Chapter thirty-six
"What did you just say he said?" Sonic slightly whispered with shock in his tone as Collin picked Shadow up into his arms and stood up.
"Don't take that to heart this hasn't been the first time he has requested for his death." Collin assured his sons mate then looked at the head scientist with a serious look adding, "I want a full investigation done and I want to know how and who put that substance in this lab."
"Yes my Lord we will start right away, I'll call the police force to come down here and tell them it is urgent matters." The brown hedgehog bowed then ushered all out of the lab to start with the investigation.
"I'm sorry but we are going to have to cut this visit short and go back to the place." Collin announced to the two mortals walking down the hall with him, Shadow tightly within his hold.
"Under the circumstances it is understandable Lord Collin. Would you agree for me to take a sample of Shadows blood and find out what caused him to turn dark?" Tails said with a slightly pleading look in his eyes as they stopped by the lift.
"Yes you have my permission Tails and I'm sure Shadow wouldn't mind either." Collin smiled warmly down at the fox.
"When he wakes up, will he be his normal self again? Well as normal as he was before the whole dark episode." Sonic asked as they all entered the lift.
"That is something I do not know but I do hope he will." Collin honestly answered as they began to move up to ground floor.
They exited the lift once the doors opened and all froze from walking in the main reception area. There were police officers standing and talking to some of the employers here then two came up to them.
"Wow they sure are quick to act…unlike our police force." Sonic muttered over to Tails who nodded in agreement.
"My Lord, I am detective Stanley and I will be leading this investigation. I need to know what happened my Lord." The detective asked with a sincere tone and look, getting ready to write in his note book.
Detective Stanley was a tall, slightly tanned human with a slim build. He had short chestnut brown hair and hazel brown eyes, he was dressed in a dark grey suit with a crisp white shirt under his blazer and a light grey tie. He wore shiny black flat shoes that looked brand new.
Collin told the events of what went down in the research lab moments ago and Sonic filled in the gaps that Collin wasn't aware of, mainly how Shadow reacted to the chemical before Collin noticed.
"Right we will need him to be tested and bloods examined, with your permission of course my Lord." Detective Stanley smiled as he looked up from his note book.
"Would we be able to do this privately at the palace. Shadow has been through some very difficult times these last few days and we are not sure if some of the things you will find are related to that chemical." Collin replied with an unsure look in his eyes.
"May I ask what sort of difficulties? I don't mean to intrude but it may have something to do with how he reacted to that chemical, especially if his mind has been under stress." The detective asked with a raised brow and curious tone.
"I would rather keep this from everyone due to not wanting any upset or panic. I will explain all that has happened only if you can guarantee it is kept highly confidential." Collin seriously said with a firm look in his eyes.
"Yeah it's kind of a privet matter you know." Sonic added with a frown, knowing he's going to have to re-live the moment he rather just forget all about.
"I completely understand and I can assure you all it will be highly confidential and not reach the public." Detective Stanley nodded with a serious look as he replied.
"Ok you can come back to the palace and we will fill you in on everything. If any word gets out about this I will not be happy and neither will my son." Collin frowned a little then received a firm nod from the detective.
They all made it back to the palace, via a portal of course, and was walking to the front entrance. Once inside Collin announced he was going to lay his son on his bed and for Sonic and Tails to lead the detective into the dining room, him joining them in a few minutes or so. They went their separate ways and to where they needed to go. Collin pushed his sons door open with his foot, walked in and up to the bed. He carefully laid Shadow down then looked at his peaceful features.
"This better not be another attempt on your life." Collin whispered then turned and walked out of his sons room, closing the door up behind him.
In the dining room the three were waiting in silence for Collin to arrive and didn't expect to have Rachael come in and sit down with them.
"Hello everyone. I have an understanding something happened to Master Shadow during your visit to the research centre. I bumped into Collin on the way to his study and asked me to join in. He said he wont be long, he's just getting a few bits of paperwork from the last time something like this happened." Rachael smiled with a sweet tone of voice.
"Something like this happened before?" Sonic asked with a shocked tone.
