?”

She stayed quiet. Matt was definitely going to question her later about this. Right now they had to get away. He pulled her through a door into a parking lot. A parking lot full of cultists.

A few looked in their direction, but made nothing of it.

The woman brought a hand to her lips. Oh, she was using her powers again.

The two of them quickly made their way to the outside of the group and snuck past the outer guards. Then, when they turned a corner, they ran.

It was two blocks down when the woman’s legs gave out.

“You okay?”

“I’m not used to making so many illusions in one night.”

Matt scooped her up and kept going, her head resting against his chest. In half an hour the two had made it to the police station. Matt put the woman down in a chair and instantly moved over to talk to the other officers about what had happened.

It was later when Matt walked over to the woman.

“You said your name was Umbra.”

“Mh-hm.”

“Sounds more like a cover up name that your actual name.”

“Mh.”

“Your powers based off shadows?”

She stayed quiet for a moment. “Yeah.” It was small and quiet.

Matt leaned on a nearby desk and lit a cigarette. “You know the Shade?”

“No.”

“He controls shadows too.”

“What’s he like?”

Matt looked down at Umbra.

“He's a bastard just like me, an' I like him. Puts a lot of effort into this city. Doesn’t care what other people think.”

He looked down quietly.

“So, you mind tellin’ me why you show up on this little radar here?”

She sunk down in her seat.

“I think you know more than yer lettin’ on.”

“Well-” she was cut off by an explosion.

The building shook and a few cultists kicked the doors to the station in, guns in hand.

“Hand over the girl.”

Police had their guns up, and the tension in the room could be cut with a butter knife.

At least, until the cultists were dragged away by large smoky tendrils. Screams from outside could be heard as Shade stepped into view.

“Tsk, they really don’t know when to give up, do they?”

Matt walked forward to greet him.

“You just did me a huge favor considerin’ I’ve been dealing with them for at least the last two hours.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Savin’ some woman.” He pulled out the radar. “You know about this?”

Shade looked down onto the screen. “No, what’s it about?”

“One dot is you, One dot is Jack and one is that woman. Umbra she called herself.”

Shade froze. Umbra. He knew an Umbra.

“Did she have fringe that covered her eyes?”

“Yeah, how’d you know?”

“Where is she?”

“Right over there,” he turned and and pointed to an empty seat.

“She’s not there.”

“She’s hidin’”

“Thank you Matt.”

“No, I’m serious. She uses shadows to make illusions. She’s hidin’. She probably snuck out by now.”

Shade’s eyebrows shot up. Shadows to make illusions. Well, that explained how she disappeared everytime he tried to talk to her. There had to be something more to this. If she were simply using shadows to make illusions he’d know. But to his knowledge it was as if she wasn’t controlling shadows at all. This is something he’d have to look into.

“Why did you have to save her?”

“Hell if I know. From what was gotten from the notes that are available somethin’ ‘bout a power source and a demon.”

Shade fell silent. A power source and a demon indeed.

“I think she’s long overdue for some answers.”

“I can have the police question her tomorrow.”

“I would like to talk to her myself if that’s possible.”

“I’ll see what I can arrange.”

“Oh, before I forget. You didn’t happen to do any ridiculous stunts lately, have you?

“I have, why?”

“No reason.” Other than it felt like Brian Savage just walked over his nonexistent grave.

Shade turned and left through a wisp of shadows. And Matt turned back into the station.

It was an half an hour later when Umbra actually got up from the chair and snuck out of the police station.

She was so fucked.

…

She still didn’t know why there were swords.

[shadesumbra]

Shade can make an exceptional quail mousse.

I don’t think there’s anything I can add to make that better.

[shadesumbra]

Chapter 4

Jack watched her from his spot at the front counter. When most people came in they just looked at what was on the shelves, practically afraid to touch anything they weren’t buying. But this woman? She was like a child, touching, feeling, playing. He could hear her giggle at things every so often. It was nice, it almost felt like most people were too stuck up or mature to explore.

He watched as she stopped at the tea cups. While she had spent a few minutes at each section, she was spending more time at the tea cups. She compared them to each other, as if deciding which one was the best set to buy. She picked up one set and brought it to the counter.

