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The Photographer and the Shadow (Inscryption fan story pt 2)
(Part two of four of a four part story. Part one can be found here: Part one) ......................................................................................................................
“H-How did you..”
Leshy’s blood ran cold, or at least whatever the plant equivalent of blood did anyway. Sunken eyes widen in shock and fear as dread pounds at the heart of a formidable beast. A wooden stool is knocked over, as hooves stamp against the ground as the Scrybe of Beast quickly rose up to his full height. His mind yells at him to move, to grab his camera and play the odds hoping to end this once and for all but all he could do was stand there like a deer in headlights. Paralyzed by fear; as he watches the scrybe of shadows quietly walk towards the wall off to the right of them. Bolted down and secured to the walls wood grain was two tools that had never been there before at least not until recently..A rusted hammer that smelt of motor oil, and a aged paintbrush encrusted with moxes. Her fingers come up to graze the handle of the latter.
“You would be surprised on what you can here in the shadows,” She soon proclaims coolly; her gaze transfixed on the two tools welded to the wall. “...What you did was unnecessary Scrybe of Beast..”
“I-I did what was needed..” his voice quietly boomed. “..I did what needed to be done Ju-”
“That is highly debatable. Although; I suppose that some action was necessary but you could have gone about it a better way you know-”
“And risk losing my chance at control? Highly unlikely-"
"It is always power grabs with all of you! It's always about knocking down every obstacle just so one of you can have power over the game! How many times as this occured already? With one of you gaining sole power, poessing it for a while only for it to be ripped from your hands and start the cycle all over again? Its all become some predictable. At this point you've bested every single obstacle that has been thrown your way that I am surprised who haven't full changed the game yet!"
Her words..they rang a thousand and one truths. Someone would win, then they'd lose, then someone else wins and then it starts all over again. Most of the time one of them would gain control for a single day maybe a week at most before it all came crashing down. He himself has been in this very same spot a number of times however..
"Perhaps…although there is still one obstacle I have yet to face..” not once did she ever become an obstacle for him to face in his grabs for power.
The tension in the air was rising again although this time it was by his hand. Finally stealing his nerves the man of nature kneels down. Scooping his knocked over stool off of the floor he sets it down back into its proper place before sitting on top of it. From the darkness he summons forth a map, a deck of cards, his scale..and the always familiar candelabra that was the life line for all those were foolish enough to play a true game of cards. Two flames flicker to life filling a small fraction of the room with a warm orange glow that shimmers in the corner of the shadow’s view. Hunching over the table Leshy unrolls he map with a brush of his fingers that he extends out to her like a friend offering a helping hand, or a fool trying to beseech forgiveness. “Care to play a few rounds with me? Old friend
Juno says nothing at least not at first. In fact for the longest while she simply stood there staring absent mindedly at the wall in silence. He was unsure if it was because she was thinking over his question or not but at least now whatever anger she possibly harbored had died down a significant amount. No longer did it feel like he was being frozen to the bone or crushed by guilt like he was before. However, this does not mean that he lowers his guard. What happens next is unknown to him for now; and one wrong move could send everything into nothing but ruins.
A slight sigh is soon heard from the shadows; her shoulders slumping with the slight heave as she turns her head. Her gaze..it felt so numb now. Like it was devoid of any emotion; it was a look he had seen before in the past although he cannot remember where or even when he did. But it is a thought he does not dwell on long as he watches her finally move. Her footsteps make no sound but each one carries her closer and closer to the table till she is standing in the spot usually reserved for challengers. For a brief moment; Leshy smiles. Warm and kind like that of an old friend as he holds out a deck of cards for her to take. Her hand reaches out..
“...If I was not in such a terrible mood I would have laughed…I would have been delighted to play a few rounds of cards with you…” and moves past the deck. Raising itself high into the air her hand reaches out towards the candelabra and with just two pinches of the candles’ wicks..the flames had gone out.
"However, I am not in the mood..It would all be pointless in the end regardless..”
“So are going to let me inscrybe you? Just like that? No struggle? No fight?”
“Yes, but in exchange..” She claims softly. Bowing her head the scrybe of shadows takes her place in the chair that had been offered to her. Her posture is stiff as she settles her hands in her lap but her voice lacks any malice or regret. “There are however, one or two questions I would like to ask if I am permitted to do so.”
“....Very well…What is it you would like to ask?”
To be continued in part 3