Threat of the Shadow Mage

“KRAIZON, THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE done.” Beatrice told him. “I know Beatrice, but how can I approach him when he’s always out.”

“That’s not the problem, Kraizon, and you know it. We both do. He has a fear factor that none of the others have, and it’s driving us apart.” Kraizon was silenced for he knew what she said was true. They were scared of their own son. What had they done? He shook his head, but yanked it back up as a thud sounded from the back room.

They looked at each other, and then down the hall in synchronization. Kraizon took the first step towards the back as Beatrice followed. The thud sounded again, and it made their hearts jump. “So dad,” Tex began as he came down the hall. His parents stopped looking conspicuous and looked to him. “Can you tell me where this lovely girl is?” He was referring to Aspen. Tex looked up from his book. “Are you okay?” he asked, curious of the expressions they held. “Hmm? Oh yes, we’re fine.” Beatrice answered, and then she elbowed Kraizon. “Aw, yes. Where? Um…I’m not sure actually. Aspen is a free spirit, so she could be anywhere. She could be home, she could be out in the woods,” Tex cut him off. “Kraizon.” He stopped. “Hmm?” Kraizon gulped.

“Tell me where she is.” Tex demanded as he took threatening steps forward.

Tex was towering over him by the time he decided to answer. “She’s out taking her morning walk.” He said, but Tex glared, and his eyes began to glow in a not so nice way. “She’s in the south wood.” Tex dimmed his eyes, but remained glaring before he walked away. Kraizon nearly passed out. “I think,” he began. “he grew a few feet.” “A few feet? Kraizon, he’s nearly seven foot when he wants to intimidate you. You need to do something besides cower when he approaches you.”

“Well I can’t very well stand up to him, now can I?”

“Looks to me like Alpha just got titled Omega. Ever since you changed him, he’s been running this household. You are the father here. You are the one in charge. You need to put Tex back in his place.” Beatrice scolded.

Kraizon saw that this was true. He had allowed Tex to somewhat run the house. He had allowed his name to slip from Alpha. And he knew that he had to do something about it. “You’re right.” Beatrice straightened, shocked to hear those words come from his mouth. “Pardon?” she asked, though she heard him.

“I said you’re right, woman. Yes, those words are bitter coming from me, but you are right. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some business to attend to.” He said as he stormed passed her to follow Tex.

Now Tex was already well on his way to the southern woods, but as he reached the border of the eastern wood, Kraizon flew down in front of him. Tex stopped, wondering what had brought him there. “Son…we need to talk.” Tex smiled with pleasure, knowing what was next. “Do we?”

Kraizon felt a frightening chill run down his spine, but he remained tall. “Yes, son. We do.” “Then I should have fun with this.” He took a defensive position, and Kraizon said, “We’ll see about that,” as he did the same.

Tex then zoomed up to Kraizon and punched his chest. He keeled over in pain, but managed to block his next attack.

Their fight was nothing but a blur in the distance to others’ eyes, but they battered each other over and over again. Tex was hardly affected by Kraizon’s blows, but poor Kraizon was being beaten to death. He would have been killed had it not been for his next notion. “Alright!” he cried out.

Tex stopped and stepped back as Kraizon fell. “Alright,” he said again.

“Are you through?” Tex asked with a sinister tone. Kraizon had trouble looking up, but said, “Quite.” Tex shook his shoulders to adjust his coat, and walked over to him before he continued. He knelt and lowered his head enough to be by Kraizon’s injured ear. “I know that you fear me. I know that you think you can do something about it, but the truth is…you can’t.” He paused to further share how sincere he was. “You will never change me back, and you will never kill me. Need I say more?” Kraizon just stood there on his knees with one hand on the ground, and the other on his side. “I didn’t think so.” Tex finished as he got up to take a few steps and then took to the sky.

Kraizon was left there, injured, and needing extensive care. Tex had broken three if not four ribs, fractured another two, stabbed his waist on the left side, bruised his arms and legs, made a mark down and across his right eye, as well as having given him a black eye. No Shadow Mage has ever been so fragile and brittle. Ever. Why was it that Kraizon was finding all this out the hard way? Tex’s strength and techniques were unlike anything in their recorded history, and never seen in another Mage. Was it because they had waited too long instead of doing it when he was younger? What was this unspeakable power? He then removed his hand from his side, observing the blood damage, and then fell to the ground.

