Dancing In the Shadows
-Original Fiction-
555
by Shuuki
and Pookie
Dusk was falling as Nathan and Sophe emerged onto the streets again. Streetlights and store signs flickered to life about them as they headed for the theater district. Sophe was typically silent but a lighter look graced his face as he glanced at the sky. As they walked into the busy streets of the theater district, Nathan started whistling a tune. All around them lively crowds were forming in front of theaters and bars. Shouts and clapping could be heard coming from small groups gathered around street performers.
Sophe grabbed Nathan’s arm and lead him down a narrow side street. Strings of colored bulbs hung from one building to the next lighting the street with a whimsical glow. People flowed in and out of shops, coffeehouses, and late-night bakeries. Sophe turned into an out of the way restaurant called Trembure.
Nathan almost laughed when Sophe dragged him down the narrow street. He looked around with smiling eyes, rarely one to visit this area. As they arrived at their destination he looked at the name of the restaurant he was being led to. “Trembure?” He looked quizzically at the kid, wondering what kind of food he would find there.
Sophe chuckled. “It sounds foreign but it’s really mild fare. I think the name fools a lot of people. Trembure is the owner’s surname.”
Nathan nodded. “Ah, now I get it. Do you know the owner?”
“Allacott? Oh yes. He’s somewhat famous in the area. It’s hard to spend much time here without hearing his name. I used to walk down this street every night. I’d stop and look in his window like it was a toyshop. It always looked so intimate. People would lean over the candlelight talking and looking so happy together.”
Nathan smiled, once more surprised by this kid. “So when did you finally decide to go inside?”
“Allacott noticed me after a while. He gave me my first job...”
Nathan looked past Sophe and into the restaurant. “This Allacott seems like a nice fellow.”
“…Though sometimes I think it was to get me out from in front of his restaurant.”
A pretty blonde arrived at their table and asked politely for their order. “Do you trust my taste?” Sophe peered over his menu at Nathan.
Nathan looked over the menu a few times, understanding none of the choices. He closed it happily when he heard Sophe’s offer. “Of course!” He smiled at Sophe and took a sip from his glass.
Sophe ordered the special for them both and added, “Let Allacott know, Sophi’s here.” The blonde curtsied and hurried to the kitchen. Sophe leaned forward on folded fingers and watched his companion over the flame of the candle.
Nathan leaned back against his chair, absently swirling his glass in his hand, and watched the flame dancing in Sophe’s eyes. “Sophi?” he asked with a curious voice.
The corner of Sophe’s mouth curled up behind his hands. “Allacott always calls me Sophi. He never calls anyone by their actual name. You’ll see what I mean when you meet him...”
Nathan raised an eyebrow and finished his drink, his eyes never leaving Sophe’s. “Can’t wait...”
Sophe leaned back in his chair and cocked his head toward the window. He looked up past the festive bulbs into the black sky and sighed. “I’ve always loved the night,” he said quietly.
“And why is that?”
“Because the sky is black like ink. I can pretend it isn’t grey up there... that it’s just light pollution hiding the stars. The city’s lights come out and twinkle like stars for us.” Sophe swiveled his head back to smile faintly at Nathan. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
Nathan smiled but didn’t say a word. He simply looked outside at the dark sky. After a minute, he returned his gaze to Sophe. “I guess so,” he said in a light tone. It was Sophe’s turn to raise an eyebrow. He opened his mouth to speak when a booming voice suddenly invaded the restaurant.
“Sophi! Sophi, my dear!”
Nathan looked up in surprise towards the loud voice, a small smile curling his lips. Sophe turned and gave a tolerant smile to the large man approaching with two steaming plates. “Hello, Allacott.”
An apron protected the expensive clothing of the dark, heavy-set restaurant owner. His sleeves were rolled up and a gregarious, white smile was spread over his features. He placed the two dishes in front of his customers and shook Sophe’s hand vigorously. “How is my favorite boy doing? Eating in my restaurant no less! I never thought I’d see the day! And who is his big friend here?” He turned sparkling eyes on Nathan and bowed slightly.
Nathan raised himself from his seat and extended his hand. “My name is Nathan. A pleasure to meet you Mr. Trembure. Sophe here only had good things to say of your restaurant.”
“Of course he did!” bellowed the large owner. “My restaurant is the finest in the district!” He laughed heartily, “I would be struck to the quick if he said less of me!” He shook Nathan’s hand firmly. “Any friend of Sophi’s is welcome here. You just watch yourself. The boy is sharp! Yes he is.” Allacott continued to laugh and winked at Sophe. “The Prince of Cities. Yes he is.”
