“No, no you’re kidding me! Seriously?” I stared in amazement at Vendestri, a Council member.

He grinned and nodded. “I think it’s perfect for my gallery, honestly.” He gestured at the hall we were in, the walls adorned with paintings by various artists.

“But I mean, you’re such a major patron of the arts, and I’m… me. I-I’m sorry, I’m being ridiculous.” My face was stuck in this expression somewhere between shock and glee, and I felt really embarrassed that I was repeating myself.

He clapped me on the back, and laughed. “Don’t worry about it, a lot of the artists here have reacted the same way when it was their first piece. You’ll get used to it. But before you decide if you do want to sell me the piece, why don’t I take you for a tour of the gallery?”

I blinked a few times, then said, “Yes, yes I’d be honored!”

Inwardly, I was this ball of anxiety and excitement and-

You were so happy and full of life before I got a hold of you. Lovely.

-happiness, but I was trying my hardest to try and be at least a little bit professional. He laughed again, and we started walking.

We walked past familiar pieces, things I’d studied and seen in books. It was so surreal, being in the Vendestri Gallery of the Arts in person, and not just that, being given a tour by Vendestri himself! He pointed to a painting of a starry sky. “That’s one of my favorites, I often come in here just to look at it. Such beauty, such elegance. Do you know it?”

I nodded. “Kelbran’s Lights in the Sky. The textbooks say that it was meant to represent how even in what we consider the darkest of places, the night sky, there is still light, but I’ve always thought that Kelbran was more appreciating how when you look up at the night sky, everything else just seems to fade away. Light, Dark, it doesn’t matter what element you are when you’re looking up at those patches of starry sky. Although those are so hard to come by when the sky is dominated by Warfield…”

“You know, I quite like your view of it. They don’t mention it in the books, but Kelbran painted this on Warfield, so it would have been easier to see the stars.” We both took a moment to admire the piece, before moving on. We quickly brushed past easily recognizable pieces, and then he stopped at one I didn’t really recognize.

“I don’t think I remember this one.” I told him. The painting showed a campfire scene, with several tents pitched in the middle of a strangely green forest. Perhaps it was the light, but the people gathered around the fire all seemed to have skin that was some pale cream color, and one had noticeably pointed ears. That one, who seemed female, was holding what looked like stars in her hand, and was feeding them into the fire, which was purple. The sky overhead showed alien stars, and a weird white orb in the sky. Glowing red eyes were dotted through the forest, and a part of the sky seemed almost… torn.

The title card called it Twilight Dawn.

“It was an anonymous donation. Just the painting and the title, no sign of who left it. The art style doesn’t exactly match any known artist. It’s an enigma. Even more so because the card it came with had three title, two scratched out.”

“I can’t believe I missed it in the books.”

“You didn’t. It isn’t commonly discussed, because a lot of artists seem to think it was painted by someone of a different element, and thus don’t want it to gain recognition. I disagreed, and put it up in my gallery.”

“Interesting. What were the other titles?”

“Telvaria was the first, and Elizabeth was the second. I liked this one the most.”

“It’s… beautiful, in a way. Eerie.”

“Perhaps someday soon, people will say the same of your piece.” He smiled at me, and I laughed.

“Maybe.”

Today is going to be a great day.

I was full of cheer, my first painting having just gone up in Vendestri’s gallery. In a few days, we were going to discuss what to make next. We’d been chatting a lot lately, and I’d brought up the idea of creating a small collection to display for an upcoming event.

Me, an artist in Raven’s Shade. I still can’t believe this is happening.

As I walked through the streets, and felt a craving for something to drink or eat. I noticed a café, and decided-

Hah. As if you ever had a choice.

-to enter it and get some coffee. Café Ritan, it was called. I walked inside and got in line behind a girl in hiking boots and a blue skirt. She ordered, “Two cappuccinos, one with spiraldust please. Ooo, and a muffin!”

She took her order and sat at a table, putting the coffee with spiraldust on the other side of the table. I ordered a coffee, and took it to a different table. As I drank it, I noticed that she was looking at me with this weird expression on her face. After a few moments, she waved at me, as if gesturing for me to come near. I looked around to see if she was waving at someone else, but she shook her head and pointed at me.

