Shadow walked down a dimly lit, lonely alleyway. The cold Los Angeles breeze blew strongly around him. He tucked his pale fingers into his jacket's pockets. His face was as grey as ever but his grin remained. He seemed to be toying with something in his pocket.
A stray cat jumped wildly as he ''accidentally'' stepped on it.
''Hey! Watch where you're going!'' The cat yelled in annoyance, with its feline voice.
''You'd best clear the sleep out of your eyes and get to work,'' Shadow said, the smile disappearing from his lips.
Hearing the familiar voice, the creature jumped to its feet and bowed in reverence...however it is that cats do bow.
''Right this way my lord'' The cat began to prance eccentrically about the alleyway until it landed with a thud on a sewer plate cover and halted. It dug its nails into the hard metal and began to spin clockwise with increasing speed. Ina moment, both cat and plate spun into an indiscernible blur.
''That's my queue'' Shadow said gleefully, his usual bliss restored. He walked toward the spinning blur and jumped in without hesitation. The portal led him down a spiraling journey he'd come to love, twisting and turning, falling and yet still, falling to the Black Market.
In a few moments, the portal ceased to spin, throwing the feline off its surface. After some moments of rest, it got up and walked out of the alleyway, on its usual journey to choose a new entry-exit for the Black Market.
~ ~ ~
The Black Market existed out of space and time, a pocket dimension accessible to all who knew where and when to get in. It was an infamous neutral ground where all kinds of things were bought and sold, without discrimination-mostly.
So, NO FIGHTING, NO KILLING, AND NO KILLING.
The place was like a traditional market square, with a starry blanket for its sky, scattered around with a vast multitude of all kinds of creatures; Demons, Ghouls, and Goblins, Trolls, Vampires, Fairies and even hooded celestials.
Shadow snaked his way through the crowd and went into a small pawn shop with a familiar display out front in Neon lights:
''THE GAMBLER'S POCKET''
A man in his fifties or sixties stood behind the counter. His frame was slim but upright, and his looks refined. As Shadow walked in, the bell hanging above the door jingled softly.
The man looked up to observe the potential customer. He heaved a heavy sigh before he spoke. ''The Lord Shadow'', he said in a str4ong French accent.
''Trevor Vlad Tepes, Son of Alucard. How are you?'' Shadow asked enthusiastically.
He pulled out a skull-shaped amulet held up by a long chain. He tossed it over to Trevor but as it neared him, it slowed to a halt in mid-air. As it was, he took it and observed it with a trained eye.
''This is quite valuable Lord Shadow. Are you looting from your master again?'' Trevor inquired with a chuckle.
''No, no, of course not! This is 'old loot'-kept for this very occasion!''
''What occasion? Another go at the gaming tables? Trevor said meekly. ''Matters not to me, what would you like for this piece?''
''Nothing much, just some help from your end. I want you to pawn this off on Asmoth the Humanoid demon. I'm certain he'll be here in a few days. And will, without doubt, find this to fetch leverage on the gaming tables. There, I shall win it from him.'' He said with a playful glint in his cunning eyes.
''Mind you, said Trevor emphatically, Asmoth NEVER loses.''
''I know... I'm counting on it.'' Shadow retorted chuckling as he left the way he came.
''I'll be staying in touch Lord Shadow, Adieu.''
Trevor knelt behind the counter and stowed the amulet away in a safe place. Then, he unsheathed a slim long-blade from a black sheath engraved in some old writing which was repeated on the blade itself. Its hilt held a faint blue gem that matched the tint of his eyes.
''What I owe to you shall soon be repaid noble Cain, I swear it.'' He said, conviction engraved in his blue eyes.