"Yes, believe it or not but Shadow has had a few attempts on his life and I'm sure if you ask him about them he will give you every detail, he can get very descriptive when he gets started. Sorry for keeping you waiting detective." Collin grinned at Sonic then took his seat.
"Should I start with doing an examination on Shadow before the chemical leaves his system, Lord Collin?" Tails asked with a small smile.
"Please, do you know where our medical room is?" Collin asked with a sincere smile at the fox.
"Yes, I came across it and know the way…I'll also write a report of what I find for the records." Tails smiled politely then stood up and walked away.
"Ok so what has been going on with Master Shadow?" The detective asked with a pleasant smile at Collin.
Between himself and Sonic everything was explained. From the moment Shadow was stabbed to the time the demon king came to do the memory spell. Detective Stanley nodded every so often to show he understood and was following along. It took over an hour to get it all over and done with and now all was silent in the dining room, for a few seconds that is.
"So this demon cannot get to Master Shadow again?" Detective Stanley asked with a worried expression.
"No he cannot thank the gods. So now you know exactly what has happened and what state my son is in. I'm just hoping nothing else happens, it seems the universe is against him having a peaceful life." Collin sighed sadly as he looked down to his lap.
"And about the other attempts on his life? I have never heard of any." Detective Stanley asked with a raised brow.
"No you wouldn't have, it was kept on the low key for good reasons. We wanted to draw out those plotting to kill Shadow but only ever caught a couple and they stayed silent and never spoke of any others involved." Collin explained with a small grin.
"I was ten when I had my life threatened for the first time. I'm really sorry for what happened at the research lab, I really did try to fight it." Shadow announced in the entrance way then added, "Tails is just examining my bloods and whatnot in the medical room. He let me have a look and blood looks so cool under a microscope."
"Shadow, come take a seat. How are you feeling?" Collin stood from his seat and motioned Shadow to join.
"Weird, really weird…hard to explain. Although I could do with a snack." Shadow chuckled as he took his seat next to Sonic and his father.
"Wait right here, I'll be back in a sonic second." Sonic grinned then dashed out of the dining room.
"Best boyfriend ever." Shadow smirked with a cheerful voice as he knew what Sonic was doing.
Sonic was back in a flash with a few bags of blood clot crisps for Shadow, he passed them to Shadow and re-took his seat.
"Thank you my love, you are the best." Shadow smiled happily at Sonic then opened a packet and began to munch on them.
"Attempt number one at the age of ten…damn I'm loving these right now…ok I was in the garden right at the far side just having a gentle wonder to calm down. I was approached by one of the palace guards and at the time though nothing of it. Little did I know it was an impostor and the real guard was unconscious in a bush…anyway he approached me and grabbed my arm a little too tightly. I questioned him what he was doing and why was he tightly holding onto my arm but my answer was a punch in the stomach then a dagger to my throat. I have to say I was a little taken back from the punch and didn't noticed the dagger at first, until the guy put more pressure onto my neck." Shadow began as he munched on his snack.
"Then what happened?" Sonic asked with a sadden look in his eyes.
"Ok ok I'll tell ya because this bit is funny…I was feeling very panicked by now and fearful of the guy and what he wanted to do. I swung my leg back and flung it forward as hard as I could at the guys sensitive area. He dropped the dagger and let me go. He had a pained expression as he dropped to his knees and held onto his groin…I have to say I learned a new word that day but I'm not going to repeat it, it's quite inappropriate. He lashed out at me with one hand and grabbed my leg, making me fall to the ground. Now I was really beginning to fear for my life and my gift took over…can't say what happened next for I don't really remember much, just flashes here and there. Can remember hearing him screaming out in pain and me being pinned to the ground then not long after a sharp prick…apart from that nothing else." Shadow concluded his story and finishing off his snack.
"That was the first time we ever had to sedate you, me and your mother just couldn't get you to calm down after that attack." Collin sadly sighed with slightly watery eyes on that memory.
