A/N: Wow, my first fanfic uploaded here. Set after Mister Monday, spoilers for that book only. Ah, the joys of fanfic writing... you get to make characters go mad and try to kill everyone! XD Please R&R.

Shadows at Dusk

Trailing behind, hidden in the shadows. That is my place now.

I hate it.

I was our master's most trusted advisor. I was the one to stand at Monday's right hand, I was the one to defend the Lower House where he could not. By rights, I was the most powerful among our siblings. By rights. The rights the Architect had given us. I was Monday's Noon, greatest of the Lower House!

And now, thanks to that fool of a Will and its idiotic mortal Heir, I'm left with even less authority, less power than that little Piper's brat, the one who now calls herself Monday's Tierce. I'm left with my powers crippled, a literal shadow of my former self.

Trailing in the shadows. I am forced to look on as that arrogant brother of mine, Dusk, and our dim-witted sister continue blissfully on as I am left behind, utterly forgotten.

Dusk tells me I am to blame. He tells me that I followed Lord Monday when I should have betrayed him, in favor of the Architect and her Will. Ha! So I am to blame for this? He forgets. But I remember how quickly Dusk stepped forward to take the position that was rightfully mine. I did not relinquish my position. I am loyal to the wielder of the First Key. The Will probably would have had me executed, the same fate it had planned for my master. But the Heir, he should have known. Should have known that I would be true to the First Key's bearer, rather than Dusk, that pitiful, weak fool who will be quick to turn should things in the Lower House not go his way.

Dusk… this is his fault… all his fault… and I hate him for it.

I hate him!

And there will be a vengeance.

The Will shall be broken once more – crushed, fragmented, never to be restored. Its supposed True Heir will fall. And as I grasp the First Key in my hands, taking up command of the Lower House… then Dusk will die. Painfully, slowly, suffering as he made me suffer… he will die and be lost to Nothing.

And I will be content.