Fallen Shroud: An Urban Fantasy Novel: (Twisted Curse Series Book 1)

by D. J. Dalton

  Mom’s ashen face betrayed the pain Keren just inflicted. “You had a twin sister, Katrina Louise. That’s her death certificate.”

  While Keren didn’t want to believe it, she could tell by the look in her mom’s eyes it was true. She turned away, looking down. Mom had never mentioned Katrina. Wouldn’t a parent have had pictures or other items in memory of a deceased child?

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “After your dad’s and grandparent’s deaths, I was at my lowest point. UCF had just hired me as a linguistics teacher, but the salary wasn’t enough to make ends meet. I had two preschool children to support, a massive amount of bills, and no idea how to manage it all. That’s when Marcus, approached me.” Mom licked her dry lips. “May I have some tea?”

  The teacup rattled on the saucer as Keren handed it to her mom.

  As Mom sipped the tea, she seemed to gather her thoughts. “He said I’d be contributing to a noble cause by deciphering ancient spells and offered an insane amount of money upfront. It was the miracle I was looking for.” She hesitated. “At least it seemed that way at the time.” She held the cup out to Keren.

  She took it, setting it back on the nightstand.

  Mom’s eyes hardened. “Marcus gave me pages torn from an ancient Book of Shadows to decipher. He had told me he found them but later admitted to stealing them from the Elder’s Library.” She clenched her hands into tight fists. “It took some time, but I identified most of the language content. Once I completed that work, he wanted me to rearrange the wording, to twist the spell into a curse.”

  Keren stood. She wrapped her arms around herself as she paced the room. Nothing Mom told her so far explained Katrina’s death certificate. Her chest tightened, believing Mom was stalling.

  “How is this related to Katrina?”

  “Marcus let me set up a nursery for you girls at the lab so I could spend every spare minute outside of teaching working on the curse.” She started crying. “I never would have done it if I knew then what I know now.”

  Keren stopped pacing and tilted her head back, gazing upward. “And what do you know now?” Her patience was wearing thin.

  “I know Marcus harbored a deep hatred of shifters. I tried to find out why, but he never told me. I know he was gathering like-minded sorcerers and humans to create his Dark Guild. I know this group committed hate crimes on shifter families. I know he planned a campaign of genocide against the shifter race.” She stopped, her breath rapid and shallow. After her breathing returned to normal, she continued.

  “He understood he couldn’t defeat shifters with normal sorcerers’ spells, so he came up with a crazy idea to harness elemental magic. He wanted to create new spells, he called them curses, that tapped into elemental magic. The innate kind shifters are born with. That’s why he needed the pages translated. The spells had something to do with power transference.”

  “So, how does this relate to Katrina?”

  Mom closed her eyes. “When I had enough of the pages deciphered to write the curses, Marcus brought animals into the lab for experimentation.” Tears trailed down her cheeks.

  “He wanted to summon elemental magic into the animals and then enslave them to do his bidding. With elemental magic under his control, power would tip in his favor.” Her voice quavered. “It was terrible. The poor animals screamed in agony as their bodies contorted into hideous creatures. They only lived ten or fifteen minutes after being cursed.”

  Keren thought of the cursed wolf. It had looked like Dr. Frankenstein had sewn the body parts on wrong before bringing the creature back to life.

  “Why did they die?”

  “The curse wording was wrong, I guess. But we kept tweaking it, trying to find the right sequence. No matter what we tried, the animals met the same fate. Finally, I couldn’t take it any longer and told him I was quitting. He offered another large bonus, enough to pay off the mortgage. Against my better judgment, I stayed. By then, I had realized how evil and crazy Marcus was, how he would do anything to achieve his dream. So, I mistranslated the more dangerous spells, the ones that required too high a price.”

  “Price? What does that mean?”

  “All magic has a price. Since sorcerer magic flows through the hands when it’s used, our hands blacken and swell.” Mom opened her eyes, staring at her open palms. “The charring, if the person doesn’t stop using magic to let their hands heal, can grow up their arm. A hand or arm could die and require amputation. Sometimes, the price is death.” She locked eyes with Keren.

