Thanks to The Star Swordsman, Shaded-Sky, gohanandvidelover, DJ Dynamite, RubyVulpix, and CountessMorgana for reviewing!

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Chapter 2: A Piece of the Puzzle

Lying on her bed at home, Violet thought hard about what she had discovered. The shadow is changing me...

Wait. Violet sat bolt upright. Maybe "the Shadow" was a person! Someone blackmailing Tony into doing something he wouldn't normally do. Immediately Violet ran downstairs where her father was watching the evening news and called, "Dad! Was there ever a villain you fought called 'the Shadow'?"

"No, no supervillains." said her dad, eating a handful of chips. Disappointed, Violet headed back toward the stairs. Then Bob Parr continued, "But there was a thief I caught that was pretty well known, called himself 'the Shadow'. That was just before I married your mother. Haven't I ever told you that story?"

Nodding, Violet replied, "Yeah, but you never told us his name."

"Actually I didn't even know I'd caught 'the Shadow' until the paper came out the next day." Bob took a swig of root beer from a can on the table beside the couch. "That guy was bad news, though. It's lucky I found him and put him away."

"Yeah." agreed Violet. "Thanks, Dad."

She climbed the stairs slowly, her mind whirling with the new information she'd received. Maybe Tony and this Shadow were friends, and the Shadow was making Tony do something for him. At least now she had some facts to go on.

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For the rest of the week Violet saw Tony at school, but he almost seemed to be avoiding her. It was frustrating, especially when Violet had the question about the Shadow to answer.

Finally on Friday she stopped him in the hallway and said, "Tony, you've been avoiding me all week. I have something to ask you and don't you dare lie or run away again."

A flicker of panic flashed in Tony's eyes, but he nodded. "Go ahead."

"Do you know someone called 'the Shadow'?"

Sighing, Tony met her eyes with a defeated expression. "Yes."

"Who is he? I know he's doing something to you, and I want to stop it. Come on, Tony, trust me!"

Looking around nervously, Tony grabbed Violet's hand and pulled her into the janitor's closet nearby. No one was around to see them duck into it.

He turned on the light and gazed into her eyes. "Okay, listen, Vi. I can't tell you about the Shadow because he made me promise not to, and I don't want to put you in danger."

Violet had to grind her teeth to resist hissing, But I'm in danger every day! I'm a super! But she didn't - she knew telling Tony her secret would be disastrous. Instead she sighed and asked him, "Are you ever going to tell me? Like if you get into a lot of trouble with this guy?"

"Maybe," said Tony softly. "I - I just couldn't stand it if the Shadow did something to you because I told you about him." He kissed her gently and continued, "If things get too bad I'll tell you, I promise."

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Dang, these chapters end up shorter than I thought they'd be. Sorry about that. Reviews are appreciated.