Lily and The Cardinal

Heads Will Roll

"Enough you devil, this isn't funny." "If it's not funny then why am I laughin'?"

The loud cackling of the black silhouette echoed off the walls of the cold dark chamber. Sitting butterfly style on the dirty concrete, the shadow brings a bloodstained hand up to rest under their chin mockingly. "Well, what are you waiting for? Aren't you supposed to be killing me right now?"

The abundance of unhappy chains fastened around the shadows wrists and ankles rattle loudly as it limply crawls across the floor to the center of the prison cell. Slowly pushing itself up onto its knees, the shadow smirked.

"It certainly would be embarrassing if I showed up late to hell."

Outside the bars of the shadows cage stood a small flock of blurry grey silhouettes. Their bruised, blistered fists, held makeshift weapons to defend themselves against the shadow. Not that they even really needed them.

The shadow had become so weak, they could kill it with just their hands.

But no, that would be too easy, these people wanted the shadow to suffer.

It was evident by the way they looked at the creature. Hatred, disgust, malice, these people wanted to see the dark silhouettes head roll.

"Even in your situation, you still manage to s**t talk."

A raspy elderly voice sounded from deeper within the small crowd.

The grey silhouettes quickly shuffle around in the tight space to make room for the new voice to step forward.

Not black like the shadow, nor grey like the people, this silhouette was completely white. Gleaming brighter than the stars, the figure's frail-looking hands come to wrap around the steel bars of the monster's cell.

"Hey! It's too dangerous to be that close, step back!" "Don't be a fool."

The elderly figure chuckled.

Turning their back to the cage, the elder grinned.

"I've seen Pixies that look tougher than this beast. After all..."

The elder's eyes bounced from figure to figure before turning back around to peer at the shadow. Admittedly becoming slightly startled to find the beast furiously snarling and baring its teeth like a rabid dog.

Its eyes were blazing a robust crimson red that could make the most wicked men in the world quiver. The shadow wanted to s*******r the elderly figure no doubt. But the white silhouette paid it no mind. The monster's rage only encouraged the radiant elder to continue further.

This disgrace, this infection, this darkness, was no man. It was only a shadow sent from hell to create chaos and thrust despair onto the innocent. So, the elder couldn't begin to understand how, how did this beast have a heart. And why did it only beat for one?

"After all... This beast is so weak, it couldn't even protect that child with-"

Bang!

Within a flash, the shadow is on its feet and at the prison bars. The heavy chains dig into the dark silhouette's skin.

Creating ugly purple scars amongst the battleground of other painful wounds that layer the shadow's body.

Moreover, the discomfort in the creature's skin was no match for the agony that knocked against its chest.

"You shut up, you shut your goddamn mouth before I break outta here and rip out your throat."

The two silhouettes simply stood there, staring at each other with so much hatred, that even the steel bars between them seemed to be rotting.

The elder takes in many deep breaths before fearlessly stepping closer to the shadow.

"What are you doing?!"

One of the grey figures shrieks, but the elder doesn't listen. The elder had no time to listen.

The white silhouette wanted answers, and right now was the last opportunity to converse with the creature before its c****x reaches the end. An epic tale the beast had. Of magic and dragons, to death and destruction. Truly a dreadful villain that will be remembered for generations and generations to come.

"Do you feel no sympathy for the things you've done?"

The shadow's crimson eyes widen at the question, an indication that it was not expecting to be interrogated. Its bony fists tighten around the thick bars as it stares intensely into the elderly figures' own.

"I.... don't know..." "Then what about the comrades you betrayed?" "I don't know."

"The one who lo-" "I SAID I DON'T KNOW!" The entire room rattled with the shadow's cries. No one dared to move or speak. The grey blurs appeared to be frozen in time as they silently observe the unusual phenomenon unfolding before them.

"I don't... know."

The shadow mumbled. Hanging its head low against the rusty bars as it aggressively inhaled and exhaled.

"Then let me ask you one question you should know the answer to."

The white figure's voice was surprisingly calm as they positioned their wrinkly hands just a hairsbreadth below the shadows.

"If you could return to the past, where light ruled the days and darkness engulfed the nights. When cities were full of life and time felt like an eternity.

Before the Lilies reeked and the Cardinals sang. Would you have followed the white light to change your fate and become the hero? Or would you follow the same dark path to unite with your Kryptonite?"

"Tick... Tick... Tick..."

Time was running out, the shadows hourglass had been flipped, oh how quickly the sand fell. Behind those brilliant crimson pupils lay the thoughts of a mad man. The answer to that question had been as simple as water flowing down a stream.

One right answer and the creature's destiny could be forever changed.

Any sane man would have told the great elder the right answer. But this shadow was no man, nor was it sane enough to save its own head.

"It is a funny thing. You've said my path had been dark, but all I've seen is red.

A red path painted in blood and littered with freckled petals. A dark path yes, but there is light sprinkled within it. I would relive my time with my Kryptonite again, and again, a million times over and even beyond that. So it is not a question that you ask, but a confirmation that I have made the right choice."

"I see..."

The elder gave the creature a small smile, their hands coming up to rest upon the shadows. Warm, the shadow was warm.

It truly was dreadful. A single tear leaks down the elder's cheek while the monster quickly withdrawals its hands from the white figure's grasp and hangs its head low.

Tick... Tick... Tick...

Up above ground where freedom lays a death clock chimes. Time was up, the hourglasses last grain of sand had fallen. The shadow was going to die. Without saying a word, three of the grey silhouettes speedily enter the shadow's cage. The creature doesn't try to resist as they pull on its chains like a leash and drag it behind the great elder and the herd of other grey blurs.

Up and up through dark corridors and musty staircases. Every step the beast took felt heavier than the last. The shadow had no fears, it was the world that feared it. So why did it suddenly tremble?

As the small group comes closer to the surface, thousands of ferocious hollers poured through the ears of the shadow.

"KILL IT!" A woman yelled. "NO MERCY!" Shouted another. "OFF WITH ITS HEAD!"

Two large black wooden doors were the last barrier keeping the creature from its termination. The bloody handprints splattered among the black paint didn't at all ease the tension hidden within the creature. The human prints ranged from large to small. Even a few child-sized hands were displayed upon the hellish door.

"And you call me the devil..."