Shadows of the Past: A Supernatural Suspense Mystery (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 1)

by Nellie H. Steele

  Without a word, the sand serpent slithered his way to a nearby rock. Hidden in the shadows he waited. Celine saw Celeste approaching the circle. Celeste nodded her head discreetly. “He’s coming,” Celine said in a low voice.

  As Duke Northcott approached the group, confusion plain on his face at seeing Celeste alive along with the other members of the group, Teddy shoved his hand forward, jolting him with a shock. He stumbled to the side, not expecting an attack. Following Teddy’s lead, Gray launched his attack, jolting him from the other side. He reeled as Alexander launched a frontal attack.

  With the element of surprise gone, Marcus was quick to recover from the latest attack. He threw his arms out, blowing the three men down with one strike. “What is the meaning of this, Celine?” he demanded.

  “It is your end, Marcus.”

  He threw his head back laughing. “Your minions can’t harm me,” he said, deflecting an attack from Alexander and firing one back at the same time. “See? Not even Celeste, whom I notice you have managed to bring back from the dead. Impressive, my dear, but then you always were an impressive specimen.”

  “Hence your interest.”

  “Indeed,” he said, “but not even you, impressive as you are, can defeat me, Celine. Which is why you should join me.” He pointed his palm toward Gray, a lightning bolt shooting from it, pinning Gray down. He kept his hand there, continuing his assault on Gray. Celine blasted him with a fireball, stopping the assault. Gray still lay in pain on the beach. “How pathetic. You had to save him again, Celine. Because he is weak, he pales in comparison to your power, he might as well be human. And, of course, you even tried to escape him yourself by becoming human again. Celine, you deserve better.”

  “By better, you indubitably mean yourself.”

  “Without a doubt, Celine. My power combined with yours would make us an unstoppable force. Join me.”

  “I didn’t fall for this centuries ago, Marcus. I will not fall for it now. You have wasted centuries chasing no one but me.”

  “Not wasted, my love, toiled and labored after you. You are the only thing that matters.”

  “Aww, that’s sweet, Marcus, but you know, it’s not the reason that you have been permitted to live for centuries.”

  Duke Northcott looked at her, puzzled by her words. Celine continued, “And now it’s time that you paid for that by being dragged back to the depths of Hell by the Hellbeast you made that unhallowed pact with.”

  Marcus’ face turned stone serious, realization dawning on him. “No, Celine, don’t do this.”

  “Too late,” she said.

  “But you couldn’t have the…”

  “The book?” she finished.

  “Yes,” he said.

  “This book?” she asked, holding it up. His face was a mask of shock. Celine jolted him with another fireball, dropping him to his knees. “Bazios, you heard him yourself. Now come and do your job and drag him back to the underworld where he belongs.”

  “No, no, Celine, no!” he shouted. The sand snake slithered toward him. “Bazios, I can explain,” he began.

  “SILENCE!” the snake shouted. “Your soul belongs to me and I have come to collect it.” The snake reared back and lunged forward, mouth opening, devouring him in a cyclone of sand. The shrieks were deafening. As the mouth of the serpent reached the beach, the shrieking ended, and the sand settled back to the ground. The wind stopped howling, and the beach became quiet. Silence surrounded them, only broken by the pounding of the waves against the rocks.

  Chapter 33

  Celine rushed through the doors of Alexander’s house. “Well?” Michael asked as he and Damien rushed to the door.

  “It’s done, how are the children?” she asked.

  Avery was making her way down the stairs. “His fever has broken!” she shouted.

  Charlotte followed Avery down the stairs. “Did you say Max’s fever broke? Maddy’s did, too!”

  Celine closed her eyes, breathing a sigh of relief. Gray and Alexander clapped each other’s backs. Celeste and Teddy threw their arms around each other. “It’s done,” Celine said, a tear rolling down her cheek. “It’s finally over.”

