#shadow manipulation

“Could you please turn the brightness down, Etheria?” he grumbled, shielding his eyes with one hand.  

There was a thump, Reaper cursed and then someone came running towards Kade and Bell.  The light dimmed and he was just in time to see Killian shooting past him.

“Sorry about that” Bell said turning her attention from Kade to Killian “Are you alright, Mirage?”

“Yeah, don’t worry, I’m fine” Killian said, voice trembling slightly.

Kade breathed out.  That was one thing sorted out.  Now to deal with Reaper.  “Since you don’t have your hostage anymore, why don’t you reconsider” he said “And just back of”

Reaper glared at him.  “No until I get what I want” the man snarled

“Well that’s just annoying” Kade sighed and lifted his hands.  The shadows lurched forward seemingly uncontrollable before smoothing out.

Darkness formed around Reaper, swallowing everything around him.

When the man did not move, Kade narrowed his eyes, worry flickering in his chest.  It was going to turn into a mess if they fought for to long.  When two users of almost the same ability fought, it was always messy.  Most of the time he tried to avoid it.  Reaper was not an easy opponent.

They’ve crossed paths before and that fight ended in Kade almost ripping the man apart before having his control over the shadows stolen from him because he got careless.

Just as he stepped forward to start his attack there was a bright flash, forcing him to cover his eyes.  Something ripped at his chest, pain shot through him and he nearly blacked out.  He heard Bell and Killian gasp as the pain slowly disappeared.

“You are quite a piece of work, young NightShade”

The voice made his shoulder stiffen and he balled his hands into fists, letting his nails dig into the skin.  He knew that voice.  He knew it extremely well.

“What are you doing here?” Kade snarled furiously.  He could feel his power starting to build, tearing on the edge of going out of control.  “Etheria, Mirage” he said, surprised that his voice sounded so calm despite the storm raging in his chest “Get out of here”

“NightShade” Bell hissed “What is going on?”

Kade glanced over his shoulder at her.  “We are in trouble” he said and looked around “And that guy is more dangerous than he looks”

As he spoke, his eyes focused on a lanky man that stood to the back, grinning at them.

“I’m feel honoured that you remember me, boy” the man said, the grin widening “You were quite young when we worked together”

A shiver went through Kade’ spine and the shadows twisted and lurched out of control.  He let out a groan, tightening his control on his power even more, not taking his eyes from the man for a second.

“Get out of here, Etheria” he growled through a clenched jaw.

“What about you?”

“I’ll manage” he snarled and relaxed his grip slightly.  Shadows shot towards the men in front of them.  The men tried to move away, but the shadows caught them and screams echoed through the warehouse.

“That’s enough, Kade”

Kade’s shoulders stiffened and he closed his eyes, breathing out.  The shadows hesitated for a moment before drawing back, away from the men.  When he opened them again, his father was standing in front of him.  He frowned.  There was something off about his father.  The man almost seemed tense, his hands balled into fists, the knuckles going white.  

“What are you doing here?” he asked, taking a step back.

“I was looking for him” Ray said, glancing at Kade over his shoulder.  There was something in his eyes that made Kade’s blood run cold.  

There was something wrong.

“What happened?”

“Daddy!  Kade!”

Kade froze, his eyes going wide.  That voice.  It was Inka.  They had his little sister.  

“Inka...” he whispered, taking a shocked step forward.  All the shadows surged, twisting in anger and fury.  The building groaned and the ground trembled as if to react to his fury and shock.

“Kade, stop this”

The voice cracked through the building like a whip.  Kade started, freezing in place.  For a moment it seemed like nothing was going to happen, but then the shadows slowly retreated.  

Ray turned his attention to the men in front of them.  “Where is my Daughter?” he asked, voice ice cold.

“I will hand over the girl, if you give me the answer that I want” the lanky man said “And I will even let the students go”

There came a yelp from behind Ray and Kade.  Kade spun, eyes narrowing at the sight in front of him.  

“What do you want, Telman?” Ray asked just as the light in the warehouse became brighter.  

Kade gasped and fell to his knees, hand on his chest.  

“NightShade!”

“Stop it, Telman” Ray snarled “You’re killing him”

Telman smiled and the light dimmed.  Kade let out a growl as he got his breath back, lifting a hand to stop Bell and Killian from coming to him.  

“What do you want?” Kade asked as he got to his feet.  

“That is an easy question to answer” Telman said, folding his hands behind his back “I just want to know who the four Calamities are”

Ray’s shoulders stiffened and Kade’s head shot up.

“And who told you that I know the answer?” Ray asked calmly.

“Don’t look so surprised, Rouge” Telman said “I have my sources”

Kade just stared at the man, unable to speak.  This was going very wrong, very fast.  

