Of Song and Shadow

by Phillip Drayer Duncan

  All at once, the ravens cawed again and flew down toward the center of the room. They melded together into one black blur of wings and feathers.

  Then they were gone and in their place was the form of a man.

  His face was comprised of shadow and without form, save for a wide grin. The rest of him was dressed in a black pinstripe suit with a red tie. A raven sat perched on one of his shoulders and he had a coin in his hand, which he flicked up into the air with his thumb and caught in his palm, then repeated.

  “You,” I said, staring at him. “I know you.”

  His devil’s grin spread wider.

  “You were at Director Allen’s house. You were there when we faced the Obayifo. You tried to talk some sense into her.”

  “Yes, Blade Mage,” he said with a chuckle. “Silly little woman. A bloody hedge witch with delusions of grandeur. I rather enjoyed watching you put her down.”

  “You left, though,” I said, shaking my head. “Before we killed her.”

  “Did I?” he asked.

  An uncomfortable silence grew between us. At least for me. He seemed completely at ease, flipping his coin up in the air and catching it.

  “What do you want?” I asked.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” he asked. “I want the woman.”

  “You and everyone else.”

  “A popular thing, that little one.”

  “Who is she?” I asked. “Why are you after her?”

  He made a tsk tsk sound and said, “That’s not for you to know, little Blade Mage. This business doesn’t concern you.”

  “I think it does.”

  “What you think is of little consequence,” he replied, taking a few steps closer. His face appeared in the dim light, but as before, his features seemed to shift with each passing moment. “Your part in this is over. You’ve protected her, just like a proper Blade Mage would. I’m sure your father would be very proud. Now, it’s time to put an end to the silliness. Hand her over and you may yet walk away from this.”

  “And if I don’t?”

  “Well, you’ll die,” he said. “I thought that bit was obvious.”

  I didn’t reply.

  “Then again,” he said, pausing to rub his chin. “There are fates worse than death, aren’t there?”

  “Don’t threaten me,” I said, shrugging. “It only makes me more stubborn.”

  This was met with harsh laughter. “Of course. I’ve said it before, you know? You are your father’s son. Your Cabal friends are a bunch of bloody morons if they can’t see it. You have my respect, Blade Mage, if no one else’s.”

  “Uh, thanks,” I replied, unsure what else to say. I hadn’t expected to receive a compliment from the shadow man. “I’m still not going to hand her over.”

  “I know,” he said with a hint of sorrow in his voice. “A shame, really. Giving up your life for a woman you don’t even know. Is that foolish stubbornness? Or stubborn foolishness?”

  “Bit of both, probably.” I shrugged. “Tell me who she is.”

  “No.”

  “Tell me why you want her.”

  “No.” He shook his head. “Heed me, Blade Mage. You were over your head with the Obayifo. As much as I enjoyed her death, the truth of the matter is, you got lucky. She should’ve killed you. This is…something else. You saw what I did outside. You saw what magic I have at my command. And you know I’m not the only one looking for her. While not stronger than me, my foes still would’ve cracked that old Obayifo like a nut.”

  There was something in his tone that told me he wasn’t just posturizing. He wasn’t trying to impress me. This was the truth as he saw it, and I knew he was right.

  “You sent the shadow creatures?” I asked.

  He paused for a moment, then finally said, “Indeed. They’re my little minions. A part of me, if you will. I was impressed with how you handled the first lot. Of course, at the time I didn’t know she’d found you. The second lot, though…” He paused to click his tongue across the top of his mouth. “Now, that was bloody brilliant.”

  “Yeah, thanks,” I said, shaking my head.

  “Don’t rest on your laurels, my friend. There are more coming. The darkness draws nearer, and that is my domain. Soon my little ones will take form, and you won’t find it so easy to send them back to the shadows, should you be so foolish as to continue your defiance.”

  “The other people looking for her… Are they your enemies?”