  “One evening, Marcus and I were casting the curse on innocent animals. I hated it, watching those creatures writhe and scream in pain before they died.”

  Keren’s mouth fell open. “You cast the curse?”

  “That day, yes. Marcus believed the curse wasn’t working because it wasn’t strong enough with one sorcerer. He wanted to experiment two.”

  Mom took a deep breath. “He staged four sedated animals, a bat, an Alaskan Malamute, a lion cub, and an eel on the platform. It was late at night. I had put you and Katrina down hours before. I thought you were sleeping but, somehow, you got out of the nursery and wandered into the lab.”

  Her breathing became shallow as she pulled at the covers.

  “We’d already started the curse when you crawled up on the platform. I would have stopped, but I knew Marcus wouldn’t. I panicked. The only thing I could think of to save you was to change my curse so it would stop, or at least twist, the original curse.”

  Unable to face her mom, Keren squeezed her eyes shut. “Is that what killed Katrina?”

  Mom’s voice seemed far away. “I don’t know. At the end, you lay unconscious on the platform. The animals and Katrina were gone.” Her crying made it difficult to hear the rest. “Marcus lay on the other side of the platform, his charred body barely recognizable. I took you, Marcus’s Book of Shadows, and all our notes. Then I set fire to the lab.”

  Keren opened her eyes, seeing her mom’s hands covering her face. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed. Keren walked over, pulling her into an embrace. All these years, Mom lived with the guilt of this terrible secret.

  Mom wrapped her arms around her. “Can you ever forgive me?”

  Keren squeezed her tight, unable to find the words to express her emotions. She hated Mom for not telling her about her twin or Marcus. But she also loved her for sacrificing so much to protect her.

  “Azalea cast a golem spell, hiding the box of paperwork linking me to that event. I thought you were safer not knowing. After all, I killed the Dark Guild’s leader. I realized I would have to pay for that one day, and I didn’t want the payment to be you.”

  A look of shame flashed across Mom’s face.

  “When you started describing your imaginary friends to me, I couldn’t believe it. They were renditions of the animals used in the curse.”

  “That’s why you wanted me to draw them.”

  “Yes. Deep in my heart, I hoped to see a picture of Katrina.” Shifting in bed, she winced.

  “Are you alright? Is there anything I can do?”

  Her heart warmed seeing Mom’s smile. “No, thank you. I’ll be fine. Give me a few days.”

  “Why did you give me magic dampening tea?”

  Mom froze, her eyes locked with Keren’s.

  “Nadria figured it out. Did you know I had magic powers, I mean other than being a sorcerer?”

  “No, I had no idea.” Mom looked perplexed. “I was afraid the animals might hurt you. So, I asked Azalea for the tea.”

  “They’re real, Mom. I’ve seen Two, Three, and Four.”

  “What do you mean they’re real?”

  “I can summon them. They come to life. And they have elemental magic.”

  “I had no idea.” Mom sat back. “How do you do it?”

  “I’m not sure. It just happens. It takes a lot out of me. I’m starving afterwards.”

  Mom looked down. Wrinkles creased on her forehead. Keren thought it best to change the topic
.

  “Was it Marcus’s Book of Shadows we found in the box?”

  “No, that one is mine. There was a location spell over Marcus’s book that wouldn’t allow us to contain it with the golem spell. So, Azalea experimented with protection spells until she found one that would hide the book. She kept that spell active over the entire house to keep the book hidden from the Dark Guild. I’m not sure how, but they located it. That’s why they attacked me. They wanted the book.”

  Keren lowered her head, clenching her jaw. That hit a raw nerve. Heat seeped into her cheeks when she realized her selfishness had caused Marcus’s Book of Shadows to fall back into the Dark Guild’s hands.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” Mom leaned forward, touching her hand.

  Wishing she could go back and keep the appointment with Ms. Oakdove, she shook her head, overwhelmed with shame. “It’s my fault.” The words croaked out. “I told Ms. Oakdove to reschedule because I wanted to go to work instead.”

