The Descending Darkness

by Michael Chulsky

  “What was that?” Tereya asked, glancing around.

  Cameryn moved closer to the hall. “It sounds like it’s coming from the entrance hall.”

  “I think we have company,” Faith said.

  “Everyone be on guard,” Shadow said, drawing his sword. “Cameryn, come away from there.” He took point as the team fell behind him, preparing for a fight. There was another bang, this one even louder than the ones before. After a brief pause, a young woman strolled into the living room.

  Shadow looked at her curiously and was surprised that she met his gaze unflinchingly. He took in her appearance and knew there was something different about her.

  The girl appeared to be in her late teens and was much shorter than the rest of them. Her jet black hair was long and reached just past the center of her back – there were random sections dyed bright orange and curled into little ringlets throughout it. Her outfit at first glance appeared to be a foreign school uniform of some kind.

  “So,” the girl said, scanning the room. “This is the base, huh? Not too impressive, is it? You’ll need to boost up your defenses. I was able to get in with no problem.”

  Shadow frowned. “Excuse me, but who are you?”

  “Oh right,” the girl replied. “My name is Niki. That’s Niki with one ‘k,’ not two. Okay?”

  Shadow raised an eyebrow. “She sure is a strange one,” he thought. Aloud, he said, “Alright, and what are you doing here?”

  “Yeah,” Tristan said. “You do realize you’re breaking and entering, right?”

  Niki gasped. She brought her hands up to her mouth in a dramatic fashion. “You accuse me of breaking the law? How preposterous of you. I am not a lawbreaker. Phooey on you.”

  “What else do you call it when you enter someone’s home uninvited?” Kay asked.

  Niki turned to Kay and flicked her wrist dismissively. “But I was invited, silly.”

  “By who?”

  “That’s ‘whom’.”

  “By whom,” Kay repeated, rolling her eyes.

  “Him,” Niki replied, pointing at Shadow.

  “I don’t recall–” Shadow began, but stopped short. He paused for a moment and thought about it. And then he remembered. “Wait a minute…are you the one who I’m expecting?”

  “I don’t know, am I?”

  Shadow frowned again. “I mean, are you the one sent by the seer?”

  “Oh!” Niki exclaimed and did an excited spin. “Yes, I was sent here by her to share with you the information I collected”

  “What’s the information?” Kay asked eagerly.

  Ellie narrowed her eyes. “Calm down, Kay. I’m sure she wants to talk to Shadow first and then he’ll share everything with us.”

  “Ellie,” Shadow said. It was only one word but in that one word he hoped to convey a reminder of the talk they had. He caught her gaze, and though she looked mutinous, she gave a curt nod and calmed down. He turned to Niki. “What information do you have?”

  “There’s time for that later,” Niki said, flicking her wrist once more. “I want to use the computer first.” She went over to the computer.

  “Hey!” Tristan shouted, rushing over to her. “Don’t touch that! This computer is filled with private information. Only the people who live here can use it.”

  “There’s a password,” Niki said, sighing. She turned to Tristan. “What’s the password, Red?”

  Tristan scoffed. “As if I’d ever tell you.”

  Niki met his gaze and stared for a few breaths before smiling. “Thank you.” She turned and punched a few keys, and the password was accepted. She let out a cheer of triumph.

  “Woah,” Ellie breathed. “How did you do that?”

  Niki shrugged. “It’s not that difficult. I have the power to read minds…in addition to other things.”

  “That must come in handy.”

  “Sometimes, yes, but it’s not perfect. Anybody with above average intelligence can keep me out. Beyond that, I can only read a mind if the person is feeling a strong emotion.”

  “Way to go, Tristan,” Kay muttered, shaking her head. “I’m sure this scene will play out in a fun and interesting way, but clearly I’m not needed here. So I’m going to go lie down. Call me if something interesting happens.” She turned and walked out of the room.

  Shadow considered stopping her, but decided he had enough on his plate with the new arrival, so he let her go. He turned his attention back to the strange girl. “Niki, can you please–”

  “–get off the computer!” Tristan shouting, attempting to finish Shadow’s sentence.

