To Rule In Shadow

The light grew brighter, seeming to fill the entire world. Even when he covered his eyes with his hands, Adrian could see the cold, harsh light as it seeped into his every pore. He felt a sharp stabbing pain in his right palm, driving him to his knees with its intensity. Only after the light had faded once more into darkness did the pain abate, allowing him to slump to the floor and catch his breath.

After a few shuddering gasps, he realized his vision had returned. Looking around, he saw that he was in a vast chamber with columns of black marble stretching towards a distant, vaulted ceiling, wreathed in twisting shadows.

A carpet, the color of dried blood, extended from the doorway he'd emerged from, to the base of a black marble staircase leading up to a raised platform. Upon this platform was an ornate throne made a bright silver metal, and inlaid with ten black, fist-sized gems. Behind it was a massive stained-glass window emblazoned with a black ankh, surrounded by twisted and flowing markings that vaguely resembled a written language. Dimly, light filtered through it, bathing the throne in the only illumination in the room.

Behind him was the doorway he passed through, still open. I t seemed to hover in midair, a perfect cutaway of the surrounding scenery. The abandoned and trash-strewn section of the subway was visible through the unnatural portal.

Adrian got back to his feet, still feeling a little light headed. Looking down at his hand, which had been in agony just seconds before, he saw a newly made, black tattoo in the center of his right palm. One shaped like the ankh in the window.

The door slammed shut behind him.

He whirled around, and could only watch in growing horror as the plain wooden door simply faded from existence, revealing that the chamber stretched on beyond the limits of his vision.

[What the hell...]

Adrian found his gaze drawn to the throne. There was something compelling about it, something dragging on his attention.

Doing his best to calm his nerves, he started climbing. As his foot touched down upon the first stair, the rest of the chamber seemed to vanish, leaving him to ascend the steps in a dark void filled with twisting shadows. The closer he got to the the silver chair, the more humanoid the shadows seemed to become.

By the time he stood on the dais, he was surrounded by a sea of figures, seemingly writhing in agony. He paused, horrified by the sight, and, almost as if sensing weakness, the shadows turned as one and rushed towards him.

He lurched back and felt a stab of pain as his legs collided with a sharp edged object. Banging his head on the hard metal of its back, he fell backwards into the throne. As soon as he was in place, the shadows receded and he was once more in the columned hall.

For a brief moment he felt his consciousness expand, as he became connected to some vast.....thing. Something cold and alien. He fell forward in a panic, gasping for air, overwhelmed by the sensations.

"Hail, Ruler of Shadows." A soft, rich voice broke the silence of the chamber.

The strange masked man from his earlier hallucinations was kneeling on the floor before the throne, gaze lowered.

[When did he.....]

Adrian stood, still a little dizzy, and addressed the figure. "Who are you? Where am I?"

Adrian gulped. As melodramatic as those names sounded, the calm and steady manner in which the man named Pavuk relayed this information was very convincing. The small part of him that was still filled with doubt went silent. He had either been transported to some supernatural realm, or he was going insane. Either way, there wasn't much he could do about it, now.

"Why am I here?" He asked, starting to question his sanity.

"You are here because you chose to be, my lord. No one forced you to open the door."

"What do you mean?"

"Let me ask you this instead, what do you think this place is?"

Looking around one more time, he fixed the masked man with a stare, "The afterlife? Am I dead?"

"You're not far off. In ancient times, accounts of the Hall of Shadows informed early perceptions of the afterlife, but no this is a realm unto itself, and you are very much alive, my lord."

"So then what's the answer?"

Looking up for the first time in their conversation Pavuk paused, as if to examine him before answering. "I'm afraid I can't answer that at this time, my lord. It is something you must discover for yourself.

The masked man once again focused his gaze on the floor. "You bear the Blood and carry the Key; you opened the Door and claimed the Throne. By the ancient contract, you are the Ruler of Shadows and master of this Hall."

Adrian's mind spun. This was starting to get out of control. "What if I don't want to be the Ruler?"

"My lord, I'm afraid that you have no choice in the matter. Once appointed the Ruler of Shadows, only death may release you from your duties." Pavuk explained with clear resignation in his voice.

