Hunted

[Shadows' Mirage]

“Increase you speed Mira.” Shanoria pressed on in somewhat of a coaching attitude, the impression of aggravation peering out of her voice.

“I’m movin’ as fas’ as I can.” I snapped back as my airflow seemed to shorten with each step.

This was our day of training; Shanoria had promised me that she would help me to learn to control the new power that I had received recently. I still had problems with the power she lent me, let alone having to deal with this new one, that popped up out of nowhere. I couldn’t complain though, it was mines, this was my own.

Running through the forest was exhilarating. I wasn’t on any type of trail, just running through the trees, dodging them as they came close, speed and agility, something that I had lost touch with, but Sha felt that it was something that I had to master. Everything was moving at a speed to where all I could see were streaks out of my peripheral nothing really held a form, just a blur of colors as they all blended together. How fast was I moving?

“There’s an oak tree about a mile away, don’t dodge it.” stated Shanoria.

“Are you insane?” I harped back, “you want me to run into it?”

“No Mira, I want you to use what is natural…and get it the hell out of your way.”

For a moment I thought, what the hell is this demon talking about. Then I realized, she wanted me to use my new power. No better way to learn to control it than be put in a seemingly unchanging situation, I guess.

“Sometimes, you aren’t going to be able to dodge and, you might just have to go through it.” She coached. “There is another not even five yards behind it, think fast…5 seconds, make a choice…”

Closing my eyes I threw my hand forward as I felt my power escape, I opened them to see the tree not even a foot in front of me, as everything seemed to slow down, the colors of the forest still blending together, just…time, it seemed to stop. Closing my hand into a fist, I crushed the oak in front of me as pieces of wood splintered outward in a star bursting manner. I threw my arm to the right, uprooting the tree, clearing my path. Point 10 seconds think faster tree number two, figuring I would revert back to what I knew better than all of these powers I had now, I threw my fist back in front of me, connecting with the tree in front of me as I let out a scream. The tree exploded as bark and leaves flew and floated through the air, standing there I let the debris rain down on me.

“Damn girly” Shanoria laughed “I really didn’t expect that, that was nice, there is hope for you yet.”

“That wasn’t my normal jab” I replied back trying to catch my breath.

“I know, you wrapped a little bit of your new power around that one.”

“How?”

“I thought all I could do was fore-see and move things.”

“Hmmm, yea…well you did move both of those trees.”

Smiling I dropped down to the ground, so far, just today, I had gained so much more knowhow to the powers that I could control. It was, enlightening. With a sigh I flopped back on the ground, way to go Mira, I thought.

“I don’t know why you are laying down, we have more training.” The two toned voice pierced my mind.

“Huh, come on Sha, please…just 5 minutes.” I wined

“Fine you big baby, but don’t think for a second you aren’t making this up, your slowing up progress.”

Yea, yea, I thought. I understood her wanting to train me and ensure that I could control my powers on reflexive instinct and not just emotion. This here though, was just getting a little intense. It was like she was training me for something in particular, was she afraid that he was coming for me, The Hunter.

“Did you use your foresight on that one?” She asked

“At the end, I didn’t have to use it at the beginning; you told me the trees were coming.” I laughed. “But, after the first one, I had to…the second tree was closer than you said, not to mention, I was moving a little faster.”

“Hmm, that’s good Mira, that’s really good.”

“Thank you”

“Ok, breaks over, stand up” she commanded.

With a grunt I slowly raised my back off the ground. “That was the fastest five minutes of my life” exhaling I muttered lifting to my knees then finally standing to my feet. “What now?” I asked hands on my hips and attitude in my voice.

“Extend your left hand forward.”

“What?”

“Extend it forward girl, what’s with the questions.” Shanoria angrily snapped

Gosh, so angry…what’s with you, it’s not like you are the one destroying yourself right now, I thought as I followed her order, extending my left hand forward. I wonder what was going to happen now. I felt a slight tickle move from the tips of my fingers to the palm of my hand; it was the pins and needles feel, somewhat of a tickle with slight pain. Feeling the palm of my hand start to warm, as though I had a hand warmer there, I saw dark matter start to materialize. It was the usual grayish black fog, nothing really solid about it as it somewhat floated there.

“Ok…now what.” I said as I looked at the fog.

“Throw it”

“Throw it?”

“Yes, throw it.”

Chuckling I answered, “Now how the hell am I supposed to through fog, that doesn’t make sense.”

I could hear Shanoria grow more restless, “Focus the energy around it…making it a solid, making it expand, making it turn into a weapon, making it do whatever the hell you want to Mira. This time, solidify it, and throw it.”

“O…k” I replied thinking about her words, this was definitely something new to try…sure…why not, I’ll do it. I concentrated on the fog in the middle of my palm, looking at it as it spiraled around my hand. I could see a purplish colored aura form around it; it was similar to the purple field that encompassed my fist before I hit the tree. Throw it, I thought, stepping forward resembling a pitcher launching off the mound, I released the fog, flying about 10 feet it dissipated into the air.

“Damn it”

“Well it went farther than I expected, we will continue to work on it…ok” Shanoria replied with reassurance in her voice.

“K”

“You’re progressing pretty well.”

“You think so.”

“Yea, I do…you have a lot to prepare for…”

“What are you talking about Sha?” I asked as all sorts of thoughts rushed my mind, maybe she was worried about the Demon hunter coming after us, it did seem rational, I mean, it did happen to her before, that is how she lost Nivea’.

“You just have a lot to prepare for, not to mention, how are you going to protect your friends at Saint Joe’s in this weakened state.”

“Friends?” I chuckled “That’s funny”

Shanoria sighed “Ok, next step, we are going to learn how to throw the fog farther, then I will teach you how to make it expand when it hits a target, after you’ve thrown it, to either holding them in place, or screwing up their vision, after that…I’m gonna teach you how to turn it into weapons.”

“Cool” I said smiling, then reality hit “We aren’t doing this today are we” I asked nervously.

“No, you’re done for the day; maybe you can go and hang out with your friends.” She mocked.

“There you go with that word again” I laughed.

“Let’s go, this forest is starting to feel unnerving.”

“Ok” I said as I began to run out of the forest.

Off in the distance, in a darker area a shadow peered off in the forest. Slowly it rose from the forest floor, taking a form, taking that form. It said nothing, just stood there and watched as Mirage sped out of the forest.

[Shadows' Mirage]

“Versus”

Power control, I had been going at it, non-stop lately. I almost have it down to an art, ok, well not almost, but I’m a hell of a lot better off than I was at one point and time. Grabbing my gym bag out the trunk of my car, I closed it, proceeding to the gym that was located across the street from the parking area.

Looking at the building, my eyes following its contour from the foundation all the way to the roof, it had been a while since I’d been here last. All the training Shanoria had me doing gave me less time to train in MY art, the art of hand to hand combat.

Entering the building I could smell sweat in the air, mixed with leather of body bags and speed bags, even that rubber smell of the grappling mat that sat off in the corner of the room. As a smile crept across my face, taking a deep breath of the air, I realized, yes; it has been forever, since I had been here, and I missed it dearly.

“Hey Smitts” I said, waving to the slightly aged man sitting behind the window in the office off to my right. He just looked up at me, and nodded. The look in his eyes saying, where the hell have you been, a smile coming across his face, showing creases at the corners of his mouth. Other than that, guessing he was over 65 would have been hard, seeing as the only other wrinkles on his face were on his forehead. His full head of golden straight hair also hid his age.

“It’s been a while Miss Blue, where have you been?” He asked as he tossed a towel at me through the open office window.

“Training.” I answered back catching the towel then taking my gym bag off placing it on the ground. Taking my jacket off I placed it on the table that sat off to my left, my undershirt was a tight white tank top, which I had cut to fall right above the roll at the top of my black sweatpants, the bottoms of the pant legs pulled up just below my knee, the shirt revealing my naval slightly. Opening up my bag, I grabbed one of my wraps and began to wrap up my left hand and wrist. Smitts was still talking to me as I geared up to work out. Disappointment in his voice as he asked what happened to me training at his gym. I could tell he missed me being around; he definitely needed the company, which was something he didn’t usually get.

“I got more bags for you Miss Blue, see” he said pointing at all the new boxing bags. Smiling I just answered, telling him that I’ll try not to destroy these.

“I’ll be at the speed bag if you need me Smitts.” I told him finishing up my right hand. I didn’t want to be rude, but I was excited about getting back to work on my fighting styles. I guess I could thank Orchid for teaching me these different styles. Without them I wouldn’t be as good as I am now. Closing my fists and reopening them checking to ensure there was still some sort of flexibility in my hands and I hadn’t wrapped them too tight, I walk over to the bag. Smitts just looks at me and smiles, and I return a wink, walking over to the speed bag.

Loosening up I just started with single jabs from each fist, counting as each fist connects with the bag, 1-2, 1-2, left-right, left-right. Somewhat in a rhythm as I started off slower than usual, the bag connected with the wood behind it, sending itself back forward to connect with my fists. I could hear music begin to rise in volume in the background. That was dear old Smitts; he knew what I liked to train to as he turned up one of my favorite bands ‘Clutch’, guess it was coincidental that the song blasting through the speakers in the corners of the gym was “Drifter”. Smiling all I could think was, Smitts must not want these new bags to hang around the gym for too long, speeding up the rhythmatic thud of the speed bag it went from what seemed like a single bass tap, to the double bass, of a drum. Changing rotation and changing the pattern as I continue from left-right, left-right to left-right, right-left, left-right and so on. I continued, speeding up more and more, this wasn’t even the warm up.

Time went by, and I was drenched from head to toe in sweat, my hair had completely come out of the braid that I put it in before coming to the gym. After the speed bag I went over to the open mat and just worked on my ABC’s something that helped me with dodging a punch, and also throwing a jab at the perfect opportunity. Now, I’m at the body bag. Throwing a quick jab I step back, changing up my stance, from a boxer’s stance to a kick boxer’s stance. Moving in on the bag I dodge as though dodging a straight jab, then connecting to the right side of the bag with a low right hook; quickly grabbing the bag and thrusting my left knee into the left side of it, the bag bending over my knee, then moving away from me as I let go and it slides down the railing it was attached to. Backing away I work on regaining my breathe; tired from the 2 hour work out, I walk over to the table to grab my water bottle.

“Just 2 hours today blue.” Smitts asked with a smirk on his face. He always told me that my 5 hour workouts were going to eventually catch up to me.

“I wish, I still have to work on capoeira.” I said sighing, then holding the water bottle up to my mouth squeezing out its contents. Then from there I have to work on the steps of grappling since I don’t really have a partner to do these things with. It made training a little more…aggravating with certain styles.

“You need a partner chicky”

“You’re telling me.”

Smitts just smiled, he knew that was something that I wouldn’t look for, and even though I knew I needed one. I guess sometimes I liked working alone, but I was lacking in those two areas of my fighting because of the fact that I didn’t have a sparring partner. Walking over to the mat, I roll my eyes at Smitts; I hated it when he was right.

Stretching out before I began this work out, I heard Shanoria’s voice echo in my head. She couldn’t have been serious; she wants to spar with me. The thought of it bringing a smile to my face, for some reason I thought that it would be an easy win. She did have control of the shadows, but this was hand to hand, that was my area of expertise in our little arrangement. Replying back to her, I informed her that this would be full go, no holding back. I wasn’t taking anything easy.

“That is understandable” she spoke, “You too should keep that in mind.”

Laughing I asked her how were we going to do this. I was ready, I could finally get my hands on her, and this feeling was bliss. Maybe it was because I was finally getting that void filled that my sister once stood in, or maybe it was because I could now, finally beat Shas’ face in for embarrassing me in public so much. Another smile spread across my face as I agreed to her idea of me entering my own mind again to come face to face with her. This time, there would be no questions asked, just, fists being thrown. Sitting down on the mat I prepared myself to enter into my mind.

