Darkness: Master of Shadows

Disclaimer: And this is yet another show which I don't own. Funny how many of them there are…

This title is subject to change like many of my other ones. I've changed it about five times already, but nothing seems…perfect enough.

This story is one where I'm trying to work with elements outside the experience of the characters. It is also very different from the other Fillmore stories I have seen. For one thing, Fillmore is the main character, and most of the other characters from the show will not even be making appearances. Ingrid will be a major character, but even she won't appear for a few chapters. This is a weird story to be sure, but it inspired me and I had to write it.

Please read and give it a chance. Enjoy!

This chapter is dedicated to the episode "A Forgotten Yesterday" which inspired this story. ;)

Tahoma: That one's got attitude.

Vallejo: That one is also the best.

- Fillmore – Test of the Tested

Principal Folsom leaned back in her plush recliner, feet up on the footrest, and trailed an elegantly manicured finger down the chair's royal blue arm. After a moment she turned to the coffee table beside her and, uncorking a bottle of cranberry flavored Featherstone, filled her glass with the sparkling red wine. She swirled the beverage gently around the glass for a moment or two, allowing it to aerate, the aroma rising to her nostrils. She lifted the glass…

Ding-ong.

Perfect.

Setting the wineglass back on the coffee table, Folsom got slowly to her feet with the air of a martyr. She crossed to the door, pausing to smooth the wrinkles out of her sweater and pants before opening it.

"Evening Folsom," Darkness said. "May I come in?"

Principal Folsom felt her secure, comfortable life shaking to its foundations as she stared at him.

Nothing about Darkness was particularly frightening. He was tall, close to six feet, but he wore a pleasant, almost fatherly smile on his face. The simple gray suit he wore was modest, if a little austere and he sported short-cropped black hair shot with gray. Only his eyes were cold. They spoke to her clearly of the power he held over her head like a guillotine's blade.

Dumbly she nodded, and stood aside to allow him entry.

Once inside he allowed himself to be conducted into the living room and stood by while she closed the curtains against watchful eyes.

"Gloom is dead," he said when she turned from the window.

"I'm sorry," Folsom replied stiffly. There had been no sorrow in his voice, but she felt that she had to say it. Not for the man before her though, never for him.

"He was a mistake." Darkness shrugged dismissively. "Barely out of training and he gets himself killed. I should never have taken him in the first place. Ah, well. We all make mistakes." He was speaking softly, as though to himself, but Folsom wasn't fooled. Everything he said was for her benefit. It was his way for showing her what he was capable of.

"What do you want?" Folsom asked. She tried to add a note of imperiousness to her voice but it didn't quite come out that way.

"Payment." He smiled conspiratorially at her. "But of course you knew that, you were just hoping that you were wrong."

Yes, she had known it all along. Sooner or later he was bound to demand the price for his help and, she suddenly discovered, she was not willing to pay it.

Folsom drew herself up slightly. She said coldly "I am well aware that I owe you a great deal and I will give you whatever monetary sum you think is adequate, but I will not let you kidnap one of my students to force into your twisted army." Darkness smiled again, rather hungrily this time.

"But you will." He took a step forward; one step and he seemed to loom over her. He said "You will look the other way when I capture a child of my choosing, you will give away nothing and will do all you can to tilt the investigation toward that of a common criminal. You will do all this because if you do not then my Shadows and I will take away everything I helped you gain. I made you and I can break you just as easily.

"And besides," he continued, "it will make no difference. What could you tell them? My name? You don't know it. Where I live? You don't know that either. What I do? You have no proof and will not be believed. I would still take the child and I might even leave you to take the blame." Darkness smiled and helped himself to a glass of wine from the bottle on the table. Folsom sank silently into her chair, she knew she could do nothing.

"Who do you want?" she asked wanly.

Darkness' smile widened and he lifted the glass as though toasting her. "Why the best, of course," he said.

Next chapter up tomorrow or the next day, as it's already more than halfway finished. I hope you enjoyed it so far and will continue reading.

And please review and tell me what you think, it is a great encouragement.