Chapter 7: Dances with Shadows
Several Hours Previously…
"Well…" a cultured voice stated, with a slight snarl reverberating from his throat.
"Sir, we have found your brother's killer. It was 'The One Whom Dances with the Shadows'," a figure reported, bowing its head.
"Shadow… should've known a bleeding heart of a fool like him would do it, especially if he caught my brother turning someone into a stray," the one with the cultured voice stated with a scoff in his tone. "Do you know where he is?"
"That's the odd thing…" the servant said slowly "Apparently, for some reason, he is working for a superhero team called the Teen Titans, in Jump City, California."
"What?" the culture voice said in disbelief.
"I said…"
"I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID!" the man roared as the servant flinched.
"A superhero team…I'm surprised the council hasn't tried to kill him themselves," the man murmured. Being a superhero would bring WAY too much attention to oneself and far too many questions as to how he gained those powers. The ones who did do something that could expose the existence of vampires usually faced the council, and it never ended well for the guilty party. So why was Shadow still alive if he was in a position like that? It didn't make any sense.
"Unless… they know something the rest of the community doesn't know about," the voice mused to himself. The man thought it over for a few minutes before ultimately dismissing it. Whatever it was, it could wait until his brother killer was dealt with. Picking up a telephone he began dialing.
"Master who are you calling?" The servant asked curiously.
"Some old acquaintances of mine. I remember one of them mentioning that they were heading to Jump City on business," the man said as he waited for the person on the other end to answer. "Hello, Is this Creighton? It's me, Apparition. Listen, I have a job for you."
The party Ren was referring to was a pretty high-class one where the rich people of Jump City went to in order to mingle. Celebrities and business executives who made a lot of money were all in attendance. Heirs and heiresses of great fortunes were also there.
It was being held in a ballroom in one of Jump City's 5-Star hotels which was located in the rich part of time.
Shadow wasn't a fan of parties or crowds. He always did his best to avoid both unless it was important. To him, such frivolities were trivial. Just people showing off their wealth and status and with their noses in the air.
Ren had a way of getting into places like this, only in order to seduce the female guests so he could have them for bed and a meal. Shadow didn't really approve but there was little he could do to persuade his friend to behave otherwise. Shadow wasn't the type to interfere with someone else's life. This was Ren's choice and Shadow tolerated it at best, except when it got them into trouble. Shadow was always guilty by association with Ren whenever Ren did something that landed himself in trouble.
The limo Ren had rented stopped in front of the hotel. Again with his skills Ren managed to get them in. Raven was in a deep violet sleeveless dress that hugged her figure. It stopped down to her ankles. Starfire convinced her to get it but she never worn one before. The boys of the Titans were dressed in tuxedos. Cyborg and Beast Boy wore special rings that emitted a holographic disguise over themselves that made them look normal. Robin switched his mask for sunglasses to hide his eyes.
"I'm going to hit the buffet table," said Cyborg.
"Just don't cause a ruckus," warned Shadow, who was also dressed in a tuxedo. He tugged slightly in the collar. Another thing he hated was stuffy clothing such as this. He was just good as hiding the discomfort on his face. He was far too good at hiding his emotions.
"I'd rather hit the dance floor," said Ren. "How about you, Raven? Shall we dance?"
She gave him a deadpan stare and said, "No."
Ren chuckled, always enjoying a challenge. By the end of the night, they'd have their dance.
The lights of the chandelier hurt Shadow's eyes. He really hated these gatherings. They were simply pointless with no actual function. He only attended when necessary. He glanced around and he identified that some of the guests were vampires, vampires who'd gained fortune over the centuries and made names for themselves in the human world. They were not his business, unless they violated vampire laws which could lead to their exposure.
"So, not enjoying the scene?" Ren asked, with a glass of champagne in his hand.
"You know you can't taste it, right?" Shadow asked. Vampires as old as they were could only taste the flavor of blood. Mortal food and drink didn't hold any flavor for them or satisfy them.
"Maybe so, but I like how it feels when it slides down my throat," Ren smirked as he took a sip. Ren smirked "By the way, I have two questions for you: the first one is about that scar..." Ren glanced at the scar on Shadow's cheek, something that should have healed far quicker for a vampire unless they were hit with silver. "How did you get that? I know from experience that most humans and metahumans shouldn't be able to lay a hand on you."
"If you must know, it was a vampire hunter. He was almost as skilled as you are with a knife."
"Oh?" Ren asked curiously. "And how was he able to get the drop on you?"
