Chapter 26: The enigmatic visitor

"So, where is he?"

"He'll show up anytime now. Just be patient.", Kristy advised to her overexcited female friend sitting next to her in the park.

"3… 2… 1…" As soon as Kristy finished counting down Shadow appeared from around the bushes passing a monument statue, which was his finish point.

"Come on, before he starts his next round.", Kristy said after she stood up.

"How did you know?", her friend asked astounded by the perfect timing.

"Oh that?", Kristy said with a smile. "As his guardian I should at least know what's keeping him busy when he's not at school, don't you think?"

'My speed is improving, but I can do much better than this.', Shadow thought as he was taking a short break. He wasn't feeling tired at all. He was taking a short break to reflect on his last run.

"Shadow!!", he suddenly heard someone calling him. He turned around to see Kristy coming toward him with another female human about her same age he never saw before. Remarkable was the fact that she was walking with crutches.

"I know you don't want to be interrupted, but there is someone here who's eager to meet you.", Kristy said as she looked around toward her friend with crutches. "This is a friend of mine. She just came back from a jungle expedition with her father."

The girl came closer toward him and said: "Hi, my name is Tiffany, Tiffany Harper. I was eager to meet you from the moment Kristy told me about you."

Shadow had a dumbfounded look on his face, but didn't say anything.

"Wish I could stay so you two could get better acquainted, but I have to get back to school.", Kristy said as she turned half way to leave.

"It's ok.", Tiffany said. "I have to get back to the museum anyway, before my father starts panicking on my cell phone. Again."

"Are you sure you're going to be ok? You just had that cast removed from your leg.", Kristy pointed out worried.

"I'll be fine. The doctor said I have to make short walks if I want to make a full recovery. Besides, Zelos said he'll walk back with me whenever I'm ready."

'Zelos?!?', Shadow echoed in his mind. 'That's the name of the chao I met a few days ago.'

"Ok than.", Kristy said a little more relieved. "Say hi to him and your dad."

"Sure. Bye."

"Bye guys." Kristy waved them both goodbye and left.

Tiffany was staring at Kristy for a while than she suddenly asked Shadow, loud and clear without looking at him. "You probably came across Zelos already, isn't it?"

"You're his guardian?", Shadow asked assuming she is a bonded guardian.

"Aha…", she nodded at first as she finally looked around at him. "He's more a best friend to me. We are always together, travelling to archaeological sights in many places around the world, along with my dad. He's an archaeologist, you know.", Tiffany explained as she sat down on a nearby bench.

Since she had Shadow's full attention by talking about Zelos, she decided to continue on that subject. "When Kristy told me about you, it reminded me so much of him. He's also a chao who prefers to be alone in the most silent spots in this park, but he always shows himself to other chao and me. That's how I'm certain you came across him already."

"I have to resume my training.", Shadow said short before leaving.

"Sure. It was nice talking to you." Tiffany didn't mind Shadow's callous attitude since she's already used to that from Zelos.

She sat there for a few minutes watching Shadow run lap after lap on the jogging course.

"I see you met him too.", a voice she recognized said. Zelos was sitting right next to her on the bench watching.

"He's very talented. He runs as fast as you could swim when you were little.", Tiffany noted.

"I agree, but his potential goes far beyond mine. I'm sure of that.", Zelos replied tactfully.

"Ready to go now?", she asked with a smile.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

'Darn, I'm late.', Kristy cursed in her mind as she was walking full speed, almost running, through the park trying to get back to the academy.

The afternoon recess was almost over and she was probably going to be late for class. She accelerated her pace as she was approaching the last turn toward the academy's entrance, but instead of climbing the stair she bumped straight into someone coming down. A pack of papers and folders fell to the ground, scattering around like dry leaves.

"I'm so sorry.", Kristy apologized as she crouched down and started to pick up the papers.

"It's ok.", a male voice said as he bend down too, to do the same. Kristy looked up as she realized the voice didn't sound like one of the teachers, but from someone around her age.

It was indeed a young man. He had dirty blond hair, hazel eyes and a kind facial complex that would make any innocent girl faint on the spot. But, Kristy didn't fall under that kind of girl.

"Are you a student at this academy?", Kristy enquired. "I don't remember seeing you around before. Oh and my name is Kristy by the way, Kristy Wildman.", she finally added with a slight feeling of embarrassment as she was already interrogating him without a proper introduction first.

