Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2004 10:00:58 -0800 (PST) From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com> Subject: The Shadow Chapter 19 Secrets Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. I do not know the sexual orientation of any of the celebrities who will be appearing in the story. WARNING: The character does not have a happy life and will not have very many happy events in his life. If this kind of stuff bothers you, I do not recommend reading. Otherwise, enjoy. The Shadow created by Street and Smith, Walter B. Gibson. Copyright Advance Magazine Publishing Inc. Author's email address: authorjames2002@yahoo.com Chapter 19 Secrets The Shadow sat at the computer searching the Internet for the Enchantress controlling O-Town. He had discovered her name on Jacob's desk. Her name was "Danu". A web page finally came up that matched the name and the information was rather staggering. It seemed there was a goddess by the name of Danu in the Irish culture who bestowed prosperity and wisdom to those whom she deemed fit. She also held secrets to sorcery and magic. "I never thought I would ever think this literally. Could this actually be the goddess? Or is she merely a sorceress with the same name? It seems she's been responsible for all that has been going on with these celebrities, ever since the A-Teens showed up. I wonder what her motive is." The Shadow contemplated this for a moment. "I'll check with the guys in the morning and see what they have to say." The next morning, the Shadow, in his normal garb, arrived at the auditorium where the guys were rehearsing. Jacob looked over at him and smiled. The Shadow looked away. `He needs to stop,' he thought. `It isn't meant to be.' "Hey, Ashley. Can I talk to you a minute?" Ashley went over and sat down. "What's up?" "What do you know about someone named Danu?" Ashley thought for a moment. "That name doesn't ring a bell. Why do you ask?" "I think that she has been controlling you guys and prospering your music." Ashley appeared to be offended at these words. "Are you saying you don't think we are good enough on our own? That we have to get someone to put a spell on us to make us successful?" "I'm not saying that. I'm saying that someone has you under her spell and is controlling you. You may be under her spell right now. Maybe even all of us. That would explain all the weird phenomena that's been happening around you and me." "You?" Trevor said coming over as well. "Why would you be involved? The only person other than us would be the Shadow, the weird bodyguard." "You're right." With that, the youth stood and walked away from them. "Hey, wait up!" Jacob said running to catch up. "What are you doing tonight?" he asked once he stopped the youth. "I've got things going on, Jacob." "I'd like to have dinner with you. I mean, again. The other night didn't work out right. You left in quite a hurry and what not." "You're right, I did." "Why? If I said or did something wrong, I apologize. I didn't mean to..." "Jacob, it will not work out between us. I don't know why you keep trying." With that, the youth turned and left Jacob standing there alone. "Ouch," Erik said to Jacob. "What a bitch?" "There's something more to it. I can tell. Something isn't right with him." "What is your spider sense tingling again?" Dan said. "Ha, ha, guys," Jacob said in mock amusement. "I'm serious. Something is not right." "What do you see in him any way? He isn't that great a looker. He isn't even average." "It isn't about looks. Can't you guys ever look past the outside and see what a person looks like on the inside?" The guys laughed and walked away. Jacob turned and walked up to them. "Would you guys be willing to help me tonight?" "With what?" "I want to see where he goes, what he does." The band reluctantly agreed and they finished practice. That night, the guys headed out following Jacob. He had their driver follow his crush after he left the auditorium. The driver had given them an address, an old building housing a gym. A short while later, they arrived at the gym and tried the door. It was locked. "Let's find a way in," Jacob encouraged, and they looked around until they found a back door. O-Town made their way around the lower level until they found the large gym. A light was cast around the corner from a small office, and they could hear voices. "What is wrong with you?" a deep voice asked. "You act so disconnected from everyone. You act like you don't want to live." Silence. "My God, that's it, isn't it? You don't want to live. Why?" The youth came out of the office followed by a large black man. O-Town figured it to be the owner of a deep voice. "Life is a wonderful thing. There are so many possibilities for just one life. It is an adventure." The youth shook his head and, to everyone's surprise, began singing. Life's a show and we all play our parts And when the music starts We open up our hearts It's all right if some things come out wrong We'll sing a happy song And you can sing along Where there's life, there's hope Every day's a gift Wishes can come true Whistle while you work So hard All Day To be like other souls To fit in in this glittering world Don't give me songs Don't give me songs Give me something to sing about I need something to sing about Life's a song you don't get to rehearse And every single verse Can make it that much worse Still my friends don't know why I ignore The million things or more I should be dancing for All the joy life sends Family and friends All the twists and bends Knowing that it ends Well that depends On if they let you go On if they know enough to know That when you've bowed You leave the crowd There was no pain No fear, no doubt Till they pulled me out of heaven So that's my refrain I live in hell `Cause I've been expelled from heaven To think I was in heaven So give me something to sing about Please give me something... The youth saw the look of disbelief on Jonesy, his trainer and mentor. He turned and ran toward the back where he ran into Ashley and Trevor. Widening his eyes in shock, he turned and ran in another direction, finding Erik and Dan. He turned and found Jacob looking at him with tears in his eyes. The singer grabbed the young man by the shoulders and sang. Life's not a song Life isn't bliss Life is just this: it's living You'll get along The youth broke in: The pain that I feel Will never heal by living You have to go on living So one of us is living The youth pulled away from Jacob not wanting his comfort. "You can't keep running from this pain," Jacob said trying to break through. "It will swallow you up and all you will feel is despair." The youth shook his head. "It already has." Suddenly the windows shattered and the front door opened. In walked Danu, the Enchantress. "Hello, boys," she said. The youth ran toward her and she waved her hand. The young man was lifted up into the air and slammed down into the weights. Jonesy ran toward his charge to check on him. When he saw the youth was okay, he turned to the Enchantress. She waved her hand to the side and Jonesy flew into the wall unconscious. Then she turned her attention back to O-Town. "Now comes the fun part," she said. "Who the hell are you?" Dan asked. Danu waved her hand and they immediately quieted. "Follow me, boys." Danu turned and walked out the door with O-Town in tow. The youth awoke to a horrendous smell. Jonesy used smelling salts to awaken him. The youth shook off the haze and sat up. "Where are they?" he asked. "That witch bitch has them," Jonesy answered. "I've got to rescue them." The young man stood up. "Listen, Shadow, we need to talk about what you went through. You need to..." "Not now, Jonesy. There are more important things at the moment." The youth went to his small room and donned his clothes. Then he came out with a bottle of purple liquid. "What's that?" "I did my research on Danu. This is a potion that will destroy her, send her back to where she came from." "Do you believe in that stuff?" "After what she did to us, do you honestly think I don't believe in it?" "I see your point." The Shadow checked his pistols to see if the cartridges were fully loaded. Checking the extra clips on his belt, the Shadow headed out to save five lives. To Be Continued...