Chapter 6

(The following chapter contains strong sexual content that might trigger some readers. Reading discretion strongly advised)

The shadow left Nicholas alone in the dark once more. After weeks of pushing him to his limits and working to tone his muscles and body, he was left alone at last. The shadow commanded him to seek a light and destroy it. This time, he would do it in a lonely place. He walked around in the darkness, which was an alley. Eventually, he found himself walking inside a flower store. How he got there, he didn't know. He was still wearing that large dark purple robe that the shadow gave him and he looked flat out ridiculous.

Attending the store was a young woman about his age. She had beautiful light purple hair and she was attending her flowers. She saw Nicholas come in and she greeted him warmly.

"Welcome to the Flower Field. We have roses, and plants from all over the globe. Or so we say." said the girl gently.

Nicholas then barfed black ooze all over the floor. "Aww fuck." said Nicholas aloud.

The girl saw this and quickly grabbed a mop. "I got this. Don't worry." she said.

She grabbed a bucket and started to put water on it. She turned to Nicholas.

"You look tired. Please sit down. You look so exhausted." she said.

Nicholas sat down, and hugged himself. He felt a fever rising up and his face turned pale. He looked very sickly.

"I'm Treya." she said.

"What?" asked Nicholas.

"My name. Treya." she said. Nicholas looked at her from head to toe. She was a very beautiful person with elegant short hair, and she was wearing an apron with roses on it. She looked as if she came from some portrait.

"Nicholas."

"I see. Well Nicholas, you should relax. I think it was the booze out there right? You reek of alcohol." she said.

"Yeah." said Nicholas simply.

"Then… how did the shadow got you?" she asked.

Nicholas looked up and Treya nodded in understanding.

"I've seen what the shadow does to people. He wished to destroy the little bit of good there is left in all the world. He's a sociopath." said Treya.

"Who are you?" asked Nicholas.

"You could say I'm a person who hears things. People come and go into my shop, and I see people do things out there. If I can recall correctly, your name is Nicky." said Treya.

Nicholas stood up, but Treya continued mopping the floor with no fear.

"You look so innocent and handsome. You don't look like the type of person the shadow would turn to. He always picked ugly people to be No Heart, but they always died in the streets." said Treya.

"There were others before me?" asked Nicholas.

"Yeah. Men and women. Many of them died either by facing Professor Cold Heart or Dark Heart. They use their darkness to slaughter people. I can't tell you how many times people have come here and die. I'm surprised you are still standing." said Treya.

"Yeah, well… The shadow chose me and I'm his right hand man." said Nicholas.

"Are you now? Then how did he pick you? Do you have family?" asked Treya.

"I have no family." said Nicholas, without any hint of emotion.

"No family at all huh? I see. Then how did he pick you?" asked Treya.

"He must have seen me and liked me. I don't know. I've been servicing the man for a while now." said Nicholas.

"If you puked black ooze on the floor, this could only mean he made you do a lot of exercise." said Treya.

"Yeah. He beefed me up." said Nicholas.

"You don't look beefy to me. You look half dead." said Treya.

"I don't know why you know so much about me, and the shadow. He's careful not to leave his tracks." said Nicholas.

"You are No Heart are you not? Maybe, in a way, you cover his tracks. As No Heart, you stand in for the shadow, who is the true master." said Treya.

"The shadow never mentioned you." said Nicholas.

"He doesn't have too. As long as I keep myself out of his business, I'll be safe and sound." said Treya.

"And you are comfortable with that." said Nicholas.

"Not really. I feel afraid. And the shadow doesn't care about me either. He knows I know, but he dares not touch me." said Treya.

"Why's that?" snorted Nicholas.

"Because I'm something he is terrified of. But I won't hurt him. I won't do anything. Not yet." said Treya.

"Yet?" asked Nicholas.

"It's a little hard to explain." said Treya. She then went over to the kettle and started to make some tea.

"You should drink this. It will help you get better." said Treya.

"How do I know it ain't poison?" asked Nicholas.

"I'm drinking from it too. See?" said Treya.

"Tell me. Besides flowers, what other things do you do?" asked Nicholas.

"My shop is a flower shop. But it can also be a sanctuary for people with bizarre fetishes." said Treya.

"Fetishes? You're scaring me here." chuckled Nicholas.

"People would come here with fur coats and bathe in the fuzziness of the coats. There are sex workers from town who come here and rent a room for their customers. It's also a secret motel. Surprised you never heard of this shameful place." said Treya.

"Shameful is right. You are a hypocrite." said Nicholas.

"How so?" asked Treya.

