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Shadowsteps	By : vsvigalante Category: DC Verse Comics > V for Vendetta Views: 912 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own V for Vendetta, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter 4--Shadow and Light

V dried his body gently with the soft towel. Even though it had been several years since the fire at Larkhill, the scars still caused him pain now and again. Reaching into the cabinet above the sink, he took the body balm down. It was a mixture of his own making--botanical extracts to sooth the burn scars and keep the tissue soft and pliable. He began to rub the mixture into his face first, making sure the deeper and redder tissue got a thicker dose, then moved onto his neck, arms and other limbs. When it came time for his back to be medicated, he used an instrument he had fashioned from an old back scratcher. The attached gauze pad was disposable, and it added comfort to the procedure. Once finished, he dressed in his underclothes . Tonight, he would wear a black poet's shirt and quilted vest along with dark breeches that accented the muscular frame he carried proudly. Finally, he would travel the hidden tunnel system, moving through the labyrinth of rooms to the Shadow Gallery and Jazlyn. He had picked the early morning hours so not to disturb the girl, and would greet her somewhat later with a fresh cooked breakfast and conversation. Grinning, he began dressing.

Jazlyn yawned broadly as the ending credits for the movie scrolled across the television screen. The movie was one she remembered watching with her grandfather many years ago as a small child, and she had squealed with excitement when she had found it on the shelf among the hundreds of other dvd's V had. She had not seen ' Captain Blood ' (1)in years, but it still remained one of her favorites.
Rising from the couch, she shut the television and dvd player off, and started toward her bedroom. She searched on the way for her friend, but there was no sign of her. Jazlyn smiled to herself “ She must be off exploring. Well, she would be to bed when she was finished.” She thought as the lights began to dim to their night mode of almost total darkness, and she walked down the hallway toward her room.

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V exited the side tunnel and headed down the corridor toward one of the secret entrances to the Shadow Gallery. He stopped briefly in the dim light to check the time on the pocket watch he always carried. It was almost three a.m. He smiled under the mask as he continued onward to the gallery door, slipping the watch back into his vest pocket. Within minutes, he stood by the security system , entering the code into the keypad, waiting on the red light to turn green. Slowly he entered the gallery, closing the door behind him. Standing before the Wurlitzer, he scanned the play list, settling on a song from a by-gone era. He leaned against the glass as the haunting melody softly filled the room, closing his eyes beneath the mask, he did not see the bright green eyes watching from the shadows, but suddenly sensing he was not alone, his eyes flew open. He expected to find Jazlyn watching from the gallery archway, but all he found were shadows. He had left his knife belt in the other part of the labyrinth, and the closest one to his grasp was by the suit of armor, some twenty feet away. V cursed himself as he realized what a predicament he suddenly found himself in. It seemed that the only chance he had was to call the intruder out from his world of shadows and face them eye to eye. The thought that his home had finally been discovered sent a cold chill racing through his blood.

“ Show yourself! “ V commanded, stepping into the center of the gallery. There was silence at first, then a low rumbling erupted from the darkness and grew into a growl that encompassed the whole room. V watched as a form slowly moved toward him, finally taking the shape of the largest black panther he had ever seen!

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The growl awoke Jazlyn from her sleep immediately, and she sprang from the bed--all hell was about to break loose!

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“ Who challenges me? “ A low purr-like voice sounded in V's ears as the panther continued toward him.

“ What type of creature are you that you can speak?” V demanded, “ And how did you come to be in my home?”

“ Insolent child!” The cat exclaimed, “ Maybe I should eat you now...”

“ Shadow! Enough!” Jazlyn's voice broke through the darkness as the lights began to brighten.

“ Mistress...” The panther moved to her side.

“ He is a friend, my love.” She whispered kneeling before the creature, stroking it's fur as a lover would.

“ He will have to prove his allegiance, Mistress...”

“ I know, but for now, he is under my protection. Respect him as you would me, my Shadow.” Jazlyn spoke softly to the panther.

“ As you wish, Mistress.” Shadow turned toward V had a low hiss escaped her powerful mouth.

“ Go to bed, I shall join you shortly.” Jazlyn rose to her feet.

“ Yes, Mistress.”

Jazlyn watched as Shadow disappeared down the hallway, then turned to where V stood, his hands crossed in front of him. She couldn't see behind the mask, but she knew he was absolutely furious with her by his body language.

“ V...” She began, “ I'm so sorry... you know that I would never put in danger.” She tore her eyes away from the grinning mask,. “ I didn't expect you back so soon, and I was lonely, and a bit frighten here by myself, so I brought Shadow to me.”