  “How perceptive,” he replied with a hint of sarcasm. “Yes, Mr. Draven, they are my enemies. Glad to see you’re keeping up.”

  “And who are they?” I asked. He didn’t want to tell me why he wanted Eva, but maybe I could get some info about his foes. Something, anything, to help me start piecing things together.

  “They, too, are creatures of the darkness, but of a different, lesser variety. Still above your station, though, chap. It would be best for you, in my humble opinion, to hand the woman over to me and go back to your little cabin. Maybe you can find yourself a case to work for the Cabal. Fight some measly dark wizard or hunt down some rogue vampires. That’s more your speed, isn’t it?”

  “And a moment ago you were so quick to compliment me.”

  “It’s not meant as an insult, but this… All of this…” he waved his hands around in a grand gesture. “Well, it’s just a little out of your league, isn’t it?”

  I shrugged. “I’ve done all right so far.”

  He watched me for a few moments before he spoke again. “You know, I think maybe I will tell you something about the others hunting to the woman. Forget the pesky mortals with their little guns. They don’t matter. It’s the other one who’d interest you, I think.”

  “We’ve spoken,” I said, staring into his shadowed face. “If you’re referring to who I think you are, we spoke on the phone last night.”

  “Truly?” he asked. “Marvelous. He’s not one to take calls. And tell me, Blade Mage, were you afraid? Don’t lie, now.”

  “A little,” I admitted.

  “And are you afraid now?”

  “A little,” I repeated.

  “And what if I told you that the being you spoke to on the phone was a creature of immense power? A creature your Cabal says doesn’t even exist?”

  I shrugged.

  “Well, Wyatt Draven, you should’ve been more than a little afraid. Do you want to know what it was you spoke to? Do you want to know what the other creature is that hunts your strange lady?”

  “Uh, sure,” I said, though I wasn’t actually sure at all.

  “I’ll give you a hint. He’s undead. Practically a king among the undead, in fact. A bit like a vampire, only so much worse. Worse than the manananggal. Worse than the Abasy. Worse than the Obayifo. He’s the type of undead that makes others bow to him. Do you know of what I speak?”

  I shook my head slowly.

  “The kind of beast that could murder a man’s family in a dark ritual, then disappear. The kind that would make no one believe the man when he told his tale. Do you know such a man? Do you know the creature that haunts his dreams?”

  “No,” I said, realization hitting me like a brick in the face. “They aren’t real.”

  “They are,” he assured me. “That voice on the phone, it belonged to a Revenant. And it’s coming for her, Wyatt. It’s coming for your little lady, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”

  “Except give her to you.”

  “Except give her to me.”

  I stared at the shadow man for a few moments, then rose to my feet, slowly approaching him. When I was a few steps away I paused. Even standing just in front of him, I still couldn’t lock onto his features, but I could look directly into his black raven eyes. “I have a better idea.”

  “Oh?”

  “You, your shadow creatures, the Revenant, the pesky little men with their guns, and everyone else who’s after her, you can all piss off. I’m not giving her up.”

  He pursued his lips and shook his head. �
��A shame, really, Blade Mage. I thought you were wiser than this.”

  “Fuck off,” I said. “You have no power here.”

  I didn’t wait for him to reply. I swung Drynwyn at his torso. As the blade struck his body he became a fluttering unkindness of ravens once more, cawing as they parted from one another.

  Then they came back together several feet away and the man reappeared, brushing the front of his suit jacket as though it had dust on it.

  “Are you so sure?” he asked, still smiling like a dick.

  “I’m sure,” I said, glaring at him. “If you had your full power, you would’ve just taken her. We wouldn’t even be having this conversation.”

  “Indeed.”

  “Furthermore, I don’t think you’re even really here. I think you’re projecting through your shadow minions.”

  “Now that’s an astute observation,” he said, his tone complementary once more. “But more of me will be here soon. Maybe I’ll even come in person.”

