The Last Shadow 0.2

Katri despised this particularly part of her contract with her employer. She had to spend three evenings a week at the Crematorium, a tavern that had received its name purely from how many of its attendees died each night whilst there. This was partly due to the clientele it attracted, mainly thieves, assassins, fighters and the many lawless occupants in the city of Triggen. This evenings entertainment held most of the blame however. It was fighting night in the Tomb. Meetings between criminals were taken in the dark stalls on the second level of the building, most ended in knife fights or foolish clients being poisoned from spiked drinks sent by their enemies. Brawls were common place on the main floor, with alcohol potent and cheap. Angry arguments usually ended with knives in back or hearts of those whose fighting prowess was limited to throwing punches. Then there was main cause for the deaths each night; the Tomb. A ring that was three metres deep and could easily fit a carriage and two horses within. It sunk down in the middle of the main floor of the Crematorium. The tomb was used for fighting between those skilled with blades, swords, staffs, hammers or less commonly weaponless. It was an unspoken rule to not cause death in these fights, but more often than not, bodies were dragged from the pit and discarded out the front in piles, to be collected by horse and cart in the morning and carried away by the undertakers. Katri had never wanted to know where they were taken or what happened to them.

The Crematorium was hidden down a dark alley and hidden to all but the worst kinds of criminals would knew where to find it in the maze that was the Triggen Market slums. Muscled and vicious Fae guards were always placed at the entrance, hidden from the street but more than capable of scaring away customers who accidentally stumbled upon the tavern by just the sight of them and were skilled enough to disarm, dismember or deliver death to those not welcome to enter or gave them too much trouble. Katri didn't use that entrance for many reasons; to not announce her arrival, to not have to speak to the guards and to have a better vantage point on entry to this cesspit. The thin rectangular hatch on the roof of the Crematorium was hidden from view of anyone who somehow managed to be sneaking along the slippery slanted roof of the tavern. It was shielded by the many chimneys on the roof and Katri had tiled the wooden opening to seamlessly match the tiles adjacent to it. It just looked like another section of roofing. To be safe she had added a few powerful wards, mixed with her blood to allow only her entry, if another tried they would lose whatever limb they put through first. Katri slipped through the secret entrance and silently landed in the storage room of the tavern. The overwhelming smell of cured meat, ale and a creature that had died somewhere behind one of the large moldy barrels. She could already hear loud rowdy music and singing coming from the drunk patrons outside the room. Katri pulled her hood over her face, covering her eyes, gathered herself in ice cold shadows and became The Last Shadow, as she entered the main floor through the cellar door. Scanning the large room and drunk occupants she saw many usuals, who backed away from her as she approached the bar. She inwardly smiled as she saw who sat at the worn, wooden bar. With plenty of space surrounding them, which came of no shock to Katri, for Tanix was just as feared as she was. A wide berth was always gifted to both of them, which they both appreciated in many ways. Katri slide into the stool next to Tanix and without having the ask the tall scarred man behind the bar placed a tankard of dark ale in front of her. Katri nodded her thanks, but he had already hurried away from the powerful and vicious duo sitting at the end of his bar. Tanix had a drink that looked to be ale as well and reached for Katri's, sniffed and swirled and sipped it efficiently. Waited a breathe and then handed it back. Katri winked back, a silent thanks for testing her drink for any poison that might be hidden in it. Katri could have herself but Tanix was loyal to a fault and took any chance to protect her relatively young friend. Tanix was beautiful, with skin the colour of the dark ale they were drinking, they had long braided dark hair that feel in cascades down from the loose knot above their head. They were covered in weapons that ranged from knives strapped to their tight brown leathers to twin swords strapped to their back. However, Tanix's eyes were what drew the most attention from onlookers and it was a instant gave them away for the powerful creature they are.

