Shade of Exposure (Three)

Four

Four:

Spires above the massive techno city that was Hidden. At the very center, the most majestic spire stood. The opulence was nothing as lavish and ludicrous as humans might contrive, but nonetheless, there were trappings of many bygone eras of earth and some other distant places further removed from this planet.

Reminders of a time before the endless war when the dimensions of the pan-dimensional-spate-time once joined, and transverse by many higher species, and even humans. Immortal races evolved beyond the age of natural death littered the universe, joined by the exploration and expanse of time. Now separated by a single creed who came to power with such a ferocity that none could halt their ambition, save for shutting down the dimensional gates.

Once a nexus for travel, the earth is long forgotten, a lot like the not so mythical Atlantis, which is only as lost as the gates to travel between the layers of the fabric of reality. Many wonders such as this, have been denied to us now, thanks to the Architects.

My mind spun through my deep inner musings which were more morbid, than amusing. I was always a critical thinker, and I seemed to have a true talent for brooding.

The doors as large as a fully grown dragon swung open with a hiss. Amid the humble court of nobles and other people of importance to Hidden, sat a very bored and annoyed-looking man in a black suit. He was crisply tailored, and he wore titanium cufflinks, and gleaming perfect polished black boots which seemed functional as well as lavish.

Siegfried looked upon me with a scathing level of irritation. While I could think of half a dozen possible reasons, he could be this angry with me, again. I was not sure which one of them would be important or dire-enough to warrant having his right-hand drag us here kicking and screaming. I have a very casual off-again-on-again fling with the rules of law. That is to say, I frequently float Siegfried’s decrees. To say I am a thorn in his side would be selling short the hostile nature of our relationship—such as it is.

“Hannah Graves. You certainly have not disappointed us in our anticipation of you ruining our way of life, as with each of your shade brothers prior.”

Siegfried said, cutting through the usual dull routine that we usually had. Usually, he spent about fifteen minutes making it perfectly clear how bothersome and annoying it was just to be in my presence. Usually, he was snider and more indirect about whatever topic he was eventually leading me towards. Today was not the usual. I was suddenly at peak alert, and I squared up, skipping straight over an insult, and moving right to the point. I stepped into the room and I moved towards him, ignoring the guards who were all holding their hands fast to the sheaths of their weapons.

“I’ve been far too busy holding back the actual gates of hell from the mortals to do anything so dastardly!”

I said in a high and angry tone.

“Interesting, since it is this self-same cause which lands us here today.”

Siegfried waved his hand, and I felt a mild trace of subtle expression so indistinct it could not be categorized or quantified.

“As you can see, you’ve managed to undo what we have built throughout over thirteen-hundred-years!”

Siegfried exclaimed, as a Fox News coverage of zombies played, then followed by the source video shot by an all-to-familiar young woman. The caption read, “The supernatural exists.” And then it continued to cycle through comparisons to The Walking Dead, and the real-life dead things attacking people in the snow-covered streets of Brooklyn.

Suddenly, his accusation made a lot more sense. I had inadvertently been in the position of being the one left holding the bag when a mortal decided to release the cat from it.

“Do you expect me to apologize for preserving life?”

I asked in a chilly tone, and Siegfried narrowed his eyes at me.

“This is very serious, Hannah. You have rung the bell that cannot be un-rung again. Modern humans might not possess a fraction of our true power, but they are too advanced to be convinced we are mere fables a second time!”

Siegfried exclaimed, and I suddenly understood that meaning. They had once before put the cat back into its bag. That likely explains the littered history of human mythologies and lore that surround different immortal pan-dimensional traveling species.

“Obviously, this is very serious, thank you Captain Obvious!”

I exclaimed at him in a sassy tone and I held his gaze as I strolled further. The guards unsheathed their blades as I approached within five paces of Siegfried. Eyeing them in mild annoyance I looked past them, to the king on his throne.

“Can you please tell your toy soldiers to stand down? Or shall I pretend like I could not move straight through them upon a single whim?”

My tone was colder and more biting than the winter howling winds in the snowy streets of New York right now. Siegfried held my gaze unflinching, unafraid of the veiled threat.

“You are so very young, so out of your depth. You do not even perceive the danger you have unleashed upon the world, Hannah Graves. Now that the humans know about us, again, the Architects might very well move against them. You have signed the death sentences of countless unnamed beings, thanks to your need to satisfy your sense of civility and justice. In saving that one vapid mortal, you have condemned many!”

Siegfried spoke in a weathered tone, and he considered me for a very prolonged moment. He seemed to arrive at some decision, and he sighed once. It was not like his usual exaggerated boredom. This seemed to be true regret.

