Palin Elfling Part III Discovery

The sun rose over Atlas Park, just another day for the inhabitants and heroes of Paragon City. Just another day of struggle and violence, victory and defeat. Not just another day for Shard Elfling though, as she stood gazing up at the giant statue of the mighty hero, Atlas. Mighty hero, she thought with a smirk. Liars, fakes, that’s what they all are she thought as she slowly mounted the steps and approached a tall blond haired human female wearing a bright red white and blue costume.

“Hello there Shard Elfling,” Said Miss Liberty with a warm smile “What brings you to Paragon City?”

“You, you know who I am?” stammered Shard, momentarily confused.

“Of course, it’s my job to know. I know a great many Elflings who make their home here, a great many friends. And I’m sure we’ll become good friends too.”

Shard’s anger, her constant companion these last months, reasserted itself “You think? Why would I want to be your friend?” she asked with contempt in her voice.

“Now Listen to me young girl” stated Miss Liberty in a firm voice, the smile disappearing to be replaced with a stern demeanour “You will find that you will need all the friends you can get around here, and I am in a position to be one of the best ones you could possibly have. Now,” she continued in a calmer voice, the smile reappearing “Do you want my help, or should I put you on the next flight to Mercy Island? Your choice.”

“You’re right,” replied Shard, subdued “I need help.”

“That’s better, now what can I do for you?”

“I need to find two people, Bris and Kalis Elfling, can you help me?”

“Why yes, I can, but one question first. Why?”

Shard looked squarely into Miss Liberty’s eyes with a steady unwavering gaze. “It’s better if you don’t know.” She replied.

Two days later Shard was living in a small run down room in a poor corner of Atlas Park. Slowly she was beginning to understand what Miss Liberty had meant. She needed friends and contacts if she was to carry out her task. Paragon City was not a nice place, nothing like the forests of her home. That fact had been forcibly introduced to her within ten minutes of leaving City Hall with a set of directions and a key to her new home. Not being a natural map reader Shard had become hopelessly lost and wandered down a dark alley. Hearing a noise behind her she realised her mistake. There were many that would try and take advantage of a small, beautiful, apparently defenceless Elfling, and Shard was beautiful, in spite of all that happened. Turning, Shard saw three human thugs standing behind her, all in dark clothing, reds and browns and all holding a variety of unpleasant weapons. Thirty seconds later Shard walked out the alley quite a bit richer, quite a bit happier and leaving behind three Hellions in their own personal world of hurt. Fortunately the huge statue of Atlas was visible from almost anywhere in Atlas Park and it was not long before she managed to find her way to her new home.

Sitting on her bed in the dank, dingy room Shard racked her brain. How was she going to find Bris and Kalis? She had no idea. Miss Liberty had said that there were a great many Elflings living in Paragon City but she had walked all over Atlas Park and had not seen one. Little did she know how much more there was to Paragon City. Finally her eyes were drawn to the money she had taken off the Hellions. Of course, she though, someone will know where I can find them. I’ve just got to ask the right questions of the right people. Shard looked out of the window. Night was falling. Perfect, she thought, there would be plenty of people about who could answer her questions. Plenty of the right type of people, that is. Quietly Shard climbed out of her window onto the fire escape outside. Just as she started to descend the rusty ladder she froze. Someone was watching her. She could feel them. But where? She thought, looking around frantically. She could not see anyone. Gradually the feeling passed and Shard lowered herself down into the darkness, beginning what was to become a nightly ritual of seeking out any scrap of information, however small which would lead her to her goal.

One night, a few weeks later, Shard stepped out of her window and lowered herself down the fire escape. Again the feeling of being watched came to her, so familiar now that she all but ignored it. Landing in the dark, fetid alleyway she was about to walk away when she heard a voice from the darkness.

“I can see you.” came a cold, ghostly voice. Shard turned and saw a pair of cold, dead eyes looking back at her. Palin! He had found her! Suddenly a blinding pain exploded in her back and Shard fell to the floor, unable to move.

“Oh, what’s this?” exclaimed Palin with a cold, evil smile as he stepped from the shadows, moving to stand over her. “Who have we here?” Bending down he ripped the veil from Shard’s face. “You? Oh this is just too good. I should have finished you off when I had the chance. Did Kalis send you, are you his new lapdog? Well, did he?” Shard just lay there in agony, unable to answer, unable to move. What was going on? What was happening to her? “Answer me!” screamed Palin in sudden fury, but she could not. She could do nothing. Slowly Palin knelt down next to her, a look of cold dispassionate curiosity on his face. “You can’t can you? Hmm, interesting.“ Suddenly Palin paused. “What’s this? I can feel something, where is it?” he mused as he ran a cold hand down and across Shard’s body. “Oh, here it is.” He smiled as he ran his hand across the scars on her back. The shard! The though burst in Shard’s mind. That’s what’s doing this! But how?

