Uniquely Unwelcome (The Shadow World)

by Brandy Nacole

  “Dayana be reasonable. Racquel was here yesterday. How could she have possibly kidnapped her sister who is over five hundred miles away?”

  “But we don’t know her abilities and what she is capable of.”

  Oh how I’m disliking this Dayana woman more and more.

  “Dayana be reasonable. I know you are scared, as are we all. But we must not let that fear drive us into blaming those that are innocent.”

  “But….”

  “Open up your senses dear. You will see that she is just as innocent and concerned as you are.”

  Dayana looks at me and closes her eyes. It appears as if she is meditating or something. I don’t feel any zaps or sizzling, but I know she’s concentrating on me.

  After a moment she opens her eyes. She meets my eyes for just a moment and then averts her gaze to the floor.

  “I’m sorry. I can see that my Aunt is right. I shouldn’t have just started pointing my finger in your direction. I should have come to my senses and I would have seen the concern and fear that lingers in you, just as it does in me. It’s just that I fear for my daughter. She is at the Covenant as well and it could have just as easily been her as any other Witch.”

  I just give her a slight nod and start to move on. But apparently not everyone in the room has come to agree that I’m innocent.

  “This is total bullshit. You’re going to sit here and let her go free because you sense fear in her. Well I would be afraid too if I was being blamed for something so hideous. Especially if I knew I was on the brink of being exposed.”

  “Ethan, I know you are upset at the disappearance of your friend but we must unite now in order to find true answers.”

  Dagna reaches over and places her hand on Ethans’ shoulder. I can see a spark of blue energy coming from Dagnas’ hand. Ethans’ shoulders slump against her touch, as if defeated. I have no doubt that Dagna was using her power to calm him.

  “It’s just… Evan is my friend. I talked to him that night. Not to mention my brothers who have been taken. We don’t know anything about what’s going on, if they’re dead or alive, who’s taking them. I just want answers.”

  “I know, we all do, and that is another matter we must discuss.” Dagna puts her other hand on her niece. “We are going to face hardship in the next coming days, especially you Racquel. You will face the hardest tasks and your faith will be tested. But you are the one that will find the answers we all seek and bring our loved ones back to us.”

  “What?” I shriek. My jaw drops open and my eyes feel like they’re going to pop out of their sockets. How am I supposed to do that? I admit I want to find whoever is doing this and bring them to justice but I didn’t actually think I would be the one doing it. “How-?”

  “My dear, I know this is a hard task. I know you don’t feel as if I am correct. But the power, knowledge, and strength are within you to stop all this that is happening. There will be others who follow you and help you. But you will be the ultimate key in bringing this terror to an end.” Dagna gives me a small compassionate smile. Her voice carries confidence that I do not feel.

  “How? And what makes you think I am the one to do this?”

  “This is a task that is going to take someone who has great strength and wisdom. And that person is you. Within you lies great power. You have the Lycan, the Shape-shifter, the Witch, and the Vampire essences inside of you. All of which can help you through this great task.

  Your journey will be long and your faith will be tested, as I have said. There will be those that don’t believe in you, there will be those that don’t trust you, and there will be those that won’t help you. But no matter what, you must not give up. You must succeed.”

  Dagna looks over at Ethan and gives him a slight nod, as if she’s confirming some unanswered question. I bet he’s thinking ‘her really’ or ‘yeah right.’

  Her voice gives off the confidence that would lead many into battle and know that victory lies ahead. I guess I would be the rebellious one of the group because that confidence is having minimum to no effect on me.

  “I don’t even know where to begin. These attacks have seemed to have happened all over the world. How am I supposed to save these people when I didn’t know anything about this until now?”

  “You will find the answers you seek by finding out all you can about the disappearances. In order to do so you must travel to each of the original colonies and find out everything you can about those that went missing within their clans. Then you must piece the puzzle together and find those that we love.” Dagnas’ voice is strong and still holds confidence. But that tone fades from my mind as I process her words.

