Harley cries out. “He’s on his way. Dog boss.”

  Nathen doesn’t have a hard time tracking it either. It’s going full throttle; it’s gotten their scent in its nostrils. Captain Rath isn’t wasting time, catapulting himself over a high picket fence. He’s not masking his presence in the slightest, because there’s nothing out here to fear. Vukosava could see its crimson front, a bright sticky stain. It’s been a thrilling night for it so far.

  “You should’ve died for him.” Captain Rath roars at them triumphantly. “Girly.”

  He’s leapt up onto the roof of a low-set house. “It’s a shame you didn’t. I enjoy that moment the most.”

  Amber is shaking with rage, her silver bat at the ready. “You.”

  “A pretty face. A pretty voice. I feed on both.”

  Vukosava and John stand in front of their group. “You’ll get neither, bitch.”

  “You’ll stop me? Your friends were quite enjoyable to eat. Very fresh.”

  It’s then that the knight makes his full appearance, sshing through the roof like it were paper. Seeping out of the gaps in its armour is a living void, a cancerous, leeching corruption that melts through the tiles, turning them bck then turning them to ash that flickers through the open air. It’s a part of his tale, Vukosava realises, his horrid deeds extend to his actual form.

  “No! They are mine!” Captain Rath screams.

  “They never were. Like I said, I’m going to ram your stomach down your throat.”

  His pack forms around the knight once more. But this time, Sir Victor doesn’t use his bde. He’s grown weary of their resistance. As one of them tries to leap onto his back, the corruption starts to melt through its cws, its fur, flesh, arteries, veins, muscles, everything organic starts to wilt and fester. A disease that reduces it to a mushy skeleton with red, bleeding flesh. Then the flesh bckens and its body decomposes – chunk by chunk. It howls in pain, as its skull falls apart.

  “Your shit to be trodden upon. That’s all you fucking amount to.”

  Sir Victor charges forwards, the dogs whimpering, trying to get away from him. It doesn’t matter.

  With his metallic fist, he lunges forwards, Captain Rath manages to raise his cws just in time.

  Stopping the punch just short of his sternum.

  “Not giving up, are you?”

  Amber takes her bat and sends it spinning through the air. It smashes into Rath’s back, the silver burning him. Causing his grip on Sir Victor’s fist to loosen.

  “Thank you, fair maiden.” He drives his metallic fingers into the dogman’s eyes, it stumbles back. The knight sets his feet and this time, his gauntlet goes right through the chest of Captain Rath, his misshapen armour and bestial exterior buying him a few more seconds. As Sir Victor remains true to his word. The vicious, hungry dog of malice eats his own innards.

  The knight stands alone, looking down at his work.

  “I’m not finished with my job. You are the reason I’m here.” Sir Victor turns the dark void within the armour, with two white dots staring out from it. “The bme. The deaths. It all lies with you.”

  John stares at the towering metal man. “You’re right. It is our fault – but we want to put an end to this.”

  “An end? This is only the beginning, boy.”

  “The Red Queen wouldn’t allow this to happen.” Vukosava butts in. “If she sent you, sir, then that means.”

  “This isn’t what she wanted.” Sir Victor replies. “Quite right. Which brings me to another problem – you and your pack.”

  “Is that what you’re going to do – kill us like you did those bitches?” Harley challenges him. “You wanted them gone, so did we!”

  “You’re right. I did want them gone. But now my focus is pced squarely on you. You know of the seal. The door that the Red Queen opened.” Sir Victor’s voice deepens. It’s forceful, the echo is harsher, louder. “You seek to close it.”

  “Your duty as a knight is to protect the innocent. You swore an oath.” Vukosava doesn’t back down, her anger, her emotions put her fear to the sword. “Even if you’ve betrayed that oath, it still applies to you. You serve a Queen. I summoned your Queen.”

  The dots that make up his eyes focus on her. “Indeed, you have. You’re a desperate fool, but a smart one. Your courage is your lifeline. Lose it and they’ll not be another.”

