Chapter thirty-seven
Everyone looked over at Tails who was breathing heavily from running to get to the dining room quickly.
"I have the results and it appears that the substances has a few different elements in it and some I have never heard of. Actually I'm surprised it didn't kill you Shadow and only made you lose control of your gift. Then again you only sniffed it and it wasn't injected into you or you didn't swallow it. There was high traces of Cannabis, Alcohol in its purest form and a couple of things I don't know and never seen before. Those are the main substances I have found and they are in a highly concentrated form and all known for reacting with the chemicals in one's brain." Tails announced with a deadly serious tone, glancing at Shadow with a slightly surprised look as he was still alive.
"Wow Shadow, you have just experienced a drunken high." Sonic lightly joked as he was very glad Shadow was not harmed seriously.
"The question is was it an accident or purposely put there?" Detective Stanley asked with a shocked expression.
"Wont know until the person working on that bench is questioned and we find out how that chemical mix came about being in the lab. I know what those ingredients are and I am finding it hard to see why they were even there to begin with and mixed together. Can't see how they would help find a cure or treat diseases." Collin seriously said with anger in his eyes at what had happened to his son.
"Beats the question, if it was an accident who the hell puts Cannabis and Alcohol into a chemical mix?" Sonic raised a brow as he just couldn't understand why.
"Cannabis can be used as a pain relief so, it being in a lab that researches ways in curing illnesses, it's not too difficult to figure out why it would be used. Well that's if you know that fact but as for Alcohol, its known to disinfect I suppose." Tails said with a grin at Sonic who shrugged back as his reply to that.
"Technically this is once again my fault, if I never sniffed it and stayed away then none of this would be happening. So I take full responsibility for this one." Shadow said with a shrug of his shoulders and sounding very calm.
"Regardless of that my son, it should never have happened in the first place. That chemical also should have been labelled and not left out unattended during our visit." Collin said as he looked over at Shadow with a raised brow.
Detective Stanley suddenly jumped up slightly as his phone went off. He gave an apologetic look and answered it.
"Yes hello…right…right ok…I see, thank you for telling me. I will relate the news to Lord Collin, bye." Stanley said with a serious look then hung up.
"It appears that this was a genuine accident. The person working on that chemical was on a break and forgot to label it before he left the lab. He is deeply sorry and had no idea it would cause such a reaction to happen. The chemical is being disposed of and all traces of how it was made, destroyed so no one can make it." Detective Stanley announced with a faint smile.
"See no major harm done and not an attempt on my life, case closed." Shadow happily smiled as he spoke in a cheerful tone.
"Yes we were lucky this time Shadow but you could have seriously been harmed." Collin argued his point across.
"But I wasn't, accidents happed dad and I should have done as I was told. I think the best thing to do here is forget it happened and move on." Shadow sincerely said with his smile in place.
"Yeah and stay away from illegal drugs, mainly Cannabis, when we return to our apartment." Sonic grinned as he looked beside him.
"Well aren't you a killjoy my love." Shadow smirked as he joked a little.
"And don't go around sniffing Alcohol without it being weakened first either. It still may effect you but not to the point it did in the lab." Tails added with a slightly serious look in his eyes.
"Note dearly noted. So if we are finished here, I need to quickly do something. I'll take my leave and hopefully the guy will be alright and still have a job." Shadow quickly said then stood up and dashed out of the room before anyone could ask where he was going.
"Wait where are you…he's gone isn't he?" Sonic shouted out then sighed as he had a feeling Shadow was far gone by how quickly he dashed out of the dining room.
"I would say so yes." Collin shook his head.
"Well I better be getting back to the station, I need to fill out the reports and paperwork. Not the best job in the world but it needs to be done." Detective Stanley announced then stood up.
"Yes quite, I'll see you out." Collin grinned as he agreed that wasn't the best job, also standing up.
"Good bye and hopefully we wont be seeing each other on this end of the spectrum again." Detective Stanley smiled as he spoke to everyone in the room then followed Collin out.