  The original colonies, seriously? I have always avoided those places for fear of being put to death or being taken captive. How about being probed and experimented on to see what I was capable of and how someone like me is even possible. Now this old Witch wants me to walk right into the lions’ den.

  “I don’t think I can do this. I’m not strong, wise, or confident that this is a job for me. You say I am but I seriously doubt it. There must be someone else.”

  Anger explodes from Ethan as he rises from his seat to yell at me.

  “What is wrong with you? You say you care about Addie and you want her home safe. Yet you are unwilling to do anything to save her.”

  “I do want Addie home,” I yell back at him. “That’s why I think someone who could actually bring her home to me should do this, not me.”

  Dagna clears her throat, loudly. Ethan looks over at the older woman and she gestures for him to sit back down.

  Then she gives me a slight smile. “My dear you can do this and you’re the only one that can. The reason I say this is because all the others are blaming one another. You will not do the same.”

  Anger explodes in me as I cut my eyes at Dagna. “That’s where you’re wrong. I would blame every one of them. I have seen the Shadows venomous behavior. I’ve lived it my whole life. I have absolutely no desire to go save any of them. If it wasn’t for Addie, I wouldn’t even care now. The Shadows have abused me, not just mentally but….”

  I stop. I always stop when I start to mention the physical pain. Allowing other Shadows to hear of my pain is claiming defeat. I rise from the floor and walk quickly into the kitchen. I start taking deep even breaths to calm myself. I don’t want to help these people at all. Why should I?

  Then there’s Addie. The only person who has ever cared for me since my grandmother passed. The only person I can trust, now she’s gone too. There’s no questions, no doubt in my mind on what I have to do. I have to find my sister. Not for anyone else but her.

  I slowly walk back into the living room where the others are talking quietly to one another. Dagna looks up at me expectedly. “Has the Ruling Council agreed to this?”

  “The Ruling Council has been notified. When the Elders called me this morning, I expressed my concerns and suggested you lead the search. Normally, the council would appoint trained hunters or sub-council members but when I suggested you and your abilities they agreed. The Elders want to meet with you first. They have some resources they would like to share with you.”

  Dagna must be a sub-council member. The Elders wouldn’t just consult with any Witch in the area. Then something pops in my head. “Did you say there were hunters?”

  “The ruling-council does have a few hunters, yes. They are dispatched for rogues who break the law.”

  “Then maybe the hunters should be called. They would probably be more efficient than I would.” My search this last year didn’t end well, what if this one didn’t either? I don’t want Addie’s life put in jeopardy because of me.

  Dagna stands. She places a hand on my shoulder, “I know you are the one because your grandmother confirmed this with me last night. She visited me while I was sleeping. She said darkness was falling on the Shadows and only you could stop it. I cannot argue with someone who sees more than I do.”

  When a Witch moves on to the next spirit
ual plane, they are still able to see things in our world. They can’t intervene but they can send warnings. My grandmother must have seen something horrible for her to reach out like she did.

  I must have had some new resolved look on my face because Dagna smiles widely. “There’s no time, your journey must begin now.” She reaches into her bag and pulls out a crystal. She rises from the couch, walks over to me, and placing the crystal in my hand says, “This will give you strength and wisdom whenever you need it.”

  “But I don’t know….”

  “You will learn dear.” Dagna places her hand on my arm and gives me a sweet smile. “Now go.”

  I head up to pack my bags and just as I reach the stairs Ethan jumps to his feet.

  “I’m coming with you.” He announces with no doubt in his voice.

  I turn to face Ethan, the protest already on my lips. His hands are in a fist at his side. Obviously this was something he was struggling with but I’m about to fix that problem for him.

  I place my hands on my hip, making my voice as stern as possible, “Like hell you are.”