V stood perfectly still, not moving, and not taking his eyes from the woman standing before him. “ You command the beast?'” He finally asked, his voice low and ominous.

“ No, “ She answered, “ Shadow is my protector--a gift from my grandmother when I was four years old.”

“ I see...” V replied, as silence once again ruled the room.

“ I really am sorry...” Jazlyn apologized, watching him.

“ Well,” He sighed after a moment, “ I presume that I will have to become friends with the beast then.”

“ Jazlyn grinned at the man before her.” She is really harmless.”

V snorted under the mask, and closed the space between them. “ That harmless beast of your almost took my head off!”

“ I know...” Jazlyn moved to within inches of him. “ and I am sorry, really. I should have told you about Shadow before I summoned her.”

“ It would be greatly appreciated if you notified me before any more of your talents are put to use.” V's voice had gone back to the low tone she had heard before.

Jazlyn smiled shyly as she averted her eyes from the mask. “ I will.” She answered.

V nodded curtly as he turned and walked away.

“ V? “ Jazlyn called after him.

“ Yes?” He turned.

“ I was watching the news today. Some people up top are not very happy with you right now.”

“ No, I suppose they are not.” He replied.

“ Why did you blow those buildings up?”

“ It was something I had to do.” He replied, looking away.

“ But why? Why did it mean so much to you?” Jazlyn pressed as she watched the black leather gloves clench into fists.

“ Because there is something terribly wrong with this government.” He answered under his breath.

“ And blowing up buildings is going to change that? “ Jazlyn asked, “ All that's going to do is eventually get you killed.”

“ People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.” V spoke harshly, anger in his voice. “ Chaos swallowed the beginning of the 21st century, our world was changing, the time had come to return to a by-gone era, one of tradition, an age of values that had been disparaged and all but forgotten, they had said. We needed a leader to remind us of that age--in the form of one Adam Sutler. Relinquish control to him, and he would restore order.” V paused, collecting his thoughts. ” At first, the arrests were political. Dissidents. Radicals. Liberals. The homosexuals were next. What God started with Aids, we were to finish. Next came Larkhill and the other detention centers, and in that moment, order was imposed.”

“ What was Larkhill?” Jazlyn asked, never leaving V's view.

“ Larkhill was a prison for experiments that went wrong--” He faced her. “ It was where hell evolved, and man was thrown into the pit.”

Jazlyn tried to understand what V was saying, but it was making no sense. She would have to find her own answers.

“ Memories that are better left forgotten.”

Jazlyn nodded her head. “ I'm sorry, V.”

“ I know.” He answered turning, and began down the hallway once again.

“ Good night V.” Jazlyn called at the retreating form.

“ Good night, Jazlyn.”

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Jazlyn woke to the aroma of cooking drifting into her room. She smiled, stretching, kicking the covers to the foot of the bed. Seeing no sign of Shadow, she left the bedroom, heading to the kitchen.

“ Would you like another piece?” V asked, amused as he cut several slices of ham off the bone.

“ Yes, please.” The reply came in a soft purr vocalization.

Even though it couldn't be seen because of the mask, the grin that stretched across the misshapen lips matched the one he wore. He offered the slice of meat to Shadow, who purred with great delight.

“ Well, I see that it didn't take you two long to become friends.” Jazlyn said, standing in the archway of the kitchen, her arms across her chest.

“ Ah, good morning, Jazlyn.” V greeted her happily. “ I do hope you slept well.”

“ Yes, thank you.” She walked by where Shadow lay, mouthing the word 'traitor' silently. Looking again in the direction of where V stood, her eyes caught sight of the gloveless hands and the burn scars that covered them.

“ From the fire?” Jazlyn asked.

“ What?” The question caught him off guard. “ Oh...” V hurriedly pulled the leather gloves back over his hands. “ There, that's better.”

“ Do they hurt you?”

“ Sometimes.” His answer was so low that Jazlyn barely heard it.

She decided to change the subject, since it seem to be one that he did not like to talk about. “ What are you fixing?”

“ Strawberry-banana pancakes, and ham, with strawberry syrup.” V replied, turning his attention back to the stove.

“ Shadow certainly seems to like your cooking.” Jazlyn grinned, watching the big cat swallow the last bite of the ham in her mouth.

“ That was her fourth piece, “ V paused, patting the black head, “ Raw, of course.”

“ Thank you, Master V.” Shadow rubbed against his leg.

“ You are quite welcome, Miss Shadow.”

“ Master? “ Jazlyn raised an eyebrow as V handed her a plate laden with pancakes and ham.

“ You could say, “ V paused, “ we have reached an understanding.”

“ Shadow? “

“ Yes, Mistress?”