They had meet when Katri was girl, within the first few weeks of becoming a slave in the Manor and Tanix had seen to her training. Her training included mastering her shadow powers and how to use her mind powers, the many skills needed to be a professional thief and years later her assassin training. Tanix had become her companion, friend, guardian, protector and the only family she had in this horrible city, terrible world. Tanix was mysterious and had many secrets, they seemed to come straight from myth. They didn't identify as male or female and Katri had never asked or assumed because to her it had never mattered. Tanix had never explained how they had come into the employ of and contracted to their shared employer. Katri had never questioned their history, background or powers because Tanix had not questioned her. Katri had always felt so grateful for the trust and respect Tanix had shown her without having ever feeling she then owed an explanation of who she was and how she had come to Triggen. Tanix emanated power, ancient and immense that vibrated from them. Tanix's power was beholden to none of the inhabitants of Niaamren and somehow had traits from the many varying forms of magic found in their land. Katri had seen their power rarely, but it was both light and dark, gentle and fierce. It was deadly but had comforted Katri in moments of despair. It was sly and secret but warm and smooth. Though Katri had wondered often if Tanix was actually from this realm, for their power was nothing she had ever seen. Nor did they look similar to Fae, witch, Mer or human. When Katri was child, one of the three slave girls that slept cramped their shared tiny bed, had whispered one night that she had overheard a conversation between Tanix and their employer. That Tanix had been angry and had said they were older than the sky, oceans and trees of this world. That they had the power to destroy this city entirely if they wished. The conversation had been cut off when one of the matrons of the house had caught the girl eavesdropping and had dragged her to the kitchens. She had beaten her with a large wooden rolling pin, though she was used to the treatment and seemed unfased when relaying the story. Again, Katri had never asked Tanix about any of this, she had decided from a young age she didn't care what Tanix was or where they had come from. They were there for her, the only one in this city, this world that cared for her. To Katri it didn't matter in the slightest what their history was.

Katri was pulled back to the present when Tanix turned from Katri, silently watched the growing crowd. Tanix softly spoke so that only Katri's fine tuned Fae ears could hear, "How was your job, successful?"

Katri smirked with no warmth and just as quietly said back, "Always is" then hesitated and looked at her drink. Tanix noticed that silence and Katri felt her fierce stare, waiting patiently for her to continue. Katri knew that Tanix would wait for however long it took for Katri to explain whatever it was that she was keeping close to her chest. Katri met their stare. Tanix had eyes the colour of the moon, they glowed bright and were white with slight swirls of silver and grey. No one she had ever encountered had eyes like Tanix. Though she supposed she had also never met anyone with eyes that were even close to matching her own midnight eyes. She sighed then and after a long moment said slowly, "I might have brought home a stray". Tanix's eyes flashed with serious shock and fierce concern, her voice was ancient sounding and deep, it had always been weirdly comforting and familiar to Katri, though right now it made her stomach swirl with apprehension as Tanix said "my friend, my soft-hearted friend, you know what Lady M will do if she finds out". Katri once again sighed into her ale and took a long swig enjoying its bitterness, "yes yes I know, don't fret, she will never know. The girl is at my place and asleep. Meeks is watching over her", she finished once again meeting Tanix's concerned stare. Tanix responded with a slight shake of their head and loosened a tired sigh of their own. Then after a couple of swigs of their own drink, softly asked, "what is your plan for this girl? how do you expect this charity of yours to end?" Katri once again paused and looked down at the bar, shielding her face under her