856 C-7, Rain Month 2, Moon 28
By the time I’d returned to the training grounds, everything had ended, and I had to learn of the mysterious, blade-wielding vampire secondhand.
Karen and Professor Tellion had restrained the vampire after his defeat. Fortunately, it was cloudy, so he hadn’t burned away in the sunlight. Thanks to their efforts, the Guardians had been able to take him away to prison. It seemed that everything had ended without incident in my absence. How absolutely wonderful, or at least it should’ve been.
“So?” I asked my shadow as I sat in my chair in the student council room. “How’d that plan of yours go?”
“Quit acting like it wasn’t our plan. You were a key part, remember? Without you disabling some of the school’s defenses when you left to check up on that Magic Breaker, our guy wouldn’t have been able to get in.”
“I have no clue what you mean. I simply stepped out to check on one of our students who might have been badly injured,” I smiled innocently.
“Whatever. Plan A’s obviously a mess, so we’re throwing it in the trash.”
“Is there even a plan B? You kept assuring me that the first plan was foolproof. Perhaps you should have made it moronproof to withstand the machinations of your mind.”
“Poke fun all you want, but you’re happy about the outcome, aren’t you?”
“Why would I be? I’ve missed the opportunity to free my family from under your master’s thumb.”
“We’re not stupid. We knew exactly who that vampire was when we joined hands with him. You’re happy he’s captured and not dead, aren’t you?”
I crossed my legs and rested my head in my hand, a faint smile stretching across my face. “Hmm. Who knows? I think I’m more devastated than anything that your little plot didn’t work out.”
“There’ll be plenty of other opportunities. Don’t you worry. I expect you to help with every last one of them too. Remember, you have no choice in this.”
“Of course.” I nodded. “I would never dream of defying you or your master.”
“I can tell you’re being sarcastic, and I’m going to let it slide because there’s nothing you can do to defy him, especially because you know what’ll happen if you do.”
I fell quiet for a moment. “Are we done here? I don’t especially like the lonely feeling I get from talking to my shadow.”
“Yeah, we’re done, for now. I’ll be in touch soon with the next plan. We worked so hard getting that elder dragon here. We’re not gonna let this opportunity go. See you soon...partner.” Not too long after he said these words, his presence vanished.
As soon as I confirmed he was gone, a frown spread across my face. “Just you wait... We won’t be under your thumb forever, and when we break free...” I could feel my mouth curling into an animalistic, crazed shape unbefitting of a lady like myself. But I couldn’t help it. The very thought of ripping that shadow into fine pieces produced a sensation of ecstasy bar none. “I look forward to finding out what your blood tastes like.”