“Let’s go Sha” I say with a smile.

[Shadows' Mirage]

“Versus” pt 2


Why was I so about this? I mean really, what was the purpose. Why did I bare a smile on my face as I stood across from the demon within me? It was a square off, and it was her versus I; The Demon versus The Angel.

She looked at me smiling standing there in front of me, her lips breaking apart to ask why I was so happy. In all reality, that was an answer that I still couldn’t honestly give her. I just wanted this more than anything. Maybe it was more of, I wanted to make sure that I was still in charge, no, it was that I wanted know that I was still in charge, and I wanted her to know it too. Her powers were a great asset, but this was still me. I was still strong, this was my proving ground, and I was going to give her hell.

Sliding my left foot slightly forward, I took a stance, not that of a boxers or a kick boxers, but another. I figured I didn’t have to get serious, Shanoria never showed any type of knowledge in hand to hand combat, she would just shroud my fists, giving me a tad bit more power, so this would be easy. She on the other hand, didn’t take any sort of fighting position; she just stood there, looking at me, smiling to reveal a fang. Either she thought that I would be no sort of competition for her, or she KNEW that I wouldn’t be. That pissed me off; it made me think that she didn’t feel threatened, not in the least bit and that brought out anger, the same anger that tugged at me, the unanswered anger; the anger that hit me the day I was in Orchids apartment. It fueled me, and I had no fucking idea where it fueled from.

“You’re all stance’d up, and you have no idea what the standards are, shouldn’t you find that out first before you attack.” She said, the smile still lingering on her face, she was way to fucking confident, I had to calm myself.

“You might want to listen first, and then we can be on our way”

Unsetting myself from the stance I walked over to her, asking what was the deal, how would we go about this. Her answer unsettled me a little, and honestly, it seemed rather unfair, she uttered the idea that, she would use her powers, but I had to fight hand to hand. Yelling back at her I made sure that she knew how I felt about the situation. This was a spar, it was hand to hand, and that was the whole purpose of me even doing this. Her eyes doing the usual ripple she smirked and reminded me of what I said prior, about it being full go, about not holding anything back. Dammit, I shouldn’t have opened my mouth. With her using powers, she wasn’t threatened, this would be easy for her, all she had to do was keep me at bay, and all of her powers did that.

“Training” She said as she placed her hand on my shoulder, reminding me that hand to hand was my forte. But, this training would prepare me for anything, she was going all out, and she was allowing me to do the same. It was just up to me how I went about it, it would cause me to think, being a close range fighter, how do I get in close to someone that can keep me away from them.

Getting my attention she asked if I was ready. I was, I was just a lot less pumped than what I was before, but still I had to fight. If I didn’t, she would make this hell for me. Ushering me to go and take my position, she turned away from me. Once getting to my spot I yelled ready, she turned to me slowly.

“I hope that you are” she boasted shrouding her fists in the fog. Exhaling I took a stance, thinking, I knew that I would have to be fast, I would have to hit hard once I got into proximity, and I would have to do this without being touched. I would have to use every fighting style that I had learned from Orchid, the styles that I asked her to show me, due to the similarities of all of them having to be close to the target, to use. Capoeira, Jujitsu, and Kick-boxing were what she showed me, regular boxing that was my own. My mind was in the zone, I was as ready as I would ever be. I just had to keep my anger at bay, or it would blind me, and Sha would then beat the shit out of me. I had to make sure that I was thinking on my feet, thinking while I moved; maybe that was her plan from the gate.

Yelling over to me, Shanoria laughed, boasting that she would make this quick and that there was no need for me to worry. Smiling, the competitive spirit in me rose again. Whatever I shouted back at her, launching myself at her. Was it smart for me to attack first, guess it was too late to think about that now.

Launching the fog towards me, faster than I had ever thrown it myself, she caused me to dodge, adverting me from my path as I jumped artfully rolling side over side to my right, landing as I slid on my hands and knees a couple of feet. She stood there smiling, she was keeping me at bay, and by doing so, she was controlling the tempo, she had the upper hand, I had to change that.

Throwing numerous amounts of shadow bolts at me, she caused me to leave the position that I was in dodging, flipping, and rolling to get out of the way. If things kept going at this rate, I would lose for sure. I had to think fast, and while thinking, avoid being blasted by Sha and her bolts. Fun was out the window now, running down the street with easy. This was proving to be more of a challenge than I expected.

“You can keep running all day Mira, eventually I’m going to move off the defensive.”

Defensive, you’ve gotta be shittin’ me, this was defense for her, I thought, ducking behind a boulder as shadow fog ripped the top of it off, ruble showering down over me. If this was defense, I had to get in close to her, before she decided to go on the offensive. Think Mira, what do I have, that I can use to get to her, what is one of my better traits.

It was hard to think, as my only line of protection kept being bombarded by Sha, the deep thumps and vibrations echoing on. What do I have? I asked myself. Speed, duh, that was the one and only thing that I had that gave me the advantage with anyone that I fought; speed, and I needed to use it now, or find a new hiding spot.

“I hope you’re ready” I whispered under my breath, still unclear if it was myself I was asking, or Shanoria. Moving out from behind the rock, I threw myself at her, using my one and only weapon that I had at my disposal. I could see the smile come over her face as she hurdled more bolts at me, I was in a dead collision course with her, and once again I had sped up to the point to where my peripheral saw nothing but blurs of color as they all blended in. To the front of me it was tunnel vision as I was focusing in on Sha and her energy, as she cast them at me. Dodging, I stayed on path; nothing was going to throw me off this time.

One powerful punch, that’s all I needed, and it was endgame for her. That’s what I thought as I reached her, throwing a right hook at her face. It connected, no…it didn’t. She just dissipated my fist cutting through the fog that formed her like a hot knife through butter. Whipping around I slid a couple of yards, coming to a stop.

“Fuck, shadow mist.” I totally forgot that she could do that, project an image of herself using the shadows; I guess possessing a ninja for 400 years could teach nice tricks like that. Staying on my guard, I looked around, left to right, right to left, up and down. She was nowhere in sight, but, her voice was, as she echoed out of nothing to me, proclaiming how nice my work was, and how my timing could have been…better.

The word better, reverberating from behind me; when did she get there, coldness creeping over me, fear, it finally dawned on me; I was way in over my head. Turning around slowly to meet her, she smiled at me, placing her hands to my stomach. This feeling, this pressure, what was it; it felt as though I just had hundreds of needles shot at me through a shotgun.

My face cringing and my body folding over in pain, I flew backward, away from her, the fog trailing me as I sailed through the air, to meet the ground at least 50 yards away. My head banging off the rocks as I slid back farther, the sound of gravel being moved echoing in my ear. Moving wasn’t my first option, as I laid there, a weird metallic taste filling my mouth, I spit it out, slowly rolling over, propping myself up, with what strength I did have at the moment.

Wiping away at my corner of my mouth, I looked at the back of my hand, blood. This was no longer a spar, first blood had been drawn, spitting the remnants out of my mouth, I pushed myself up to my knees, settling for a bit before slowly swaying back and forth to try and come to my feet. She was going all out, and I had to too, looking at her, she was no longer smiling. The expression she wore now was that of anger, disappointment, she peered at me as though, I was an enemy. Wiping my mouth again, I look at her, rage filling me as my heart sped up. I could feel it beating through my chest. She was going all out, and yes, at first that was my idea too, but blood, was not in the program. She has gotten serious; I guess it’s about time I do the same.

[Shadows' Mirage]

“Versus” pt 3


From the outside looking in, I’m sure that this didn’t look too well; a girl sitting still in one place, blood rolling down her chin. Smitts was used to seeing me trance out in meditation, but I am sure the blood took him by surprise to say the least. He would take precaution I’m sure, waking me if things seem to get any worse off, well, that is if he wasn’t sleep himself.

Shanoria had made it known, that this was no game, and she was coming at me full force. It was just me that was still playing. That, was about to go away. Taking a stance I prepared myself to get ready to fight for what seemed like my life. It was time to go again, this time I would be smarter about my decisions.

Shanoria still wasn’t smiling, her eyes even more piercing. For the first time, she took a stance, a stance that I didn’t recognize. Her left foot slightly out to the front, crossed over her right, her left arm out forward almost inviting me to come to her, her right arm behind her. This whole fight from the beginning had been unexpected, wonder why I’m surprised now.

“I’m still going to use my powers, but in this case, I will show you my hand to hand side.” Looking at her that was something I did not expect. Hand to hand, I had no idea Shanoria could fight hand to hand, this would make things difficult I thought as I charged towards her.

Jabbing with my left first then quickly following with my right, she didn’t move, she didn’t even fog out again; she just stood there, and blocked. Every punch I threw at her she blocked, her right arm still planted behind her, blocking ducking and dodging; I couldn’t hit her. Time to change up I thought as I swept my right leg around to the front trying to catch her left leg that stood out, instead she moved it; sweeping it around, behind her right leg, her movements were fluid, there were no breaks in them. Bringing my right back around for a hook, she blocked it, spinning around I brought my left behind it with a back hand, her resolve to it, she leans back, causing me to miss the bridge of her nose by an inch.

“Close Mira, that was close” she says after backing away to regain her composure. She was right, I was close, I almost hit her, but right about now, that shit doesn’t count. The only thing that is gonna matter is actually laying a hand on her. That, was my whole objective, even if she did beat the shit out of me, I was going to hit her, at least once. She looked at me, and took the stance again, inviting me to attack her. Following her I took a stance, noticing that I would get closer and closer to her just as long as I kept my attacks vague and hard to notice. I had to keep my fighting styles all wrapped together, using the right one at the right time.

My guess was that she was still on the defensive, because she hadn’t attacked me once, even when she hit me with the shadow fog, I was in her territory, I came after her. Once again she didn’t attack, but I sure as hell did, as I rushed to her again, throwing a jab once more. Once more it was blocked, and once more I followed, still trying to connect. Throwing a left jab, She moved out of the way, sliding to her right, she spun around my outside. Grabbing me by the hair and yanking me back, her knee digging into my spine sending me forward.

She was now behind me, as for myself, I was on one knee, my right hand on my back rubbing the area where her knee hit. This is bullshit I thought, I just wanted to turn around and swing wildly, not even thinking about the outcome, just putting pressure on her to try to break the wall that she had put up. But, I knew that if I did that I would leave too much open, and she more than likely would do something a hell of a lot worse than what she has done already, I still had to remain calm, there was a chance that I could still come out on top, and if I lost my cool, all of that would spiral down the drain. I couldn’t let that happen.

“I’m switching over to the offensive now Mira, you’ve gotten close enough.” The words making my ears stand up, she’s going to the offensive now, this may be over quicker than I thought, come on Mirage, I whisper to myself, your way better than this, you prove it all the time when you fight, you can hit her, forget just hitting her, you can beat her. I had to trance out, closing my eyes I switched over my senses to just sound. Hearing the gravel behind me move, and the ground break open from the amount of speed she pressed off with; charging for me, I waited, waited until she was near, until she was close enough for me to turn things around.

That was it, I felt the pressure from her hit my back, she was close, quickly moving from my knee to my feet, flipping backward over her, she charged straight through, missing me by mere seconds. Finally, something good, I was now behind her. Landing to the ground I sped after her again, one thing was for sure, I was faster than her, and that, I used to my advantage; breaking past her. Then it happened again, time slowed down, I was still moving at the normal speed, just my vision of everything was stopped, painted in motion. The blurs of color still pouring together, and in the midst of them was Sha, locked in her movement, mid run; perfect shot was now, as I spun around in front of her, bringing my left knee up and into her, meeting her mid section, time snapping back into the reality of movement, she flew backward from the blow. Finally, I had hit her.