“Daddy!” a small voice suddenly said from next to Kade, making him flinch.

“Inka” he whispered, looking down.  The little girl was standing next to him, her face tear stained and dirty.  With a trembling lip she looked up at him, taking his hand.

Kade’s eyes flashed as he knelt down and hugged her.  “You’re alright” he whispered, holding her tight “Everything is going to be alright”

“Before you go and get any bright ideas, young NightShade” Telman said, winking at Kade when he looked at him “Like maybe teleporting out, I have to advise you against it.   We took a few precautions against that”

Kade could feel his mouth twitching into a sneer in annoyance.  “Inka” he said softly, putting his hands on her shoulders “You might want to close your eyes for a little while”

The little girl nodded and closed her eyes tightly.  If Kade did not want her to see, things were going to be really bad.

Kade let go of his sister and stood up, a blank expression on his face as he turned to Telman.  “I will rip you apart” he growled stepped forward, the shadows surging like a wave behind him.  

Ray lifted a hand.  “That’s enough, Kade” the said and the young man stopped “When your chance come, you have to work fast”

It took Kade a moment before he breathed out, his shoulders relaxing as he walked up to his father.  He felt like he was going to lose his control at any second if he did not do something.

“Make sure that everyone is save before you do anything stupid” Ray said, making sure that only Kade could hear him “We don’t want anyone else to get hurt”

Kade nodded.  He knew what his father was planning.  Ray was one of the rare users that had more than two different powers that he could use, that was not related to each other.  Teleportation, healing, power negation and super strength.

He felt the slight push against his power and for a moment he had to force himself not to resist it.  Then his power disappeared.  

There was a moment of stunned silence before the push disappeared and Kade could reach his power again.  He reacted immediately.  Without hesitation he spun around, lifting his hands, one pointing towards Bell and Killian, the other pointed towards Inka.

“Stop him!”

For a moment nothing happened, before anyone could move the three disappeared.  Kade slowly turned back towards Telman and Reaper, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.  

“You really should have made a plan that did not include touching my sister” he said, voice calm.  A steady, stabbing pain made itself known in his chest.  

The counter measures that they took for his telepotation.  

“Don’t underestimate us, NightShade” Telman said “We are more than prepared to fight the two of you”

“That is if you can take on all of us” Reaper said.  

Kade looked at him with raised eyebrow.  “So that is why you brought so many friends along?” he asked, his eyes going slightly wider, an insane glint in them.

Ray glanced at his son.  The young man has reverted back to his NightShade persona.  A very dangerous persona, that did not care for human life.

“He is right” he said “You should not have touched my daughter”

That was all Ray had to say.  Without hesitation the two shot forward, attacking.  

Kade was having trouble keeping his power under control and not murder every single person in the warehouse.

Shadows twisted and contorted.  

Creatures moved in the darkness, only barely visible out of the corner of the eye. 

Kade swore as another attacker launched at him.  They have already taken out so many of the villains, but they just kept on coming, like they had a never ending reserve of bodies to throw at Ray and Kade.  There was not even a second for him to make sure that his father was still doing fine. 

“Kade!  Look out”

Kade’s head snapped to the side seconds before an orb of light smashed into his chest.

Pain made his vision go dark.  A screech sounded through the warehouse.  It started within the shadows, as they contorted and withered to escape the light.  

The light burned his skin as Kade fell to his knees screaming.  Shadows disappeared as the light stayed on his chest, spiderwebs of light, expanding over his chest and shoulders.

Slowly the light started pulling up, away from Kade.  Instead of the light letting go of him, it lifted him of his feet.

The villains closed in on Ray and Kade, blocking any means of escaping.

“If you stop fighting and tell me what I want to know, I will let the boy go” Telman said, tilting his head “Because I don’t think that he will last very long in that condition”

Ray frowned darkly as he looked at Kade.  The young man was suspended in the air, hanging limply from the light.  His eyes wide and darkening by the second.  The light was sucking all of his control away, it would kill him, slowly and painfully.  

“Let him go and I will tell you” he said “You can even search my mind”

“Swear it”

Ray looked at Kade again.  Black veins was crawling up the side of his neck, his face deadly pale.

“I swear it”

Telman nodded and gestured something.  The light flickered before disappearing, dropping Kade to the ground.

Kade crumbled to the ground, gasping from pain, eyes shut tightly, blood running from the corner of his mouth and nose.  He could hear the deal his father was making, but couldn’t do anything to stop it. 

The pain was just to much at the moment, burning through him like a fever.  everything hurt.  Moving hurt.  Breathing hurt.  Being alive hurt.

Slowly the pain lessened, and he opened his eyes.  The blurred figure of his father was moving away from him.  Hands caught his shoulders and arms, pulling him to his knees.  Fingers grabbed his hair, forcing his head back.

