Fight for Darkness

The mist was cold as darkness descended.  A full moon hung in oblivion with stars twinkling in the fading sunlight.  A young woman walks alone down a street in New York.  Her red hair cascades down her back, like a waterfall of fire.  She wore snug black jeans and a tight cream sweater that showed a well-muscled body.  To all appearances she is an innocent young woman, just out of high school.  But in reality she is a huntress, a being of the night.  Most can’t meet her eye, for her eyes do more than see.  Her walk was the graceful and assured walk of a feline.  Some call her unreal, a freak.  But others know the truth, for they are like her, creatures of the darkness.  Her real name is not known so her friends call her Flame, because of her waterfall of red hair.1

A young man walks out of an ally to meet her. He is wearing black jeans and a black T-shirt that shows off his well-toned body.  The young man’s name was changed and because of that he prefers to go by Raven.  The two silently continue.  Darkness hugs their bodies as they walk, making them almost invisible to the world.   The only sign that they are really there is Flame’s cream sweater, and even that fades into the night.  Others emerge from the shadows and join them in their silent walk.  They continue on to Central Park and glide into the forest, melding into the shadows.  Pushing past bushes and tree limbs they make their way through the foliage.  Nothing is said but they all anticipate each other’s next move.  An unseen path is followed deeper into the forest of trees.  2

As the group enters a clearing Flame and the Raven walk to the center for all to see.  The others gather at the edge and sink into the shadows.  The dynamic couple face each other, surrounded by their friends and the dark forest.  The moon shines down on them, the light glittering in Flame’s red hair and bringing out the dark blue in the young man’s raven hair.  Raven and Flame face each other; they are here to fight for leadership.3

When the moon is directly above them, they begin to change. Her fiery waterfall of hair shortened and paled slipping beneath her clothes, covering her skin.  Her eyes turned black as her manicured nails darkened, extending into claws.  Her hands transformed into paws with thick, protective pads.  When Flame finished shifting she stood in the powerful form of a Siberian tiger.  4

Raven stood there for a moment looking her up and down, seeing the trim muscle and hard, bottomless orbs staring back at him.  Raven’s change was less showy and swift, with more grace than flash.  His raven hair slid beneath his clothes and covered his body with silky, satiny fur.  His eyes shifting to yellow as his bitten nails hardened and extended into lethal claws.  His hands shifted into swift, silent paws.  When his transformation was complete his form was that of a jungle panther.  5

The two shook off loose hair. They faced each other, locked in a battle of wills and strength.  They circled one another, looking for the others’ weaknesses.  With lightning fast reflexes the two leapt at each other, trying to make the other bleed.  Knowing that first blood held victory.6

Their teeth locked and their eyes met; fury and pain reflected in both sets of orbs.  “No mercy.” Their eyes were easily read by each other.  The pair unlocked jaws and circled each other, daring the other to lie down and expose their throat.  The onlookers peer out from the shadows of the trees, silently urging the two felines on, hoping the victor will be a strong leader.7

The moon, high in the sky, shone down on the giant cats.  It’s light reflected off the Siberian’s white coat. The blue highlights in the panther’s coat writhe, hidden in the shadows and exposed in the moonlight, shining like dark sapphires in the sky.8

Black and white intertwined as they continued to struggle; their breathing now ragged.  The felines backed away from each other panting.  A small hole suddenly appeared under the tigress’ paw, causing her to stumble.  The panther leapt towards her, claws extended.  They fell in a heap with the moon’s glow casting steady shadows upon them.  Flame struggled beneath the lighter, more agile feline form.  The moment paused when their eyes met.  Black met yellow and recognition tugged at the edge of Flame’s memory.  Memories overcame her, pulling her back to the past…9

The inky blackness of the night covers him as he crouches behind a leafy hedge.  Voices inside rose over the glass shaking beat of the stereo.  Suddenly the power gave out, plunging the night into a natural darkness.  Craning his neck, in a poor attempt to see inside the night-shrouded windows proved difficult with his human eyes.  Every sound had vanished with the light creating an eerie silence.  He stood abruptly and ran towards the house, knowing what he’d find.  This power war had been raging too long, killing to many shifters.  Causing destruction to too many lives… causing too much hate.  This continuous war would destroy the shifters.  He ran as swiftly and silently as his cumbersome human form would allow.  10