  Celine sat on the swing under the gazebo, rocking gently as she watched the scenery. Damien approached her. “Figured I might find you here,” he said. “Can I join you?”

  “Sure,” she said, sliding over as he settled onto the swing with her.

  They sat for a moment in silence. Celine reached out and took his hand. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, yeah. There’s just so much that I don’t understand.”

  “Ask away, D, I’m an open book.”

  “Ha! Thanks, Jos, oh, well, uh, I guess that should be Celine.”

  “You called me Celine right after you got back from Martinque.”

  “Yeah, but it still takes a little getting used to. You’ll always be Josie to me.”

  “I am Celine but a part of me will always be Josie.”

  Damien nodded, lost in his thoughts. “So, how did you end up like you are, Celine? You didn’t kill anyone that night, right?”

  “I didn’t follow through with killing that man, no, which is what would have bonded me to Marcus’ coven. But killing someone and then signing the book with their blood was always Marcus’ own requirement. He deemed it exhibited the deepest pledge of loyalty. The only ‘requirement’ is to draw blood from someone else.”

  “And you did that?”

  “Yes. That man, the one Marcus ordered me to kill, I came across him in the tunnels. He wanted the book, Marcus had sentenced him to death, most likely for disobeying him. The man presumed retrieving the book for him might redeem him somehow. He was willing to kill for it, in fact. He stabbed me, took the book and left me to die.”

  The admission stunned Damien. “So, what happened? Why didn’t you die? Not that I’m complaining!” he said, holding his hands up and waving them in front of him.

  “Marcus. He found me bleeding to death. He killed the man and then healed me, he cut himself and poured his blood into me.”

  “So that’s what you meant when you said his blood ran through your veins. Wow, for once he did something noble.”

  “Well, I’m not sure how noble it was. I was a great power for him to possess.”

  “True. So, what happened next? How did you manage to get the book from Marcus?”

  “After he healed me, I saw the book and the knife. So, I took the knife, plunged it into his gut, grabbed the book and ran.”

  “You drew his blood which…” Damien began.

  “Made me what I am, what he was.”

  Damien pondered for a moment, analyzing it all. “So, how did you become Josie? I mean, you’re immortal, right? But we’ve been together since we were kids. How?”

  “Yeah, Celine is an immortal. Josie was a human. Years ago, I was so exasperated and exhausted by centuries of being chased by Marcus that I made a deal. I went to an adjudicator, a neutral party. I wanted to be human. I wanted out. So, I bargained for a new life. I was literally reborn, given to a human set of parents and given twenty-five years. If in twenty-five years I did not change my mind, never took my powers back, I was free to live my human life in peace. I didn’t quite make that cutoff.”

  “No, by the way, happy belated birthday.”

  She laughed. “Thanks, D.”

  “So, do you have a handler or whatever like the Duke?”

  “No, I don’t, I don’t owe my soul to anyone. I always try to do good with the powers I was given.”

  “Hmm,” he said, pondering the conversation.

  “Hey, guys,” Michael said, coming up from behind them. “Admiring the scenery?”

  “Yes,” Damien said. “It is beautiful here.”

  “Yes, we finally can enjoy the beauty and peace here,” Celine said.

  “I’m glad for that,” Damien answered, sighing. “I don’t know how I can go back home without you.” He stared down at the ground.

  Celine looked o
ver at him. She would also be heartbroken if he left her. She had already given the situation hours of consideration. She could understand what Damien was suffering through. She had left her family before, she would not do it again. “About that,” she began, “I was thinking, you’ve been talking about going one hundred percent remote with your company, perhaps now is the time to do that.”

  “How would that help? Then I’ll be alone even more in that house,” Damien answered, kicking the ground with his foot.

  “Not if you stayed here with us.”

  Understanding filled his face, along with a smile. “You mean… move here?”

  Celine nodded. “Yes, move here. Then I wouldn’t miss you and you wouldn’t miss me and besides we could always use a good person like you to help us fight the darkness. The Duke is gone, but evil will always exist.”