Right now wasn’t the time to get cocky; I had to think of my next step, my next move. I had to try my hardest to stay at least three steps ahead of her. What a better way to do that than use my foresight, sucks that I had actually been using it the whole time.

Shanoria picked herself up from off the ground, she lost the hateful look, and a smirk had found its way to her face. The words leaving her mouth had come out somewhat appraising, about how I finally, after this long, laid a hand on her. She assured me that she got complacent, and that would not happen again.

“The next time you touch me, you will have to work for it.” The words leaving her mouth were serious. She was upset with herself for allowing me to get that far, but in the same instance I could tell that she was, still…fairly pleased; the fact that I had finally thought on the go, and used the perfect two skills, hand in hand, to get a hit on her. She knew that from here on out, I was going to get a little more rough. Hell, I think she even finally figured out, that just like her, I wasn’t playing anymore.

With a smile finally on her face, she took her stance; feeling a little more relaxed at the idea that I could hit her, and that this wasn’t going to be one-sided, I did the same. Looking into her eyes I wondered what it was that she was thinking. At the beginning she smiled, then she was disappointed, now a smile again. Maybe she was happy that I did hit her. That could have been it; maybe she was no longer disappointed. This go round though, I was going to do more than hit her, she was actually going to attack, this could open up more moves for me, since a couple of my fighting styles are defensively built.

Her words growled through the air as she announced her approach, here I come; not attacking, I stood there. Exhaling, I watched her as she phased in and out, each time inching herself closer and closer to me as her speed increased. Was it wrong to think that her phasing looked kind of cool, a shroud of fog being left at the previous spot as she appeared in another one, closer to me. Mid thought she was face to face with me.

“You’re thinking too much Mira” her words smoothly leaving her lips as she swung at me. Throwing up my left arm to block, more or less absorb the impact since I really wasn’t expecting it, she connected, then phased out again. Fog lingering in the air, taking away from my sight, as she appeared to my right, throwing a straight knee at my ribs, cowering over to the right from the impact, still thinking; I went to the next move, I could catch her off guard, she was off balance. Pushing off of her knee to avoid her grabbing me, I dropped to the floor for a leg sweep, I caught her, but before she hit the ground she phased out again. Spinning around I brought myself back to my feet after coming to a hand stand, finally opening into my capoeira style.

She was fast, and she was thinking. For ever question, she had an answer, for every problem she had a solution; it was almost as though she was thinking farther ahead than I was, like she knew what I was going to do before I did it. Either that or she was good at making things up as it went along. Hearing applause from behind me, I turn around to see Shanoria perched up on a boulder, showing her approval, she bowed to me.

“You’re thinking now, not too much, but just enough to let most of your actions be reflexive, but only after YOU tell them what to do.” Looking up to me, she finished “this is beginning to be fun, we shall continue, there is more that I want out of you.” her words sailing through the air, even after she vanished into nothing.

[Shadows' Mirage]

"Versus" pt 4


Things were a little too quiet for comfort, where was she, the thoughts protruding as I walked around the area, keeping alert at my surroundings. Letting her get behind me was something that I wasn’t going to do a second time, the last attack taught me all that I needed to know about her strength. She disappeared, I knew she was around, there weren’t too many places she could go; even my own shadow was a threat. It gave her more areas to stalk…that’s’ it, that’s where she is.

Wondering what do to next, I tensed up a little, expecting her to attack. I had figured out where she was, but there was nothing that I could do to get away from her. It’s not like I can out run my own shadow. That is totally impossible, and I couldn’t run to something that cast a bigger shadow, all that would do was strengthen her, the shadows were what fed her; what gave her strength; well that, and souls. Maybe I could thin out the shadow, but how, it’s not like there is an overwhelming light source anywhere around here; my mind was a little too dark for that.

I could just stand here and wait for her to attack, and then try to counter whatever it was that she tried to hit me with. Judging from how the fight has been so far, that, would be stupid. I could just break open the ground where the shadow is, maybe that would cause her to leave, since the shadow source would become smaller; only one way to find out.

Jumping into the air I thought, I had to bring as much force down on the ground as possible. Spinning around mid-air, I clenched my fist slightly, this is one of those punches where you don’t want to be clenched too tight; it’ll hurt worse. Directing all of my strength into my right fist I connected to the ground under me, since that was where the shadow rested. Breaking the ground open, I felt Shanoria rush out, grabbing on to her, I spun around; gaining momentum, I let go to throwing her through the air.

Gaining her composure, she landed to the ground, sliding backward as she looked at me; smiling ever so lovely.

“Good job, you found me; normally that would have been a stupid move, you would have given me more shadows to feed off. However, I decided I would give you the benefit of the doubt.”

Standing to her feet, she brushed off the dirt. “We need to hurry this along; this has taken more than enough time.”

“Indeed it has” I answered to her, taking another stance, feeling the cockiness in me start to grow, I knew that I was back on top, I was thinking, and I wasn’t about to let anger cloud me. Those were my main problems when it came to fighting; I wouldn’t think, I would just act, and I would let anger shroud me, causing my emotions to take over; each time that was unpredictable.

Once again Shanoria didn’t take a stance; she just crossed her arms across her chest slightly bending over. Um, what the hell? I had hoped she wasn’t going to come at me like that; then again, I hoped that she did. My cockiness was shattered once I saw…what was about to happen.

Dark roars poured out of her, as shadow fog seeped out. The shadows were beginning to take form, but what was the form. Shortly I realized what it was; the fog breaking from a single mass into two separate heaps spanning out from her back.

“Are those wings?” The words falling out of my mouth as I stepped backward away from her; finally the mass’s taking a form, falling to the rock that stood behind me, I looked up at the wings, they were black, the tips of them resembling that of a dragon’s wing. At the bend however, there were feathers; black ones.

Looking up at me, Shanoria let out an immense roar, which more or less scared the shit out of me, not that I wasn’t there already. Her fangs had extended farther, and shadow fog had begun to accumulate on her forehead, taking the form of horns as they seemed to thicken and grow curling around her ears, resembling ram horns. My heart began to race, fear taking over once again.

I knew what I was looking at, the question was why? This was the side that she told me of, the side that she used to accept open heartedly, the side that now she feared, her dark side; but, why, why was she opening this side up to me? The questions that were asked to me by Kierin and Alex began to cycle back through my mind. Was she finally making her move, full possession?

“Shanoria, what are you doing?” I yelled out, emotions once again swirling together. She didn’t answer me, just looked at me as she held a low growl, her nails snapping out, extending to about six inches; her eyes were no longer red, instead there were black with red slits familiar to a snake.

“You promised me Sha…I believed you.” I whispered as she walked towards me.

Paralyzed, I just sat there; there was no way I could get out of this. Placing her hands around my throat, she lifted me into the air; her tail whipping about in what seemed like bliss. Her words came over so smoothly, as I gagged for air with my eyes closed; my hands wrapped around her wrist. The words she spoke didn’t make sense, why would she ask me to fight back.

I opened my eyes to the view of her, blurred and watery from lack of air. Hearing her growl, which was followed immediately; by weightlessness. Flying through the air for what seemed like forever, I finally planted into a boulder, which I had broken all the way through. Lying on the other side, I stumbled in and out of consciousness, only to feel feet, and the sharp grip of talons lodge and dig into my back. Slamming back into the ground I let out a scream; I could feel my back open up, then there was no pressure at all.

“Fight Mira,” the words coming at me from above; She was there hovering, commanding me to get up, to rise to my feet and fight. Sha was in total control; I thought, this side of her she had no control over; I was confused, but at the moment, I had no time to think about that. I was getting my ass handed to me. Raising to my knees, and once again staggering up to my feet, I tried to keep my balance, but it was hard; I fell to my left into a rock, but just enough to prop myself up on it.

If you don’t fight you’re going to die, those were the last words that I remember hearing before I flew through the air. Was she going to kill me, or was she just speaking hypothetically; judging by the talon marks on my back, I could guess otherwise. I wanted to quit, fuck it, I was going to quit. This had gone too far; I was in no way, shape, or form in fighting condition. I couldn’t go on, what would it prove.

“No” the word pouring out of my mouth, almost unwillingly, “I’m not going to fight you, I quit.” Shanoria echoing the words after me, she was no longer disappointed, she was just straight up pissed off, as she yelled the words you quit.

“Quit when you dead.” She roared as she kicked me into the stone wall that sat behind me, blood flying out of my mouth. On the verge of fully blacking out, and sliding down the side of wall, I felt her tail wrap around my throat as she lifted me up to the spot where she hovered. Pulling me over to her, she whispered lexis in my ear. The words made my heart fall into my stomach. He’s here, If you quit, you die. Throwing me back into the wall she yelled again for me to fight her, repeating herself over and over, while I hung there suspended in the air, my back against the mountain. She began to wail into me, right followed by left; each hit pushing me farther and farther through the rocky wall. The pressure she was pushing from the front and the wall behind me made me feel as though I were being crushed, the deeper I went into the mountain the more suffocated I felt.

Backing away from me Shanoria yelled out that I was worthless, my mind couldn’t think anymore, I was numb, and the only thing I was trying to do, was stay conscious. But of course, she knew what buttons to push, as she gloated about how my father was right about me, you are weak. Heat, that’s all I felt…letting my emotions take over again, I failed myself.

My body was going through the same change it went through at Orchids’, the side of me that was uncontrollable started taking over, the side that I hid, by trying to forget it existed; the side that did all the things I wanted to do, no matter how relentless: My dark side.

Falling out of the hole I hit the ground, pushing myself up to my hand and knees, I let the transformation take place. My body felt as though it was on fire, low growls and grunts, I looked up towards Shanoria screaming out in anger. The rage; I felt it coming through, as I thought of everything, the lost of my family, the hell my father took me through. I let it take control.

With my hair turning white and growing down my back, I stood up. No longer feeling the pain that my body had gone through, the endorphins now had taken over everything, as that and rage were the only things fueling me. My skin had turned midnight blue, and my nails had extended also. Looking up Shanoria, I was ready to attack. But, was quickly side tracked as I grabbed my head I fell back down to my knees, screaming out in pain, I could hear Shanoria’s voice piercing through the darkness, telling me to control it. The more she yelled, the more her voice sounded distance, and then another pierced forward. Don’t worry I got this.

[Shadows' Mirage]

“Paint a Darker Picture”



“Hey, Shanaynay” The voice mockingly spoke through Mirage; still down on her hands and knees, white hair falling from her head covering her face, making it hard to catch a glimpse. It was quite clear that Mirage was no longer in charge, as she rose to her feet, her hair still covering her face.

“It’s Shanoria.” She spoke back as she slowly lowered herself back to the ground, looking over at the body that stood in front of her, her face shifting in disgust at the situation.

It wasn’t the first time Mirage had let this side of her loose, the very first time was when she was just a girl. Her mother figuring that it would be good to push her to her limits emotionally, rather than physically this time; to see if her powers would unveil themselves. Orchid tagging along, knowing that she would be the best for the job; no one could make Mirage cry like she could.

Only that day, things were different; Mirage started out fighting back, she had learned hand to hand combat gaining a rather remarkable understanding for the styles she was taught, but it still shadowed in the light of her sister, whose power was just that, hand to hand combat and reflexes. Orchid knew this, and began to push her sister past her limit of physical tolerance, denting on her emotions as she went along. Their mother; sitting out on this one, just letting the two go at it, ensuring that it did not go awry.

