Chapter 1 Before the Beginning

Miriam held onto her husband as she pushed with all her strength, she could hear the nurses speaking words of encouragement, the midwife urging her to keep on pushing, and her husband, whispering into her ear, saying that he loved her, saying that she could do it, holding her hand as tight as she was holding his.

This had to go through, she'd lost a child once, she wouldn't let it happen again, her fingers clutched the sheets tight and screamed in agony as she gave one final push.

Then there was the crying, the most beautiful sound Miriam had ever heard in her life, the sound of new life being brought into the world, she breathed heavily and chuckled in between gasps of air, she'd done it, she'd given birth, she had a child, she smiled, still breathing heavily as Logan kissed her on her cheek and whispered into her hair.

"He's heard Mira, he's finally here," Logan said.

She smiled again and watched as the nurse brought their baby wrapped in a bundle of soft white cloth.

The nurse came forward and handed the bundle to Miriam, she felt love and care blossom within her heart as she took the baby in her arms, he was so small, so precious, his skin was like caramel, as brown as his father's and smooth to touch as Miriam brushed her hand against her baby's cheek.

"He's a special one," said the nurse with a smile on her face. "Quite a birthmark he's got there"

Miriam looked up from her baby at the nurse.

"Birthmark where?" asked Logan.

"Right there on his chest" replied the nurse still smiling.

Miriam looked at her husband and their eyes met.

They were thinking the same thing.

But could it be?

Miriam noticed the nurse looking at them strangely and smiled at her to dispel any suspicion, then she gently opened up her baby's bundle, just enough to look at his chest area, she gasped as she saw the mark on her son's chest, it was the image of a blazing sun, with three stars stationed at a point, pure black against his deeply brown skin, Miriam felt her heart race as she set her eyes on the boy's mark, they didn't, they couldn't have.

"Ma'am, is there something wrong?" asked the nurse.

Miriam didn't answer, she heard her husband reassuring the nurse as if from a distance, she gently pushed away the cloth covering her baby's head and looked at what lay underneath, the boy's head was bare save for some strands of hair that were undeniably silver, shining under the hospital light.

The baby was still crying, hands waving in the air and feet struggling inside the cloth.

Miriam heard herself whisper, "My baby, my sweet, beautiful, innocent baby, what have they done to you"

The baby stopped crying and opened his eyes, and Miriam gasped again, Logan was by her side in an instant and she saw his eyes widen in shock as they gazed at their baby, his eyes were blue, a light brilliant blue that made Miriam's heart sink with both love and worry.

But it's t didn't matter what they'd made him, it didn't matter that the years to come would be the most difficult years for this boy, he was still their baby, their beautiful boy.

"He's perfect" whispered Logan, his voice shaky with tears.

"Salome" said Miriam, the boy reached out his hand and touched Miriam's face and she smiled again.

"Salome Nightshade"

***

18 years later...

Sal clutched the bag tighter against his shoulders as he walked down the dark streets to the Hells and Hounds club late at night, he looked at his watch, Bobby would be there by now as usual, drinking a glass of Scotch with either a cute blonde on his lap or a brown Latina in his arms, he would have his gang with him, all seven of his closest members and two bodyguards standing in front of the VIP section he always stayed in from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Sal had done his research, had been watching this Bobby guy as Boulder had instructed, and today he had come prepared to deliver the goods to Bobby.

He felt for the gun in his left pocket and the silencer that had been placed on it, it wasn't like he was going to use it, it was just a safety precaution, in case things got ugly or he was getting bored.

He finally got to the club, its doors were closed and a bouncer stood there, a large white man with the tattoo of a snake on his face, Sal wasn't scared a bit, he had tattoos of his own.

"What do you think you're doing kid?" asked the bouncer.

Sal took out his card from his other pocket and showed it to the bouncer, the bouncer took it, gave it one look and gave it back to Sal.

"It's a fake," said the bouncer.

It wasn't, it was his actual card with his actual name and age on it.

