The Shadow

"What the hell did these idiots break?" hearing the sound of something falling downstairs, Golden Teeth, whose true name no one bothered to ask about, muttered to himself, striking the desk with his fist, with the many rings adorning each finger, the sound it produced was quite something.

"And dammit! I lost count of this batch! He shoved the copper coins back together, unwilling for the smallest of inaccuracy concerning his finances.

"Hey! Go check what the hell they are doing downstairs, and make sure to punch them in the mouth for being nuisances!" ignoring the feeling of weightlessness that overtook his body as he suddenly stood, after being focusing for so long the light he laid eyes directly upon blinded him, he opened the door and shouted his orders at the man standing guard.

"Sure, Sir" without much reverence if at all, the goon shrugged and descended the stairs, he heard Golden Teeth grumbled something about being surrounded by idiots and ingrates, but really didn't pay it any mind, his boss was always upset easily irritated when counting his money, and it was best to stay composed as counting night was also payday for them.

With goat-like air bobbing up and down as walked down the stairs, the goon yawned in his hand, the horns he was supposed to have growing on his head had been cut off recently after he got into a fight with someone he definitely shouldn't have, cutting them off and letting them regrow from a stable foundation was best.

"Hey guys, what the hell is up? You're making the boss fussy again- Guys? Why is there only one candle lit up? It's seriously not time for jokes, I am telling you Golden Teeth is mad…" the beastfolk made an ugly face as he stepped into the room, which was much darker than it should be currently.

"Guys? Seriously, it's because you're annoying like that that the boss only pays for one prostitute for the both of you" the goat man approached the table upon which the candle was on, not only was there only one lit up, but it was small and nearing its end.

"Are you even list-" his foot hit something, too focused on the candle, he hadn't paid attention to the vague shape laying on the floor.

"Hoi… Are you guys drunk? The boss already said that-" crouching down, he grabbed the shoulder of the man lying on the ground, pulling him from the side onto his back with unnatural ease, revealing a face contorted in horror, mouth agape, eyes wide open and appeared as though they were going to burst out of their sockets.

The neck had turned a completely different colour than it should, and was visibly thinner as well, clearly crushed by bare hands.

The beastfolk barely had time to register the information when he felt himself fall forward, feeling like a weight had been taken off his shoulders, collapsing atop his colleague's corpse without resistance.

He would never know what hit him.

'Fifty… Fifty-one…' Golden Teeth was still focused on counting his riches as of this month when he heard the sound of footsteps ascending back the stairs.

'Did that idiot not punch them like I asked? I heard no commotion… Fifty-two…' too torn in between his earlier anger and current focus, Golden Teeth did not realise that the footsteps had a completely different tempo than the one he was used to hearing, the beastfolk had been with him for years now and would always take the same spot, so he had heard him walk up and down this flight of stairs countless times.

But it didn't matter, he would have just chalked it up to something else, even if he had noticed.

'Fifty-three… Fifty-four…'

Someone knocked at the door.

"What?" no response came.

'Fifty-five-' it knocked again, this time louder.

"I said : What?!"

"If you have something to say, just come in like you usually do!"

No answer still, for a moment, Golden Teeth thought that his goon had just decided to stop being an idiot.

'Where was I? Ah yes, fifty-seve- Wait no…' knocking, once more.

"Alright…" he said calmly "...Perhaps getting beaten up last time got your brain in a twist? Another one should rearrange all that!" slamming both of his hands down on the desk, he stood up, exhaled and made great strides toward the door, flinging it open with the intent to shout the loudest he ever had, but nothing came out.

Instead of the hallway, he only saw a huge shadow blocking the way, a hulking figure that had to lean forward to get through.

"Ah…" only a small exhale escaped his throat before a bloody club with metal upon it was driven straight at his guts, the blow so tyrannical and unexpected that Golden Teeth instantly expelled his last meal on the ground.

Naturally, he also stumbled back, reeling from the strike, giving plenty of space for the shadow to make its way inside, holding the club limply, waiting for the perfect opportunity before swinging it up at its victim's crotch, already out of breath from puking everything he could, Golden Teeth couldn't even express the atrocious pain that was brought upon him, only a stifled gasp showed itself before he fell to the ground.

Then, he felt the club being casually put up against the side of his head, a mixture of cold from the iron upon it, of roughness from the wood that made up the majority of it, and also warmth, as fresh blood was flowing upon.

Golden Teeth's eyes even spotten was looked like hair- Hair still attached to a piece of scalp, which should have belonged to the beastfolk.

"W-Wait!" he pleaded, the slightest of push, and he knew that his skull would be crushed in between he weapon and floor.

"I-I- I really don't know who sent you, but- but I can pay you more than them? Double?! Triple?! I"ll give you all that I have, I swear!" he could barely catch a glimpse of the aggressor from his current position, only spot the dark attire they wore.

With a slight turn of the wrist, the club moved a bit, making Golden Teeth feel like soiling himself.

"J-Just name it! I'll get whatever you want!"

Suddenly, the shadow stepped on his shoulder, forcing him onto his back instead of side, allowing him to see the dark silhouette that was holding his life hostage.

The shadow placed the club against the wall.

'Thank the gods-' only to suddenly drive their heel into Golden Teeth's chest, leaving the man breathless again as the shadow crouched down, putting their knees against his arms, reaching for something hidden in their pocket.

Some sort of tool.

Something that looked like pliers.

Golden Teeth tried to resist and struggle, but it was no use, he could only sit here as the shadow took hold of one of his teeth and- Pulled.