by W.J. May
Chapter 3
Night Court
The following evening, Coty and Erebus sipped coffee at S’moes Diner. The confusion and grogginess had cleared and tonight Erebus had a hint of anticipation running through him.
S’moes Diner always helped him relax. The comfortable atmosphere in the silver RV-trailer restaurant, with its red leather seats and sparkly laminated retro table seemed to offer some kind of soothing, invisible toxin to Erebus.
“Did you head back to her place?” Coty laughed at a sudden thought. “Or yours? Did you— ” He chucked again. “—end up in a phone booth?”
“Not funny. At all.” Erebus shook his head. “We just went for a walk and talked a bit.” “Did she ask why you can only come out when it’s dark?” Coty asked.
“Yeah.” Erebus snorted. “She made some comment about me being a vampire.” He met her once and Coty assumed he slept with her and told her the one thing he couldn’t ever explain to anyone?
“Vampire?” Coty straightened in his chair. “What is it with mortals? Why does anything that has to do with night always have to be a vampire? The way people think is so strange.”
“Sure and answering back that I’m a Shadow makes so much more sense.” Erebus set his empty mug down. “Not strange at all.” He barely knew the girl, like he was going to tell her his most intimate secret. “I was joking.”
“Better than a damn vampire,” Coty muttered. “Why can’t people just be normal?” “Normal?”
“Well, sort of. Chicks dig vampires and there are some hot vampires on TV and on the big screen. But,” Coty shook his head, “that’s not what I mean.”
Erebus cracked a couple of knuckles. Knowing Coty, this was heading on the side of ridiculous. “What do you mean?”
“You know, like, we’ve got some disease.” He snapped his fingers. “Like we’re allergic to the sun.”
“Yeah, that’s pretty normal.” He rolled his eyes and wished the waitress would bring more coffee. “You being tanned and not albino.”
Coty ignored Erebus’ comments. “People do have Vitamin D deficiencies.” A sly smile crept onto his face. “You know, I’ve used the ‘medical condition’ excuse before.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me? Was it to get into a girl’s pants?”
Coty smiled mischievously. “Why else use it? D’you want to hear the story?”
Erebus shook his head and closed his eyes. “One of these days, Coty, one of these days…” “What?”
“A human’s going to change you.”
“Nah, it won’t happen.” Coty opened his mouth as if to continue but stopped. Erebus knew what went unsaid. He was the strange one, so unlike the others.
“…and I’ve been around about fifty years longer than you. I’ll stick to my motto of laughter, sex, and fun. In no particular order today; whatever happens first is fine with me.”
Erebus waited for Coty to stop laughing. He leaned forward, resting his elbow on the table and rubbed his clean shaven face with his hand. “Have you ever, in all your hundred and fifty years, fallen in love with a mortal?”
“With a mortal?” Coty’s smile disappeared. He shook his head. “I’ve never been in love.
Period. With a Shadow, or a human. Why would I? There are so many beautiful women to enjoy. Why complicate things and try to throw love into that?” He shrugged, then grinned, “I’m like Elvis, but without the tassels and jelly rolls. Like the King in his younger years. Man, wasn’t he great back in the seventies? His female fans slept with anyone who looked like him. I even dyed my hair black back then.”
Erebus sighed. Their kind was easy on the eyes, every single one of them. Coty wouldn’t have a problem picking up chicks dressed in a clown’s suit. “I’m not talking about how we look. Every Shadow appeals to the human eye. That’s not important to me.” He waved his hand dismissively in the air. “Don’t you ever feel like something’s missing?”
“What could be missing? We’ve got these perfect bodies, more money than we’ll ever need, youth…” Coty pointed a finger at him. “Plus we’ve got life experience and knowledge. We can hang out with hot chicks and never get bored. On top of that, we’ve got talent in the bedroom no mortal can match.” Coty shook his head and raised his eyebrows. “What could be missing?”
“Not everything is based on physical—”
“That’s all we are based on!” Coty interrupted. “We’re Shadows. Shallow, outlines of humans. There isn’t anything more. We all think this way.”