"I was taking my fledgling to see the dentist, to make sure her fangs were coming along fine," Shadow began to explain but was interrupted by Ren.
"Say no more. I think I got the picture," Ren said. He had heard story of how vampire hunters would try to use a similar tactic to attack unsuspecting vampires. "So what happened to this guy?"
"I don't know. He got away," Shadow said, frowning, and still remembering what that hunter had done to his fledgling.
"Interesting," Ren smirked. It looked as if there might be a chance for him to face a decent human in combat in this century. The vampire hunters of today just thought that having a gun with silver bullets would be enough to take down a vampire. Such amateurs.
"Your first question has been answered. What's your second?" Shadow asked
"Oh well, it's nothing major. I'm just curious. What it's like being a teacher to your new fledgling?" Ren asked. Shadow eyebrows furrowed. The question seemed innocent enough but not the way he'd asked it…
"Ren, why are you really here?" Shadow questioned.
Ren knew he couldn't lie to Shadow and admitted, "It's that fledgling of yours. The Council shows…concerns."
Shadow's frown deepened.
"They wish to meet with you and her. They sent me to collect you until they all gather in person. Then I'm to escort you to the assigned meeting place," Ren explained further. "Personally, I hate being their lackey, but I'm doing this as a favor to Mistress. I owe her this much at least."
Shadow replied, "Going against the council is the same as a death wish, but I understand. Your loyalty comes first. I'd do the same, but my fledgling has yet to truly earn her fangs."
"She sure is attractive though," nodded Ren. "If you don't want her as a lover, I'll take her." He smiled, assuring his friend that he was only joking.
Shadow's glare was so cold and dark that Ren felt chills running up from the tips of his toes to the top of his head and back again. "Don't. You. Dare."
Ren pretended to shiver, "Oh, so scary. Don't worry; I have my eyes on a different prize."
Shadow caught Ren's glance towards Raven who seemed bored. She was like Shadow, finding such gatherings pointless and boring. "Good luck," Shadow responded. "She's like me. You have a better chance of getting a tan than a dance with her."
Ren grinned at Shadow's joke and how he could tell it with a straight face. "We'll see about that, my dear friend."
"I know you. You just want to drink her blood."
Ren shook his head. "No, that's not it. I haven't felt this way about someone in well over 30 years. There's something...different about her."
Shadow then glanced towards Robin and Starfire who were dancing. She looked happy enough. It pained him. It was so unfair. A girl like her wasn't meant for the life of a vampire. It was a painful eternity that was forced upon her. He caught her glance towards him. He turned away.
Shadow glanced towards Robin and Starfire who were dancing. She looked happy enough but then she glanced towards him. He turned away.
She wanted to dance with him.
Shadow reorganized his thoughts. Starfire was his fledgling, his student, and he was her teacher and master. Nothing more and nothing less. He cared for her like a parent, that was all.
Ren, however, knew better. "Ah, young love…" sighed Ren as he took a sip from his glass."Too bad you have the romantic prowess of a rock."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" glared Shadow.
"Just because your "brother" took the name of the ancient God of Love, doesn't make him the expert. In matters of the heart, he's got another 100 years to catch up with me."
"I hate it when you talk like that."
"I'm improving; you used to just hate it when I talked." He finished his drink before setting the glass on the table. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I see a lovely little bird that I would love to dance with." Ren fixed his tie before making his way toward Raven.
Shadow picked up a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. Sure, he could not taste it, but it at least served to divert his focus from Starfire and Robin. He then felt a tap on his arm and turned his eyes towards Beast Boy. "What?"
"I can't help from noticing-"
"None of your business," Shadow interrupted curtly.
"Dude, seriously, I know people think I'm not very bright, but I notice you looking at Star. You care about her."
"She's my fledgling and I am her master. Of course I care about her."
"I'm just saying, if you want to dance with her, go for it," Beast Boy encouraged. "Starfire really likes you."
Shadow glanced towards Robin and Starfire dancing silently. He'd fallen in love before, a long time ago, and it'd ended horribly. "I don't need sympathy."
"It isn't sympathy," Beast Boy countered. "What have you got to lose?"
Shadow didn't want to cut in between Robin and Starfire, but there was this odd urge to tell him he had to. He usually beat down these urges easily but with Starfire it was getting harder and harder to resist her. They spent most of their time together as teacher and student. This was one of the rare times those roles didn't apply to them.
Shadow murmured, "I can't believe I'm doing this," and strode towards Robin and Starfire.
