by S. H. Kolee
Hunting Shadows
Shadow Series #3
by S.H. Kolee
Copyright © 2013 S.H. Kolee
All Rights Reserved.
This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter One
My body ached. That was the first thought that formed as I felt myself struggle to surface into consciousness. A sense of urgency was pushing me, trying to jolt me awake, but I wanted to resist. It felt so calm and peaceful in the darkness, except for the twinges of pain that were trying to break through my oblivion.
Suddenly, a rush of images slammed through my mind and my eyes flew open as I bolted awake. I sat up abruptly as the memories of what had happened flooded through me, the sensory overload almost as painful as my battered body. I was instantly ready to defend myself, but as I frantically looked around me, confusion replaced the panic.
I had expected to find myself either in a burning coffin of a mangled car or held prisoner by my father and shackled for his torture.
Instead, I was on a narrow bed in a cramped room lit by a single naked bulb. My arms and legs were free of restraints, so I clumsily tried to stand, groaning at the dull throbbing of my head that loudly protested my movements. I pushed through the pain, my fear blotting out any discomfort as one thought reverberated in my head.
Where was Simon?
I stumbled to the door, relieved to find it unlocked. I squinted in confusion at the shabby living room, frustrated that it felt like my mind was working through mud as I tried to get my bearings. It was dark, with the only illumination coming from what I assumed was the kitchen. My heart dropped when I was able to make out a shape on the couch, and I rushed forward, dropping to my knees.
“Simon!” I ran my hands over his beautiful face, terror filling me at his stillness. A large gash slashed across his forehead but he was warm, his body still pumping his lifeblood. I laid two fingers on his wrist, relieved to find a strong pulse thrumming beneath them.
I shook him gently, trying to wake him. The urge to flee was overwhelming, and I just wanted to grab him and run.
“Careful. He hit his head pretty badly.”
I jumped at the voice, adrenaline rushing through my veins as I rose, prepared to fight. Marie was standing at the kitchen doorway, her face hidden in shadow.
“What are we doing here? Where’s my father?” My voice trembled as my eyes darted around the room, expecting my father and his minions to jump out and attack at any second.
Marie walked towards me, a hand held out in supplication as if she were approaching a wounded animal.
“Your father’s not here. We split up to look for you after we realized what happened. I was with Lenore, and it was like she was able to sense your energy. She knew which direction you had gone, and when we finally caught sight of you, she started to call your father to tell him where you were.”
Marie was coming closer as she spoke, causing my hackles to rise. I glanced around for anything that could be used as a weapon, but the apartment was bare except for a few pieces of furniture.
“So my father is on his way? Where’s Lenore?”
Marie halted a few feet away from me. “No, your father’s not on his way. And Lenore is dead.”
I stared at her in shock. Her words were spoken matter-of-factly, but her face was another story. Anguish was etched into every plane of her face. I was silent as she continued to talk.
“I tried to convince her to not call your father. That we were making a mistake. You were right when you said we were all dead if we cooperated. There’s no way the vardogers will keep us around. We’re just a means to an end. But Lenore said I was wrong. She said I was stupid and weak. When I told her I didn’t want to be a part of this anymore, that I just wanted my sister released and I promised we would disappear and not interfere with her plans, she laughed at me.”
Her face became a mask of anger, her eyes burning with hatred as she stared through me as if she didn’t really see me, instead reliving the conversation.
“She actually laughed and told me I was a fool. She told me my sister had already been killed. My sister was a seer, but a weak one. I used to think it was a blessing because maybe she’d be able to lead a normal life. But they used her like she was a guinea pig. A vardoger who had already overtaken a human body tried to jump into hers, to see if they could overtake weaker seers wearing palladium. They’re obsessed with the idea of being immortal, of overtaking another body after their current one expires. My sister was too frail. She didn’t survive it.”
Marie’s glazed eyes refocused on me, her lips pressed together. “So I slammed Lenore’s head against the window. Unfortunately, that caused her to crash our car into yours. But that didn’t stop me. I kept slamming her head against the window until I knew she was dead. It was surprisingly easy since she wasn’t expecting it. She’s always thought of me as the weaker one. She was wrong.”
I stared at Marie’s face, which was now impassive. A shiver went through me as I watched her. It wasn’t that I regretted her killing Lenore, because it had saved our lives. But her calm retelling told me that Marie wasn’t in the right frame of mind. As much as she had helped us, I wanted to get away from her as quickly as possible. But an unconscious Simon made that impossible.
I glanced down at him. His chest was rising and falling softly, as if he were just sleeping peacefully. I looked back up at Marie.
“Where are we?” I asked cautiously. “How did we get here? How long has it been?”