“Oh this is just too good” Palin breathed, his eyes widening in a dark glee “Kalis sent you after me because the mighty hero was just too scared to face me and now his precious new pet can’t even move. She can’t touch me!” Palin fell back, laughing an evil, dark laugh. After a few moments he regained control of himself and moved again to kneel next to Shard. Holding his right hand in front of her face he slowly clenched his fist and a dark, glistening claw extended from the back of his hand. “Time to say goodbye, lapdog” he smiled “But still, it doesn’t have to be quick. We have all night, don’t we?” And with that he slowly pushed the claw through Shard’s right shoulder causing her to scream in agony. Suddenly heat washed over her and she heard a strange voice shout “No” before she sank into blessed darkness.

Slowly consciousness returned and as awareness came she jumped to her feet, forcing her body to respond. Promptly hitting her forehead on the lampshade above her bed she fell back in a daze. Looking around she saw she was back in her room and there was a fresh bandage on her right shoulder. How did I get back here? She wondered. What happened? Who had saved her? Kalis, Bris? No, they never would. Then who? Still, she thought, this changes nothing. Palin was here so that meant that Kalis and Bris were still out there. Defiantly Shard ripped the bandage from her shoulder, pleasantly surprised to find the wound completely healed, and grabbed her veil from where it had been left on the bedside table. Covering her face she climbed out the window onto the fire escape. Pausing, she concentrated. No, there was no one watching tonight, whoever had helped her had obviously scared Palin off for the time being. Dropping into the alley Shard continued her search. Days later, just as the sun was rising over the rooftops, Shard crawled exhausted back into her room. She had spent weeks searching and had not found a single sign of another Elfling. She did not understand, Miss Liberty said that there were many Elflings in Paragon City so where were they? Exhausted she fell into a deep sleep.

Night came and again Shard found herself searching yet another dark, deserted alley, yet another dead end. This was futile, she thought as she turned another corner into what was obviously going to be another deserted alley.

“Looking for me?” asked Kalis Elfling, leaning casually against the wall. Spinning around, Shard lashed out with her foot, intending to knock him straight through the wall. Faster than she could have ever imagined Kalis stepped to one side and grabbed her ankle in an iron grip, pulling her off balance. No matter how hard she tried to pull away she couldn’t move an inch. Kalis’ grip was unbreakable.

“Get off me! I’ll kill you!” She screamed, yanking at her leg.

“No, Aeriel, we need to talk.”

Shard lashed out with her other foot at the sound of her old name but only managed to spin herself around in the air, almost dislocating her ankle and landing painfully on her back, knocking the wind from her. “Don’t say that name,” she coughed “You killed her. You and that cow!”

Letting go of her ankle Kalis stepped back “No” he replied, ”We didn’t, but Palin almost did.”

”No, it’s wasn’t. It was you and her. You did this. You betrayed Palin and you used me.” Cried Shard, staggering to her feet.

“No, we didn’t. Palin was my best friend, he was like my brother. I could never do that to him, or you.” Kalis replied, turning away. Taking advantage of Kalis’ distraction she spun and delivered a punishing kick to the back of his neck, knocking him into a pile of old crates. Not wasting a moment she turned and ran blindly into the darkness.

After a few moments Kalis slowly sat up, rubbing the back of his head. “Well she can certainly fight.“ he said with a wry smile, looking up into the darkness. “My head is going to be sore for a week and my hand is killing me.”

“Well you will get into these fights” laughed a slender young Elfling, slowly dropping out of the darkness, a large bow in her left hand.

“Yeah, I know, I know. And where would you be now if I wasn’t here to protect you lot! Now help me up.”

“Probably somewhere warmer than this smelly alley! And help yourself up you lazy bugger!” Laughed Trik, flying off into the night. Slowly Kalis dragged himself to his feet. Well, he thought as he ran off after her, this is going to be just a little more complicated than Bris thinks.

Hours later Shard staggered back into her room, her mind in turmoil. When Kalis had said her name all the old feelings, all the old pain had come crashing back. How dare he use that name. After all he had done to her! How dare he! Then another thought came to her, what had been that on his face, grief, guilt, what? No, she thought, unwilling to let go of her anger. He’s just lying to me again! Throughout the rest of the night Shard lay there unable to act, her mind in turmoil. Meanwhile, in a dark, torchlit room three figures sat around a small table.