Erebus pressed his lips together. He wanted to argue that he didn’t feel the same but knew Coty wouldn’t get it.
He was right.
Coty grinned. “Think of how things were so restrictive sixty years ago. Shoot, I remember in the early nineteen hundreds, I had to play tricks for prostitutes; taught a few of them a thing or two in the process.” He winked before continuing. “Look how the women’s lib evolved and how good the sixties were to us. I can’t see things getting better than how they are now, and trust me, they will. We’re not missing out on anything.”
Erebus stared at his orange ceramic mug. How could he explain to Coty that it wasn’t enough? He hated his life. Existing by day as the Shadow he possessed. Coming to life only at night. He knew Coty understood fear. Every Shadow did. Every morning came the panic of not being able to able to find his Shadow. Then there was the disorientation every evening when he awoke back into human form. Always alone and being paid to keep quiet about what he and the others were. The answer seemed so simple. He wanted more.
He knew he was different than Coty, even Janus. In his hundred years, he’d never seen a Shadow the same as him, and he’d looked. Oh, he had met a similar Shadow to him, but had never found one with the same inner turmoil he suffered. He needed something more. He just didn’t know exactly what he was searching for.
He watched Coty lean back in his chair, oblivious, casually crossing an ankle on his knee.
He couldn’t even explain it to his only friend.
“You know,” Coty said suddenly and tilted his head slightly, “if all this is because of that chick, you’d better be careful. Don’t break The Code.”
“I’m not going to break any of our laws, and I know what The Code is.” He tried to keep the irritation out of his voice but was unsuccessful. The look of pity in Coty’s eyes just grated on him even more.
“Whatever. Then just get in the girl’s pants and leave it at that. Don’t think you can change things, ‘cause you can’t. We can’t control anything.” Coty waved his hands in front of his face. “We’re obscurities; that’s it.”
“I know.” Erebus let out a long breath.
Coty nodded and stood. “Listen, mate, I’m going to take off. Gotta meeting of the Night- Council-kind tonight.” He slipped his jacket on and paused by Erebus. “You know something? Maybe you’re right…”
“Right about what?” Erebus looked up.
“Maybe,” Coty shrugged, “we kind of are vampires. I know they aren’t real, but maybe the whole vampire thing started because of us. It wouldn’t surprise me. There’re a lot of similarities, when you think about it.” He headed towards the exit, dropping his mug off at the counter.
Erebus watched Coty pull out his phone and add the waitress’ number to it.
“Shoot,” he mumbled as he leaned over to grab his own cell phone out of his jacket pocket.
He’d forgotten to turn it on. He hit the button, drumming his fingers as he waited. There were five new texts, all from Aurora.
Hey. Just texting to see if I got the rite number. Lunch now… U busy tonight?
R U ignoring me? Don’t answer that. I won’t text again.
Sorry, I’m back. Only 2 say I won’t text again til I hear from U. It’s 9:30 going to Rum Jungle 2nite with friends. Meet me?
He checked his watch. It was just after ten. He hit the reply button on his phone then thought about what Coty had said. He hit delete and stuffed the phone into his pocket instead. Leaving his mug on the ta
ble, he ran outside after his buddy.
“What’s the meeting for?” He caught up to Coty a block from the coffee shop. He ignored the wind that reminded him he’d forgotten to close his coat. He left it open as a form of inner punishment.
Coty didn’t change his pace and kept staring ahead. “Not a hundred percent sure, actually. There’s a rumor a human knows about us and needs to be dealt with. Or, some new Shadow’s been screwing up royally and needs to be taught a few things in manners.” Coty cleared his throat. “I’m just going for the entertainment.”
Janus hadn’t told him about the meeting. “Whatever. You’re just like me. You don’t go to these things unless you’ve been summoned. What’re you witness to?” Erebus felt the chill of the night, not sure if it was from the cold or the conversation. He zipped his coat and shoved his hands deep into his pockets.
Coty kicked a stone lying on the sidewalk. It bounced off a garbage can and disappeared across the street. “Like I said, it could be one of two things.”
“And?”
