Darkness Binding 3: Part Three

Immediately, three serpents, about two meters long, took notice of him. They quickly moved to take up positions in front of him and to his sides. A mere foot away from him, they remained still and stared at him.

Cray spoke loudly and boldly, "I am Cray, a visitor from the material plane. I request to know where the preacher of the exodus currently is."

For a moment, the shadows remained where they were. Then, the one in front softly hissed out, "Outsssider..." Then, as if given a burst of energy, the shadows shot off straight up, curving to the right. Unable to think of anything better to do, Cray used his own shadow powers to propel himself through the shadows to follow.

Meanwhile, in the temple of shadows, Yorvick stared into the gateway while the council stood in their spots quietly. Yorvick asked, "Do you think they're actually leading him somewhere?"

The Nimmo answered, "We can't be certain. For all we know, those shadows didn't know about the exodus. It's nearly impossible to determine which shadows know what we need to know."

"Well what if he finds himself in trouble," questioned Yorvick. "Will you be able to get him out of there?"

The Kau said, "That is probable, but he has to come freely if we are to get him without any shadows. In a time of panic, he may not be focused on leaving. He would probably try to fight in his stubborn way."

Yorvick continued to look, but his worry did not vanish in the slightest. The setup of this whole operation was unsettling in its lack of preparation and knowledge. This was his friend's life being risked, and this council seemed to treat it as if it was expendable.

Cray moved behind the shadows, blindly following their every move. Now and then they would slightly shift direction, which made no sense in a void. Cray felt as if he was being mocked by these serpents as many other shadows throughout the realm stopped to watch him move by. Subtlety was not an option at this point.

After the shadows stopped, Cray slowed himself down to drift to their side. The three pointed Cray to what looked like a swarm of shadows settled in an area like an audience, or maybe an army. At the head of the shadows was the most unique one in shape he had seen in the entire plane. It had three tails and a more defined roundness at the front to symbolize a head. He wasn't sure, but Cray thought he could make out indentions as eyes, which seemed pointless for a creature who is able to see in every direction.

As Cray approached the crowd, he began to hear whispers echoing through the surrounding area. He couldn't make out the language of the shadows, so he didn't even try to listen too closely. He neared the crowd, which then slowly turned to acknowledge his existence. None of them had seen something as tangible as Cray, so they slowly scattered to keep a distance from him. The only one to not move was the one with three tails.

Cray stopped short of the unique shadow, but said nothing. Instead, the shadow slowly spoke in a language Cray could understand, "You're from the other side. The side I was told about by the one already there. Why have you come?"

Cray answered, "It has come to my attention that you want to go there yourself. I am here to tell you shouldn't."

The shadow shot forward, stopping a mere inch from Cray's face. Its tails quickly fanned out and Cray drifted back in response. Looking eye to eye, the shadow said, "Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do? There's a much better world out there, and it is time my people stop this mindless work and go there."

"You'll kill us all," Cray told him. "It will destroy our planes and we will all die if you continue this."

The shadow slowly drifted back as it asked, "What are those words?"

"Which ones," Cray responded.

It said, "Kill...die...these words mean nothing to me. What are they?"

Cray answered, "To no longer exist. To vanish from all planes and meet an end only those who are already dead are certain of."

A hissing laughter came from the shadow upon hearing that. "We have no such concept. Never has one of my brethren ever died. Such a thing is impossible for us."

Cray shook his head, "No, it is possible. It has to be. How else can your population be kept under control?"

"Kept under control? It doesn't need to be kept under control," the shadow explained. "Those of us who are here have always been here. We have been here since the dawn of reality, and as such, none of us can leave it."

Cray simply said, "Your friend would disagree."

The shadow narrowed the indentions in its head, "Is that so? So you know my brethren who is on the other side already?"

"Yes," answered Cray, "he's dead. He was incinerated for doing harm to others. There are forces outside this plane that can kill you. You are maladjusted to many things."

"No doubt he was killed because he was one of us," responded the shadow in a harsh tone. "He told me when he was sent back here about how he was attacked for no reason. But we will be in numbers. I'm sure your people can't kill us all, no matter how hard you try. We will be free from this constant circle of labor."

Cray yelled back, "He wasn't attacked for nothing. He attacked first and rendered three people into a coma before we struck back. That's when he was sent back. When he returned and attacked again, that is when he left us no choice."

The shadow swung a tail around and slapped Cray across the face, knocking him to the side. After returning the tail to behind itself, it said, "Do not give such lies about the shadows. I know who my brethren are, and they are noble, honest people. You must have been a part of the group who killed him. Go back to your plane and stay out of our way unless you wish to...what as it? Ah, yes...die."

During that time, Yorvick was watching over the conversation with the council and none of them looked very happy. Yorvick said, "We should get him out. It's becoming too dangerous in there."

The Mynci shook her head and said, "We can't do that. He still hasn't made any progress. We should give him some more time before making any withdrawal plans."

The Nimmo nodded, "Agreed. He still has a chance if he can convince that one shadow."

Yorvick slowly shook his head while still looking over Cray. Suddenly, he realized that Cray was still conscious after that hit. It was his understanding that the shadows touching someone from the material plane will paralyze them. He asked, "Why isn't Cray drained of energy and in a coma?"

The Lenny said, "Because they're in that plane of existence. They only sap energy when they need it to feed, and their plane sustains them completely, making it so they don't naturally drain him. It's only done when needed."

"I still think you should help somehow," Yorvick mumbled. The council could all hear them, but they said nothing back to him.

Cray remained facing the shadow. His fists were clenched and his teeth were grinding against one another. The dark energies around him built up within his eyes as he drew the limitless power to himself.

The shadow stared back without making a single move. Traveling like an echo again, its voice said, "That's not going to help. We are gods over the shadows, and no matter how much power to gain, we can stretch it beyond its limits. If you wish to die in anger, I have no trouble keeping you from your end."

As if he suddenly returned to a state of logical thought, Cray loosened his grip and relaxed his body. The darkness remained inside him, but it was no longer concentrated around his eyes. In a voice being calm, yet rougher than usual, he said, "You will come to your senses before I leave here. You'll come to realize I tell you the truth, and you will stop this exodus."

The shadow was silent for moment, then said, "Perhaps it can work the other way. You clearly don't want to leave, even with the prospect of being killed if you stay, so remain with me. Perhaps once you see what we do and why we want to leave, then you'll feel different about it."

Cray didn't know what other choices he had at that point. Leaving would accomplish nothing, he couldn't win a fight against them all, and weren't listening to him. "Perhaps that is best," he replied. "Under one condition, though. You let me speak when I wish without harming me."

With a nod, the shadow accepted the terms. The two floated off together so Cray could see what it is they were hoping for, and perhaps make a point of his own from it.

To be continued...