"Tails, mind if you could show me the notes and Shadows blood sample please? I might be able to help with the substances you didn't recognise." Rachael grinned as she looked at the fox.
"Sure. I wont be long ok Sonic maybe you should go and find out where Shadow dashed away to." Tails smiled brightly then left with Rachael to the medical room where he did the examination of Shadows bloods.
"Yeah sure." Sonic rolled his eyes as he stood and walked out.
"Now if I was Shadow and in a hyperactive mood as well as having the munchies, where would I go?" Sonic thought as he walked down the corridor, grinning as he knew the kitchen was going to be the place to check out first.
Upon reaching the kitchen entrance doors Sonic stood a little away and raised a brow as he could just about hear a panicked voice from the head chef then a loud bang from pots falling and crashing onto the floor.
"Either Shadow is in there or there is a problem." Sonic whispered to himself then walked over to the double doors and pushed one open.
Sonic walked right in and tilted his head as Shadow was not in here but there was a spillage all over the floor, right in the middle of the kitchen. The head chef was in a state of panic and he covered his face with his hand and muttering in his language.
"Is everything alright?" Sonic asked with some concern in his voice as he stood a little away from the chef.
"Master Shadow isn't in here any more and yes everything is absolutely fine. N-nothing to worry about, just a spillage and happens all the time." The chef nervously said with a shaky tone as he looked a little disturbed.
"Right sure." Sonic raised a disbelieving brow as he crossed his arms and stayed where he was.
The chef gulped as he shook a little under Sonics gaze. Sonic grinned as he knew the chef was almost at breaking point. He knew something was going on in here, especially when he noticed all the other cooks had stopped working and was looking edgy too.
"Aright, aright I give. Someone bring her out of the store cupboard please." The chef sighed out in defeat then motioned someone by the hand to do as he asked.
A short female human quickly went to the storage cupboard and walked out with something in her arms. It was small, black and had sharp green eyes. Sonic tilted his head as this was not what he expected to be shown.
"A cat? You were hiding a cat in the kitchen storage cupboard?" Sonic asked as he looked at the head chef with a slightly confused features.
"Y-yes." The head chef nodded with a guilty sigh.
"Does anyone else know?" Sonic grinned as he looked at the small feline in the cooks arms.
"No, we kept her a secret and only the kitchen staff know. We have had her in here with us for about two weeks now." The chef replied with a faint smile as the cook walked over and stood beside him.
"Oh so that's why you were all on edge whenever someone came into the kitchen. I thought it had something to do with Shadows gift." Sonic realised with a chuckled.
"Yes, we didn't want anyone to discover her in here but we all do know we need to mention her to Lord Collin and Lady Emily, eventually that is." The chef smiled as he stroked the cat, making the cat purr loudly with delight.
"Right well I'll leave you too it then and relax I wont say a word." Sonic winked then left the kitchen to look for Shadow.
Elsewhere in the palace Shadow was standing by the lounge entrance and leaning against the broken frame. He watching the contractors clearing the rubble and broken furniture out of the room by chucking it down to the skip where the window used to be. He was casually drinking his drink, taking sips here and there as he watched. Yeah sure his dad told him not to annoy the workers when busy but Shadow didn't class clearing the room that busy.
"So what is the plan for in here? Does mum and dad want it looking like the way is used to or do they want something different?" Shadow asked with a slightly loud tone as it was noisy as the men worked.
"Master Shadow, the lounge is to be cleared by us then someone will be coming here to talk with your parents on what they want done. We are only the clean up crew and I have an understanding this was down to you, am I right?" A dark grey wolf dressed in his protective gear, grinned at Shadow with slight smugness in his aqua green eyes.
"You assume correctly, I have to say one of my darkest workings to date." Shadow smirked a little sinisterly but did have some playfulness in his eyes then sipped at his drink.
"Hay boss, come and take a look at this." Someone called as he pointed at a moving smoke like shadow slowly wiggling across the floor like a snake, making all stop and look.