Coty shrugged. “I saw the human, the one on trial, and know about the Shadow she was with. I didn’t inform the Night Council, but someone has, and my presence has been requested.”
Erebus’ phone vibrated against his chest. He pulled it out. A text.
“The girl?” Coty asked.
Erebus shook his head. “Janus. It looks like I’m coming with you.” He detested these meetings and hadn’t been to one in years.
Coty paused in his stride, glanced at Erebus and nodded.
They walked in silence through the downtown business section, towards the more ramshackle district. They passed several buildings whose windows were boarded up and had graffiti decorating their walls. Everything in this part of town seemed in need of repair. Garbage needed to be picked up, homeless people loitered in doorways of condemned houses calling out for money for their next fix; even the smell in the air seemed polluted. Erebus noticed the first streetlight burned out and counted to see if the fifth light was out as well. He heard Coty mumble something unintelligible, and, out of the corner of his eye, Erebus watched him count the next set of streetlights for the sixth light to be out.
They passed the next string of lights, and when they came to the seventh light no longer working, they turned into the driveway of a dilapidated house. Coty opened the creaky wire gate and let Erebus go through first. Every sound seemed amplified between the house and garage walkway. Single file, they came around to the back of the house and were stopped by a very tall, large figure.
The guard would’ve stopped any mortal in their tracks and had them rethink where they were going. From the dull light that showed from the back porch, Erebus could see the man had terrible scars on his face and neck. He suspected the disfigurement continued down, hidden by the man’s clothing. The guard said nothing, just raised a mammoth hand to make them wait.
Erebus knew the man was a Shadow, a sixth sense told him without having to think about it. What he wondered was how this Shadow had been scarred. A Shadow’s skin should be flawless and perfect. They didn’t get sick and never felt pain. That this guy would have scars which hadn’t healed showed a warning to other Shadows. The Night Council had obviously stepped in, and he had been punished and was probably doing time working as a guard now.
Coty interrupted Erebus’ thoughts and shattered the silence of the night air.
“Dude! What the heck happened to your face?” Coty pointed and tilted his head to get a better look.
“Naw-thang zat needs a sec-sec-cond look, pur-prutty boey.” The guard’s voice sounded scratched and broken, like it had been damaged. “I ca-can dew the zame to yers ifyada li-like.”
“He’s fine, just an idiot.” Erebus pulled on Coty’s sleeve and started for the back door entrance. “Come on. Let’s get inside before you start trouble out here.” The guard had some serious anger issues, and he wasn’t about to let Coty help the guy work them out.
“Are there enough here already?” Coty restrained against Erebus’ pull, his body half turned trying to talk to the guy.
“Enuf.” The guard crossed his arms over his massive chest and turned away to face the empty, neglected yard. The back of his leather jacket had a skull with a gun that’d been shot and showed blood pouring out of the eye sockets and nose.
Erebus relaxed when Coty turned to follow him. They walked across the warped porch steps. Erebus held his breath as they entered the house and walked down the narrow staircase to the basement of the house. It was more of a cellar, and the steps were made of wood that had nearly rotted away. When they reached the bottom, he inhaled a thick, musty stench that seemed to ferment inside his nostrils. It was putrid and probably thick enough to seep into his clothing.
Dim lights led them down a constricted hallway to a larger, open area. The area seemed well lit, but the ceiling was very low. Erebus tried not to smirk when he heard Coty swear behind him after he banged his head. Old insulation, dust, and whatever else filtered and sprinkled down through the air from Coty’s noggin meeting to the edge of the ceiling.
His grin disappeared, replaced by a sombre expression, when they entered the room. The house might be a rat’s nest, but this room belonged in a palace. It was like stepping through some portal, but Erebus knew that was impossible. However, the glass floor, gold walls, and pillars did make the room seem magical.
Shadows stood in a large circle, not talking or even paying attention to who entered. They stared at the figure in the center of the room. A female sat tied to a chair, nearly naked. Most of her clothes had been ripped and torn away. She faced away from Erebus, and he could see bruising and cuts on her bare back. Blood and vomit pooled around her feet. He opened his mouth to avoid breathing through his nose, knowing the smell didn’t belong in this room. The rancid, sour smell hit him so strong he could even taste it.