Nathan grinned as he heard that. “Prince of Cities, eh?” He cast a half-curious, half-laughing glance at Sophe. “I will be careful then.”
“Now gentlemen I must return to my business. The night is young!” Allacott clapped them both on the back and shook a finger at Sophe as he retreated. “You tell Janice you money is no good here! You tell her Allacott said so. Good evening to you sirs! Take care, Mr. Nattan!”
“Good evening to you too! And thank you for your kind hospitality sir.” Nathan sat back down, a big grin on his face. “Definitely an interesting fellow. And you were right about the name thing too,” he chuckled.
Sophe tried to suppress the laughter that came bubbling up inside him. “It is interesting experiencing him with someone else. I’ve never introduced... anyone to him before.”
Nathan smiled brightly “I’m honored then.” He looked down at his plate and raised an eyebrow. “Now let’s see if this place lives up to its reputation, no?”
The two finished their dinner over amiable chatter, followed by coffee and the house dessert. Sophe left a generous tip on the table for Janice, and the pair glided full and sated out into the stream of people once again. Somehow the night, the colorful lights, the warmth of his companion seemed to work their way into the small boy. He found himself arm in arm with the dark-haired man, returning his warm smile, pointing to things in shop windows, and cheering for street performers. The cool air put roses in his pale cheeks and it highlighted the color of his eyes. He only cast those eyes at the sky once or twice before they finally arrived at the Ceridann Theater.
The orchestra was tuning as the show-goers filed into the popular theater. Lines of plush crimson seats fanned out over the spacious auditorium. Sophe looked up at the enormous chandelier that sparkled over their heads and spun around slowly to take in the rest of the ornate surroundings. The box seats jutted gracefully from the walls in swan-like scrollwork. Like the rest of the molding they were a sheenless gold. Small crystalline light fixtures dotted the walls waiting for their role when the house lights dimmed.
Nathan admired the inner architecture with an impressed smile. He almost laughed when he saw Sophe spinning around, his eyes cast upwards. “What a place...” He ran his fingers along one of the golden edges. “I never thought I’d set foot in a place like this.” He smiled and made his way down an aisle, looking for empty seats. “Now where should we sit?...” He spotted a pair of empty seats in the center of the theater. “How about there?” he asked Sophe, pointing to the seats.
The boy waved two tickets at him as he continued to look around. “Row J, seats 15 and 16.”
Nathan sighed. “It was worth a try.” He looked down the aisle, naming the different letters under his breath. “Here we go,” he said pointing to their seats. He excused himself as he passed in front of two extravagantly dressed ladies already seated. Finally he settled down in his seat and glanced over at Sophe. “Remind me what we are watching again?”
Sophe looked bemused and handed Nathan a program. “Would I be correct in assuming you’ve never been to a show before?”
“That you would.” He grinned and took the program. “Let’s just say I’m not a theater person. You come here often?”
Sophe glanced at the boxed seats and replied, “No, this is my first time at the Ceridann. I prefer cinema actually...”
Nathan raised an eyebrow. “Oh really?” He sighed softly. “I haven’t been to the cinema in a while now.” He leaned back in his chair and smiled, his eyes looking over the scene.
The theater filled rapidly around them. Sophe ignored Nathan’s offer as he tried to give back the program and watched each audience member as they found their seats. In a few moments the house lights dimmed and the show began. Sophe turned his attention to the stage and clapped as the curtain rose to reveal the city’s latest musical. The first act passed quickly, eliciting much laughter from the audience. Sophe seemed amused as well and released his light, musical laugh into the air. Nathan’s eyes were focused on the stage as he watched and listened to the musical unfold. He was quickly taken with the spirit of the story, feeling his emotions intertwine with the melodies. Once or twice he cast a sideways glance at his companion and smiled, feeling overjoyed at the sound of his laugh.
Adulation exploded as the lights came up for Intermission. Sophe stood up and stretched his little arms above his head. He looked down on his companion with bright eyes. “You want to get refreshments?”
“Good idea.” Nathan stood up and stretched his body before following Sophe out into the large lobby. He looked around at the lively crowd, overhearing the various commentaries on this first act. “This is quite the popular show.”
The kid smiled and nodded. “Yes, I’ve heard nothing but good reviews about it.”
Nathan smiled and looked at his companion. “You really know a lot about this world don’t you?”
A shadow flitted across Sophe’s face. His eyes fell to his boots for an instant before he looked up again with a reserved smile. “I guess you could say that.” He turned toward the stairs at the end of the lobby. “I’ve got to use the restroom. I’ll meet you back at our seats!” He waved and ran off into the throng.