  His smile broadened. “I would like that. I will talk to my supervisor first thing tomorrow morning.”

  With Damien settled, Celine turned to Michael. “How about you? Are you okay to go home?”

  “Well, it looks like I’m losing two of my friends, but at least there’s the internet. And I’m not sure there is a normal life for me after what I just experienced. I just feel this connection I don’t want to lose. Unless…”

  “Unless?” Celine asked.

  “Unless we open a branch here. I could oversee it, live in town.”

  Celine smiled. “Well, we make a good team.”

  “Will there be more trouble?” Michael asked.

  “Like I said, there’s always evil in the world,” Celine answered.

  “So maybe I should stick around like Damien,” Michael said.

  “Maybe you should,” she agreed.

  “You should. We are a team…a team of shadow slayers! Besides, we already have our next task,” Damien joined in.

  “We do?” Michael asked.

  “Yeah. As far as I know, that painting is still missing. Which, according to the legend, means no one is safe. We need to find that painting!”

  Epilogue

  Celine fell back onto her backside, blown backward by the force of the portal closing. She blinked, clearing her eyes from the intense wind as the sand settled back to the beach. They had vanished, both of them with the book. They had made it to wherever they were going, she hoped. “Good luck,” she whispered.

  “Celine!” she heard a voice shouting. “CELINE!” She saw Celeste running toward her. “Are you all right, Celine?”

  Celine stood without answering, brushing herself off. “Yes, I am just fine, sister dear,” she said, disdain filling her voice. “No thanks to you.”

  Celeste looked surprised at her comment. Celine continued her rant. “Our father is dead, Celeste, murdered by the Duke’s orders. My life hung by a thread tonight and now I’m…”

  Duke Northcott joined them before she could finish. “I assume they have gone?” he inquired.

  “Yes, safely away from you.”

  “With my book. Damn it, Celine. Do you know what you have done?”

  “Yes, I stopped you. That is what I have done.”

  He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, you are mine now,” Marcus said, lording the fact over her.

  “No, Marcus, you are mistaken. Yes, it’s true, I am like you, but I am not yours and I never will be.” She turned to Celeste. “As far as you are concerned, Celeste, I will never forgive you for your part in this tonight. You’ve stolen my life and our father’s life.” She turned back to Duke Northcott. “And as for you, I shall fill my days searching for that book and use it to destroy you.”

  Marcus laughed. “You can try, Celine, you can try, but you will never be rid of me. I will always be with you.”

  Stay up to date with all my news! Be the first to find out about new releases first, sales and get free offers! Sign up for the newsletter now!

  Now that Josie has found her true self, continue the adventure and find Celine’s painting! Check out Book 2, Stolen Portrait Stolen, by clicking here!

  Like cozy mysteries? Check out the Cate Kensie Mystery series. Misty Scottish moors and a quirky castle. Read Cate’s first adventure, The Secret of Dunhaven Castle, by clicking here!

  Ready for adventure? Travel the globe with Maggie Edwards in search of her kidnapped uncle and Cleopatra’s Tomb. Book one, Cleopatra’s Tomb, in the Maggie Edwards Adventure series is available now!

  A Note from the Author

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading this book! Shadows of the Past was inspired by my love for the show Dark Shadows! While I’m not a first-generation fan of the show, I fell in love with it when my mother introduced it to me in my late teens. It left its mark on my heart and my imagination.

  I hope you enjoyed reading this book as much as I did writing it! If you loved it, please consider leaving a review and help get the book into the hands of other interested readers.

  Keep reading for a sneak preview of Shadow Slayers Book 2, Stolen Portrait Stolen Soul!

  All the best, Nellie

  Stolen Portrait Stolen Soul Synopsis

  Things were supposed to be better now that she had awoken, but somehow, they seemed to be getting worse.