Ren noticed what was happening and grinned. He was busy chatting Raven up and she just yawned, bored. "So my beautiful young lady, tell me about yourself."
"Not much to tell," replied Raven.
"Not the social type I see. Personally, I hate these kinds of parties, but they're a good way to make connections with the right people. It's not easy to support yourself for over 100 years."
Just as Shadow was about to reach Starfire and Robin, his path was blocked by a young blonde woman in a halter style dress with a skirt that reached down to her knees, but with high slits on either sides to expose her slender legs. Her lips were blood red and she had crystal blue eyes. Her hair was permed and she wore ruby earrings. She also wore gold bracelets.
"Why, hello, handsome," the young lady, appearing in her early twenties, flirted with him. "I haven't seen you here before."
"A friend invited me," he told her. "Now, if you'll excuse me…" She grabbed his arm.
"Now, why would you want a child while you could have a woman?" She gave him a smile that revealed her teeth and what she was by her longer and sharper canines. Shadow's eyes narrowed. "My name's Angel. How about you?"
"Annoyed," he responded before coldly shrugging her off. He was about to walk towards Starfire when another hand grabbed his shoulder, a far more masculine one.
"It's quite rude to ignore a woman asking for a dance especially one who asks from one whose title is 'The One Whom Dances with the Shadows'," the man said He was wearing a thick black jacket, green pants and gray boots. His face was covered in darkness thanks to his hood.
"Oh, Creighton," Angel identified.
Shadow glared at the two. "And how do you know my title?"
Angel, instead of answering him, just smirked as her compatriot quickly raised his fist and punched Shadow so hard he was sent flying and would've crashed right into wall if it wasn't for Starfire catching him.
"Are you alright, Master?" Starfire asked concern as she set him down to the ground as the Titans and Ren gathered near the two. Every occupant in the room turned to look at the two, either in fear or in the Titans and Ren's case in anger. Most of the vampires in the room took it as an excuse to leave before it got ugly.
"Oh dear it appears that we've caught everyone's attention," Angel said, sighing, "You really should control your strength. The plan was to knock him out and drag him discreetly outside"
"Now Angel, you know how I dislike holding back," Creighton told him.
"Hey!" Robin snapped causing the two to look at him "Who are you, and what do you two want with Shadow!-?"
"Heh, if you must know, human, we are assassins and we were hired to kill Shadow for a great grievance he did to our client," Creighton said
"Grievance?" Robin frowned.
"Yes… if you want the full details, I suggest asking him and that stray." Angel smirked. She and Creighton heard Starfire say master, and they heard from Apparition how Shadow might have caught his brother creating a stray just for kicks and put two and two together. Both vampires dodges an attack of shadow chains that would have stabbed them brutally. They quickly saw Shadow walking towards them
"Don't call my fledgling that," Shadow hissed.
Angel just grinned, "Ooh, so scary. Let's see how brave you are against an army." Just as she said that pink smoke seem to emanate from her and quickly started covering the room.
Everyone that didn't have vampiric blood in them were clutching onto their heads in pain.
"Friends, are you okay?" Starfire asked concern, fearing it was some kind of poison. She shrieked, however, as Cyborg whirled at her and swatted her away.
Shadow whirled around and was about to help his fledgling when a desk suddenly hit him causing him to stumble as Raven threw a desk at him.
Ren frowned as he used his greater speed to dodge Robin and Beast Boy. He analyzed, "I see…so this fog is some kind of enhanced mind control technique."
"Correct. Feel honored that you have the chance to experience the power Angel of the Pheromones. While it doesn't work on vampire, it does wonders on humans," Angel boasted, still smiling.
"In that case, all we have to do to stop this is to kill you," Shadow said as he and Ren charged when Creighton intercepted them.
"Like I would let you," Creighton growled as he slammed them so hard into the ground they crashed through the floor and into the level below. Creighton quickly follow them down.
"Master!" Starfire shouted in concern as she was about to go down to assist him when suddenly the brainwashed people surrounded her. "Let me through, please!"
"I'm afraid your opponent is me, little stray," Angel said.
Both Shadow and Ren were slowly getting up from the ground of the lower level.
"Okay, I really need to know, what you and your fledgling did to piss these guys off. Did you do something similar to the Czar thing?" Ren asked
"No, but I can take a guess," Shadow frowned as Creighton landed before them. He spoke to Creighton, "Before we begin, I need to know about this 'grievance'. Was it because of a death of a vampire a couple of weeks ago?"
