Shadow Realms- The Complete Series

by Kelly Carrero

  The only problem was we had major time restrictions. I needed to learn everything yesterday, and from what I’d seen so far, I would need two lifetimes to learn what I needed to know.

  “Concentrate,” Nessa said, her tone cool and calming. “The magic is inside of you. Connect with it, feel it, command it. And above all, respect it.”

  Giving her the slightest nod, I drew in the energy, manipulating it into what I desired, then slowly released it from within, blanketing me in a warm shimmer of security.

  “Good,” she said. “Now go outside the wards.”

  With the weight of everyone’s lives here on my shoulders, I stepped across the threshold, hoping I had it right and I wasn’t damning everyone in this village to a raid from the Society. They’d be stupid not to have Orphelia and her likes working to locate me.

  “Is it working?” I asked, trying to ignore the veil to the Shadow Realms that was almost everywhere I looked once I was out of the safety of the wards.

  Nessa crossed over the wards and kneeled, placing a bowl onto the ground, filled with water and various ingredients I really needed to learn. In her other hand, she held a vial of my blood, a map, and a small bag of herbs—or dirt. Again, I needed to learn what the hell she used. “Keep holding it,” Nessa instructed as she dropped a pinch of herby-dirt into the bowl before emptying the vial of my blood into the mixture.

  Placing her finger into the mixture, she moved her hand in circles, forming a small whirlpool in the bowl. She removed her finger, sat back on her heels, and pulled a map out of her pocket, which she unfolded and placed onto the ground beside the bowl.

  When the mixture had steadied, she picked up the bowl and tipped a small portion onto the map. The liquid, now void of any lumps, slowly spread across the map then remained stagnate, even when the wind picked up, gently blowing the corner of the map.

  Nessa raised her gaze to me, a smile spreading across her face and pride resonating in her eyes. “You did it.”

  Grinning, I crossed back into the safety of the wards and released the energy surrounding me, letting it flow back into the earth, ready for the next time I called upon it.

  “Your mother would be so proud of you.”

  I knew Nessa meant well, but hearing Mom mentioned once again ripped open the wound in my heart. There were so many things I needed to focus on, and she was at the top of the list. But in order to get to her, I had to figure out how to bend magic to my will.

  It was an impossible predicament, but one I had to master.

  The smile on her face dropped. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

  I forced a smile. “It’s okay. I like hearing things about her. It hurts, but I like it.”

  She placed her hand on my forearm with a comforting touch. “We will get her back.”

  Forcing another smile, I said, “Damn straight.”

  I drew in a deep breath and strode over to a tall gum tree, pretending to seek shelter from the sun when, in reality, I needed distance.

  What I needed was to run.

  But there was nowhere around…

  I spun around to face Nessa. “Do you think I’d be able to cloak myself and go for a run?”

  The look in her eyes told me she knew exactly why I needed an exit for my pent-up energy. She nodded. “Just don’t let it down until you’re back within these wards.”

  This time my smile was real. I’d been surrounded by people since Max had broken me out of the nuthouse, and as much as I loved company, right now I needed freedom.

  Closing my eyes, I called on the land, connecting with the energy buzzing under my skin, then released it slowly, cloaking me from unwanted attention. I snapped my eyes open. “I won’t be long.”

  “Be back in an hour,” Nessa called out, her voice already in the distance as I raced through the trees having absolutely no idea where I was going yet instinctively knowing every inch of the land and what direction I had come from.

  The veil that connected this world to the Shadow Realms was a stark reminder of my job ahead. Shadows lurked behind the veil, and I tried my best to ignore them and focus on the natural beauty surrounding me.

  But it was so hard to focus when all I wanted to do was rip through the veil and go in search of my mother. I knew it was a foolish thing to do. I had to wait until the perfect moment.

  Her life depended on it.

  I pounded my feet against the dirt, trying to outrun the veil, but no matter how fast I ran, they were always there, taunting me, luring me into their dark world.

  I’d thought a run would set me free, but all it did was mess with my mind. I needed to get back inside the wards and block out the Shadow Realms.

  I raced through the brush, dodging the trees, and jumping over anything else that got in my way, trying to push myself to the limits. I wanted my body to ache, to mimic the never-ending pain in my heart. But my body betrayed me. No matter how hard I pushed myself, my body adjusted, sending more power, speed, and clarity.

  Tearing through the wards, I collapsed onto the ground and stared at the sky, allowing the magic that had protected my whereabouts to slip back into the land.

  My eyes pooled with tears, and small sobs racked my chest, but I refused to let them out.

  All this sitting around and waiting was doing my head in. I needed to take action. Sure, I was learning how to use my new abilities, but there was an aching desire swirling inside of me, needing to rip the shit out of a vampire—or a hundred.

  I was like a savage monster, caged, unable to act on my natural-born, killer instincts.

  A single tear slipped down my cheek.

  For my mother, I would be that caged animal.

  Footsteps nearby jolted me out of the hysteria I was slipping into. I swiveled my head to the side and saw Finn striding toward me, an irritable expression marring his face. I turned my attention back to the sky, too defeated to care for whatever lecture I was about to receive. “What now?”

