Hey guys.

Here's the next chapter of The Shadow Within. I'm sorry if you guys are hoping for an update to my other stories, but I've already figured out the rest of the plot for The Shadow Within, which is why I'm focusing on going through with it first.

Hope you like the chapter. Enjoy.

~ Wings


The Shadow Within

Chapter 7

Zed's mind was a mess as he stood silently in the summoning chamber along with the other summoners and champions, waiting for everyone involved in the match to come. He waited off to the side, away from everyone else, as usual. But that didn't stop one or two people from approaching usually. Today, a woman approached her.

She had dark raven hair with bangs that covered one eye. Her exposed eye revealed an iris of gold almost as cold as his own eyes were. She had markings similar to Leblanc's under her eye. Her mantle signified her position has a High Summoner of the Challenger Division.

"Hello Zed, so nice to finally meet you. I'll be your summoner this match. I am High Summoner Aranya Averra." She extended her hand to him. Zed glanced down at her extended hand, his red eyes the only thing visible through his helmet as they glowed, before raising his eyes back to her face. "Pleasure to meet you." He said, his voice dripping dark sarcasm as he didn't take her offered hand.

The slight didn't go unnoticed on her as there was a falter in her expression, but it recovered back to her smile nonetheless. She withdrew her hand and simply cocked her head to the side. "I just came over here to tell you something… Or rather, to give you a taste." She said as Zed's red eyes bore into her with the same, flat predatory gaze that would have most people fleeing. Yet she didn't even flinch.

"Of what?" He asked after a sufficient amount of silence had passed.

"Of freedom." She said in a low voice as her smile widened, before she turned around and walked away. Zed simply raised an eyebrow.

Shen opened his door and couldn't help but have his surprise show on his face when he saw Akali standing outside.

"Akali?" He asked as Akali looked up at him. She had a distant sort of gaze in her eyes. "We have to talk." She said as Shen nodded after a moment, moving aside for her to enter.

Akali looked around to see that Shen's usually neat and empty room now had many scrolls and books littering the floor all around. "Don't mind the mess. I've just been… busy." Shen said as he walked in around her and gestured to the small tea-table sitting next to the wall. "Have a seat, I was just making some tea." He said, his voice back to the trademark stable tone that Shen always seemed to have.

Akali nodded and sat down upon the cushion in the traditional posture, waiting patiently as Shen brought the the tea and poured both of them a cup. The first sip of it made Akali pause to savor the taste; it was a special blend of lemon herbal tea from the northern parts of Ionia. She couldn't help but sigh in relief at the warm feeling of it going down, spreading its warmth through her body.

"Now, what do you wish to talk about?" Shen asked, as Akali looked at him, only now noticing he looked a bit haggard. There were dark circles under his eyes and a fine layer of stubble covered his lower face like he hadn't shaved in a while. He also looked fatigued, the way his shoulders weren't as naturally straight or the way he simply looked tired.

"What's wrong with you?" Akali asked, concern in her voice as Shen took a sip of tea, a small smile coming onto his lips at that. "I should be asking you that question, Akali." He said, his solemn voice holding the smallest bits of amusement. He put his tea down and his face became serious again as he fixed his golden gaze on her. "I've just been doing a lot of research on the shadow techniques." He said.

"I get that, but you look really bad Shen. Did you even sleep last night?" Akali said, frowning slightly as Shen simply took another sip of tea, not answering her. "Okay, so did you find anything?" Akali asked, giving up on an answer from him. She knew him for a long time, so she knew if he didn't answer something the first time, consecutive attempts wouldn't really work either.

"I think I'm onto something, but I'm not too entirely sure." Shen said seriously as Akali put her tea down again, exhaling through her nose after she had swallowed the sip she took, her maroon eyes serious as she looked back at him.