  Sir Victor Alberius turns away, his metal greaves and boots leaving trails in the mud.

  “What are you doing now?” Amber asks.

  “There’s more that you’ve unleashed.” He straightens, the armour clicking and grinding.

  “Shit.” James mutters. “Shit. Shit.”

  “A shadow that walks out of the mist. You know who I speak of girl.”

  Vukosava pales. “If she’s here, then the current weather makes a lot of sense.”

  “Great. Another freaking entity on our doorstep.” James mutters darkly.

  “I do not have the means to find the shadow. It eludes me.”

  “So, that’s your goal? To find her?” Amber asks gently. “Can you return her home?”

  “It’s not she anymore. There is no identity that it bears now.” Sir Victor seems almost forlorn when he looks upon Amber. As if she’s a reflection of his past, of innocence being hurt.

  “Yeah. The cousin of the Red Queen. That sought to find her. That loved her.” Vukosava looks at the fallen knight. “If we help you, could you speak with the Queen? Convince her to close it?”

  “She’s not going to close it.” Sir Victor states pinly. “Not until her noble goal has been actioned upon this world.”

  “What goal?”

  “The prince suffered for his crimes. The world is full of his sort. Bastards that deserve death. To empty prisons – that’s the goal. Where mercy does not heed their cries.”

  “You’re talking about murder. Mass murder.” John shudders. “That’s horrific as fuck.”

  “A war of righteousness. Decred for good reason.” Sir Victor dismisses his point easily. “To avenge those that suffered from the desires of the depraved. Her precious cousin sought to figure out who the original killer was – who hid his secrets. She wanted justice – justice for someone who meant the world to her.”

  Vukosava looks down for a moment. “I understand her anger. Her sorrow. But you can’t wash it away with blood.”

  “You speak of anger as if you know it. There’s a long road ahead of you, and you’ve already taken the first step.” Sir Victor tilts his head to the side. “It won’t be long.”

  John brashly decres. “How did this shadow get free? Did it break free on its own?”

  “No. There is one that can free it. Set it loose from its cage.”

  Vukosava is deep in thought.

  “The Lady of Mist is a malicious entity now. It’s a thing. That consumes ambition.” Harley is breathing heavily, as if her medium’s eye is being put to the test. An exhausting test. “It’s everywhere. I can’t get a lock on it at all.”

  “Neither can I.” Nathen is sweating profusely. “Hey, Sir Knight, can you corrupt this mist away?”

  “It’s a losing battle – now that it’s aware of us. Or more accurately, decided it’s done pying with mice.”

  “We’re all mice to it. If we stay out here any longer, it’ll consume us.” Nathen warns forcibly. “We have to go.”

  “Indeed, if you stay here, you’ll be condemned. That thing doesn’t care for the living. It’s time for you to go. Let’s see if your worth something – survive. If you do – then perhaps you can avenge the lost. You can make their lives worthwhile. If you can’t, then you’re dust.” With that the corrupted knight disappears from sight, his dark armour becoming one with the night and fog. If they couldn’t survive this – then what chance would they stand in the future? It’s a simple thing – if they die here and now. Then everything they’ve sworn themselves to is worthless. Death and life, the reality of a soldier. Of a warrior cd in his own sin. His own betrayal.

  “That’s it. He just leaves us out here to die, that fucker.” Harley yells after the knight.

  “We need to stay together. If we become isoted – we’ll be easier to pick off.” Vukosava snaps.

  “Why?” Amber asks, running after them. They’re racing back to the car.

  “It’s what happened to Alise Cartwright. Before she turned into this.” Vukosava jumps into the front of John’s car. “We need to maintain communication with each other. If that thing gets its hooks in – it’s not something I want to go into.”

  “The one thing I’m trying to get straight is this. Who unlocked its cage?”