  6

  Finn sat beside me, legs out straight and hands propping himself up as he looked down on me—just like he always did. “Nessa said you’re going to meet Ash soon.”

  I sighed. “Let me guess; you don’t think I should go, whatever Ash has to say isn’t important, nor is her life if she’s walking into a trap and I’m not there to save her.”

  He chuckled. Actually chuckled.

  If I wasn’t so defeated, I would’ve punched him one. “Real nice.”

  “Hey, don’t get so defensive. All I was going to say is that I’m coming with you. It’s dangerous for Ashley, and I don’t want to see her get hurt.”

  Scrunching up my face in confusion, I snapped my gaze toward him. “Who are you? And what have you done with my overprotective brother?”

  “Very funny, Kali,” he said dryly. “All I’ve ever wanted is to keep you safe and away from all the dangers in the world. But, of course, you happen to be one of the biggest bad-asses of them all, and I have to accept it. You’re no longer my baby sister whom I have to protect.”

  “Damn straight.” I grinned. “Now you’re the little girl I have to protect.”

  Finn stared at me for a few moments then threw his head back and laughed. “Bitch, please,” he said in his best teenage-girl voice.

  I laughed, wishing this was the start of a new relationship but still afraid to get my hopes up. Things were good with Mason, and I didn’t want to push my luck with Finn. Nothing ever panned out well for us. It was a sad reality.

  “Dad’s been asking to see you,” he said, ruining the moment.

  Pulling myself into a sitting position, I went to get up, not wanting to discuss our father anymore, but Finn grabbed my forearm, stopping me. “I don’t want to hear his sorry excuses.”

  “Believe me, I understand,” he said. “Our father has been a real ass these past few years, but you wanted to save him and now you don’t want anything to do with the guy?”

  I pulled my arm free and stood. “You’re right. I don’t want anything t
o do with him. I saved him for Mom, and for Mason, and for you, and…” I scowled at him. “Because it was the right thing to do. But that doesn’t mean I want to hear his screwed-up rationalization for why he turned to the bottle and didn’t give a shit about us all those years.” I breathed out harshly. “Why does every conversation with you end up with us fighting? Why can’t we just be normal?”

  Finn stood, a sigh escaping his lips. “Each person will react to the same situation in a different way. Dad turned to the bottle, and so did you.”

  Anger boiled inside of me. “I was nothing like him.”

  “No. You weren’t. And that’s because you’re stronger than he is. Mason had his friends. You had Ash and your running and a fierce determination for whatever you believed in.”

  “And Dad had us.”

  Finn ran his hand through his hair. “You’re right. You don’t need to forgive him. You don’t even need to speak with him. All I want is for you to work through whatever issues you have with him—for you, not him.”

  He grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. “I know it’s hard for you to believe me, but I do care about you, Kali. I always have, and I always will.”

  “You have a funny way of showing it.”

  He shrugged. “Well, I have been out of your life for too many years. It’s a little hard to accept you’re no longer the little girl I need to protect.”

  Shadows of regret crept over his eyes as he let out a shuddered breath. “I missed too many things I shouldn’t have, but I will never make that mistake again.”

  I bit my lip, trying to stop myself from joining him in the emotional department because I was afraid if I started crying, I would never stop. Instead, I focused on what I could do. “You did what you thought was right at the time. And I get it.” I puffed out a strangled laugh. “I, of all people, should understand about doing what I think is right and screw everyone else who thinks otherwise.”

  He chuckled. “You definitely have a way about you.”

  I smiled, a genuine smile filled with so much pain for the past and present yet holding hope for our future. “Took you long enough to figure it out.”

  He laughed again, and I hoped this truly would be the start of a good relationship between us.

  Finn dropped his arm over my shoulder. “We better get ready to meet Ash. We don’t want to be late.”

  We headed across the village, where Finn dropped me off at my container before heading to his own. With the door closed behind me, I peeled off my clothes and threw them on the bed. The room wasn’t very large, but I had a bed, bathroom, closet, and a small area large enough for me to practice my meditation or witchcraft or whatever. It was really just an empty space that looked way out of place. But it was my space, and I was beyond grateful for it.

  The scent of lavender and sage lingered in the air, cleansing the room and those within. But it didn’t clean the actual dirt from my body. That would take a shower. I glanced down at my skin as I removed the rest of my clothes and frowned. I may have needed a pressure cleaner instead.

  Stepping under the warm, running water, I tipped my head back and let the droplets rain over my face as it warmed not only my skin but also my soul. By the time I turned off the water, I felt like a new woman. Then I stepped onto the shower mat, and my life came crashing back down again.

  A reality I couldn’t shake—no matter how much I tried.

  I wrapped a towel around me then headed into the small closet, where I picked out a new set of ninja-clothes and put them on. Actually, they were gym clothes: full-length tights to hide my white legs, tank top, and hoodie.

  I grabbed my shoes and was about to sit down to put them on when someone knocked at the door.

  I dropped my shoes in front of the bed then headed over to the door and opened it. A smile spread across my face when I caught sight of Max, dressed and ready to go—minus his weapons.