"My name is Nicholai, Nicholai Sparta. And no, I'm not a student here, unfortunately.", Nicholai replied politely trying to joke a little in the end. "I'm here from out of town gathering information for my final essay."

He squeezed his paperwork in his backpack and Kristy handed him the few she gathered. As they both stood up the school bell started to ring.

"I would like to stay and talk but I must get to class.", Kristy said as she continued to climb the stairs. "It was nice meeting you, Nicholai. Bye…"

"Wait!!", Nicholai said shocked as he grabbed Kristy's arm.

Kristy looked around a little stunned by this spontaneous move.

"Uhm… Can I invite you for a drink, whenever you have time?", he asked with an anxious look in his eyes, probably terrified of rejection. "I'm new around here and it would be great if I could get to know some of the locals here."

Kristy smiled and nodded. "Sure… That's the least I can do after I ran you down."

"Here's my card, just give me a call.", he said delighted as he handed a cards with his phone number on it. "I'll be here for a full week. Who knows, maybe you can help me out with my essay."

"Yes, who knows…", she echoed briefly before she turned around and continued climbing the stairs.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

The next day Kristy found some free time after class to spend with this newcomer in Selene City. They arranged to meet at a café on the city's boulevard to get better acquainted.

"So, tell me more about your home town.", Kristy proposed initiating the conversation.

Nicholai talked for over an hour about his hometown, Ponte Cyclia in the northeast province about two hours travel by high tech bullet train. For his final essay he planned on writing a report about the city of the future and, after doing some research, Selene City turned out to be a perfect exemplar. Kristy was completely absorbed into the conversation as stories about people from other towns easily fascinated her.

"I think I might be able to help you.", she concluded at one point. "My father is a famous architect and his firm is number one in this entire city. Through his building designs he wants to convince the rest of the world that technology and nature should walk hand in hand into future."

"You're father?!? You're father is the mastermind architect Mr. Sigrid T. Wildman?", Nicholai stammered shocked as he suddenly recalled hearing the last name Wildman elsewhere.

Kristy nodded casually. As much as she knew her father was a well-known professional, she never made such a big deal about it. She came from one of the financially highest ranked families in the city, equal to, or even higher than bank CEO's. On her eighteenth birthday her father gave her the apartment she currently occupies, as he owned the entire building. Kristy accepted the present as a way of ascending into independence and getting away from her mother's strictness.

Other than that Kristy was pretty much a down to earth girl who works an ordinary part-time student job to pay her bills and travels with public transport whenever she feels like it.

After hearing who Kristy's father was, Nicholai was jubilant to expand his tour schedule and meet the famous Mr. Wildman. As he turned around to order some more drinks, Kristy saw Jake and the girls walking down the street coming toward her.

"Oh, there is a friend of mine coming this way.", she told Nicholai in a rush. "Jake!!"

Jake perked up as soon as he saw Kristy waving at him, but as he came closer the look gradually changed into a serious, slightly annoyed one. Kristy noticed this change right away. "Is something wrong, Jake?"

"No, just a little headache. That's all.", he replied short.

"This is someone I just met yesterday. Jake, this is Nicholai Sparta. He's visiting our city for a few days, doing some research. Nicholai, this is a good friend of mine; Jake O'Donnell.", Kristy introduced them.

"Police officer Jake O'Donnell.", Jake corrected with a serious tone. "Welcome to our town." He stretched out a hand toward Nicholai.

"It's always nice to meet local law enforcers.", Nicholai said respectfully as he gave him a friendly handshake. "It makes me feel a lot safer in a new place."

'What is wrong with me?', Jake wondered confused as he felt like he was no longer in control of his emotions.

He didn't know why his so-called headache, what in reality was rage, was getting worse. Something deep inside was compelling him to get away from this visitor or be at least extra alert on him.

"Hi girls!!", Kristy greeted Julie, who was flying right next to Jake, and Suzie, who was clamped on the top his backpack, peeking her head over Jake's left shoulder.

It looked like she was trying to stay close to Jake and at the same time as far away as possible from Nicholai. She also had a concerned look on her face.

"I have to go now. The girls and I had a long day and we want to go home now." To Jake's luck Kristy didn't insist on him and the girls to stick around. She clearly was considerate enough toward Jake's headache excuse.

"Jake, who's that man?", Julie inquired sternly when they were finally in a safe distance to talk again.

"Kristy said his name's Nicholai Sparta."

Julie looked around leering at him before she continued. "Is he really who he says he is?"

"Why should we doubt about that?", Jake asked.