  There, the truth was out, both hers and Mom’s. Battered emotions left her vulnerable, like a vase teetering on the edge of a table.

  Without speaking, Mom pulled her into her arms.

  “Did you see who did it? Who attacked you?”

  Mom released her. “I did, but the picture is fuzzy in my mind. I know it was a man.”

  “What about the other witnesses? Did they see him?”

  “I don’t know about any witnesses, sorry.”

  Keren sighed. Without a description of Mom’s attacker, they couldn’t pull in another suspect. Mom was still the scapegoat for the Dark Guild crimes.

  “I’ll go out in the living room and let everyone know we have to find another place to stay.” She got up and walked out of the bedroom.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Quinlin

  Quinlin paced in Nadria’s living room. This shifter’s house made his skin crawl. He heard voices coming from the bedroom but couldn’t make out what they were saying. As he rubbed his chin, he worked through several plans. It all depended on what that woman remembered.

  Finally, he heard the door open, and Keren walked out of the room. Her bloodshot eyes and puffy face evidence she’d been crying. He wanted to get to her first, so he pushed past Nadria, practically knocking her over.

  As he wrapped his arms around Keren, he purred into her ear. “It’s alright, I’m here.”

  Nadria threw him a nasty glare.

  When Keren buried her head in his chest, warmth radiated through his body. He inhaled, taking in her essence.

  “We can’t stay here.” She struggled to talk. “The inquisitors and the Dark Guild will find us.”

  She was right. It would be easy enough for the inquisitors to find this place. A half-smirk appeared on his face. And the Dark Guild already has.

  “Do you have another place in mind?”

  She shook her head.

  He wanted to keep her close, under his supervision, and he knew exactly where to take her. But he couldn’t seem too obvious. The shifter might make a suggestion Keren liked, so he couldn’t ask her. But the puca looked dumbfounded, standing there with his mouth hanging open. “You, Ordell, right? Do you know of anywhere we can hide?”

  “Hide?” Ordell looked confused. Just the reaction he hoped for.

  Quinlin kissed the top of Keren’s head. “Yes, the inquisitors will figure out Keren had something to do with her mom escaping from the hospital. They know she’s friends with Nadria.”

  Ordell shook his head. “My parents are home. We can’t go there.”

  “We’ll go to a hotel.” He bent down to peer into Keren’s shimmering silver eyes. “Are you OK going to a hotel?”

  She nodded her head, smiling at him. He wondered if she felt the same attraction to him as he did for her.

  “Pack a bag and get her mom out to the car.” Quinlin started toward the door. “We’ll be waiting outside.”

  “Wait a minute.” The shifter’s voice grated on his nerves. “You’re new to this party. Why should we do what you say?”

  “It’s OK, Nadria.” Keren peeked around his arm. “I think it’s a good idea.”

  He gave an ‘I told you so’ look to Nadria, then stepped outside with Keren. Now that he was away from the bumbling friends, he could find out what that woman said.

  “Did your mom give you any information?” He held his breath, thinking this might turn against him.

  “Yes, plenty. Too much.” Tears dripped down her cheeks. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.” She stopped, furrowing her eyebrows together.

  “What’s wrong?” He entwined his fingers with hers. Her soft skin melted into his.

  She whispered, “I can summon creatures.”

  Quinlin froze. That was unexpected. But it explained what he saw at the hospital. “I don’t understand.”

  “Well, I see them all the time. I’ve only started summoning them.” She lifted her face toward him, then frowned, staring over his head. “And they don’t seem to like you.” She pulled away.

  Was she saying she saw a creature now? He remembered how many times she had looked over his head or out in the distance. He needed more information, and he had to make her trust him.

  “They’re just jealous.” He smiled.

  She looked skeptical, but he gave her a goofy grin, shrugging his shoulders.

  She laughed, taking his hands. “Maybe you’re right. Thank you for everything. You don’t have to stay with us or help. I don’t want you to get into trouble.”