"Why yes it was. I'm surprised it took you such a long time to figure it out. Yes, I'm working for the brother of the vampire you killed in cold blood," Creighton answered.
"That man turned someone innocent against her will and was planning on letting her go feral," Shadow argued.
"Maybe so, but that doesn't give you an excuse to kill that guy, especially since his brother a good business associate of mine," Creighton retorted.
"Wait, so you're doing this to avenge that guy?" Ren asked.
"Not really. I find that guy to be a stupid dipshit who likes blood far too much and his brother shares the same sentiments. But his brother said that even if he was an idiot he was still family. Plus he's paying us quite a nice sum." Creighton said
"Unfortunately, I think I can understand the part about family loyalty," Shadow admitted while sighing as an image of his annoying Casanova of a brother popped up in his head.
"But enough talk! It's time to get back into the fight!" Creighton roared while rushing forward, raising both fist to punch Shadow and Ren. However, unlike the first time, Shadow and Ren dodged the attack. Shadow quickly created claws made of shadow and quickly tried for a decapitation blow which Creighton ducked. Ren pulled out a knife and began to rapidly slash on Creighton chest causing him to grunt, but it sounded more out of annoyance than pain. He slapped the knife out of Ren's hand before he quickly delivered a side kick that sent Ren flying to the side, not aware that Shadow had taken a step back. He let Ren distract Creighton as he prepared a special attack. He wanted to end this fight quickly so that he could go back up topside to help Starfire.
A fully-charged, skull-shaped energy ball of darkness burst from Shadow's hands with an air-bursting boom and flew like a bullet towards Creighton. When it finally hit, there was an explosion that sent dust and debris everywhere.
When the smoke cleared both vampires eyes widened to see the man still standing. His clothing was shredded but that wasn't what shocked them. It was his physical appearance that was the cause for surprise. He was completely bald and had two blood-shot eyes with the whites of his eyes colored pure black. His feet seem to have metallic hooks for toes, and finally his mouth was full of sharp fangs, looking as if they were made of…
"Iron…" Shadow frowned.
"Great, he's a Sasabonsam," Ren muttered. Both knew it is very rare to see a vampire who developed metal-based abilities due to a vampire's natural weakness towards silver. However, when a vampire did develop these abilities they could be easily spotted by the simple fact that they seemed to develop teeth made of iron with other parts of the body becoming iron as well. Some considered becoming a Sasabonsam an honor because of the myth of Iron. Others considered it a curse since it was much harder to hide their bodies. But to those who had to fight one, they find the experience life-threatening since a Sasabonsam was physically the strongest of the vampire race.
Creighton grinned darkly as he rushed towards Ren, delivering a fist into his mouth. It connected with devastating impact as Ren was sent spiraling backwards and onto his backside. Creighton followed up by trying to send a kick into Shadow's chin, but Shadow was able to block it and grimaced as he felt the iron hooks digging deeply into his flesh, hurting his hands in the process.
Creighton snarled as he tried once more to kick Shadow, but Ren grabbed his foot and forced the Sasabonsam crashing to the ground. Shadow quickly helped Ren up as Creighton got up with bloodlust in his eyes.
"Looks like we better go all out with this guy, eh shadow?" Ren asked, spitting blood to the ground before pulling out two knives.
"Looks like it," Shadow agreed as he started to use the shadows for his advantage.
Meanwhile, back topside…
"I'm surprised that even a vampire as strange as you is still alive," Angel remarked asStarfire panted tiredly. It was bad enough that she had to fight to only knock out the civilians with restrained strength, but now she had to fight the rest of the Titans by herself. "But even with that vampire as your teacher, you are still a stray. Sooner or later you and your master will die. Maybe I could have fun with his body first before I have my Creighton kill him."
At hearing these words, Starfire glared angrily at her. "I won't lose to you! And my Master and friend Ren will not be defeated by this Creighton!"
"I'm afraid that's not up to you, sweetheart," Angel smirked. Looking at Beast Boy, she snapped her fingers and pointed at Starfire. He nodded as he changed into a triceratops and attempted to nail Starfire with his horns. Starfire however rolled to the side, making Beast Boy miss, and almost knock himself off balance. The brainwashed shape-shifter quickly corrected his momentum and redirected his tail in her path. Raven also acted by flying in the air and started levitating the furniture before sending them flying towards Starfire.