  Standing back, I let him in. Max’s hand snaked around my hip as he kicked the door closed behind him. “Are you almost ready to go?”

  I nodded. “Just have to put my shoes on.” I strode over to my bed, sat on the edge, and shoved my feet into my shoes.

  He sat beside me and bounced up and down. “Yours is comfier than mine.”

  “What is it with guys and my furniture?”

  A frown pulled across his brows. “I’m going to pretend you’re not insinuating you’ve had other guys in this bed.”

  The corner of my lips tipped up. “What? You thought you were the only one?”

  For a second, he thought I was serious. Then he caught on, grinning. “Be careful. I might think you’re serious and find comfort elsewhere.”

  I barked out a laugh. “Somehow, I think any female in their right mind would be too scared to come between you and me.”

  “I think you’re right.” His smile dropped from his face as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my skin, making a whole load of other emotions take center stage. “I know we haven’t talked much about us, but I want you to know I don’t take us lightly.” He twisted around to face me as he caressed the side of my cheek with his hand. “This isn’t just a casual fling for me, and I hope you feel the same way.”

  I bit my lip as I tried to suppress the emotions swelling inside of me. “I know I’m a few years younger than you, but I know a good guy when I see one. Partly ’cause I’ve seen so many bad ones.” My eyes widened. “Oh crap, that came out wrong. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I like you. As in I really, really like you, and I wouldn’t be stupid enough to throw away the best thing that’s happened to me.”

  He leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine, making my heart melt a little bit more as I forgot about all the worries of life and got lost in the way our mouths moved against one another, claiming a fraction in time for ourselves. But all too soon, we had to pull apart, once again dragged back into the reality of life.

  Forcing myself to raise my gaze from his lips, I asked, “Rain check for tonight?”

  Max stood and pulled me to my feet. “It’s a date.” He wrapped his arms around me and gave me one last kiss before lugging my ass out of my container.

  Strapped up and ready to go, we hopped into the van and headed out of the safety of the village. The vans had wards hiding them from Orphelia, but I wasn’t taking any chances, so I placed one around myself before I’d entered the van. What I had to do was practice enveloping every one of my crew in a layer of protection as well.

  The streets near the old school were cast under the shadows of the darkened clouds, threatening to crack open and flood the streets, drenching all those with its evil presence.

  Peering through the front window, I leaned toward Liam, who was in the driver’s seat. “Take a left, then second right, and stop at the corner.”

  I settled back in my seat, mentally preparing myself for what was to come. And it wasn’t just the possibility of running into the Society and the demonic huntress that I was worried about. Seeing Ash was also eating away at me.

  Regret consumed me, thinking about the pain I’d caused her, and I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to walk away if she wanted to come with me.

  I chastised myself. There was no chance Ash would leave her family to join a coven of witches and hunt down the demons terrorizing the world.

  Just thinking about it made me wonder why I’d jumped headfirst into this life.

  But it was obvious why. I was destined for it. Plain and simple.

  The van came to a stop.

  It was go time.

  I stood and looked at my crew, Nessa, Finn, Kade, and Max, grateful so many people had my back. “I can’t feel anyone, so hopefully it’s just Ash.”

  We all knew that me not feeling everyone didn’t mean shit when the demonic huntress had snuck up on me unnoticed.

  “Are you sure you don’t want any of us to go with you?” Kade asked, ready to get up as soon as I gave him the go-ahead.

  I shook my head. �
�I’ll be fine. I don’t want to scare her off. Plus, there’s the whole you guys not having cloaking wards. We don’t want any flares going off for the Society, letting them know where we are.”

  Kade sat back in his seat. “We’ll be there the second anything doesn’t look right.”

  I nodded. “Just make sure you get Ash out of there.”

  “Of course,” Finn said.

  “Thanks.” I glanced at Max as I turned around, my heart aching for his touch.

  Meet with Ash then he was all mine.

  He winked at me as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. How could he not? I almost had to wipe the drool off my face.

  I opened the door and stepped outside, closing it behind me. The cool breeze whipped against me, slapping the lustful thoughts from my mind.

  We were early, just like I wanted to be.

  Memories filtered through my mind as I looked at the empty playground in front of me. Once, it had been filled with children, playing and screaming as they raced around, and parents chasing their unruly kids.

  Now, it was barren, only used by those who dared to brave the streets.

  The veil between this world and the Shadow Realms was paper thin. I could see shadows lingering on the other side, and I kept waiting for them to notice me and stretch the veils, morphing into this world the only way they could.

  But the shadows never stopped, never noticing me, allowing me to blend into the world as if I were any other ordinary human. And the one person I desperately wanted to see on the other side was nowhere in sight—my Mom.

  I knew the chance of me seeing her at the playground was next to none. Ash and I hadn’t hung out here for years, which was probably the reason why Ash had chosen this location.

  I made my way across to the seats and slid onto the cool, metal bench. My gaze fell on the fort under the slippery slide where I had my first kiss. I was fourteen years old and desperate to cross it off my list. So many of my friends, including Ash, had kissed someone well before me. I was a late bloomer when it came to being interested in the opposite sex, but I’d certainly blossomed from there.