Chapter Ten: Spinal Shard

It had taken Bone hours to tell her story, including breaks and changing the guard. All in all it would make a great addition to a memoir. However, interesting as it was, it didn't exactly tell Rommel how to stop the monster who was unleashed upon them today.

"Well Bone, as always it was a pleasure talking with you, and I use the term "pleasure" loosely." Rommel said, inspecting his data. "At least we can put a name on this threat, and possibly sanction some anti-demon weapons to use on a hunt. But tell me, what exactly happened to William after his mother started training him? After all, he's not a full fledged demon, he's only, a third, if anything. Is he acting alone, or is his matron helping exaggerate our findings?"

Bone stiffened like she was focused on something else, and almost missed his question. "Well Warden," she said slowly, "Will has many more powers now, it seems that his mutant genes function to enhance what demonic heritage he has… or that would be my guess. Mutants always have awakenings, times where they suddenly learn of their powers. I'm not sure if he had one already, and those were his spine powers… or possibly it was his shadow aura. But I do know that everything he's had is stronger and more potent. Its possible he hasn't even had an awakening, and he could add something more to his arsenal. I mean, there's a lot of potential here. He could get mutant powers, innate demonic powers, traits that his mother taught him, I'm not sure of all of them, but I can tell you a couple I've learned."

Bone glanced to her side as if she heard something, the guards following her gaze. She quickly shifted back to the concerned Warden. "In addition to his spines, his strength and speed have increased, as well as a measure of stealth. His shadow affiliation spread to his spines and makes them dark… like obsidian. After they are separated from his body, they persist for a moment, then dissolve in the air. He's also got a power I dub a "shadow step." He just kind of melds with the shadows and disappears. It's not invisibility. He's just not there. Then, instantaneous almost, he's somewhere else. Of course, he can't go somewhere if he doesn't know where it is. He needs to have been there first or have a beacon there he can focus on." She paused. "I don't know why Will was so important to Void. He hasn't been any use to the Circle for quite a while. But then I've stopped wondering about her schemes. They're incredible. I mean, if she doesn't use her assault robots, what is she going to use? The only thing a person like her is ever going for is domination of the country or the world. And before you ask, I can't give you anything on her… I just can't."

Rommel added everything to his laptop. "Any idea what his weakness could be? A creature of the shadows could be susceptible to great light or energies. Perhaps a more mystical power against a demon? Could we poison him?"

Bone shook her head. Rommel looked closely. Was it him, or was she getting pale? "No, you cant poison him, I'm almost certain. His body is infused with… he's got a strong resistance to toxic damage, and he… " she put up her hands. "No, Its been fun, but I'm done here, I'm not feeling well." She got up to leave, but didn't walk towards the door. She just mumbled, "Uh oh."

Rommel scanned the room. His elite guard were visibly shaking and sweating. They were obviously nervous about something. Even Bone was affected somewhat. He stood up. "What's going on here? Bone? What did you do?"

Bone averted her gaze and took a step back. "It wasn't me."

"Then who!?"

A massive spike of a black so dark it seemed to suck in the light burst through the Warden's chest in a shower of blood, gore, and toxic acidic death. Rommel could only make a gurgling sound when it picked him up and impaled him to the table, lodging him in as if he were a part of it. His blood spilled down the wood work. He blew bubbles in his own bile.

An living shadow leapt upon the investigation table, hunched and growled. His figure became more solid, and his pitch black form was offset by a wild mane of bone white hair. One eye was covered in a patch, which glowed an eerie red light. He was bared to the waist, and his pants were torn and tucked into a pair of bloodstained combat boots. He leaned in close to the choking warden, who was desperately trying to heal himself of his wounds, with a slowly dissipating spike driven through his chest.

Bone dived beneath the heavy oak table.

"I'm Spinal Shard, Bitch!"

An explosion - like bones shattering - echoed down the longbow halls, drawing concerned looks and worried shouts. Inside the interrogation room, the walls were pitted by projectiles moving at the speed of shadow. The longbow guard never had a chance, they were immobilized by pure fear, then hundreds of spines. The bony missiles splintered their bones and split their skulls, each foot of the wall was covered in slick blood with a lingering haze of shadowstuff. Four longbow agents were teleported by thier medi-porter chips, the others were left behind to an unknown fate. Rommel was freed by the large spine, but filled full of holes by the others, and he was fervently trying to heal himself. Bone limped from up under the table, she had been hit by shrapnel, but was otherwise unhurt, if not a bit disturbed. The fear aura had dissipated and she was extremely aware of how much its grown.

"Bone," Spinal Shard said in a voice like some sort of bestial predator, "where?"

"Uh, left boot."

Without a second glance, the dark man flicked his wrist, and the warden's left foot flew across the floor, severed by an elongated wrist spine. The warden screamed and Spinal Shard gave a fanged smile. Then he turned to Bone, who was both impressed and a bit worried. With the death of her longbow contact, she could most likely kiss her informant biz goodbye. However, her train of though was derailed when Spinal got close, still all spines.

"Whoa, cowboy, not to close. I've seen where you've been."

Spinal shard narrowed his eyes at his once trainer.

"Hey, you don't exactly look glad to see me, er, how've you been? You've gotten pretty kickass. Didn't I tell ya?" She gave him a playful punch. He grabbed her wrist, and twisted it. She widened her eyes. Something was definitely wrong. Her shields of kinetic energy couldn't protect her when she was already in contact, either. If she couldn't break his hold, they couldn't become active.

"Hey now, it's me, your friend, the Bone Matriarch. Remember? Kings Row? All the fun we had? I sold you the stuff that made you so badass, you know?"

"Bone." Spinal Shard removed his eye patch. The red orb was made of more light than tissue, and it stared into her soul. "You have no friends. Only allies."

Her previous words returned to haunt her.

"Hey, I was just playing the part, you know? Come on, let me go."

Bone's hand was getting numb fast. It was like all the blood that traveled there disappeared at the wrist. It was cold and getting pale.

"I mean, what would your mother say?" She tried her damned best to smile.

So did Spinal.

The Matriarch screamed. It seemed she'd never stop.