  “Brother!” Faith exclaimed.

  Niki didn’t even look at him. “Can I help you?”

  “You heard me. I said get off the computer now. Or I’ll make you.”

  “Tristan, I’d be careful,” Ethan said warily. “You don’t know anything about this girl. She could be dangerous.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do,” Tristan replied, grabbing Niki by the arm. “Let’s go.”

  “Tris, listen to him!” Faith called.

  Niki jerked her arm out of his grasp and then dropped to the ground with great speed. She spun around and thrust her right leg against Tristan’s shins, sweeping his legs out from under him and sending him crashing to the floor. She rose effortlessly and stared down at him for a moment, before going back to the computer.

  Tristan growled and got back to his feet. “Lucky shot!”

  “Let me guess,” Niki said, “you’ve never even kissed a girl before, have you?”

  Tristan flushed red. “That’s none of your business!”

  Shadow raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Tristan, maybe you shouldn’t–”

  “Shouldn’t what?” Tristan snapped.

  “Never mind,” Shadow replied, his voice icy.

  Ellie looked at him and gestured at Tristan and Niki. “You’re not going to stop this? He’s going to get his ass kicked.”

  “And he’ll have thoroughly earned it.”

  Ellie shook her head. “Whatever you say.”

  Niki shook her head at the look of rage on Tristan’s face. “You know, chronic anger is often a sign of insecurity. I suggest chocolate or therapy.”

  “Are you going to diagnose me, or are we going to fight?” Tristan roared.

  “This will be great,” Ryan said, voice filled with glee. “Don’t start without me. I’m going to get a soda real quick.” He rushed off.

  “Maybe I should diffuse this,” Ethan said.

  Shadow moved his head a fraction of an inch to the right and then to the left. “If you stop it, he won’t learn anything.”

  “Tristan, no!” Faith cried, as her brother rushed in for an attack.

  Niki watched Tristan rush towards her and the calm expression on her face never changed. When his fist came at her, she grabbed it and kicked him squarely in the chest, knocking him off balance.

  Tristan groaned in pain as her foot connected. He grabbed her foot with one hand and threw another punch.

  Niki brought her other leg up and kicked him in the stomach. Using his body as a platform, she continued targeting his midsection, kicking up the length of his body and flipping backwards, landing a few feet away. “I don’t want to hurt you…but I will if you continue.”

  Faith made a motion to move forward, but was stopped by Ethan’s hand on her arm. She looked up at him. “He’s my brother. I have to help him.”

  “I understand…but let this play out. I think it’ll be best for him.”

  Faith looked mutinous but didn’t try and fight him. “Fine, but if it escalates further…I’m going to intervene.”

  Tristan breathed in and out heavily, staring at Niki with resentment on his face. He clutched his chest and winced in pain. “You won’t beat me… I won’t let you.”

  “That will be enough,” Shadow said, grabbing Tristan by the nape of his shirt and pulling him backwards. “From both of you.”

  Niki shrugged. “Okay, sure.”

>   Shadow fought the urge to laugh. “She sure is a weird one.”

  “How are you going to let her just come in here and attack me?” Tristan asked, glaring at Shadow. “You’re supposed to be on my side!”

  Shadow scoffed incredulously. “Tristan, if I recall correctly, I tried to help but you told me off. Besides, you attacked her first.”

  “So you’re okay with her treating our property like her own?” Tristan asked.

  “No, but I’m not going to attack her for it. And neither should you. She’s here to deliver important information that could save the world. Or did you forget? Maybe don’t try and kill someone with world-saving information.”

  Scowling, Tristan was led off into a corner by Faith, who gave Shadow an apologetic look and mouthed, “I’ll talk to him.”

  Shadow let out a breath. “Okay. So, Niki…what information do you have?”

  Niki grabbed a chair from the corner and plopped down on it. “Okay, so here’s the story–” She began, but paused, hearing footsteps approach the living room.

