My Beloved Shadow

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A new chapter! Finally! lol It only took nearly a week of staring at it to finally get it written up. *hasn\'t hardly written in IS* *sigh* I\'m never going to get that one finished and published... Oh, well. :D**


When Michael takes them into the shadows Norris squeezes his eyes shut, holding onto Jason as if his life depended on it. With Norris squeezing the life out of his side, Jason leans his free side into Nick, his eyes taking in the lights around him as they race by at an incredible speed.

Nick isn’t certain what to think about what Jason had said to him, or the fact that he’s leaning in so close. His life before Michael seemed so nice in the light of all the changes he’s been going through.

When they reach the other side and step out from the shadows it’s all Nick can do not to make a fool of himself. He hadn’t really thought about what Michael’s world would look like, but this had been the furthest from his mind.

The grass that they are standing in is lush and a little over ankle high, it’s a deep emerald green and seems to glimmer a little when a gentle breeze blows by. They are standing in a valley, that is surrounded by a lush forest. It’s something Nick has only seen in pictures of rainforests.

The tree’s are giants among tree’s, towering at what must be at least twenty feet. At such distance Nick can’t tell for certain. To their right is a wall made of rock that stands at least three feet higher than they are tall. Michael tells them to follow and they turn the corner to find an entrance not far in front of them.

Michael had brought them this way on purpose, he wanted them to see how wonderful his land, his planet, is. He had worked hard for years to make it like this, when his father had turned to the Dark Divine it had become little more than a wasteland.

“Welcome to Noeyk, home of the Children of the Shadows.”

Michael said, formally welcoming them to his world. Nick shifted the bags at his shoulder as they walked towards the entrance. Jason is no longer near him, he’s walking beside Norris with Michael leading in front and Nick lagged in the back.

As beautiful as the place seemed, Nick felt that something wasn’t quite right and took a closer look. The grass is just as beautiful, maybe not what he’s use to, the tree’s and the bushes below them are just as vibrant. The castle to his right is made of a grey stone and is clean. He can see towers further back, towers tall enough to be seen over the wall.

It’s not until Nick looks up, at the sky, that he sees what is wrong. Though the land is as bright as mid-afternoon, the sky is a dark grey in color. There are no clouds, no rays of sunlight filtering it’s way through, just a solid color. Nick pushes all the questions he has to the back of his mind, he plans on asking Michael about it later. Not that he’ll get a straight answer.

Michael’s eyes never stray towards the sky. It is a constant reminder to him of the old days. When they are standing in front of the door a man peeks his head out of a hole half way up the wall, then disappears inside. The door is wide enough to allow a wagon, with a rider on either side, to walk safely through. Tall enough that a giant might walk through without difficulty.

The doors swing open, each side separating and moving inward. A crowd gathers within the gates, watching as Michael walks in. The moment the doors shut behind them the people bow, falling to one knee, in Michael’s direction.

“I have missed you, my people. I’ve returned now with new hope for you.”

He motions with his hand and they rise. It doesn’t take long before Jason, Nick, and Norris to notice that there are only two or three children in the crowd of nearly thirty. And those children look to be at least ten years old.

The ages of Michael’s people vary, but most look to be older than thirty, two have grey hair and wrinkles. They are each a degree of black and dark brown.

Children of the Shadows…

Michael motions for Jason and Norris to come closer, reluctantly they obey.

“Nea, Klara, step forward.”

Two young women step forward, their eyes down cast, refusing to look at Michael’s face.

“You know what needs to be done.”

He pushes Jason and Norris towards them, the girls look up at them, shy smiles on their faces. One of the girls steps forward and takes Jason’s name.

“I am Nea, you will come home with me?”

Nea is nearly as tall as Jason, willowy in form but with strength. Her skin is dark from extended time out in the sun, her hands in Jason’s feel callused and worked. Nea’s black hair falls just below her shoulder in a tight braid, sitting over a bright blue dress that, to Jason’s surprise, match her eyes.

Klara is shorter, though not by much. Most of Michael’s people are taller than humans. Klara’s hair is dark brown and cut short, not quite reaching her shoulders. Her eyes are black and emotionless. Her skin is just as dark and, when she takes Norris’ hand and repeats the words Nea had spoken, her hands are just as callused. Her build is stockier than Nea’s.

Both look to Michael, asking him what they should do. His only answer is to nod his head.

“Yes, I will come home with you.”

Jason is the first to say anything, his words cause Nea to giggle and pull him away. Klara takes Norris in the opposite direction. Nick watches them, torn and suddenly very lost. Jason and Norris had been the only things he had known. Without them he feels as if he’s slipped into a dream with no hope of ever escaping.

Michael’s hand on his arm wakes him up and he turns to look at him.

“Would you like a tour? There isn’t much to see, but it is better you know everything. Wouldn’t want you to get lost.”

Nick makes a face and shrugs Michael’s hand off his shoulder. Michaels answer is to smile, then turn his attention to Nick’s right.

“Now, over there is where my people live. At the moment there is a good fifty of them, only three are children, five out of the fifty are twenty. There is only about seven couples out of the group.”