He was surprised when she went back for another.

As well as another.

He certainly wasn’t going to complain that she was buying all three tea sets. Business was still business after all.

He carefully wrapped each piece of each set, more so since she seemed to not be able to decide which to get, so she simply got all three. Not the worst choice to make.

He remembers times he decided to buy something later only for it not to be there.

He looked up, he briefly wondered how she saw through her hair, then decided it was best not to question it. He’s seen some strange things as Starman, extra long bangs as a fashion choice certainly wasn’t the strangest.  

He decided to spark a conversation, she was a potential returning customer.

“All three sets huh? Couldn’t decide?”

“No, they’re all so cute! Look this one has little bows, but this one is cut in half! A half cu’! That’s so adorable! And these…” She trailed off “Sorry,” It was small, and shameful.

“There’s no need to be sorry, you’re interested in tea cups, I think that’s pretty cool.”

She was silent for a moment before giving a shy smile. “You have other neat stuff in here too, I don’t even know what most of it is.”

Jack laughed. “You’re welcome to bring anything up to the counter and I’ll tell you what it is and what it does.”

She seemed to light up at this. “Maybe next time, I already have what I came for. Besides, I need to get back to ‘ainting.”

He noticed she wasn’t able to pronounce her ‘p’s, strange. He wondered where she was from, but considering how shy she seemed, asking probably wasn’t the best idea.

“I’ll ‘robably come back next weekend. There’s so much stuff in here it’s going to take me a little bit to look through it all!”

She seemed to glow. He was glad she had decided to come back, not only for the potential business, but also because she seemed like a person he’d want to have around. He was looking forward to next weekend already.  He’d have to see about getting more tea sets in.

Heh, out of context that last part sounded like something Shade would say.

The exchange between the two of them was quick, after that, he wrapped up her items, she paid, he bagged them and she was out the door. By the look on her face, well what he could see, she looked happy.

All three tea sets. Must be a collector.

She was right through, the little bows on that tea set were cute. Not that he’d ever say that out loud.

The rest of the day was relatively uneventful, a few more customers came in and he made a few more sales, just like any other business day. Now came the other part of his life, picking up his cosmic rod and being Starman.

He couldn’t really don a costume, since he didn’t really have one. A jacket and goggles doesn’t really count as a costume, just a look. More convenient that way.

He took to the skies, a simple hero patrol and he’d retire for the night. Nice and simple.

In concept at least. It only took a few minutes before someone had shot a net at him. It was a narrow dodge. He looked down to try and see who had shot a net at him, and he found them. All seven people. Why did seven people shoot a net at him? Correction.

Why were seven people currently shooting nets at him.

He was able to narrowly dodge each one. Landing was out of the question, they’d be able to trap him no problem. He didn’t really have another choice.

He’d have to flee. Not the most heroic action to take, but if these people were so determined to capture him, he’d be seeing them again in the near future. But then again, it would be useful to know what they want. He swooped down so that he was still above them, but high enough that they couldn’t physically reach him.

“You should watch where you’re shooting that, you could hit someone.”

They didn’t listen, instead they simply shot more nets at him. However, he was able to get a look at their robes. On the back of their black robes was a red mark, he couldn’t exactly describe it. All he could say was it was a circle with magicy looking stuff in it. That was the only look he got before he had to dodge more nets. He flew off, maybe the O’Dares knew something about this.

He never got the chance to get to their apartment. On his way he saw more of the weird cultists, but this time they were harassing a woman. He swooped down behind the cultist and swiftly took them out. It’s very easy to knock someone out when they don’t know you’re there.

“That should be all of them, do you know why they were harassing you?” He turned and looked at the woman. Oh. It was the woman from earlier with the bangs in front of her face.

“Do you know why these guys are after you?”

She shrugged.

“Better get you somewhere safe, more of these guys might show up.”

And he was right. Neither of the two were prepared for the man that jumped out of the shadows. He held a large metal pipe, and with his surprise attack advantage, swung and hit Jack directly in the face hard enough to knock him unconscious.