Reaching the house he peered through an open window, the white lace of the curtain partially blocking his view.  Inside he saw the carnage he knew he would find.  A young man lay on the blue carpet; now stained with his blood.  A young woman held his head in her lap, singing softly to her dead companion.  Damon shifted into his second, more natural, form of a panther.  His black hair snaked under his leather jacket, covering his well-muscled back.  His canines lengthened, sharpening to deadly points.  The calluses on his hands and feet formed thick, protective pads.  11

Leaping silently through the window, Damon landed with a soft thud, the carpet absorbing his weight.  He felt, rather than saw the young woman turn and gaze at him.  Her fear was evident; knowing she wasn’t numb to the world after seeing her companion slaughtered was, however, reassuring.  A shadow moved behind her, catching his attention.  He saw the attacker knowing he was planning to harm the woman.  Crouching, Damon slowly crawled over to the young woman, hoping it wouldn’t frighten her further.  12

Damon neared the young woman, seeing the assassin pause; this was what he’d been waiting for.  He launched off the floor, leaping between the young woman and her would-be killer.  His paws landed hard on the assassin’s muscled torso.  The assassin writhed beneath the feline, attempting to shift to a less cumbersome form.  Damon sunk his claws into the man’s shoulders and thighs.  The woman’s attacker stilled, looking into yellow eyes filled with contempt.  The man shivered knowing he would pay for his aggression with his life.13

Damon saw realization dawn in the strangers’ eyes.  He shifted partially back to his human form; his arms and torso still covered with silky hair and his claws extended.14

Turning he saw the young woman watching him.  He looked for signs that she was injured.  Besides a slight tear at her shoulder, her thin white shirt was intact.  As she turned back to her dead companion, he saw her back was littered with claw marks, as though she had been used as a scratching post.  He cringed at the damage, mesmerized by her blood dripping down her torso.15

Turning back to the man he saw fear in his features.  Damon’s voice came out harsher than he’d intended as he interrogated the man.  16

“What are you doing here?” he asked, “Why do you want to kill her?” the man looked at him, his mouth opening and closing several times with no sound accompanying the movements.  Damon growled deep in his throat, causing the man to shiver.17

“Her brother, Slade is leader of the shifters.  My boss wanted Slade and his family dead so he could become the new leader,” the man answered. 18

“Why kill the girl?” Damon asked with mild curiosity.19

“Because she would become the leader if her brother died and my boss couldn’t stand having a girl lead him and the other shifters.”  The man grimaced, as if the idea was already put into motion.20

“Who’s your boss? And who are you?” Damon asked, knowing the information would endanger the woman.  The man smirked, even as Damon’s claws bit into his shoulders and thighs.  Drawing one of his claws down the man’s arm, Damon watched as his resistance gave way in the face of pain.  21

“My name is Jade.  I was about to finish her off when you showed up,” he glanced at the woman, still kneeling with her companions’ head in her arms.  “Topaz left after he tangled with Slade,” the man answered through his teeth.  22

“And Topaz is your boss. Right?”  Damon inquired with a smirk watching the assassin pale.  Damon dug his claws deeper into Jade’s thighs when he refused to answer.  Shaking his head at the assassins’ low tolerance for pain when the man nodded.  Finished with the assassin, Damon extracted his claws from Jade’s flesh, only to slice open his stomach, letting him suffer a painful death.  Jade’s eyes stared in disbelief at Damon, his hands attempting to cover the ghastly wound; his lifeblood pooling on the carpet.23

Damon shuddered at the waste of a shifter who lay on the floor before him.  Turning, he searched for the woman.  Damon crept over to her.  Her back was to him, giving him a chance to study her wounds.  Shifting fully to his panther form, Damon settled behind her, running his rough, feline tongue over her back, effectively wiping away the blood droplets.  24

“Are you alright?” Damon asked, once he’d shifted to his human form.  Shaking her head tears spilled from her eyes, silent sobs racking her body.  Hating to see anyone in pain, Damon pulled her into his arms, avoiding her seeping wounds.  “What’s your name?” he asked when her sobs abated.  25