“ An understanding?”

“ He feeds me, and I do not eat him.” The panther purred contentedly.

Jazlyn giggled softly as she looked at V, standing by the sink, his hands folded in front of him, which she now realized was a natural stance for the man.

“ Jazlyn, “ V began, moving toward her, “ I'm afraid I will be gone most of the day today. I am sorry, but I have appointments which I must keep.”

Jazlyn was now becoming use to the strange hours V kept. Over the last few weeks, she had cleaned, scrubbed and dusted every piece in the gallery, and had finished exploring—although, she had found several doorways barred to her. She thought maybe today, she would try and find out something about that place V had spoke about a couple days earlier--what was the name of it again? Oh yeah, Larkhill. There was more to V than met the eye, and she was anxious to discover more about the mysterious man known to all above, only as a letter. Jazlyn's gifts allowed her access to anywhere she needed to go--so by tonight, she should know all about the man who had miraculously saved her life.

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Dominic Stone looked up from the clutter that was his desk, hoping to find the information he had requested on his computer screen, “ Damn! “ He muttered throwing his pen down, then pushed his chair back and sat staring at the monitor. “ Damn computer!”

The Fate computer system had been running slow most of the day and Dominic's patience was worn thin, he needed that information, and he needed it now! Finch had been gone most of the morning checking out leads he had dug up on the terrorist. He had discovered that the latest victims found, had been assigned to Larkhill Resettlement Camp as guards from 1995 to 1999 when the camp was burned to the ground by a mysterious fire. So far, fifty-eight former workers, including doctors, nurses and other employees of the facilities had been found dead over the last two years. At first, both Dominic and Finch had crossed them off as accidental deaths, but now, Dominic was beginning to think there was more to it. He picked up the pen and began scanning through the files appearing on the computer . It was going to be a long day.

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Jazlyn sighed as she finished reading the last of the information she had found on line about Larkhill. It didn't reveal much insight into the camp--only that it was a resettlement camp for the population that Norsefire had deemed as corrupted, and a threat to the country and government. It also covered how a massive fire had burned the camp to the ground in 1999. Sighing, she wondered if this had been the fire V had referred to once before when she had questioned him about his hands. The ruins were not far from New London, so if she wanted to, she could visit them. Until then, she decided to return to a particular room that had caught her attention immediate--a room that held several types of swords, various knives and practice forms--it had to be V's armory and training room. Shutting the computer off, Jazlyn rose from the chair and left the room full of computers, walking down the hallway toward the armory. The lights were already in their ' night ' mode, so the time was getting late. She had almost made it to the room, when she heard the gallery door open, followed by a large crash.

“ V? “ She called out. “ V? “ Hurrying down the hallway, she entered the gallery, searching for him in the semi-darkness, her fingers fumbling for the light switch.

“ Here, Mistress.” Shadow's voice echoed through the silence. “ The Master is hurt.”

“ Oh god...” Jazlyn followed the sound of the panther's vocalizations into the television room, finding V collapsed on the couch, Shadow by his side.

“ V? “ Jazlyn touched him gently, noticing several holes in his jacket where blood was slowly oozing from. A low moan escaped from beneath the mask's lips as he caught her hand.

“ What do I do?”

“ In... my room, under...the sink...first aid kit...” V mumbled.

“ Shadow, watch over him. I'll be back in a minute.” Jazlyn ran down the hallway.

V pushed himself slowly into a sitting position, unfastening the knife belt and laying in at the foot of the couch.

“ You should remain still until Mistress Jazlyn returns.” Shadow admonished softly.

“ I will be fine Shadow, the wounds are not bad...”

“ I'll be the judge of that.” Jazlyn's voice interrupted. She lay the box on the coffee table, and preceded to remove supplies that she would need, to attend to his wounds.

V's hand stopped her gently as she reached for the cape ties. “ I'll be fine, Jazlyn.” He spoke, pain showing in his voice. “ I can tend to them myself.”

“ V, you're hurt, please let me help.” She pleaded, touching his shoulder, “ I've got to get the bleeding stopped.”

His hand remained covering her, “ I assure you, they are not as bad as you may think them to be. There is one bullet I must remove, the other wounds will heal in a few days.”

“ At least , let me do this.” She searched the dark slits of the mask, and almost reluctantly, his hand slowly fell away. Jazlyn's fingers carefully untied the cape and pulled it slowly away from his body, letting it fall onto the floor in a wet heap.

“ Thank you.” He breathed slowly, wincing from the pain that was tearing through his upper body. “ I need no further help.”

“ V, stop being such an ass!” Jazlyn exclaimed, starting at the top button of the jacket.

