Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels

by Adkins, Heather Marie

  Suddenly, a strong storm arrived. The rain was heavy and hard, thunder rolled so loud it shook their cave, and streaks of lightning nearly touched the ground. Hybrid walked to the front of the cave. The storm was a manifestation of his tortured feelings. He sat there and watched as he nearly felt his soul pulled from his body. His Christine was back and for that he was thankful, but the things that he had done, the feelings he felt, were still there.

  On the outside, all was well with the clan. Hybrid and Christine began their life anew. Aaliyah and Absalon had almost lost their baby. She had gone into labor after the battle but their baby was growing. Adam had begun to open up again.

  However, all was not as it seemed on the outside. Christine was there, but something seemed a bit off with her. She still smiled and talked with Aaliyah, but her and Hybrid's bond and closeness seemed strained.

  "Christine!" Hybrid called. "Aaliyah and the twins are here."

  Christine, carrying the new baby, came to the table to find a cake and joyous faces. They all clapped. It was a welcome home party just for her. She smiled and went along with it all. Her heart was so far from it. Why couldn't she feel? Why couldn't she feel the happiness she once felt?

  Hybrid brushed up against her. "Baby, are you all right?"

  "Yes. Just tired, Hybrid."

  Aaliyah and Adam both hugged her, kissed her face, and told her how much they missed her. Adam’s sword began glowing on the mantle. He rushed to it, grabbed it, and looked in all directions.

  It turned toward Christine. He walked slowly toward his mother and as the light hit her eyes, everyone noticed that they were hollow. Her body and conscience were there, but her soul must still be trapped. Aaliyah hugged her around the neck and Hybrid fell to his knees. How could he have not know something was wrong?

  Adam and Aaliyah both tried to figure out what had happened when Hybrid stood and hit the table hard. "It's Hades! It has to be. He has her soul and we must rescue her. Until she is complete again, she can never truly be happy."

  Absalon shook his head. "No, you can't get her soul back by force. Only Christine can get her soul back. This is a journey she must make and be found worthy of. If not found worthy, her soul will be forever in his care. Only a human soul can accompany her. He seems fascinated with humans."

  Hybrid's anger spiked as he rushed toward Absalon and slammed him into the wall by his throat.

  "No!" Aaliyah screamed out. "Dad, let him go."

  Aaliyah’s baby began to cry. Hybrid's control was slowly slipping away. Adam grabbed his shoulder as Christine stood.

  "Hybrid, stop," she said as tears fell down her cheeks.

  Seeing this, Hybrid snapped and began to cry. Christine wrapped her arms around him and him her as his tears were absorbed by the material of her shirt. Aaliyah realized that neither Hybrid, Adam or Aaliyah could enter, but maybe she could.

  "Absalon," Aaliyah said, "I will accompany Christine."

  Absalon nodded, but warned that if something should happen, she would be trapped there forever.

  26

  Days passed as Absalon taught them what they would face. Hybrid’s soul was tortured at the idea of losing her again after he had just gotten her back. His once clean shaven face was now covered with stubble. His once tender eyes were now sad and lonely. Christine held his hand and he hers, but knowing that her soul wasn’t there made them both feel incomplete. Nothing felt right.

  "The baby!" Hybrid said. "What will we name her?"

  They both looked at each other and couldn’t quite figure it out.

  "Aurora," Christine said calmly.

  "Wow, Mom. That's awesome," Adam and Aaliyah said in excitement.

  Hybrid slowly grinned and looked at his infant daughter before returning his gaze to his love. “I will love you for all time, Christine, and no matter where this path takes us, no matter if we never see each other again or get to hold each other, know that my soul is forever yours and I will only be happy and whole again when you are.”

  His tender words filled the room. Adam, Aaliyah, Absalon, and Aaliyah all cried. This was love. This was true love and it would last forever and only a few would ever know it. Hybrid picked up Ellie, Aaliyah's daughter, and played with her and Aurora. Apollo and Alexander both sat on the floor and played with Adam.