Erebus moved to the left of the circle and stood behind several other Shadows. He had no intention of making his way to the front line. He swallowed hard as he watched Coty move in the opposite direction and push his way through those standing to the five seated in high-back
throne-style chairs.
The Night Council were Shadows in charge of disciple and punishment. Stunning women, clothed in Renaissance dresses, who believed they were goddesses in their own right, even down to their golden high heeled shoes. Their names were engrained into Erebus’ brain like his own name: Disciplina, Indivia, Furena, Laverna, and Poena. They sat there on their judgement thrones waiting to pass verdict on this poor, human girl.
Coty slid past the front line of watchers and stood in front of the wooden table. He leaned forward across it, his hand spread wide on the wood and spoke quietly to the Night Council. Erebus couldn’t hear what was said but could tell from his rigid posture and refusal to acknowledge the girl; Coty didn’t want to be there. His friend made a curt nod to the Night Council and moved to the left of the elaborately carved table, facing the girl with forced vacant eyes staring nowhere.
Not good, Erebus thought. Either Coty couldn’t help the girl or he himself was in big trouble. Erebus moved to get a better view of his friend, the girl and those behind the table.
The Night Council wore matching long golden cloaks over their dresses. Erebus thought they looked more like capes and was reminded of Coty’s earlier conversation about vampires. These five could pass for night creatures with their pale faces and beauty which looked chiselled from stone. They might be physically stunning, but their eyes looked evil. Erebus had wondered more than once if they took delight in the punishment of humans and others Shadows.
Poena stood, her heels tapping loudly in the near silent room. She glided over to the female in the chair. Every move she made appeared calculated and snake-like. The room grew more hushed. Poena grabbed the female’s chin and forced her head up. The girl’s raven black hair fell from its loosely tied bun and rippled as Poena shook the girl.
“You know what we are, child?” Poena’s voice came out so
ft but full of accusation.
A chill ran down his spine, and Erebus wondered what the poor girl must be feeling. Relief and guilt filled him. Relief he wasn’t able to see her face and didn’t know her. Guilt immediately followed because of his relief and that he was helpless to do anything for her.
The human must have replied, but Erebus had been too lost in his own thoughts to hear her.
A vicious, morbid laugh escaped from Disciplina, sitting at the table, a long cigarette in a thin holder between her fingers.
“Who are you?” Indivia asked.
“Does it matter?” The girl shrugged, sounding defeated. “I’m human. Just a college student having a good time.” Her voice became a whisper towards the end.
“Who told you of us?” Indivia demanded.
“N-No one. I slept with some of your guys, and after I’d been with the shadow-girl,” the girl nodded her head in the direction of a female standing not too far from Coty. “I figured it out. It was easy.” The girl sounded proud. “Especially after I fooled around with the girl and the guy together.”
“You were so smart to figure us out all on your own?” Indivia mocked. She looked like a snake coiled and ready to spring.
“It wasn’t hard.” She shifted in her seat so her chin came free of Peona’s hand. The remaining overstretched strap of her shirt slipped down her arm, revealing a mound of breast flesh. “If I say that someone told me, can you let me go?” The girl looked around the room as far as her head could turn.
Furina jumped over the table, faster than Erebus though possible in the layers of dress she wore. Furina slapped the girl, the sound echoing in the room. She then punched the girl in the stomach. “You have the audacity to try and bargain with us?” She hissed.
“What else am I supposed to do?”
“Fear us!” Furina screamed. “You know what we are.”
“So what if I know you’re some kind of freaks? It isn’t like you possess any special powers.” The girl sounded annoyed. “What do you want me to do? Pretend you’re some kind of god and toss flow–” She stuttered when Furina slapped her twice; blood flew across the shiny floor. Furina wrapped her hand around the girl’s neck. The girl struggled but could go nowhere. When Furina stepped back, the girl spoke in a throaty voice, “Sorry, I meant goddess. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it.” She began to cry. She made no noise, but her entire body shook and trembled.
