Page 60 of Spears and Shadows (Defenders of the Light)
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Nora was disappointedto find that coming to after being knocked unconscious did not get any less unpleasant the more you did it. In fact, this time was definitely worse than waking up in a hospital bed after her prior encounter with the Shadows. This was mostly because she was facedown on hard, cold concrete. As she stirred, the rough pavement under her scraped against her cheek, and she groaned as her body protested her positioning on such an unforgiving surface.
The awareness of her discomfort was followed swiftly by memories of what had happened prior to her blow to the head. Remembering the trap she was supposed to be setting, she attempted to scrabble into a more dignified position, only to find that she was no longer in the museum at all. Instead, she appeared to be in a concrete tunnel, and she had the distinct impression that she was underground. It was a small space with thick pillars on one side, and she could hear traffic on the other side. She must have somehow gotten to Lower Wacker, she thought in confusion before muttering some creative expletives she had borrowed from Adam under her breath.
“Such a filthy mouth for somebody who serves the Light.”
Nora spun around on the ground to locate the source of the voice. Behind her, the outline of a man stood in the gloomy arch leading out of the space.
“Who are you?” The question was out of her mouth before she could think. She grimaced, knowing the man’s identity was relatively clear from his comment and the circumstances leading up to her awakening.
“I’m exactly who you expected to fall into your trap, although it was really my trap all along.”
“What second rate heist movie did you steal that line from?” Nora snapped, although she had to admit that she was slightly off balance.
“Oh, don’t be bitter that I knew you would be stupid enough to try a plan like this. I knew all you would need was a little push in the right direction, and the apparent death of poor unfortunate Leo did the trick.” The man’s voice was somehow familiar sounding, but it was unnaturally modulated, sounding almost like each word was too well enunciated for somebody who spoke the language on a regular basis. The entire effect served to make Nora even more anxious than she already was.
“If this is your trap, then why am I not restrained?” Nora shot back, only to have to stop herself from slapping her hand to her face. There was apparently no end to her ill-advised questions.
The shadowy silhouette of the man shrugged one shoulder in a soundless motion.
“Because it’s impolite to tie up your guests and not very conducive to good conversation.”
She got to her feet as she responded, extremely uncomfortable being on the ground as her captor loomed above her, even if he was keeping his distance for now.
“Good conversation?” Nora prompted, trying to buy herself time.
“Of course. That’s why I brought you here. So we could chat without being interrupted by a group of idiots with spears.”
Nora remembered Adam’s words of warning. She tried to surreptitiously pat her jacket to see if the dagger he had given her was still hidden in her inner pocket. Apparently, her movement was not as subtle as she hoped it would be.
“I’m hurt that you would instantly reach for your weapon when I’ve shown no intention to harm you. I assure you, though, I am no petty thief. I did not take your sentimental keepsake from you.”
As the man spoke, he leaned sideways to prop against the wall to his left, leaving a gap on his other side. Nora made the split-second decision that this was her moment, hoping that if the decision was rash enough to surprise her that it would be unexpected enough to catch her captor off guard. As she dashed towards the gap to the man’s side, she lowered her front shoulder as Ezra had taught her, hoping to bowl the man over with the force from her running start should he attempt to step into her path. The man didn’t get in the way at all, though, instead turning sideways as if to let her pass. Just as she came level with him, his arm shot out with unnatural speed and grabbed her wrist in a vice grip, yanking her shoulder back and stopping her in her tracks.
Nora screeched in his grasp, trying to stay on her feet instead of collapsing to her knees in pain. His hand was scorching hot, tight, and burned into her skin. Thankfully, he threw her backwards almost immediately, releasing his hold on her as she tripped and fell onto her back where she’d started.
“That is no way to treat somebody who has waited so long to make your acquaintance,” the man said, stepping forward so now he did loom over her where she was sprawled on the ground. As he came closer, the scant light from the lamps illuminating the underground street filtering through the pillars finally revealed his face to her. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled at the sight.
It was Leo, but somehow, not Leo at all. His skin was too smooth, and his eyes were a piercing blue where Leo’s had always been dull. Leo’s face looked as if somebody had read a description of what he looked like and had built it to those exact specifications with no thought for realism. Everything about the man was so perfectly human shaped that she could tell instantly that he could not possibly be one at all. This was an agent of the Shadow.
“I forgot to mention earlier,” the agent said as he picked an invisible piece of lint off his immaculate suit. “I didn’t tie you up because I don’t need to. “
“You’re— you’re dead, though…”
He tilted his head. “It’s true that Leo died, but I’m not really Leo. I have become more than human. I simply killed the humanity that was left, and now my…transformation is complete.”
“Transformation?”
Leo held up one too-perfectly manicured hand and examined it. “As you can tell, I’m no longer really the Leo you knew. His jealousy and self-loathing were easy to twist. Manipulating him into poisoning you was child’s play. Leo is now nothing more than a ball of his most negative emotions. It fuels me, and I simply wear him as a skin.”
The agent paused as Nora gagged in horror.
“You know,” he continued as if he were commenting on the weather, “it’s so much more fun when I wear the skin of a close friend instead of an enemy. Betrayal is so much sweeter when it comes from somebody we care about. But alas, I was in a hurry, and it is much harder to corrupt those who don’t already harbor some amount of hatred. So, I will have to wear the face of your rival while we have our little chat.”
“What do you want to talk about?” Nora asked. If she could stall him for long enough, maybe the attack team could still track her here.
“Whatever you want to know.”