  Celine Devereaux Buckley, who once lived a mortal, very human life as Josie Benson, thought that coming home would be safe. She would be surrounded by those she loved and who loved her most, but her homecoming was more complicated than she ever imagined.

  Shortly after arriving, she begins feeling strange. As her physical condition once again worsens, she and her family can’t help but wonder what could be causing her so much pain. When Damien Sherwood, her beloved human cousin, connects her missing portrait to Celine’s troubles, he throws himself into a desperate search to find it. The image, a portrait of Celine with mystical powers to guard the Buckley household, has gone missing, and without it, everyone is in grave danger. But how can they get it back when Celine is already under attack from its absence?

  Damien, tired of watching Celine suffer, finally comes up with a plan to retrieve the missing talisman. Crazy though it may be, he’s willing to try anything. With the help of Celine’s magical gifts and her former human boyfriend, Michael, Damien travels back in time to track down the missing portrait. However, unexpected dark forces are lurking even in the past.

  Will Damien and Michael be able to retrieve the painting before it’s too late for Celine? Can they change the course of the past without damaging the future they love? Or will their efforts end up getting them killed?

  Find out in Stolen Portrait Stolen Soul by clicking here. This is book two in the stunning Shadow Slayers Story series and will keep you on the edge of your seat and holding your breath until the last page.

  Stolen Portrait Stolen Soul Excerpt

  Damien stared at the cloud as it changed shape, forming into a humanlike figure. The creature morphed, shedding the black cloud like a snake sheds its skin. Damien was speechless by what he witnessed. A pale figure hovered over Celine’s limp form. Black hair poked from its head, black eyes stared down at Celine, black nails protruded from its hands. Large gray wings poked from its back.

  “Rise,” the creature said in a voice that reverberated, making it impossible to determine gender.

  Celine climbed to her feet, tiny compared to the creature in front of her.

  “Celine Devereaux Buckley, why have you summoned me in the presence of a human?” the creature boomed.

  “Human?” Celine questioned. “I am not human.”

  “Not you, another.”

  “There is no human here,” Celine countered.

  The creature sniffed in the air. “You are mistaken. Show yourself human.”

  An expression of shock and dismay crossed Celine’s face as a realization struck her. “Damien?” she called. “Damien, it’s okay, come out.”

  Damien stood, revealing himself from behind the rocky outcropping. “Hey, hello!” Damien waved, climbing from behind the rocks. “Nice to meet you. Sorry, I didn’t
mean to intrude. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir, ma’am, oh winged one,” Damien stumbled, clearing his throat.

  “Damien, stop,” Celine said with a shake of her head.

  “Stand before me and be judged, human,” the adjudicator decreed.

  “No!” Celine yelled, stepping between the creature and Damien.

  Damien swallowed hard. The creature’s black eyes glowered at Celine. “You protect this human, Celine Devereaux Buckley?”

  “I do. He is off-limits to you. He shall not be judged.”

  The creature approached them, its gaze flickered between Damien and Celine. This close to it, Damien noticed its eyelids closed side-to-side rather than up and down. Celine stood her ground, refusing to budge as the creature’s fiery breath wafted across them.

  “I said no!” she snapped, moving to shield Damien further.

  The creature slid back. “You are fortunate, human, to be protected by such a powerful being.”

  “Yeah,” Damien croaked out, clutching Celine’s hand as she reached behind her toward him. “I know.”

  “Let’s get down to business,” Celine insisted.

  “Why have you summoned me again, Celine Devereaux Buckley?”

  “I have an issue. I require your assistance.”

  “State your case.”

  “My sister, Celeste Devereaux VanWoodsen, has morphed into a creature of the night. I need your help to return her to her original state.”

  “How did this come to pass?”

  Celine hesitated, weighing her words. “She was in a lifeless state. Her lifelessness forced me to act quickly to revive her. The procedure I used was… impure. It resulted in her altered state.”