The houses are small, looking like they couldn’t keep more than two people per home. Only about fifteen houses line wall, leaving Nick to wonder if some sleep inside the castle, or if they try to cram fifty people into only fifteen houses.

“Most live inside the castle. The couples live out here, and that is where Jason and Norris will be living. Now…”

Michael turns to the left. On the side closest to the door is a large garden that goes more than half way down the wall and comes out a good ways. The garden is full of plants, some standing taller than other’s. Further down weapons lean up against the wall, a mat sits on the ground that is large enough for sparing.

“We have the garden, that’s where a good portion of our food comes from. The rest I import from other planets about once every couple months. Meals here aren’t grand, we eat only what is necessary.

Further down is the training area. While we are the only humanoid creatures on this planet, there are large creatures that roam the lands. Most of them are carnivorous and love fresh meat. They are left over from when this land was little more than a wasteland.”
Michael turns to Nick, a mischievous look on his face.

“Your training will start early tomorrow morning.”

“Training?”

“Yes. We will fine hone your natural abilities, and teach you how to use weapons, or kill you trying. From now on, until I’m satisfied with how your doing, you will get up bright and early, eat breakfast, and come out here. You will train until well after noon.
There is always something to do after lunch. And then your evenings are all mine.”

Nick isn’t certain he likes all of what Michael has planned for him but, now that he is in the other man’s territory, he has very little say on how things are done.

Michael takes Nick inside the castle and shows him around. The place is so big that Nick can barely remember what each room, let alone each level and wing, is. How he is going to live in the castle he isn’t certain.

The rest of the day goes by in a blur and before Nick knows it is time for bed. For some strange reason, as the evening fades into night, the land becomes dark but the sky doesn’t change. When it is completely dark outside Michael takes Nick to their room.

“Now, I know how much you like having your own room, so you don’t have to worry about me forcing you to stay in mine. That door there will lead to your room. You may furnish it however you wish.”

Michael’s room is simply decorated, the floor and walls are stone like the rest of the castle. The walls hold shields, a few weapons, and a painting of a man and woman sitting on a throne. The bed is straight across from where they stand at the door. The bed is huge, at least in proportion to anything Nick has seen, looking like two king sized beds put together.

The bedding itself is a deep purple and has a sheen to it, though some of the pillows are dark blue. A fur rug runs the length on one side of the bed and a small table sits atop it at the head of the bed. Above the bed hangs a shield, it is dark grey with red markings upon it. The shield didn’t help someone, Nick notes with a cold chill, a hole the size of an apple sits in the center.

To the left of the bed, and where Michael had pointed is Nick’s personal room, is a wood door. Nick has found that all the doors in the castle, though wood, are very thick and solid. To the right of the bed is another door. Nothing else.

“The other door leads to the bath room. We do have running water, it isn’t with the same concept as what your use to, done more with magic and wind type thing. So showers should only be used sparingly, once a day.
If you’d rather a bath, water can be drawn. I can’t say as either are easier than the other, but it’s our options.

But, none of these are your concern, there are those who’s job it is to keep the castle clean.”

Michael turns to Nick, a serious look on his face, though it is soft and not at all harsh.

“And, I would like it very much if you would stay in here with me tonight. I won’t force you if you’d rather be lone.”

Nick sighs and looks away. His bags are waiting in his room, he had given them to Michael who had in turn given them to an older man and told him to put it in his room. He wanted badly to find his bags, make certain that they are really in the next, and go to sleep. But, at the same time, he doesn’t want to be alone, doesn’t want to fall asleep knowing that he will be alone in a strange new world.

Michael is the only link left to what he had left behind. Nick looks back at Michael and the look on his face tells Michael that he’s won.
“I will stay here tonight, later I will use my room.”

“Wonderful…”

Michael moves closer to Nick, his hand moving to cup the side of Nick’s face.

“I promise that you will come to love it here. It is different, I know, but not all that different once you get to know the place better. I’ve traveled enough to know that where ever you go everything is the same, with only a few minor differences.

Our difference is we use magic, whereas your world does not.”

Michael kisses Nick, not giving him a chance to reply, his arms slipping around Nick’s waist and back to pull him closer. Nick doesn’t fight it, rather he sends his brain on vacation and lets Michael do the thinking, lets Michael lead.

**
Hat-n-clogs: For the next ten days... You must allow me to train you.
Ichigo: Your gonna teach *me* how to fight? There\'s no time for that!
Who knows when they might decide to kill Rukia?
Hat-n-clogs: You don\'t understand.

*lol* And then he knocks Ichigo down and tells him how it is.
Scene from Volume 7 of Bleach and my inspiration for the last half of this chapter. Ichigo is training, so why shouldn\'t Nick? lol When I decided to have Nick train I went and found one of my swords and spent about fifteen minutes out side, running through the basics. *loves swords*
Well, anyways, let me know what you think. The next chapter will have Nick training and will introduce someone new. *grins evily* This new guy has a secret that involves Nick, but it won\'t be revealed for another couple chapters. *laughs*