"I'm thinking… that our way of balance… is flawed." Shen said as Akali seemed to register what he just said after a few seconds. As realization on what he said began to appear on her face, Shen quickly continued, "No I don't mean what you think I mean… Look, there's me, the Eye of Twilight, correct?" Akali nodded. "I'm tasked with keeping the balance of things. Then there's Zed, the Master of Shadows. The shadow masters themselves embody chaos. Zed's my polar opposite, so as to speak. Like a man and his shadow." Shen said as Akali noded again.

"We know all of this already Shen, what are you getting at?" She asked.

"Akali, think about it… Two things cannot make equilibrium. You can have balance, but it will be flawed, imperfect." Shen looked around for a bit then reached over to something on the pile of paper nearby. He then came back up and held up a pen, balancing it on his forefinger. "Two points, at each end. But it's not perfect balance…" He said, as he flicked one end of the pen, causing the pen to start rotating. "There's always been something odd about the number three, even in our teachings. The kinkou has always had 3 heads. The order of Shadow's symbol is a shuriken with three points. The Ionian elder council is governed by three. Three, three, three. Everywhere you look at things, you will find three…"

"What are you pointing at Shen?" Akali asked.

"I'm saying… There's the Eye of Twilight… There's the Master of Shadows… And then there's something else." He said, his voice low, his eyes narrowing.

"That's impossible, if there was something of that sort, the elders would know of it." Akali said.

"Well, a lot of people didn't know about the Forbidden Shadow techniques. Because my clan, the Eye of Twilight, has always been tasked with keeping it safe and hidden… Until Zed found it. So it's entirely possible there is another… Title, another role, to make three. To make the triumvirate."

Akali was quite surprised by the revelation of this, because everything Shen was saying made sense.

"A triangle has always been the epitome of stability. There is nothing more stable than an equilateral triangle." Shen said as he placed his hand up in a symbol. His fingers formed an upside down V, their tips touching, as his thumbs came under and touched, forming a triangle. "This… hand gesture has always been an important gesture." Shen said.

"It's for channeling Chi." Akali said as she looked at it, Shen nodding.

"Chi is all about balance of energy… And this symbol, makes a triangle." He said as he placed his hands down and looked back up at Akali. "All the research I've done on Nisshoku… We know how he rose to power. We know how he reigned. But his demise is sketchy." He said.

"Caelum said he surpassed life itself and became a shadow." Akali said, but she knew the flaw in the story right then and there. "But he never mentioned how or why Nisshoku stopped…" Akali said herself as Shen nodded.

"I believe… There was a third element to this. That third person… Must have been the one to take down Nisshoku, and in the process, must have perished as well. It takes a great amount of power to rival the power that Nisshoku had possessed. Equivalent exchange exists. So if this person exists, if this person was the cause of why Nisshoku was defeated… If this person sealed Nisshoku, there must have been an equivalent exchange. A life for a life, a seal for a seal. Which means the third element is also somewhere, lost and sealed." Shen said.

"That's a lot of Ifs, Shen." Akali said, not being able to keep the smallest of discomfort and concern from leaking into her otherwise flat tone. Because deep inside of her was the doubt that this was a dead end and she'd never be able to free Zed.

"It's a chance I'm willing to take." Shen said as he finished his tea.

"Why?" Akali asked quietly.

"Me and Zed… I don't know if I can ever forget the fact that he killed my father or murdered everyone I ever knew, along with thousands more… But he is still my brother. If there is a chance I can save him from his darkness, I will take it. It's what my father would've wanted." Shen said, before adding, "And what I want."

Akali looked emotional as she stared down at the cup. "Thank you, Shen… You don't have to do so much but you're still doing it for a person who destroyed your life." She said, staring down at the ring sparkling on her finger.

Shen simply nodded solemnly as Akali stood up. "Anyway, I shouldn't keep you… You should get some sleep Shen." Akali said as Shen stood up as well. "I'll sleep when I'm tired." He said as Akali managed a small smile, "Are you not tired?" She asked as Shen returned her smile, "I am, but not enough to sleep yet."