“System, revoke access granted to Hannah Graves. Flag as a potential hostile entity to Hidden. You, Hannah, are banished from this city for your recklessness.”

Siegfried decreed, and His guards seemed to close in on me, but halted in place at the figure standing behind me leaking off more deathly expression than would be required to murder twice as many as were present in this room.

“You dare to lay this at Hannah’s feet when you know this volley was fired first from the rogue Architect known as the Litch. He set this into motion long before Hannah was on that street fighting to save a mortal life, allowing her flesh to be flayed! Her blood soaks the streets from her many sacrifices to push back the tide of the dead. That is how you show your gratitude?”

Skylar asked, her tone lethal and she looked past Siegfried and caught her mother’s eye.

“Will you stand for this fallacy of logic? Simply pin the blame on the shade because it is easy?”

Senna scoffed and twisted her hand in a dismissive motion.

“Hannah is dangerous; however, I am not inclined to believe she shoulders the blame for more than being a reckless fool. However, I happen to know everyone present had been in combat for days on end, so decisions were cloudy at best in the fog of such prolonged and violent conflict. The Nix cannot in good conscience agree, even though it would certainly be more convenient for me to lie and ascribe her the blame.”

My Jaw nearly hit the floor in shock at Senna opting to back her daughter’s judgment, and not throw me further under the bus.

Siegfried huffed and looked to Skylar, and then to Senna.

“That is unfortunate, however, it does not change my decision as far as Hidden is concerned. If you want to allow this rabble into your homes, that is not my concern, but she will never set foot in this city again. Not now that her face has been plastered across mortal TV and internet for the entire world to see. Let us not forget, she is a shade, and now the Architects will certainly discover exactly who and what she is. She is a walking target now.”

Siegfried surmised grimly, and I realized now why he was doing this. I was not the prize to a faction who seemed bent on dominion. Not that the Architects were ever truly known for their restraint or subtility. However, now they were going to come for me, it was only a matter of time.

Soon I would have to face beings that even surpassed the danger of the Litch who unleashed zombie hell on earth.

“I got it, Hannah is persona non grata, noted, so the filthy shade will take her to leave, and if the door hits me on the ass on the way out, I promise not to flay your guards.”

I said in a dark tone, and Siegfried seemed to pause for a very long moment before he finally inquired, “That’s it? You are not going to launch into a crusade for your justice and defend yourself to me?”

I snorted and rolled my eyes and said, “We both knew this day was coming, and soon. I am the squeaky wheel, and you are the leader of multiple races of immortals. I am glad I could use this time to gain my footing, but I always knew this day was coming, though I admit I expected Senna to be demanding my head on a pike when it came.”

Siegfried seemed to still for a moment. I couldn’t sense or read anything coming from him, which was not uncommon, but he had his expression fully locked, and completely inscrutable.

“Sadly, I can see your logic on this matter. It is regretful that we have reached this junction. If you agree to a pact of non-aggression, I will restrain any possible hostilities on the end of Hidden.”

I blinked, and I shrugged.

“I think we all have enough on our plates at the moment.”

I said, and Siegfried clarified, “That is an agreement to peaceful co-existence?”

Annoyance played on my features as I sassed, “I’m not any different than I was before. I am not all about the violence and death, and I am certainly in no hurry to go to war over hurt feelings and a difference of opinion.”

I clarified for him, and Siegfried nodded and waved a dismissive hand.

“Leave the city peacefully of your power, and we have an agreement, Hannah Graves.”

Shrugging, I comically gave a deep-faux-bow.

“As the Lord wishes.”

I jested, and I turned on my heels and spoke over my shoulder.

“It was fun while It lasted, king musty pants.”

I said, and he seemed almost amused, for a nan-second, but then it was gone.

“Leave us to deal with the fallout of your mess.”

He said, and Sky growled in anger.

“I am leaving as well. You clearly do not need the Nix apex, if you would be so dismissive of your most potent ally in this dimension!”

Skylar is fiercely loyal and extremely defensive of those she loves. Her loyalty and ferociousness is something that I love and admire in her, but right now, it was only going to escalate the situation further.

“Sky, let's go since you’re my ride out of this joint. If they think they are cramming my butt into that death-trap they call an elevator, they are higher than every junky on earth!”

I said, and Sky seemed to consider my words, I could visibly see her cooling off. Siegfried considered her very carefully and made absolutely no provocative motion or sound. He recognized her apex alpha switch was tripped and her anger could result in a physical altercation right now.

“You two are not leaving the way you came in!”

Senna admonishing us both for something we were yet to even do. Sky gave her a single glare and said, “Watch us.”

Needless to say, we left the way we came, and no one dared to stand in Skylar’s path.