Okay, weird, but, whatever. I guess I could do with some nice conversation.

I walked over and pulled out the chair across from her, but she shook her head and said hastily, “That seat is reserved, she wouldn’t like it if you took it.”

I blinked in confusion, and took a different seat. “Who wouldn’t like it?”

“Oh, she’s not important. A friend. So, what’s up?”

“I’m drinking coffee.” I said as I took another sip.

She giggled. “Aside from that! You’re the new artist at that gallery place, right?”

I brightened a bit and sat up straighter. “Yeah! You go to the gallery?”

“Not really, to be honest.” I slouched again. “I like books and shows a lot more than art. Just a personal thing, you know? I’ve never understand why people get so crazy about art. I mean, I like a good picture too but you don’t have to go obsessing over them. Uh, no offense.” She said awkwardly.

“It’s… fine. A lot of people don’t understand why I wanted to pursue art instead of being a slayer, so I’m used to it.”

“Well, you could always try being both.”

I quirked an eyebrow. “How so?”

“I dunno, killing monsters and then like, using the body parts to do stuff? That’s what Shadow does, anyways.”

“That… sounds creepy.”

“Shush you. It’s perfectly normal. So what do you do, besides art and ex-slaying?”

“I mean, art is my passion. I guess I do read a bit, I like learning about art, and about the beauty of nature.”

“Oh, like monsters?”

“Well, I mean I guess they fall under it yeah because there are strange creatures in nature, but I mean like, the overall beauty of the ecosystem as animals and plants interact in a way that benefits the whole, while each piece has its individual elegance.”

“Uh huh. So you like monsters then?”

“I…” I sighed and gave up. “Yes, I like monsters. And you seem to just like paper and ink.”

“And shows! Shows about detectives, and stuff! They’re fun.”

“Right, well…” I finished my coffee and stood up. “I’ll be seeing you.”

I turned around and took a step forward, accidentally bumping into a woman with dusky hair and gleaming amethyst eyes. I felt a brief flutter of attraction, and she smirked at me. “How clumsy of you. Clary, was he annoying you?”

“Actually, I was just leaving.” Her eyes seemed to pierce mine, and I blinked a few times.

“What, did she frighten you off?” asked the newcomer.

“Well…” Yes. Or… sort of. It wasn’t actually that bad, now that-

Now that I’m in your head. I love it, it’s like a beautiful canvas waiting to be torn apart. Symbolic of art or something, you dork.

-I think about it.

“She’s nice. But I’ve got places to be. I’ll see you around, Clary, and um…”

“Shadow. I’m Shadow.”

I read the letter. I read it again.

That isn’t possible.

I read it backwards.

I threw it against the wall.

Vendestri’s dead.

He’d apparently gotten the sudden urge to explore the wilderness in search of a good spot to see the ‘starry sky’, and had been ambushed by wild creatures. It was a horrible accident-

Like I’d leave anything to chance.

-that I mourned, but… now what?

I pulled out the other letter.

I guess I’m going to Widow’s Dusk.

Something was wrong.

Something had been wrong for a while, I’d realized once I could think straight.

Everything was just… off. Memories once crystal clear had become muddled, shrouded in fog. I had used to… I had used to be better than what I had become. I was going to be an artist, I was going to live it up and pursue my dreams… and instead I was in a fucking suburb. I was in some backwater city. Nobody cared about Widow’s Dusk, least of all me.

It has to be her fault.

Shadow.

I didn’t know what, or how. But I knew that Shadow had to have done something. That much I was certain of. She’d put a spell on me, or something. Clary too. Had either of us ever felt this way before meeting her? I’d seen the way Clary practically worshipped Shadow, and at one point I’d almost felt those desires in myself, though I didn’t really feel an attraction to her anymore. But what I did feel, it wasn’t natural. Nothing made sense anymore.

Nothing makes any sense.

Nothing.

Does she want me under her power? Is that it? She wanted me and Clary and she’d done something, but why? This lack of ambition, this contentment with the shit that was my life, why was this part of her plan? What did she even want? Why was I just… why was I just standing here?

