But they were mistaken. A Hag was a corrupted witch, and while Hags were grotesque in appearance, they didn't steal skin—they sacrificed people for power.
And ate small children.
Such was the type of corruption a witch who consistently sacrificed unwilling people would incur, but The Bastion hadn't received any reports of a Hag present around Chesterfield in decades.
This was the reason human conspiracy theorists could be dangerous. They caught a hint of the truth, then twisted it around, and sometimes visited hazardous places under the assumption that they knew enough to protect themselves—only to learn they were sorely mistaken.
Those being placed under arrest for trespassing in the mine also didn't realize that the police officers were actually Bastion agents in disguise. Kivsey herself served as an intelligence operative, and was assigned to the investigation regarding the same missing reporter these humans were searching for dirt on.
“At least we stopped them,” she started in response to Tyrone's comment over hating conspiracy theorists. “Now it's just a simple matter of checking out the mine and sending our reports.”
“Yeah, simple,” he grumbled under his breath, and she knew why—abandoned mines were never good news where anything supernatural was concerned. Even in cases where things seemed routine, mines could turn out to be perilous.
Still, the details of this investigation weren't entirely ordinary, and the involvement of human conspiracy theorists had garnered the attention of Kivsey's superiors.
Specifically, The Crucible.
While The Bastion's main focus was to prevent humans from learning the truth on a mortal scale, The Crucible handled more complicated, and potentially volatile situations. This included monitoring all supernatural activity in Terra, as well as protecting Terran humans from forces existing outside of their world.
As such, The Crucible had garnered a stern reputation, and their members consisted of a powerful warrior race called divinians.
These beings were unlike any other supernatural race, possessing divine abilities that Kivsey only vaguely understood. But she did know that, because of their power, they never intervened in situations unless mortal safety was in jeopardy.
Still, matters at the mine weren't globally threatening, so only one divinian had made an appearance that night, and he was the only divinian Kivsey knew personally—Ardilon.
The tall, white haired man was watching the police cars pull away now, his finely tailored suit seeming out of place amidst the trees and shrubs surrounding the entrance of the mine.
But he didn't seem bothered by their rustic surroundings as he turned once the car disappeared to approach Kivsey and Tyrone with the question, “I trust you two can handle matters from here?”
“Yeah,” Tyrone confirmed. “We got it.”
Ardilon nodded, then noticed Kivsey's curious look, inquiring, “Is something wrong?”
“Not really,” she drew out. “It's just weird seeing you out in the field.”
Though typically stolid, she knew Ardilon well enough to realize his next comment was meant as a joke.
“I got tired of pushing pencils. It seems you did as well, all things considered.”
She smiled, knowing he was right. Typically, her job meant sitting behind a computer, compiling data and assisting agents in the field with information. But reports on the mine they were about to investigate suggested signals didn't travel well inside, meaning communications would be hindered.
So she'd volunteered to assist Tyrone personally as a medic—in an official capacity, anyway. But on a personal level, the truth was that she'd become bored with the usual routines, and needed a change of scenery.
It was a strange sensation, and she couldn't figure out if her job was simply getting dull, or if there was something more to it. Working for an organization that kept supernatural information out of human hands shouldn't have been boring, after all, and yet she was tired of the same old same old.
But whatever the case, she'd hoped the task of investigating this mine might provide a sense of adventure, no matter how small, and snap her out of her funk.
So she replied, “Don't worry, Ardilon, I can handle myself.”
The halos of light in Ardilon's sky blue eyes gleamed radiantly as he nodded, proving he was unconcerned with her competence in stating, “I have no doubts, and I only ask that you're both careful.”
In turn, Tyrone glanced at the entrance into the mine, remarking sarcastically, “No troubles. How many problems can we run into in a dark, dilapidated tunnel that's been abandoned for decades?”
Chuckling, Kivsey returned, “Yeah, ghouls are just a nuisance. No biggie.”
He grinned, and they looked back at Ardilon—only to find that he'd disappeared. Unsurprisingly.
Grumbling, Tyrone muttered, “I hate it when he does that.”
“That's a divinian for you,” she qualified in turn. “So come on, let's get this over with.”
He nodded in complete agreement, and they started toward the mine's entrance, wondering what might be uncovered inside.
On the way, Kivsey considered their information on the case. Just last week, a twenty-seven-year-old reporter, Carla Lambert, checked into a local hotel, left the next afternoon, and never returned. Last seen wearing a red blazer, black top, jeans, and black sneakers, she was—ironically—penning an article about the town's concern over the potential dangers of the abandoned coal mine in question.
But after her interview with the mayor, she disappeared.
Some speculated she may have decided to take a look at the mine personally, but local authorities found no traces of Carla inside, or even any signs suggesting she'd visited whatsoever. Still, it was only a five minute walk from the edge of town, ten minutes from the mayor's home where the interview was done.
So despite the signs, it was a feasible possibility.