Aspen was enjoying the company of the trees, and creatures that lived within; just strolling along the path her father had made. “Aspen!” a familiar voice cried. She turned and saw Tex running towards her. “Wait up!” he called.

She smiled. “Hey Tex. What brings you out here?” she asked.

“Well,” he sighed, pretending to try to catch a breath. “I…I wanted to come by and see if we were okay.”

Aspen looked at him with a face that asked why they wouldn’t be okay.

“A couple months ago? I brought you into the woods, and,”

“Oh. Right, I remember.”

“I just wanted to ask your forgiveness.”

“We’re good. I forgive you.”

Tex sighed. “Thank you.” They were silent, and then Aspen asked if he would like to join her. “Sure. If that’s alright with you, that is.”

“It’s alright. That’s why I offered.” She smiled. “Come on.”

They walked and talked, sharing what all had happened during the months of silence, though Tex didn’t share the main event that occurred during that time. However, speaking with Tex made Aspen not pay attention to the path, and she led them astray; which was exactly Tex had intended. The two of them soon found themselves on a pasture, laying down or propped on an elbow, continuing their conversation. Then, looking at the position of the sun, Aspen stopped. “Oh. How’d it get so late?” Tex looked up. “I don’t know.” His voice almost sounded luring.

Aspen looked over at him, and he waited a minute before he returned her gaze. Something happened in Aspen, though she didn’t want to admit it. She propped herself up slowly, and Tex turned his body so he was facing her. There was something in his eyes that had Aspen hooked, and she liked him even more for that reason. She leaned in, he leaned in; they slowly made their way to each other, but right as they were a few centimeters from kissing, Aspen’s name was called, and it brought them both to reality.

“I um…I should probably get back home.”

Tex said nothing as she stood and began to walk away. “No. I will not let this happen again.” He thought, and stood up to catch her. “Aspen.”

She turned, and he held her hand as he reached her. Tex then brought up his other hand, and pushed some hair out of her face. That simple gesture was enough to put Aspen over the edge.

Aspen closed her eyes as his hand went behind her head and brought her to him. He kissed her and she returned his kiss. She then brought her hand up to his mid arm as she continued to kiss him. Then her name was called again, and Tex stopped, but rested his forehead on hers. They waited a moment, before they opened their eyes at the same time, and stood straight. Aspen was about to speak, but Tex put a finger to her lips; telling her to not spoil the moment. He gently rubbed her lips in admiration, but knew she had to go. Then he nodded his head, saying it was alright for her to go.

She took her leave with a slight smile on her face, and Tex watched as she disappeared into the trees. “There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Auron said as she came out of the pathway. “Where were you?” Aspen stopped, hesitant to say. Auron looked at her, waiting. “I was following some deer,” she lied. “Some deer?” he asked.

She nodded. “I was intrigued by the male, so I followed him to his herd.” Auron wasn’t too sure, but Aspen was often truthful, so he took her word for it. Tex saw this from where he stood and smirked. “She’ll be back,” he thought, knowing it was true. After positioning himself for flight, he took off and headed home.

Back at the house, Beatrice paced to and fro, waiting for Kraizon to come home victorious. Tex then came through, and Beatrice came to the opening of the room. “Young man, we need to talk.” She said after seeing it was him instead. Tex stopped, and looked at her. Beatrice looked through the door he left open but didn’t see Kraizon. “Do we?” Tex asked seeing her concern grow larger in her eyes.

“Where is your father?” she demanded.

Tex just stayed quiet, and she looked back to the door. “Need I say more?” he asked.

Beatrice did nothing but give him a nasty look and bolt out the door in search for her beloved husband.

Tex turned back and made his way to Sophie’s room. She was just messing with trinkets, and fiddling with old dolls with hairs of hay.

Seeing someone was at the door, she looked up. “What brings you to my room, Tex? You know I don’t like to be disturbed when I’m in my room.” She said to him in a snooty voice.