When he woke up later, it was still dark, but his cosmic rod was gone and so was the woman. He had been dragged into a nearby alley and hid behind a dumpster. The other cultist that had been knocked unconscious by him earlier were gone. He was the only one there. Great. Just perfect. Now what was he supposed to do?

Find help, that’s what. He knew who had attacked him, in a sense. If these people were going around abducting people and stealing stuff, the police would have to know about it.

He got up and began his trek. The walk to the O’Dare apartment was going to be a long one considering they lived on the opposite side of the city.

Wait. Phone. He still had his phone. And his wallet. Why would they leave his phone and wallet?

Without anymore delay he opened his phone and called Hope O’Dare.

“‘Ello?”

“Hey um, Hope?”

“Jack what did you do?”

“Why do you think I did something!”

“Because you wouldn’t be callin’ otherwise!”

“Okay fine. It wasn’t something I did, it was something I didn’t do.”

“Meanin’ what?”

“I, uh, got knocked unconscious while helping this woman getting harassed by cultists and they took her and the cosmic rod?”

“Jack Oh my God.”

“I know, I know! But you can tell me off later but right now there’s a woman in danger, and possibly a whole lot more.”

He could hear her sigh through the phone.

“Where are you right now? I’ll come pick you up and you can start from the beginning.”

“On the corner of 87th and 86th.”

“I’ll be right there, try not to get hit again while you wait.”

Jack didn’t get a chance to respond because Hope had hung up. He didn’t have to wait long for her to show up though. She pulled to the side and he got into the passenger seat.

“So, start from the beginnin’.”

“The begining of the day or the night?”

“Why would you start from the day? I need what’s relevant.”

“Well, the woman that was taken was in my antique shop earlier today, she got three tea sets because she couldn’t decide which one she wanted the most.”

“That could be relevant, I’ll keep it noted. Go on.”

“I went out and started a parole, and about an hour in some guys started to shoot nets at me. I tried to ask them why but they really didn't answer, there were six of seven of them I think. So I fly off to find you because I figured you might know something about them and I saw this woman getting harassed by more of those guys so I swoop down and knock them unconscious. I asked her and she didn't know why they were harassing her and some other guy jumped out of the shadows and hit me in the face with a metal pipe.”

“You said they took your cosmic rod?”

“Yeah.”

“And you said the woman was in your shop earlier?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you or she say anything suspicious? I know you’re memory isn’t that good but think back.”

“Ouch Hope, but no, nothing out of the ordinary. She just seemed a bit childish is all.”

“But we can’t rule her out as a possible suspect in this.”

“You think the woman who got kidnapped is working with the crazy cultists?”

“We can’t rule her out,” she paused. “You didn't mention cultists before.”

“Yeah, they had black robes and this weird red circle thing on the back. All of them had it.”

“I know exactly what group you’re talking about, they’ve attempted a few raids before with no luck. You’d be their first success.”

“Wow that makes me feel so much better.”

“It should good job you just made a bunch of criminals feel confident in themselves.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Anyway, they’ve been trying to steal stuff for their ‘resurrection ritual’ or something. Shade and Matt had to deal with one awhile back. Something about runes or something. You’ll have to ask.”

“You think it’s the same people? I heard there wasn’t a body left after that.”

“I know it’s the same. Call it a cop’s hunch.”

“All right then. Now what?”

“They call themselves the Shadows Devout. Their goal is to try and raise some demon of some sort.”

“So why did they take that woman and the cosmic rod?”

“They tried to use Shade as a power source in their last attempt, they could be aiming to use your cosmic rod this time.”

“They tried to use Shade? How did they get him?”

“He won’t reveal any details beyond that. I’ve been trying to get him to talk.”

Jack didn’t know what to say. Shade? No, impossible. But Hope wouldn’t lie to him.

“Yeah, I know. I thought the same. It’s probably why there wasn’t a body to recover.”

“Okay, so all that aside, why the woman?”

“Well that’s the mystery isn’t it? We’re headed to a shipping dock. It’s where they’ve been hiding.”

