Written by Veluan,Fri Aug 21 4:11:15 US/Pacific 1998
Part 11
1.15
George sat down next to Mack, it was a habit he years ago stopped resisting, he was a barman and a customer.
"So, fil me in." Firebrow said.
George nodded "Well do you see that window, looks new doesn't, that's because it is.". Now it was Firebrow's turn to nod
"I understand."
"But I don't." interrupted Mack.
"Okay, I'll tell you." Firebrow said.
"This is the reason that I brought you here." He pointed at the window.
"I don't understand."
"These woods are being...hounted by someone or something that calls himself the Shadow. That Shadow spreads a reign of terror. The police here don't know what to do, they were never trained to catch a ghost. What George ment with the window was that the Shadow broke it. It delivers these messages to make sure that nobody talks about it or takes action."
Mack was silent for a bit. "But, I still don't know what I'm doing here, you're the ghostbuster or something. Why don't you go after that Shadowthing."
Firebrow took a sip of his beer. "This isn't my case to solve, you see that I'm old, when I die St-Francis needs a new guardian. I must pass my knowledge on so that they won't go with me when I die."
Mack let the words infiltrate his mind.
"You say that I'm going to be the new guard and I must go after this Shadowthing?"
"Yes."
"Firebrow listen to yourself, your asking, no offence, a boy to go after that monster?"
"Yes." said Firebrow again.
The door opened again. James Dutton entered. The conversation stopped.
"Good evening, people." James said and sat down next to Angela. "I'll have a whiskey...George."
George stood up and went behind the bar to get a whiskey. James winked at Annie, she quickly turned away. James had that special ability to be a complete jerk within minutes.
"Well, hello there Miss. Frost. Still eating carrots?"
"Yes and I still have healthy stumach." she said coldly.
"Well the rest isn't bad either." James laughed.
Angela turned her head to Mack, "Don't mind him, he's the village moron."
"Oh, hi." Mack said.
James noticed him. "Hey a new face. How do you like this dump we call St-Francis?"
"Fine."
"Hah." James drank his whiskey in one go. "That's because you're new! You will learn to look down on it, stupid trees and that stupid Shadowstuff."
Angela turned to Mack again, "You shouldn't go after the Shadow no matter what Firebrow says."
"No more talking about that Shadow, okay." said Firebrow.
"Your looking for that Shadowcrap? You've got guts boy, but your stone crazy, so you'll fit right in." James leaned towards Mack. "If you really after it you should visit the looneybin, there's a crackpot who, so they say, was involved."
"How do you know that?" Firebrow asked.
James sighed "The guy was always walking around in the woods and one night he walks out crazy, it doesn't take a genius to figure out what happened." James was silent and looked at Mack. "The Shadow got him, oooeeehh!! Creepy!"
Firebrow shook his head "You've got absolutely no proof, you're just guessing."
"I don't need proof, I use common sense."
"So he liked walking around in the woods, that doesn't make him suspicious." Firebrow answered.
"You've got your theories, I've got mine."
The pub was silent "Mack and I are going, goodnight everybody."
They were wished goodnight back.
"Sleep well, Shadowhunters." James added. The night was cold and dark. Mack didn't have a clue how to get back to the cottage, but Firebrow knew by heart.
New Orleans, Gedde Estate
Helena sat in front of a window. She had mixed feelings. One the one hand she was glad that the conclave went well. On the other hand she felt guilt and was worried about Mack. Tetelo felt it.
"He will deceive you, you know that, they all do." Mack never deceived her. "The boy probably has forgotten you already, away, out of sight out of mind." A tear slowly rolled down her cheek. "Forget about him. I know what's best for you. Don't I?" Helena wiped her tear away with her hand. "Yes, you do." Her worry passed and she got up.
"We must find a new butler tomorrow."
"Yes."
"He can fill in all those papers now that your mother's gone."
"Yes."
"You must concentrate on your leadership."
"Yes."
Helena went upstairs and went to bed.
Firebrows cottage
They stood at their bedroom doors.
"So that's why I'm here."
"Yes."
"But you must teach me then, all that ghost-busting-stuff."
"I will, but not tonight, it's late. Goodnight Mack."
"Goodnight Firebrow."
The doors closed. Mack looked out of the window of his room before he went to sleep. He thought of Helena. That night Mack felt strange, maybe the new surroundings made him feel insecure. Mack opened his eyes, maybe it wwas the sound the trees made, or maybe it was that bunch of that transperant people looking at him.
Mack screamed. "FIREBROW!" The people looked at him and nodded approvingly. Firebrow run into the room and looked at the transparent ones.
"Oh, so you see them."
"Of course! Now make them go away!"
Firebrow looked at the 'ghost' they shook their heads slowly and disappeared.
"How...did you do that, what were those people?"
"I'll tell you tomorrow. Now you must go back to sleep." Firebrow walked out of the room.
"What? I can't go back to sleep! Not after seeing that." he pointed at an empty part of his room.
"Okay, so the wallpaper isn't pretty, but that ain't a reason to stay up all night." Firebrow smiled.
"Please no jokes, you know what I mean."
"Okay, all you have to know is that they were the good guys and that they're not coming back tonight." and Firebrow walked away. Mack sat up for a couple of minutes and slowly fell asleep.
If you have any comments, you can email Veluan at gjvdmeer@tref.nl.
In the meantime, return to the main Fan Fiction page...