"I got this disturbing feeling when I was near him.", she replied.

"You too!!", Jake quipped as he stopped looking at her with great surprise. "Thought I was the only one. That's strange. I'm starting to feel a lot calmer now. My headache is gone."

"So do I.", Julie realized. "But believe me, even Suzie looked upset because of him."

Jake turned to check on her on his shoulder. "Suzie, you're ok, sweetie?"

With a contained urge to start snickering she mumbled: "I want mommy…"

Jake placed his right hand on her head gently to calm her down. "Tonight, ok? I promise."

"Do you think you should warn Kristy about him, Jake?", Julie asked.

"Warn her?? How? By telling her to stay away from him because the three of us get a bad sensation when we're around him?" Jake looked around toward Kristy and Nicholai, they still were talking at the boulevard's cafe. "Besides, she seems to have a very pleasant time.", he added with a sigh.

"So you won't do anything about it.", Julie concluded.

"I didn't say that.", Jake disagreed. "I'll run some background check as soon as we get home."

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

"Wauw, cool apartment.", Nicholai commented as he was staring around in the luxurious apartment.

After the third day of touring through the city Kristy invited Nicholai to her apartment for a drink.

"You really think so? Some people say it needs some more decorations, but I prefer only the most necessary."

"Everyone has their own taste I always say.", Nicholai noted.

Kristy smiled then left into the kitchen to fetch some cold drinks.

"Hm, fitting in went a lot easier than I thought.", Nicholai mumbled to himself as he was apparently checking a painting on the wall.

Suddenly, he felt someone watching him. He looked to his left to see a chao standing on the dining table, glaring at him intently. He looked back puzzled for less than a minute, and then he lightened up a bit walking toward the chao to greet him. "Well, well… Who do we have here? A brave little soldier, aren't you?"

As a coincidence Shadow decided to come home early not expecting to find Kristy or anyone else there.

'Who's this guy?', he wondered as he narrowed his eyes in a more serious and threatening stare that wasn't really working toward Nicholai.

"Kristy never mentioned having a chao. Either case, it's my pleasure to meet one of your kind.", he said as he crouched down to be on the same eye level as Shadow.

As Nicholai was reaching out toward his head to pet him, Shadow was getting a very unusual sensation deep inside like he was in great danger. The sensation of blood boiling in his veins took control of him and out of pure instinct he reacted. He slapped Nicholai's hand away as hard as he could. Nicholai tumbled a few steps back, but that didn't prevent Shadow from launching a second attack. He made a dash flight toward him and threw a full kick across his face. Nicholai fell back, flat on ground and it was than when Shadow noticed something strange about him. The friendly gaze on young man's face changed into a furious one. Quite logical after the beating he just received, but at the same time his eyes started to change colour. They were glowing a golden light and glaring at him with deadly intent.

"Who, or better say, what are you?", he sneered at him flying in midair above him.

"Shadow!!!" Kristy's voice suddenly broke the atmosphere of hostility in the room. Shadow backed away landing back on the dining table.

Kristy rested down a tray with cold drinks on the table next to him. "Why did you do that for?", she reproached him.

In the meantime Nicholai closed his eyes and when he opened them again they were back to a normal hazel eye-colour. Just in time, as Kristy came toward him to help him stand up.

"Wow, who's that strong little fellow?", he asked with a painful voice. He easily suppressed his prior rage back to his docile façade.

"That's Shadow. I'm his Chao Guardian. I'm not sure why he did that. You're ok?" Kristy said as she helped Nicholai back on his feet.

"Yes, I'll live. Looks like my move to establish friendship was absolutely not the right one.", Nicholai thought aloud.

"You tried to pet him?", Kristy asked.

"Yes… Was that wrong?", he asked right away.

"Oh, I should have told you about him earlier. He hates to be petted or receiving any kind of physical contact by the looks of it. I'll bring you a cold compress."

"No, no need. Really… I'm just glad this incident cleared up so quickly.", Nicholai said sounding relieved. "For a moment I thought he was showing a territorial behaviour. You know, he probably saw me as a threat to his home and a rival to his female guardian's attention."

As he said this he turned toward Shadow with a tactful sneer on his lips.

'What a deceiver… He's twisting the whole thing to make me look like the bad guy. But, you're not tricking me.', Shadow thought as he kept his eyes fixed on him with his tiny arms crossed.

'He's up to something?', he finally concluded.

"Yeah, right.", Kristy giggled not believing in that possibility at all. "That's no excuse for him to attack everyone who tries to be nice to him."