A chill was creeping down Adrian's spine, but a small voice in the back of his mind, where he concealed his deepest d.e.s.i.r.es and fear, cried out in....exultation.

After a long pause, he motioned for the masked man to stand. Once Pavuk had done so, he asked quietly, "What duties do you speak of?"

A groan, barely audible resounded through the silent chamber, causing a chill to run down Adrian's spine. The columned chamber now felt an awfully like the mouth of some titanic beast, growling in frustrated hunger.

Pavuk c.o.c.ked his head, as if listening. "You hear it, my lord? The Hall calls for sustenance. Sustenance that only you can provide."

"You speak of it as if its alive." He responded already knowing the truth of the implication.

"Why would you think it is not?"

Sighing, he looked at Pavuk, "So what's the next step? What do I need to do?"

"You claimed the throne, but you have not taken up your mantle as the Ruler of Shadows. Do so, and you may call upon the power and privilege of your office."

Feeling his pulse quicken at the idea of supernatural power, he asked, "And how do I do that?"

"Sit upon the throne my lord, and commune with the Hall, claim your inheritance in full. You will know what you need to know once you are finished."

Following Pavuk's instructions, Adrian once more climbed the stair leading up to the silver chair. Thankfully, he was no longer subjected to the visions of tortured shadows. He stopped once he reached the top, taking a moment to consider it once more. He certainly wasn't trying to put off the unpleasant experience. No, not at all.

He surveyed the vast Hall, and had but one thought.

[How empty.]

"Is this all there is, Pavuk? Surely there must be more."

"Indeed, this realm is vast, but the Hall has slept for a very long time. This is the only place that remains....stable, for lack of a better word. With time and energy, more may become accessible. And with it, others like me."

"I am merely a caretaker, charged with awaiting the coming of the Ruler." Pavuk answered. For a moment his shadow flickered, seeming to change shape. Adrian only caught the hint of long, delicate limbs that reminded him of a spider's legs.

Suppressing another shudder, Adrian turned back to face the throne. With another deep breath, he sat in it again. Almost as soon as he touched the cold metal, the presence began to press against his mind. He gritted his teeth, trying to bear with it.

"You must relax your guard, my lord, or the Hall will destroy you. Simply give in, and the mantle will descend upon you." Pavuk's voice sounded as if it came from a great distance.

Adrian didn't know why, but the advice felt wrong to him. If he surrendered to this presence, it would crush him. With a growl, he started to fight against the intrusion.

In the confines of his mind he saw the approaching tide of darkness threatening to engulf him. On this mental plane, he stood in waste deep muck, as black as the darkest night. Tendrils of shadow began to curl around him, pulling him into deeper into the swamp. Panicking he tried to fight against the pull, but each motion seemed to entrap him further. All the while, the darkness was closing in. Whatever the Hall was, it was beyond him, beyond any human. To fight against it was the height of folly.

[Should I just give in?]

Adrian felt a surge of anger from the deepest core of his being. The idea of surrendering, even for a moment, was abhorrent to him. He had bent to the will of the strong for his entire life, becoming a slave to the expectations of others. He would be damned if he let this jumped-up ink splotch, destroy him. A howl of fury was torn from his very soul.

The mental heat of his anger burned through the tendrils holding him, causing the darkness to recoil a bit. Rage going cold, he shouted within his mind. "I am your master! I am the Ruler of Shadows! You will bend to me!"

The darkness quivered, almost as if it were shying away, but then it rushed him all at once, smothering the flickering flame of his anger in the tide

The sound of applause broke his concentration.

"Well done, my lord. It has been a long time since a mortal has bent the Hall to his will. I pray you will forgive me the slight deception. I was bound by the rules here to give you one final test, which you have passed."

The masked man sketched another bow, "So, once again, hail, Ruler of Shadows. Know that you have my complete loyalty so long as you remain the master of this place."

He didn't bother to answer Pavuk, since he was far too distracted by a new sensation

A steady stream of knowledge had begun to enter Adrian's mind, as the Hall taught him what it was, and what he had become. Learning the true nature of his inheritance, he couldn't help but grin. It was more than he'd ever hoped for.