  Ellie was beautiful with long, flowing, black hair and emerald green eyes. Her beautiful wings stayed hidden under her clothes until she was excited, then they stretched out far and wide. As she laughed, she began hovering.

  A wonderful time was had by all except Christine and Aaliyah. They were in Amazon mode. They knew the great task that was set before them and that it may be their last. They were given a map from Absalon, who had kept it for many years. It revealed to them another location to the entrance of the Underworld.

  * * *

  The night had finally arrived. They must leave. The entrance to the Underworld was only accessible at dawn. It was in a cold climate man called Iceland. The two Amazons looked at their families they had gained and reminisced over battles they had fought together and overcame.

  Christine had her husband Hybrid, her grandchild Ellie, her children Adam, Aaliyah, and Aurora. She also had Absalon. Aaliyah had her two boys, Alexander and Apollo. She didn’t know how to control them because they were so powerful, but she wouldn't change it for the world.

  As Hybrid drew closer to Christine, they looked into each other's eyes. The moon glistened in her eyes as he touched the side of her face. His face gently came close to hers as she got on her tiptoes and their lips touched. Her arms wrapped around his broad shoulders and they were for a moment engulfed in the love they felt for each other. Her soul may not be in this vessel, but it would always belong to Hybrid.

  The kids and family all hugged and said their goodbyes. They walked away slowly to a land unseen, a goal nearly impossible, and leaving a love that only those who felt alone could ever truly understand. They walked, laughed, and talked about when they were girls when a fox jumped in front of them growling. Laughing, Aaliyah slapped it with her stick. It got up and lunged at Christine, who grabbed it with one hand and broke its neck.

  "Show off!" Aaliyah laughed, but the coldness in Christine's eyes told her that her friend wasn't quite there. A tug at her heartstrings nearly brought the Amazon to tears, but she continued on.

  They walked until the wind snapped at them and sent shivers down their spines. Further north, Aaliyah pointed at a river. They reached the cold river. Christine grabbed a tree, pushed it over, and continued forth, repeating these steps. Aaliyah began roping them together to make a raft. The two worked together well.

  "Hey, Christine!" Aaliyah cried out. "Hungry for fish?"

  "I'm always hungry for fish," Christine responded.

  Aaliyah began fishing. Christine looked off into space, daydreaming about her life, especially the moment Hybrid first came into her life. She remembered the kiss that changed everything for them, the fire they shared, and the first time they made love and held each other close. This gave her the strength she needed to go on.

  Aaliyah snapped her out of her trance. "Hey, sis!"

  "Yes? What is it?" Christine asked.

  "Fish! We got a fish!"

  Christine used her claws to cut through the wood for kindling.

  Aaliyah laughed. "Those would've came in handy when we were girls."

  They laughed at each other until Christine began to cough. She continued to cough violently until blood was in her mouth.

  "Are you okay?" Aaliyah asked.

  "I'm fine," Christine stated flatly.

  A voice from the distance spoke. "No you aren't."

  It was Danielle, the Queen of the Amazons.

  "Our queen," Aaliyah and Christine said in unison.

  "I'm no longer your queen. I am here as your friend. If you, my two sisters, will face death to save Christine, then so will I."

  The raft was finally sturdy enough for the three Amazons to ride on. They got into the i
ce cold water. They could feel the chill as the raft moved along the waves. They reached the other side, freezing, all except Christine.

  "Look at her," Danielle said. "So lucky to have that hybrid blood running through her veins. "

  "So you're not here as our queen, right?” Aaliyah asked.

  "Right," Danielle replied.

  Aaliyah slapped Danielle hard across the face. "No one asked you to come. If you are here to put anyone down, then this is not the place. If you ever speak about her negatively again, I will kill you … my queen."

  Danielle snickered back at Aaliyah. "If you believe you can, make your move."

  Christine turned. "Touch Aaliyah and I will break you, and they will never find your body."

  The three turned their attention back toward their goal at hand. The three arrived to Iceland and the freezing snow. Their legs, arms, and breath were so cold that their teeth chattered. The land was desolate. There was no life here, only white snow and ice. The wind was cold and it felt as though needles were piercing their skin.

