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Today was a slow day, as Vio would come to find out.
Not like he was complaining, he quite liked the calm, but there was something about today that just made it extra slow for him. Maybe it was the fact that his brothers had yet to reach him at the fortress, or perhaps the fact that that “Shadow” of his hadn’t come to test his patience today. Though, if he had to be honest, those little visits were growing on him more and more with each passing day. Not that he’d ever admit it, though.
Anyway, he was currently reading this very thrilling horror book he’d found in the miserably barren library in this tower. Traitorous, it was called. The plot revolved around this group of friends trapped in an abandoned, villain-ridden fortress, and the plan was for one of them to infiltrate the enemy ranks in order to secure an escape plan for all of them.
Ironic, when he thought about it. The whole thing seemed terribly familiar to what he was currently doing, though the stakes were much higher and his brothers didn’t quite know his intentions. It was interesting, and if he understood all that foreshadowing right, he was nearing the climax. A shame, really, he was just starting to get attached to the characters.
“And again, that library was so depressingly understocked…”
The day continued on like that, Vio reading his book as he went around completing insignificant tasks, like checking up on the troops, or taking inventory. There was also the matter of raiding their meager rations to see if he found anything worth eating; he hadn’t had breakfast this morning. Unfortunately, he didn’t find anything that he considered edible, just like the library, the pantry was also depressingly understocked... However, the Shadow said supplies would be coming in soon, and no doubt he’d have to take inventory when they came in.
...Now that he realizes this, he’s basically keeping the place running all by himself.
Tch, imbeciles, they’d be dead without him.
Not like he cared much, anyway.
Vio sighed, going back to his very interesting horror book. The swirling staircase was the perfect place to keep reading, even more so if he found a decent window sill to sit on. He smiled just thinking about it: the feeling of the light breeze and warm sunlight on his skin as he lost himself to the words on each of the pages. Yes, that sounds like a good way to spend the rest of this slow evening.
And as fate would have it, a very decent window sill did actually make itself known to him on his way to his quarters.
“Oh, perfect”.
Vio wasted no time in making himself comfortable, opening the book on the page he left off. Ah yes, the protagonist was about to betray their superiors, ultimately enabling their friends to escape but at the cost of their newly-acquired friend who they met on their mission. He chuckled awkwardly at that, not sure of whether or not he should relate or not. Vio knew it wouldn’t be this easy, though, there had to be another twist to this story; maybe the true villain would strike while they were escaping, which would be the most likely option. In fact, that seemed like the most obvious answer, considering how the author amped up the suspense for this scene.
The small group were currently on their way out of the building, running left and right through the tunnels of the fortress. It was dark, and they were all still paranoid (And rightfully so, if Vio had any say), no plan, no weapons...They were defenseless, it was the perfect time to strike! Vio straightened in his seat as he read on, excitement and a dash of fear coursing through him as he reached the part he wanted to read the most.
It was tragic, absolutely stunning. Vio had to give it to whoever wrote this, their writing was truly amazing. He grinned, the words on the pages nearly blurring as he read faster. The group was nearly at the exit, they were going to escape! Oho, scraping metal? A blade? Oooo old villain! Oh seriously he’s monologuing now? They could run away right now if they wanted! Come on they were right there, just attack already! No, don’t go towards the bloodthirsty villain! Turn around-!
“RAH!”
“AHHHHH-! SWEET HYLIA-!”
Vio had to grapple in order to not let the book fall to its untimely demise, and then flail in order to not fall himself. He panted, violet eyes blazing with unadulterated rage at being interrupted from his reading (And nearly falling to his death, though that wasn’t that important). He swirled around, mouth already opened with hundreds of less-than-unbecoming words from him to yell at the perpetrator.
“AHAHA-YOU SHOULD’VE-PTFFF- YOU SHOULD’VE SEEN YOUR FACE-AHAHAHAHAHAH!!!”
Oh...it was the Shadow.
Suddenly, his murderous intentions were as far from his mind as the scolding on his lips. Weird, he was sure he nearly tore him to pieces with the verbal lashing he was about to give him. It seems like, though, Vio couldn’t bring himself to do so now. The boisterous cackles stopped him in his tracks, instead enabling him to look like a bumbling fool as he watched the menace laugh.
Oh well, who cares, it’s not like his reputation was to depend on it.
Vio pouted as he heard the cackles coming from the edgy fool. He couldn’t believe he let his guard down so much while reading, it was dangerous in a mission such as his. Though he had to admit, seeing the chaotic bastard grin like that was quite fulfilling, and it drew a smile from his usually stoic face; Vio even let a small chuckle escape him.
Shadow noticed—because of course he noticed—and grinned even more at the reaction he got from the purple-clad spy. It was a step-up from his usual insults and glares, so he could understand why he’d celebrate his victory, however small. Vio thinks this is what he meant when he said the visits were starting to grow on him. His Shadow, however annoying he may be, was actually quite smart; it was custom to engage in an intellectual battle that left him smirking from the adrenaline, after the initial annoyance, that is.
It was a shame, really, that he’d have to betray him.
For now, though, he’d entertain his random thoughts and strange theories and laugh at his corny jokes because he had nothing better to do. Watch carefully and listen as he made plans and thought up strategies to foil his brothers all the while he made counter-strategies and smarter plans to foil him and his boss (because he knew he couldn’t have done this on his own). For now, Vio would befriend his dark counterpart, because he knew what it was like to be lonely.
Their friendship would grow as the days wore on, Vio would finish his book—amazing ending, might he add—and would make a startling realization one night in the confines of his room.
He and Shadow had become friends.
He was an enemy spy, trying to get him and his brothers to safety.
He was in an enemy-ridden fortress.
Sigh, “And here I thought the stories stayed in the books…”
A crash sounded from below, shaking the tower. He heard the troops mobilizing towards the source, and he took a deep breath. His eyes travelled to his sword, and how it seemed to resonate with joy. Shadow burst in, announcing enemy arrival, and how they should go get ready for the “big show”, as he liked to put it. Ptff. Even in situations like this the clown managed to make jokes.
Nevertheless, there were more pressing matters at hand.
It seemed like his brothers had arrived.
Vio sucked in a breath.
Nothing better than recreating your favorite story, right? Only this time, there were just a couple more plot twists in the mix.