What Memory Remains

Fire….oh God there is so much fire. The trees are no longer green, but tainted orange from the glow. The skies are grey with smoke, and the smell of oppression in the air. People walk in lines with chains at their hands and ankles, with metallic machines standing sentry on all sides. The people would scream, they would protest, they would try to escape, but their mouths are sewn shut. But even though I don’t hear them, I know their anguish because it is infused within their eyes.

There is no green anymore, only metal and asphalt. The fat cats sit in their chairs, scheming and manipulating. And all they all bow to only one, Krane. He stands on the balcony of a large unknown building, a gleam of misguided satisfaction in his snake eyes. Once again, standing beside him is that tall figure. Cloaked in shadow, watching over Krane as his bodyguard or assistant. I never know which.

And there are tears…a mourning father who stands at a grave. He kneels and lays fresh flowers down at the tombstone. A deep sadness has seeped within him, and he wants to be angry but…there is only sadness. The name on the grave is mine, and I don’t know why. A hand rests on the father’s shoulder, and Sade is standing behind him. Staring at the headstone, Sade’s lip begins to tremble and he begins to apologize but my father waves him away.

Then…something different happens. The image of Krane comes back, and the silhouetted tall figure steps forward. It happens in slow motion, and the first detail I take in is the facial expression, then the eyes, and the hair. My mind doesn’t want to accept it, but it must. I can’t believe it’s him..

Alice woke up screaming, and after a moment her mind snapped back to reality. She waited for a chamber maid to come, but none did. Instead, she was shocked to see Zenapharr step into her room. The dream still fresh in her mind, she tensed up at his approach.

“Alice? Are you alright?” He approached, and stopped when he saw her recoil even further. “It was that dream again, wasn’t it?” She only shook her head, and almost told her how this one was different. But she did not.

“People enslaved again? The Magi?”

“MMhhmm.”

“I’m sorry….”

“How long have you been back?”

“Only a little while. Sade’s in bad shape.”

“What do you mean?!”

“When I got there, the goblins….they put him in a metal box near a furnace. He’s badly burned. The clerics have been applying heat salves and spells to reduce the heat and ease his pain.”

“I want to see him.”

“Alice, he’s in a lot of pain, there’s nothing you can.”

“Now, Zenapharr! Don’t make me do it…you owe me that much.”

Zenapharr almost insisted heavily she stay put, but her face told him not only of anger but a look of accusation. It was apparent to him that she blamed him for Sade’s condition.

“Just for a moment. He needs to rest. Come now.”

She followed him through some winding hallways and into the medical room of the elvish castle. An awkward silence carried them there, and Zenapharr thought it best that way. He felt she was justified in her anger towards him. Had he followed Sade into the ruins initially, he probably wouldn’t have been captured or tortured.

They stepped in and Alice ran over to Sade, who only winced and stared back.

“Sade, look at you…”

“It’ll be alright, little one. I just need to not move around, or talk….or breathe….or do anything.”

“How long until you’ll be able to move around?” Zenapharr inquired with the cleric.

“I’d give it a day for the heat salves to do their work. The burns are third degree, so his skin will be permanently scarred. While he can move around I definitely suggest he take it easy, but the good news is that he won’t have any damage other than cosmetically.”

“Is there anything I can get for you?” Alice asked.

“No, I’m okay. They’ve been taking good care of me.”

“Well, I hope you’re happy, Zenapharr.” Alice turned to him with a grimace. “Because you wanted to wallow in sorrow, you let Sade suffer like this!”

“Alice, I’m sorry…”

“No, you don’t get to say that! I want to see how sorry you are.”

“Alice, stop it,” Sade interrupted. “Zenapharr saved me. I would have died if it weren’t for him.”

“But, he’s the reason that...”

“I could have given him more time to think about coming with me. I decided to go in alone. Give him a break.”

“Well, if you’re not mad at him, I’ll have to be mad for the both us,” she stormed off with a hateful glance towards Zenapharr.

“Alice, wait….”

“Let her go. She’ll calm down.”

“….she’s going to be mad at me for a while.”

“I don’t think so. You’ve been there for her so much, at the facility. I wouldn’t think she’d forget that so easily. She was a wreck when she thought you was….was gone. You were all she talked about.”

“She was all I thought about. Now we’re back together and I haven’t had a single happy moment with her since. The situation with Rainmaker, and now this. And something else too.”