  “That knight mentioned that there’s only one who’s capable of freeing it. This is the worst-case scenario.” Vukosava is looking out her window, the mist is thickening around them. Houses, mpposts, bins, fences, everything is being taken away. One by one. There’s no natural ties to the real world anymore, it’s nothing but a grey void that surrounds them now. John is remaining on the road by some miracle. “The Eternal Prince, he had a teacher, one that no historian or paranormal enthusiast could properly identify.”

  “So, this mysterious teacher did all of this? Why?” Amber is ringing her hands in her p.

  “Power. The prince had power – being from a royal family. It was a small thing to teach the prince how to harness his gifts.” Vukosava rolls her shoulders, trying to ease the tension out of them. “After that, the tapestry of history unfurls.”

  John is hunching over the wheel, his eyes dead ahead. “Great. More trouble.”

  “There were multiple killers that came after the prince. The knight, Sir Victor Alberius and there was another, a freaking painter as well.” Harley is now holding onto Amber’s hand. “Charles Derhert. They both died around the same time. The judge threw his book at them – so easy.”

  “The Lady of Many Faces. She’s been on the loose ever since the seal went down, and the shadow of mist, the same. We’re dealing with something that wants to recim its old power. It’s willing to use whatever it can to divert our attention. This thing wasn’t human at all. That’s what the tales tell us.” Vukosava leans back, looking at all of them.

  “What do we do now?” James asks. “Our folks could be in danger right now. We need to make sure they’re safe.”

  “That’s what it wants us to do. If we start splitting off, either the mist will take us, or that the other thing will.” Vukosava takes out her phone. It’s barely got any battery left. “We can’t py its game, if we do – it’s over. John, we’ll need to use your pce as our base of operations for a bit longer.”

  “We can’t go home. Is that what you’re saying?” James argues pointedly.

  “Not physically, dimwit.” Harley is fearful too. Her dad has been on edge, ever since he heard the news. About Amber’s personal tragedy. The groups. “I hate it too; besides, I think this bitch’s main focus would be on us. And the knight that the Queen sent to bring them in.”

  “Bring them in by ripping out organs. That’s good.” John spins the wheel sharply, hitting the curb, causing the car to bounce. Tires screeching, rubber burning. Everyone yelps in response.

  It takes a moment for John to get the car on the right path again. By then, they can see the shadow. A silhouette. On the road, a few feet away, it stands, the moon glowing behind it. A rough spun cloak, wide-brim hat, leather boots. Completely bck. A dark hole given humanity.

  From which ambition, hope and dreams die. There’s no bright eyes or distinguishing features. It’s a shadow that can only be seen when the moon shines upon it.

  “Floor it, John.” Vukosava tells him.

  This is all they can do. Run and survive. Fighting something like that will never end well.

  He’s in a rage. The mess is getting bigger; Alexi knows better than staying in the van.

  “It’s a mess, and it’s all their fault. Didn’t we close the fucking thing?” Carlos is at his computer in the back of the van, tapping away furiously on the keyboard. The other one lies broken on the ground. It’s keys everywhere. “Those bratty kids – when I find them. They’ll pay for this.”

  Alexi is outside the van, his clipboard escaping the scrutiny of his fellow coworker. “You can’t keep doing this, Carlos. We need to resolve this issue before more of these creatures go barging through. The number of missing person cases will skyrocket. We were stuck believing an illusion, woven by the Red Queen. This mist is connected to an even more dangerous threat.”

  “This is going to be a statewide issue.” Carlos rips himself away from his desk. “It’s going to be more than another case of gang violence. We’ll have to throw everything we’ve got at this – the cleanup is more intense than the st. The dogs had complete free reign to do what they wanted.”

  “You could tell?” Alexi is looking down at his notes.

  “Considering what’s left of the families that were in their way. Yes. To think that this is the way the innocent would go.” Carlos’ eyes quiver slightly. “They deserved better. If we can’t protect them from harm, then what the fuck are we doing as human beings?”

  “I understand.” Alexi steps back into the van. “Our duty is to protect the young and old. One way or another, John and Vukosava are involved in this matter. Right now, we have no choice but to spin more lies. We cannot allow the people to become panicked and divided, otherwise this whole state could fade. Just like that.”