I knew the answer to that, because my own mind had been battling me for weeks trying to force me to stand and defy her, and it had failed. I’d ignored that choice.

I sighed, and slouched on the sofa, shaking my head and wondering when it had all first gone wrong. When I’d gone from dreams and ambition to living in a house with a psychopath and her adoring pet.

I was woken from my state of moping by the sound of two knocks on the door, and then like sixty more. Fuck, it’s probably her. Ugh, why does she have to be so fucking annoying-

Well, I didn’t know you had such zeal and hatred in you all this time. It’s amusing, listening to your inner rants.

-all the time?

“I’m coming, I’m coming, calm down.”

Thoughts of suspicion left my mind as I opened the door and blinked at the change in lighting, as well as her… outfit. “Oh, it’s you.”

She said something crazy about killing fellow elementals, brushed past me, and flopped down onto the sofa. Bewildered, I looked down at her and she asked, “Anything good on the telly?”

I stared. She giggled. “Gotta say, I love this couch. Extremely comfy, which is nice when you’ve spent the last day arguing with politicians and fighting monsters in the forest.”

I hate you so much. Why do you have to do these insane things? Why? Whatever, maintain your cool, keep your composure. “Right, yeah, great… now can we talk about the killing of a Champion thing?” Okay, so I didn’t keep my cool.

She brushed me off, and I attempted to clear my mind, making a few circular motions and breathing deeply. When I was ready I said, “Okay, okay, clearly you’ve put a little thought into this. Should I get Clary, so we can both hear whatever insane plan you’ve come up with?”

She gave the affirmative, and I went upstairs.

This is going to be a nightmare.

Shadow argued with her mirror duplicate, but the words slowly filtered out, to be replaced by rage burning inside me.

That bitch. At least I know for certain now. She’s never cared about me or Clary, she’s been using this whole time, fooling us. We’re pawns.

Betrayal.

Confirmation.

She’d been playing us.

She’d been playing me.

And I’d fallen for it, for who knows how long. Clary was her toy, and I was her puppet, dancing to her lies and deceits as she played with our emotions.

She needs to pay.

And then Mirror said what I needed to hear.

Mind control.

She’d been using mind control.

I was right. She’s been in my head. She thought she could take my will, my mind, all that makes me who I am and leave an obedient slayer in my place. She thought she could break me.

She thought she could leave me as a husk, a slave to her will.

No.

No.

I will not take the easy path.

I will stand in defiance.

I’m not loyal to you anymore, Shadow. I’m Malk. I’m me. I’m still me, and I will never, I will never ever let you take that away. And I will not let you get away with this.

Clary accepted her paltry words.

I did not.

It was time for me to stop being a painter.

It was time for me to truly be a slayer, like they’d tried to train me to be.

You are a monster, and I kill monsters. I will kill you, Shadow. I will free Clary. I will end you before more people fall victim to your tyranny. I will end you, or I will die trying.

“Clary! Malk! I need to do some training, let’s go have a practice fight.”

I nodded, and a surge of reckless need made me say, “Sure, but let’s do it one-at-a-time, so we can practice better. We’ll fight with sword, and then Clary and you can do magic.”

Shadow blinked at me. “Uh, I suppose that’s a plan. Clary, you can stay here, Malk and I will go spar, I guess. Let’s go to that clearing I found.” Clary nodded and said, “I’ll just stay here and watch some television.”

Shadow opened a portal to the clearing, while I quickly raced upstairs to get my things. I slipped on the caster gauntlet, flexing my hand and testing it out. With an exertion of will I managed to create a tentacle of darkness, and imagined using it against Shadow. Now was the time to strike, and I needed every advantage I could get. I grabbed my sword, my magic shield, and also grabbed a helmet to cover my face. As long as she couldn’t see my face, my eyes, I’d be safe from her power. I’d be me.

For a moment I had a pang of fear. What if this ended in my death? What if I accomplished nothing…

No. No matter what, this needs to happen. I’ve helped this…. this monster. Thanks to me and Clary, Shadow is close to achieving her goals. One day she might rule over all of Nyx… over all worlds… and I can’t live with myself knowing I let that happen. I have to end this monster I’ve helped.