"I hold no grudges dad and I understand exactly why it is necessary…attempt number two, aged thirteen. I snuck out into the city way passed my bedtime so really this one is all on me and my stupidity. I used the hidden passageways to get there unseen by the guards on night duty. I walked around for a bit then went through the park area to just think and stuff, you know like I usually do, then I was approached by two large men. I didn't feel too fearful to start with until they pulled a gun at me. It was the first time I've ever saw a gun and not only did I know it was dangerous but I have to admit I was a little curious of it. The guy holding the gun was pointing it to my head and the other was mumbling about how I'm a mistake and should die for the sake of the vampire race's survival. You see everyone knows about my unique gift and how dangerous it is or can be, it just so happen some became so fearful they grouped together and planned to end my life in order to force my parents to reproduce a new heir, one that isn't riddled with my gift." Shadow explained with a sincere tone towards the end of his sentence.
"Shads, babe that's just ridicules, you dying wont do anyone any good." Sonic gave his boyfriend a sad smile and placed a hand on his knee.
"How did you get away?" Detective Stanley asked with a curious tone and was leaning forward with high interest.
"I erm…got shot but not in the head. A passer by saw and before the gun fired the guy pushed the attacker down to the ground roughly but the gun went off anyway. The bullet went into my shoulder instead and it was painful. The strangest thing was I was more scared of being caught in the city after hours and having dad find out than the actual gun shot wound." Shadow nervously chuckled as he gave his father a timid smile.
"Yes I was outraged to find out what happened to you but relieved that you were overall fine." Collin frowned as he could see it all happening as if it were only yesterday.
"I don't blame anyone but myself for that attack and I did learn my lesson, I never snuck out after nightfall again." Shadow gave a fangy smirk as he spoke.
"Didn't stop you from disappearing for hours at a time thought did it son?" Collin chuckled with some amusement at all the times he had to leave the palace in search for Shadow.
"Attempt number three, aged twenty. I was actually in my room when this one happened and was just sitting at my desk with my laptop out typing up an e-mail dad asked me to do. It was mid afternoon when my bedroom door was opened, closed then locked. I paid no major attention but did know I wasn't alone in my room. I figured it was Tanya playing a prank on me, trying to get me back for teasing her about Max. That was until I was whacked around the head with a metal pole, it knocked me off my chair and I landed on the floor. I could feel my head start to bleed then I looked at the one who hit me only to receive another blow to the head. That one made the room spin and I could feel myself loosing my surroundings then a third one landed on my head, almost knocking me out cold." Shadow said and was starting to frown at the memory and sounding very annoyed.
"Three hard hit to the head…wow you sure can take a hit babe." Sonic widened his eyes when he listened to Shadows story.
"Sure as hell can… carrying on with the story, he went to hit me a forth time but I just about saw it coming and raised my arm up to bloke the hit. The pole collided and broke my arm, shattering the bone. It was my screams of pain that made someone come and check on me. The maid that had walked passed my room at just the right time tried to open my bedroom door only to find it locked. She shouted through the door and asked if everything was alright. My reply was another scream as I was hit on my broken arm again, I was also losing my control over my gift so you can just imagine what was about to happen next. I remember throwing an energy ball at my attacker, making him fly across the room and smash into the wall by the window, I think there is still a dent there. I slowly yet shakily got to my feet and called upon my darkness to hold him there. I was becoming so filled with rage and anger that I lost that last ounce of control I had left…I used my darkness to choke the man and with every second that passed I would tighten the hold I had on him. I also repeatedly sliced through his flesh and broke a few of his bones in return. If it wasn't for the fact my door was kicked in by dad, I probably would have killed him there and then." Shadow ended his story with drooped ears, shame and guilt was on his features for what he did or almost did.
"You were defending yourself and if you hadn't you would not be here." Collin assured knowing Shadow was very upset for what he did to his attacker.
"Doesn't change the fact I could have killed him regardless if it was out of defence." Shadow whispered in a low tone and looking down with sad features.
"A-attempt number four just before I left for the mortal realm, aged twenty-six. I was not long given permission by mum and dad that I craved for, to live in the mortal realm. I was with Tanya in the city doing some last minute shopping. We somehow got separated in a crowed place as we were going to have lunch before returning home. I wondered about trying to look for her and couldn't shake off this feeling of dread. After a few minutes of looking around I was grabbed from behind and dragged to a secluded part of the city by some tall fancy looking guy. He pinned me against a wall and kneeled me in the stomach then stabbed me in the shoulder, making the dagger go into the wall. He got another dagger and did the same to my other shoulder so I was pinned to the wall and trapped. Yeah sure I could easily pull the daggers out but I was then slashed across my neck with a pocket knife. It wasn't deep enough to kill me obviously, other wise I wouldn't be here, but enough to stun me into shock." Shadow paused as he opened his second pack of blood clot crisps and put one in his mouth.