hood. Tanix murmured something that sounded vaguely like Goddess spare me under their breathe and did not turn to Katri but continued to inspect the crowd. Then their voice like golden syrup said slowly, "you have not thought to consider this, the future for this child. You have taken it upon yourself to take them to your home, and have put yourself in immense danger in doing so". Katri looked up then and offered a small smile and said, "lucky I have such a wise and powerful friend, who could come up with a plan to steal the moon if they wished". Tanix huffed a laugh and Katri earned a small smirk, "I will think on it young foolish one, keep this hidden and the child safe until then or there will be hell to pay". They were both silent for a long time, watching the crowd and letting the violence and noise wash of them both. Katri had only needed to move once, she'd stood and cracked her shadows towards the roof, releasing a wave of immense dark force that pushed through the crowd. Katri stared down the two shifters who had decided to shift into their leopard and wolf forms, with the intention to rip the others throat out. They had frozen when Katri's power had shoved them violently apart. The whole tavern had gone silent, the music stopped and the crowd had backed away as far as they could from Katri and Tanix. The leopard and wolf had shifted back into their half fae half human forms, and looked anywhere but Katri's face. She scented the fear leaking off them and they murmured apologies and quickly dispersed into the crowd, possibly leaving the Crematorium entirely. Katri had moved back to her seat and after a few minutes passed the music tentatively began again and the crowd low murmurs turned back into the deafening unintelligible noise it had been before. For this was what Katri was contracted to enforce in this disgusting establishment. Enforce some resemblance of mild decorum, that included; not allowing fights that would break of destroy the tavern in anyway, to keep killing to a minimum until the fighting in the tomb began and to make sure above anything else that enemies of Lady M did not set foot in this building. Lady M the owner of this building and its mayhem, the most notorious criminal in Triggen, well known for her brutality, wealth, power and owner of many taverns, brothels and that employed thieves, assassins, Tanix and Katri. Katri waited for the crowds volume to grow past the point of deafening to again completely cover her voice as she spoke to Tanix, "do you know as to why Lady M has called a meeting tonight?". Tanix gave a nearly indiscernible shrug and responded, "not a clue, she hardly bothers me, so it must be serious". Katri frowned at this and turned back to her ale, wondering what Lady M could possibly have planned for them both. Tanix was not berated by Lady M to the degree Katri was. Tanix's employment and contract was another mystery to Katri, and she had no inkling of what Tanix did for Lady M. She had often wondered though, how Tanix who was incredibly powerful and possibly ancient could have ended up in the employ of the despicable and corrupt Lady M. They continued to sit in each others company silently, which was another aspect of Tanix she appreciated. They did not need to speak. They did not need to entertain each other. The presence of her friend was enough for Katri most days. Though when Tanix disappeared on missions or wherever they went, and did not return for months Katri longed for their voice and company, as if she had loss a part of herself. She hoped silently that Lady M might send them both on a mission together that would take Katri out of this city that she hated and into the world she longed to see. She was lost in thought when Tanix stood, finished off their ale and turned to face her, "I got something to take care of, i'll see you at Lady M's when you've finished breaking noses and amazing the crowd with your incredible fighting abilities", Tanix had smirked whilst speaking and their eyes had twinkled slightly with mischief. Katri's only answer was an amused sigh and shake of her head. Katri was appreciative of the humour, Tanix knew she hated this place and what she had to do here, they were trying to ease some of her built of tension. Tanix laughed softly and walked towards the main doors, she was quickly consumed by the crowd.