  Aaliyah and Danielle struggled to keep up with Christine, who walked more and more quickly towards the cave. Danielle fell and was helped up by Aaliyah and Christine. Finally, they reached the base of the mountain and discovered that they would have to climb to reach their destination.

  27

  "Just freaking great!" Danielle said.

  "What is it?" Aaliyah asked.

  "How in the holy hell are we going to climb this crap?"

  "Easily," Christine said as her claws extended.

  "Umm, excuse me. I have no claws. You know all of us don't have those."

  Aaliyah took off her bag and pulled out a hook and rope. She threw it up the mountain.

  "Mmmmm!" Danielle said as she got even louder.

  "What is it, woman?" Christine asked firmly.

  "Well, how am I going to get up the mountain?"

  " I guess the pampered life has made you soft." Aaliyah began laughing and snorted.

  "I'm not soft."

  Danielle grabbed the rope away from Aaliyah. Aaliyah went to speak, but didn’t. As Danielle put her weight on the rope, the rock it was attached to slipped, causing Danielle to fall hard on her back.

  "Dumb mountain!" she screamed.

  Christine grabbed the hook and threw it up. She told Aaliyah to go first. Aaliyah quickly climbed the mountain. Danielle struggled up the mountain with Christine close behind. She climbed with her claws, constantly snickering at how long it took Danielle to make it up the mountain.

  "We … need … to take a break," Danielle said out of breath.

  "Really?" Christine laughed. "Maybe you need to start hunting for yourself again."

  Christine began coughing again. More and more blood appeared in her saliva. Aaliyah patted her back as she grew more worrisome about her friend.

  They now stood before a giant gate. Signs indicated that it was the entrance to the Underworld. Christine opened the the map that Absalon had given her and read, "May peace stay with you, let your heart guide you, and the love that you have found last forever."

  The words made the mountain tremble and the gates open. They walked inside, their breath was taken by the heat. It was hot. The cave was lit only by the torches on the wall. They reached a river of lava and saw the Grim Reaper waiting by a boat.

  "Amazons," he said grimly, "you are not to be here."

  "We must speak with your master," Christine said boldly.

  The Reaper looked them over and spoke. "You shall not pass. There are trials here in the Underworld and none of you will make it back. Turn back. Turn back."

  Danielle stood before him, her queenly voice rang out. "Grim Reaper, we request a ride on your boat to the first trial."

  "Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you," he said, and an all-too-real chill ran down their backs.

  They arrived to the first trial, the trial of truth. Standing before them was a book, closed and locked.

  "To get to the next trial, this book must be opened and the truth spoken," the Reaper explained.

  They all touched the book and their minds went back to when they were all girls training. They saw Danielle with the queen and a young Christine and Aaliyah who were fending mostly for themselves. They remembered Danielle's mother, whom for some reason they had forgotten.

  The Reaper laughed and asked, "What's the worst thing you have done?"

  Aaliyah looked at the Reaper, shaking her head back and forth. "No. You want to know our deepest secrets?"

  "No," the Reaper replied. "In order for you to go to the next trial, you must tell each other."

  Christine looked at her sisters and was the first to answer. "Aaliyah, I hated you! Every time you excelled and I failed, I hated you. I love you sister, but I cursed you. Danielle, I have never cared for you. You have always downed me. Always made me feel less important. Why?"

  Danielle looked at her. "Because..."

  "Why, Danielle?" Christine nearly vibrated with anger.

  "You're my sister!" Danielle yelled with her fists clenched at her side.

  "I know I'm your sister. We are all sisters."

  "No. You're my sister. Our father was the same man. Different mothers."

  "What? Do you mean? My father was your father?"

  “Yes, and Aaliyah is my sister too. Our mother was the queen, but I silenced her. I killed our mother."

  "Why? What happened? Why would you keep this from me?" asked Aaliyah.

  Danielle shrugged. Aaliyah and Christine looked at her in disbelief. They couldn’t believe she had kept the dark secret hidden for years.

