Shadow!Cucali: Keep Paloma safe. FOREVER.

"There," Shadow Cucali turned to Paloma and smiled. "All the enemies have been cleared out of your hive. I drew the blinds, so none of them will notice you're in here with me."

Paloma was tied to a chair, her hands behind her. She struggled - but it was useless. "Shadow, please..."

"What's the maaaatter, Paloma?"

"Let me talk to my friends. They, they'll understand, okay? I just, I have to..."

Cucali's Shadow slipped into Paloma's lap, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and stroking her cheek. "Shh, shh. I don't want you talking to them any more, okay, sweetheart? Especially not that jerk Tursun. He's bad to you."

"But Tursun is my --"

The Shadow placed her finger over Paloma's lips in a tender motion. "He's no good for you, and what's more, when I see you kissing him my blood just boils. Do you want that to happen to me, Paloma? Do you?"

Shadow Cucali stroked Paloma's neck, and Paloma reluctantly shook her head.

"I don't want you to hang out with him any more! You don't need him. You only need me. You do need me, don't you?" The Shadow traced Paloma's lips with a finger, her smile kind.

"Shadow..." Paloma's voice was strained, desperate. "You, you can't keep me here forever!"

"Oh, but I can. I'll keep you safe, and you'll be mine." Shadow Cucali leaned in, her breath hot against Paloma's face. "If you can pity my fake self, that awful woman, surely you can pity me."

Despite herself, Paloma blushed. "You look like her... I, I'll admit that. And, you are nicer... but..."

"But?" Shadow Cucali stroked her hand through Paloma's fluffy hair.

"... you're not her. You, you're not the Cucali I pity."

The Shadow's grip tightened against the back of Paloma's head.

"I'm better than her. Better! I love you, Paloma! I actually admit that I love you!"

Paloma closed her eyes. Never before had she felt so terrible about rejecting a shadow. So many seemed to flock to her, but Cucali's was the first to tear her heart to pieces.

"Paloma! You'll love me, won't you?!"

"... Shadow..."

Cucali's Shadow mistook Paloma's hesitation for shyness, and cupped her chin, tilting her face up. "Dearest, my name's Cucali. You always hated it when the fake me didn't use your name..."

"... but you're not Cucali. You're Cucali's shadow-self."

"I AM the real Cucali!"

"Please, don't, don't get mad..."

"... I'm not mad, sweetheart." Shadow Cucali kissed her, then, chaste and wavering. She pulled away, looked into Paloma's eyes - "Are you mad at me?"

"I... I'm not angry that you've suppressed these feelings. I'm happy you feel them at all. But... but you can't keep me here."

"You're wrong. I can keep you safe here forever..." Shadow Cucali gazed at Paloma with eyes full of pity. "You're so weak, I couldn't possibly leave you alone. When you accept my pity, I'll untie you."

"Then, then I accept you!"

"Oh, Paloma, my dear Paloma. You were always a terrible liar." Shadow Cucali's smile was sad, almost disappointed. "I'll know when you've accepted me, I'll see it in your eyes. You'll love me just as you love the fake me..."

Time froze. Paloma flinched away from Shadow Cucali's touch on her cheek, the shadegirl seated on her lap, an arm draped around her shoulder.

Amaloc tried to open the door, grunting in effort when he met resistance. After a moment, he felt the door. Once he located what he needed, he took out a vial of acid and poured it on the lock, twisting the handle open as the metal sizzled. He pushed his way inside and made his way into Paloma's dwellingblock; he couldn't see the drawn shades, the darkness inside the hive.

When he made his way to Paloma and felt the ropes binding her, his concentration slipped for an all-important second. He wasn't able to freeze time again so quickly, and so they were unfrozen. Shadow Cucali glared at him, and he leant back as he felt and heard the air-woosh which accompanied her punch. He pulled out his flamethrower, aiming it in her direction. He spoke in low tones, with his characteristic hum.

"Leave."

"I'll never leave my darling to the likes of you!"

Amaloc reached out a hand to make sure Paloma was out of the blast radius, and then ignited his flamethrower. Shadow Cucali screamed and poofed away, injured by the blast.

"She, she's gone, Ama."

Amaloc cut off the flame, captchalogued the flamethrower and reached down to untie Paloma. She stood up and threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

"Thanks..."

Amaloc put a hand on her head, stroking her hair gently. "It's okay, Pal. She's gone now."

"At least... at least I know for sure she likes me now..."

Behind his blindfold, Amaloc frowned.