“Shouldn’t you call backup?”

“Nope, this is Starman business.”

She pulled the car into a hard drift that positioned the car directly into a parking spot.

Hope and Jack got out, listening for anything coming their way.

“You go find the woman and the cosmic rod, I’ll distract them.”

“They don’t know we’re here yet though.”

“You think I pull in like that and they don’t know we’re here?”

“Good point.”

Jack ducked into the shadows as some of the cultists came out to investigate. He watched for a moment as Hope made a scene, and he took his chance to sneak inside.

He got inside and he instantly began to explore. He came across books about magic and maps marked up with markers. Even notes about plans, shipments, stolen goods. These guys really were confident that they wouldn’t be found weren’t they? He swiped the notes off the table and stuffed them in a coat pocket on the inside of his jacket. Might as well get them in trouble in the process. His eyes wandered to a nearby door. Maybe in there?

He crept over and listened through the door. All quiet. He pushed open the door ever so slightly so he could see. There wasn’t anyone in there, maybe they were all distracted by Hope? He slipped in, careful to shut the door silently behind him. His eyes scanned the room, it was dark, but not too dark. He wasn’t able to make out details, but he was sure this was some kind of machine.

He got closer so he could get a better look. It looked like his rod would go here. Really, what else could? But what about that other tube? It looked like it was built to hold a person. Maybe it needed a human sacrifice. He shuddered, he rather not think about that.

On closer inspection, the container that looked like it was supposed to hold his rod looked… well, broken. Like someone had ripped the rod out forcefully.

The sounds of fighting caught his attention. He hoped that Hope wasn’t hurt, and pressed on. He slipped into the next room, and was slightly horrified. There was a coffee table with the tea set that the woman had bought earlier that day, the one with the bows. Yet, it was filled with blood. Oh God that was disgusting. He seriously hoped that the woman didn’t have anything to do with this cult, but Hope’s words from earlier echoed in his head.

He pressed on, and a thought crossed his mind. What if that was her blood? He felt sick to his stomach. Oh God what if she was killed because she had thought a tea set looked cute? Oh God.

It didn’t take long for his question to be answered. As he reached the next door, he was only narrowly able to dodge the body that was flung through the door. Jack looked down at the body of the cultist, then peered into the room. There was the woman, holding his rod, and beating cultists with it. And she looked angry. Well, at least that’s what he thought, it was hard to tell since he couldn’t see her eyes.

She obviously didn’t see him and she kept fighting off the incoming cultists. She wasn’t even using the cosmic rod properly, she was using it more as a staff.

She however couldn’t fight them all off alone, especially since there were a few she couldn’t see. These guys really do like their sneak attacks don’t they? Well, now he had the element of surprise. He grabbed the sneaky attacker by the back of the head and slammed them into the ground.

The woman swirled around and pointed the rod at him, then lowered it when she saw who it was. There were still more cultists approaching however, so Jack snatched the cosmic rod from the woman’s grasp and launched himself into battle. There weren’t many more to take care of, considering that this woman had taken out most of them by basically beating them with a glorified stick.

He heard an “oof” and turned. She had knocked out a cultist that had snuck up on him. She gave him a soft smile, and he gave one in return. He was honestly glad that she wasn't part of this crazy cult, and just a victim of it.

That meant he’d be seeing her next weekend at his shop.

When the two of them were sure the last cultist had been knocked out, Jack led her out. She stopped and looked sadly at the sight of her new… Old… tea cups filled with blood. And that’s when he noticed the bleeding on her upper arms. Oh God, they were filled with her blood.

He couldn’t see it at the time, and he wouldn’t know until later, that the substance filling the cups was blood, just not as he traditionally knew it. In the dark, he really couldn’t see the green shimmer.

“I’m sure they can be cleaned out. We’ll just have to wait for the police to get them.”

She continued to look sadly at the set.

“Those were the ones with the bows on it.”

“I know.”

Really, what else could he say to comfort her? Not much.

He lead her out, and there was Hope, also surrounded by unconscious cultists.

