The Priest of Shadow Chapter 5

Solstice stood still, and limp as the door to her cell opened.

"You're not fooling anyone, woman," said the harsh rasping voice of the Priest of Shadows.  "I know you're looking for a weakness.  But you'll find none.  That pillar is coated with a synthetic form of Curium and it was effective enough to stop you in your world."

"What...What are you doing?"  Solstice found the courage and voice to say.

"Bringing you some company."  Replied the Priest.  Behind him, several of his acolytes carried in a limp form, dumping the body on the floor.

"Ultra Woman?" murmured Solstice.  She raged in futile fury as the goblins secured the helpless Amazon to a double pole.  Tania was hoisted to her feet, then placed onto a rod at her sex. 

"The stimulus will keep her weak," said the priest, by way of explanation.  Almost as he said it, Ultra Woman's tawny head moved lazily and a soft moan issued from her lips.
*****

"All right then, here's the plan." The Jade Eagle looked into the intense dark eyes of Sapphire Hawk, her friend, fellow avatar, and lover.  The two heroines stood on the rooftop of the Central Trust tower, 60 floors above Queen City.  The vantage point gave a commanding view of downtown and Jade "We're doing patrol route five tonight, as White Owl is on the North side of town."

"What's the plan?" Hizuka giggled.

"Normally route five takes us about 3 hours, barring complications.  But if we split up, we can cover the same ground twice as fast."  Jade slid a sideways grin at her partner.

"But we never split up!  You said I wasn't yet ready and..."  Hizuka's eyes widened as she realized the implication.  "I am most grateful, Jade."

We'll see how grateful you are when I win and get to tie you up at home."

"You mean, when I tie YOU."

"Humph, we'll see about that, Hizuka!  So get ready....And....GO!"   With a spring born of much practice, Jade Eagle jumped from the rooftop, drawing her Spirit Bow as she dropped.  She fired a mystic arrow, complete with swing line, and arced gracefully over the city's darkening skyline.  Sparing a glance over her shoulder, Jade saw Hizuka retreating in the opposite direction, a determined look on her face.

"Do not let the desire to win blind you to injustice and villainy," thought Jade, as a prayer for Sapphire Hawk and a gentle reminder to herself. The patrol passed quickly, and Jade found she had little difficulty with the petty criminals she brought to justice.  She appeared above Washington Park, scanning the deserted downtown oasis for any signs of trouble.  Her alert eyes saw a flash of blue, being dragged into an alleyway behind Music Hall.

"Sapphire!" Every muscle in Jade's body ached to move, but her training held.  She counted to five, then leaped across the rooftops surrounding the park and landed on the high-domed roof of Music Hall.  Jade's eyes swept the alleyway, and she spotted the blue skirt of the Sapphire Hawk lying on the stairwell to Music Hall's backstage.  Jade lit on the pavement and heard a heavy thud from inside the building.  "If they've hurt her," she thought, her eyes flashing.

She kicked in the door, then rolled into the stage area.  A Spot light lit the stage and Jade could see a man in swirling black garb holding the inert form of the Sapphire Hawk under his arm.

"Ahh," he said, in a harsh rasping voice. "Where the Sapphire Hawk flies, can the Jade Eagle be far behind?"

"No, we come as a matched set," said Jade, summoning an arrow.  Her eyes never flickered from the man in front of her.
"Now put Sapphire down, and maybe I'll let you live."

"Oh I think you'll let me live anyway.  You really have no way to stop me."

At that moment two sandbags swung into Jade's head from opposite sides of the rafters.  The heroine groaned in pain and felt several small hands grabbing at her boots and legs, pulling her to the floor.  Jade tried to kick out but was overwhelmed by the little monsters grabbing at her, tearing at her costume.  Looking up, she could see that the villain had released Sapphire.  "Sapphire, help me!" pleaded Jade.

Sapphire giggled, and turned toward Jade.  Jade's face fell when she saw the gremlin-esque face on the fake Sapphire.  The thick gas that the acolyte shot at her burned her eyes and made Jade struggle to keep conscious.  Four more oni jumped onto her back and Jade felt the THUD of a mike stand crash into the back of her skull. She saw stars, then collapsed to the ground.

Outside, the din of police sirens alerted the Priest of Shadows his time was limited.  "Quickly, we must attend to the other ones later," he stated.  A powerful black vortex swirled behind him and the Oni carried the limp form of the Jade Eagle through.  From the back of the auditorium, Sapphire watched in horror as her friend and mentor slipped into an alternate dimension.  "NO!" she shouted, charging the stage.  But the vortex swirled shut scant seconds before the young heroine could reach it.

"Jade?" asked Sapphire--stunned at how quickly her world had changed.

(To be continued)

Solstice is the OC of and used with permission
Ultra Woman is the OC of and used with permission
Jade Eagle and Sapphire Hawk are OC's of and used with permission

And this takes place in