Escaping Her Shadow
Chapter 1.
There was darkness. All light was smothered out by a thick, unyielding veil of shadow. Two crimson orbs appeared, burning bright as the sun, yet emptier than the deep abyss itself. The orbs moved together to face what seemed to be a door. The door cracked open as the darkness dissipated- like a curtain, the shadows consumed itself as light shone through the windows once more. A figure in black and grey armor sat rigid upon a lonely floor mat. The room was baren-nothing, not even a bathroom, was in the room. The figure stood up and turned to face the door. "Why have you come," a cold, metallic voice drifted from the figure's faceplate," and who are you."
The figure in the doorway took off the hood obstructing the face from view. Deep, purple eyes gazed at him and a powerful voice called out in his head,"I am Syndra, the dark sovereign. I have just entered the League and I live next to me your name, peasant," the beautiful face curled into a sneer as her feet left the floor. Her silver hair flowed free downwards as a tall head dress appeared in sight. The figure disappeared. Syndra turned around to find an arm blade at her throat. "I am known as Zed, the masters of shadows. I am not a peasant, nor a servant to call upon as such. I will allow you to live on, but remember this day." She felt a trickle of liquid drip from her throat as the pressure disappeared. Zed stood on the other side of the room, cleaning his arm blade. "Leave. Now." Syndra did so.
~With Syndra~
Syndra was angry. Very angry. This man dare not only to defile her, but also to reprimand her as well? "I will confront that fool tomorrow. For now, I shall retire," she muttered to herself.
~General POV~
It was a beautiful, clear night in the Ionian recreation room. The open-ceiling room showed the night sky, filled with stars. The room below was filled with the sounds of metal clanging against more metal. Zed performed the dance of the moon shadow, a traditional beginning to a training session below the stars, as it empowered one's body and soul with the unlimited energy of the cosmos.
Akali was taking her nightly walk as she heard the sounds of Zed's training. She swiftly dashed up a tree, jumping silently from branch to branch until she came across the clearing in which Zed stood. Mesmerized by the fluid yet deadly-looking dance, she hid in the tree, her attention riveted to Zed's body. Zed finished the ritual, sweating gently. With a flick of his wrists, eight shadows appeared in front of him. They dashed toward him, brandishing their weapons. Zed ducked under the first blade, grabbing the dark arm rolling his body over the first shadow's torso. He lacerated the shadow with his arm blade, and as the shadow dissipated, he threw two shurikens at the incoming shadows. Two were hit and instantly dispelled. The remaining shadows dashed toward Zed, surrounding him in a circle. Zed, dancing with his blades, dodged two arm blades incoming at the shoulder. Diving at a shadow, he rolled himself underneath the shadow, throwing another shuriken directly from underneath. Zed dashed once more toward the trio of shadows. Parrying various arm blades, he slashed apart two of the shadows. The final shadow, poised to strike, threw a shuriken at Zed's back. Akali gasped, then immediately silenced herself. Zed caught the spinning shuriken with his armblade. He slashed at the final shadow, and his training session was complete. Suddenly, Zed disappeared out of sight. "Why have you come, Fist of Shadow, and nearly have me killed by my own shadow?" There was a voice behind her.
Akali answered without turning,"I am sorry, master of shadows. I merely was investigating the noise." She paused and glanced nervously at Zed. "Zed, I want to apologize for the past. I know that I-"
Zed turned away and spat out in disgust, "Apologize? Do you expect me to forgive you? After what you've done?"
A tear fell from her eyes. "Zed... You don't need to forgive me. I... I don't forgive myself for what I've done either..."
~Flashback~
For years the Order of Shadow trained their warriors in the sacred temple deep within the forest. Akali had grown up there. Strong and wise, she quickly rose through the ranks until she trained directly under the master himself-Zed. Zed and she had a very cold and professional relationship - they were the best team of assassins Valoran had ever seen. Soon, however, Zed began to open up to her. She too began to feel some warmth in her heart for Zed. The two eventually embraced this relationship, and they grew together, in both love and strength.
This did not last forever. Akali and Zed were on the most dangerous mission yet- hunt and kill the Duchess of Ionia, Karma. During the missions, Akali was captured and taken prisoner. Zed, enraged, rampaged through the capital city, killing man, woman and child alike until he found his love. Horrified by what he had done, Akali decided to leave the Order of Shadow.
Two figures stood together in front of a temple. "Akali! Please! Don't leave me! I love you and I need you... my life would be incomplete without you..." Akali glanced at the pleading Zed on his knees. "You're... you're a monster Zed... why did you have to kill all those people?" Zed looked up at her,"I was saving you," he softly said. Akali turned away to hide the tears in her eyes. "I can't believe I was going to marry... a murderer.." her voice faltered as tears slipped down her face. "Zed, I no longer love you," Akali said, feeling the pang of despair and self hate in her heart,"I must go." 'I love you Zed. I'm sorry,' her mind cried out repeatedly.
And so she walked out of Zed's life, leaving him upon the dirt, heart broken and soul torn in two.
~Present~
Zed flinched as he lifted Akali by the neck and tossed her to the clearing below. "Foolish woman. Never again shall I fall victim to such weakness. Love. Such a pitiful thing," he spat out at her. He grasped her hand and flung something away. Zed stalked out of the clearing, as Akali lay prone the grass, tears streaming from her face. Thrown in front of her was an ornate ring that Zed had torn off her finger, covered in black and red gems. Akali reached out to grasp it, yet when it touched her fingers, her heart trembled in pain. "Zed.." she called out his name. "Please don't leave me.." she whimpered as she held the ring, the only thing left of Zed that belonged to her, close to her heart. "Please don't leave..." she whispered.