The Conquest of Mytheyr

Morgan was dreaming. The first dream of her own she’d had in a long time. She was in an old fashioned American diner. It had a white bar and red barstools, and red booths and tables on the opposite wall. Rain pounded against the windows. Except for Morgan, the place was empty. The jukebox was playing one of Morgan’s favorite songs, though it was a song no self-respecting, record-playing jukebox would ever be playing. Her shoes where sitting on a stool, and she was dancing barefooted around the diner, singing along. She was enjoying her solitude until another voice butted in. Morgan looked up and saw a black silhouette sitting on the bar, its feet dangling.

“You’re just a sad song,” it sang, “with nothing to say…” it trailed off, seeing Morgan’s expression. “Alright, I’ll stop. I bet you’d let your new boyfriend sing with you.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.” Morgan protested, plopping down on a barstool. “Yet.”

“Oh-ho-ho.” the shadow laughed. “I’m proud of you, princess.”

“Why are you here, Mafarak?” Morgan sighed.

“Do I need a reason to want to see you?” Morgan’s expression could have withered trees. “Ok, ok, just don’t give me that look.” the shadow relented. “Someone tried to steal you from me. Forgive me if I wanted to check on you.”

Morgan snorted.

“It was my understanding that he wanted you.” she said.

“Oh no.” the shadow shook its head. “He wanted you without the hindrance of me.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. You see, he already has blondie’s powers, unhindered and without restraint. The thing is, blondie doesn’t have creative aspect to allow him to realize his full potential. You do. Once he got me out of the way, all he had to do was break you.”

“And how do you know this?” Morgan exclaimed. “Should I be worried that you have extensive knowledge of my enemies’ plans?”

“He and I are the same kind of creature, remember?” the shadow shrugged. “But he’s… unrefined. He doesn’t even have a name. Or a gender, actually. I’m just calling it a he by default.”

“Here’s hoping we never see him again.” Morgan sighed, putting her head on the counter.

“You know we will.”

“Yeah.”

“Oh. And one other thing before I go.” the shadow said.

“What?” Morgan said impatiently, not bothering to look up.

“Why the fuck did you not call me when you were bleeding to death?” the shadow yelled, jumping off the bar and putting his hands on his hips.

“I was in a cell of Blood Iron. You couldn’t have reached me.” Morgan said with an attitude that would put the most angsty of teens to shame.

“I could have if you had just called.” the shadow snapped. “‘Call me on the threshold of death,’ remember? That’s the one thing I asked of you. One thing!”

“Whatever.” Morgan said, rolling her eyes.

“Fine.” the shadow muttered to himself. “You don’t bleed to death anyway…”

“I’m sorry, what!? Did you just insinuate you know how I’m going to die?”

“Ha… goodnight, princess…”