“Hope! Good news, the woman wasn’t part of the cult! Also good news, I got my cosmic rod back! Better news is I snatched some notes and plans!” He handed over the papers to Hope.

“Good job Jack,” she turned her attention to the woman. “You’re bleeding, sit down I have a med pack in my truck,” and she wasted no time in getting it. “I’m Hope O’Dare, police officer.”

The woman was shy and silent at first before she started talking. “Hi H-” She went silent.

“What is it? Is something wrong? Do you feel dizzy?” Hope’s questions came rapid fire.

“No, no that’s not it O’Dare.”

“You can call me Hope.”

She stayed quiet and it was Jack who intervened. He leaned in close to Hope and whispered to her.

“She can’t pronounce the letter P.”

“Why does that… Oh. Oh okay.”

The three of them were awkwardly quiet. But it was Jack that broke the silence first.

“Hope they were planning on using more than just my cosmic rod for energy.”

“What?”

“It looked like there was a container to hold a person in there.”

“The officers on duty are going to have to check it out when they get here, along with these notes you snatched and anything else that might-”

She didn’t get a chance to finish as the building went up in a blaze.

“Christ!” Hope jumped. “They’re burning the building down! Good thing you snatched these notes.”

It only took a few minutes for the police and firefighters to arrive. When the fire was settled, police tried to salvage anything they could, to little avail.

“Christ Hope, I’m starting to worry.”

“Why?”

“First they get the jump on Shade and use him as a power source. Then they get the jump on me and try to use my cosmic rod and this woman! Which I’m assuming they were going to use as a sacrifice. What next?”

“What next is that we’ll be prepared for the next time they strike.”

The woman however had seemed to grow smaller at the mention of Shade. Neither Hope nor Jack realized this, and the woman didn’t speak until Hope walked away.

“Shade, what is he like?” Her voice was small and uncertain.

Jack was caught by surprise by her sudden question. “Well, um. He can be pretty rude, and upfront. And overall he’s not really nice, but he’s honest. And he’s confident, he always seems to be calm, unless he’s angry. I’ve only ever seen that once and that was scary. But uh, he cares a lot about Opal, no place else really, just Opal. So, I like to think he’s at least a little good, if he’s so willing to protect this place.”

The two of them fell into another silence and she seemed to ponder over this. That as, until Jack exploded.

“And he has this horrible habit of just showing up and not announcing his presence! He can’t do anything like a normal person!”

The woman blinked at Jack.

“If he did that wouldn’t that make him less Shade and more like you?”

It was Jack’s turn to fall quiet and ponder.

“I know I’d like to be able to a’ear anywhere I want whenever I want, it’s certainly more useful to go from A to B than A to C to D to B. it would save an awful lot of time.”

Jack never got a chance to respond, he was pulled away by the cops to be questioned about the encounter, as was the woman.

It was later he realized he never got her name. That’s okay.

He’ll see her next weekend.

Maybe he’d be able to find another bow tea set.

[shadesumbra]

While Shade can choose to wear clothing,

He doesn’t really have to.

[shadesumbra]

Chapter 3

Shade had been sitting in his office for hours, going through book after book after book, trying to put together some kind of connection.

With no luck.

This was such an open ended possibility, this destruction rune could be used for so many different rituals, none of which Shade was going to allow to happen of course.

On top of this there was a second mystery person. Someone who knew what these runes were and were painting over them. Shade pinched the bridge of his nose. Who knew how many more runes were going to pop up,

His phone rang, once again making him jump. Speak of the devil.

“Hello Matt, another rune?”

“Yes, but you’re not going to believe this.”

“It’s painted in blood and trying to clean it off gave someone third degree burns?”

“Har har, no. This one is fresh.”

“So the culprit can’t be far.”

“It’s already painted over as well.”

“Well that was… wait already?”

“Both the blood and the paint are fresh. Whoever is painting over these is working a lot faster than we are.”

“Could it be the same person?”

“No, the profile artist down at the station said these were done in completely different styles, there’s no way it could be the same person.”

Shade let out a sigh. “I’ll be right there.”

“No need to identify this one, it’s another luck rune. Just thought you’d like to know where it is for your little map project.”