"Oh, I suddenly recall I had something to do before night falls.", Nicholai said as he checked his watch.

Without wasting time with the beverage, he left right away. After closing the door, Kristy marched back into the living room ready to have a serious talk with Shadow. She looked around but couldn't see him anywhere. He was gone.

-- -- -- -- --

"Hallo, Jake here.", Jake answered his videophone. He was sitting behind his computer searching for information after he finally received the access codes he needed.

"Jake, it's me. Tiffany Harper.", the voice on the other side of the line said.

Jake looked around to see Tiffany's face on the screen. "Hey, Tiffany. Long time… How are you? I heard about your leg."

"I'm doing much better now. I called to ask about that guy Kristy is seeing lately, a certain Nicholai Sparta."

"Oh yeah, Kristy introduced me. He's some student from out of town, doing some sort of research."

Jake could see the worried look and hear it in her voice.

"Jake, I think there is something weird about him. The problem is, I can't say exactly what it is. When I'm around him I feel…"

"Aggravated.", Jake speculated aloud.

"Yes!! It's like I'm completely frightened and I want to stay as far away from him as possible. I never felt like this before and to be honest, this feeling is very distressing. Even Zelos warned me to stay away from him at all cost. He's feeling the same way about this too."

"Julie, Suzie and I felt the same, but Kristy is clearly getting the opposite impression from this Nicholai. So far there is no clear evidence that he might be dangerous. Wait a minute…", Jake quipped shock as the computer finally finished searching.

"What is it?" Tiffany turned shocked after hearing Jake's sudden change of tone.

"I managed to access and run his name through the national civil database and there is no one named Nicholai Sparta in it. That only means this guy is a ghost or he goes by a false name."

"So it's worse than thought.", a voice said coming from behind Jake's back.

"Shadow!!", Jake called out surprised of this sudden visit. "Don't tell. You just met Nicholai Sparta."

"Is Shadow there?", Tiffany enquired as she overheard everything.

"Yes, it's him. I got to go now. Sorry. Talk to you later.", Jake said in a rush before hanging up.

Shadow flew up and landed on Jake's desk. "I came to find out how much you knew about him.", Shadow than continued.

"Well, not much.", Jake said pointing at the computer screen.

"This guy is not who he pretends to be and he's up to something. If that's what you're trying to find out.", Shadow said after taking a glance at the computer screen. "We should warn Kristy about him as well."

"Easier said than done.", Jake said with a low voice. "The two are growing to be good friends and we have no solid prove of who Nicholai really is. All we have is a weird hunch about him and Kristy is not exactly the type of girl that goes on someone else's gut feeling."

When he heard Jake saying this Shadow recalled when he saw Nicholai's eyes changing colour glaring at him like a predator on his prey. He could have mentioned that to Jake but finally he decided to keep it to himself. He spared himself a tough time trying to convince the male human of what he saw. He turned around to leave but before he did so he said: "Well, my gut feeling tells me to keep an eye on this Nicholai guy."

After he left, Jake stayed behind sunken deep in thoughts. After a while he sighed and mumbled: "I think I should bring all this to Kristy's attention after all. That's the least I can do."

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

On the last day Kristy and Nicholai were together in the park leaning on the railing of the watch post, enjoying the fantastic view over the city. What both didn't know was that Shadow was standing high up on a tree branch keeping a close watch on Nicholai.

Nicholai's short visit was almost over. Kristy was a bit upset that during this entire week both Jake and Tiffany were avoiding her. She even had a argument with Jake who tried to warn her about Nicholai. In her eyes Jake was acting like she had a low insight into human character, like some stranger could easily fool her. After how he introduced himself as a police officer to Nicholai, Kristy knew he was trying to intimidate this newcomer. She just didn't know clearly why.

She took a deep breath trying to push those awkward memories away. This was Nicholai's last day in town and she didn't want to spoil the moment for him.

"You think you have enough information for your essay?", Kristy asked after a prolonged period of silence.

"I have even more than I wanted, thanks to you.", Nicholai said gratefully.

"My pleasure to help.", Kristy said doing her best smile.

Nicholai turned around looking deep into Kristy's eyes. "Is everything ok?", he asked.

"Sure.", Kristy said trying to put up a high spirit.

Nicholai nodded relieved, turned back toward the city panorama and continued talking. "Coming to a new place and meeting a kind person like you makes me feel sorry to leave. I'm sure I am going to miss you."

Kristy giggled and said: "But we know each other for less than a week."