“I know,” he said, his eyes beginning to glow. “I just wanted to know if you wanted to play a little game with me.” Sophie stopped, but didn’t look up. “What sort of game?” she asked, seeming intrigued as she began fiddling again.

“A game of wits.”

Here, Sophie stopped entirely and looked at him with a smirk. “You’re on.”

Beatrice searched and searched, but she could not find Kraizon anywhere. Then she remembered where Kraizon told Tex where Aspen was, so she started to make her way in that general direction. As she began to reach it, she saw a figure on the ground. She looked hard to figure out what exactly it was, but as it struggled to move forward, she saw that it was him. “Oh no. No.” she said, her voice growing louder with concern. “Kraizon! Kraizon, no!” She reached his side in no time, and turned him over to examine the damage. Kraizon coughed. “Sh, sh, sh. It’s okay. I’m here Kraizon. I’m here.” He tried to further open his eyes, but the swelling on the left made it hard.

“Oh dear. Oh…we need to get you to the elders.” She began to pick him up, but him shooting his arm out stopped her.

“No. Not the elders,” he said, barely able to speak. “But you’re hurt Kraizon. We need to get you fixed up.” Tears began to trickle down her face. “How could I let this happen?”

He coughed again. “Don’t, don’t blame yourself. I…I chose to go after him.”

“Because of what I said. I was the one who influenced you to go.” She sniffed. “At least let me take you home and try to fix you in the basement where I hide all my things,” she pleaded. No response. “Kraizon? Kraizon!” “I’m still here.” He then said, though he was growing tired. “I’m taking you home,” she said, picking him up as best she could again. “Don’t…don’t let Tex see us.”

She looked at him dearly. “If he sees you trying to heal me, he’ll…he’ll do the same thing to you.”

Then Beatrice bowed her head, cradling him, and used her powers to transport them back to the house. As she lifted her head, she saw the coast was clear, but it was awkwardly quiet. A little too quiet; but she dragged him to the wall in which the basement door was hidden, and opened it with a color scheme code. Afterwards, she brought him to an empty table.

Time was running out, and Beatrice knew it. She worked as fast as she could to try and stop the bleeding, and ended up using a roll and a half of cloth before it began to slow. A damp cloth to the head, a patch to the eye with some ice, and stitches were in order.

“When you’re ready.” Tex told Sophie, having brought her out to another part of the house that he had built previously.

“Oh I’m ready.” Sophie claimed.

“Something small, something green, something gold, and something mean.”

Sophie didn’t hesitate for she knew the answer. “Metallic lizard of the Western kingdoms.”

“Very good,” Tex said.

“Thank you. Now…something tall, something red, something misty, and smells like bread.” Tex had to think a moment, but then remembered where it was Sophie liked to hang out. “Red Rose Falls.” “Dang it! I was hoping you wouldn’t catch that.” She made a sort of pouty face. “Your turn.” Tex smirked, and began his riddle. “Something short, something tan, something red, and something runny.” This stumped Sophie, and honestly had no clue on what it was. She thought and thought, but nothing came to mind. “Now this is silly. I know everything from here to the northern kingdoms. I should know this.” “You should.” Tex said in a low tone of voice.

She gave him an odd look, and then went back to thinking.

As she looked away, Tex turned himself into the smoky mist Mages could turn into, and floated to the ceiling without her noticing anything. “Alright, you win. You weren’t supposed to pull the hard ones until the end though.” She said, turning to look at him. “Tex?” she said in her small voice, not having seen him where he was. Sophie got up and walked to the center of the room, hoping to see him around the corner. Tex slowly made his way down, and behind her. “Tex, this isn’t funny. I said you win.” She then felt the presence of something behind her. Swallowing, she cautiously turned around. All she saw was a pair of pinkish red eyes before her in the mist.

Beatrice was in the middle of stitching Kraizon’s side when she heard a blood curdling scream come from upstairs. She quickly looked up, and dropped what she was doing. “Sophie?” she cried, running up the stairs.

Tex raised his head from the crook of her shoulder. Blood ran down both her shoulder and the side of his mouth.

“Sophie!” Beatrice cried again, but still no response.

Tex rose, and then made it look like someone had ransacked the place before he hovered to the ceiling again.