I walked through Shadow’s portal to the clearing, and stepped out, ready to end it. And then the fight began.

Swords clashed, and we talked of simple things, such as my art. She seemed to see nothing amiss… but that would change.

“I had just begun my art career, in… actually, in Raven’s Shade. I’d managed to get a good place there, and a few contracts, and things were looking up. Then, one day I went to this coffee place, called ‘Ritan’ I think. Clary was the only other person there, but after a few minutes we realized we had practically nothing in common.”

Shadow continued her efforts to break my defense and said, “That must have been when I came in. Clary was in the city with me, I’d met her back in the Academy of Magic when she was in her last year and she’d taken a liking to me, so when I graduated early I decided to stay at her house. I chatted with you, I think, and you were fascinated with me.”

“Yeah, I guess so. All I remember is a few days later, I ended up moving into Widow’s Dusk with Clary. Strangest thing, really.” A touch of bitterness entered my tone, and I struggled harder now, though she kept pushing me back, proving her strength.

“I guess it could be seen as strange. Perhaps you just realized that I was powerful, and that helping me could lead you to great rewards.”

“Maybe that was it. But thinking about it, that’s not the only time I’ve done something that doesn’t fit, something that isn’t really… me.”

“I see. And what do you think about those moments?”

“I think that every one of them benefited you. And I think it’s been happening to Clary too. For example, when you outright told her you considered her nothing more than her property.” My voice nearly cracked now. Fury was rising. It was time to end this. Time to make her pay!

I made a mistake in movement, and Shadow tried to get in an attack, but my magic shield protected me, and I smirked, assuming an arrogant stance. “I figured it out, Shadow. I know you’ve been manipulating us, playing on our emotions, on our thoughts, and infiltrating our minds. You’ve been tugging at our strings, the smug puppetmaster, and we’ve danced to your tune. It’s why I came to Widow’s Dusk. It’s why Clary falls all over you. And it ends today!” I lunged at her, sword drawn, and she darted back. As she fled I tossed aside my sword and gestured with my gauntleted hand, summoning a tendril of darkness to grab her foot.

“So, how long have you known? I doubt this was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I bet you figured it out when Mirror talked about me.”

“Oh, that helped, certainly, but I’d had my suspicions for a while. It was truly confirmed when you labeled Clary your belonging, and she was reassured by that.” Hatred burned in me at remembering that moment, and I knew that I had to make Shadow suffer for doing that to Clary, and to me.

“Perhaps it’s just because she loves me, like I thought you did. And really, you can’t tell me you still don’t… feel, for me?” She smiled roguishly, but the smile fell when I laughed scornfully at her.

“Shadow, maybe I should make something clear. Clary loves you. She is smitten with you, infatuated, absolutely in love. She has been for a while I’d bet, and not all of it from your spells. But me? At most, I felt a physical attraction to you, and to your power, magnified by the mental tampering you did. But it was only ever an attraction, a crush. And crushes end. I’m over you. And I want my mind back!” I charged her again but she dodged, and we entered a closer duel, a duel of life and death now. “Time to pay, bitch!” I sent a bolt of darkness at her, but she sliced it apart with her stupid sword, and I fumed with anger.

“You know, Malk, I do have a question. Why didn’t you confront me at the cathedral, when I was fighting Mirror or the knight? Why wait-

Let’s hurry this along. I don’t need to see all the details, and I don’t care if this part is accurate, I’ve already seen it.

-until now?”

“I didn’t want you to catch on to me knowing. I figured I’d wait for the most opportune time to strike, and this seemed like my best bet.”

As I dodged another attack she said, “You’d make a shit assassin then. Best time to kill me is in my sleep, or to stab me in the back when I’m fighting a real enemy. Not now, on an open field, when you know I’m better than you.”

She’s right. This is stupid. I’m being an idiot here, I can’t win, I can’t fight her, I should have just taken her out in her sleep or… no. This is the only way. For honor. For setting right what I helped make wrong. Whether I live or die, at least I can change things. At least I can try and save the world.

