* * *
Les Gris
The Shadow People
Book IV
The Illusionist Series
By
Fran Heckrotte
* * *
* * *
Copyright © 2008 by Fran Heckrotte
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-934889-22-0
First Edition
MobiPocket e-Book Format
October 2008
This electronic book is ePublished by
L-Book ePublisher
La Quinta, Ca. USA
Web Site: http://L-Book.com
Editor: Alexa Hoffman
Cover Design by Sheri
[email protected]
* * *
This work is copyrighted and is licensed only for use by the original purchaser and can be copied to the original purchaser's electronic device and its memory card for their personal use. Modifying or making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, without limit email, CD, DVD, memory cards, file transfer, paper print out or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions.
* * *
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Acknowledgments
My special thanks to the beta readers (a very special group) who have taken this journey with me in telling the stories of my world of characters in the Illusionist series. They were instrumental in getting me to my destination without getting lost along the way. Thank you Lee McLean, Lori, Jae, Kimberly and Terry.
To Pam: As always you’ve made sure the little things that could trip me up are caught in advance. You’re a great safety net.
Sheri Dragon, my cover artist, again, ‘Wow!’ Everyone is still amazed at your ability to capture the essence of my stories.
Then there’s Alexa Hoffman, my copyeditor. Small errors can create big problems. You identified a lot of those that got by everyone else. Thank you.
Roxanne Jones, computer whiz extraordinaire. Always the hard worker, I haven’t a clue how you can do so many projects at one time. Thanks again for your continued support and expertise that makes eBooks, L-Books and S-Books possible.
And as always, a special thanks to A.L., who encouraged me to write and inspired many of the stories I’ve written.
Oh, and Howie. One day you may figure this one out. Thanks.
Les Gris
The Shadow People
CHAPTER 1
The Monster in the Closet
SOME CALLED IT a sixth sense or premonition. Randi knew differently but rarely confided her secret. Most would think her crazy. The first time she had felt its presence she had been terrified. That had been more than thirty years ago.
* * *
Hiding under the blanket, she was afraid to move, or even breathe. Something was in the closet, something horrible, something evil. There were no sounds, no movement, but that didn't prove anything. It was there. She could feel it and trembled, praying that her mom or dad would come to her rescue. A soft click made her jump and her heart thumped painfully. Soft footsteps approached and stopped at the side of the bed.
"Honey? Are you okay?" her mom whispered.
"Mommy?" Randi asked, her voice quaking.
"Yes, baby. What is it?"
"There's a monster in the closet. It's gonna get me."
"Oh honey, there's nothing there," her mother replied, pulling the blanket back to stare into frightened brown eyes. Gathering her daughter in her arms, she pressed Randi's head to her breast. "I'll show you."
"I'm scared."
"That's okay. I'm here. You know I wouldn't let anything hurt you, don't you?"
Feeling the slight nod, her mother smiled and then gently pushed Randi away and back onto the bed. Walking to the closet, she opened the door and turned on the light.
"See! Nothing here but your clothes and shoes."
"But I felt it, Mommy."
"Felt it?"
"You know! Like when you told Gram last week somethin’ didn’ feel right when we was walking in the park? Well, it don't feel right in here."
"I see. Well, baby, sometimes our imagination plays tricks on us. How about I leave the hallway door open tonight?"
Glancing at the closet and then at the hallway, Randi nodded.
"Good! And if you feel something isn't right again, just yell and I'll be right here. How's that?"
Leaning down, she kissed her daughter on the top of the head and then gave her a hug.
"Love you, pumpkin."
"I love you, too, Mommy."
As she walked out of the room, the woman smiled, remembering a time when she, too, believed there were monsters in the closet and under the bed. That was a long time ago. Unfortunately, her mother had died at childbirth and her grandmother was indifferent to a child's fear. Wanda had sworn she would never let her own child suffer those same fears if she could help it.
* * *
As reassuring as her mother tried to sound, Randi was still afraid. There was something in the closet.
"I know you're there!" she whispered accusingly. She felt an invisible shiver and frowned. Maybe it wasn't so horrible after all. Horrible things weren't afraid of anything except mommies, daddies and baby Jesus.
"You're scared, aren't you?"
She felt another shiver and sat up.
"It's okay. I won’ hurt you. You can stay in the closet," she offered bravely.