  “Well, I look forward to meeting you,” I said.

  “And the Revenant? He’ll be here soon too. Even now he and I are engaged, ancient magic against ancient magic. He’d be on you already if not for me delaying him.”

  “And is he delaying you as well?” I asked.

  He just smiled at that, but I took it to mean yes. He said, “If you’re set on this foolish path, my shadows will hide you from him until morning. Better hope your lady lasts that long.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, she’s cursed, isn’t she? How long do you think she will last in her present state? It really would be better for everyone if you reconsidered, Blade Mage. Much better that I take your new friend than him.”

  His body fell apart and the ravens scattered. They cawed angrily at me as they hovered around the room above me, then they all flew back out the double doors, leaving only blackness outside.

  A sense of relief washed over me, and I fell back into a seated position in front of the pulpit. Based on how long he’d spoken with me, I’d suspected he didn’t have power in the little chapel. I don’t know if it was because it was a holy place, or because of the wards Paeter and Mary Beth had brought along, or something else, but if he’d had the power to hurt me, he would’ve brushed past me and taken Eva. Instead, he’d tried talking. Something told me the next round wouldn’t be as easy.

  His voice spoke once more. “Just remember, Blade Mage, that the darkness is coming. My shadows are on their way. See you soon.”

  Then the double doors slammed shut by an unseen force.

  Chapter 13

  “Is it gone?” Axel asked, sticking his head out the door. “I knew you’d smite that fucker.”

  “I didn’t smite anything, Axel. He just…left.”

  “Huh,” he said, then glanced behind him into the small room where the others still hid. “Oh, right, well, if the shadow monster is gone, we’ve got a new problem.”

  “What now?” I asked.

  “Come see,” he said, waving me toward him. “It’s Eva. I think she needs a doctor or something.”

  I jogged over to the door and glanced inside. Our mysterious woman was incoherent once again. Just like before, her eyes were rolled back in her head, but additionally, this time she was trembling and foaming from the mouth.

  “She’s having a seizure,” Mary Beth said as she and Paeter attempted to hold her.

  “We must do something,” Paeter added, but he seemed lost. Medical care wasn’t his forte.

  I moved closer and saw her skin was pale white. Sweat dibbled down her forehead.

  “How long has she been like this?” I asked.

  “Started just a few moments after we came in here,” Axel said, shrugging. “I think she’s dying, Wyatt.”

  “She needs to go to the hospital,” Claire said.

  Axel and I shared a look.

  “Is there nothing we can do?” I asked. “No one has medical training?”

  “Do you see her?” Claire asked. “She needs a doctor.”

  I cursed under my breath.

  Then Eva seemed to stabilize. She was still unconscious, but the seizure was over. Something told me we weren’t out of the water yet, though.

  “Is it magic?” Paeter asked. “Is this some foul working?”

  “That’s what our shadowy friend outside indicated,” I said, shrugging. “Sure as hell looks like a curse. It only affected her once he got close.”

  “Or it could just be stress,” Mary Beth said. “I don’t sense any magical energy at work. Do you, Blade Mage?”

  “What’s a Blade Mage?” the old woman asked.

  “That’s not important at the moment,” I said, then turned back to Mary Beth. “No, I don’t sense anything.”

  “Then we have to treat it like it’s medical,” she said. “Claire’s right. You need to get her to a hospital.”

  “That could be…problematic,” Axel said, glancing at me. “If it is magical, they won’t be able to help her. They might make it worse. And…”

  “…And the shadow is still outside,” I said, finishing his thought. “It won’t be gone until morning.”

  “The sun was still high in the sky when we fled,” Paeter said, glancing toward a window. “It’s dark out now.”

  “That’s the working,” I said. “He’s still out there.”

  “So, we can’t leave?” Mary Beth asked. “Will he come back in?”