The only question was what had happened after she'd gone inside, and a recent report from the local police station provided some clues. Not unlike other towns, Chesterfield was the home of a small lupine pack that had officers on the force. These officers communicated with supernatural organizations like The Bastion whenever something the human police couldn't handle—or shouldn't—came up.
Such turned out to be the case with the Carla Lambert investigation, as the lupine officer had reported something extremely interesting.
During his brief trip inside the mine, he'd detected a strange, warbling sound, and followed it to a cavern near the back of the old tracks. Inside was a large chasm too wide to jump across, but on the opposing ledge was a tunnel from which he saw a glowing, blue light.
Furthermore, he'd described it as reflecting off the walls like water, and only a few seconds after he'd located it, the light disappeared.
Such activity suggested a portal to another world existed somewhere inside the mine, and The Bastion believed it was naturally formed instead of magically created. The reason was that though some portals were permanent, they didn't remain open, and only appeared at random intervals, explaining why the light vanished.
Additionally, portals resembled pools of water standing perpendicular to the ground, which accounted for the reflection the officer witnessed.
So the strongest possibility was that Carla inadvertently crossed into another world entirely—a frightening prospect. Without knowing what world this portal connected with, it would be dangerous for any human to enter, and the reporter may have met her end on the other side.
So Kivsey focused on entering the mine with Tyrone—and she was definitely glad for his presence on this case. Not only did he have physical training that made him indispensable, but in being a warlock, his magical capabilities could get them out of a bind if they ran into trouble.
Kivsey herself had attempted magic training when she was a teenager. Her great-great-grandmother was an elven witch who'd been very successful with the Craft. But whatever elven traits the woman passed down were minimal at best, and Kiv
sey's magic skills were next to nonexistent.
The most remarkable spell she'd ever cast was one that levitated her pet frog two feet in the air. It'd taken half an hour to accomplish, and she was excited to see her endeavor work so successfully—at first.
However, she'd used the wrong word in the incantation meant to lower the frog back to the desk again, and instead of sinking, it began rising higher and higher.
Sadly, she hadn't managed to correct herself before the ceiling fan brought her practice to an abrupt end. Poor Froghorn.
Ever since, she'd wisely decided to put her talents to more tangible applications.
But Kivsey had inherited two elven traits to a mild degree, the first being the ability to tell when a human was lying. Sadly, her own talent wasn't as strong as a full blooded elf's, but she often got a distinct sense of this is bullshit whenever someone was being dishonest.
Her second trait was keener senses, allowing her better hearing, smell, and perception of light in dark places than most humans. So she could make out the area inside the cavern before Tyrone turned on the flashlight attached to his belt—not that there was anything noteworthy to behold.
Several broken bits of timber lay in the abandoned entryway, forcing them to watch their steps as they moved further into the mine, and the rusting metal supports in the walls had Kivsey wondering if her tetanus shots were up to date.
Making the area even more inhospitable were several strange sounds coming from the darkness ahead, and the various thumps and creaks did nothing to calm the imagination.
But the one sound Kivsey hoped they'd hear—the soft warbling of a portal—was absent.
Still, they followed the lupine officer's directions and took the first right they came to, which led to the cavern possessing a wide chasm. Under closer inspection, Kivsey realized there was once a bridge connecting the two ledges, but the supports had collapsed into a mine shaft below, leaving a gap too wide to jump across.
A zip rope would be required to glide over to the other side under normal circumstances. But in this case, a warlock was enough.
“Think you can levitate us that far, Tyrone?”
“Piece of cake,” he replied confidently, taking her hand while directing, “just don't say anything or move until we're across.”
Nodding, Kivsey remained silent while he began chanting verses in Latin that would eventually lift them from the ground and carry them to the other side.
In the process, she considered Carla, questioning the reporter's method of crossing. Had she caused the bridge to collapse by using it under the assumption that it was sturdy enough to hold her weight?
Whatever the case, Kivsey's attention was snagged by Tyrone before fully considering the possibility. His brown eyes had just turned white with the magic his spell was evoking, and soon enough, their bodies lifted from the floor, a mystical force slowly carrying them safely across the chasm.
Kivsey remained silent through it all, calmly waiting for her feet to settle on the ground near the tunnel's entrance while thanking her lucky stars there were no ceiling fans for Tyrone to crash them into. Instead, the journey went smoothly, and as soon as they were safe on the ground again, his eyes returned to normal as he shined the flashlight down the corridor ahead.
At the end was a curve leading right, and he pointed out, “Wherever this portal is forming, it can't be too far beyond the bend.”
“Right,” Kivsey agreed, already moving in that direction.
Finally taking the turn, they found a dead end in the form of a small cavern which would be easy enough to search for clues. Still, the small, dark space wasn't very inviting, and Kivsey had no compunctions over mentioning it as they stepped inside.
“You know, if a portal's in here, I hope nothing dangerous comes through because there's not much room to evade.”
Tyrone groaned as if he'd rather not consider such a possibility, and he didn't have to when they were both distracted in noticing a discarded purse on the ground nearby.