However, Starfire was ready for this. Quickly grabbing the tail, she swung Beast Boy and threw him. He easily demolished the furniture with his size before he hit Raven. Luckily, he demorphed at the last second and sent both of them crashing through the ceiling. Mentally apologizing to both her friends, she quickly dodged Cyborg's cannon blasts as he and Robin rushed forward. Starfire close her eyes and began easily blocking each of the two males' attacks, using the skills she'd learnt from her master to defend herself before she used her fist to violently punch Cyborg hard enough to definitely knock the air out of him and side sweep Robin to the floor and knocking him
Angel gulped "T-take her down!" she shouted. The brainwashed people charged forward only to be taken down by Starfire. 'What the hell? I was defeating her a moment ago! When did she get that good that fast?' Angel thought as Starfire sent the last one crashing to the ground.
"There no one left for you to manipulate. Please surrender," Starfire said.
Angel glared at the Tamarenian. "There is no way I'm surrendering to a stinking stray!" She threw a fist towards Starfire's face only for Starfire to catch. She snarled darkly as she began to squeeze tightly. Angel face began to contort in pain as she kicked Starfire away. Clutching her right hand in pain, it felt as if all the bones in that hand were completely broken.
"You damn bitch!" Angel roared as she rushed Star only to scream in pain as emerald energy began slamming into her in rapid succession causing her to scream in pain.
"I am not a mere stray as you believe! I am a proud vampire AND a Tamaranean warrior!" Starfire declared and with a roar she flew at Angel.
Creighton's nostrils flared as he took a deep, shivering breath of air. Despite how strong he was physically, Shadow and Ren were slowly beginning to whittle away his skin causing small but actual damage.
Before he could once again go on the attack he stopped as he heard Angel began screaming in pain. Creighton frowned in annoyance, before jumping up quickly back to the party floor. Quickly spotting Starfire blasting at Angel, not giving her a chance to retaliate, he rushed at Starfire and kicked her violently away.
"Shit, what took you so long…?" Angel groaned as she moved away from the wall while clutching her hand painfully. Creighton frowned. He'd warned Angel that she'd been relying far too much on her pheromones and not on her other vampiric abilities. He also noticed that Ren and Shadow quickly getting back into the room and flanking Starfire.
"it appears that we must retreat at the moment," Creighton said. Before Angel could protest Creighton stated, "Listen, we may have failed this one, but next time we will get them."
Angel seemed to hesitate before nodding. Before the three good vampires could do anything. Creighton pulled out something from his still workable pants and threw them to the ground causing smoke to explode, completely covering the two. When it cleared, both Angel and Creighton were nowhere to be seen.
"They're gone," Starfire said.
"Heh, good riddance is what I say," Ren said.
Shadow ignored the two as he began walking forward and helped Cyborg backto his feet. "If you two are done talking about the enemy, I think we should help these people by taking them to the hospital," Shadow said, while he was annoyed that those two vampires had gotren away, he felt that both the Titans and the innocent victims of Angel's pheromones should be helped first.
"Yes Master!" Starfire nodded quickly as she flew up to check if Beast Boy and Raven were okay.
"Man, I hate to be the one to have to explain to these guys what happened," Ren muttered as he too began checking to see if people were okay.
Meanwhile, in an undisclosed location, a meeting was taking place.
"Good news. Ren has managed to make contact with Shadow and this strange fledgling safely according to my sources," a male said calmly to the two other occupants in the room.
"That is good to hear, Poison Carrion," the only woman in the room said.
"Bah, who cares about him? Any news on the other members of the council?" another man snapped.
"Well, Lady Soothsayer should be arriving in a few weeks. Still, no word on the other two, Lord of the Bloodshed," the first male said.
"What's taking them so long? They should know that we need to focus on this issue of that fledgling," the second man growled.
"Patience," the woman said calmly as the two turned to her. "You forget that while they are members of the council they do live in different parts of the world. They will come and when they do, we will handle this matter the right way."
"Well said, Lady Messiah," Poison Carrion said as Lord Bloodshed just muttered under his breath.
'Shadow, I do hope you and your fledgling will be ready when the time comes,' Lady Messiah thought to herself.
Author's Notes:
The sasabonsam is a vampire-like folkloric being from West Africa. It belongs to the folklore of the Ashanti of southern Ghana, as well as Côte d'Ivoire and Togo. It is said to have iron teeth and iron hooks for feet and to live in trees, attacking from above
Iron play a role in mythology, for you see human blood smells of the iron of which it is largely constituted, and blood in many traditions is equated with the life-force, so iron and minerals have been considered to be the blood or life-force of the Earth
This was written with help from Warlord-Xana. Anyway, pls enjoy!