“So what now?” asked Kalis, laying his axe on the table.

“Well you need to learn to fight properly” replied Trik sarcastically.

“What, like you? Somehow I think not, I’m not that fond of the hospital!”

“Don’t you two ever stop arguing?” interrupted a stern faced Elfling, standing just inside the door.

“No!” Trik laughed as the Elfling moved to a vacant seat.

“Well, give it a break for once.” He sighed as Trik stuck her tongue out at him.

“Yes, please do.” Sighed Bris from the remaining seat. “Ok then Flax,” she continued seriously, turning to the new Elfling “What do we know?”

“Well, he’s definitely out there, that much is obvious. I spoke to a few people who have been keeping an eye on him for us, apparently it’s getting worse.”

“Worse?” asked Bris

“Yes, he’s been seen taking part in their rituals now, and I don’t mean the ones you can see just by walking around Steel Canyon”

“Oh no, how has this happened?”

“I don’t know exactly. Those who have been watching him told me that he started seeking them out not long after he got here. At first it seemed that he was trying to keep them under control, just like everyone else but then he started disappearing off into the woods in Perez Park. Eventually one of my contacts managed to get close enough to see what was going on.”

“What?” asked Trik, an anxious look on her face.

“He was helping them sacrifice a prisoner.”

“Oh no!” Trik fell back into her chair, tears standing in her eyes.

“Yes I’m afraid he was. My contact barely got out alive to bring this information to me.” Flax paused then continued in a stern voice. “So now you know. Now you know why he has to be stopped. The circle’s magic is bad enough as it is, but with his powers too? He would be unstoppable. It would be a nightmare.”

“But how has this happened?” asked Bris “The Circle have always been very secretive, their rituals are very private, why would they take an Elfling into their confidence? No” she continued reflectively “something’s not right and we have to find out what it is.”

“But what?” asked Kalis “How do we do that, how do we stop him?”

“That’s easy” cried Trik, jumping to her feet “We kill him!”

“No” replied Bris “I’ve already told you that won’t work. There is another way, we have another option.”

“What? What option?” Trik shouted.

Bris said nothing, gazing intently at Kalis.

Kalis looked away sighing “Yeah, I know, I know. Aeriel.” Staring at the floor Kalis was silent, an anguished look on his face. After a few moments Trik opened her mouth, obviously about to say something, but was stopped by Bris holding up a hand. Saying nothing they just continued to look at Kalis. After a few minutes he looked up, a resigned look on his face “Ok,” he said, standing and picking up his axe “I’ll go get her.” With that he turned and walked out of the door.

Morning came slowly the next day, bringing a cloudy, overcast sky; a damp steady rain was falling. In her room Shard dozed fitfully, her sleep troubled by dreams of Palin standing over her again. She had lay there all night trying to reconcile what had happened over the last couple of days with what she believed. No matter how hard she tried though, she could not. Something was just not right. She lay on her bed her mind twisting and turning, trying to find a solution, an explanation to all this. Finally, as dawn broke she had fallen into an uneasy sleep. Suddenly she was awoken by a loud crash and the stinging pain of broken glass cutting into her flesh. Bolting upright she saw that her nightmare had come true. There was Palin standing in the shattered remains of her window. Sudden pain exploded in her back and she fell back as he advanced with an evil grin on his face. Raising his fist above his head she could see the claws extending from the back of his hand and knew that she was about to die. “I’ll make it quick this time” he sneered, “Quick and painful.” And with that he lunged down directly at Shard’s face.

“No” she screamed. Summoning strength from somewhere deep inside she managed to roll to one side, just avoiding the claws which struck deep into the mattress. As if that one movement had released all the pent up rage and anger inside her, Shard found the will to move. The pain was still there but it did not matter. Nothing mattered other than killing Palin Elfling. Lashing out with her leg she caught him on the hip, knocking him off the bed. As he fell back she jumped to her feet, circling the bed, trying to find some space to be able to fight. Palin pulled himself to his feet, the grin never leaving his face.