Beatrice began to run up the second flight of stairs to get to Sophie’s room, but as a breeze came from the wall, she stopped, and went back to see where the breeze had come from. As she looked inside, she saw the messy condition the room was in, but also wondered where that room had come from. “Sophie?” she said softly. Beatrice touched the side of the doorway, and entered carefully. She looked around, but saw no sign of Sophie. As she rounded the corner, she saw her laying on the floor, lifeless. “Sophie! No!” she cried as she fell to her side and cradling her small, cold body. “No. No-ho-ho.” She sobbed. Seeing there was no hope for poor Soph, there was no point in cradling her lifeless corpse any longer. She got up, carefully placing her on the bed that was there, and then left to go back tending to her father’s wounds.

With tears streaming down either side of her face, she returned to the basement, and Kraizon was awake just enough to notice this. “Sophie?” he asked, but Beatrice just closed her eyes and shook her head. A tear came up in his good eye, and his lip quivered a little. “Here,” she sniffed. “Let me finish stitching you up.” Kraizon tried to lighten the mood. “Is that what that tickling was?” “Huh.” Beatrice laughed with a scoff as she smiled. He smiled back at her, and she went back to her sewing. As she finished her third stitch, a voice sounded. “Did you really think that this wouldn’t go unnoticed?” Both of them looked around, but Kraizon was wise enough to recognize the voice. “Beatrice, run.” He told her. She just looked down at him with concern. “Run!” he said again, and she took off.

As she did, he saw a cloud come out from behind the shelves that began to follow her. Using what powers he had left though, he created a field that stopped the cloud from getting through the door. The cloud’s head turned to face him as he tried to sit up without breaking the stitches. “I know that’s you, Tex. Don’t go after your mother the way you did me. Don’t do what you just did to your younger sister.” Tex shot over to be in front of him, and turned back to his regular form. “Why shouldn’t I? All of you have lied to me all these years, and have now made a monster out of me. Did you expect for me to come out and like you? Restrained, and non-rebellious? Well guess what? You thought wrong.” Kraizon’s pupil shrank with fear as Tex straightened his hand and shot it into Kraizon’s stomach.

Kraizon held his head up as death began to surround him.

“Do you not know death when you see it?” Tex asked in a voice that was not his own.

Kraizon said and did nothing but gasp for air in short, quiet bursts and allow for death to consume him. As he fell back with a thud, Tex regained his hand, and wiped it clean. He turned his head with an evil glow in his eye, and then quickly turned into mist once more to follow Beatrice.

Beatrice ran as fast she could before she got to a point where no eyes could be laid upon her, and turned into a mist of cloud herself to gain more distance. Tex, however, had seen her, and was gaining. She looked back and saw his cloud and shot herself forward to gain speed. Tex did the same, only he was the faster. He soon caught up with her, and their clouds mingled violently. They traveled another very quick mile before they hit some trees. They both fell, and stayed down a moment as they recouped. Tex glared her way with eyes beaming brighter than usual. Beatrice looked up, but was only forced back down as Tex flew over and pushed her; landing behind her in the position a track runner would take.

She got up quickly and began to run, but then turned about and shot a couple spells at him. Standing in the same position, he allowed them to pass on by. She did it again, still running, and it happened again. Then Tex had a gleam in his eye and an audible ding sounded. Beatrice turned back forward to keep running, but then she was flung to the side as if an explosion occurred not too far in front of her.

Tex stood, eyes still on Beatrice, and started to walk her way. Beatrice arched her back, trying to ease the pain, but nothing she did helped. Then she saw Tex’s shadow come over her, and still arched, she looked his way. “Tex…” she started. “Please spare me.” He just stood there, judgmentally staring her down.

“I promise that you won’t ever see me again. If you just spare me…I’ll flee this kingdom and you don’t have to hear my name, or see my face again.”

Tex was still silent, and was about ready to just be done with it.

“Tex?”

Then, despite the urge pulling against him, he turned away and began walking the other way.

Beatrice dropped her head back with relief, but then Tex turned sharply, and spoke. “If I do find your name mentioned,” he began, and she lifted her head again. “I will be at your doorstep before you have time to think.” With that, she nodded, and he turned to mist and took to the skies.