"You appear like some innocent girl with a kind and warm personality. But underneath it all, you are power hungry for money. And you do this for what? For making a living?" asked Nicholas.

"This store doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the shop owner. I'm just a worker here, trying to make ends meet." said Treya.

"Really, and who owns this establishment of sin?" asked Nicholas.

"The shadow." replied Treya.

After a couple of sips and tea, Treya offered Nicholas a room. "You are welcome to stay here as long as you need. But the shadow will come for you if you try to hide from him here." said Treya.

"Bitch please. He finds me everywhere I go." said Nicholas.

"I see." said Treya. She used a key and opened the door to a bedroom.

"Make yourself comfortable," said Treya.

"I will. But let me ask you something. Why are you being nice to me? You know who I am." said Nicholas.

"I do. You are a kind soul who's been suffering all this time. Your memories have been… taken. And I can't help you get them back because of the magic of the shadow." said Treya.

"I see. Where do you sleep?" asked Treya.

"I sleep alone, in my own room, surrounded by stuffed toys." said Treya.

"You don't have to sleep alone, you know. And I know you are infatuated with me. I felt you're heart skip a beat when I came in. You desire me, just as I desire you." said Nicholas.

Treya smiled and shook her head. "Nice try casanova. I won't fall for your magic. I'm immune to it." said Treya.

"Then… how about I show you my whole person, without any magic." said Nicholas.

Treya smiled and bit her lip. She entered the bedroom and closed the door behind her.

"Have you ever done this before?" asked Nicholas.

"I have. Since I work for the shadow here, I've been a slave too. I no longer have my virginity." said Treya.

"That makes both of us. In my case, I lost it all with both men and women. You?" asked Nicholas.

"The same." replied Treya as she slipped her hands on Nicholas's robe.

She unbuttoned the neck part of the robe and pulled down to his bare chest. Indeed, his body was toned and very soft. Nicholas kissed Treya on her forehead, and they both embraced.

Within seconds, they lost control of themselves. They started to kiss. But the kisses became passionate. Treya and Nicholas both walked about the room, still in each other's arms, kissing like there was no tomorrow. Their kisses then led to nibbling on each other's neck. Then they started to take off their clothes. Treya pushed Nicholas against the bed and she grabbed the cloak, to use it as a blanket. She got on top of Nicholas and began to move her body back and forth. Feeling the hardness of Nicholas made Treya feel true ecstasy and pleasure. Nicholas placed both his hands on her breasts and squeezed them. He eventually pulled Treya towards him and he put his mouth on one of her breasts. He moved his tongue all over and Treya moaned very loudly. Nicholas licked Treya across her chest and he then got into a missionary position with her. He rocked his body back and forth as Treya placed her hands on his bottom. Nicholas roared triumphantly as he climaxed along with Treya.

After their sex, they cuddled in bed and Treya kissed Nicholas on his lips.

"Please. Don't let this be a one night stand." she whispered.

"I don't make promises I can't keep." replied Nicholas.

"But if you do, I will lose hope," said Treya.

"Hope of what? Hope of losing love?" asked Nicholas.

"Love? Is this what this is? No. This isn't love. This is lust. Immoral lust." said Treya.

"What the fuck are you talking about? We just fucked didn't we?" said Nicholas.

"No Nicholas. If you want love, you have to love me truthfully. That would be the noble thing to do." said Treya.

"Are we rushing this?" asked Nicholas.

"Well are we? What is this to you?" asked Treya.

"I'll be honest. I don't feel love. I'm a shadow." said Nicholas.

"But you can't? Somewhere deep inside you can feel that love." said Treya.

"I admit… having you in my arms was exciting. And the way you talked to me in the shop made my heart skip." said Nicholas.

"Then what shall we do? Run away? If so, let's go now! We can both run away and have a family out there! We don't need the shadow! We need No Heart." said Treya.

Nicholas nodded and kissed Treya on the cheek.

The following day, Nicholas and Treya left the shop and headed for the streets. Nicholas was determined to leave the city, along with his newfound love Treya. Yes, their chance encounter led to a sexual encounter, but underneath that moment of ecstasy, they discovered something deep. Treya knew about the shadow. She knew Nicholas's role. And she was a prisoner like him. She wanted to escape and Nicholas was determined to get her out of the wretched city. They disguised themselves with casual clothes that concealed their faces and their bodies. They were determined to get out.

They took a cab and they arrived in the richest part of town, where the rich folk lived. It was surrounded by buildings from top to bottom and it was the perfect place to lay low, at least for now.

"We'll be safe here. I hope." said Nicholas.

"We can go to places where the shadow won't find us." said Treya.