“What do you mean?”

“She had just woken up from a dream when I got her. She was scared.”

“She always is, I’ve seen her do it.”

“Yes, but this was different. The way she looked at me. It was like….she was terrified and betrayed. Like I did something bad…and this was before I told her about you.”

“Let it be for now, Zenapharr. We’re all tired, we all need to just get some rest. Me especially….I’m finally comfortable enough to sleep now.”

“That’s good.”

“And with such beautiful ladies to nurse me back to health, I’m on my way. Right, Othelia?” Sade winked at the cleric, who rolled her eyes yet also moved her hair to the side shyly.

“Well, some things about you haven’t changed, I see,” Zenapharr chuckled. “Sleep well, bro’er. I’ll come by in the morning.”

“Okay then. Night.” The sound of Zenapharr’s step echoed away from the room, and Sade turned to the cleric. “So Madam Othelia, I’m curious….are elven women as beautiful as you or are you just the exception?”

“Oh stop it. You human males are all the same.”

“What, you mean complimenting beautiful elvish women?”

“Hah. Trying to charm us is what I mean.”

“Well, I’m not a charming guy, only in the company of such attractive women as yourself. Is it true that your people are star-gazers?”

“Yes, it is.”

“I could already tell that you were a star-gazer, seeing as the stars are already in your eyes.”

“Oh, enough with all that now! By the way, shouldn’t you already know for yourself that we all are, being such an accomplished traveler and agent of Minerva?”

“Well, I am but no missions have led me to the company of elves. Might I ask why the stars are so significant? ”

“Well, as you may or may not know, the elves are descendants of the Seraphim race. They came from the heavens as the stars do, so we believe that we are somehow linked. In the stars we find revelation, life, light, and all things beautiful and wondrous. It reminds us that the life we are in is something that is beyond us, perhaps infinite just as the space itself is.”

“Wow that’s deep.”

“Elves are a deep minded people. Knowledge and spirituality is something we put a lot of time and reflection in.”

“But, hypocritical.”

“How do you mean?”

“You say that life and meaning is beyond us, right?”

“Yes. There is something outside us all that ties us all together.”

“Then why do you think the affairs of humans or anything non-elvish are none of your business?”

“What do you mean? You think that we put ourselves as being better than others?”

“Yes, I believe. Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying I don’t like elves. In fact, I have always been fascinated by your kind. You are masters of architecture, smithing, jewelry, and essentially anything you lay your hand upon. You seek perfection in everything you do. But…I know in my heart that your King would have never sought to aid us in our quest had the Rainmaker not laid his destruction upon our town.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because any other time humans have sought the help of elves, we have been told that it’s not of any elven concern. That our world is not the same as yours, and whatever happens with us is on our head.”

“You’re referring to the Age of Apocalypse, aren’t you?”

“Yes! Many humans sought shelter from the bombing and radiation and were turned down by your people. Now many of those people have most likely been heirs to these horrid goblin creatures. All because they didn’t receive help when they needed it.”

“You think I don’t think of such things? I know my people are prideful and stubborn. Yet, we also recall when we were shunned by humans merely because of our heritage with the Seraphim. We wanted to live peacefully with humans, but pig-headedness and ignorance warped your minds. The same one-sided thinking that has split us apart from technology and magic as we are now. I fear the very same misunderstanding and misguided hatred that led us to the Great War will soon be re-enacted in this age. It will happen in a different way, but it will happen nevertheless. We would rather keep ourselves out of wonton destruction than be involved in it.”

“You make an interesting point, but how long would you hold on to spite for something many years ago? We’re all a part of this world, and don’t forget what happens outside of your jurisdiction will eventually affect you too. I almost hate to say it, but I’m almost glad the Rainmaker followed us here because if not the King would not have aided us which could slow down our progress in finding Krane.”

“Perhaps the stars have aligned themselves for your quest.”

“Perhaps so, my fair lady. I hope my words have not offended you, I merely wanted to pontificate on these things before we take leave….I never know when I’ll be able to have deep discussions with a full-fledged elf again.

“Do not worry, there is no offense. I know you have a kind heart.”

“Thank you. Why would you say that, though?”

“Because of the way Alice looked at you. You’ve only known her a short while, and she seems very fond of you. I would think you make a great father.”