"What is it? Looks spooky and makes you feel cold and empty." Another said as he touched it while looking at the wolf standing by a smirking Shadow.
"Sorry, that's me." Shadow sniggered as he waved a hand and it vanished then added, "can't help it I'm afraid, going through something and they just appear randomly."
"Say Master Shadow, can you make them lift things?" The wolf asked with a slightly excited grin.
"I can make them do anything I wish, want some assistance with the clean up?" Shadow chuckled as his eyes turned a glowing black, his smirk never left his muzzle.
"Actually I have a different idea in mind." The wolf chuckled then motioned Shadow to walk into the lounge.
Half an hour later Sonic had looked almost everywhere for Shadow and was now walking towards the lounge area. He raised a brow as he heard laughing and chanting of encouragement. Sonic slowly walked towards the noise and stopped by the entrance of the lounge with a wide opened mouth at what he saw.
"What the hell is going on in here?" Sonic half shouted out in surprise then was given everyone's attention.
"Sonic come and join in, we are playing stack the busted up furniture without it falling down." Shadow smirked with amusement in his black eyes that also held a dark edge to them.
"Yeah I can see that." Sonic dryly said with a shake of his head.
"You are aware you will get us into more trouble with your dad right?" Sonic added as he looked at the stack of furniture.
"Not necessary true." Collin announced himself as he walked out from behind the stack, a sheepish grin on his muzzle.
"O-k, I thought you didn't want the workers to be disturbed?" Sonic gave Collin a confused look as he spoke to him.
Collin just shrugged as his answer and motioned Sonic to come and join in with their little game. Sonic sighed and walked over to the group figuring if Collin was fine with this then what the hell.
"Ok Sonic pick something in the room that is of no use and I will see if I can balancing it on the slowly growing-to-the-ceiling stack." Shadow smirked as he locked eyes with Sonic, excitement in his tone.
"Alight…how about the other half of the coffee table." Sonic grinned then pointed to the said item near one of the shattered windows that didn't get an extension by Shadows darker self.
"Not a problem, stand clear just in case." Shadow warned then commanded some of his shadow creatures to lift the item into the air and over to the top of the stack, using an outstretched hand to guide it over and up.
"What are you all doing in here?" Emily demanded to know in a firm tone, making Shadow lose his concentration.
The item landed on top of the stack but way too hard, making the whole thing crash. Shadow turned to look at his mum with an annoyed expression and crossed arms.
"Mum you made me lose my concentration, I could have had yet another perfect landing." Shadow huffed as he pouted with a frown.
"Yes and you could have also seriously hurt someone." Emily seriously said as she crossed her arms.
"But I didn't." Shadow smirked with playfulness.
"But you could have." Emily firmly said as she was getting a little cross with her son.
"Yeah but I didn't. If you jumped me at the wrong time yeah I could have and who's fault would that have been?" Shadow matter-of-fact said with a now smug expression.
"You should not even be in here in the first place and Collin I'm surprised at you too, encouraging all of this. After all Shadow has gone through the last thing he should be doing is calling upon his gift of darkness." Emily seriously said with her hands now on her hips and not looking very happy at her discovery while slightly glaring at her husband.
"Exactly why I figured we all needed lightening up my dear, you know have a little fun." Collin smiled a little nervously at his unhappy wife.
"Right and endangering others is fun?" Emily dryly said with a disbelieving raised brow.
"Mum I had it all under control, honestly you lack total faith in me. It's also called practicing, not just having some fun. How am I ever going to gain full control if I'm not allowed to practice?" Shadow seriously said with hurt in his now normal eyes, looking away from his mother and arms still crossed.
"He has a point dear." Collin agreed with his son, looking right at his wife.
"I suppose, oh alright fine just be careful. I'm going for a soak in the tub." Emily sighed then walked away to her and Collins bedroom.
Forty minutes later…
"Ok then son, try and add that this to the stack without it falling." Collin grinned deviously as he held a small thin piece of door frame up so Shadow could see it.