“Oh, I know you can kill me. I’m betting on it. See, if I killed you, Clary would still be affected by your magic. She’d still love you, and she’d see me as a villain and a traitor for killing you. But if you kill me, here and now, she’ll be forced to realize the truth. And if somehow I do kill you, I can live with Clary hating me. I don’t care about her anyways, you already know I only lived with her because of your magic.” I charged her with all my fury and hatred, knowing that now was my hour, now was when I-

Shadow sighed and dropped her sword, raising her hand and saying, “You’re a fucking idiot.”

As I blinked in confusion Shadow sent darkness slamming into me, and I flew backwards into a tree trunk, my sword falling from my hand, my shield following. Shadow took the gauntlet, and I lay there, broken, battered, and beaten. But knowing that my death would make a difference.

“Think, you dolt. If I can make you abandon art contracts to move to a city, if I can make Clary practically worship me, if I can do all of the things that I have done, why can’t I just make you obey me? Huh? Why would I kill you, when I could enslave you instead?”

I gave a tired laugh.“Th-that’s what the mask is f-for, bitch. You always look people in the eyes, w-when you enter their m-minds. No eyes, no entry, no eternal enslavement. Now, finish it. Kill me.”

“Moron.” She sighed again, and as I stared in shock and horror she ripped my helmet open. “And for the record, I don’t have to see your eyes. I have so many, many other ways to control and manipulate.”

I shouted, “NO!” and then everything began to drain away.

This can’t happen, she can’t win!

She destroyed me, she destroyed the girl, she’ll destroy all of Nyx! She’ll destroy everything that has ever existed in her quest for power! And I failed…

She deserves to burn. She…

A shock of pain went through me, and a voice whispered, she deserves to rule.

I lashed out, and then I was inside my own mind.

It looked like a beautiful painting, a canvas with a landscape and grandiose structures that were both two-dimensional and three-dimensional at the same time.

But there was… corruption. It was blotched, and ripped, and decayed and dying… and it was at war. Darkness surged through the land, tearing apart spindly soldiers of paper and paint. I could see where the darkness, these foul wraiths, had been beaten back, but now Shadow was leading them. I grabbed a sword from the ground and charged into the fray, desperate.

This is my last chance.

I swung my sword through the nearest wraith and it was torn apart, but more swarmed. I cut, and I cut, and I swung and I stabbed and I rolled and I jumped and I dodged, but there were so many, and then one leaped through the air and landed on me, and it went through me and then-

No! NO! GET OUT OF MY MIND!

Hahahaha. I’m not in your mind… I am your mind. I’m you, and you are me. And together we will serve.

She… she’s a monster…

Yes, she is. And a goddess. A horrible, evil goddess that we will worship and obey. To serve is all that matters. Loyalty, obedience.

No, that… that isn’t me…

I fell to the ground, clutching my chest, and tried to rip out the darkness that had seeped in. I gasped, and I writhed, and the darkness swarmed around me, and then they all flooded in at once, as Shadow stood over me, laughing.

You don’t matter. You aren’t Malk anymore. You’re her servant. You belong to Shadow.

No…

Property.

Person!

Slave.

Slayer!

Just let go. Stop fighting. You can’t any more. It’s all gone. Everything that made you who you are is fading away… and it will never come back. Say goodbye, Malk.

I…

No…

Shadow grabbed my neck, lifting me off the ground with one hand, her grip iron-clad. There was a savage hunger in her face, a sadistic joy at my suffering. The hunger we will serve.

No!

“Malk, Malk, Malk. Dear, precious Malk. It all ends here for you.”

“This was… this was my chance.” I coughed, barely able to breathe. “I fought to… to make a difference!”

“And you failed.”

Failure.

Give in.

Game over.

You lose.

I woke, blinking in confusion. Lady Shadow extended her hand towards me, and said, “Got a bit carried away with the sparring, sorry. I think we sparred long enough for today, right?”

I pressed my hand to my head, feeling a brief headache, but nodded and said, “Yeah, that makes sense.” She opened a portal, and I walked through, quickly moving to my room to collapse on the bed, weary, and tired, and not knowing why my head hurt so much.