[Swearing, depressive thoughts, graphic depiction of death]

The devices were positioned. The calculations were made. I hid in the shadow of the nearby cellar, waiting.

Soon, he would be here. There are none of his henchmen left. None of his kin, none of his order... Just like there are none of mine, and those who could pass as one, anymore. None, except for me. Well, that's a real shame, that I decided to return the favor, isn't it?

I scowl at the thought, almost thirsty for blood. Almost as thirsty as Gary was, Gods above and below have mercy on poor lass soul.

Makes me wonder, whichever God the hunters end up with, and hope, that it will be the worst one. Because they do deserve the afterlife of torment and suffering after what they did. They as a whole, and their so-called "Shadow Company" specifically. After what they did to recieve that name... No, simply burning in their so-called Hell doesn't even begin to be enough.

The alley was silent. But I had plenty of time. It was clear as day, that he has no other option, but to get here. The bait was too tempting for him not to take. He will be here, one or the other way. There is no one for him to check it out anymore, no one to disarm the trap, or to report if their mission goes poorly. And there's nowhere for him to run and hide anymore. Even if he doesn't come, I still have plenty of opportunities to strike and targets to pick from... Although, that isn't ideal in the slightest.

But hell, if there is something I owe him, it is the death of the family. My family. Both of them.

Kate. Kyle. Then, Gary. Then, John. Then, Yurij. Nikolaj is also probably dead by now. The only one of them, who can't die, is Simon, but his and Gary's encounter with hunters left the dullahan shattered to pieces and clinging to Sanders's unmoving body like to a lifeline. To me, it's a fate far worse than death, because whoever is going to rise from that wreckage... He won't be Simon Riley anyone used to know.

Simon told me, that there is a way to kill him, make no mistake. It's just... I don't have neither heart nor means to get the man, who I long considered my friend, death that he so craves. Even if I know, that at this point it would probably be relieving for him. Maybe I'm selfish, maybe I'm a fool... I don't know myself anymore.

My musings are interrupted by sound of steps that echo through the alley. Instantly brings me back to reality and makes me focus. I peek out of my hiding spot ever so slightly, feeling where the two shadows are approaching from...

Wait a second...

Oh, bloody son of a-

He comes slowly, and I see him well in the night. I see him, and I feel the shadow he casts. He, a gun in his hand, and a little – can't be any more than nine, – crying girl, that he tightly holds by shoulder, preventing her escape and pointing a gun to her head.

I grit my teeth. That bloody son of a goddamn Abyss can't even once leave ordinary people out of it!

— Price! — He shouts, easily muffling the girl's cries and looking around the alley. — Come the fuck out, you lurking bastard! I know you can hear me!

But before he can do anything, he comes to a marked point. And there, my trap unsprings.

I watch, as an all-familiar metallic net shoots from above at them full-speed. Reflectory, noticing the motion, he raises the gun at it ever so slightly above girl's head and pulls the trigger, trying to shoot it. But then, the net is upon them, knocking the weapon out of his hand and pinning them both to the ground.

I finally come out of my hiding spot, re-manifesting from the shadows. The grinder-net controls are in my hands, and I'm very lucky I didn't push the button yet. He writhes under the net, trying to break free, or to get a gun that lies on the asphalt a little beyond his reach, and tries even more to do so when he finally spots me in the darkness of the alley.

I simply come closer and kick his hand, sending the gun flying and making him hiss in pain. Probably broken his fingers, that would be nice.

— As pathetic as ever, Shepherd. — I finally talk, sparing him a glance, and then turn to girl, that lies on the ground. She looks at me, scared, as I reach through the net to check if she is alright and doesn't have any injuries. Physical, at least.

— You're the one to talk, shadow-scum! — Shepherd tries to twist himself to face me fully, but fails, net securing him in place, his back to me. The only thing he can do, is turn his head and spit insults. There's also a knife sheathed on his side, which he can probably use if he wants, but I don't see anything for him to do with it. Maybe, he could stab the girl, but he's not that stupid.

— I might be, but it's not me who holds kids hostage.

I retort, not finding any injuries on a girl, who still looks at me wide-eyed with fear. Well, I suppose, if you see a giant lumberjack-looking man in dark clothes and a "weird" panama, that does little to nothing to cover his glowing nearly white eyes, you would be afraid, if you were an average human. Not that I know.

— Well, you never hesitated to define the new low. Shouldn't be surprised... — I notice, thinking.

— Oh spare me your high horse act, you hypocrite!.. — Shepherd fumes, but I don't bother myself aswering, or listening. I have more pressing matter at hand.

What should I do now? As soon as grinder-net clasps on someone, there's no escape. In this situation, it already had planted itself into concrete, pinning it's captives with it. There's no failsafe or cutting your way through it either. It's made from demicrete, and that makes it impossible to wriggle out, if you're not made of goo... Or shadows.

Also, it has a one-minute timer. That means, if I don't press a button in a minute, the net activates on itself and both my greatest enemy and his hostage will be mince.

Abyssal fuckerty.

— Hey. — I opt to ignore Shepherd's flow of insults, turning my attention to the girl again, looking directly in her green and wide eyes with, what I thought, was reassurance. — How did you end up here?

— U-uncle told me, he would hurt me... Or Tom, if one of us don't go. — She sniffed, trying to blink away tears. I smiled slightly to reassure her, although somewhere deep inside wanted nothing but to kill Shepherd in the most painful way. Not only he dragged a kid with him, but it was his own niece!

— What's your name?

— Annie...

— Say, Annie. If I promise, that your uncle will never hurt you, or Tom, again. Do you want to get out of here?

She nods ever so slightly, even though she shakes, when Shepherd... Her uncle begins twitching more violently and swearing more colourfully, than before. I opt to promptly kick the asshole in the kidneys. While he doubles on himself, coughing and hacking, too busy keeping his guts inside, I ask the girl, Annie, again, my hand hovering over hers. The next question is ancient, formal and ceremonial even.

— Would you like to walk a path of shadow?

(Pt. 1/2), crossposted on my subreddit, where you can also read the rest of the series as it appears