“Yeah….maybe.”

A strange silence came after this, and Olthelia began to piece together his last statement.

“Your father….he was not kind to you, was he?”

“No…he was not. A right bastard, he was.”

“I’m sorry to hear. You are not like him.”

“Thank you. I have a hard time thinking of being a father…it always makes me think of him too much. I never wanted to hate my father, in fact I came up with every reason not to. But…he proved time and time again what a terrible person he was. And I’m….I guess I’m still afraid.”

“That one day you’ll be him.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“Well, I’d say you’re doing a good job of not being him. As I said, Alice really cares about you. And Zenapharr does too. I see that you have some history with him as well.”

“Yes. I didn’t think he was going to come get me.”

“He seems very loyal to you. True friends always come back, even if they waver a bit.”

“Yeah. He’s a complicated one, that Zenapharr. But considering all he’s been through….hard to think that he wouldn’t be that way.”

“You know…were you an elf I would probably go on a star walk with you.”

“Oh, really? Is that so? My flattery getting the better of you.”

“Haha! I wouldn’t quite put it that way, but yes. If my parents were not so against courting humans, I’d say that I would like to do so with you very soon. You have kind eyes.”

“See, there it goes again.”

“What?”

“The whole history thing with elves and humans. All of mankind….elves, human, or whatever creatures there is. I just wish we could stop focusing on the past and truly look forward.”

“But it is also looking to the past that we learn from our mistakes, and avoid failure.”

“That my dear is the biggest problem,” Sade said, now gazing at her softly.

“How do you mean?”

“By doing that we may avoid failure but…we may also avoid some success.”

She returned his gaze, perceiving the meaning behind his words. A hush came over them, and she quickly looked at the floor. The weight of the words filled her mind, and for a moment she entertained the possibility of doing something so outside the norm. Breaking the walls of convention to be with a human. The idea felt so romantic.

“Well, it’s past time for you to turn in, Mr. Sade, “ Othelia said, suddenly feeling she needed to leave. “I’ve kept you long enough.”

“You can keep me as long you want.”

“Get some sleep.” She emphasized each word in a commanding but concerned tone, one that a doctor may give their a patient or that a parent would give their sick child. She began to walk away…and stopped halfway across the room. Without thinking, she turned back around and walked over to Sade. Puzzled at first, Sade lied still as she looked down on him for a moment. It was obvious to Sade there were gears turning. Taking a quick glance about, she leaned down and lightly kissed him on the forehead. Then she turned and exited the room at last.

Ten minutes later, a chamber maid came in to apply more heat salves to his skin. To her surprise, Sade was fast asleep and she decided to wait until morning so as not to waken him. Before she left, she cocked her head to the side at the sight of him, then shrugged her shoulders and left. Sade was sound asleep, a noticeable smirk etched on his face in his slumber…

* * *

“At ease, gentlemen,” the President informed his men as he passed them on his way to his home office.

“Mr. President, we need to accompany you into your study. It’s the general safety protocol. You know that,” one bodyguard insisted.

“I know but…how about this. Can you wait outside my door at least? I need some time alone on this one.”

“Understand the circumstances, sir I think that….”

“Just five minutes! Can you do that for me?”

The bodyguard exchanged a look with the other, and they exited the President’s study to leave President Jericho in peace.

“Whew…”

He wiped his brow as he plopped down in his study chair. The smell of mahogany wood brought a sense of peace to him. There was something so comforting about his own special, private area to gather his thoughts. Cicadas had begun their moonlit song, and he stared into the dark abyss outside. After a moment, he pulled a bottle of fine liquor from a drawer on the lower left side.

This last week had been a nightmare. He was having to deal with all the press related to this Zenapharr character, but at least the public outcry was stifled by his capture. Now, the facility had blown up where he was located and there were reports of him being seen afterwards. Efforts were being made everywhere to apprehend the subject, but if he was as powerful as they said, this seemed an impossibility. Minerva and NOSRAD were making special efforts to control the situation. Even then, the week had proved the most stressful he’d had in a while.

As he began to pour a glass, he paused. Some noise had interrupted the quiet of the night, but he didn’t hear it again. He waved it off as his imagination, and he began to finish pouring his glass. But even after the quiet continued, he felt uneasy. The President didn’t know how to explain it, but he felt like he was not alone. The hairs were standing on the back of his neck.