Orchid would walk through the steps with Mirage before going through the full motion at top speed. Once it was acknowledged that things were full go, Orchid stopped at nothing but to make her sister look pathetic; using moves that she hadn’t taught her, reversing everything that she did. It would seem more that she was trying to catch the eye of her mother rather than the trust of her sister; at the end of each combo, adding an extra smack to the face or back of the head with heated words mocking her skills.

All was well and game until Orchid decided to walk over the wrong nerve, making mentions towards their father, and how Mirage was daddies little girl, but daddy’s not here anymore is he; The words ringing through Mirages head, making her cringe but in the same aspect crushing her heart, as Orchid continued to embarrass and mock her.

“Aww, is little sapphy gonna cry now”

“Aurora that’s enough” Her mom called out from the sidelines, but the damage had been done. Tears began to flow down Mirages face, but the expression bared on it was of pure hate, the eyes burning into Orchid weren’t Mirages, as they were no longer aqua but black, shining in the light that was slightly cast in her direction. Her hair had begun to stretch past her shoulders as it turned from the deep amethyst color it was; to white. Her skin was the last to change as it darkened from blue to midnight blue.

Mirages rage beginning to drive through as objects in the yard began to levitate. Their mothers voice yelling over the commotion for Orchid to get out of there, for her to run; but instead she stood there with a winning smile on her face, looking at her sister as though she was the same person, just with a new trick. The transformation and powers didn’t scare her in the least bit as she figured beating Mirage to a pulp was still going to be easy.

Charging at her sister she was stopped mid stride. Mirage standing there with her hand forward, locking Orchid in place. Her mom moved into the mix trying to break up the fight that had surely turned sides. Yelling for Mirage to stop, that was the farthest thing from the girls mind as a dark grin spread across her face, she began to chock her sister. Hearing her daughter gag, Gina released ice shards in the direction of Mirage hoping to throw her off; instead the shards were repelled back at her, sending her into a fence; their younger brother had been watching the entire time from behind the sliding glass doors that led out to the yard. Seeing his mom hurt, he opened the door and ran out in front of her, arms spread, guarding her from his sister. Sapphy No!

The entity controlling the body of Mirage and Shanoria were now face to face. Shanorias’ wings relaxed curled down around her like a cloak, a dark grin moving across the face of Mirage as she sized the demon up and down; her eyes moving from Sha’s head to her feet and back up. Shanoria had remembered this side of the girl, from the last encounter; the day at Orchids. She remembered her strength and even how she was able to push her aside, causing her to have no influence what so ever on Mirage. That was the first time Shanoria met the hatred and turmoil that had built up in Mirage; it had since then been 4 years since Mirage unlocked the prison, holding this beast.

“I didn’t catch your name the last time we met” Sha spoke forward, trying to keep her cool; this side of Mirage made her feel uncomfortable. This was the side that she thought the students of SJS should fear more, not her.

“You know who I am demon” she spoke back, the voice wasn’t even Mirages, it was more mellow than Mirages voice, more mono-toned. The smile never leaving her face as she spoke out saying she was Mirage.

Roaring in disapproval Shanoria lashed back, making it known that she was not the Mira, that she had been a part of for so long, that the thing that stood in front of her, was of evil; nothing more.

“You think Mirage would like you calling her a thing” she whipped, laughing at the demon that stood in front of her.

Shanoria was far passed angry, but it didn’t seem to bother this side of Mirage in the least bit, it wasn’t cockiness that fueled her, it was confidence, she knew that Sha couldn’t beat her, and the worse part of it, Sha felt the same, and she backed away settling herself.

“Call me Midnight.”

“I think you should leave.” Shanoria spoke out to her; even though most would think it to be untrue, and that there was alternate motives, Sha loved Mirage and she wasn’t going to have something like this ruin her life. This was the side her father wanted to unleash, Shanoria was the key; but, she had hoped that in due time she could of taught Mirage how to control it, just like she had taught herself how to control the soul thirsty side that dwelled in her. Regrettably Mirage had totally forgotten about the day she unleashed her powers on her sister, she would have remembered if it weren’t for Shanoria taking the fall, saying that the thing she turned into at Orchid’s, was her. But, Sha felt, at that time, she wouldn’t have been ready to control the monster, Mira had to learn to control her emotions first; which would gain her control over what was rightfully hers.

Laughing, Midnight mocked Shanoria saying why should she leave, when she was here first. The rivalry between the two was obviously bitter, Shanoria not liking the evil that was in this portion of Mirage, and Midnight not liking the fact that Shanoria could have been ten times stronger if she wouldn’t be such a punk, and just give up all hopes of returning to heaven, she was hell bound, and there was no way around it, even if she did dissuade the hell hound that lay dormant in Mirage.

“How about you go back to hell, and leave US alone.” Midnight roars, using her telekinetic powers to push her back over 30 yards. Sha opened her wings, catching air, and balancing herself stopping the push; in a downward push of her wings she threw herself into the air, a small crackle following her from the pressure of cutting through sound.

Looking into the air, following the stream that trailed Shanoria, she smiled. She could end this fight rather quickly, but not without messing with Sha’s mind first, she knew that Shanoria had an idea that she was indeed the true manifestations of Mirages sub-conscious, the things that she wanted to do, say, and be, but her passive nature made her the exact opposite. With a slight giggle she thought, why not tell her what she doesn’t want to her, as she continued, yelling into the air how Mirage hates her, and doesn’t want to have anything to do with her; How she blames her for her life being ruined, for her not having friends, for the fear that people have when they are around her.

“She’s the one that wants you to go to Hell Shanoria.” The words cutting into her like knife, and out of rage she cocked her wings back, dive-bombing out of the sky into the direction of Midnight, blinded in fury, she opening her mouth launching orbs at Midnight, each one hitting her and pushing her back. Suddenly she was atop Midnight, grabbing her by the shoulders and carrying her along for the short lived ride, slamming her into a mountain, rocks and chunked masses flying off in the explosion; breathing slightly erratic Shanoria whispers to Midnight, saying that Mira doesn’t want that.

Her head tilted down, Sha thought that maybe she had knocked her out, that proved untrue as she heard her snicker; defeat hitting her, she backed away, flapping her wings to stay afloat, even though her energy was low. Her eyes glaring into the body that was in front of her, she knew that beating her wasn’t going to happen, but maybe talking Midnight into allowing Mirage to control her would save them all. There were bigger bouts to deal with rather than their own. Midnights’ words echoing into the air, you’re too easy; Shanoria had known that she was tricked to be pushed that far, but she realized it a little too late.

Walking out of the hole, Midnight brushed off the soiled clothes, hovering there; she looked at Sha, and with a wink Shanoria fell from the sky, speeding up as she came closer to the ground, hitting the ground she bounced about a foot back into the air, spitting blood into the air. Midnight landed to the ground to meet her, walking over to her pray, she smiled; gloating about how she expected more from the great Shadow Princess. Kneeling beside her, she placed the nail from her index finger to her throat, slightly touching as blood ran down Shanorias’ neck. Moving her finger she licked her lips, naw, I’m not going to kill you yet.

“If you kill me, it’s not going to fix anything.”

“And why is that, you’ll be out of the way, and I’ll be Mirage.”

“And your still going to hell” Shanoria interrupted, a winning smiling coming across her face. Finally she had gained Midnights attention, removing her nail fully from Sha, she placed her hand on her knee; she wanted to hear the rest. The secret had come out, they were being Hunted, and the whole purpose of having Mirage go this far was to gain control of her more powerful side, because that could be the only thing stopping them both from being hauled down to hell. If I die, so do you, so why not work together, were the words that left her mouth.

“Let’s say I kill you, and then kill him.”

Smiling Shanoria, let it be known, that she has the only weapon that could work…but, Mirage has to use her powers along with her to manifest it, one without the other will spell defeat. Continuing to persuade Midnight to let Mirage control her, she spoke more to Mirage, hoping that she was still conscious inside, knowing that Mirage had to accepted her other side just slightly to claim balance, she said it aloud.

Smirking Midnight raised her hand into the air to bring it down across Sha, it was obvious that she would rather kill her than save them all, but, it wasn’t her decision alone to make. Mirage finally gaining up the power to fight back, stopped the blow just inches from Sha’s chest, fighting back and forth with her inner demon she managed to gain the strength to win, slowly transforming back into herself. With slight changes, her skin went back to its normal color, but her hair stayed white just with purple highlights. Looking into the eyes of Shanoria, she smiled, feeling triumph in regaining herself; apologizing to the demon in front of her, she passed out.

[Shadows' Mirage]

"Two Days"


Laying there, in the darkness, it felt somewhat relaxing to her, as though she were lying on black clouds, resting. Nothing there, just her; small whispers of a voice emerging from the shadows, a voice telling her that it was time to wake up; she had rested long enough.

Her eyes slowly broke open, sunlight beaming into her window, directly shinning down on her face. An arm rose up to block the sun, from the eyes that seemed to be far too sensitive to take it; it had been a while since she had seen the sun. Slowly she batted her eyes until they had focused, able to take in what seemed so hazardous to her. Groaning, Mirage slowly rose up, perching herself on her elbows, her eyes still focusing as she saw two cloudy images standing across from her. Not knowing what they were, and fearing the worst, she reacted, trying to back away, hitting her head on the headboard behind her.

“Dammit,” she harped, grabbing the back of her head. Looking back toward the two clouds, her vision had cleared, revealing her two roommates standing there, ones face expressing that of concern and question, the other…well, Kierin never really wore expressions. Taking a breath, Mirage let the words "good morning" leave her mouth.

“Morning?” Alex questioned, finishing with the question if Mirage knew what today was and what time of the day it was.

“Yea, it’s Tuesday morning right?” She asked, still rubbing her head as the pain seemed to slowly melt away, her hand slowly leaving her hair, which she was still oblivious to noticing.

“Tuesday? Try Thursday...afternoon” Alex meekly responded, causing her face to alter to a more concerning expression. It was obvious, she was wondering what exactly was up with her roommate. She had been asleep for 2 days, and no one could wake her; no one remembered her coming into the room, and…the hair. Which wasn't purple anymore but white with purple highlights.

“Must have been some party?”

“Party, what Party?” Mirage asked, as she became more confused by the second. She didn’t remember anything, how she got to her room, how she got to sleep, or leaving the gym for that matter. The only thing she remembered was getting her ass handed to her by a fully-demonic Shanoria. Things somewhat became clear when Alex pointed to her hair. Question filled Mira’s head as she brushed her hand through her hair, pulling it around to where she could see it. Her eyes growing wider, she jumped up and ran into the bathroom.

“Holy Shit” and all sorts of other profanity could be heard from the bathroom. It was obvious that she didn’t remember this. Running out of the bathroom, she looked at her two roommates. Kierin was leaning against the wall, looking at her. You could tell she wanted to laugh, but of course, she kept her composure. Alex just stood in the middle of the room, her hands over her mouth, more or less shocked at the words that left Mirage's.

"What did she do?" Kierin asked watching her steadily, her eyes unable to be seen behind the dark shades. Which may of been a good thing, Mirage was still trying to get over being nervous around K. Seeing her eyes probably would of made her even more uncomfortable than what she already was.

"She....Who?" She stood there and looked at Kierin, her mind totally off of her hair now. Was she talking about Sha. Feeling a little more than uneasy, she didn't answer, just looked at Kierin nervously. Thinking the answer that she wanted to give; Sha didn't do anything.

"Shanoria."

