Shadows

Chapter Three - Gregori's Point of View

If Minerva had not shielded herself and her mother with Shadow Magic, both would be dead. Those words hit me like a physical blow. I said nothing for so long that Bob started to worry.

"Gregori, are you still there?" he asked.

"Yeah, can you tell me what happened? Why are they in the hospital?" I countered flatly.

"We don't know all of the details. What we do know is Minerva conjured an incredibly powerful Shadow Shield to save her mother. Evelyn was in front of her daughter to absorb the most damage. We found magical ice in the house, and believe it was intended to kill Evelyn. Minerva saved her mother's life."

"Was there any other damage?"

"Yes, the roof had collapsed on top of them."

"Which hospital are they in?" I ask as I grab a pen.

"St. Raphael's. Gregori, I need your assistance which is the only reason I'm telling you any of this. I would like to hire you to protect Minerva while she's at the hospital. I can fax a letter to them explaining the situation. You're the only other Shadow Mage within 300 miles."

"I'll do it, Bob. Please fax the letter." I say as I start gathering items. I need to see her, and this is the perfect opportunity.

"Thanks Gregori. I will fax it, just tell them Bob sent you."

"I will." I disconnect the line as I head to my car. She is in trouble, and I couldn't protect her. I drive to St. Raphael's, and give them the information about Bob. They don't give me grief as they lead me to Minerva's room.

I was lead to ICU, and I gasped in shock. Minerva's eyes were closed, but it was obvious that she'd done everything she could to protect her mother. I could barely sense her magical presence, and I could see the healers in the room trying to make a difference. Shadow Healers are extraordinarily rare, and they are coveted by the supernatural community. I knew of only one and he spent one week a month in Texarkana.

"Is Healer Shadowdancer currently in Texarkana?" I ask of the nurse.

"I can check. Our healing magics are not working like they should." the nurse told me as she walked away. I slip into the room, and look down at Minerva. I place my hand close to her and stroke the air above her cheek.

I long to touch her skin, but I know better to touch someone in ICU especially if that person is unconscious. I sit in the chair in her room, and began making shadow puppets on the wall. I start with stick figures being devoured by a stick dinosaur, and move on the evolution of her shadow puppets all eaten by dinosaurs. I have a thing for Jurassic Park, sorry.

Halfway through my shadow puppetry an old wolf steps in to look at Minerva. I hold very still as he does his examination of her. He looks at me and sighs exhaustedly. "I have no intention of harming you, Blackstone. Even if I wanted to my age would give you the advantage."

"I appreciate that, Sir. What's wrong with her?" I inquire softly.

I see a slight smile cross his lips. "Aside from the physical damage? I believe she burned herself out. Not fully, but enough that she needs to recharge her batteries."

The doctor starts a more through exam with a female nurse, and I am not sure what they are looking for. The doctor then opens one of Minerva's eyes, and apparently finds whatever it is. "Shadow Mage. Eyes are the giveaway. Grey in direct light. Black in other lighting. Swirls of grey in the eye even in other lighting." the doctor told the nurse.

"She still needs healing, Sir." the nurse said calmly.

The healer fell into a trance, and a few moments later a grayish light surrounded Minerva. It glowed for a minute then faded away. I could see some of Minerva's wounds had closed, and that she seemed to be breathing easier.

"I will be back in a few hours to assess her condition. I will see you then." he turned on his heel and left with the nurse following behind him. I go back to my puppets and eventually the dinosaur comes to devour the people.

Hours passed like frozen molasses. I kept myself entertained while walking the shadow figures through various reenactments that all ended in everyone being eaten by dinosaurs. I let my mind wonder to the past.

I show up at the house where the new Shadow Mage is living. She is very young, and she's unconsciously making shadow puppets on the walls. They are stick figures, and I am intrigued to see what she will do if I add a new figure. I create a stick dinosaur, and it devours the stick figures. I watch as she suddenly yawns, and curls into a ball on the floor. A few minutes later, she's sound asleep.

I smile as she falls asleep. I am laughing internally as I watch her. This is the first time in centuries I feel so light. I suddenly feel something, and I turn around to see Vanessa Farseer watching me. The woman's eyes flick between me and the room where her granddaughter lay asleep. She understood without me saying a word.

"Gregori Blackstone, you are fated to be with my granddaughter, Minerva. I see the future laid out before me. I have one question, will you guard my granddaughter?." she asked.

"I will guard her from the shadows, Vanessa Farseer." I told her.

She nodded as she walked away, and I went back to watching the room beyond the window. I put a shadow dance on the ceiling, and leave it to play. Sometime later Evelyn comes in to find her daughter sound asleep. She places the child in bed, and cuts the lamp. A single nightlight illuminates the room, and I silently guard her.