"By this time I've have three deadly attempts on my life and the fear was no longer there. I kicked the guy hard after the shock wore off and used my gift to remove the daggers, chucking them at the man and stabbing him in the same place he stabbed me. He cried out in pain and growled at mewith aggression. I charged up an energy ball more as a visual threat than anything but he pulled out one of the daggers and ran towards me, making the dagger go into my lower stomach, that is what made me lose it. I slammed the man away and threw my energy ball at him, landing a direct hit to his chest. I went to charge another one to strike at him but I was slammed to the ground by Tanya who saw me get stabbed in the stomach and called for help. She managed to calm me down enough that I started to gain control back then we took a trip to the hospital to have my wounds checked and cleaned." Shadow finished his explainings then munched on more of his snack.
"That attack was what made me and your mother believe you would have some peace living in the mortal realm. Even though we knew you would have to come home eventually but we figured you had been through a lot from such a young age. You deserved some time in your life that wasn't being threatened or harmed in any way." Collin sincerely said as he looked at his son.
"And I am having a peaceful time there, well most of the time." Shadow smirked playfully at his father.
"See now I totally get why you had to keep you life here a secret from everyone." Sonic smiled at Shadow as he now understood.
"Yes because not only would I be endangering my life but yours and our friends lives too." Shadow nodded with a smile at Sonic then ate the last of his snack.
"So what happened in the research centre could have been another attempt but if that's the case how would they have known Master Shadow would have been there?" Detective Stanley mused over with a finger tapping his chin in thought.
"Could have just been a freak accident but we wont know until we get the results from the tests Tails is doing." Rachael piped up with a semi serious tone.
"I have the results and reports from the last time someone forced an unknown chemical into Shadow." Collin announced then slid the file across the table to detective Stanley.
"You didn't mention that Shadow." Sonic raised a brow in question.
"I didn't? Well it's being mentioned now." Shadow nervously smiled with a shrug of his shoulders.
"What happened on that occasion?" The detective asked as he skimmed through the information.
"I was eighteen and minding my own business watching a thunderstorm by the garden entrance when suddenly I felt a sharp prick on my arm. I looked down to see a dart imbedded there, so I pulled it out to have a closer look. As I was examining the dart my head started to hurt and I began to feel really dizzy. I dropped the dart and shut my eyes tightly as I gripped onto the wall for support, my head still pounding against my skull like someone was bashing my head repeatedly, which I know what that feels like so I can use that saying to describe the pain. The next thing I knew was I felt this overwhelming rage spread throughout my mind and body. I tried to fight against it but the feeling was too strong then I switched and went on a murderous rampage, destroying anything I set my eyes on, turning some objects to dust and rubble. I remember the overwhelming feeling of wanting to leave the palace and going into the city." Shadow explained with an unhappy frown then added, "That is exactly how I felt in the research centre earlier."
"So maybe not another attempt on your life but an accident so it gives the question that the first time you were forcedly injected, the chemical came from the research lab or the person that did the injecting works there and found out you were going to be there. It would have to have been someone who knows you a little to know how to get you to go near the chemical, to get you to notice it at least." The detective concluded with a serious tone.
"Well they did a good job if that is the case, I've always known my curiosity would bring me a lot of trouble my way." Shadow shrugged with a smirk at the detective.
"Brings you a lot of good too babe." Sonic winked a little suggestively as he whispered over to his boyfriend, earning a seductive fangy smirk in return.
"Guys I have the results." Tails called as he ran into the room holding up his report on the tests, stopping by the table next to Collin.
(I am so sorry for the late update, I kind of got a little stuck but it is almost finished. I am determined to finish this story then I can concentrate more on my newest story. check it out if you like but hay no pressure. Thank for rading and and I hope you enjoyed this chap, next one will be soon.)