Catching her off guard, Mira slowly stepped back, as if the name Kierin spoke was literally approaching her. Shanoria, she thought. Why would she do anything? Then the memories started to roll over even more. It wasn't what Sha did, but how she did it. You could see the fear as it crept over Mirages eyes as they seemed to gradually change from Aqua to black. Shaking her head, she quickly regained herself before she lost it again. Looking down at her hand, she could see where her skin color had began to darken; it was turning back to her normal color now.

"Sha, Sha didn't do anything." she stumbled out, but in the back of her mind she wondered, why would Kierin blame Shanoria, was there something that she knew that she wasn't saying?

"Do you remember how you got here?"

Mirage wanted to say yes, but the more she tried to think of what actually happened, she drew a blank. It would all fade into darkness right after Sha began beating her into the mountain. Grabbing her head, she backed into the wall, letting the word no, slide out of her mouth; she honestly couldn't remember.

"You walked in. Shanoria was in control."

"What?" Shanoria was in control, she thought. Sha's voice finally came forward, somewhat a voice of relief, calming her. Her explaination sort of caught Mira off guard. She had no idea that Kierin was that in tune with her and Sha. Shanoria knew, but she didn't feel that it was an important piece of information to tell her.

"So, how long have you sensed Sha?" She asked, looking up at Kierin.

"Since we patrolled together last week. I thought you knew."

"Yea, thats right" Mira said, rubbing her forhead in frustration. Why were certain things blocked from her memory? What actually went on? The questions filled up her head, causing a slight headache. She hated not knowing what happened, and the fact that she didn't remember certain things. Mira wanted to believe that Sha had nothing to do with this, but it was kind of hard to do that, especially considering that Kierin brought it up; it made her wonder even more. Shooting a thought to Shanoria, she asked, What the hell happened to me? What'd you do?

Her mind stood quiet for a bit. There were no answers, and she was sure if there was a tumbleweed up there, it would blow by. Mira, growing restless, yelled for Shanoria to answer her, her words echoing through her mind.

"I... didn't do anything" she answered, before explaining who was the actual person behind her memory loss. She didn't know anyone by that name, and had no idea how that person would of gotten into her mind. Sha made it clear, telling her that Midnight wasn't just a person, but her.

"Me?" she questioned out loud. Alex was looking over to her, confused, not sure at what was goin on. Looking over to Kierin, she wondered, did she know that part too? She sensed Sha, but did she sense the other part, too? Shanoria whispered into her mind again, telling her that all she wanted was for her to gain control over that side. The most she did was push her to that limit; by beating the hell out of you, she added. Mira didn't break a smile at Sha's attempt to lighten the situation.

"Sha brought me back to the room, but...Midnight caused the memory loss." Mira explained to her roomates. Her confusion started to die down a little more. With Sha explaining the situation, she remembered everything, even the first time she let the thing out of its cage. Putting two and two together, she realized that was the reason why Shanoria wanted her to control her emotions, because she would let her out, just like she did at Orchid's. Walking over to her bed, she sat at the end of it, placing her hands on her head as she bent over. Alex walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, asking if she was ok. She replied, lifting her head up, and then looked back over to Kierin.

"Did you sense Midnight too?"

"It was too deep for me to notice. I thought there were only two auras, but now that you've told me about it, I can see a third."

"So, my superpower is obviously schizophrenia." Mirage laughed, trying to lighten the mood, but quickly stopped, seeing that she was the only one laughing. It was weird to her, for so long Sha was the only voice in her head that she had to worry about. Now, there could be another one, and she had no idea how strong she was.

"Can you sense how strong she is? Pretty much, who should I fear more, her or the demon?" She asked, hoping that Kierin could give an answer. She was actually the only one helping to make sense of it all. All Shanoria did was rub her nose in the fact that she kicked her ass.

"I don't know how strong Midnight is. But Shanoria is the only one who can take over whenever she wants. Right?"

Mirage thought about the question. Kierin did have a point, she was right. Sha could take over whenever she wanted. Midnight on the other had, she was totally based off of her emotional strength. If Mira got pissed to that point, she takes over, but only because she...is her.

"Yea, Sha can take over whenever. Midnight takes over when I get emo, I guess." Pulling her hair back around to where she could see it, she laughed, saying, "Well, that explains the hair." It was something else that she felt she had to gain control over. Then again, Sha said that if she accepted what her other half was, she could gain control.

"SO, either of you good with a pair of scissors?"

K remained silent, looking over to Alex then back at Mirage, and Mira looked over to Alex, hoping that she could help with the situation. She figued if it was going to be new color for her hair, she might as well have a new do. Maybe she could cut it the way that her mother always wore hers. Yea...that would work. Walking to the bathroom, she grabbed the scissors and then came back to the room, standing mid floor.

"So, what'd ya say Alex, wanna cut tha locks?"

[Shadows' Mirage]

"The Hunter"


I stood there, brushing my hand through my hair. It was a new feeling to me; it had been so long since I had hair that came above my shoulders. My hair hadn’t been this short since I was 12, and it was definitely taking some getting used to. Alex did a good job though.

“I might have to keep her in mind,” I said, looking into the mirror at my new do. Short white and purple highlighted hair, it was definitely a change from long, wavy and purple. The only people that had seen this change was Kierin and and Alex. Laughing, I looked back up into the mirror, thinking, maybe everyone else’ll think I’m a new student. That’ll be a good way to start over.

“Or they'll think you fully sold your soul to me, for my power to take over the world.” Shanoria splurged in with an eerie sarcastic tone in her voice, laughing after she finished her asinine quirk. Oh, that so wasn’t funny, I thought as a grin came over my face. But she was right; some just might. Telling her to shut up was the easiest way that I could beat off the laughter that I felt was about to erupt like a volcano; the more I thought about it, the more I felt the chuckle breaking forward.

Out for two days, I thought, and today was the day after all of that. Fortunately I didn’t have any classes today, the usual Friday for me. I felt a little weak, so I figured I’d go for a nice run, and then maybe train some after that. The thought of the hunter being out there had crossed my mind, but I was sure that if he wanted to attack, he would have done it already. I wasn’t about to sit inside and hide, and hope that things blew over. Sha’s voice rippled in my mind, telling me to keep on the lookout; to watch every nook and cranny, and blah, blah, blah.

“Ok, mom.” I voiced back, letting out a small snicker. Hearing her rebut saying, When you’re in hell it won’t be funny then, will it.

“Yea, yea, yea.” I shot back in return to her hell scare. The sense of even going there not scaring me in the least bit. Was this cockiness or confidence? The old me would have broken down in tears, instead now I wanted to stand in the middle of Time Square and yell bring it on. Yea, maybe it was cockiness, but I liked this side. Though Sha had her own cents to add, saying she wished she would have left Midnight to her slumber, something about allowing us to merge turned me into a real bi-otch.

“I’m already missing the old wimpy you.” She whimpered. I really couldn’t catch if it was sarcasm or if she was serious.

“Did you just call me a bi-otch?” I said with a slight laugh, pulling up my running shorts.

“Sha I’m telling, you said a bad word." Definitely sarcasm with a bit of childish ploy added into the mix.

“Oh go play in traffic, smart-ass.” She said with a laugh. Covering my mouth I continued to act like a 4 year old, mocking her; only to end it laughing out.

My roommates had already left the room for the day, out doing their own thing. Alex probably shopping, Kierin…I had not the slightest, but if she was patrolling, I felt sorry for whoever was on the end of her fist. Sitting down at my desk I decided to write a note before I left, maybe tack it on the door before I left the room, for the first person that got back to read. Just informing them of where I am and what I’m doing, maybe even when I might get back, so they wouldn’t have to worry about the previous happening all over again.

Hey Roomies

Just went out on a run, then after that I will be doing some fight training in the park. So don’t worry, I’ll get in at a decent time. But, if I come in with polka dot hair that’s past my shoulders’, don’t ask, just grab the scissors Alex. LOL!!! See ya later.

Ya Roomie!
Mira ^_^

Closing the door behind me, I tacked the note on the outside of the door, turned around and began to walk down the hallway.

Once I got outside it was a little different. There seemed to be a good amount of people sitting in the open area, courtyard if you will, doing whatever. As I walked past them to go to my usual starting point, I could hear all sorts of whispers, from who is that, to, isn’t that, that Mirage girl? What’d she do to her hair? Wolf calls, and then the one Shanoria bet on. I bet she sold her soul to that demon so she could take over the world. Sha blasted out a winning cackle in my head, followed by See, told ya.

Once reaching my start point, I bent over, stretching down to touch my toes, guaranteeing I got some type of flexibility in my hamstrings. I continued with numerous other stretches for my legs before I took off down the sidewalk that would eventually lead to the park and then to the trail that I loved to run down so much.

The air was crisp, it was a pretty mild afternoon, and there was something soothing about it. It made the run better, as my regular 5 mile run gained a little more distance by moving up to 8. I almost felt like I didn’t want to stop, like I was in cruise control and I could run all day. My breaths hadn’t begun to shorten; they were just normal.

Finishing my run, I came to an opening surrounded by a group of trees. It was my usual workout spot, I could use a tree for my boxing bag, and no one could see me while I was in training. I could let it all out here, and not have to worry about any innocent by-standers. Well, maybe some Happy Tree Friends, but I’m sure they would get out of dodge if they saw me coming near.

“So…what first?” Shanoria asked.

“I don’t know.” I answered somewhat dully, looking around the circle that I stood in, my eyes counting each tree. I was finally here, and I wanted to train, but my mind had other things on it. I felt that I was being watched. Smirking, I almost hoped that it was The Hunter. I could use a fight. Shadow fog began to shroud my fists. I felt like I could go, and for whoever was watching, maybe I could give him, her, it or whatever, something to look at.

“I’m just gonna have fun.” I said, a devious grin coming over my face. This would be the perfect opportunity for me to get even more used to using Midnight and Shanoria’s powers in combination and unison.

Throwing my hand forward, I mentally locked on to the tree that was in front of me, lifting it up and out of the ground, I sent it hurdling in my direction. Blasting out of my stance, I launched myself at it, my right fist raised into the air, I connected. Once again the sheer velocity and strength of my punch split the tree down the middle, sending excess bark, splinters and leaves in different directions. A puff of wood dust filling the air, my eyes closed. I felt good again, in my domain.

“Good, but your technique…it’s…eh,” Sha mocked.

“Whatever,” I boasted, this time lifting two trees out of the ground and launching them into my direction.

[Kierin]

Something not unlike hunger twisted painfully in my chest. I could feel my energy surge with every burst of power from Mirage's training. I frowned as she brought down another tree, making sure to avoid the splinters flying like shrapnel. She hadn't been this powerful when we had patrolled last time. How long had it been... two weeks? She couldn't have gotten that much stronger so quickly. I leaned forward slightly from the branches of a tree behind her. My martial arts robes made no sound, and my form was hidden by shadows. But somehow, she noticed.

She turned quickly in my direction. Before she looked upwards, I had teleported to another treetop; the branch I held creaked a little against my weight. After a moment, she went back to her training. She was fierce, letting her power go wild with almost no technique. Her aura was like a star in my energy vision, a point of light making everything else look dark. The thing in my chest twisted again. I knew my own power wanted to match itself up to this new strength, to prove that it could face it and come out on top. I tried to suppress the urge, but it was stronger than normal. I knew it was hopeless; my power needed to be used.

Another tree was ripped from the ground, and soon after exploded from another vicious blow. My senses sharpened in an instant; I moved my head slightly to the side as a spear-like piece of wood flew towards my face. On an impulse, I snatched the splinter from the air as it flew past, whirled around, and hurled it back, striking the ground beside Mirage and burying itself several inches into the dirt.

Mirage turned instantly to the makeshift weapon, raising lightly-clenched fists in a fighting stance. I vanished from the tree and appeared behind her, letting my energy aura fade entirely. "Probably could've hit you with that thing."