Sal stared at the bouncer knowing he wouldn't be going in there even if he was up to age, he was different, it was something that everyone around him could see and feel, it was an energy that intimidated people, this bouncer was afraid of him.

Sal sighed in frustration, he didn't want to but he had to, he looked the large man in the eyes and the window to his soul opened up, the man's name was Frederick, a bastard child, abused by his father and thrown into the streets with an unstable mother, never did well in school but excelled in sports, especially boxing, killed a fellow student when he was 19, though no one found out about it, expelled for beating up his principal and leaving her near death, spent some time in jail before eventually breaking out and finding a job as a bouncer, he was broken, he knew it and hid it behind the large muscles and the fight-ready fists, his mind was in shambles and it was easy to manipulate.

"You want to let me pass, don't you?" Sal said, his voice dull, his tone hypnotic.

The bouncer's eyes glazed over and he opened the door revealing the bright glare of multicolored lights and the sharp scent of cigarettes.

Sal walked in and heard the door shut behind him before walking further into the club, the place was lively, young adults and the middle-aged crowded the dance floor, bodies swaying to the music, the air was thick with the smell of different drugs and sweat, it was intoxicating. He walked forward, narrowly avoiding the groping hands of men and women looking for nice, young flesh to go home with, he made his way past naked strippers and heavy drinkers until he reached the VIP section.

He walked to the bodyguards, and each of them looked at him and nodded their head letting him pass, he walked into the VIP section and in an instant all eyes were on him.

Bobby was there as expected, a muscular man with short brown hair and a deadly glint in his eyes, a beautiful Latina woman was on his lap,

(as Sal had expected), stroking his beard and trying to hide the look of disgust on her face, the rest of his gang members were there as well, each with a young woman in their arms, Sal could see the guns strapped to their waists and knew that there were probably knives hidden away from view, he needed to be careful, if not tonight would end up bloody.

Sal took off the bag and dropped it on the floor in front of Bobby who eyed the bag suspiciously.

"And who the fuck are you?" asked one of the gang members.

Sal didn't look in their direction, his eyes were trained on Bobby.

"Boulder" was all he said.

Bobby's eyes widened in shock and he pushed the woman off his lap, he snapped his fingers and the woman got up and left the room.

Better for them, thought Sal.

"What's in the bag?" asked Bobby.

"Open it" answered Sal.

Bobby scoffed and nodded at one of his cronies, they bent and opened it up, and sheets and sheets of cash spilled out of the bag and onto the floor, Bobby looked at Sal and chuckled.

"What the fuck?" said Bobby.

"Boulder just bought you and your joint, from now on you work for him, he owns you now," said Sal.

Bobby began to laugh and soon all the members of his gang joined him, then they all brought out their guns one by one.

Sal sighed and rolled his eyes, the man was powerless and yet so arrogant.

"Very funny kid seems like you don't know who I am, I'm Bobby Jones and I'm priceless, no man, not even fucking Boulder can own me," said Bobby.

"Well I'm glad you have a high self esteem but he already does, you owe him a shit ton of money and you haven't paid him back, you're lucky he hasn't just killed you," said Sal with the calmest voice he could muster. "Look man just take the money and do what he wants, you don't stand a chance"

Bobby scoffed again, pointed the gun at Sal and pulled the trigger.

Sal watched as the bullet sailed through the air and put a hand in his pocket, his fingers wrapped around the handle of his gun, he felt his reflexes take over and he moved, the bullet missed him by a hair's length and struck the door behind him, he pulled the trigger and shot Bobby's hand, he didn't wait to see what happened next, he spun and pulled his trigger as he did, bullets flew from his gun in quick succession, deadly balls of iron moved through the air and hit each gang member in their chests and heads, he shot without hesitation, regret panging in his chest as each bullet slammed into a solid body, blood spilt out in sprays on the walls and floor as Sal ended his spin and faced Bobby once more.

The man's eyes were wide, and his breath was ragged as he held his bleeding hand.

"What the fuck man?!" cursed Boulder.

Sal sighed and shoved the gun back into his pocket.