“After the crash, your car was engulfed in flames. If it wasn’t for the rain, you probably would have burned to death. I was able to pry open the car doors and drag you both out. I dumped Lenore’s body, put you two in the car, and drove here. That was a few hours ago. My friend owns this apartment, and I knew it was vacant. No one knows we’re here.”
I thought about my dreams and the message that had confused me. A bond unbroken can be a curse. A watery grave can be a blessing. The bond unbroken being a curse had to reference my refusal to leave Simon behind, to force me to meet the same fate as him instead of saving myself. I had thought a watery grave being a blessing was in reference to my mother’s supposed death, but now I realized the rain had saved us from burning to death. It was a small comfort that my dreams had actually been significant, because I hadn’t been able to figure out their meaning until after the fact.
Marie rubbed her face tiredly as I just stood there. I wondered if she were on the edge of sanity. She looked at me with a measured expression on her face, as if she knew what I was thinking.
“I’m not crazy, Caitlin. I can see the fear written all over your face. The game has changed, and I’ve just decided that I’m not w
illing to be a silent participant. Casualties are unavoidable. I’d just prefer the casualties to be on the other side.”
She sank into an armchair next to the couch, looking exhausted. She waved her hand towards Simon.
“He woke up for a few seconds before, but he wasn’t coherent. I would say he needed to go to the hospital, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea. We should stay hidden. Honestly, I almost left him behind. He’s one of them and can’t be trusted. But he’s strong. And we need as much strength as possible when it comes to fighting your father.”
I crouched next to Simon, gently stroking his cheek scratchy with stubble. “Simon,” I said softly, then I spoke louder. “Simon, wake up. You need to wake up.”
My heart squeezed when his eyes fluttered open, their blue depths looking confused. He was still for a few moments, then his head turned towards me and the confusion vanished as he sat up abruptly. He made a sound of pain at the sudden movement, but that didn’t stop him from jumping up from the couch. He proceeded to push me behind him as he looked around wildly.
His gaze settled on Marie, his stance becoming combative, but she just stared up at him warily.
“Wait!” I put my hand on Simon’s shoulder, trying to calm him down before he attacked Marie. “Marie saved us.”
Simon turned to me, looking doubtful, as he made sure to keep Marie in his sights. “This is a trap.” His voice was rough from disuse, but he looked completely alert.
Marie stood up and Simon tensed, his body tight as if he were ready to pounce. Marie didn’t move any closer as she watched him.
“I didn’t have to save you. I could have left you in that car for whatever fate had in store for you. But I rescued you because we need as much of an advantage as possible. Nothing makes sense anymore, everything’s been turned upside down. If being able to kill Caitlin’s father means the help of another vardoger, so be it.”
Simon’s body didn’t relax, so I quickly tried to explain what had happened. When I was done, Simon didn’t look any less wary. He glared at Marie.
“If this is a trap, don’t think I won’t hunt you down.” Simon’s mouth twisted. “You know what I’m capable of.”
Marie’s face tightened in anger. “That’s not gratitude I hear. I’m taking a huge chance in even entertaining the thought of working with you. Lenore was always worried that you were developing real feelings for Caitlin, but I thought that was impossible. After all, you’re not even a person. You’re a thing—a shadow. How the hell can you side with humans when you’re not even one of us!”
The look on Simon’s face chilled me, and he made a move towards Marie. I pushed myself between them, looking at both of them before speaking.
“This isn’t the time to get into a pissing contest. Right now, my father is looking for us. We have no time to waste.”
“We need to keep moving,” Simon said grimly.
“And where exactly are you planning to go?” Marie asked with a smirk on her face. She seemed completely different from the person I had initially met at my aunt’s house but I wasn’t surprised. Her sister had been brutally murdered. That was enough to change a person. My heart twisted as I suddenly thought of something.
“What if he goes after Sarah?” I asked in horror before Simon could answer Marie’s question. “We have to go back to Maxwell. Both she and Grant were planning on coming back to school from Thanksgiving break yesterday. We have to protect her.”
“That’s what he’s hoping for,” Marie said flatly, her look disapproving. “He knows she’s your weakness. He’ll be waiting for you, watching her, knowing that you’ll show up to protect her. You’ll be walking right into a trap.”
I looked at Simon instead of Marie. “What do you think?” I asked, although I was afraid of his answer. I didn’t know what I would do if he agreed with Marie.
“She’s right.” Simon gazed at me, studying my face. “Does that matter to you?”
I shook my head, my determination mixing with anger and fear. “Even if it’s a trap, we have to go back. If I don’t show up, who knows what my father will do to her.”
“You’re letting your emotions control you,” Marie interjected. “This isn’t about saving one person. This is about stopping your father from taking over every human. You have no idea the small army he’s been building.” Marie’s gaze swung to address Simon. “You were being pushed out, only you didn’t realize it. He has vardogers that are totally loyal to him, not you.”