  Ryan walked into the living room, holding a can of grape soda. He looked around the room and frowned. “Aw, man, I missed the fight! Who won?”

  “She did,” Tereya muttered, pointing at Niki.

  “Aw, man,” Ryan repeated, sighing. “It was probably a good fight, too.” He sat down on the couch and popped open the tab on the can. “Oh, well. I’ll have to wait for the next time someone decides to beat up Tristan. So probably tomorrow.”

  “Hey!” Tristan exclaimed.

  “Sorry, dude.”

  Shadow cleared his throat. “Niki, you were saying?”

  “I’m thirsty,” Niki said suddenly, eyeing the soda. She poked Ryan in the arm. “I’m thirsty.”

  “That’s nice for you,” Ryan replied.

  “Give it to me. If you don’t, I won’t share my secret.”

  “Ryan, give it to her,” Shadow said.

  Ryan sighed and passed the soda to Niki. “I hate you.”

  “Thank you. I was terribly thirsty.” Niki said, winking at Ryan as she took a deep sip of the soda. “Anyway, I’ll start at the beginning. I was just going about my life when I found out from this strange lady that you were recruiting teenagers with special powers.”

  “The seer?” Shadow asked.

  “Yes. And she told me that I should come and talk to you.”

  “Well, it was smart of her, because you qualify. But we cannot have any more fighting between you and Tristan. If you’re going to be on the same team, you’ll have to get along…or at least try.”

  Niki smiled. “Sure. I’ll be arctic if he is.”

  “Arctic?” Crystal questioned.

  “Arctic as in cool.”

  “Ooh, I like it!”

  “Well, Tristan?” Shadow asked. “Will you be…arctic?”

  Tristan didn’t say anything at first and just stared at the wall, adamantly. But after a hard-glance from his sister, his expression softened a bit. “Yeah…whatever.”

  Shadow narrowed his eyes but accepted the concession. “Okay, now that’s settled…welcome to the team. Can you continue what you were saying?”

  Niki took another sip of the soda. “Now that the backstory has been established, I’ll skip to the main plot. Like, why we’re currently dealing with the night that never ends.”

  “If you know something, please tell us, Niki,” Ellie said.

  “Yes, any information you have could be most valuable in returning things to the way they once were,” Ethan added.

  Niki tapped her soda can impatiently. “First off, you need information on this mysterious evil demon lady, right?”

  Shadow nodded. “Yes, we have some theories on who it may be–”

  “Well, there’s no need for theories now. Her name is Maedara.”

  Shadow’s eyes widened. Although he already had an assumption on the identity of the woman he was looking for, validation was always welcome. She was the one behind everything – from Draconia Isle to the rituals performed in Derelyn. It was all her influence, and now that they had her name, they were one step closer to finding her and making her pay. “Where is she?”

  “She lives somewhere on Om’erah, the continent to the far west. Most people don’t go there anymore, fearing the slight chance they might run into her. She’s pure evil…and pure crazy. But I’m not sure if she’s still there or if she’s left. She’s been on the move for a while.”

  “And how did she bring about this eternal darkness?”

  “It’s an interesting story,” Niki said, eyeing her empty can of soda longingly. But she returned her focus to Shadow. “I was fortunate enough to be 'invited' to an event that took place a few days ago. It was the yearly opening of the Black Market.”

  “What’s the Black Market?” Tereya asked.

  “The Black Market is a place hidden deep within the continent of Zytrihr,” Ethan explained. “It’s the place where all the most foul and evil of beings roam. It’s also where their government is.”

  “It really exists?” Tereya said, his eyes going wide.

  “Unfortunately, it does. I don’t know much about it beyond the basics…but allegedly, every so often, different demons gather there to exchange valuable artifacts and abilities.”

  “If that’s the case, how did you get invited?” Tristan announced loudly.

  Niki sucked her bottom lip in. “You’re not seriously insinuating that I’m evil, are you?”

  “I’m sure that’s not what he meant,” Shadow said in an attempt to placate her and diffuse the potential situation.