"Goodbye Shen. Contact me as soon as you find something or need help with anything." Akali said as Shen nodded, seeing her off.

The door closed as Shen stood there, his hand upon the door, hearing Akali's footsteps fade as she walked away. And then, there was movement behind him as the door to his bedroom slid open. Shen turned around to see Ahri there, wearing a flowing-white top and a pair of yellow pants as she crossed her arms and looked at Shen. Her yellow eyes, reminiscent of the fox she had been, fixed themselves on Shen in an unfathomable way. "Why didn't you just tell her the truth?" Ahri said as Shen didn't answer for a moment, walking back and not looking at Ahri, simply sitting back down at the tea table and pouring himself another cup. "I did." He muttered as Ahri's gaze softened. "Not the whole truth." She said quietly as Shen sipped his drink. "You're not just doing this for Zed… You would've done this for him to help him, but not like this. Not so urgently."

"I'm doing this so urgently because my friend's life is in danger." Shen said darkly, a hint of anger in his voice at Ahri as he downed the rest of the tea in his cup, since it wasn't as hot as it had been before.

Ahri stayed silent as Shen walked over to his desk, where many open books and notebooks lay, his research all written down.

"She's not just a friend Shen… I can feel emotions… You're doing this for her. You still love her." Ahri said, her voice quiet as silence followed her words. Shen simply pulled one of drawers built in the desk open and pulled out the bottle of half-empty whiskey there. "Does a person ever truly stop loving someone?" Shen asked, his voice forlorn as he simply popped the cork and drank heartily from the bottle. Ahri simply looked at him with sadness in her eyes as she answered, "No."

Zed was beyond pissed. Summoner Aranya had been purposely forcing him into bad positions and swaying his hands, so he had given away many deaths to the opponents. They were currently pushing into their base and everyone on their team was pissed, since they knew Summoner Aranya was intentionally limiting Zed. Zed seethed as he stood on the healing fountain.

'Are you ready for the taste of freedom Zed?'

Her voice spoke in his mind as anger boiled within him. You better run before the match ends, or I will find you for this disrespect, woman. He mentally said back to her as Aranya simply laughed. 'Alright… Experience it… Thank me later.'

And then, suddenly Zed's body flooded with power.

"Woah, Zed, are you okay?" Ezreal asked as he appeared beside him, as he just recalled. "You're… covered in black smoke and your eyes…" As Zed turned to glare at him, Ezreal paled. And then, Zed looked forward as he saw the enemy team approaching their base.

Kill.

The single thought was the only thing present in his mind as Zed bolted into action, darting forward faster than thought itself. In a fraction of a moment, he was infront of their mid laner, LeBlanc, who only had a split second more to gape at Zed's sudden appearance before Zed moved.

There was a sickening collection of cracks as Zed's fist slammed into Leblanc's chest, caving it in as every single rib shattered. LeBlanc's broken body flew back as everyone stopped to gape at Zed, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Darius was the first to react as he jumped forward, brandishing his battleaxe. The axe passed through Zed as he suddenly turned into a shadow, Darius blinking at the shadow in surprise while as Zed appeared behind him, his eyes glowing vivid red and emitting a trail as he spun around. His blade drew a black line before it reached Darius, after which it drew a crimson trail through the air. With the same spinning motion, Zed landed a reverse heel kick on Darius' head, which sent his upper torso straight off his waist, the legs buckling soon after.

A roar pierced the air as Rengar pounced upon Zed and for a moment, it looked like Rengar had killed Zed. But then, much to everyone's amazement, Rengar uttered sounds of rage and pain as Zed… Zed raised Rengar, who was much larger than him, with one hand, his armblade dug into Rengar's midriff. Zed held Rengar up above him like he weighed nothing, before flinging him at Thresh. The two collided as Zed spun around, his eyes landing upon Ashe, who looked positively afraid.