  Chapter Five

  I finish packing the car with essentials: sleeping bag, camping gear, clothes, and a bag of weapons. I look over my map one more time regretting the time I got mad at my GPS and had punched it so hard it shattered. I should have replaced it before now but I didn’t and there’s no time now.

  Dagna and Dayana are standing on the porch. They sent word to the Covenant that I was coming. I am to meet Dayanas’ daughter Danika when I reach, of all places, Salem, Massachusetts. She will then lead me to the Covenant since I don’t know exactly where it is.

  I hear a thunk behind me and turn just in time to see Ethan’s duffel bag land at my feet. No, I didn’t want Ethan to go but is he? Why heck yeah. Dagna spoke with the both of us after we voiced (screaming) our opinions on whether Ethan should go with me or not. It was getting pretty intense between the two of us. If the old woman hadn’t stepped in, I figure it would have ended with one of us unconscious, more than likely it would have been him.

  Dagna told me that I would need help and that Ethan would be a great asset. Which I highly doubt, unless I need a sacrifice of some kind or need someone to use as a body shield. I don’t know what she spoke to Ethan about but he calmed down some and went home to get his things. I am really not looking forward to being stuck in a car with him. It’s going to be so super fun!

  “Let’s go.” He barks at me and gets in the car. I’m tempted to leave his bag in the driveway but would rather not smell his stink the whole time. I give Dagna and Dayana a slight nod not knowing what to say and not really thinking a proper goodbye is in order.

  “Wait Racquel, you will need this.” Dagna walks down the path and gives me a wad of cash. “There’s around $5,000 there. It is what is left of the money your sister gave me. Take care of yourself my dear and bring our loved ones back to us.” She gives my hand a squeeze, then walks back to the porch where Dayana waits.

  So begins our journey. I stop at the local Quick n’ Go to fill up the tank and my stomach. I don’t want to stop unless it’s necessary. It’s over a twelve hour drive and I want to make it as soon as possible.

  After filling up and grabbing some food to go, we hit the interstate. The car is deafly silent. I turn up the radio only to have Ethan turn it down. Unlike me, he probably can’t tune down his hearing. The noise was probably deafening to him. Ah, darn the luck.

  I turn the radio back up because personally I can’t handle the quiet. Ethan reaches over once again to turn the radio down but in a flash I grab his arm to stop him.

  “Remove your hand from my arm, now!” Ethans’ voice is tight, his body tensing, while he balls his hand into a fist.

  “Uh, excuse me,” I say as I sling his arm back to his side of the car, “but this is my car if you will remember. And I say the music stays on. If you don’t like it then by all means I can let you out.” Now I’m praying that he will say pull over, I can’t do this.

  “Will you please keep the volume at a reasonable level?” Wow that was probably a lot for him to chew. His jaw was clenched and the request was forced but to say please was probably like fire scorching his throat. I wonder what Dagna said to him and how long it will last?

  I reach over and turn the radio back down. I leave it at a decent level and continue driving without another word. Instead, I focus on the task at hand and the places we will have to travel.

  I only know the location of two original colonies. The first being the Witches Covenant, which is located in Massachusetts. They had actually originated somewhere in Europe but then moved to America after the Salem Witch Trials. They thought it was a better place to set up shop. After all there was no original colony in America and with the Salem Witch Trials over they used the energy of the land surrounding Salem, or something like that. How or why I don’t know because that is something you learn when you go to the Covenant for training.

  The other colony I am familiar with is the Vampire Coven. Their original colony is somewhere on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe. I’m about ninety nine percent sure it’s in Sofia. I’m sure I could find out about the Lycans from Ethan but I’ll wait for that conversation at a later time.

  After we have visited the Covenant, we are going to have to make arrangements to go to Europe. I have a passport but I am unsure if Ethan does, which could work out better for me, win, win.

  “Can we stop?” Ethan asks looking sheepish about it. I had noticed him squirming a few miles back but didn’t say anything. Now he’s perfectly still and clutching his fists tightly.

