Shadow Walker
Episode 2 of 5 - Scars of Betrayal
Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Epilogue
|| recap ||
In the dim light of a crumbling tavern, Cygnus wrestles with the haunting scars left by Leda’s brutal betrayal—a wound that shattered his identity and cast him adrift in a world that feels foreign and cold. Now a shadow of who he once was, bitterness consumes him, yet the path to vengeance remains elusive. The embers of his fury burn low, waiting for the spark to ignite his reckoning.
The tavern door creaked open, admitting a gust of cool night air and drawing Cygnus’s attention from his thoughts. Through the doorway, a cloaked figure entered and deftly made his way toward a secluded table in the corner. The air seemed to shift around him, the weight of his presence cutting through the tavern's low murmur. He moved with deliberate grace, each step measured, every movement controlled.
Trying not to be obvious, Cygnus tracked him out of the corner of his eye, his gaze sharp and assessing. Years of betrayal had sharpened his instincts; strangers in shadows always meant danger. Yet something about this man tugged at the edges of his memory, a familiarity he couldn’t quite place.
Who is this man? Cygnus wondered, his thoughts twisting like smoke.
As Cygnus turned his head to follow, he noticed the bartender was also watching the cloaked man. She cast a nervous glance toward Cygnus before averting her eyes back to the newcomer, then hurried to greet him. Cygnus’s hands wrapped around his glass as he tried to catch a glimpse of the man reflected in the cracked mirror behind the bar. The bartender leaned over the stranger’s table, speaking in hushed tones, her body angled as if to shield their conversation.
Cygnus didn’t need to hear their words; the tension in the room spoke louder than any whisper.
A moment later, she was back at his side, leaning closer to avoid being overheard.
“That man,” she said in hushed tones, her breath warm against his ear. “He’s asking for you.”
Cygnus’s jaw tightened. “So?”
She hesitated, casting another glance toward the shadowed figure. “He claims to have information you need. I know him. His name is Dorian, but everyone calls him Shade.” Her voice dropped, as though saying his name aloud carried some unspoken risk.
Cygnus did not respond or move, his mind turning her words over.
“You can trust him,” she added quickly, her tone almost pleading.
Trust? The word tasted bitter in his mind. She knows nothing of trust. Not after Leda. Still, her words kindled a flicker of curiosity. Information? Could this be the break I’ve been waiting for?
Without a word, he drained his glass, the tavern's low murmur fading into the background as his focus locked onto the stranger.
The name "Shade" lingered in his mind, a name that whispered of secrets and veiled intentions. His curiosity warred with suspicion as he pushed himself to his feet, the stool scraping across the rough wooden floor like a warning.
Cygnus approached the shadowed figure's table, his steps slow and deliberate. The flickering lantern light cast a menacing glow across his scarred visage, the twisted constellation of his betrayal etched into his skin.
“Who are you?” Cygnus asked, his voice low and edged with menace.
The stranger leaned forward, his features obscured beneath the hood of his cloak. “Someone who knows the truth about your fall from grace,” he said, his tone smooth and measured. “And someone who can help you reclaim what is rightfully yours.”
Cygnus’s eyes narrowed. “And why would you want to help me?”
The stranger chuckled softly, the sound grating like gravel. Cygnus’s fingers twitched toward the hilt of his blade, his instincts coiled tightly. The man reached up and pushed back his hood, revealing sharp, angular features and eyes that glittered like obsidian. He rose from his chair, stepping closer until his voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper.
“Because we both want the same thing,” Shade said, his words deliberate. “To see the rebellion burn for what they’ve done. And with your power and my knowledge, we can make that happen.” He gestured toward the chair across from him. “Sit. Let us speak plainly.”
For a moment, Cygnus hesitated, his mind whirling with possibilities. His thirst for vengeance burned within him, but distrust lingered like a shadow at the edge of his thoughts. He had no reason to trust this man—no reason, except desperation.
Finally, Cygnus sat, his gaze piercing. “Speak,” he said, his voice steady. “Tell me what you know and how you plan to help me.”
Shade leaned forward, a calculating gleam in his eyes. “I know of a place, deep beneath the streets of Ebonreach, where secrets are buried and lost things may be found. A labyrinth of tunnels and caverns, twisting and turning like the threads of fate itself.”
Cygnus’s heart pounded, though he worked to keep his expression neutral. “And what is it that you believe I seek in this underground maze?”
Shade’s smile widened, his teeth glinting in the dim light. “Why, the key to your vengeance, of course. The loyal companion who once soared by your side, now imprisoned in the depths of the earth.”
Cygnus’s breath caught, his hands gripping the edge of the table. “You know where he is?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Shade nodded, his tone grave. “Whispers in the shadows speak of a hidden cave, a prison bound by ancient magic. Your companion waits there, and with him, the power you need to reclaim your throne.”
The weight of Shade’s words pressed on Cygnus like a hand on his chest. Memories of his friend surged forward, fierce and unbidden, stirring both grief and hope.
“Take me to him,” Cygnus said, his voice a low growl. “Help me free him, and I will grant you whatever reward you desire.”
Shade’s dark eyes glimmered. “An alliance, then? The Fallen King and the Shadow Walker, united in common cause?”
Cygnus hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. “Yes. But understand this—if you betray me, I will find you, no matter where you hide.”
Shade smirked. “I would expect nothing less.” He rose, his cloak sweeping the floor. “No time to waste. Let us delve into the heart of darkness and claim what is rightfully yours.”
Together, they slipped out of the tavern and into the darkened streets of Ebonreach, their shadows stretching long and menacing beneath the flickering lamplight.
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