  Folklore Files:

  The Descent of Alise Cartwright

  After the deaths of the Prince, Fodor Dresk and Catherine Mallory, the royal family were torn apart by the tragedy, adding fuel to the story. He was disowned and disinherited, removed from all references and ledgers, they were determined to keep the story secret. But the commoners continued to whisper, of a man after dark who was regal and posed, of passionate moments of love decorating walls in the dead of night. Some got lucky, others did not. Those that were unlucky were taken by the mysterious figure that walked through the streets at night, Alise Cartwright wasn’t so lucky, she is the distant cousin of Catherine Mallory and wanted to uncover what happened to her much beloved retive.

  With little in the way of investigative skills and knowledge of policing, she started with the people that were talking about the folk story first, ciming that the night would be dark and dangerous for anyone. Those who disappeared were condemned by the figure in the darkness – objects that were held in high esteem by the killer and left heartbroken when their families and friends went out to fight the obsessive monster. Catherine Mallory doesn’t relent. She will uncover the true mystery and y the facts bare. She will fight on. The more she pursued the case. The more the figure in the night started to appreciate the cat and mouse game. The prince’s legend would only grow and the fair maiden that searches for truth is full of drive. The figure that walks through the night and the mist, is a manifestation of what the people perceived the murderer to be, a painter of love, the possessor of jewels that shone the brightest in the world.

  Alise Cartwright discovered the pale figure one night, on her investigation of a recent crime scene, taking down notes from previous cases and making comparisons. She noted that the royal family had been completely quiet on the matter – which pointed to a suspicion she had for some time, that the prince, their heir, was the one killing and capturing women. Alise believes that the prince is still alive in some capacity, and her passion and purpose to deliver justice to the people and those affected fuels her. It’s this determination to uncover the truth that guides her right into the waiting arms of the Eternal Prince, despite her efforts with the guards and the officials that ran the city, she was isoted. This isotion would consume her.

  She disappeared one night and returned as the Lady of Mist. There were many different stories and tales that speak of her demise. The manifestation that people imagined is a cover for the real thing. It’s cruelty, pin and simple, that has her bound to the creature that she tried to expose. In response to this ending twist - a great depression spreads throughout the city, a feeling of dread and purposelessness, as if everything from dreams to ambitions faded into nothingness in a moment as the moon passes over the city. Those that didn’t heed her, didn’t aid her – would fade into her callous embrace. The woman is gone and all that remains is the shadow of Miss Cartwright. The investigator that sought to solve the disappearances that occurred in her home.

  Out in the pale moonlight, her shadow bears a rough spun cloak, wide-brimmed hat, and clicking boots that signal her approach.

  It walks through the centuries. It is the Shadow of Mist.

  Folklore Phenomena:

  From further research and understanding: the Lady of Mist is considered to be an immensely powerful Shadow Figure, rather than feeding on fear like her counterparts, she feeds on the ambition and life energy of humans and animals. A harbinger of annihition, a dark hole that walks upon the surface of consciousness. Capable of consuming anything that harbors conscious thoughts or feelings. Those who stare directly upon it experience intense hardship.

  Within the realm of the Twilight Court, other dark, humanoid entities exist to feed on emotions, specifically fear and despair. These shadows are linked to sleep paralysis experiences. They are often perceived as menacing or threatening, making it easier for them to take the energy of the person they’re wishing to steal from. They’re vampiric in nature, requiring from the living.

  Throughout history and across cultures, nighttime terrors and paralysis have been tied to supernatural entities. Until discoveries were made in modern times regarding these occurrences in the sleep cycle of men, women and children. Specific behaviors from these entities include trickster behavior, stalking, and taking on a parasitic retionship with their victim, driving them to thoughts of conspiracy, dread and anxiety.

  Shadow figures are considered to be capable of travelling across different dimensions thus their inconsistent visibility. They can appear in multiple pces at once, but their power in these ‘copies’ is weakened.