She lowered her arms without turning towards me. "Maybe, roomie. Or I could have blocked it."

"You've gotten stronger."

"Really." She turned to face me. "I'm still trying to catch up to you." I could hear the smirk in her voice.

"Looks like you're trying pretty hard." I turned my head a little, indicating the damage done to the surrounding area. "I think you've proven you can destroy something that won't fight back."

Mirage scoffed. "So, what is that supposed to mean, Kierin?"

Very carefully, I reached up and adjusted my blindfold, making sure it was firmly in place. Of course it wasn't loose; whatever Taylor had made it from, it never came loose. "It means that if you don't practice on a moving target, the first group of Ink Men you come across is going to knock your ass on the floor."

She took an easy step backwards. "I've never had problems with the Inkgeeks before. But, I'll take your word for it." Her voice still had a bantering tone.

"Not good enough." The dark energy was racing through my body like an inferno. I knew that with a thought it would come to life. I took a deep breath, in through the nose, out through the mouth. I thought I could feel my hands trembling; what was this?

Come on...

"Not good enough," I repeated. "I'll see if you can take someone who knows how to fight." I bent my knees slightly, brought my arms forward, just that little bit that I needed. My head faced not hers but her torso, centering her in my vision. The fighting stance made the energy writhe even more.

Come on!!!

Mirage laughed, dropping into her stance again. "Bring it on! I'm all ready for a spar anyway."

Don't worry, I thought, trying to calm the power within me so I could focus. You're getting your fight.

[Shadows' Mirage]

Looking over to Kierin a smile broke over my face, she was serious; she wanted to give me a go. She might not have known but I looked at her control over the shadows as a point I wanted to soon be at. So, this fight would be more than just a spar to me, it would let me know if I was ready. If I could handle her, the other shadow powered girl in the school.

“You don’t plan on fighting me with that on do you K?” I asked, pointing at the cloth that she had wrapped around her eyes.

“You don’t want me to fight you with it off.” She answered; still seeming relaxed in her stance across from me.

Fine, let’s do this. I got into my stance, I wasn’t going to take any chances, I knew what she was capable of. Not only was I fighting with her a couple of weeks ago on our patrol, I was watching her, carefully. I went straight into my kickboxing stance, she wants a fight, that’s what I’m going to give her, every, ounce of my fighting styles, even with the new power addition.

I could hear Shanoria breaking through the anticipation in my head that seemed to drown out all other sounds. Telling me to fight her seriously, to not, take her for granted. To be vigilant, because if I let my arrogance get in the way, she was going to wipe the floor with me. Smirking I shot back a yea right, hearing Midnight start to rise up more in me. I felt stronger than ever, she might give me a fight but wipe the floor with me, I didn’t think so.

“Keep listening to that stupid hot-head and you’re gonna end up eating through a tube.” Sha yelled at me.

“Yea” I said out loud, not even caring what Sha had just told me. I charged for Kierin, adrenaline, anticipation, and just the thirst for a fight driving me. Throwing a straight jab at the girl, I saw my fist shroud itself in shadow, but this was different. Thinking back to the forest 3 weeks ago when I was training with Sha, I remembered my fist doing the same. The purple aura. All I could hear was your welcome ringing in my ears.

Closing in on her, my arm stretched forward, fist engulfed in grayish colored fog with a purple aura spiraling within it; she teleported. The teleport similar to Shanoria's phases, my fist ripped through her shadow and I came to a halt sliding a couple yards. What happened next, after I stopped was what caught me totally off guard, the fog that encased my fist launched itself off, moving quickly into the tree line tearing down a couple of trees in the process.

I brought my fist back to me, looking at it strangely. That was definitely new. My mind totally off Kierin now, she was on the opposite side of the open area, behind me.

"...Are you going to pay attention here, or do I have to hit you across the head?"

Dropping my fist back to my side, my attention was back on Kierin. Her words bellowing in my mind, they angered me, and I felt like a rookie. How'd you let her get behind you Mira I asked myself. Shanoria was finally able to shut the mouth of Midnight, her obvious shoot first, study later idea to winning this spar weren't helping in the least bit. You gonna listen to me now hot-head was all I heard from Sha as she began to give me the run down, and tell me what it was that I was up against.

"No Way" I said looking over to Kierin, who was still in her stance waiting for me to make my next move.

"She's just like me?" I asked. Not exactly, I have no idea what it is in her, I just sense the magic. You dear child are just demon fed. Great I thought as a smirk came across my face. Looks like I can take the gloves off then. Sliding my left foot forward, I slightly crouched down, my palms facing her, in an opened soft fist style. It was time for the next attack, but this go round I was going to listen to Sha and keep my senses tuned and in key, there wasn't going to be anything to catch me off guard.

Sweeping my left leg around I launched at her, she too did the same. We were both heading towards one another at an incredible speed, the fists we were planning on hitting the other with raised in the air. Unknowing to either of us, in the middle, a form began to rise up out of the ground. We connected, the force sending energy, shadow and fog spiraling out from the middle, encasing the entire open field.

As the fog began to settle things became clear. She and I both had been stopped by something, the question was, what was it? It took the form of a black blob, two appendages extending from it, one holding my fist in place, the other holding hers. Within seconds the blob began to take more of a humanoid form. Still it wore black, its gear similar to that of a void hunter, instead it was black with smoke gray highlights, and also it wore a scarf that wrapped around its nose and mouth, the excess falling down his back. Its skin had the look that it had been burnt and then healed over. He also reeked of sulfur.

He stood there still holding us by our fists, his head tilted over, looking at the ground. How was he able to stop that amount of force, I knew what I was packing. Looking over to Kierin I figured she was coming with the same amount if not more. My eyes snapped back on him when I saw movement, his head slowly lifted up followed by him opening his eyes and with that they flashed an eerie black color.

"Oh no, It’s the Hunter, Mirage run....NOW." Were the words that reverberated through my head, frozen in fear I couldn't move as my heart seemed to beat at the thump of a bass drum. Shanorias words seeming so distance telling me to run, as they were drowned out by the echo of my heartbeat. Letting go of our fists the Hunter quickly turned to me. Still standing there I shuttered in fear, not even looking into his eyes. All of the cockiness that I had earlier had melted away, the thought of me meeting him and saying bring it on, those words couldn't even find my mouth at the moment.

"Snap out of it Mira, and run." Sha's words had finally found my ears as I broke my trance looking up into the eyes of the hunter I backed away from him. With every step I took he gained another moving in closer to me. My eyes locked on to Kierin who was behind The Hunter. I lipped the word "go" in hopes that she would get out of here; I didn't want her to see what was gonna happen.

"Kierin Run" I yelled.

"Ok" She said teleporting in a puff of blackish purple fog.

"Holy Crap!" I blurted, looking into the area that Kierin once stood in, my mouth open, shocked at what just happened. "I can't believe she actually left me here."

"Mind on the situation." Sha yelled. My eyes snapped back on what was in front of me. I still continued to back away from him, Sha yelling at me telling me to run. With this guy in front of me and Shanoria yelling in my mind it made me more confused than what I needed to be, I had no idea how to react, it was as though I was being torn, ripped in half. Then Midnights voice chirped in, sounding a little more distant than normal. Shanoria finally did a good job pushing her out of the picture. Her voice leaked forward, telling me to fight back; there was no way that I would get away. She was right, if I ran, he would just hunt me to the ends of the earth, to the ends of time for that matter. I had to fight back, or at least buy time to get an opening to get away. That was what I trained for, why Sha beat me like that, why she made me open the gate to Midnights prison. I could feel the courage building up, but, it may have been more psychotic than anything.

I squared up against The Hunter, his head tilting to the side. I could hear Sha yelling in my head asking what the hell am I doing, she told me to run. Not this time, if I run, I'm dead either way. I could feel more power flow through my veins, Shanoria saying, well if this is your choice; I'm with you. I smiled, jumping into the air landing a round house to the head of the hunter. When I came back to the ground I thrust my left knee into the gut of the hunter followed by my right elbow which I brought into his neck, jumping to hit my target.

Quickly I took a couple a steps away from him. I looked at him, none of my blows did anything to him; he just blinked. I thought Sha was giving me more power. As I thought her words came forward, Sorry, I wasn't ready yet. I laughed in frustration at her slip up, way to go. I felt a surge rush through my body as her energy seeped from me, shadow fog protruding from my body. Smiling I heard her say go, just as my eyes flashed purple. I guess he finally felt the power surge flow through me, because after my eyes flashed three 6 inch spikes extended from his fists, flowed by a blade that broke out of the side of his arm near his wrist, growing back past his elbow.

"Bring it on!" I yelled as he roared back in return, opening his arms and squatting down as though he were going to charge straight at me. Not taking the chance I left the ground, back flipping, landing a blow to his chin. Shadow fog trailing my feet straight to the impact point. His head finally buckled from a hit. When my hands hit the ground I spun myself around continuing the capoeira styled assault on him with my feet. Forcing him to take a couple a steps backward. I figured that if I kept the onslaught of blows going I could maybe daze him and get the hell out of dodge, but that thought was short lived as my spinning came to a complete halt.

He had grabbed me by the ankles, feeling weightless; I looked at my hands as they left the ground. Looks like I’m going for a flight. That’s the thought that went through my head as my eyes caught the blue from the sky, followed by the tree line, then by the grass and dirt that I went head first into.

[Kierin]

His aura was even brighter than Mirage's. I watched from behind another tree, cloaking myself very carefully. I could dimly hear Shanoria's voice speaking plaintively to Mirage before she attacked. Her first attack seemed to have no effect, but the next few strikes hit strong with a strange fighting style I'd never seen before.

It didn't last long, though, before he snatched her leg and threw her forward into the ground. She picked herself up, looking a little the worse for wear. Her left eye was slightly closed, the star-shaped scar plain on her face. "Damn, that hurt."

The thing raised its arm, pointing one of its wrist-blades at the girl. "Mirage Reign and Shanoria, Princess of Shadows. Your presence is required in hell." Mirage's face twisted into a frown. "Do not attempt to resist. Any further display of force will be-"

That was enough for me. I teleported, appearing with my back pressed up against his thickly-muscled chest. I grabbed the arm he had extended towards Mirage and pulled down and forward, throwing him over my shoulder and slamming him into the ground. I jumped back as Mirage's voice rang out: "I thought I asked you to leave." I frowned at her, but she continued, "I'm glad you didn't listen to me."

The thing dissolved into shadow, sliding soundlessly into the ground. What a pushover... "What was that thing?" I asked.

"It's called a Hunter; it... Kierin!"

Strong hands gripped my arms before I could react to her warning. "You're not the only one that knows how to hide," a soft voice said in my ear. It deftly pulled both my arms behind its back and gripped both my wrists with one hand. The other arm came up to press a blade against my throat just as Mirage was ready to pounce. "Move and she dies, Reign!" I felt my own shadow energy tearing at his arms, trying to shake him loose, but his grip was like iron.

Mirage growled, "Let her go, you bastard... or are you too scared to take me yourself?"

Damn, he was strong. I shifted my weight against his hold, trying to break free, but every attempt I made was met with pain. I tried to teleport out, but only got a shock which made me grunt with pain.

"Interesting friend you have here... what's she hiding under that blindfold?"

The shadow in my head laughed. Oh yeah. Come on. Let's go.

I groaned as he reached toward my blindfold with his free hand. Not again... "You really don't want to do that."

"Now I really do."

I tried to power down before the blindfold left my face, but not fast enough. The violet haze that always covered my vision intensified and a rush of energy roared through my body. I felt the other presence within me seize hold of my brain, taking over control of my limbs. Fighting for control, I lost track of which one I was supposed to be, knowing only that I had to fight. Dark energy coalesced around me, forming a dense ethereal armor. The Hunter's grip on my wrists tightened as he threw the blindfold to the side.