Feeling a sense of relief sweep over her, Randi giggled.
"You're just a big ba..."
The sound of footsteps interrupted her. When Wanda stuck her head through the partially opened door, Randi waved.
"Time to go to sleep, sweetie."
"Okay."
"You still want me to leave the door cracked?"
"No, I was wrong, Mommy. There's no monster in there," Randi said, pointing to the closet. "The night light is enough."
"Yes, I know. Now go to sleep. Tomorrow we're going shopping, remember?"
Nodding, Randi slid down under the sheets and closed her eyes.
"Night," she said, her eyes already feeling heavy.
"Night, baby."
Smiling, Wanda Brinley closed the door quietly and went into the living room to watch television. Randi had always been a good child, easy-going and intelligent. She knew her daughter would believe her once she had proven the closet wasn't hiding monsters.
Back in the bedroom, Randi crushed her spare pillow against her chest and snuggled under her blanket.
"Night, monster," she teased. About to fall asleep, she felt a warm, tentative touch against her right ear and giggled, squiggling her head sideways and pressing it against her shoulder. "Stop that!" she ordered good-naturedly. "Go to sleep!"
* * *
For the next few years, Randi talked every night to the monster in the closet just before falling asleep. Although it never answered back, she could sense what it was feeling. Mostly it seemed afraid or sad. There were times, however, when she could tease it into a silent giggle or a happier mood. No matter what it was feeling, though, every night the monster would gently tickle her ear as she drifted off to sleep. The touch was reassuring.
When Randi was eleven, one night she decided that it was time for the monster to leave the closet. Her mom had just left the room after placing some folded underwear in the dresser drawer. Opening the closet door, Randi backed up and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Okay
," she began. "You have to come out now."
The monster shivered, and Randi could feel the fear.
"I'm not going to hurt you, but you have to come out. You can't stay in the closet all the time. Mom says we have to face our fears. That means you too."
Nothing happened.
"Come on," she coaxed.
Still nothing happened.
Slapping her hands on the bed impatiently, Randi sniffled and then crossed her arms.
"If you don't come out, I won't be your friend anymore," she threatened.
Randi could feel the sadness and relented.
"Okay, I'll still be your friend."
Wondering how she could get the monster to come out, she thought about all those years it had hidden in the darkness.
"I've got it! I'll close my eyes. Then I won't see you come out."
Nothing happened, so she walked to the half-open door and peered inside of the closet, but she couldn't see anything.
"Phoeey! You're just being stubborn." Turning her back to the opening, she marched to the bed and threw herself on top. After a few minutes, she felt her left ear being tickled. Randi decided to stay on her stomach for a little while longer. Obviously, the monster didn't want to be seen yet.
"You're supposed to be my friend. Mom says friends trust each other." The monster shifted nervously.
"Well, I'm tired so I'm going to turn over now. You can sleep with me if you want. I won't hurt you and mom says I don't snore. I'd hate to snore, you know. Aunt Mary snores awfully loud and it keeps me awake when she visits."
When she turned over, Randi saw only darkness. Sighing, she pulled back the sheet and blanket and crawled underneath.
"Night," she mumbled, sadly.
A slight tickling on her left ear couldn't lift the depression she was feeling. Falling asleep, she felt the monster's sadness. Randi swore she'd figure something out to entice it out of its hideaway to play, but not tonight.
* * *
In time she succeeded, but not the way she imagined or hoped for. For months, she tried to convince the monster to show itself. Then there came a night when she was sure she had convinced it to appear, only to discover it was no longer around. The monster had disappeared from her closet and her room. Randi was sad but hoped it had found solace with someone else. She had tried and failed, or so she thought, until she realized it had become a part of her. A voice began whispering in her head, but only to warn her of impending danger. Soon the three of them grew comfortable with each other... three, for she sensed that somewhere, inside her, was another, patiently waiting for the right moment to appear.
CHAPTER 2
Randi, Lighthra and the Monster
THEY WERE individuals in spirit but shared the same body and in so doing accepted that one would have to be the dominant. Although most would have found it an impossible situation, the two understood the necessity of co-existence.
Lighthra loved her life partner more than anything or anyone. She and the human child were bonded, and both at ease with their connection. Although that in itself wasn't unique, it was for a human so young.