“Very funny, where?”

“The wall on the park downtown, near the playground.”

“Other side of the swingset?”

“That’s the place.”

“I know exactly where. I’ll see what I can find.”

Click. He was making far too many phone calls lately for his liking.

He rubbed his eyes and got back to work, quill on paper. He marked the new location and turned to his books. Now that there were three, that surely had to narrow down his results by a few.

It took him another few hours, but he had managed it. He was able to narrow down the location of the next rune to two different spots.

Scooping up the map he opened a shadow door and made his way to Matthew.

...He was asleep. Of course. It was a ridiculous hour in the morning. However, information could not wait.

“Matt.”

Matts body jolted awake. “Jesus Christ Shade!”

“I have narrowed down the location of the next possible rune. It’s going to be either of these two spots, you take men to this location and I will take this one.”

“Jesus Christ I’m glad you’re on our side.”

“I’m on Opal’s side.”

“When it comes to the cops that’s the same thing.”

“Oh yes, the whole ‘cops are the city’ ideal. No time for that, get going.”

Shade never gave Matt a chance to answer as he disappeared in a shadow door. Stepping out on the other side, his eyes scanned the area. The backside of a mall that was shut down for the night. It had to be on that wall over there, it was the only place that completed one of the possible shapes.

He never got a chance to find out, a sweet smell filled his nose and his vision was obscured by a white smoke. When the smoke started to dissipate, his vision did as well. The world around him spun and he couldn’t think straight, nor keep his balance. The next thing he was aware of was him hitting the ground. A pair of boots came into his vision before he lost consciousness.

The next time he awoke… He was still on the ground. Albeit he was on a moving blanket, better than the floor at least.

He sat up, a pounding headache making itself evident.

“Oh good, you’re awake.”

Shade’s eyes snapped toward the voice. A man sat across from him in bloody robes. This made him aware of the tightly barred cage he was in.

“I was starting to think that you weren’t going to wake up in time.”

Shade snarled and summoned forth shadows, only for them to be reflected.

“I’m no fool. I made sure I was well protected before I obtained my power source.”

“Power source? I think not.”

“It doesn’t particularly matter what you think, you don’t get a say in the matter. The last two runes are placed and you will be the one who sets them all off.”

“In place for what,” it was more of a demand than a question.

“For the ritual. For thousands of years the dark lord laid in rest, deep within the ground below this city, and tonight, he will rise!”

Shade snarled, shooting his shadows out at the rune he could see. Unfortunately, they burned upon impact.

“I made sure my runes couldn’t be removed. Like I said before, I’m no fool Shade. And I will not dilly-dally,” he turned toward the large rune in the center and started to chant, which in turn, caused it to glow.

This also caused the area under Shade to begin to glow. He pulled away the moving blanket. Another rune. This wasn’t a destruction rune, it looked too different.

Before he got a chance to ponder about it any longer, pain shot through his body. Shadow poured out of him in a beam and shot toward the large rune.

The beam stopped dead center then split in the directions of the other runes that had been painted around Opal. Shade tried to pull back and stop his powers, but he couldn’t, whatever was painted below him was forcing him to release his shadows.

The man reached back to the table for his dagger, to find that it wasn’t there. His eyes shot down to where it should be just in time to see the shadow of someone fleeing.

“You pest!” He shot after them.

He gave chase through the hallways of the clock tower after his intruder, or at least he thought he did. As he followed the illusion he thought was his intruder, he passed their hiding spot. They pulled away the shadow that covered them like one would pull away a blanket and dashed in the opposite direction, back toward Shade.

From a small bag they pulled out red spray paint and filled in the circles, exactly like on the four runes before. Tossing it to the side they pulled out a makeshift spray can and filled in a new rune, the same color blue as the first. The ritual had started, they wouldn’t be able to stop the effect, but they could cut off the power source.

Dashing over to the cage they aimed their spray can and made a line through as much of the rune as they could. This was more than enough to stop its effects.

Shade felt the pain stop, and saw the glow beneath him stop as well. He moved his hands, and shot them up when they touched something wet. Spray paint. He looked up. There was no possible way it could be what he was thinking.