"Don't say I didn't warn you!" I jumped, pulling his hand upward, and kicked back with both legs, breaking myself free from his grip. I landed softly on the torn-up ground, turning to face him as he caught his breath. I heard Mirage's voice from behind me: "Kierin, what the hell..."

The Hunter rushed me, lashing out with an arm-blade. The moment before it hit, I vanished and rematerialized behind him, blasting him with a wave of dark energy and knocking him off his feet straight towards Mirage. Some distorted version of my voice shouted out, "Catch!"

Mirage held up a hand and he seemed to accelerate faster towards her before she delivered a viscious punch to his stomach. His body dug a furrow into the ground until crashing into a tree. In the silence I heard someone laughing hysterically. It took me a moment to realize it was me.

I didn't want this. With all the effort I could, I forced myself to pick up the blindfold and, still laughing, put it back around my eyes. Slowly I felt the rush of energy begin to recede, felt the dimming rage of the thwarted magic.

What the hell! Did you see that! Don't you want him gone?

"Not with your help," I muttered, just as the dark muscled form of the Hunter charged at me with a scream of rage. I did the same thing as last time, waiting until he was close to shift into energy form and reappear behind him. If I had been thinking clearly, I would have realized it was a bad move: I'd pulled that trick too many times already for it to work again. He was expecting it, and this time a blade whistled through the air and crashed against the dark energy shielding me. Nothing pierced my skin, but I felt the wind knocked out of me as I fell to the ground. The Hunter moved in for a finishing strike, but before he could attack again, Mirage's foot struck him in the side of the head, knocking him a few steps back.

Mirage continued her assault as I got back to my feet, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks and blocking his surprised attempts to fight back. She'd taken him off guard and he was having a hard time putting up a defense. Just as it seemed he was regaining his composure, she pulled another of those strange moves I'd seen earlier, rolling forward onto her hands and kicking up at him him under the chin with her feet.

Eventually he broke away, dodging a heavy kick from Mirage, then stepped into the opening and slashed down at her. I threw a small but dense energy blast at his arm and caught it before he could complete the attack, but he rolled with the momentum of the blast to bring his other arm into an uppercut, finally catching Mirage with a good hit and putting distance between the two. Mirage flipped through the air, landing next to me.

The Hunter rushed forward, slashing outward with both blades. Mirage jumped quickly back, and I ducked under the strike and countered with a punch to his torso. My fist connected, but he didn't flinch, instead bringing an elbow down painfully on my back. I dropped to my stomach, grabbed his ankles, and pulled myself under and behind him just as Mirage lashed out with a powerful kick to his face. I pushed myself off the ground, flipping into the air and launching a blast of negative energy down at him. He lunged toward Mirage with a shoulder rush, simultaneously avoiding my attack and knocking her off balance.

I landed and shot off another burst of dark energy, but the Hunter, now directly between Mirage and me, turned and blocked it with the blades on his arm before turning back to Mirage. The other girl had alrady recovered and was stepping in for another assault. As he put up a defense, I stepped in and held out a hand towards him, connecting with the energy flowing through his body and pulling it taut, constricting his movement. His blocks became sluggish and Mirage got several good hits in.

He shouted something I couldn't understand and slammed his head into Mirage's, sending her stumbling backward blinking. He turned towards me and lashed out with his weapons. I jumped back to dodge, but the blade caught on the cloth of my sleeve, pulling at my arm. He took the opportunity to grab my arm and bring a knee into my side. Even with my energy blocking the blow, that one strike was enough to bring me to my knees. Mirage once again interrupted before he could finish the job, telekinetically launching a rock at his head, but I wasn't getting back up this time.

I watched through rapidly darkening vision as my roommate throw another series of attacks at the Hunter. I hoped that she could take him alone now that we had weakened him. She stumbled back from a powerful kick and he moved in to continue the assault. My hopes weren't very high. I tried to catch my breath, but it was too late; the medbadge on my collar beeped and I was teleported from the battle.

[Shadows' Mirage]

Trying my hardest I fought the Hunter off from Kierin, only to be knocked away from him with a powerful kick to the stomach. I slid back a couple of feet, and then dropped with a thud to my knees with my arms wrapped around my mid-section. With pain painted on my face I looked back up to where Kierin was, but she wasn’t there. Her med-badge.

Before I could even manage a smile at the thought that my roommate got away, I felt another blow to the back of my head. Falling to my hands I let out a high moan as my vision turned black. Its over, I’m hellbound, pressure and pain struck across my stomach as I felt myself leave the ground, rolling side over side, my vision still black, unable to see anything. The Hunter was getting the best of me and I had no idea where he was attacking from.

My side over side roll ended with a jerk as I felt something cold wrap around my neck. Out of pure reflex my hands reached up to grab whatever it was, telling me that it was The Hunters hand that had grabbed me. It all ended with a blow to the back as I seemed to hang there, his hand still around my neck holding me.

“Girl, girl, girl” The Hunter mocked with a laugh, “looks like your friend had the right idea, getting out of harm’s way that is.”

I couldn’t answer; instead I gagged for air, taking my right hand to beat across his arm to no avail. All I heard was his laughter as I began to feel light headed, I thought my med-badge would of activated by now, do I have to be totally unconscious. What the hell is happening? My back once again slammed into hardness, the feeling of bark scratching against it.

“No one is going to save you, your fate is inevitable.” His words stabbed at my heart; there wasn’t anyone there that was going to help me. Kierin tried, she gave it her all, she’s stronger than me and she and I together couldn’t stop this thing. I thought about closing my eyes and just letting go, letting the end happen. Then my mother flashed in my mind, my brother, Orchid…then my father. I had a mission.

“First, I’ll just take this,” he said grabbing at the bottom of my shirt ripping my med-badge off. "I saw what it did to your little friend when she passed out, and well,I can't have you leaving in the middle of this." He threw the med-badge behind him and smiled

“Now,Ill be taking Shanoria from you,ready to go Princess?” The Hunter asked placing his hand to my stomach. “Little girl, this may hurt…a lot,” laughter leaving his mouth once again.

This feeling was different; it was as though my weight was being pulled to the front of me, the pain. If I had to put it in words, imagine thousands of sword points piercing through your stomach. His hand left my throat as I seemed to levitate there; he tightly grabbed hold of my collar as he mumbled some mumbo-jumbo I didn’t recognize.

My back began to arch off the tree as I felt Shanoria began to be ripped from me. I let out a scream as the pain intensified. let me out, let me out, LET ME OUT. Midnight’s voice roared through my head. Fight him Mira Shanoria echoed behind her. My mind wasn’t on fighting, this pain was too much.

“Shh shh, girl…this won’t hurt too much longer.” His voice rumbled and seemed to get distant as the pain went up a couple more levels.

Everything seemed far away, like I was in the middle of nothing. It can’t end like this. I have a mission. Mira you have to fight him. Let me out Mirage, you’re not going to give up like this, I’m not going to let you, you’ve come too far, you have too much that you have to do; we have to get our lives back to normal. Normal echoed in the desolate world that I was in. Midnight had spoken to me, and finally, she wanted to play on the team.

“Promise me; promise me I’ll be in control.”

“What…what is that?” The Hunter asked as he gripped me around the collar tighter obviously he felt Midnight. I had begun to pull Shanoria back into me, she was right I had to fight, Midnight was right, I couldn’t give up, and we had so much more to live for. There was so much more to our story, and I’d be damned if it was time for me to die and go to hell. If it’s my soul they want, if it’s Sha, their gonna have to fight for it. I’m not giving up.

“What are you doing?”

Finally pulling Sha back into me, all three of us finally clicked, working together for one common cause; survival. My power began to build up to a level that I had never felt before, it surpassed Shanoria taking control, and it surpassed Midnight’s control. Shadow fog began to seep from me as The Hunter slid his hand to my throat and tightened his grip there, in an attempt to choke me out.

He raised his fist into the air to bring it to my face for the final blow but it was too late, as all of my collected power erupted, blasting the Hunter away from me and shrouding the area in dark matter.

After a bit of silence the fog began to clear up. The Hunter stood across from me, breathing hard, he was past aggravation. Across from him I knelt in the crater that I created, as my body began to take its transformation. The purple streaks left my white hair as it began to grow down my back, longer than normal this time.

“You {Bleep}”

“Didn’t anyone ever teach you never to hit girls?” Our voices echoed as we began to rise from our knees.

“Where you’re going, being a female won’t matter!”

“Gotta get us there first.” Looking up at the hunter we smirked. Let me take over, please. Midnight and Shanoria let me take over the helm as my transformation finished, with my skin darkening to midnight blue, and my nails extending out. This time it was like I had a piece of each of them, my eyes rippled blood red like Shanoria’s. We were finally working in unison. I took a stance facing the Hunter.

“So, you gonna take me to hell or what?”

The Hunter laughed, a deep laugh, something seemed comical to him. He looked over at me, “Wow, I didn’t expect this much resistance, looks like you found a fighter this time Shanoria.” Chuckling a little he finished “Is that why you didn’t want to let her go, and come back to your rightful place in hell.”

“What at the bottomless bowels, she deserves better.” I roared.

“Bottomless bowels? Child, you have no {Bleep}ing idea what you are talking about.” Did I know what I was talking about, or was I just going off of what Shanoria had been telling me for the past two and a half years. “Bottomless bowels” he repeated “She had a horde; she ruled regions with an Iron fist.”

“Regions?” Mira don’t listen to him, he is trying to separate us.

“I don’t call her princess for the hell of it. That’s just what she is. Once a great Arch of the angelic, and now a great fallen.” Placing his hands together as though he were trying to show some civility he finished. “And hell would like her back before she finds a way to go back topside. We can’t have the Shadow Princess going back into the light.”

“So, let me have the demon, and I’ll leave you to your teenage life.” He said holding out his hand.

I stood there confused; the things he told me were things that Shanoria didn’t bother to mention. I knew she was a fallen, she was an Angel. An Archangel I didn’t know. Princess? Regions? “You have a horde?” I asked her in my mind. Mira, please

“You haven’t been honest Shanoria.” I said to her ignoring her plea, I really don’t think we have time for this feeble bullshit ladies, talk about it later over popcorn and toenail painting. Right now we have to stop him. I told you there was more, when this is over, I will finish telling you everything

“So girl, did you make your decision?”

“Yea” I answered, “go to hell” I said taking a martial arts stance.

He laughed as he took away his offer; bringing his hand back down to his side, his blades once again skewing themselves from his forearm. “Not without a parting gift.”

[Shadows' Mirage]

Standing across from the Hunter it seemed like a stand off from an old western. The wind blew through the trees as the leaves seemed to sing the wisp of death. The air was stale seeming as it curled across my shoulder throwing my long white hair off to the side.

Death was there, and I could feel him. My only worry was whose name he had. This fight with the Hunter wasn’t a sure win for me. I would have to really give this my all, and push myself past physical tolerance. He was a warrior, and I’m sure he had millennia of experience. I did have Shanoria on my side, and she had hopefully the same amount of time in experience. But, there was still the fact that she didn’t have a winning record with this thing.

The wind continued to blow; it picked up a little as it caught a pile of leaves causing them to cyclone through the middle of the Hunter and me.

“Reign, I will try to make this quick,” his words forcefully ripped through the wind. “I don’t have too much time to play around with you. Like I said in the beginning your soul is required in hell.” His force carried over with the wind as he phased from sight.

Keep on the alert Mira.Shanoria’s words vibrated through my mind as she, warned me.