The night the monster first appeared in the closet, Lighthra knew exactly what it was – a lost Shadow, a Les Gris like herself but not as fortunate. She could feel its pain and wanted desperately to help her kin.
At first, Randi had been afraid, but that soon disappeared. Although Lighthra couldn't communicate directly with her life partner, she was able to calm the child's fears because of their close connection. It was then that Lighthra contacted the lost Shadow.
You are Raylena. What happened? Lighthra asked. Les Gris could always recognize each other even if they had never met before. They never questioned how. It was simply one of those mysteries that was accepted. Where is your life partner?
Dead!
You should have passed beyond, then. Why didn't you? Lighthra asked. Les Gris weren't supposed to exist after their life partners died.
I was afraid. It was waiting for me just as my human died. The Shadow's fear was almost contagious. Lighthra felt cold.
It?
The demon. I could feel it just beyond the periphery – lurking. It wanted me.
Then it's true. The Shadow Demon is real! Terrified that it could hear them, the Les Gris seldom spoke of the creature. Few wanted to draw attention to themselves.
Yes and if I had passed with my life partner, it would have captured me.
How did you manage to avoid the passing?
I waited! the Shadow said.
Waited? I don't understand.
When my life partner passed beyond, I hid deep in her lifeless mind, not daring to even think. It was horrible. There was nothing of her essence to sustain me.
Lighthra shivered. She couldn't imagine staying with Randi's body beyond life. Death, or whatever lay beyond, would be welcomed at that point. For Raylena to make such a decision was proof enough of her fear and desperation to avoid the legendary Shadow Demon. The Les Gris feared many things but nothing as much as the "stealer of shadows."
How long did you have to wait?
An eternity. At least it felt that way. Probably minutes. I felt it hunting for me, but it seemed reluctant to enter the mind of the dead. It was as if it too feared the nothingness left behind. After it left, I barely managed to detach myself from my life partner. It was like dragging myself through the darkest night with no light to guide me. There was nothing for me to grab.
Lighthra understood what Raylena meant. Darkness was the worst possible time for shadows. Their nebulous shapes became lost in the blackness, making it impossible for them to reach out and touch anything. The Les Gris were dependent on their life partners during those periods to sustain them. In return, they protected their life partners by warning them of the dangers lurking in the darkness. Fearing the night wasn't because of overactive imaginations. It was necessary to the survival of both mortal and Les Gris.
How did you end up here?
I don't know. I moved from place to place often. The demon kept hunting for me. Somehow it knew I was still around. One night, during a full moon, I slipped in here through the open window and into the closet. It felt warm and safe. I felt protected even though the demon prowled outside. For some reason, it wasn't able to enter this room.
Well, you can't hide in there forever. You're not even supposed to be able to exist this long without your life partner's essence.
I know. I'm growing weaker, but I would sooner pass beyond in here than let the demon catch me.
Lighthra had to agree. She would make the same choice if she were in Raylena's situation.
Stay then. I'll try to let Randi know you're not a threat. Maybe we can think of something to help you out.
Thank you.
* * *
Lighthra eventually did come up with a solution. Two years later, during a blood moon eclipse, she invited Raylena to join her and share Randi's essence.
Even if it were possible, your life partner hasn't given her permission.
Tonight it's possible but you must hurry. Randi won't mind. She's very kind.
Won't this unbalance both of you?
You and I will keep all of us in balance. We'll need to be careful, though. Our duties must be divided equally, and we'll have to discuss everything we don't agree on. Randi is still a child. Her mind and her essence must never be put in jeopardy. You will have to leave if we start to unbalance.
And if we can't agree on something?
Then I must have the final word. After all she was my life partner first.
Raylena knew Lighthra was right. Merging was her only hope, and Lighthra's offer to share Randi was more than generous. It was her only hope. How could she not agree?
You are as kind as Randi. Thank you.
Good! Now, when the eclipse begins, you must reach out and grab onto our essence. Look for the faint strand of light between the blue and the green. It's almost impossible to see but if you look hard you'll find it. That is the only one th
at will guide you to our core.
And if I grab the wrong one?
You will be lost forever. You must hold tight to the strand or the waning light will rip you from us. The pull of darkness is strong. I'll help you as much as possible but the bulk of the strength must come from you. Randi and I will look for the demon during the merging. If you make it through the full eclipse, then the new birth of the moon will replenish you and we'll become one.
Les Gris - TI4 Page 1