“My name’s Brianna.  Who are you?  Why are you here?” she asked.26

“My name is Damon and I’m here to help you,” he stated, realizing to late she had lost too much blood.  His epiphany came too late, just as he made to steady her, she sunk to the floor.  Before he could catch her, Brianna’s head hit an iron statue lying haphazardly on the carpet…27

Flame stared up into Raven’s midnight eyes, her head pounding.  Wonder caught her off guard, leaving an opening; his claws swiping her fur-clad shoulder.  Their struggles stilled, both staring at the blood oozing through her fur.  Raven shifted to his human form, his gaze as dark as the midnight sky.  Flame shifted slowly, still caught in awe of her returning memories.  They still lay tangled on the wet grass, Flame’s blood soaking through the tear in her cream sweater.  Damon bent and licked away the offensive droplets.28

“Do you remember?” Raven asked, hoping her memory had returned.  Gazing into her yellowish eyes he prayed the fall had undone the damage the statue had caused.  29

Flame glanced at the man lying on top of her wishing the memory would subside.  Seeing the grotesque scene over and over in her mind.  Turning her head she saw a crowd had formed, encasing them with their surprise at her defeat.  Finally her gaze returned to her opponent.  His look of concern and hope overwhelming her.  30

“Who are you, Raven… you’re not Damon.  He rescued me from my brothers assassin the night I lost my memory, four years ago,” she searched his eyes and was rewarded with a frown.31

“Then you don’t remember me,” Raven stood, looking down at her, disappointment heavy in his stare.  “You don’t remember all that happened that night… Brianna.”  Flame gasped as renewed waves of pain washed over her.32

“Who are you that you know my real name, that you question my memory?” she demanded.  Pain and fury made her reckless as she surged to her feet in one smooth movement.  Her eyes shooting sparks, turning a deep yellow-gold tinge.  She needed to know, to understand.  33

“My real name is Damon and I’m here to help you,” Damon answered, uttering the same phrase he’d used four years ago, smiling at the stunned look on Brianna’s face.  Wondering why she refused to acknowledge him.  Knowing the pain of the memories were playing over and over in her mind, just as they had in his every night for four years.  “After you hit your head I took you to a doctor and left you there.  I had to track down Topaz, finding him was important for your survival.  Six months of hard tracking led me to him.  I had to kill him,” he offered the truth as his explanation.  Flame focused on the young man before her.  Searching his leveled gaze she saw the truth reflected in his words. 34

“Then why did you fight me for leadership?” she growled, “Why not just tell me what happened?” she advanced towards him with each word, stopping just short of running into his solid form.  35

“Because you’d never have believed me, that’s why,” he responded playfully.  Looking down into her eyes.  “And this way I could test you.  See if you were ready for the burden of leadership or if you still needed a few more years.”  Damon chuckled at the look of outrage and astonishment on her face.  Then to everyone’s amazement he knelt before her.   “Brianna, I want to relinquish the title of leadership to you.  I never wanted the burden you’ve worked so hard to acquire.  You will be a strong and capable ruler and I will always be at your side, whether you want me there or not, to steady if you should stumble,” he grinned up at her, “Rule well my leader,” he uttered the promise as he held her steady gaze, bowing his head in a gesture of submission to her hand of power.  36

Brianna stared down at his midnight hair, mesmerized by the twisting highlights as much as by his words.  From the corner of her eye she caught the movement around her as the crowd around her knelt and bowed their heads, imitating Damon.  Brianna smiled as tears filled her eyes and flowed down her cheeks.  Her smile lit up the night as she lifted her head to the heavens.37

“My promise to you is complete, Slade.  You knew I could win leadership of the shifters and you were correct, as usual.  I only hope I can rule with as steady a hand as you did.  I miss you brother and I promise to always rule with a just hand.”  Brianna looked down at Damon, pulling him to his feet, motioning the others to rise as well.  “Thank you, Damon.  Will you stay with us and help me rule, as my friend and confidant?  I know you want to move on but we need your reliable judgment.” Brianna’s eyes pleaded with him to stay, to help her.38

“I will stay by your side, Brianna… as your friend and protector,” he easily replied.   Holding out his arm he waited for her to take his arm.  When her hand rested steadily on his well-muscled arm, Damon led her through the assembled mass of shifters.  They walked, arm in arm, into the shadows of the forest, into their future.39