Shadows Of The Heart

A cool wind ruffled the shadow’s mid length hair as he stared down at the soup of humanity. Four storeys below him the city of Bichester spread away in an urban sprawl. Perched above the lights that illuminated everything with a sickly, yellow hue, he was invisible to all, even if they happened to look up at the bank’s Victorian edifice.Vanadine watched as large groups passed below him, laughing and yelling, pushing and playing. Due to his exile, Vanadine felt an intense jealousy for these people and their lives, envious of something he could never be a part of. The anger began to descend over him at the unfairness of his life, darkening his thoughts and he moved along the narrow, sandstone ledge, the face dirtied by traffic fumes, with an agility and grace that belied his size.He leaped across from the bank to another building, this one brick and slithered up an iron drainpipe that probably removed sewage from the toilets within. On the roof, he slipped through the shadows as if he

Darkness swam through his mind as he fought for control of the raging madness that sought to overtake him. It had been her voice, her plea, that had stopped him from choking Hann until his heart stopped. Even so Vanadine thought there might be some permanent brain damage and a savage joy thrilled up through him. His thoughts turned to the woman and how easily he could end her life. Ten different scenarios played across his psyche as he gripped the concrete upright, his fingers aching. Yet the pain and discomfort grounded him, allowed the darkness to abate and his human side reasserted itself, bringing a calm and banishing the chaos.The intensity of his emotions drained him and he slowly let go of the concrete pillar, noticing the cracks radiating from where he had gripped it so hard. Now in control of himself once more, Vanadine knew he had to get away, protect this innocent woman from what he was. Yet as he turned to see her, shivering and in a heap, clothing tattered and face bruis

Sickened by his loss of control in the hospital cellar, Vanadine swept through the night towards one of the thins, an area where his world met the human world. There were a few such places he knew of but the closest was in a park a mile or so away. Few people were out at this hour so he risked taking the streets, running along at an inhuman pace and pausing as soon as he saw someone. He hopped over the fence and headed into the darkness again, taking comfort and solace in the shadows.Tearing himself away from Carine had been the hardest thing he had been forced to do in years and Vanadine was surprised at the hollow that grew in his chest when he thought of her face.So small and helpless. He thought. Maybe I should go and see if she is all right.No! another part of his snapped. You know what you are and that is a threat to her. Stay away, stick to the shadows and remain alone for her sake.Vanadine knew his conscience was correct. Carine would be at risk if he was near her and stay

Muscles straining against the invisible bonds that rooted him in place, Vanadine felt the darkness begin to creep in. Anger and rage at his captivity seemed to develop thoughts of their own, driving him to lash out and maim.Who does this mongrel halfbreed think she is to bind us like this? Burn her alive! Tear out her heart! Kill this bitch in the worst of ways and let all know we are not to be challenged.Vanadine closed his eyes, concentrating on his human side, embracing the lighter, more forgiving aspect of his psyche.This is why you can never be with someone like Carine. His mind said. One slip and she would be dead. One tiny misstep and you would be watching her life force drain out onto the ground.Thoughts of Carine, her beauty and vulnerability, pushed the darkness aside a little and his thinking cleared as he watched the twisted horror of his former friend come into view before him.“I will have you, Vanadine, willingly or under duress but either way you will be mine!”The

Stay away from her! His mind shouted as thoughts of Carine ran through him again.He had been in a world of pain and loss for a week, unable to concentrate on anything and with his already lonely existence, staying away from Carine was a torture he could no longer bear.I will just watch from afar. He told himself. No contact but I can at least see her, make sure she is safe.You are lying to yourself. Another part of him said. You will not be able to stay away once you see her.It was galling, Vanadine admitted to himself, that he felt so drawn to Carine. It had never happened before even though his human side was at the front of his personality. Maybe he had never let it happen before or maybe he was just so lonely his need for some kind of contact was overriding his common sense.I will forget her. He assured himself. I will keep clear for her own sake.Half an hour later Vanadine sat before a computer. It was an older model as the small office was part of a taxi company that was o