"Boulder will be waiting for you at midnight tomorrow on the roof of the Purple Rose Hotel, you either come with your loyalty or the three million you owe him" said Sal.

He turned around and walked to the door, there was a deep hole where the bullet meant for him stayed stuck, he put his fingers and pried the bullet out, he held the metal ball in his hand and then tossed it over his shoulder before walking out of the VIP section.

He nodded at the bodyguards.

"Your money's in there, beat him if you have to" said Sal.

And then he left the club.

***

Sal walked into the large apartment building everyone working for Boulder called The Joint, he walked up the stairs past transporters and peddlers clutching duffle bags and backpacks, past men and women smoking weed or injecting themselves with meth, and made his way to the last floor, he opened the door to the apartment that served as Boulder's base of operations and walked in. The apartment was just as stuffy as the club but with louder music and fewer people, Sal winked at a few women, shook hands with a few people, and then made his way to Boulder's room, he opened the door and walked in knowing that Boulder didn't mind and was probably doing nothing but counting money in his room.

Sure enough there Boulder was, sitting on the bed and counting dozens of dollars at a time, Boulder was a small, dark-skinned man who like many black men of the world had a desire to beat the system and be rich, so far he'd gotten one of those things, Boulder was the wealthiest drug dealer in the state and had hundreds of places just like this and twice as many cronies just like Sal, he was handsome too with a bald head that shone with sweat as he counted bill after bill of money gotten by fear and a little bit of spilled blood.

"I'm back boss," said Sal.

Boulder looked up from the money in his hand and studied Sal, the first time Sal had seen him he'd thought Boulder to be kind and thoughtful, now he knew better than anyone that behind the kind face was a deadly man.

"How'd it go?" asked Boulder.

"I killed his gang and shot his hand," said Sal.

Boulder smiled and nodded.

"Good work, I'll tell Richard to take care of it"

He gestured to a duffel bag in the corner of the room.

"Take it, you've earned it"

Sal nodded and grabbed the bag, he reached the door.

"Hey Sal, don't be late tomorrow night, I'll need you for the takeover"

Sal clenched his jaw, he hated when Boulder used his gifts like this, and he hated that he could do nothing about it, he simply nodded and walked out with the duffel bag over his shoulders.

He left The Joint and walked the rest of the way home.

Soon he was in front of his apartment, he took out his key turned the lock on the door and then walked in.

The TV was on and a man and a woman engaged in hot, steamy sex was displayed on the screen, Sal shook his head and looked down at the sleeping figure on the couch. He dumped the bag on the floor and turned off the TV, then stared at Sylvester, his roommate and best friend, he lay there with his hazel hair over his face his mouth open and his chest rising and falling as he snored gently, Sal smiled and pushed away a strand of hair from his friends face and then grabbed a blanket and draped it over him knowing full well that Lester would probably kick it off later in the night, he sighed and walked up the stairs to his bedroom not forgetting the duffel bag filled with cash.

He walked into his room and didn't hesitate to walk into the shower, he sighed in relief as cold water ran down his back and he raked a hand through his hair, he could almost feel his troubles washing away.

If only it was that simple.

He stepped out of the shower and stood in front of the mirror naked, looking at himself, once upon a time he'd hated himself for the way he looked, he'd hated that his hair was unnaturally silver and that his eyes were unnaturally blue, he'd hated that he was dark skinned and he'd hated that he was unusual, but then he'd realized that there was no changing the way he was and he made it work for himself, he'd ben abandoned by his parents, given up to the orphanage and had stayed there for years simply because no one wanted an unusual boy, if not for Lester he knew he wouldn't have survived, he wondered who he would've become.

Not like who he was now was something to brag about.

He'd killed for Boulder, sold for him and worked for him since he was 14 years old, he'd hated every year of his life since then but he couldn't do anything, he needed the money for school and rent and living, without Boulder he was nothing.

And yet he couldn't help but wonder, what if he wasn't?

Sal stepped away from the mirror and put on some clothes before jumping into bed, he stared at the ceiling for a while.

"I want to be something more than what I am" he whispered into the air.

And then he closed his eyes and went to sleep.