"Zed, st-" Her voice was cut short as Zed moved like lightning, two of his large shurikens flying through her with little resistance. Her head fell first, back, and then her body fell forward, severed at the thighs. Zed spun around and looked at Thresh and Rengar, who was trying to get back on his feet. Zed zoomed in on them, 5 shadows joining him. It was a bloodbath of blades.

Zed stood, covered in gore and blood, a pile of bodies and body parts all around him as he realized somewhere along the way, his helmet had fallen off. He looked up to see the rest of his team gaping at him in shock, awe and fear. Fear. The look of fear in their eyes seemed to fill a hunger within Zed that he didn't even know he had. He loved the feeling of the warm blood covering him, the way everyone looked at him in fear.

"Zed… What…" Ezreal said as Zed noticed 4 shadows around him, two on either side of himself, standing beside him. Ezreal's glance flicked to his shadows as he then said, "Zed, we're on the same team."

His shadows moved fast. Zed moved faster.

Akali was running, running faster than she ever had in her life. She turned the corner and saw Irelia there in full regalia, talking to two guards. She turned around hearing Akali, her eyes widening.

"Akal-"

"Where is he?" Akali said, interrupting Irelia, the urgency prevalent in her eyes.

"He's in there. I'm afraid you can't go into his room, Akali." Irelia said as Akali glared at Irelia. "It's for your own safety Akali, I can't let you go in the-"

"If you cared about me, if you even gave a damn about me Irelia, you'd let me go in and see the man I love." Akali hissed in anger as Irelia's face shifted to display the hurt she felt, indecision in her eyes.

"It's okay Irelia. I'll be there with her." Akali turned around to see Shen behind her, also wearing his usual outfit, his golden eyes unreadable. Irelia's shoulders sagged as she said, "Fine."

The door opened and Irelia led them down into the dungeons. Down and down they went, past the first level and the second, until it was dark and the walls were damp, an echoing resonance in the air due to the depth. They walked down the dingy, dark hallway lined with metal doors, guards saluting them at their posts every few feet.

"Why are there so many guards?" Akali asked as Irelia blanched. "You didn't see what he did, Akali." Irelia answered.

"He didn't do anything, it wasn't his fault!" Akali said angrily. "I know, but we can't find Summoner Aranya. This is mandatory. He'll be free tomorrow. They can't detain him for more than 24 hours without proof of him being responsible." Irelia said as they stopped in front of one of the doors. As Irelia spoke to the guard, who began to unlock the numerous locks on the door, Akali almost trembled with the anger she felt at the vile woman who had put Zed in here. Shen placed a hand on her shoulder in an effort to soothe her, but almost as if on reflex, Akali's hand shot up and smacked Shen's hand off. Realizing what she did, Akali glanced at Shen, too angry to apologize at the moment, to see that Shen had an understanding gaze in his eyes as he nodded at her. Akali hadn't seen the hurt flash in his eyes at her reaction, however.

As the door opened and Akali stepped in with Shen, all of her anger seemed to deflate. Zed sat upon the single bench on the other end of the room, facing the doorway, covered in the shadows of the dark room. Only his vivid red eyes were visible aside from his silhouette, glowing as always in their menacing way.

"Zed… Are you okay?" Akali asked as Zed stayed silent, looking at her with his cold gaze. She stepped closer.

"Stay away from me." Zed said in a dark voice laced with danger as Shen reacted instinctively, grabbing Akali. Akali shot Shen a dangerous look, causing Shen to reluctantly withdraw his hand. "No, I won't." Akali said, walking over to Zed. She went down on one knee infront of him to get more on level with him since he was sitting, her hands going up to feel his face.

"I'm here, Zed." She said softly as his eyes focused on her, a deadly gleam in them.