  “Well, I just find it hard to believe that you would have been invited to an event which took place in the most evil city in the entire world.”

  “Ahh, okay,” Niki said. “In the spirit of friendship, I am willing to look past the fact that you just called me evil. I forgive you. To answer your question, I wasn’t invited so much as I jumped this grim demon – which you all know, I’m sure, are tiny creatures who wear big cloaks and never show even an inch of their body – and stole its cloak so I could parade around undetected and see what was up.”

  “Interesting.”

  “Oh, it most definitely was. So anyway, I was there, sitting in the third row, watching the auctions take place. And then, finally, one of the most legendary items that I’ve ever heard of was brought up and sold. The Chest of Ondeyr.”

  “Is that supposed to mean something?” Ryan asked after a long, silent pause. “Does anyone know anything about it?”

  “The information I have on the topic is very limited. I’ve only heard about it in passing,” Shadow replied. He threw a glance at Ethan. “Do you?”

  “It’s a container housing a terrible artifact,” Ethan said, his expression intense. “It’s supposed to hold the power of the old gifted…the first mortals to gain powers, in the form of a staff. And the staff gives the wielder enormous power.”

  “Wonderful,” Ryan remarked.

  “Quite the opposite,” Niki said. “But anyway, Maedara made a bid and won it. Apparently, though, Maedara wasn’t even supposed to be there. She was exiled from the kingdom….”

  “Why?” Shadow asked. “Why would her own people exile her?”

  “Maybe even bad guys have a crazy quota?” Ryan suggested.

  “I’m not sure,” Niki replied. “But I also witnessed the king of the Kvana personally come to escort her away. They had major history. But get this…she took out most of the royal guards effortlessly and then killed the king, too! She’s now the ruler of the dark kingdom.”

  Shadow grimaced. It was bad enough that Maedara was obviously very mentally unstable with deadly abilities, but now she was in a position of power. With her power and the entire force of the Kvana behind her, she could easily reduce the world to ruin.

  “So… you’re saying that this woman is pretty much unstoppable?” Tristan asked.

  Niki smiled. “Aww, he’s learning.”

  “So what are we going to do, Shad
ow?” Ellie asked.

  “Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it?” Niki asked. “Because I thought it was quite obvious. We find Maedara, kick her ass, and then set the world right!”

  Shadow rolled his eyes. “Well, yeah, of course. But first we have to find her.”

  “Well, I gave you a general idea. I’m sure with a little digging, we’ll be able to find her exact location. Then we kick her ass and set the world right!”

  “That’s the difficult part,” Faith said, “knowing how to beat her. It’s not like we can just go in there with our fists swinging.” As she finished speaking, she was lifted into the air by an invisible force and then thrown onto her back, where her eyes closed and her entire body shuddered.

  “Faith!” Tristan yelled. He ran over and kneeled on the ground by his sister. “What’s happening to her? Somebody, please, help her!”

  Faith’s body slowly lifted off the ground and hovered in midair, floating up and down.

  “Faith!” Ellie called.

  “Shadow, help her!” Tristan begged.

  Shadow moved forward to pull Faith back to the ground, but was thrown backwards by a pulsing wave of invisible energy before he could make contact with her. “I can’t touch her!”

  “She’s having a vision,” Ethan said, hovering his hand over her body.

  “I’ve seen her have visions before,” Tristan said. “This isn’t one of her typical visions!”

  “No, it isn’t…a vision of such strength can only come from a higher power. But everyone stay back and let her ride the wave until it’s finished!”

  A moment later, Faith crumpled to the ground. Her eyes opened wide, and she gasped for air.

  “Faith!” Tristan cried. “Are you all right?”

  “Y-yeah,” Faith said. “I’m fine.”

  “Thank God,” Tristan said, pulling her up to a sitting position and then hugging her. “I was so worried. I thought you had...”

  “It’s all right, I’m fine…really. It was just a vision.”

  “What about?” Shadow asked.

  “It was from this woman, she told me–” Faith began, but she was interrupted by Isaac, who rushed into the living room.