  “I’m in this now and I won’t leave you. I’m as invested in finding out about this Dark Guild as you are.” Not quite a lie. He needed to learn more about these summoned creatures and how she controlled them. If he was right about her, she would make a perfect partner for him.

  The shifter and Ordell walked out the door with that woman supported between them. They each had a bag slung on their backs.

  Ordell struggled under the weight. “A little help here.”

  “You get in my car. I’ll help put your mom in Nadria’s car.” He handed her the keys.

  “No, I want to ride with Mom.” She clutched the keys to her chest.

  As he clenched his jaw, he assured himself this was all worth it to find out Keren’s secrets. Ordell stepped aside, giving him access to lift that woman. Every part of him wanted to kill her now and be done with it.

  “Do I know you?” that woman asked.

  “No, we’ve never met. I’m Quinlin. I helped Keren sneak in to visit you.”

  She smiled at him. “Hi Quinlin, I’m Olivia.” While squinting at him she said, “You look so familiar, but I can’t place you.”

  “I’m a nurses’ assistant at Orlando Regional. I worked in the Restricted Ward.” He settled her into the back seat.

  “That must be it.” That woman wouldn’t take her eyes off him.

  After closing the door, he gave a command to the others.

  “Follow me. I’ll take us to a hotel.” He bumped into Nadria as he passed her by. Filthy shifter. That’s the first thing to change, Keren’s choice of friends.

  “Where are we going?” Keren asked him when they got in the car.

  “There’s an out-of-the-way hotel near Daytona. I’ve stayed there during bike week. Since it’s off-season, and should be pretty empty. Let me bring up the map.”

  While using the excuse to use his phone to get directions, he shot off a text to the arcanum working at the hotel saying he was on his way and that he had company. The hotel provided the perfect place to test Keren’s powers and rid himself of her friends.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Keren

  Keren and Nadria helped Mom into the hotel lobby. After they settled her into a chair, Keren joined Quinlin at the hotel reception desk.

  “Yes, two rooms please.” He slid his credit card across the counter.

  “No.” Keren grabbed his arm. “I can’t let you do that.”

  He patted her hand. “Please, I want to.”

 
After having maxed out her credit card, buying the new dress for her date with Quinlin, and leaving the money envelope they found in the box at Ordell’s house, she had little choice but to let him pay.

  “OK, but I’ll pay you back.”

  Quinlin smiled, a dimple showing on his right cheek. “No, really. It’s the least I can do.”

  Nadria walked toward her. She jerked her head, motioning for Keren to follow.

  “I’ll be right back.” She gave Quinlin’s arm a squeeze. Nadria linked her arm around Keren’s, dragging her to the far corner of the room.

  “What are you doing? You hardly know this guy.” Nadria’s eyes flashed anger.

  Keren stepped back, tugging her arm free. “He’s helped me, twice.”

  “There’s something off about him.” Nadria glared in Quinlin’s direction.

  Keren’s hands clenched, then relaxed. “You don’t know him. I need him right now.”

  “And you need to keep a level head.” Nadria pointed her finger at Keren’s chest. “We are all fugitives from the law. We need a better plan than hiding at a hotel with your new boyfriend.”

  After walking up beside them, Quinlin looked to Keren, then Nadria. “Am I interrupting something?”

  As much as it annoyed her, Nadria was right. By following her to this hotel, she and Ordell were accomplices to breaking Mom out of the hospital. Yes, they needed a plan. But she only asked for a little time to absorb everything. Couldn’t Nadria give her just this one night?

  “No, everything’s fine.” She took Quinlin’s hand, leading him away from Nadria.

  After unpacking and propping Mom up in one of the double beds, Ordell suggested ordering food. “I’m starving. You guys want to order pizza?”

  Keren’s stomach rumbled. How long had it been since she’d eaten?

  Quinlin held out his credit card. “Here, use this.”

  Before Keren could object, Ordell took the card. “What about Ms. Stewart?”

  “The pizza shop on Clyde Morris Boulevard has the best chicken noodle soup.” Quinlin pulled out his phone. “Here’s the number.”