Simon was watching me with an enigmatic expression when he responded to her. “It’s Caitlin’s decision.”
“We have to go back,” I whispered. I took a deep breath, facing what I had always known. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Sarah. She was the one that forced me to see that my life was worth living when the only thing I wanted to do was disappear. She saved me. She deserves nothing less.”
Marie made a sound of disgust, but Simon just pulled me into an embrace. For the first time since I had woken up in this dark, dank apartment, I felt the tension lessen. I was still trying to come to grips with everything Simon had told me. I couldn’t fully wrap my mind around the fact that he was a vardoger. A part of me couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t process it. But his arms around me were real. The love I felt in his embrace was real. And that’s all that mattered right now.
“We’ll go to Rochester,” he said softly. “If nothing else, we’ll try.”
“Go ahead and commit suicide. I’m not going with you.” Marie crossed her arms against her chest, her expression steely.
I pulled away from Simon so I could face her. “I’m not asking you to come with us. But there is one thing I need you to do. I need you to try to put me under hypnosis. Maybe I can see something that’ll help us.”
Simon’s grip on my arm tightened. “That’s too dangerous.”
“And impossible,” Marie said implacably. “There’s no way I would be able to put you under myself. I need at least two other seers.”
“Don’t you know any other seers that can help you?”
Marie shook her head, looking at me as if I were stupid. “Don’t you realize what’s going on? This isn’t just about your father coming after you. This is a war between seers and vardogers, but the lines have become blurred. Seers and vardogers are no longer natural enemies fighting for human souls, because there’s a movement of seers that are tired of protecting humans. They feel trapped by their calling and believe vardogers are their way out. Inner circles have been shattered as seers who trusted one another are now enemies fighting on opposite sides. You can’t trust anyone anymore.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Simon. “Although this is the first time I’ve heard of a vardoger siding with the seers.” Her mouth twisted. “How the hell did that happen?”
“That’s none of your damn business,” Simon bit out, but I barely heard him as I processed what Marie had just told me.
“I had no idea,” I finally murmured weakly. “I had no idea this was so far reaching.”
“That’s why walking straight into your father’s trap is idiotic,” Marie insisted. “Your father has positioned himself as the vardoger leading the charge to eradicate seers who won’t come over to his side. He’s focused on you because he’s convinced you hold the key to figuring out how to become immortal.”
I rubbed my forehead, feeling overwhelmed by everything. “I can only take one thing at a time. First, I have to get back to Rochester.” I looked up at Simon. “We should call Sarah to make sure she’s alright.”
Simon looked at Marie, his voice terse when he spoke. “Do you have a phone we can use?”
Marie stared at him for a few moments, and then sighed. “Fine. It’s your death you’re walking into. I warned you.”
She dug into her pocket and handed me a cell phone. I quickly dialed Sarah’s number, my heart in my throat as I waited for her to answer.
“It’s Caitlin,” I said when she answered. I was surprised that she had answered so quickly since it was almo
st three o’clock in the morning. Before I could say anything more, she exploded.
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling and calling but your cell phone keeps going straight to voicemail! Same with Simon’s!” Her voice was frantic, almost screeching.
I took a deep breath before speaking. “Sarah, I’m sorry I worried you. I can’t go into everything right now. I promise to tell you everything when I get back. But the most important thing right now is that you’re in danger. I need you to stay in the apartment. Get Grant to stay with you. And whatever you do, don’t leave the apartment. And don’t open the door for anyone, especially if it’s my father.”
“Why? What’s going on?” Sarah sounded bewildered and scared. “Why wouldn’t you want me to open the door for your father?”
“Because he’s not my father anymore. He hasn’t been my father for a long time. And I think he’s going to try to hurt you.”
Sarah sucked in a sharp breath. Her next words were whispered, almost as if she was afraid of being overheard. “What about Simon? Is he okay?”
I shook my head even though she couldn’t see me. There was no way I could tell her everything now. “He’s fine. Just wait until I get there. And I’m not kidding about not answering the door for anyone.” It was hard to say the next words, but I couldn’t risk anyone getting to Sarah. I was already anxious about not telling her to stay away from Grant, but I knew she would never agree to it. “Even if it’s Jenny or Marcus.”
“Why?” Sarah sounded shocked. “Have they… have they been overtaken too?”
“I don’t think so, but we have to be careful. It’ll be safer for them too, to be kept away from all of this. Just promise me that you’ll stay in the apartment and you won’t have contact with anyone else besides Grant.”
I hung up after she gave me her promise, not having the time to answer the lingering questions I heard in her voice. I turned to Simon as new fears arose. “What if Marcus and Jenny are in danger too?”
“They don’t even register in your father’s mind,” Marie answered before Simon could respond. “His focus will be on Sarah.”