Feeling his glass of booze would ail him, he began to sip at it while keeping his eyes peeled to the shadows of the room. That was when he saw it.

The only way to describe it was that the darkness in the room seemed to move. Like some disruption in the shadows. He thought he was going crazy, so he took another small swig of his drink.

“If I’m buzzing real bad this isn’t helping….:” He thought aloud, gently pushing the glass away from himself.

Then, he saw it again. This time, he was more sure of what he saw. The shadows….they were moving.

“I’m hallucinating….” He said, his eyes starting to widen at the abnormal sight. Shadows didn’t move without him moving…it just wasn’t possible. Yet, this rationale was soon destroyed when he watched a shadow move off the wall and begin moving towards him. The shadow was tall and humanoid with two round deviations where the eyes would normally be. Although it appeared to have a human’s shape, it had atypical features such as unnaturally long fingers and seemed thinner than any normal person.

“H-how did you get in here?” The President shakily questioned.

The shadow creature did not speak, but instead pointed to the shadows.

“I…I don’t understand. You waited here.”

The being shook its head side to side, and in an eerie, snake-like voice answered.

“Traveled…shadows…”

“You can…move using shadows?” The President’s voice quivered, feeling an icy chill in the air as the being made its way closer to him. The shadow monster nodded.

“Wh-what do you want from me?”

The shadow creature then made a sort of hissing sound with slight bumps in the sound. He noticed that the shoulders of the creature were moving up and down, and he surmised that this shadow being was laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“Obvioussssss”

“You’re here to kill me, aren’t you?”

The shadow made a gesture with its arm out to the side, a typical communication of “I don’t know.”

“What are you, exactly? At least let me know what is about to kill me.”

“Sssssshade.”

“Shade? I thought your kind died out long ago.”

The shadow being laughed and shook its head. It then took a sheet of paper, seemingly from nowhere and placed it on the President’s desk.

“What is this?” The thing tapped the paper with its long finger. He quickly read over the contents, and eyes went wide. “Why…what makes you think I’d go along with this??”

The Shade put its finger to its throat then pointed to him.

“I see…..” Thinking quickly, he remembered that he kept an enchanted dagger in the study were he to ever encounter something unordinary such as this creature. Somehow he knew that ordinary means of dispatching would not work on a creature such as this.

Feigning to think for a moment, he used those moments to remember where he kept it. Then it came to him…it was in a case in the cabinet near the door.

If he could only get to it…

“SSSSssssign.” The creature hissed again, sounding impatient.

“Okay, okay. I just need to get a pen, I have one over here.”

Jericho got about halfway across the room when he made a mad dash for the cabinet. The creature was far enough behind him, so surely he had enough time to make it to the weapon.

Just as he jerked open the drawer for the knife, he felt a strong force wrap around his throat and he looked down to the see the dark hands of the creature upon him. The dagger was right there in front of him now, still in the small sheath. His eyes began to bulge from the pressure on his throat, and he started to flail his arms to grab the enchanted weapon. The first couple of tries he missed, but finally his fingers found the leather sheath. Jerico could hear a low hissing emanating from the Shade, sounding as if it was growling at him. Just as he got a good grip on the dagger, red spots began flashing throughout his vision.

“Die…” he gurgled, barely managing to get the blade out of the scabbard. Clenching his teeth, he gripped the handle and readied himself to stab the Shade with the enchanted dagger…

…but he never did.

Just as he was starting to push the blade into the shadow creature, he succumbed to the lack of oxygen. His muscles gave out, and the dagger fell to the floor with a muffled thud. The strength of the Shade was uncanny, and there was nothing that he could do but watch. The creature held on to his throat with one hand and grabbed his own dagger with the other.

What little breath he had left was completely mute as the malevolent creature slit his throat, then repeatedly stabbed him until the carpet was completely soaked with his blood. Once the body stopped twitching, the Shade dropped the blade and molded itself back into the shadows of the room.

After another three minutes, the bodyguards called out.

“Mr. President? Are you finished? It’s been about five minutes now.”

After hearing no response, they entered to find the grisly scene of the murdered President and the bloody knife beside him. They began to immediately search the room for the perpetrator. Unbeknownst to them, the Shade did not take this opportunity to leave. Instead, it waited in eager anticipation to kill them both as well.

No one heard their screams…