SHADOW - Shadow Hunter Academic Defensive Organization of Warfare - Season 01

Episode 000: A New Era

Three years since the taking back of Lexford.

Three years since the world began breathing again.

Three years since both his greatest victory and his greatest failure.

***

"Sign this," Raven Darkmoon said, pushing a small stack of pages to the man across the negotiating table, the man who would occupy the seat of power governing the war-torn world of Valladia. Both candidates for the position was no longer with them, and as it usually did Westcross was there to seize the opportunity to profit. "These two women will act as witnesses. Ms. Chase will act as notary since her background in law qualifies her for it."

"What am I signing?" The new acting ruler of the world, Alexander Maxim, asked as he pulled the pages to him. His eyes glanced downward for but a second, then went back to resting on his guest.

"The Cheryl Darkmoon orphanage is to be declared a sovereign nation unto herself, something you promised you'd do once we took care of your problem." Raven said gruffly. "At great cost, despite your not aiding in the recapture of Lexford like we agreed."

"Well, I've been thinking about that. Now, it's true that we negotiated those terms before, but things have changed, Lord Darkmoon. I think we can allow your little home for misfits to continue on as it has been, but I don't know about 'declaring it a sovereign nation.' That doesn't sound like something I'd agree to. There are too many dangers for that to happen, and I think that..."

"Shaya."

Before Maxim could move, he felt a blade being pressed into his throat. The woman had moved with both speed and a deadly grace rarely seen these days. Maxim tried to swallow, but his throat was too dry all of a sudden.

"Now, I think the man was saying he'd like ya to sign that document," the dark haired woman dressed in the blue uniform of a Trystanian Royal Police officer with the blade whispered into his ear. "And ya can do it with ink or with blood. Makes no difference to us, but we hear you're a sharp negotiator. Ink might be a little more efficient and a lot less messy." With that, she pressed the knife a little harder, and blood began welling up, then slowly oozing downward onto the shining blade. Maxim knew the next step, simply raking it across, would be the felling stroke that ended his existence. "Right?"

"O...Of course. Yes, now I remember," he said hoarsely, and let out a little sigh of relief when Shaya relaxed and pulled the knife away from his now very tender throat. He quickly signed the sheaf of pages and hurriedly pushed them back across the table, as if the papers themselves were disease-ridden.

"While you're at it, I'd like you to sign this as well," Raven said, sending another page across the table. His eyes shone with disgust and never left Maxim's.

"I think you presume too much. What is this?"

"That is a permit to turn the orphanage into a school and to allow us to relocate here in Westcross." Raven explained.

What? That wasn't part of our agreement!" Maxim's voice rose as he shot to his feet.

"Yes, I think it was," Raven said. "Certainly the way I remember it."

"Yep. Me too," Shaya chimed in.

"I want this out on the table. What if I decide I don't want you or your filthy brats here and I don't sign it?"

"Oh. Well then, we kill you and make the same offer to your successor. He or she may be a little more open to what we want," Raven replied calmly. "Smart money is on you, though. If you're having trouble deciding, then maybe I can persuade Officer Starbrow to help with hastening your decision."