"Seriously dad, that's so easy." Shadow smirked with a smugness in his tone.
"Yeah are you sure you want to pick that? There's a piece of the recliner chair still to go as well as that busted up big clock." Sonic raised a brow as he looked at the piece of door frame in Collins hand.
"Oh I'm pretty sure I want to choose this. Go on then my son get stacking." Collin grinned as he chucked it up in the air for Shadow to catch with his gift.
Shadow waved a hand and his creatures of darkness caught it and flew it up above the very high stack in the middle of the lounge. Shadow commanded his darkness to lightly drop it on top then all watched as the piece of frame fell down and land on the stack. The stack wobbled and shook a little then stopped still. Shadow gave his father a very smug expression.
"Just you wait and see." Collin winked making everyone look at him with confused expressions.
Then the stack creaked and came crashing down. Everyone moved away very quickly against the walls. Shadow gasped in shock as he once again looked over at his father.
"How did you know it wouldn't hold up?" Shadow asked with a confused look and shocked tone.
"Shadow I am two-hundred and thirty-seven, I think I know a thing or two about gravity. The stack was simply too tall and had many items balancing at once, a feather would have been able to make it crashing down at this stage but we don't have a feather." Collin said as he was now the one looking very smug.
"Na, they all got turned to dust…Respect." Sonic grinned as he spoke to the Overlord of the Underworld.
"Well I guess it's now game over, was fun while it lasted." Shadow shrugged with a sigh, wondering what to do now.
"Yes and I really should get back to my reports. Now why don't you and Sonic go find something else to do and leave the workers to their work." Collin smiled softly at his son then ushered Shadow and Sonic out of the lounge.
"Come on Shads, why don't we check on Tails before we go and do something. He's been in that medic room a long time now." Sonic said as he walked over to Shadow and took Shadows hand in his, leading him out of the lounge.
"Right then, how long do you think it will take to get all of this mess cleared?" Collin turned to the wolf, who was the boss of the workers.
"The rest of the day my Lord, should be done by late afternoon." The wolf replied with a bow to his head.
"Wonderful and don't worry, you will all still be paid in full regardless of the extended break." Collin grinned then walked out and towards his study.
As Collin walked a thought randomly popped into his mind and a smile was forming on his muzzle. He was due for a day off and was now thinking on what he and Shadow agreed to do together, have some father-son quality time. Sure they had just spent an hour playing a very random yet childish game of stack the broken furniture using Shadows gift but he wanted to do something with Shadow that was more grown up.
"I wonder how Shadow would feel about a little day trip out together?" Collin thought on it further then before he knew it he reached his study.
A few corridors down, Sonic and Shadow were standing by the medical bay entrance way. Tails and Rachael were very busy and hard at work still as they went through Shadows bloods and writing things down while also talking to one another.
"I would say they are both enjoying examining my blood way too much." Shadow whispered as he lend closer to Sonic.
"Yeah, maybe we should just leave them both to it." Sonic whispered back then pulled Shadows hand to get him moving.
They walked away hand in hand and remained silent as both were trying to think of something to pass a little time. Shadow suddenly stopped, making Sonic stop as well. Sonic gave Shadow a questionable look as he noticed Shadows ears twitched.
"Sonic, I think I can hear a cat meowing." Shadow said with a confused tone as he tried to concentrate in hearing the noise he just heard a moment ago.
"Cat? What cat? There are no cats here love, you are probably just hearing things." Sonic said with a slightly nervous tone a he kept his gaze on Shadow.
"Oh and I suppose I'm seeing things too now am I." Shadow smirked as he pointed in front of him.
Sonic followed Shadows finger and widened his eyes as the cat from the kitchen, obviously made its escape, was casually walking down the corridor towards them both. It walked with a cocky stride and meowed again as it stopped in front of Shadow and sat on her rear.
"Oh look babe a cat, I wonder where that came from?" Sonic chuckled as he ran a hand through his quills.
