#shadowmancer

The day started as it always did. The sunlight peeking over the horizon through the window, draping over Steven’s back as the final whisp of candlelight flickered out into smoke.

Steven closed his book, setting it on his desk as it pushed its chair out. Reaching up, Steven stretched his stiff limbs as he walked over to his wardrobe, tail flicking behind him.

It didn’t take long to change into fresh clothes, rolling back his sleeves to allow its arms to breath.

Moving to the window, Steven watched as the street outside became busier, cars beeping, and pedestrians squawking as they moved past each other. 

Steven didn’t hover too long at the window. Closing the curtains, he turned, bright red eyes illuminating in front of him as he made his way out of the room. He made his way down the stairs leisurely, strolling past his office and through the shelves full of trinkets and knick-knacks to the front door. Glancing out the door’s window, he flipped the closed sign around to mark the shop as open, before turning back around towards the back.

The day went by as he sat behind the counter. Customers came and went, browsing the shelves, and occasionally picking something up to buy. One particularly interesting customer was an excited child, bouncing at their mother’s hip as they bought a bright brass ball that rang with every jump.

When the clock in Steven’s office rang three, the bell at the door dinged as another customer came inside. Steven felt its ear twitch as it recognized the man, his hair pulled back in a braid that was twisted with vines and flowers.

“Brownstone.” Steven greeted the man, gesturing at the box in his hands as it stepped out from behind the counter. “I assume you have something for me today?”

“I do.” Brownstone said, a scowl on his face as he followed Steven into the back office. “I believe you will find it,” the scowl on his face deepened, “interesting.”

Steven hummed as he sat behind its desk, bringing his hands together in front of its face. “We will see.”

Brownstone huffed, setting the box down with a large bang, before opening it, turning to show Steven the contents.

Looking inside, Steven narrowed its eyes at the glinting red gemstone, surrounded in a frame of gold and attached to a scaley leather strap. 

To the eye, it was certainly beautiful. But Steven could feel his shadowy fur drawn to the amulet, the red gem pulsing in synchronism with his own eyes. 

Steven could feel the power within the amulet. He picked it up, holding it within its claws as his own shadow licked at it like an old friend. It had power, but ultimately the power inside was useless.

“This is an interesting trinket.” Steven commented, picking at the leather strap with his other hand. “But not as interesting as you may suspect.”

“The shadowmancer I bought it from claimed it was valuable!” Brownstone insisted, leaning over the desk as he gestured at Steven. “Clearly it’s filled with shadow magic, I can see you react to it.”

Steven felt his ears slick back at the mention of a shadowmancer, it’s fur fluffing as he set the amulet back in its cushioned box. “While it does have shadow magic, it’s not reachable.” Steven slammed the lid closed, the shadows of the room darkening at his mood. “Not even from its own kind.”

Brownstone glared at Steven as the shadow cat pushed the box to him. “I doubt I would pay what you would want for it. And I wouldn’t want it for anything. Even for stock on my shelves.”

The man snarled as he snatched the box back up. “I’ll find someone who’ll find its use,” he bared his teeth,  “demon.”

Steven sat there as Brownstone left, the clinging of the front bell ringing in the silence, leaving the shadow alone in the shop.