“All right...” The man watched Sophe run off with a saddened face, wondering exactly who this kid was and what had happened to him. With a sigh he shook his head and looked around at the remainder of the crowd. He walked up to the bar and ordered a glass of whiskey. As he swirled the liquid in his glass he couldn’t help but remember the scene earlier in the bar. A light chiming sound was heard and the crowd started returning inside the theater. Nathan slowly continued his drink, hoping Sophe wasn’t going to take too long to return.
The remainder of the ladies and gentlemen trickled back into the theater. Soon the lights came down and the music struck up again. Nathan, his eyes having never left the stairs where Sophe had disappeared, finished his glass and deposited it on the counter. He nodded at the bartender and made his way toward them, intent on finding the kid. The rapid tap of shoes on marble rose to greet Nathan as he neared the staircase. Sophe emerged at a full run shouting, “Go man! Go!” Not a moment later, two dark suited men appeared behind him in hot pursuit.
“The hell?” Nathan’s eyes grew hard as he saw the two men rushing towards them. The boy grabbed Nathan’s arm and made for the front doors; five more dark men appeared on the opposite side of the glass. Without missing a beat the kid pulled Nathan back and bolted for the staircase to the Mezzanine. They climbed the stairs in a breathless run. “What the hell is going on, Sophe?” he called out, frustration and concern in his voice.
“Don’t slow down and follow my lead,” was Sophe’s reply.
Nathan grumbled but decided to do as he was told. The kid sprinted a straight line for a door marked “Private” at the end of the M floor. He pulled a familiar metallic item from his pocket and shocked the lock in one swift move. The keypad under the knob lit up with a rapid series of beeps and the lock sprung with a click. The pair darted inside and Sophe squeezed the trigger of his device again. A larger arc of blue fire fused the lock with a flash. Nathan raised an eyebrow as he saw the metallic object reappear. He watched Sophe work the lock with surprisingly calm eyes and realized they were going to have an interesting discussion later. He looked around the room they had just entered and then back to Sophe. “Where are we?” he asked in a low voice.
“First scaffolding level. Don’t stop now.” The kid grasped his sleeve again and led with unnerving swiftness through the dark. The smell of storage was heavy in the still air and the floor creaked under their shoes. Sophe moved quickly toward the dull light and sound of the main stage. He stepped lightly onto the metal bridgework suspended above the performance and took hold of one of the numerous ropes hanging from the ceiling. He handed another rope to Nathan and looked at him steadily. “Ready?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Nathan barely breathed his words. He took the rope and sighed. “Yeah, I’m ready...”
Sophe swept the area below them with his unblinking eyes before shimmying down the rope. His movements were as deft and sure as a little monkey. Nathan quickly followed, silently sliding down the rope after Sophe. Sophe skipped the last few feet of rope, leaping to the ground and pushing past the bewildered cast and crew that had spotted them coming down. He cast a glance over his shoulder to make sure his companion was keeping up.
Nathan managed to utter a few apologies to the people around him as he landed on the ground before catching up to the kid in a few quick strides. The pair bobbed and wove through the cast backstage without breaking pace. Sophe suddenly hooked one arm around a railing and the other around Nathan’s arm and jerked them around and down a metal staircase. Nathan was caught by surprise by the sudden jerking and almost lost his footing going down the stairs. He quickly recovered and mumbled complaints under his breath about all the running.
They descended below stage level and had only a few yards to cover before Sophe shoved them against a metal door. Suddenly they were outside in a back alley. Sophe did not stop moving, but slowed to a brisk walk toward the street. Nathan took a deep breath of the outside air and quickly kept pace with Sophe. He scanned the surroundings, trying to figure out exactly where they had come out. He did not look at Sophe, instead walking silently by his side. Nathan rapidly deduced they’d emerged on back quarter of the building. Another, equally enormous theater hemmed them in on the opposite side of the alley. The light was poor and the shadows thick about dumpsters and recessed doorways. Yet, movement caught his eye. He did not adjust his pace and glanced at Sophe, checking to see if the kid had seen the movement. He kept his focus forward, avoiding looking directly into the shadows but keeping his senses alert.
“It’s behind us now,” the boy stated.
“It?” Nathan raised an eyebrow at the word.
“Duck.”
“Hmm?” Nathan quickly dropped to the ground, casting a quick glance behind him. Sophe was suddenly spinning, rolling up and over the man’s back, .45 unsheathed and blazing. He pumped two rounds into the shadows. The clang of metal on metal rang through the alley and the leaden thud of something heavy followed a second after. The kid landed lightly behind the crouched man, gun still pointed toward the unseen attacker. Something was still coming; it rolled to a pitiful stop at the kid’s feet.
