Chapter 5

The Nightfall team tried to find a solution to bring their friend back. Meanwhile, Faye and Shadow have a discussion, then they witness a strange thing happening to their pendants

"There is no way!" Rishima said in a brittle voice.

"So what are we going to do?" Blake asked.

"I already told you. We can't do anything. Without Edra's powers, it's impossible. I still can't believe that Faye found her brother in this forest."

"Zev, she has wings. She was able to have a good view of the area."

"I guess I forgot this detail."
"Everyboy listen to me!" Edra ordered. "Those assassins are more cunning even than the fox. They protect their headquarters by using magic. That's why we can't find Faye."

"This means we must be careful. I doubt they will stay in only one place. They can be everywhere, even here, hidden in trees or bushes." Asher intervened.

"Dude, we need food and water. We can't stay in this damn place. With the fruits from here, we will probably survive less than a week. We must contact the king. He will send his soldiers to rescue us. Plus, if he will come in person, which would be a good thing, he will get rid of the assassins." Blake almost screamed in excitement.

"My father doesn't have this power. I'm the only one who can find the Moon's Wolves." the princess said.

"What about Faye? We can't leave her here." Noah said.

"If we go back to Filaria, we can find an antidote for Edra. Then, we rescue Faye." Asher concluded.

"Or her corpse."

"You idiot."

"Then it's settles. Who can contact the king? Raise your hand if you have an idea."

No answer.

"See, this conversations didn't lead anywhere. We're just talking about things that we would like to happen. I will go and get some fruits. Ash, you can get some water with your power."

"Let's hope for the best."

In the dungeon, Faye was lying on her back, looking at the ceiling. She wasn't able to sleep too much after what happened the previous night, but it didn't matter to her. She was the prisoner of the Moon's Wolves and her days were counted. Life couldn't be any worse than this, the girl thought. She knew that the assassins would do anything to obtain information about her team. She wasn't gifted with abilities of wielding water, earth, fire or air like her friends. The only power she had was the control of weather, which she despised. It was very dangerous because she could risk to destroy the nature's balance. Indeed, she was a skilled fighter, but she had a sense of inferiority against her friends.

"I'm so helpless. I'm sure blake is celebrating my disappearance. I guess it's for the best if the team doesn't have me. I manage to ruin everything in the worst ways." she mumbled.

"Get up!" a taut voice ordered her.

Faye jumped on her feet instantly. She saw Shadow standing against the door jamb with his arms crossed.

"You're obedient. I didn't expect that, really."

"Why are you here?"

"To say 'good morning'. Unlike you, I'm polite. So... good morning."

"Morning..." Faye said sscared.

"Open your mouth when you speak."

"Good... morning."

"Let's say it's ok. Here's your breakfast."

He threw on the floor a slice of bread in a teasing manner and waited for her reaction. 

"If you think I'm some kind of dog, you're wrong. You just want to play with me, then give me this as a treat." Faye said annoyed.

"You're very smart and I like that. Plus, you seem so shy and fearful, but you have some courage. I guess I have to make an exception this time."

Shadow dissapeared in a blink. He is such an idiot, Faye thought. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to calm down. When she opened them again, the asssassin was standing in front of her, holding a plate with a sandwich. "What's this supposed to be?" 

"I realised that you need solid food, so you can speak."

The girl just stared, completely dumbfounded. 

"Are you going to take it today?" Shadow said in a flat voice.

"Thank you."

"Filarians are really annoying, but you're interesting. Good appetite!"

Faye analised the sandwich very carefully. It was too weird for her to receive such a thing from someone like him.

"I'm sure it's poisened."

"Do you want me to test it for you?"

"You make me curious. Please, go ahead."

Shadow lifted his mask a little and took a bite. Faye's eyes went wide when she saw that he ate almost half of the sandwich and it seemed like he wanted to eat it all.

"Excuse me, but when was the last time when you ate?"

"Shut up! Seriously, did I ask you when was the last time when you saw your brother?"

"What? How did you know I had a brother?"

"I know a lot of things. Now eat. As you can see, I'm not dead, so it's not poisened. If I wanted to kill you, I would've done done it in the forest. Come on, how idiot do you I think I am?"

The girl started to eat hesitantly, having the feeling that Shadow was staring at her. After she swallowed, her eyes snapped open as she remembered her brother. He usually used to make sandwiches for her, which had the same taste as the one she was currently eating.

"This..."

When she tried to voice her thoughts, Shadow disappeared again.

"Am I going insane?"

After she finished, Faye caressed her necklace and a sigh escaped from her lips. The jewel was made of silver, a blue sun shaped pendant hanging from it. It was one of the few things she had from her mother.

"Mom, I'm scared. My friends are in danger and I can't do anything to help them. Please, take care of us. Be the sunt of hope that we need to see. You told me this a few days before you died, but I never forgot. Now it's my turn to tell you."

In silence, Shadow listened Faye's prayer. Somehow, she seemed very familiar to him. He had seen her before, he was sure of that, but couldn't find any connections. It was the strangest sensation he has ever had. He removed his mask, lifted his hood a little and had a look through the barred door. The girl's pendant glowed all of a sudden. Faye screamed in shock as she saw the entire room being illuminated. Thinking that she noticed him, the assassin ran out from the dungeon and went straight into his room, locking the door behind him. 

"What just happened there?" he asked himself out loud.

He sighed as he threw his mask and cape on a chair. Without realising, he threw his necklace, too, which landed on the floor. It was very similar with Faye's, but it had a silver moon pendant instead. 'You are the moon that shines in the darkest hours.' Those words echoed in his mind. Shadow noticed that his pendant was glowing, too. But he left from the dungeon, so how was that possible? 

"That's unusual." 

The assassin had the sudden urge to look in the mirror. One thing crossed his mind when he saw his reflection: contempt. All his teammates could wield the water, earth, fire or iar, but he couldn't. This thing had been troubling him for years. Despite this, he was strong, agile, smart, but he didn't see this. He never did. He hated everything about himself, especially his appearance: his midnight blue hair with bangs that fell on his face, his violet eyes ehich were almost always dead, his too pale skin which gave him a ghostly appearance.

"The moon that shines in the darkest hours... such a nonsense. I don't bring light, but darkness and pain."

A loud banging broke the silence and brought Shadow back to reality. He put his cape and mask on and opened the door.

"The boss said that he wants to see the filarian immediately." Seth told him.

"Then go and get her. Here's the key."

Shadow threw the key in Seth's head, slammed the door and locked it again.