“Good,” he hissed “This will be so much more fun.” Slowly he clenched his left fist and claws extended from the back of that hand too. Making no effort to attack he just stood there, grinning at her. Rage burst in Shard’s chest; she wanted nothing more than to wipe that grin off his face. Lunging forward she aimed a punch straight at him. Palin fell back away from the blow, his left hand coming up in a sweeping arc, the claws slicing deep into Shard’s arm. Blood sprayed everywhere but Shard barely felt it, so great was her rage. Again she lunged at him, again she missed and again the claws bit into her, slicing deep into her side. This time she screamed in agony as she felt ribs crack and blood began to pour from her side. Staggering back she tried to anticipate Palin’s next move but he made none. She coughed as she tried to catch her breath; tasting blood. The tearing pain in her side was unbearable and she could barely breathe. Then she knew; one of her broken ribs had punctured a lung. She could feel her strength sapping and knew that she didn’t have long. She must beat Palin soon, before it was too late. Starting at him she waited for him to attack but he just stood there, the grin growing wider. “Is that all you have?” he taunted “Your keeper should have taught you better.” Screaming in rage Shard launched herself at him with the last of her strength, her foot aimed straight at his heart. Calmly Palin spun on the spot, avoiding her foot and lashing out with both hands, his claws biting deep into her leg and her back, the force of the blow crashing her into the wall. She fell to the floor and could feel her consciousness slipping away as her blood soaked the floor around her. All she could see was Palin’s feet as he moved to stand over her, then nothing….

Palin smiled to himself as he moved to stand over Shard’s inert body. He was going to enjoy this he thought as he knelt next to her, ignoring the blood soaking into his trousers. Looking down at her body he could see that the blood was flowing slower now, her life now measured in mere minutes. He smiled as he thought of how best to arrange her remains, how to cause Kalis the most pain. Absorbed in his thoughts he didn’t hear a slight scratching noise outside the door. Suddenly the door exploded off its hinges, flying across the room. Looking up Palin saw Kalis charging towards him, a look of cold murderous rage on his face. Jumping to his feet he narrowly avoided being decapitated by Kalis’s axe. Falling back he lashed out with his claws but Kalis easily blocked them returning a thundering blow with his axe, the blade slashed through Palin’s robe and left a bloody trail across his chest. Swinging again Kalis left another bloody cut across his chest. Palin could feel himself starting to tire, it was taking all his skill to stay alive and he knew there was no way he would be able to beat Kalis now. Seeing no other choice he turned and dived out of the shattered window, disappearing into the alley below. Kalis took a step after him then realised that it was pointless, he had escaped. Dropping his axe he ran to Shard’s side. Looking down at her he took in her injuries. Damn he thought, why didn’t I bring Bris or Angel, I’m no healer. Seeing no other choice he sheathed his axe, picked Shard up and ran out of the room, past the shocked landlord and out of the building.

Racing down back alleys and across deserted yards Kalis prayed that he would be able to get Shard to Bris in time. He was pretty sure that she did not have an emergency teleporter to the hospital; it would have worked when she fell unconscious otherwise. Looking down at her pale face Kalis sighed and ran faster. Dodging down another alley he felt Shard move in his arms. Looking down he saw a pair of dark eyes gazing back at him, she was awake. Stumbling he almost dropped her; he had seen Shard’s injuries and was convinced that she was going to die. He couldn’t believe that she was awake now.

“What happened?” she mumbled “Where’s Palin?”

“Don’t worry about him now, you’re safe; just hang on.” And with a sudden burst of speed he dashed down another alley into a deserted park. Skidding to a halt in front of an old wooden door he banged on it with his foot. A few moments later the door swung open and Kalis stepped inside.

“So you got her then?” asked Flax, standing just inside the door.

“Yeah, now can we come in? It’s getting cold out here and she needs help!”

“Okay, okay. Bris is in the infirmary.”

“Who was that?” Asked Shard nervously as Kalis carried her down the hall.

“His name is Flax, he built this place. He’s nice enough but whatever you do, don’t annoy him. Now come on, let’s get you looked at” replied Kalis, carrying her towards the infirmary.

Shard gazed around in confusion, seeing a huge complex of rooms and corridors. There were Elflings everywhere.

“Yeah” smiled Kalis looking down at her, “Welcome to our base.”

TO BE CONTINUED…

You can read the previous parts here.

---

[center][IMG]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2585/resistancesig3.png[/IMG]
Kalis Elfling - Inv/Axe Tanker. [i]Kevin is watching... Always[/i]
Proud member of [url="http://www.honourableunited.org.uk/"]Honourable United[/url]
@Tellis - I reserve the right to be ridiculous![/center]

Okay, Part 4 is finally up. You can read it here. Enjoy

---

[center][IMG]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2585/resistancesig3.png[/IMG]
Kalis Elfling - Inv/Axe Tanker. [i]Kevin is watching... Always[/i]
Proud member of [url="http://www.honourableunited.org.uk/"]Honourable United[/url]
@Tellis - I reserve the right to be ridiculous![/center]