  “Why? We have only gone...” I look down at my odometer. Wow, “200 miles.” I hadn’t realized we went that far. I guess when your mind is a million miles away time goes by fairly quickly.

  “Well, don’t you think a stop is in order?”

  “No. I still have around a half tank of gas. We’re good to go.”

  “No we’re not. Look I need to stop. It won’t kill us or anything. I promise to make it quick.”

  I’m about to refuse but honestly I could use a stretch myself. Plus, if we stop now maybe we won’t have to stop again until we get there.

  Annoyed, I say, “fine,” as I get off on the next exit.

  I top the tank off, while Ethan didn’t rushes out of the car without a word. After pumping the gas I go on in myself. I empty my tank and buy more food for later. On my way out of the store, I run into Ethan.

  “Hey you might want to grab some food for later. I don’t want to stop again.”

  He just rolls his eyes and walks past me toward the car. “Make sure your system is empty because next time you’ll have to piss in your pants before I stop.” I say as I walk behind him. He just makes a grunt noise and gets back in the car.

  Before I get in the car, I take a deep breath and try to remind myself of what Dagna said. He’s concerned and worried about his friends and fellow brothers. He can help; his ambition will fuel his drive to find answers. Yeah, yeah whatever.

  We get back on the interstate and I’m hoping the next 200 miles go by just as quickly as the last.

  “So, what was it you did when you left?” Ethan says breaking the silence I was preparing myself for.

  I’m caught off guard and shocked that he even cares. I’m about to reply an honest answer. Tell him the truth of why I left and what I hoped to accomplish. Then he opens that big trap of his.

  “Did you go stocking women and children in the night? Or is men more your style?” Yep, there’s the Ethan I know. Apparently Dagnas’ pep talk is wearing off.

  “No, I prefer live chickens and dogs.” I say lightly. Reminding myself he would never care. No one ever has except Addie and no one else will.

  “I’ll bet.” He says in that sarcastic way of his, absolutely driving me crazy.

  We fall back into silence but I am absolutely fuming. The longer we sit in silence and his smartass remarks roll over me, the more I want to kick his ass. I’m t
empted to pull the car over and throw his hairy wolf butt out.

  After several miles, hours, and silent nothingness, we finally reach Salem. I had called Danika fifty miles before we reached Salem to set up a meet place. We agreed to meet at a truck stop so we could refill the tanks. Ethan didn’t say anything after his little smirks earlier. Good thing too, one more word and the dog would have been put down.

  I pull into the parking lot and wait for a pump to open. Ethan gets out of the car and heads into the store without as much as a word. He was starting to squirm again but didn’t ask to stop. He probably couldn’t ask to stop again in a polite manner without cutting his tongue out.

  While I’m waiting for a pump I scan the parking lot for Danikas’ car. She said she was driving a newer model black BMW. I see three BMW’s in the parking lot and they’re all black. Well, maybe one is a midnight blue but it’s hard to tell in the dark.

  I pull on up to a pump. Maybe she will find me before I find her. As soon as I think it, a girl walks up to my car. Her Witch essence stands out amongst this dull mundane place.

  “I see you made it without killing Ethan.”

  Danika is pretty. She has really beautiful black hair that reaches past her shoulders, pretty blue eyes and a soft appearance. She’s wearing jeans, an olive shirt, and a blue blazer. She looks formally casual. I know this has to be Danika not only from Dayana’s description but because she approached me, which just doesn’t happen to me.

  Although she seems approachable and nice, her comment really sets me off. I am so tired of everyone thinking I’m going to eat every person I see. I don’t even think so. I am so a hamburger and pizza kind of gal. But no, people treat me as if I am a slaughterer who eats everything in my path. She didn’t even greet me, just jumped right into making snide comments.

  “Look, I may be different but I don’t go around eating everything I see, let alone pups. They probably taste horrible and leave a nasty stench in your mouth. So yeah I managed to make it without devouring my passenger.”