“That's too clean to have been here long,” Tyrone pointed out as she stepped over and lifted the item from the floor.
Opening the flap with a nod of agreement, Kivsey fished a wallet from inside, then checked the identification cards to confirm their suspicions.
Surely enough, the driver's license had Carla's name and picture.
Turning it so Tyrone could see, the warlock shook his head and summed up the story.
“So she came in, saw the portal's reflection, and decided to inspect it. But the bridge was probably too old to support her weight and collapsed, trapping her back here.”
“That's what I was thinking. She has a phone, too, but probably wasn't getting a signal.”
Just to be certain, Kivsey tugged her own phone from her pocket to check, then confirmed, “Nope, it's not connected.”
Replacing the item, she looked at Tyrone and suggested, “So while she was stuck back here, the portal probably opened and let her through.”
“I can't imagine how scared she must've been to see something like that without knowing the supernatural exists.”
Kivsey agreed. Just getting stuck in this place would've been a nightmare, but to see a pool of water suddenly appearing in midair?
“It makes me wonder why she went through it,” Tyrone mentioned during her thoughts.
“Maybe she was trapped for more than a day with the portal opening at random, and finally decided she didn't have a choice.”
“Could be,” he agreed, turning to look around the cavern more thoroughly—and when his flashlight's glow hit the nearest wall, Kivsey urged him to stop.
“Tyrone, wait.”
“What?”
“Look down at your feet.”
Following her instructions, he suddenly remarked, “I'll be damned.”
Near his boots, a small chunk of the rock wall was missing, and inside, hiding in plain sight, was a portal sphere.
She never would've noticed it if his flashlight hadn't caused the glossy, metallic orb to glint. But there it was, sitting upon a small plinth, and its existence changed some of the story.
Apparently, they weren't dealing with a naturally formed portal after all. Instead, this sphere would magically open such a doorway by willing it to activate with a single touch. But unless someone knew what the sphere was meant to do, it wouldn't work, meaning Carla couldn't have triggered the portal herself.
So who had? Was someone else here? Perhaps some supenat was using the portal to go back and forth between worlds, and may have come across Carla at random and abducted her—or killed her.
Then again, someone could've created the sphere with the intentions of having a portal open at timed intervals, and if so, it would be risky to take the device with them without knowing how often the portals opened up. Otherwise, the device might trigger in transit, causing the people carrying it to pass through into another world entirely.
Suggesting he was thinking the same thing, Tyrone remarked, “It's too bad Ardilon left because The Crucible's gonna want to investigate this personally.”
“That's what I was thinking,” Kivsey agreed. “So let's take this purse and—”
Wuuuuurrr …
The sudden warbling sound interrupted their conversation, coming from the sphere at Tyrone's feet.
Immediately, he took a step back—for all the good it would do in the small space—and they watched as the magic device vanished from sight.
In its place, a portal opened in the wall above it, like a pool of water rippling in the rocks. Distorted images of the location it connected to could be seen on the other side, and as Kivsey studied the vision, Tyrone suggested, “It's dark, but that looks like a room with more spheres inside.”
She agreed, examining the scene more closely. Because of the ripples, details escaped her, but she could make out a tall, stone mason wall with several portal spheres like the one at their feet sitting around the area upon plinths.
This made it very likely that anot
her portal sphere leading back to their world existed on the other side—but Kivsey wasn't going to travel through it to find out. Not only was it too dangerous, even with the promise of a way home, but as they took the images in, both agents gasped when someone stepped into view without warning.
Whoever it was, the being almost appeared human, but the rippling distortion made it hard to tell for certain. Even still, the creature's identity wasn't important in that particular moment.
Instead, the oversized fist that shot through the portal to clasp Tyrone's throat was the more pressing issue.
“Tyrone!”
Sputtering, the warlock quickly reached to pry the fist from his throat at the same time he was pulled through the mystical doorway entirely, leaving far too many ripples in the image to see what was going on beyond it.
Regardless, Kivsey snatched the gun from her hip and followed without a single thought of the danger involved, moving through the portal the same way someone would move from one room to the next.
Where she once stood in a mine, her vision momentarily blurred as she emerged in an old … courtyard? A few distant towers rose up beyond the walls, just like those of a castle, but there was no sky overhead. Instead, a rocky ceiling stood far above, suggesting they were in a large cavern.
Because of the enclosed location, the light was greatly diminished as the portal faded shut behind her, making Kivsey grateful for her elven senses—though the darkness was almost too much for even her eyes to see through.
Still, her full attention was on the center of the courtyard where Tyrone was being held suspended by the oversized fist of an ogre.
With a wide frame and two thick tusks jutting up from his bottom lip, the ogre seemed to be sizing Tyrone up as a potential meal while the warlock struggled. Unsurprisingly, her partner was finding little success against the eight-foot-tall monster's hold, and the sight of their enemy stayed Kivsey's trigger finger.
Cast Into Shadow Page 2