"I know. It's probably because I hate to say goodbye."

Kristy looked down at her watch to check the time. "Better get going."

"May I walk you home?", Nicholai asked.

"Sure."

Kristy turned around with Nicholai a few steps behind her. His mouth curled into a sinister smirk, his eyes narrowing into an evil like stare and as he turned to follow Kristy Shadow saw his right hand behind his back. Slowly a strange light began to glow within his fist as he was moving closer towards Kristy. The caho was triggered to take action immediately.

Kristy heard Nicholai shout a painful cry. As she looked around she saw him falling to the ground covering his face. Shadow succeeded in striking a direct fly kick into Nicholai's face, stronger than the one he hit him the first time.

He landed on the ground, turned around for the next hit when he was stopped on the spot when Kristy jumped on him.

"Shadow, what's wrong with you?", Kristy yelled as she was still struggling to restrain him.

Shadow kept fighting to break free. "Let go of me!! He's not who he says he is.", he roared furiously.

Not understanding Shadow's enraged words, Kristy turned her attention toward Nicholai.

"Nic, you're ok? I'm so sorry…", she apologized. "I don't know what's wrong with him?"

"I'm fine.", he said as he pulled himself up, but there was blood on his lip as he removed his hand from it.

"You're bleeding.", Kristy noticed but Nicholai lifted up his hand stopping her from coming close to him.

"No, I'll be fine. Just don't lose your grip on your chao, please."

"I'm so sorry.", she apologized again.

"I'll be fine, really. I better go home to put something cold on it. I'll call tomorrow before I leave. Bye."

Nicholai walked away as fast as he could, giving Kristy no chance to call him back. She never felt so embarrassed before. To her, Shadow really crossed the line this time. She waited a minute or two before finally letting him go.

"I've never been so embarrassed in my life.", she started with contained anger. "What is wrong with you? Why did you hit Nicholai like that?"

Shadow didn't say anything. He kept staring at her with his usual grave look on his face, showing no regret for what he just did. Then he turned around to leave.

"Embarrassment is nothing compared to what he could have done to you.", he said short and ran away into the park.

Kristy sighed but it didn't help her to calm down this time. "I just wish I could understand you, Shadow. I just wish I could.", she whispered sadly.

-- -- -- -- -- --

Later that night Shadow was still in the park. He didn't care he was breaking his six-thirty curt view. He needed some time off to think about what just happened. Ever since he met Nicholai Sparta his sole presence made him restless. Something far different from anger and the only behaviour these feelings could trigger was hostility toward this stranger, an urge to make him go away.

'What's wrong with me?', he thought while shaking his head.

Suddenly the feeling was triggered again and he immediately jumped to his feet and looked around. Nicholai was right behind him, leaning against a tree with his eyes fixed on him. At that moment the usual friendly look on his face was completely vanished leaving the glare of a demon instead.

"Hm, you may have stopped me…", he said calmly as he walked a few steps toward Shadow. "But I won't let you get away with it. This is the last time a low life like you will get in my way."

He stretched his right arm forward and Shadow's body was encased in a bubble of dark purple energy. He was lifted several feet from the ground and with a huge force he was pushed against a tree where he could no longer move.

"I'll crush your entire race starting with you.", Nicholai said menacingly. "I won't allow insignificant creatures such as you ruin our plans. That won't happen again."

"What are you talking about? Who…. or better say, what are you anyway? You're not a human.", Shadow managed to ask in his immobilized condition.

"That's a mystery you won't be able to take to your grave.", he replied short as he slowly closed his hand into a fist and at the same time the bubble started to crush Shadow's body.

Shadow gave a loud and painful cry but the torture didn't last long. Suddenly Nicholai's hand was stroke by a small stone knocking it out of its fixed position. The energy bubble vanished and Shadow fell, face down, on the ground. He looked up and noticed someone positioning himself in front of him, another chao.

"Leave him alone.", a dominant voice said.

Shadow recognised the voice of his rescuer. "Zelos?", he whispered with pain all over his body what caused him to pass out instantly.

Nicholai was rubbing away the pain on his hand, looking down at the one who dared to interfere with his amusing moment of killing Shadow. "I should have known you tiny pests never walk alone. I shall kill you both, no problem.", he said confidently.

"If you want to get Shadow, you'll have to go through me first.", Zelos said warningly as he marched toward him with certainty in each step.

For a second, Nicholai was surprised of Zelos brave attitude, but than considered it as a big bluff. "So you're not afraid to die or, you just have no idea who you're dealing with."

