Part I: Arresting Time

   Author's note

Hey, guys, so I know I haven't posted forever...., and this is a new story.. sorry about that :P, But I hope you like it! I intend to actually finish this one :P Hopefully that will work out properly. :] I'm going to try anyway! ~thumbs up~

  Ominous Ebony was a black man, exceptionally slender and fashionable. He wore a white shirt with puffy sleeves like a pirate's, black pants, boots, and a dark vest. At his throat spilled a lacy white cravat, and on his head was an ebony and ivory checkered fedora.

If there was nothing else to admire, Skyril could at least enjoy his sense of style. "Nice hat," she muttered, right before punching him. He stumbled back, flinching, "Oi, why did you hit me? I thought we were here to reach an... arrangement on a few items you want... confiscated." His voice was like dark chocolate, silky but bitter, and touched with the flavor of African descent. "Well..." Skyril paused, tilting her head a little, "I'm afraid I lied. I'm with the sanctuary and our meeting has been canceled do to... a lot of things, as a matter of fact, but let's just call it your unpuritanical deeds and leave it at that."

"Ooh," a mischievous grin spread across his lips, "you're referring to that small payment I got from Mrs. O'Leary, aren't you?

"Actually, yes, that's a good example." Skyril rolled her eyes, and Ominous laughed, "Why, that was irrisistible, and you would have done the same thing, darling. Truly, it is..." his grin got bigger, "I mean was a beautiful thing of deepest violet amethysts studded in a pure silver bracelet." He sighed as if remembering a day with a lover. "Besides," he continued, "I just saved the life of the owner so the bracelet was but a small payment for life, don't you agree? Truly, I believe I got less than what I deserved." He smirked.

"Ok," Skyril shook her head irritably, not in the mood for a smirking moron. She glanced to the side down the barren road, then back at him "First off, don't ever call me darling again. There's only one man who can call me that, and he's not you. Secondly, I would not have stolen from ancient Mrs. O'leary, bless her soul, and lastly, no, you have not yet gotten what you deserve. But you will." With that, Skyril blinked, and Ominous's eyes turned pure white with blindness.

"Hey!" he yelled angrily, fumbling with his face, trying to figure out why everything had gone black, then cursed, realizing what Skyril had done.

"Ominous Ebony," Skyril pulled out a pair of cuffs, "You're under arrest for the robbery of Mrs. O'Leary -thanks for bringing that one up, by the way, I may have forgotten otherwise-, attempted murder of John Gregory, robbery of Helena Pompous, and... what else? Breaking and entering perhaps?" Skyril shrugged, "Why not?" She pulled an arm behind his back to cuff him, but before she could, he said, "You know, they don't call me 'Ominous' for nothing." His grin was back.

"Yup, I wouldn't suspect so. Actually, I know why they do because, seeing as I'm here to arrest you for the Sanctuary, I've read your file. Is that surprising to you? Seems like it would be kind of obvious..." She shrugged again, peering at him.

Ominous's grin had turned from mischievous and clever to monstrous. His mouth was huge, and his teeth were jagged like broken glass. He was looming over Skyril, taller than he was before, and black, ragged bat's wings had sprouted from his back. His fingernails curved, sharp, and yellow while his blind eyes had sunk in to reveal black holes instead. His voice was raspy, and a slithering snake's tongue appeared when he whispered, "I'm getting... hungryyyy..."

Skyril looked frightened for a second then laughed as Ominous's grin grew wider. The she said degradingly, "Seriously? That's the best you can do? I have to admit, I was hoping for more... and no, by the way, your illusions won't work on me." The cuff clicked into place on his wrist, instantly returning Ominous to his previous appearance.

Skyril shoved him in the direction of her car on the desolate Dublin road, littered with trash and debris. This was one of those hotspots for the magical communities- a no no for the mortals. Still, it seemed awfully quiet for this time of day-between the light and dark-twilight. 

"Curious," Ominous muttered, "It seems to escape me how you knew my magic involves illusion and no actually physical change. I thought for certain I had switched the old files out for my -slightly changed- variation."

"Oh, you did, but see I have contacts who... well, who also have contacts, and the contacts informed the contacts who informed me that the Sanctuary files were inaccurate. At which point, I located the proper files. It wasn't all that hard, honestly."

"Ahh... contacts who have contacts.. nice idea... there's one small problem, though..." Skyril gave him another shove to get him walking towards her car again. "What's that, Ominous?"

His only reply was a quiet pause before, "Hm, sure is awfully quiet..."

Skyril blinked and stopped walking, staring at Ominous whose grin was there again. "You don't mean... no... it couldn't possibly... you're making this up, right? That's all just a myth... No one has actually been able to summon it..." She glanced back and forth. "It... it's not that quiet..." she shook her head, "You're just trying to unsteady me, and I'm being ridiculous. We've got to go. Come on, we're getting in the car." Skyril grabbed his arm with alarming strength, practically dragging him after her brisk pace. 

"Oh, I don't think we are, agent Skyril." Then he started laughing.

She took another two steps, then everything went black and silent, almost everything, anyway. She could look down and see herself, but all around was blackness. The sky was black, the ground was black, everything... black. Not only that, but Ominous was no where in sight. He had still been laughing then he was silenced like someone pressed mute.

Skyril looked back and forth and spun around. There was nothing, absolutely nothing but her and blackness. She called out, "Hello!" but no matter how loud she yelled, it seemed her voice was small, like a whisper or groan consumed by the black. The more she yelled, the quieter her voice. She started panicking, terrified that she'd never see anything but darkness. She touched the ground to see if it felt real, but it didn't. It felt mushy and dark.

She started running, running and running, no sense of time or direction. Nothing, no sound at all. not even the sound of her footsteps. She tried to speak again, but couldn't. There was nothing but her. Nothing at all.

Not even air.