“Are you trying for the sympathy vote?” Furina’s nostrils flared. “I want to become one of you,” the girl whispered.
“Impossible.” Peona laughed, a loud high pitched bark. Erebus wished he could leave. His stomach churned and he felt ill. He shouldn’t have come.
“I-I n-never meant t-to find out.” Blood ran down the girl’s hand as she tried unsuccessfully to get her hand free from behind her back.
“Doesn’t matter. The minute you learned about us, your fate was sealed.”
The girl’s shoulders slumped, her head dropping forward. The fight seemed to drain from her. “Please…please…please,” she whispered over and over again
“Things change when death knocks on your door, doesn’t it, sweetie?” Poena’s voice purred. She looked around the room, venom in her eyes. “Let this be a lesson for all of you. Share our secret and not only will we, the Night Council, find out, but the human and the Shadow’s life will be diminished. This one is diminished tonight, and those of you involved must remain behind.
“You know how set apart you are to be created as a Shadow? Yet, many of you think you’re bigger than the Night Council. You’re paid handsomely to keep your secret and yet, you fools still make mistakes and bring problems to our door. Our door!” Poena stomped a foot, and marble cracked beneath her. She strode around the inner circle, pointing and touching those within reach. “You have immortality. You’re all idiots!” Poena screamed. She strode over the center of the circle and shoved the girl so her chair tipped over. The girl lay on her back, her mouth open in a silent scream.
Indivia rose from her throne. “The Night Council set up laws for all of us to live by long before many of you were even created. Those simple rules are for our survival. We are immortal, but we’re not invincible. We are vulnerable, and do you think for one moment, these humans will not cage us like animals? They wouldn’t understand we need to be within our shadow by dawn. We can only survive from sunset to sunrise. Are you fools too stupid to remember that as well?
“We would no longer be able to mix among the human race if one or more of us were caught. That is, if any of us were to survive once our secret was out. Tell one of them and you might as well have a billboard add or internet advertising banner. It has always been zero tolerance for us. That’ll never change.”
Poena strode back to her chair, resting her hands on the back. Her knuckles became whiter than the paleness of the rest of her skin, but her face grew red. “Get out. All of you! The men who slept with this woman stay, and the female Shadow will be found out and made an example of. Remember this,” her arm swept across the room, “all of you, and don’t make the same mistake.”
Coty stepped forward and bent down, reaching out to straighten the girl’s chair. He leaned close to the girl’s ear.
“Leave her!” the Night Council shouted in unison.
Indivia spoke to the circle. “The Night Council has work to do. We have your mess to clean up.”
Erebus had had enough. He was the first out of the room. The screams of terror from the girl ate at him. She begged and pleaded for her life.
The noise didn’t belong in this magical room, but it belonged in the rundown house and putrid hallway. He ran up the stairs to get outside. He saw the guard standing on the deck with a toolbox and large black plastic bundle. He didn’t pause to consider why the guard needed it. One look was enough to explain. It was all so wrong.
Breathing seemed impossible. Erebus struggled to supply the amount of oxygen his body was begging for. He heaved in long drags of cold oxygen, blowing hot clouds of breath which disappeared into the night air. Slowly controlling his racing heart, he thought about Coty, which only set it thundering again. Pausing in front of the house, he debated on waiting for his friend. Deep down, he knew Coty would be detained for a while, but he’d be safe. The Night Council wouldn’t hurt those involved who hadn’t broken the law. Coty hadn’t told the girl what he was; he’d just made the mistake of sleeping with her.
No wonder depression clung to Erebus like a second skin. He hadn’t been to a Night Council gathering in years; now he remembered why. He detested his kind and hated himself. Nothing he could do would save that poor girl. If he stepped in now, they’d both be killed. When the Night Council made their decision, it was final. Arguing would only lead to distrust and punishment.
He’d been there once and learned his lesson. He needed to do what Shadows always did best, walk away.
Right now, he just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible and try to clear his head.
Screw walking away, he wanted to run.