"That's the point. I wonder where we can hide." said Nicholas.

They went through town and they paid for a room in a fancy motel. Once they arrived, they swore not to take off their costumes for the time being, in case the shadow felt their presence.

Of course, when they did get their private room, Nicholas and Treya would make love. They showered together and they continued their love to the bed. Nicholas never felt so happy before in his life. Or so he would think. A couple days pass and Nicholas along with Treya would continue hopping from place to place in town, avoiding the shadow at any cost.

Little did they know that the shadow was already watching them. At first, he didn't care. He saw this as a way for the two slaves of his to work on their sex drive. Humans. They never learn, he thought. But it troubled him once he noticed that something was not right. The light he was fighting against was getting stronger and with each passing day, Nicholas and Treya's love for one another was becoming much too powerful for No Heart to conserve.

He believed it was love making. But after they had their moments of sex, the light grew much stronger. And the shadow was observing them, hoping that this newly formed light might vanish. But why was this happening? He made sure Nicholas was separated from…. No. He mustn't know. The shadow simply sat back as Nicholas and Treya continued running in the city.

One afternoon, Treya was in the shower, bathing in hot water. She had just made love with Nicholas, and she was cleaning off all kisses he left her all over her body. She felt the warm water soak deeply into her skin and she went up against the wall of the shower with a big smile. After this, she might cuddle with Nicholas, her new boyfriend. She left the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. She started to apply the makeup when all of the sudden, the shadow's face appeared. He was wearing his usual dark hood and his eyes a fiery yellow.

"Treya. You miserable wretch." he said aloud, in her thoughts.

"What do you want?" asked Treya, whispering. The shadow then put his claws on the window and scratched a piercing noise.

"You and he are rushing. You two just met, and now you two are doing it like rabbits!" said the shadow.

Treya left the bathroom and the shadow was already there, with Nicholas hanging into the air.

"Treya…" Nicholas struggled to say.

"Silence!" barked the shadow.

"Let him go. Please." pleaded Treya.

"This is not love." said the shadow.

"It is!" cried Treya.

"This is too fast and too sudden! You and he, in bed and running! Too soon. Too soon!" cried the shadow.

"Shut it you fucking bastard." said Nicholas under his breath.

"SILENCE!" barked the shadow.

Treya ran towards Nicholas and the shadow held out his hand. Now Treya was held in midair and the shadow laughed triumphantly.

"LET HER GO!" screamed Nicholas. No. No Heart. He stood up and his robes materialized all over his body. His hair, which was once sandy blonde, was now turning into a ghastly aqua blue.

"Good Nicholas. Fall into the arms of your despair and anger." said the shadow.

With a slight wave of his bony hand, the shadow pushed Treya towards the window, and he sent her crashing into it. Glass broke and Treya fell from the building.

No Heart ran towards the window and saw Treya falling. She closed her eyes, accepting her fate. Then, a dark cloud quickly covered her, blocking No Heart from seeing her fate.

No Heart turned to face the shadow, but then something happened. He saw Treya appear in his mind. Suddenly, she vanishes and a young stranger appears. He has a kind and soft face, with a warmth so pure that it comforted No Heart. He knew this stranger, but he could not find the name. He tried to remember the young stranger's name, but the shadow then appeared and he was now in front of Nicholas.

"You disappoint me No Heart. You are supposed to be my successor. But I was wrong. You are a failure. A pure failure to behold." said the shadow. He then lifted Nicholas high into the air and the shadow revealed his face by pulling back his hood. Before No Heart stood an old man. An old man with a very icy looking face, and his eyes were cold as black ice itself.

No Heart could not believe his eyes. It was Professor Cold Heart all along.

"You? You're the shadow? But how?" asked No Heart.

"When I sent you to stop "Cold Heart", you did. You faced me unknowingly. What you saw was a pathetic old man, who played the part well. But in reality, I'm a cold hearted devil who only wishes to rule this city with an iron fist." said Cold Heart.

"But… then Dark Heart. What was he?" asked No Heart.

"I hired him to be in your test. I knew you couldn't kill him, but I paid him good money to put on a good show for you. I could have chosen him to be my successor, but I'd rather keep my enemies close." said Cold Heart.

Just then, the door swung open and Cold Heart now stood taller than ever. He was not a frail old man after all. He was evil incarnate after all.

"I lied to so many people over the years. I even brainwashed a child to lure your family away." said Cold Heart.

"Family?" asked No Heart.

"I know what to do. I have things planned for you and your kin! I will force you to watch me slaughter your baby brother like a piglet in a slaughterhouse!" yelled Cold Heart.