Nameless Shadow

Cake and I slowly tread through the trees searching for footprints or even a broken branch. Yet there is nothing, everything is still and intact. The night's shadows covering everything that could be thought as out of place. I gaze up at the stars as they dance between the clouds and the music that beats from the cloud kingdoms party. The barrette the old man had given me is clipped safely in my hair, its radiant glow out shining my face by a long shot. Cake suddenly stops, her fur slightly slicked down with sweat.

"Fionna girl, maybe we should just give up. I mean we've been searching four hours." She huffs, out of breath. I nod quietly, waiting and listening. Searching the clearing for anything of use. Hoping for a sign from the guy who killed that old man, but there is nothing. I sigh, defeated.

"Ok we'll try again tomorrow." Cake and I take a, what should be illegal right now, U-turn.

Only for me to catch sight of a dark figure at the other end of the clearing, leaning against the trees. I can't make out anything; he just looks like a shade, a shadow from no one in particular. Yet I still smile smugly.

"Gatchya." I whisper under my breath. I grab hold of my battered sword that was tucked away safely in my pack and I whip it out. Pointing it towards the shadow. "You're the guy who killed that old man?" I hear a low laugh in response. It makes my gut tingle a bit, I'm not sure why though.

"And you're the girl who so stupidly believed his 'I'm an innocent old man' card?" The shadow asks, it's smooth and taunting, fearless if you will. I blush with furry but don't reply. "Yeah I killed him. He got what was coming to him."

"That man was sweet and harmless. And You ended his life! You're a monster. Not him." I yell back at him my anger starting to boil.

"Your right, I murdered him and never felt an ounce of guilt. God I'm such a monster, please end my life here. Please before I unleash the rest of my wrath onto the world!" I can hear the teasing laughter in his voice. He's MOCKING me.

"Hold up! So how did you kill him?" Cake all the sudden bursts out.

"Cake?" I say surprised.

"What? There wasn't a drop of blood on that man. I'm curious." She turns back to the shadow and asks again, "How'd you do it?"

There's silence for a minute then he says clearly, "I drank away his color."

"What?" Cake and I inquire in unison.

The shadow snorts as if it's the easiest thing to understand. "Did you even notice that he was wearing all white? And his skin was an unhealthy chalky white?"

"Yeah? So?" I say trying to get this show on the road.

"For the love of—He was red before you saw him. He skin was red and he was wearing red. I'm a vampire, I drink red. He died because his type of species needs to keep their coloring to survive. If he hadn't tried to attack me I would have spared him." I cringe at his anger. I see his dark aura become visible as blackness radiates off his body. Cake stumbles backward at the word vampire her little heart thumping loud enough for me to hear.

"Enough! You still killed him. You still have to pay for what you have done. So let's do this." I steady my stance and wait for him to attack.

He laughs again, "You asked for it." Within second I see the dark figure bolt from behind the brush and jump Cake. She screams and is thrown back into a tree, her skull hitting it with a thunck knocking her unconscious.

"Cake!" I scream to her but am plowed into the ground, the shadow rips my sword out of my hand and breaks it in half and throws it away. He pounces on tope of me and I close my eyes waiting for him to sink his teeth in my throat. The icy fingers of death moments away from me. But the mistress never touches me. I build up the bravery to open my eyes to see his lips connect with the barrettes abdomen and suck the red right out of it.

He leans to me ear and whispers, "Seems like I Gatchya." He coos as he floats off me and I bolt to my feet. This time the shadow doesn't stay attached to him and the moon catches him in its rays and I finally make out his face. His skin is an odd blueish gray color, it glows under the moons fruitful light. Black messy hair partly covers his intense black eyes; they yank me through his soul and back again. They show me his wild, reckless streak and his ignorant smugness. His mouth is twisted in a smug closed mouth smile, but even though he chooses not to show his teeth I see the gleam of his fangs.

He licks his lips and waits for me to make a connection, raising his eyebrows expectantly. Then it clicks, the old man set me up. He knew this guy would come for me with a Red barrette in plain sight. The boy grins as he sees me make the connection but doesn't speak.

"Who are you?" I ask my teeth barred.

"Mmm," He sniffs the air around me, circling me slowly. Reminding me of a fat cat about to swallow a defenseless mouse. "You're a feisty one aren't you? You strive to be the toughest and dangerous." His eyes are glued to my face, the pupils in his eyes growing then disappearing into his irises. I straighten my stance as he continues, "Yet there is weakness, and you don't want to admit it. You've thrown a sheet over it and made it the elephant in the room. Don't try to deny it. I can smell it—Tell the world that little Fionna isn't as strong as she thinks she is. SAY IT!" He bellows; his eyes filling with darkness as he begins to laugh a dreadful laugh.

My gut tightens and I scream in furry. I lunge at him and throw punches at him, he doges them easily. But I keep going for him. My strikes coming faster and faster catching him off guard as I get him in the face, "I AM NOT YOUR TOY! YOU CAN NOT TOSS ME AROUND LIKE A PLAY THING! I AM NOT YOUR TATTERED RAG DOLL!"

I get up in his face and kick him straight in the nuts. "Ooof!" He clutches his package and goes down. I go to kick him in the gut but he bolts up and jumps into the air, the moon giving him a full blast this time. This time I take in all of him, his lean muscles hidden under his red and black flannel shirt and gray skinny jeans. He lifts his hands into the hair and back down as black shadow ghosts seem to come from his palms and swarm me.

"We'll see each other again Fionna. Count on it." With that he soars off leaving me surrounded with living shadows. I kick and punch, each exploding with each touch. Within a minute or two they have all evaporated and I run over to Cake who is just starting to come too.

"Cake! Are you alright? Is everything intact?" I babble helplessly, checking over my friend.

"I-I'm ok. Did we win?" Cake questions, curious.

"I guess so…"

"Who WAS that guy?"

"I don't know, but I bet we're going to find out."

Ok so this is the end of chapter 2 hope everyone liked it. I'm still working on the next chapter but I'm hoping to add it on later on today or early tomorrow. Ok ok ok I have to tell everyone that this song works sooo well with this story, Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes. Well I'm not sure if it does but that's all I was listening to as I typed this XD lol just thought I'd suggest it if your looking for a great song to listen to.

Love ya guys

Jes