Sawyn's footsteps echoed down the stone corridor as she walked. She was deep in the belly of the keep, where they conducted interrogations, which was a very polite way of describing what they did to the people who found their way here. The large stones, mined from deep within the mountain at the center of the Elven Kingdom, were intertwined with ancient roots, creating an incredibly stable foundation that allowed for the gravity-defying height of the keep.
The Keep of Un'Sael had once been the seat of the Elven Ruler of the Green Sea, but it had also been where a large portal to the Nine Hells opened during the Plane Wars. All the residents were killed, according to the Demons that did the job. So when the war was over, and the Demons were chased out, it became an obvious base of operations for The Shadow Lord's forces. Sawyn had requested she be able to live here, and her wish was granted.
As she turned the final corner, she saw Hasqen standing in the hallway about halfway between her and the entrance to the interrogation chamber favored by The Shadow Lord. His 6-foot-tall frame was leaning against the stone wall, his horned helmet held at his side.
Standing at the door to that entrance was a Shadowkin Guard, tall and slender, with a body that seemed to shimmer and blur at the edges. Their skin was a smoky shade of gray, and their eyes were large and dark, with pupils that dilated at any change in ambient light. Its face had sharp features and high cheekbones, giving it an otherworldly look.
As Sawyn's footsteps approached, the Shadowkin moved their hand gracefully to the thin blade at their side, the material darker than anything natural, almost as if it didn't exist, like a small black hole in this reality. As they recognized Sawyn, the Shadowkin lowered their hand from the blade and stood at the ready, waiting.
Sawyn stopped next to Hasqen as he turned his head slightly to look at her. His black hair was braided and flowed down his shoulder, cascading over his muscular chest down to his navel. His golden eyes popped against his dark skin, and they scanned Sawyn thoughtfully before turning back to look at the Shadowkin at the door.
"I don't like them," he said with his deep, gravelly voice. "It's like looking at an instinct or an urge that sprouted legs and hopped out of your brain. Just shouldn't exist."
Sawyn raised her eyebrows and nodded as she looked at the Shadowkin.
"I've always thought it was like seeing your shadow on the night of a new moon," Sawyn reflected, before she looked back at Hasqen. "How are you able to be down here without a shirt on? It's freezing."
"I'm used to it," Hasqen said as he crossed his arms. "My brother and I used to see who could stay outside the longest in the winter without any clothes on."
"And would you win?" Sawyn asked, watching his expression closely.
He adjusted his weight and picked at a small imperfection on the horn of his helm, then squinted his eyes as he stared at the Shadowkin.
"Makes me nauseous when I stare at 'em," he said, ignoring the question.
"I can hear you," the Shadowkin said in a low, husky voice. Their voice had a feminine softness to it. "It's quite hurtful."
Hasqen grunted as Sawyn started to walk forward.
"The Shadow Lord called for me," Sawyn said as she approached. "Has he completed his interrogation?"
"Yes he has," they said flatly. "You are to call the Warden to collect their prisoner. There's a little less of them to take back, but they are there enough to continue serving their time. He thought you would want something to do."
Sawyn's eyes widened, and her hand gripped the hilt of her sword.
"I was summoned here to run a message?" she growled, her voice rising into a stern yell. "You called me here like a fucking steward? I am the Lady of Un'Sael."
"Did I interrupt your sewing lessons, m'lady?" the Shadowkin said with a smirk. They lowered their voice into a mocking sadness as they continued. "Sitting in your room all day must be really tough."
Sawyn launched forward immediately, her sword bursting into flames as she did. The Shadowkin stepped to the side and raised their black blade. As the swords crossed, there was no sound, as the Shadowkin's blade seemed to absorb it. Sawyn was relentless in her attacks as they fought down the hallway, and the Shadowkin was on their heels, trying their best to defend the attacks and look for an opening.
Sawyn started screaming as she swung her blade with all her might as they circled back and approached the door to the interrogation room. Then, with one hit, the blade flew from the Shadowkin's hand and they began to stumble backwards. Sawyn closed her eyes and teleported behind them, with her blade in front of her, and removed one of her hands to grab their body telekinetically, pulling them full force into the blade so that they were impaled, spraying blood that was the same smoky gray color as the Shadowkin's skin.
"W-wait Iā" the Shadowkin sputtered before their face was grabbed violently by Sawyn as she began to repeatedly slam their head into the heavy door, smashing their skull until the sound was just a repetitive wet thud.
When their head was unrecognizable and was just a twisted lump of flesh and bones, she released the body so that it collapsed on the stone floor.
Sawyn stood and calmed her breath for a few moments before the heavy door unlocked. The door slowly pushed outwards, pushing the body, smearing their blood across the floor. The Shadow Lord poked his head out, his chest and face covered in a red blood spray that had started to brown. He took a bite out of an apple as he looked at the body before looking up at Sawyn and Hasqen.
"Welcome back," he said with a smile while chewing. He took her chin in his hand and gave it a little shake before turning and walking back into the room. "If you could have the Warden bring me some inconsequential prisoner when they pick this one up, that'd be great."
Sawyn resheathed her sword and felt a twinge in her side as she lowered her gaze and watched him walk away in the reflection of the pooling gray blood.