Katri finished her ale shortly after and stood reluctantly from her stool. She glanced through the room and nearly yawned with boredom at having to manage this reeking place with the mixture of criminals and unfortunates that should have known better then to stumble into the Crematorium. Katri had made a loop of the main floor and then the terrace above and had only had to interfere once. She had seen a Fae female who had a knife in hand, ready to slice open the gut of human man hidden away in one of the darkened corners. Katri had to make eye contact with the women and she immediately put space between herself and the man she'd been all too ready to kill. She nodded, kept her eyes casted down and swiftly moved away. The drunk man who'd just escaped death looked at Katri frozen and murmured a thank you. Katri had told him sternly to leave, that she would not interfere the next time. She knew she would, she would have stopped it a hundred times over, however she had the image of The Last Shadow to uphold as per her contract. At all times in a public setting she was to assume the persona that was The Last Shadow. The last shadow you saw before death comes to claim you. The last shadow you see as you fade into complete darkness. As her reputation had grown as child to young woman, true stories had spread throughout the realm and those stories were embellished and their details changed to be made infinitely more brutal and terrifying. Years later it seemed making eye contact with a stranger was enough for them to scamper away from her. As she made her way back to the ground floor to oversee the fighting that was about to begin in the Tomb, the atmosphere changed in the room. Voices became hushed, the crowd tensed and seemed to take in a breathe. Katri would have assumed it was the reaction to her presence however, she was hidden in the corner of the room cloaked in her shadows. She recognised the culprit of the fear that now tanged the room. There was a new arrival to the Crematorian, though not someone who had not visited before. Just someone who rarely stepped foot in the this place. The Enforcer, the enforcer of law in the kingdom of Triggen, Corvina the Queen's daughter. Corvina walked through the dispersing crowd confident and determined. Katri and Corvina and met many times as a part thief part assassin might run into the law at some point. They were similar age, no older than twenty years of age and both were stubbornly proud and had disliked each other from their very first meeting. Corvina had come many times to Lady M's Manor to question and arrest Katri for crimes ranging from stealing apples to the murder of powerful men who worked for the Queen of Triggen. Corvina's dislike had evolved to an unwavering hatred when each time she had sought Katri out, she had no evidence or witnesses of the crimes she accused Katri of committing. Either she left angry and venomous or Katri simply walked away smirking at her eager attempts to arrest her. Corvina was scanning the room in disgust and most of the crowd had rushed up to the second floor to avoid The Enforcer. She had a reputation for her brutailty to those who crossed her or she arrested. She was cruel and devilish. She was meant to be the guardian of keep Triggen lawless, which always made Katri scoff. Triggen was the most lawless kingdom in Niaamren. Death, theft, violence, poverty and slaves were abundant here, more so than any of the other kingdoms. Though the whole of Niaamrin had been trapped in lawlessness and depravity with the curse of the shadows gripping the world and the ruling monarchs each as evil as each other. It was not a shock that everyone in this building was most likely conducting criminal activities and were shocked to see the kingdom's Enforcer in the Crematorium. Katri stepped from the shadows and plastered a fake, viscous smile across her face.The Last Shadow incarnate, an act that had become an identity she could shift into by habit. She stalked towards Corvina with calm mirth, shadows trailing after her effortlessly. Using a blunt humourless voice she asked, "how blessed are we to host one of Triggen's nobility, please let me buy you a drink Enforcer", her brutal smirk was the only visible sign of her mocking. The rest of Katri's body, stance and cold eyes suggested violence. Corvina smirked back at Katri unfazed, her voice loud enough for all the patrons present to hear, "I'm seeking the murderer of one of the Master's sitting on the Queen's council. He was murdered earlier this evening and one of the maids swore she saw unnatural shadows along his rooms hallway before she found him". The room's silence had turned taunt, as if everyone in the room was holding in their breath collectively. Katri felt the entire rooms eyes boring into her. For they knew, and so did Corvina that there was only one individual known in the realm to have shadow powers. She was standing amongst them with shadows billowing around her currently. Katri sighed and spoke in a voice that usually pissed off Corvina, "ah, I missed it unfortunately. Sounds like fun though, invite me next time". Katri saw the slight tension of Corvina's body, with her now narrowed, icy eyes she spat back, "I doubt The Last Shadow would miss murdering an innocent man as he sleeps, cutting his throat and leaving him to die slowly covered in his own blood". Katri yawned, and made a shooing motion with her hands, "ask anyone here, I have been here all evening enjoying the lively and raunchy music". Katri moved casually towards the bar and turned to the barmen, locking eyes and silently commanding him to corroborate her story. She did not need to use her mind for this command, he knew that he must or it would end in bloodshed for him if he chose not to. The barman flinched under her gaze but turned without hesitation to Corvina and spoke assuredly,"The lady has been here since I opened the tavern, Lady Enforcer, the guards out front can confirm it as well if it please you?". Corvina looked ready to skin the man by the end of his explanation, so Katri regained The Enforcers focus by asking for two ale's. He poured them efficiently, even though Katri saw the slight shake in his hands. She turned and offered one to Corvina, who looked like she'd rather drink goat's blood then share a drink with Katri. Katri shrugged and spoke with fanned politeness, "The evenings main event is about to begin Lady, why don't you stay and enjoy the evening in the company of Triggen's finest". This earned Katri and few quiet chuckles from the crowd. Corvina's face was now contorted in rage and she stepped towards Katri, reaching for her long blade strapped to her side. Katri barely had time to shift into a fighting stance, that to the untrained eye would have looked just as casual as she was now, standing next the bar with an ale in her hand. As if the brutal Enforcer was not mere feet away looking ready to gut her, when Meeks appeared at her side, growling low and savagely towards Corvina. His wings were flared wide and teeth were bared, he looked as if he was Death's own servant sent to do his bidding. As tall at Katri and with his own shadows swirling around him, he looked like the savage beast he was claimed to be. Katri began to smirk and continued to sip her ale and even leaned back against the bar as the crowd pushed further back into the shadows. She saw out of the corner of her eye many patrons were beginning to exit quickly through the front doors. She needed to end this now, before the place was emptied entirely and she was punished for it by Lady M. Though still many stayed, most likely hoping to see the fight that would soon unfold.