The artist in the park.

In that second he put it together. The red paint on her shirt. The tail on her signature matched the ones on the covered runes.

He sat up as she brought the stolen dagger down between the edges of the cage,  breaking the seal. The sides fell and Shade stood up.

“You!” A malicious voice snarled from behind her.

Without hesitation she fled, still in possession of the stolen dagger. Shade on the other hand, made his way toward the man.

“You have made. A very. Big. Mistake.”

“You can’t hurt me! I have my protective spell!” yet the man stepped backward for every step forward Shade took.

“I don’t need my powers to make you suffer,” and with that, Shade’s hand wrapped around the man’s neck.

He felt something rub against his hand. Using his other hand he pulled out a necklace, the man’s protective charm. Shade ripped it off, a malicious smirk on his face.

Shadows shot out around the man and clung to him.

“I could use my shadows, but I think I’ll enjoy this one.”

The sound of the runes activating drowned out the man’s screams.

Across the city people could see the runes activate. Their bright glow bringing luck and fortune. But these did not outshine the protective spell that lit up the sky. The waves of light reached every corner of the city, and waved like the Aurora Borealis before exploding into bits. It sent a sprinkle of lights down like soft winter snow, leaving the city with its protective charm.

It was later when Shade made his way down the steps of the clock tower. Fortunately for the cleanup crew, the only mess they had to clean up was spray paint.

Matt O’Dare met him at the bottom of the steps.

“What the fuck happened Shade!”

“I was abducted, a girl helped me escaped and I rid the city of a man that would have summoned a demon.”

“Well? Where is he?”

“Where is who?”

“The man that… Shade Oh my God. Can you for once leave people like him to the cops?”

“Never.”

And with that, Shade strolled away. Even if this was all over, he still had a lot on his mind.

The artist from the park. She had been the one who was covering the runes. She had known what they were.

He’d have to have a chat with her. Tomorrow of course.

If only that was the case.

Shade had walked the path to where the stall was, only to find it wasn’t there. Nor the next day, nor the next day. For the whole week she wasn’t there. So he started to ask around.

Questions of the girl who sold surrealism, the girl with the bangs that covered her eyes.

Only a few people could point him in the right direction. And not a single one knew her name.

He came across an old building. It was supposedly were his mystery painter made her pictures. He opened the door and made his way inside. Upon entering the main room, he was met with a swimming darkness. Well, she wasn’t here. With a flick of a light, he was exposed to paintings upon paintings.

His eyes scanned the pictures, finished, unfinished, sketched out plans. Signed paintings. Oh these were hers all right, he knew that little tail very well by now.

His eyes scanned the rest of the room and landed on a large bucket with blue dripping over the edge. He walked over and opened it.

The same blue that was used to pain over the runes. A blue that was labeled ‘Opal’.

He heard the shuffle of footsteps. The door opened and he was met with the sight of the girl who had saved him, and Opal.

“I wanted to thank you.”

“You thanked me you can go now haha anytime bye!” She pushed him out of the room, unease practically seeping out of her

And it clicked. He knew that voice.

“You helped me before.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“With the ship, and Carlio.”

“Don’t know who that is you can go now bye.”

He planted his feet into the floor to stop her from pushing him any farther.

“I’m not leaving until I get a name and an explanation.”

“I’m Umbra I hel’ed you save the city bye now!”

“Not good enough,” His eye stared into her.

And without warning she ran, pushing past him and throwing off his balance. And he quickly gave chase after her. Of course he didn’t run. He doesn’t run unless he has too. No, he simply opened a shadow door in front of her.

She skidded to a quick stop and took off in another direction, practically leaping over a railing and down a small ledge. Shade rolled his eyes and opened another shadow door. Except this time....

...She wasn’t there. She couldn’t have gone far, it was only a small leap. And this was an open area, if she was running, he would see her.

She was gone without a trace. How curious.

He could spend the time to find her, it wouldn’t be hard. And she would most likely be back here for her work.

But he could get answers from her at another time.

After all, he knew what she looked like now.