"What's your name?" Shadow bend down onto his knees at he asked the cat, sitting on the backs of his legs.
"Shadow I don't think you are going to get an answer." Sonic swear-dropped as he watched Shadow stroke the cat gently.
"Cats here are telepathic and speak to you through the mind, if they so choose to…so your name is Gracie, that a nice names and what…you have been living in the kitchens store cupboard. Well you are very good at hiding I never knew you were there." Shadow spoke to Sonic with a smirk then paid attention to the cat as it was talking to him in his head, replying as he was spoken to.
"Would I be able to hear her?" Sonic asked with excitement in his tone, also bending down to Shadows level.
"No sorry, they can only be heard to vampires but she can understand what you say. She said she likes your fur." Shadow replies to Sonic then relates what Gracie just said to him.
"Shame and I like your fur too, very soft. What is your secret?" Sonic smiles as he scratches Gracie behind the ear, making her purr with delight.
"She said her tongue." Shadow sniggered as he glanced at Sonic, who displayed a dry expression at those words.
"Uncle Shadow what are you…oh wow a cat, is it yours?" Nicholas announced from behind Shadow and Sonic then saw the cat and began to pet her as he asked his question.
"No she doesn't belong to me she…oh her owner is Reggie, the head chef, he found her and took her here…come on then lets take you back to him." Shadow answers his nephews question then Gracie began to talk to him in his head so Shadow related what was told to him.
Shadow picked Gracie up carefully and smiled happily as he gave her a little cuddle, always wanting a cat but never being allowed. The three walked to the kitchens and Sonic opens the door and allowed Shadow and Nicholas to enter first. The staff in there were in a panic and looking all over the kitchen, until one had noticed the new arrivals standing a little away from the door.
"I believe we have found Gracie." Shadow announced as the head chef, named Reggie, rushed over to them.
"Oh Gracie you gave me quite the scare." Reggie cried out as he was passed the cat over.
"Thank you for returning her Master Shadow. I will be informing your parents of her being here, just trying to pluck up the courage to. I remember how your pleas for a cat went, not very well." Reggie faintly smiled as he cuddled his cat happily.
"Yeah don't remind me, still probably not allowed one either." Shadow groaned with a slightly frustrated tone.
"We best be going and Gracie, try not to bump into my parents just yet ok." Shadow said as he gently petted Gracie's head fur then led the way out of the kitchen.
They once again went back down the corridor they were originally going down before seeing the cat but with added company. Nicholas was holding Shadow hand as he happily walked between the two adults and glad his tutor was taking a personal day, not that he had to do anything hard in his lessons but preferred to spend a little time with his uncle before Shadow returned to the Mortal Realm.
"What are we doing now uncle Shadow?" Nicholas asked with a bright tone, looking up at his uncle.
"Aren't you supposed to be in your lessons?" Shadow asked as he grinned down at his nephew.
"Nope my tutor is having a personal day today, daddy had to go to work and mama is busy talking on the phone about her and daddy's wedding then she has to go to this meeting thing. I am supposed to be with nana Ruby but I needed the toilet then on my way back I bumped into you both." Nicholas explained as they all walked.
"I didn't think Max worked." Sonic said with a raised brow.
"Yeah he is a freelance journalist. Has done very well for himself and has done some cover work for us too, mainly things about me but not everything needs to be broadcasted to the whole Underworld." Shadow replies with a smirk at Sonic.
"Totally agree with you on that one, need a bit of privacy now and then." Sonic winked at Shadow as he spoke to him.
"So then we better tell nana Ruby you will be spending some time with us before she starts to panic." Shadow smirked playfully then allowed his nephew to lead the way.
(Sorry it took so long to update this chap but here it is. Please let me know what you think it really helps to improve the oncoming chaps. I also have had a request to bring back 'Life in the Underworld' and will do so, I just need to get more chaps done on it and go through the chaps I still have. It may take some time to do but hopefully not too long. If you are wondering what that story is about then the discription to it is still up on my profile...)