"Shen, get her away from him." Irelia said as she stood at the doorway, not liking this at all. Shen simply gave her a glance, silently saying 'Trust me.' Irelia bit her lips anxiously.

"Did you know?" Zed asked simply as Akali blinked at him. "What do y-"

Shen almost darted forward as Akali choked, Zed's hands upon her neck faster than a snake strike, but he wasn't choking her. Not yet. He held her harshly as he leaned in close, his red eyes burning at her.

"Did. You. Know?" He said, each word emphasized with deadly intent, his predatory eyes fixed upon her eyes, which were wide with fear and surprise.

"Yes." She said, sadness coming into her eyes as his hold on her throat loosened. She had done nothing to fight his grip, her hands had come up to hold onto his arm but they hadn't tried to pry his hand away.

"Is this what you would not tell me?" Zed asked.

"Yes." She answered again, shame crossing on her features.

"Why?" He asked.

"To keep you safe." Akali replied.

"To keep 'me' safe…" Zed responded sarcastically.

"You and I both know what you would do if you knew… You'd leave to keep me safe, despite the fact I would not want you to." Akali said as Zed glared at her.

"Or perhaps… You could've trusted me with it and told me, instead of keeping me in the dark about the fact that I WAS THE ONE TRYING TO KILL YOU!" Zed screamed the last part at her face as Akali winced at his anger, his hands tightening on her neck again, causing her pain, but she willed herself not to gag or choke, holding her breath until his grasp loosened up again. Zed's breaths hissed out through his clenched teeth as anger flooded into him. "Why did you not trust me." He asked with barely suppressed rage.

Akali couldn't answer. Because they asked me not to tell you. Because it would destroy you. Because I couldn't bring myself to accept it myself. All of these thoughts went through her mind, but they all paled in comparison to the one thought at her forefront. I should've told him. So she simply looked at him helplessly, silent. Zed's eyes seemed to become vulnerable for a second or so, and a strange sort of hopelessness passing through the depths of crimson before they hardened and closed himself off.

"Your silence is all I needed for the answer…" Zed said quietly as he let go of her and drew back on his seat again. "Get out." He spat.

"Zed, I'm sorry, alrigh-"

"Get out."

"I should've trusted you, I should've tol-"

Smack.

Akali fell backwards as Shen couldn't even react to catch her out of sheer astonishment of the fact that Zed had just done what he just did. Zed's hand, still raised from the backhand he had delivered to her, slowly returned to its previous position. "Get. Out." He said, his words dripping venom. Shen's eyes glowered with anger and Irelia's blades were flying behind her, all of them aimed at Zed, as Akali slowly pushed her face off the ground and turned to look at Zed, a trickle of blood coming out of her cut lip as her cheek stung.

"Zed, I will stay with you here. I won't leave you alone." Akali said, still determined.

"You already have." Zed said quietly. "I let you back into my life… And you turned your back on me once more." He whispered, his voice quieter.

"Zed… I love you… " Akali said, her voice helpless, a look of remorse, shame and sadness on her face.

"I don't." Zed said, and Akali's face suddenly changed, becoming blank with shock. "Not anymore." He added.

Akali didn't remember being pulled upto her feet by Shen, didn't remember being helped back to her room. She didn't feel anything. She couldn't even feel herself breathing. She felt… shattered. Broken. Hours passed and people came and went. Akali lied on her bed.

And in the dark hours of midnight, when she was all alone on her bed, the first tear fell silently.


I'm sorry if this chapter isn't up to mark with my usual writing. I wrote most of this chapter last night while inebriated. My freakishly high metabolism doesn't allow me to get drunk easy, so the story shouldn't have typos aside from the usual errors because I was technically not drunk, even after drinking for the entire night. I'd do it again if my wallet allowed. Drowning in liquor is simply much better than drowning in self loathing and apathy for living. At least it stops me from thinking too much.

If you have any thoughts on the story or spotted a major error/ typo, feel free to leave a review.

~ Wing