Kade had to bite back a groan as he blinked back tears.  

“Kaden”

A dark feeling of dread washed over him.  His father never called him by his full name, not since his other died.

“Kaden, look at me”

Kade blinked rapidly to clear his vision, focusing his attention on his father. 

“Good” the man said “Now listen carefully.  I need you to understand that what I’m about to do is for the best”

There was silence as all he could do was to stare at Ray.

“Take care, boy” Ray said “I always hoped that this would not be necessary, but it seems I no longer have a choice”

Kade’s eyes widened.  “No...” he managed to choke out “Please... don’t...  Dad...”

Ray smiled at him and shook his head.  “There is no more cards to play, boy” he said “This is the only way”

“...please don’t...” Kade begged, feeling the dread cloud his mind “Don’t use it!”

There was a slight smile on Ray’s face.  “With this I release the seal.  Giving back what was not mine to take” he started the incantation “Restore to full power and receive payment for deeds done and a contract for filed”

Telman’s eyes widened.

Kade started trembling, darkness wrapped around him like a cloak.

“Goodbye my son” Ray said as a bright light burst from his chest.

A scream echoed through the warehouse, making the ground tremble as half the building was plunged into darkness, except for the light emanating from Ray.  

Snarls and roars sounded from the darkness.  Screams and moans filled the light.  Despair and fear hung in the air.

The light flickered and within the blink of an eye, everything returned to normal.

Telman and Reaper were staring in shock at the scene in front of him.  The retired villain, Rouge, lay on the ground not moving, as was all the other villains and henchmen.  

The only figure still standing was Rouge’s son.

In the centre of all the bodies, unconscious figures, stood a lean dark haired figure.  

Telman blinked a few times before looking behind him.  Every one there were also staring at the young man.  He shook his head, turning his attention back to the young man.

“Take Rouge before he wakes up”

A demented chuckle sounded from the young man.  “If you think he can tell you anything about the calamities, you are sorely mistaken” he said, voice cold and emotionless “Because he just destroyed all memories connected to it”

“And how do you know that?”

The young man snickered.  “Because I just got all of my powers back” he said “We Calamities aren’t so good at controlling all that power at once, so he sealed part of mine”

The young man lifted his head - cold, hard, crystalline eyes stared at Telman.  

His lips were stained red with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, from his nose and ears.  Blood tears ran down his cheeks, making his eyes look bloodshot.  His mouth set in a dark sneer.

“You are a Calamity?”

The sneer deepened, turning into a twisted smirk.

“I’m the Calamity of darkness” Kade said as the shadows playing around him. 

“Then why are you working with the heroes?”

Kade laughed, cocking his head.  “now you are just being rude” he said “You really think that because I’m darkness, I have to be one of you?”

He took a step forward, the shadows surging up around him and casting half the warehouse into darkness.

“I will align with who I want to” his voice now echoing through the building “And you just took my Father from me”

Telman’s eyes widened “You wouldn’t”

“I just killed half the people in there, what makes you think I wouldn't kill you as well?”

Kade closed his eyes for a moment.  His body hurt, everything hurt.  He was barely able to keep his power under control.  

Slowly he released his hold on the power.  It felt so good, letting the shadows so as they please, the creatures thirsting for blood, his body buzzing with the need to keep on moving.  

“I can’t take this any more” he muttered threw his hands up.

Chaos erupted.

The remaining villains and henchmen attacked at the same time.

It did not help. 

Kade threw them around like rag-dolls and dispatched the rest.  Those that came at hi for a second time were killed without mercy.  

His breathing started to come in short pained gasps.

More blood ran down his nose, making his face seem even paler that before.

Kade clenched his jaw as his vision tunnelled in.  His power surged out of control, destroying everything in its path.

His breathing wheezed as he swayed on his feet.  He couldn’t do it any more.  His control was slipping away.

The taste of blood in his mouth made him want to gag.

He was losing his control.  Power surged through him, ripping the last bit of control him him.  Pain made his vision go white.  His blood burned.  His mind going blank to protect him.

Somehow he was aware that he was fighting, killing again.  There was also a scream.  Someone was screaming in pain.  

It was all to much.  He was going to break. 

A light flashed, blinding him for a moment and  silence descended.  An eerie silence that cut through the warehouse.

Kade lifted a hand to his face.  It came away with blood.  Each breath he took wheezed painfully through his chest.  Every inch of his body was riddled with pain.  His head was clouded, making it hard to focus on anything.

Exhausted he sank to his knees, eyes searching.  They finally came to rest on Ray.  

The pain in his chest almost made him want to throw up.

“Dad...” was all he could muster “...Sorry...”