V's hands grabbed hers roughly, this time. “ Don't...”

Jazlyn looked at the mask, and taking a deep breath, she spoke steadily and calmly. “ I know about Larkhill--about the fire. You were there, weren't you? That's how you were burned.”

She watched the mask drop as did his hands.

“ What you think you know, may not be what you find.” V answered taking a deep breath as her hands continued to unbutton the jacket to his waist.

Jazlyn reached over and took one of the leather bound hands in hers, pulling it slowly toward her. She heard a deep intake of breath from beneath the Fawkesian mask. “ She smiled at him. “ I've already seen them, remember?” She pulled the glove off slowly, then moved to the other hand. “ You are going to have to help me remove the jacket, I don't want to hurt you trying to do everything myself.” She paused briefly. “ Can you remove your arm?”

V nodded slowly, pulling his arm from the jacket sleeve, revealing red puckered skin, ridges of white scar tissue and a deep wound that oozed blood down his left shoulder.

Opening the hydrogen peroxide, she soaked a large gauze pad and began to clean the wound gently. V sat watching. Jazlyn had not flinched, or paid any attention to his scarred flesh, but had continued to concentrate on the task before her.

“ You're not offended by what you see?” He asked slowly.

“ By this?” Jazlyn laughed softly, “ No, I've seen much worse.” She looked at the man sitting beside her. She knew how a person's soul could be destroyed by a horror such as this.

She knew all to well.

Jazlyn helped V remove the remaining part of the jacket and quickly cleaned the flesh wound on his arm, then turned her attention to the one in his chest. There was no exit wound, so the bullet was still lodged somewhere within the muscle. The placement of the wound seemed very close to his heart.

“ This is one that I must take care of myself.” V said tilting the mask toward her.

Jazlyn looked at him reluctantly. “ If you need me, I'll be close by.” She began to move away, glancing over her shoulder.

“ I will be fine. “ V tried to reassure her.

Nodding her head, Jazlyn turned and left the room.

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V took the bottle of alcohol and poured it over his shoulder, letting the liquid run over the wound. He grimaced in pain as the liquid soaked into the opening. Feeling around, he found the bullet, lodged just a short way under the skin. If it would have been a few centimeters lower, he would have been dead. Most of the time, he knew his scarred flesh was a curse, but in this circumstance--as many times before, it had been a blessing in disguise, slowing the bullet's forward progression through his body. He poured alcohol into a nearby bowl, and dipped the scalpel into the liquid.

Gritting his teeth, he began digging the bullet out.

Jazlyn paced the floor of her bedroom nervously, waiting. If she heard the faintest cry from the television room, she would be by V's size in a matter of seconds. ' Stubborn man!' she sighed, crossing her arms.

“ Mistress?” Shadow's voice came from the doorway.

“ What Shadow?” She snapped unconsciously, glaring at the big cat. Seeing the hurt look in her friend's dark eyes, she dropped to her knees, and embraced the large, furry neck. “ I am so sorry, Shadow,” she apologized, hugging her neck tightly, “ I'm just worried about V.”

“ All is forgiven, Mistress.” Shadow purred, “ The Master is finished and requires your assistance.”

Jazlyn raised an eyebrow. “ Oh, he does, does he? He couldn't do what he wants to do by himself?” She was still just a little ticked yet.

“ Mistress, please...”

“ Ok...ok...”

Shadow followed behind as Jazlyn left the bedroom and headed for the gallery, rounding the corner, she found V leaning against the back of the couch for support, his jacket once again back in place.
“ Would you be kind enough to help me to my bedroom?” He asked, the mask tilting toward her.

Jazlyn slid under V's right arm and slowly began walking down the hallway that led to his private room. She looked up at the mask. “ I'm not going to fast, am I ? “

“ No. “ Came the curt reply.

“ Ok. “ She stopped by the entrance, leaving V to lean against the doorway as she entered, switching the light on. Jazlyn was surprised to find paintings and tapestries lining the walls. Antique furniture created a masculine atmosphere and the huge four poster bed was covered in a black and white throw, with matching pillows. Jazlyn smiled, V's elegant tastes could be seen throughout the room. Placing his arm over her shoulder , she helped him to the side of the bed. Reaching behind him, she fluffed the pillows, then walked to the wooden amoire, took out a clean set of clothes and layed them beside him on the bed.

“You need to get cleaned up. If you need any help with anything, just call.” Jazlyn smiled as V's head snapped around, tilting to the left a little further than usual. “ Com' on Shadow.” She motioned to the cat, and closed the door behind them.

1)“ Captain Blood”--1935-- starring Earl Flynn as Captain Peter Blood
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Shadowsteps