SHADOW OF NIGHTSHADE

Carlos Novaro blew the wisp of smoke from the barrel of his golden revolver, he had fired three shots each killing an innocent. Holstering his gun he turned his back and started walking. Clean up zat mezz! he demanded of his men as he passed them, they saluted without question. Across the court yard Novaro entered his villa. Climbing the grand marbel stairs he entered his office turned and closed the solid wooden doors, he crossed over his Persian rug to his mahogany desk, opening a elegant Ebony box he took out a cigar and sat in his thrown of a chair. Puffing great clouds of smoke into the air he was about to sit back and relax when he noticed it. In the centre of his desk almost taunting him was a white business card. Novaro reached forward and picked it up, flipping the card over it had but one word printed on it in silver SHADOW. Shivers ran down Novaro's back his blood turned cold, he started looking round his office, he was alone. He dropped the card knowing it meant death, pushing his chair to the floor he ran to the window and through it open to shout for his guards. As soon as the window opened however a pair of ghostly black legs grabbed him and trough him from his office, as Novaro fell he could see a shadowy figure watching him from the villas tower, then his eyes focused on something else, a black dagger. The blade penetrated his brain through his right eye, he was dead before his head exploded on the court yard he had not long ago crossed. Guards rushed forward looking everywhere but could see nobody, checking the villa, it was empty, both card and blade had also vanished.

Rowen Ventuson the disavowed agent was sat at his desk typing away at his high tech water cooled computer and net surfing, the daily norm for Rowen. At this particular moment he was reading news just in, the notorious drug lord and all round asshole Carlos Naovaro was dead some were claiming suicide others assassination local police appear clueless. The countries Guards are said to be on high alert for any foreigners leaving the country.

Rowen jumped out of his skin as a hand fell silently on to his shoulder.

Nightshade: little jumpy old man 'said with a grin.

Rowen: Hey! less of the old man Nightshade or if you prefer SHADOW, he returned the grin.

Nightshade: I'd prefer Olivia when at home, Red Wind!

Rowen: ok ok I surrender, Olivia and Rowen it is, but lets leave ages out of it for now.

Rowen grinned wide as he turned in his chair to face Olivia Nightshade, she was stood holding two cups of coffee and a bag of bagels. Always glad to see his friend, Olivia stood at 5'6" was a slim women (you'd say in her 20's maybe) dressed all in black, the trouser suit with lacy tail hugged her form nicely, her jet black hair hung free, yet it seemed to sway in a breeze that wasn't there. As Olivia placed the coffees down, she removed her delicate glasses to reveal a pair of blood red unfeeling eyes, she blinked and her eyes changed colour to a friendly pale blue. If you were able to get close enough to gaze into her blue eyes, you would see what looked like clear skies or swirling clouds of white. She cracked a smile back at Rowen, revealing pearly white fangs, "lets eat it was a long journey home".

Rowen's smile was genuine, "hey kiddo, I am glad you are home safe after another job well done". Olivia's pale cheeks took on a pinkish glow at her friends comments. They sat and enjoyed the coffee and bagels.

It was silent in the apartment, Rowen was asleep in his room, It was always a good feeling to come back to Rowen to come home. Olivia was sat up in the ledge of the skylight looking out at nothing in particular, the only question she ever pondered on was on her mind again,

Who/what was she? Where had she come from, how old was she really, Rowen guessed she was about 25 years a beautiful women. However these questions had bothered her for the past 150 years or so. She may not know who she was or where she came from, but she knew her abilities, powers if you will. Shadow Walking was the name she'd given the ability to a shadow at her location and appear from any shadow around the world. Peak vision, the ability to see perfectly regardless of weather or light conditions, she could also see a person or thing from 50 miles away as if they were across the street. Truth light, this allows her to see a persons aura, if good it's gold but red if they are evil. She could also read minds but this drained her so was barely used. Olivia was also blessed with animal like hearing, she could hear the same as you and eye or better than any man made equipment. Of course you put all these abilities together you get the perfect assassin, Olivia would only hunt and kill the truly evil of this world. On another train of thought lay Olivia's favourite ability was called Wardrobe, she could change clothing at will, black was her favourite colour. Olivia slipped from the ledge not making a sound, silently she moved across to lean on the door frame to Rowen's room.

Rowen: I'm not asleep, do you need to talk awhile?

Nightshade: I was just wondering if you'd found out anything about my past!

Rowen: I have found a little but it's really not much, but I do think I'm on to something.

Olivia sat in a large leather sofa with her knees drawn up to her chest, her head rested on her knees as she listened. Olivia loved the soothing tones of Rowen's voice it always made her feel calm. Rowen smiled at how child like Olivia looked in the large chair, he began...

you're current memories only go back about 150 years, however I believe that you are or were a member of a group/cult called, Nochtus Sororibus or night sisters, as far as I can tell they operated around 2000 years ago, I'm following more leads as we speak but what little I have found mention powers like yours, they show up around some deaths and conflicts, I'm still looking sorry it's not much. Olivia smiled and said that's ok thank you Rowen. Olivia got up and left Rowen to go back to sleep. Olivia returned to her ledge by the window where she could think over Rowen's words. The sun rose, kettle boiled and the old man woke, Rowen stretched, dressed and joined Olivia for a welcome cup of coffee. Rowen sat down to his computers and brought them back to life.

Nightshade: So who gets to die today?

Rowen: Someone's in a good mood! let me see.

After a moment or two, 6 names and faces appeared on the large screen.

Rowen: ok 6 this time, all worthy of a personal visit.

Nightshade: anything I need to know?

Rowen: Don't think you'll have any trouble the first four men.

Nightshade: I hear a but, in there what's so different about the last two men?

Rowen: well by the time you get to them the sun will be high in the sky, less shadows you know what I mean.

Nightshade: I'll be fine. Olivia kissed Rowen softly on his forehead, whispered thank you and disappeared into the shadows.

She felt the pull as Olivia became Nightshade AKA Shadow. The first three targets were simple enough, asleep in their beds, simply step from the shadows, put a knife straight in the brain leave a calling card and step back to the shadows.

1. Clitch Burrows Arms dealer, rapist and killer

2. MK5 (AKA China) people trafficker, with a child labour racket

3. Uncle Benny all round slob crime boss

4. Charlie Smith child killer and known man eater

5. Hanibal Zahn drug trafficker and pimp

   
   

   Nightshades luck was in, there was a shadow in the upper left corner of Zahn's day room. She could see him sat in a leather chair on the phone. once he'd put the phone down Nightshade released her blade, it pinned his head to the back of the chair barley making a sound. Black silk thread hung from the end of the knife baring her calling card.

   Nightshade grinned as she slipped back into the shadows to kill her next target.

6. Karlov Heski Russian mafia tyrant, this bastard had done it all

   Nightshade followed the pull as she had on every job she'd done so far, but something went wrong. Nightshade was wrenched free from the path, she fell to the floor and hard. She rose to her feet and looked round, surrounded by complete darkness no chance of a shadow, reaching out with her other powers she realised she was alone.

   Taking up a meditative pose on the floor, she lowered her breathing and heartrate.

   And so it is I am trapped!

   
   

   Else Where

   ?: Do you really think it's her after all this time?

   ?: Yes it's her, This is a plus for Orange Sun!