“What the…?” Nathan uttered. He hadn’t been expecting the kid to pull a stunt like that. His eyes scanned the shadows wondering what exactly he had heard and what had been hit. His eyes followed the rolling object as it stopped at Sophe’s feet.
“Back up,” Sophe ordered. He brought a hand up to Nathan’s chest and pushed him gently as he took a few steps backward. He eyed the copper-colored form. It was about a foot in length with two round ridges along running parallel on either side. It tapered off at the end in to a rounded point, scalloped on one side, flat on the other three sides. A long bullet trail ran along one flat side up to a shattered orb of aqua-green.
Nathan’s eyes widened at the sight and he took a few steps back. He mumbled in disbelief. “Tell me Sophe... What is that thing?” His voice was relatively calm as his eyes wandered from the kid to the copper object. Sophe only narrowed his eyes as he watched it. The mysterious object began to emit a low hum. As the sound built, a red glow began to overtake its surface. “That’s never a good sign...” Nathan muttered under his breath.
Sophe withdrew a small vial from his pocket and began to unscrew the top. He took a step forward and tipped the vial over the glowing object. The blue substance in the container seemed to mirror the object’s mounting brilliance as it poured toward the lip. Sophe froze as the red glow suddenly began to light up a much larger form behind the smaller component. His eyes widened and he whispered, “Oh god, they wouldn’t.” He hastily lidded the vial and grabbed Nathan’s arm. “Run!”
“Sophe... what the hell are you doing?...” His voice was visibly concerned, especially as the red glow increased. As he heard Sophe whisper he quickly reached for the kid and started running.
The fleeing couple had put only a few yards between themselves and the whirring objects before the explosion occurred. The force of the blast pushed them almost to the mouth of the alley. Nathan pulled Sophe to him and let his back serve as a shield against the powerful explosion. The pair went crashing to the ground and Nathan cried out in pain. As the dust and gravel around them started to settle he looked down at Sophe. “Are you alright? We need to get the hell outta here and right now!”
Sophe lowered his arms and scrambled to his feet with Nathan. “I’m okay. Come on; we can use the crowd for cover.”
Nathan stood up and felt a sharp pang of pain course through him. “Let’s hurry then.” He followed Sophe as they made their way out of the alley. A curious crowd had gathered and the sounds of sirens was starting to fill the air. Sophe took hold of Nathan’s hand and threaded through the gang of gawkers and theater patrons. The street was clogged with nightowls and the excitement of the explosion made it easy to melt into the crowd. Sophe made sure to keep in well-peopled areas until they emerged onto the main boulevard. He raised a hand and whistled for a cab.
Within a few seconds a large yellow taxi pulled up to the curb. Nathan collapsed into the backseat with a grateful sigh. He gave the driver his address and glanced out the window; he could see the crowd and the remaining smoke of the explosion. Police and firefighters were already all over the scene, their bright lights shining in the night. He barely nodded and said a few polite things to the taxi driver who kept rambling about the explosion. He cast a sidelong glance at Sophe and closed his eyes with a sigh. Sophe leaned up and hung over the front seat close to the driver’s head. He cupped a hand and whispered to the cabby, “Hey Mister, could ya take the scenic way? Dad overdid it a little at the bar tonight and Ma would kill him if she found out he took me there.”
A small smile curved Nathan’s lips as he listened to Sophe’s explanation. He played along, eyes closed, having no desire to see the kid’s ruby eyes at the moment. The cabby smirked good-naturedly. “No problem kid. My lips are sealed!” He pulled his fingers over his mouth with a dramatic flourish.
Sophe gave the driver a lopsided grin. “Thanks, Mister!” He continued to hang over the seat chattering excitedly about the film his “Dad” had taken him to, the bubblegum he’d bought him at the refreshment stand, and how he’d even given him a sip of beer. Nathan’s smile slowly faded as he realized just how easily and convincingly Sophe was able to create lies. It saddened him that someone so young had such abilities, making him wonder just who exactly Sophe really was. “At least I make a pretty good ‘Dad’,” he thought with a mix of humor and bitterness.
The cab circled wide around the fountain park and up through
the Eastern Quarter before coming back down to SouthCentre.
It was practically
Nathan groggily opened his eyes and mumbled a “Thanks” as he slowly made his way outside. The air had become noticeably cooler and shivers ran through him. “Come on boy, your mother must be furious with worry by now...” he grumbled, hanging onto the door, waiting for Sophe to come out of the taxi.
“I’m comin’!” Sophe shot the driver a smile and bounced out of the cab. “Thanks again, Mister!” He slammed the door and trotted after Nathan into the building.