Zelos gave away a faint smile, something he rarely does and said: "Wrong… You're the one who doesn't know who you're dealing with."

These words triggered Nicholai to pay close attention to this overconfident adult chao. His eyes went wide open as he noticed something about Zelos.

"YOU!!!… It can't be!!", Nicholai stammered surprised and stepped two steps back.

"I advice you to leave, now. Make sure I never see you or even sense you around here ever again."

Nicholai had an aggravated look on his face as a sign of defeat. "You two got lucky, but I'll come back and I swear none of you will be spared."

After this final threat a purple smoke screen started to rise from the ground covering him completely. Then, it swiftly moved away into the night sky and Nicholai was gone.

-- -- -- -- -- --

"Shadow, come on. Wake up."

Shadow slowly opened his eyes and instantly realized he was drifting in water. Zelos was standing next to him making sure he doesn't sink and drawn.

"Where am I?", he asked confused, still feeling pain all over his body but not as bad as before.

"Just lie still for a while.", Zelos advised him. "We're still in the park, Nicholai is gone and right now I'm taking care of your injuries."

Shadow looked around with his eyes to see that they were indeed still in the park. He was drifting on the shallow part of the pond. He didn't quite understand how Zelos was taking care of him by soaking him in the water. Yet he remained motionless in the on the water surface as he sensed that the danger, known as Nicholai Sparta, was gone.

A few minutes of silent went by before Shadow spoke again. "The pain….. It's is gone." He was amazed the pain he once felt was complete gone and now he was feeling as good as new.

Zelos was completely focused on whatever he was doing with his eyes closed. "That's one of the many benefits of water, especially for us chao.", he explained short.

"How did you get rid of Nicholai?", Shadow enquired right away, now that he was feeling a lot better.

"Let's just say he'll stay away for now. That's the most important.", Zelos replied shortly. It was clear he didn't want to give away much detail or he didn't have all the answers himself.

"So strange. That man's sole presence enrages me. He…"

"You don't have to worry about him. Just make sure you're ready when the time comes.", he warned him. "He swore he would get back at us."

"I'll be ready…", Shadow said unafraid and determined. After that he decided to let the water do his trick as his mind kept wondering about this enigmatic 'human' named Nicholai Sparta and how Zelos managed to frighten him off.

-- -- -- -- -- --

"Hi, big brother. You're finally back.", Suzie called out when she saw Shadow slight in through a window Kristy left open. He only saw Kristy on the couch asleep, so he was a bit startled when Suzie called him out so loudly in the peacefully quiet place.

It was after midnight but Suzie was wide-awake chattering joyfully in Shadow's head. "Mommy and I were reading some nice stories and I even got to sing a few songs, but then she fell asleep."

"What are you doing here?", Shadow asked annoyed. The last one he expected to bust him sneaking into Kristy's apartment so late was Suzie.

"Daddy said it was ok for me to stay with Mommy tonight.", she replied.

"Not so loud, you'll wake her up and I already told you: I'm not your big brother?" Shadow was lucky to find Kristy asleep, so the last thing he wanted was for her to wake up. "It's late, go to sleep already."

Suzie didn't seem to be affected by Shadow's grouchy attitude. She remained friendly and jolly. "Oh, you're right.", she agreed. "I have to wake up early so I can play in the park."

She went back to Kristy and carefully removed the book she was holding without waking her up. She tugged herself under the blanket next to her to sleep.

Shadow turned around to go upstairs when he heard Suzie's whinny voice again. "Oh, Shadow…", she called him before giving a sleepy yawn. "Mommy was worried about you. Her eyes looked sad."

After that there was a moment of silent. Suzie was waiting as Shadow was standing there, quietly and motionless.

"Goodnight….", he said before he left toward his room.

-- -- -- -- -- --

The three entities…

This nocturnal event and the events during the entire week didn't go unobserved by the three mysterious entities. They were watching closely and shocked.

"I knew it.", one of the three said. "He's here and already walking among the humans."

"He's acting very cautious, even after Shadow provoked him on several occasions.", the entity with the deep voice said.

"Very cunning of him in not fully revealing his true identity. It won't take long before he reveals his goal.", the first one added in conclusion.

"They don't have much time left, neither do we.", the third one warned his brothers. "Still, I have faith they'll be ready when the time comes."

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

A/N: Well hopefully I made some people happy with this chap. After a long wait; Shadow in the spotlight.