Years pass and as she grows up I follow her to friends houses for sleepovers. I learned how to do hand shadow puppets that look like dinosaurs. It left for some very confused friends, and much laughter for me. I used the hand puppets to gobble up all of the creatures, and then when Minerva made her figures I made sure the dinosaurs ate them. She fell asleep quickly, and still I silently watch her.

Time passes around her, and she still relies on her dinosaurs to sleep. One night I hear a conversation between mother and daughter about her bedtime.

"Momma why are you so upset that I go to sleep at a reasonable time? I don't fight you about my bed times do I?" Minerva asked genuinely confused.

"Honey, the other parents say that even when your at a sleepover you go to bed as soon as the dinosaurs eat the figures. This isn't normal honey. What do the dinosaurs mean to you?" Evelyn replied just as confused.

"They mean protection momma. I have used the dinosaurs to go to sleep as far back as I can remember. It's like someone is protecting me. I can sleep when the dinosaurs eat the figures because I feel protected. The shadows protect me momma."

"Alright honey. I think I understand. I will say this honey, if the dinosaurs don't come then you need to learn to sleep on your own. Good Night honey."

"Good Night momma." The conversation ended with the more elaborate drawings of people being placed on the wall. I gave it a few minutes then had the dinosaurs eat the figures. She fell asleep and I replayed the conversation.

She felt protected by me. Even though all I did was ruin her shadow puppet shows with dinosaurs eating everyone. I was surprised and a little flattered. I placed a shadow dance on her ceiling and guarded her through the night.

Time continued to pass, and I was watching her grow up. I watched as she met her cousins, and as she was shunned. I could not understand the darkness in her shadow puppets. I made a hoard of dinosaurs to eat the shadow puppets, and in a twist move began a shadow dance before she could fall asleep. She blinked at the change and began trying to emulate it.

Evelyn came in to turn off the light only to see Minerva passed out on the floor. She had tried to make the shadows dance, but exhausted herself doing so. I smiled as Evelyn picked up her daughter and put her to bed. Years continued to pass, then business took me away from Minerva. My heart was heavy, and I missed her. I kept myself entertained by replaying my favorite shadow dinosaurs eating things clips.

A soft cough brought me back to my surroundings. I looked around to see a nurse looking at Minerva's slew of medical devices. Minerva was still unconscious, and I looked at the clock. It was nearly dawn, and then the cough sounded again to my other side. I looked into the face of my replacement.

"Sorry, Mr. Blackstone. I am, Harry, your replacement for the day shift. Bob told me to be here before dawn and I get off at dusk. Anything you wish to share with me?" He asked.

"Doc should be in to see her sometime today. She's still unconscious, and doesn't seem to be waking up. I leave you to your job." I reply as I stand to leave.

I wave to the nurse, and leave the hospital. I grit my teeth as I go to Evelyn's house to gauge the amount of Shadow Magic used. I hate sunlight, and burn very easily. I can stand the early light for a short time, or I have to feed very well the next night. I need to understand why Minerva and Evelyn are in the hospital. I will take the risk.

I pull up to the house and stop at the crime scene tape. I breathe and cast my mind to the magics of the house. Images flood my mind from the shadows. Minerva arriving in a state of near panic. Her mother unlocking the door and stepping inside the house. Minerva's sudden panic as she pulls her mother into the shadows to shield them. The shield taking the brunt of the damage as the ice exploded. Evelyn's healing light shielding her daughter. The roof collapsing knocking mother and daughter out.

I growl as I dig deeper into the Ice Blast to find the culprit. Jonathan Coldstone's face is burned in my mind. That cold-hearted, narcissistic, greedy animal hurt my beloved Minerva and her mother. He will pay for this. I will make sure of it.

The sun forces me to go home, and I am restless all day. I get up to feed, and then make my way to the hospital. I relieve Harry after his report is given to me then sit down in the chair near Minerva.

Two weeks later, Healer Shadowdancer shakes his head as he examines Minerva while I am in the room. He explains that Minerva is not gathering her magic fast enough for her body to process more than her autonomic functions.

I suggest a ritual and get approval pending her mother signing off on the procedure. I call a friend, who is also a grandmaster Shadow Mage, and ask for assistance. This ritual can go horribly wrong, and I don't want to inadvertently finish what Jonathan started. My friend agrees, and I prepare for the ritual that will be preformed two nights later. I burn my mana and mana crystals to preform it.

Two nights later, Minerva is awake when I arrive. She gives me a ghost of a smile, and settles in for the night. I can not help myself, and I make a shadow movie on the wall. When the dinosaurs eat the people Minerva falls asleep. I stand and gently kiss her forehead before retaking my position.