Corvina flinched away from Meek's sudden arrival and Katri's smirk grew and turned wicked remembering just how Corvina had gotten the three long scars that ran from her forehead, over the top of her right eye and halfway down her cheek. And who had given them to her. Some years ago now, Corvina had cornered Katri in one of Triggen Market's dark abandoned alleys. Due to severe injuries inflicted by Lady M for one of Katri's transgressions, Corvina had been able to get her sword inches away from Katri's neck, smiling wide and wild at Katri's seemingly death by her hands. She was a formidable warrior, with deadly skills however normally would have been no match for Katri. When Meeks had materialized behind Corvina and without hesitation launched himself at her. He'd bitten down on her torso, ripping her away from Katri and then swiped with his long sharp claws, as they fell onto the dirty cobblestones, down her face. Even now healed and slightly faded they stood out brutally on her face. Her short brown hair that only fell to her chin and matching brown eyes nearly unnoticeable against the scars. Corvina regained some composure and shifted her rage from Katri to Meeks, as if she too was remembering that night in the alley. She hissed through her teeth at Meeks, ready to settle the score and Meeks hissed right back at her like an alley cat and leaned back onto his hunches ready to once against launch himself at the highly skilled fighter to protect his lady if he needed to.

Easy fiesty one

Katri spoke softly to his mind. His gaze did not shift nor did he release any of the tension from his body. She felt the rage emanating off him, as if his protective instincts had taken complete control. Katri spoke in a strong and uncompromising voice now, trying to break through his Monster instincts

enough Meeks, that is enough. I've had enough violence tonight and she is not worth our time, enough now.

He didn't take his gaze off Corvina but she felt him lean into her to acknowledge her words and wrapped his tail around her calf, over her black boots carefully avoiding her numerous knives strapped up her leg. In case she needed to use them. He was ready to cover them in his magic to make them fade into the background, become invisible to crowd and Corvina or to use his shadows to step and carry them away from the Crematorium completely.

the girl, is she safe?

Katri spoke gently into his mind. Meeks subtly dipped his head, a silent reassurance the girl was fine. Corvina advanced slowly, eyes flicking between Meeks and Katri. She spoke in a cruel voice,"you and your overgrown feral cat are coming with me for questioning". Which meant she would be taken to the dungeons in the enforcement base and strapped to a stone bench and tortured. Katri had been trained to survive torture treatment by Lady M, however she did not want to relive it. She spoke through a yawn, this time it was real instead of forced, "Well I have an appointment to get to Corvina and I hate to run from your engaging company" Katri said dripping in sarcasm and smiling in a way that had Corvina's hand twitching towards her sword,“but duty calls” she went to silently ask Meeks to make them fade into the background, disappear, but he already had. This did not surprise Katri, they become so close over the years it was as if they shared one mind. Now invisible to everyone in the room, they moved effortlessly to the dark table at the back of the Crematorium and Katri tried not to laugh out loud at the frustration and anger leeching off Corvina. Who could no longer see her or Meeks and was left standing in the middle of the room alone holding her sword pointlessly. Corvina turned and stormed out the main doors, cursing those in her way and threatening to flay everyone in the room.

Katri's back was pressed against the cool stone wall and her were legs pulled into her body. She leaned against the table as she sat, still invisible to the crowd with Meeks. Her shoulders began to slump as music began again and she knew it was getting close to the entertainment end of the evening. Lost in thought, obviously leaking exhaustion and utter revulsion of just being in this space, she was caught off guard as Meeks licked the side of her face with his prickly tongue. Katri she smiled.

Watch yourself, you overgrown house-cat

Meeks looked at her without blinking and then faced towards to crowd who were turning loud and violent as the first round of fighting began in the Tomb. Bets were taken, alcohol spilt and the smell of blood was already a tang in the air.

Thank you

Katri whispered to Meeks silent mind and leaned into his chest. His smell of lavender and misty dawn brought her back to herself as it always did. He Lowered his large warm head onto hers and purred in comfort that she felt vibrate into her own chest. She murmured to Meeks,

Go home, you overprotective busy body. Make sure the girl is still asleep

Meeks nudged her playfully and stepped into his own darkness.