  “I don’t think so,” I said, glancing toward the old woman, Claire. “It seems your chapel is protected after all. He doesn’t have his full power. We’re safe until morning, but if we go outside…”

  Everyone seemed to understand the implication.

  “I know some minor healing spells,” Mary Beth said with a sigh. “I’ll do what I can to make her comfortable, but I don’t know if she’ll survive the night like this.”

  “Just do the best you can,” I said.

  I stared around the room. Everyone was afraid, and for good reason. The poor old woman Claire was probably scared out of her mind. Though she clearly knew Paeter and Mary Beth, so she had some familiarity with strangeness. Mary Beth was busying herself with Eva while her husband paced nervously. Even Axel wasn’t his normal chipper self.

  It seemed like they were all just waiting for someone to do something. I sighed inwardly. I didn’t want to be in charge. I had no clue what to do. Still, someone had to do something.

  I turned to Claire. “I’m sorry to have brought this to your doorstep, but I’m afraid we’ll have to burden you a bit longer.”

  She nodded. “I understand. I have some food and some blankets stowed away. It’ll be no trouble to have you through the night.”

  “Thank you,” I said, then turned to Axel. “We’ll need some wards.”

  “You think he’ll try again?”

  “No, it’s not him I’m worried about,” I said, meeting his gaze. “He’s not the only one trying to find her. The shadow man seems to think he can shield us, but if he’s wrong, we’ll need to be ready.”

  “Why would he do that?” Mary Beth asked.

  “Apparently, there’s a super-powered-evil-jerk-face race to see who can get to Eva first.”

  “Why do they want her?” Paeter asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said, realizing only too late who I was starting to sound like. I gave them the short, sweet, and watered-down version of Eva’s plight. When I was done explaining, I added, “So, Mary Beth, when you’ve finished with Eva, will you help Axel?”

  “Of course,” she said. “We’ve got a few magical artifacts with us that may offer a little more protection, as well.”

  I turned back to Axel. “Don’t ruin anything. No permanent markings.”

  “You say that like I’d use crayons and markers,” he said, a little indignantly. After a moment of holding his gaze, he said, “Yeah, okay, good call out. I probably would’ve.”

  “What about me?” Paeter asked. “How can I help?”

  “Guar
d duty,” I said, mostly because I couldn’t think of anything else. “Make sure all the doors are secure and keep an eye on things. Just because the shadow man doesn’t have the full strength to attack us here doesn’t mean he won’t try. If he sees a weakness, he’ll pounce.”

  “Understood.”

  I turned back to Claire again. “These beings are hurt by light. The darker it is, the stronger they become. Do you have more candles?”

  “It’s a chapel I rent out for weddings,” the old woman replied. “I’ve got boxes of them.”

  ***

  Paeter and I followed Claire into another back room of the chapel. Apparently there were two dressing rooms, one for the bride and her bridesmaids, and another for the groom and his groomsmen. Between the two were a few couches, which Paeter set to moving into the main area of the chapel.

  Claire led me past a small kitchen and into another storage area. I was surprised by how many rooms the little chapel actually had.

  As she rummaged through boxes, looking for candles, she asked, “So, what are you, then?”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, though I suspected where she was going.

  “You aren’t just a man, are you?” she said, her face buried in a box. “They called you the Blade Mage, and you carry a burning sword.”

  “I’m a wizard,” I admitted. No point in trying play coy. “Both Axel and I are capable of some magic. Blade Mage is my title.”

  “Ah,” she said, turning to watch me. She studied my face for a few moments, then turned back to the box she was rummaging through. “I’ve seen a little of what Mary Beth can do. It’s funny, though, isn’t it? All my life I believed witchcraft was just the work of the devil, yet now I’ve met three people who know real magic, and you don’t seem wicked to me.”

  “The good guys performed miracles too, didn’t they?”

  She chuckled. “That is true. Are you a good guy?”

  “I like to think so,” I said, shrugging as she glanced back toward me.