  "How? How could you be capable of this?" they asked in unison.

  "I had to be strong for the Amazons."

  The Reaper laughed. "There's more."

  Aaliyah looked at Christine with tears in her eyes.

  "What? What is it, Aaliyah?" Christine asked.

  "I'm in love with the idea of Hybrid."

  "What? What do you mean?"

  "He is there for you, Christine. He's strong and so supportive. I just wish he would look at me."

  "Have you..."

  "No!" she said loudly. "I never. He never."

  After a few moments of staring and a heartfelt sigh, Christine and Aaliya embraced. At their show of truth and faith in each other, the book was opened. Danielle approached them cautiously, but they pushed her away.

  "How could you hide this from us? What gave you that right?" Aaliyah shouted.

  28

  "I told you this would be hard," the Reaper stated.

  Aaliyah and Christine stood together, but Danielle sat in the back of the boat as they made their way to the next trial.

  "This is why I came," Danielle said after some time.

  "What?" Christine asked. "Why did you come?"

  "My sisters needed me."

  "Your sisters?" Aaliyah said. "You have never showed us one iota of kindness, never been there and never showed us you even cared. Why now?"

  "Why?" Danielle's voice trembled as she spoke. "Because when Christine died that day, I lost it. I realized that having the throne without family to share it with meant nothing. I love you. We are sisters and the throne meant enough to me to kill for it, to punish you for it. But what does it mean if I don't have anyone to share it with?"

  They rode silently to the next stop, the book of fear.

  "I know what it is we're afraid of," remarked a pissed off Danielle.

  "Only it isn't that," the Reaper stated gravely.

  A figure rose from the lava. It was their mother! She stood before Danielle and Aaliyah. Danielle started shaking in fear and tears rolled from Aaliyah eyes as she went to speak.

  "Are you really my mother?"

  Her mother, Queen Diana, looked into her daughter's eyes for the first time and simply nodded. Danielle went to run, but found herself frozen by the queen she had murdered in cold blood. She looked into her eyes and asked the word which she was allowed to speak.

  "Why?"
>
  Danielle’s gaze dropped eyes fall down to the ground in shame. "I couldn't wait for the throne. I wanted it too badly. I was selfish and..." her voice rose, "...you wanted me to be you and I couldn't! I wanted to run things my way, not yours!"

  The queen shook her head. "You have learned nothing." She went to return from where she came, but Aaliyah cried out to her. Reaching for her mother, she said, "Mom, I never knew."

  The Reaper allowed Diana to speak. She told Aaliyah just how proud of her she was and that she would be watching over her. After those words were spoken, Diana disappeared. Aaliyah broke down.

  I had a family, she thought to herself. I wasn't alone.

  "It’s time to go," Christine said firmly.

  "No," The Reaper stated. "Aaliyah isn’t done."

  Suddenly, Damien appeared, smiling and laughing. "Did you forget me, love?"

  Shaking her head, Aaliyah hid behind Christine. "No. No!"

  "You didn't tell your friends the truth, did you? Did you tell them how you enjoyed our time together?"

  "No! You raped me!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "Stop! Get away from me! Stop!"

  Damien approached, but Christine and Danielle stood in his path.

  "One more step, monster, and you die!"

  Damien laughed. "I'm already dead."

  "Then I will end you permanently," Christine said.

  The Reaper spoke. "Enough! You've all passed.”

  They left for the next test.

  29

  The Reaper laughed. "There is a sign on this book. It's the book of death and to open this one, one of you must bleed out. One of you will not make it out alive!"

  Three swords appeared before them. They each grabbed one. Christine and Aaliyah nodded in Danielle's direction and walked toward her.

  Shaking her head, Danielle said, "Please. Please don't."

  As they closed in on her, the Reaper stared in amusement, expecting the blood of Danielle to spill. Suddenly, Christine cut open her arm and allowed the blood to flow. As she did, so did Aaliyah. Danielle also let her blood flow. The Reaper became angry. His eyes began to glow red.