Yea, listen to her, I’m really not trying to go to prom with some but ugly imp.Listening to Midnights remark somewhat added a calm to me, and she did have a point. Prom in hell wasn’t my idea of fun. I took a stance, closing my eyes as I changed my senses from sight to hearing and feeling.

The training my parents put me through, some would think was grueling for a child at that age. But, I bet they never thought that I would be fighting a multi-thousand year old demon hunter 8 years later. Their training helped me, and prepared me for things that I myself could have never even fathomed would one day happen.

The wind played my hearing as leaves in the trees rustled a bit. The grass also danced along with them, in the rhythm the wind supplied. This was one of the main reasons I mentally enhanced my sense of feeling too. I couldn’t trust my hearing, so I had to add another sense to it to supply help, and a true answer.

The wind drew cold across my skin as my hair raised a little. Remembering how he felt the last time he placed his hands on me, I knew a heat signature wasn’t what I was looking for. He was cold. Colder than the air that weaved around me.

I dropped down a little more in my stance, opening my fists to place my palms out from me. The wind shuffled, and quickly I turned my head into the direction it felt irregular. Mira?, shh,I shot back mentally.

I felt a vast force of wind explode against my body. It was the Hunter, and he was coming out of his rift. Opening my eyes I turned to my right, guiding my hands to the out stretched bladed fist and forearm heading my direction. Placing my hands to his elbow and wrist, I tightened my grip on the Hunter, pushing myself into the air off of his arm.

I looked down at the Hunter as his eyes followed me into the air. I quickly brought my left knee to the back of the Hunters head, causing him to stumble forward. Landing to the ground I took another stance, my fist open, palms facing against the Hunter.

Turning around he swung a bladed forearm at me. Bending back I dodged his blow, barely, as his blade caught the remnants of my hair that floated through the air. Cutting a couple of strands sending them riding in the wind.

I was pleased at my dodge, but, the unrecognizable pressure from his swing caused me to sail to my left, spinning side over side. There was no landing this time as I hit the ground continuing my roll until I hit a tree.

What the hell? I thought as I pushed myself up from the ground. Shanoria?

He wants us bad Mira. He didn’t even use this level fighting against Nivea.

Her words confused me a lot, but I wanted to hear more of what she had to say. So, I asked. Her answer made me shiver. I had no idea this demon could do these things. My spine tingled, as my nerves twitched, and fear gripped me. Her words continuing to loop in my head He doesn’t have to hit you to hit you. He can miss, but if he is close enough, you still are going to feel the full blow.

“Is that fear I see in your eyes girl.” The Hunter asked, mocking me as I knelt at the base of the tree I had run into. Yea, it was fear but I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him that. Things had changed. They became even more indivisible. This was a similar situation as it was when I fought Shanoria. I couldn’t get close to him, because he would push me away. Not only would he push me away, with whatever power he had. He would get a hit off in the process. He didn’t even have to touch me. That was what scared me the most. How can I fight someone that I can’t touch, someone who doesn’t have to touch me but will still tear at me with strong hits?

I rose to my feet, taking a stance once again, my face contorting in pain. What was that? Quickly grabbing my ribs I fell back down to one knee. My heart seemed to throb more, as it slowed down. Taking deep breaths I looked towards the hunter, my vision of him swirled in and out. Damn, not now.

Mira, we have to be quick. Shanoria’s voice boomed into my quiet mind, causing a sharp pain to move across my brain. I grabbed my head.

This is way too much power for her.Midnights voice followed Sha’s, in another agonizing blow.

“Wha- What’s wrong with me?” I said aloud, still looking at the Hunter as a smirk crossed his face.

“You have too much power flowing through your body girl. More than humanly possible and, it is slowly destroying your vital organs.” He crossed his arms, standing down again. “I could take the pain away. Just give up.”

“No” I whispered, pushing myself back up to my feet, my right arm still babying my ribcage.

“Your choice.” He answered in return, phasing out again. Only to appear three feet in front of me, swinging with a right hook. Along his fist and up his forearm I could see the pressure from his strike building up. It looked as though wind itself had settled on his arm, spinning around it as it spiraled out into my direction. Once again, his spiked fist nor bladed forearm connected. Just the pressure.

I managed to throw my arms up to block my face as I crossed them. The pressure threw me against the tree, as it seemed to push with the wind force of a hurricane tearing the exposed bark and leaves from the tree. The pressure making my ears ring as I dropped to my knees again, involuntarily. My bones seemed to chime, as my teeth also ached. What now?

“Sound, that’s one hell of tool also. You know, there are pitches so high it can disturb the water balance in a human body. Even pitches that are higher that can send painful echoes through your bones. Give up girl; I’m sure you can tell. This will not end well.”
I looked up at the Hunter as he stood there, his arms crossed again. He was right; this wasn’t going to end well. Maybe it was my name that death had written down. I sat up, still on my knees, placing my back against the tree behind me as I looked up at the hunter closing my eyes.

I know you aren’t giving up chick. I heard Midnight ring into my hear. Or was it Midnight, the voice seemed to become a little more raspy as it continued. Hey, I might need a sidekick one day, and who better than my sister. We will be unstoppable, the both of us together, looking out for one another. Come on Sapphy, don’t give up on me yet. I need you.

“Orchid”

Damn Shanaynay, she’s losing it.

No,Shanoria laughed, On the contrary, she has found just what she needs.

My eyes broke open to the sight of the Hunter standing in front of me. Pressure once again building in the middle of us. His face twisted in disgust as black fog began to spiral in the middle of us. “No, I’m not giving up.” I said as the fog launched itself into the direction of the Hunter, blasting him off his feet and away from me.

I slowly rose to my feet, staggering with what bit of power I could force. The fog spread out from me acting as tendrils as it wrapped around me, and lashed out, protecting me. I put my hand out, palm facing the sky as fog began to accumulate in the middle of it, spiraling around, with the weird purple aura that it began to show.

The Hunter rose to his feet. “You dear child are becoming a pain in my ass.” His voice roared as he launched himself towards me. Only stopping about 5 feet away from me as he slowed down. Staggering in the spot where he stood. “Shanoria” he growled.

“You aren’t getting any closer to her, for if you do, my death shroud will drain you until you are no more.” She spoke through me.

You can do that, that’s so awesome.Midnight joked, Looks like it’s our turn Miss lady. Throwing my hand forward, I used my telekinesis to launch the fog into the direction of the Hunter, something that Sha has always been trying to teach me. Finally, in the midst of what I thought was defeat, I pulled it off. Casting it harder and faster than Shanoria herself. The ball hit the Hunter, knocking him back. I raised my other hand continuing to do the same thing repeatedly, hitting him dead center in the chest.

A sharp pain shot in my chest again as I grabbed at it. Dropping to a knee again. The fog that had been protecting me began to shrink a little, allowing the hunter to get closer before he stepped into Shanoria’s death shroud.

I had to protect myself, but it seemed the more I protected myself, I killed myself also. Using this power put a huge strain on my body, still tearing at my vital organs slowly. Not working on any one in particular, but working them all simultaneously.

The Hunter looked at the shroud as it shrunk, a smile hitting the corners of his lips. “You hit hard when you do hit girl. But, it looks like you can’t put up with this for too much longer. Your own body is destroying you.” He laughed as he bawled up his fist. “I’ll go on ahead and end your pitiful excuse of existence and send you beyond. To the torturous domains that you will dwell in for eternity.” Swinging, his blades cut through the air, this time making a stronger cast than usual.

I closed my eyes as I threw my hands up to block. ”No”, Shanorias voice boomed. This is the end; there is no way out of it. I flashed remnants of my life through my mind, my mistakes, my triumphs, the embarrassments, the smiles and happiness, the sad times, which was the mass of my life the last couple years.

“I’m sorry” I whispered opening my eyes, I saw as the pressure and current from the wind the Hunter was pushing, rip up the ground as it steadied on its course towards me. My vision eclipsed in a watery image.

Shadow fog began to accumulate from the palm of my hands to the ground in front of me in a last ditch to save what, it thought was life. To give me a fighting chance. Only to be hit head on before it finished its form.

[Shadows' Mirage]

"Vague Clarity"



“Mirage…move!”

“Mira!!!”

Were the words that echoed, followed by a solid black streak that launched itself in front of Mirage. Landing as it formed into a slim feminine silhouette.

The sound of moving earth bombarded her hearing. Causing the girl to snap out of her dormant state, yelling out with a painful scream as she sat upright yanking an I.V. from her neck in the process.

“Mirage!” Alex shrieked jumping out of her bed-side chair quickly moving to her roommate.

Kierin followed her, wordless, as she rushed to her other side. She and Alex tried to hold the screaming girl protecting her from herself.

“Nurse” Kierin yelled as Alex reached for the emergency assist button on the bed and pressed it. The room quickly filled with a nurse and two orderlies who took over for Mirage’s roommates holding her in place.

The nurse grabbed the arm of Mirage quickly sticking a needle into it, “This should help.”

Almost instantly the screams stopped as Mirage calmed. She moaned a little as she laid back to the bed falling back into her dormant state.


One week later…


Alex walked into Mirages’ Hospital room to find Kierin was already there, sitting at the Mirages’ bed side, asleep.

“Kierin,” she whispered, lightly nudging her on her shoulder, not hard but just enough to wake her.

Answering with a soft grunt Kierin stretched out looking into the direction of Alex, “She Up?”She asked turning sleepily to Mirage only to have her question answered by the girl breathing slightly through the apparatus.

“No” Alex answered, disappointed. “Go to the quad, get some rest and freshin’ up. You’ve been here for a while. Ill take over.” Placing her hand on Kierin’s shoulder she caught her attention.

"I'm fine. I should stay until she wakes up."

“That could be a while” Alex said, causing Kierin to turn away, back into the direction of Mirage, who was still showing no changes. “She’s been like this for three weeks already. The doctor’s don’t know what’s wrong. They honestly don’t see her coming out of this anytime soon.”

"I don't really care what they say. She's stronger than they think. All I can do is stay here in case I sense something from Shanoria."

“You could pray” Alex shot back, causing Kierin to turn towards her with an "oh please" look. The room remand silent after the comment, all that was heard was the echoing beeps from the respirator.

Kierin turned back into the direction of Mirage, the words she had been thinking for the past couple of weeks finally surfaced. "If I'd been paying more attention, this probably wouldn't have happened. I could have dodged that last attack."

“This isn’t your fault Kierin.” Alex muttered, squeezing Kierins shoulder for comfort.

"Of course it isn't. That doesn't change the fact that if I had fought better, we could have gotten away unharmed."

The statement lingered in the air for a bit in the quietness of the room. The both of them remained looking at Mirage.

It pained them to see their roommate in this state. It may have even brought upon more hurt since there was nothing that either of them could of done to change the situation.

The only thing that either of them could do was wait. Wait for Mirage to swim her way out of the abyss and eventually wake up. Wait for the inevitable, which would result in permanent comatose, locking her in a vegetable state; where the machines where doing her bodies job. Or, death…which explained itself.

“Well if it's your fault, it's mines too. I should have been there also.”

Kierin looked back up to Alex, who was still floating over her, her hand still gripped on her shoulder. Her eyes beamed down on Mirage as light caught water flickering from behind her glasses.

“It doesn't make any sense though,” Kierin spoke out.

“What doesn't?” Alex asked breaking her stare from Mirage.

“If the Hunter was able to overpower her, she shouldn’t be here. He wanted her and Shanoria, both, in hell.”

“So, you still sense Shanoria?”

“Yeah. Lightly, but she’s there.”

“Then, that is weird. Why'd he stop? He obviously had the upper hand.”

“I don’t know,” Kierin muttered.