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

by D. J. Dalton

  Keren sat in Quinlin’s car in the half-full lot under the overpass. It was 10 am, the Perfect Potion’s opening time. She’d just checked in with Briggs. “You know she doesn’t like me.” Keren told Nadria as she grabbed her backpack and got out of the car.

  “You’re making a big deal out of one minor incident.” Nadria started toward the shops.

  Keren locked the car. “I knocked her to the ground. The look on her face told me it wasn’t a minor incident to her.”

  They walked past Winter Wonderful Land, owned by a fox shifter. Kiddie ice slides, snowman making contests, and constant snow fall attracted customers year-round. You had to make an appointment at least six months in advance.

  The sweet aromatic spices of Howlin’ Moon’s Barbecue had a tangy twist, making Keren’s mouth water. Focus, she told herself. You’re here to find Ms. Oakdove, not to have lunch.

  Rows of rainbow pennants with tiny inlaid crystals lined the upstairs banisters. They sparkled as the pennants fluttered in the wind. You couldn’t help but have your spirits lifted in such a beautiful place.

  After walking upstairs and passing a few more shops, they stopped in front of Perfect Potions. The window dressing had elaborate purple velvet drapes strung across the top and sides. The door stood open, and a lilac smell drifted onto the balcony, reminding Keren of her mom.

  “Are you ready?” Nadria paused, fidgeting with her shirt.

  Keren fought the butterflies in her stomach. “Yes.” While repeating the manta, ‘I will convince her to help me,’ she followed Nadria inside the store.

  Antique chairs with upholstery matching the purple velvet drapes clustered in several groups around small tables. Crystal candy dishes and fresh flowers adorned each table. Rows of potions lined the wall behind the counter.

  She saw two sales associates taking care of about a dozen customers. A young male fairy approached them. “May I help you?” His curly black hair and gleaming white teeth enhanced his already handsome face.

  “We’re here to see Ms. Oakdove. Is she available?” asked Keren.

  “She’s in, but I’m not sure she’s available. We’re busy today, so if you’d like to take a seat, I’ll be with you shortly.” He gestured to some empty chairs. “We showcase most of our products behind the counter.” He handed them each a pamphlet. “This has some basic pricing options.” He flashed his white smile again, then scurried off.

  Keren let her hand rub against the tops of the smooth velvet chairs as she walked to the indicated table.

  After they sat down, Nadria flipped through the pamphlet. “Maybe we should have called first.”

  While tapping her finger on the table, Keren watched the sales associate as he flitted from one customer to another. Finally, he gave her a wave and headed to the back room.

  “He’s going to get her now.” She smoothed her hair to distract herself from her quickened pulse. So much hinged on getting Ms. Oakdove to help.

  A few moments later, he reappeared, signaling them with his hand to come over to the counter. He opened the gate marked ‘Associates Only’ and pointed to a velvet curtain covering the hallway to the back rooms.

  “She’s in the office at the end of the hall.” He put his hand on Keren’s shoulder. “Buckle up, she’s in one of those moods. I’m surprised she agreed to see you.” After flashing his smile, he fluttered off to assist new customers coming in the door.

  Great. Keren wondered if Ms. Oakdove was already in a mood or if hearing she was here put her in one. With a sigh, she pushed through the heavy curtain.

  Wall sconces lined the hallway. Each one held an electrical version of two candlesticks. A plush runner rug covered the wood floor. As they approached the closed door at the end of the hallway, Keren stopped, her nerves getting the best of her.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake.” Nadria reached over Keren’s shoulder, rapping on the door with her knuckles. “She’s not going to bite.”

  “Enter,” said Azalea.

  They walked into a room right out of the 1920s. A large, round mirror encircled with vintage light bulbs hung on the wall. Underneath stood a makeup bureau. The top tier of the bureau’s shelving held two candelabras. Colored glass bottles of varying shapes and sizes lined a lower, smaller shelf.

  An antique reel-to-reel film projector sat on a wooden display platform in the corner. In the center of the room stood a mannequin dressed in a ruffled skirt with a sleeveless shirt adorned with beads and sequins finishing the ensemble.

  “What can I do for you?”

  Azalea Oakdove sat at a round mahogany table with carved moldings on the edge. The column base had three ball-and-claw legs. Her eyes focused on a paper she held in her hands.

  “I don’t have all day, child.” She looked up from the paper, meeting Keren’s gaze.

  For most of her childhood, she remembered being petrified of Ms. Oakdove. Over the years, she’d grown accustomed to her blunt, terse demeanor. Keren gritted her teeth, fighting adolescent fears holding her back from simply asking for help.

  “I really like your office.” Nadria walked to the mannequin. “You’re a fan of the flapper era?”

  “Yes.” Ms. Oakdove’s wings flitted. She rose high enough to fly over the table to Nadria. “The era when women gained their right to vote. It was also a time women pushed the barriers in economic and sexual freedom.”

  “Maybe one day, equal rights won’t be something you have to fight for.” A tone of sadness resonated in Nadria’s voice.

  Although Keren appreciated Nadria stalling for her, she had to get herself together.

  “I need your help to find the Magic Council,” she blurted out.

  Ms. Oakdove turned to her. “And why do you need to find the Magic Council?”

  “I have… powers that I don’t understand. I need them to help me learn how to control them.”

  “Why the Magic Council? Why not seek an elder sorcerer?” So, Ms. Oakdove knew she and Mom were sorcerers.

  “Because my imaginary friends, the ones I’ve drawn for years, are real and they have elemental magic. Mom told me the Council could help.” She remembered Ms. Oakdove had provided the magic dampening tea, so she must know about the twisted curse.

  “Others have witnessed these imaginary friends and their magic?”

  “I have,” said Nadria. “I’ve seen one with water magic and one with fire.”

  Ms. Oakdove tapped her lips with her fingertip as she circled once around Keren. After stopping in front of her, she stared into her eyes.

  “You’re an anomaly. You shouldn’t exist.”

  Keren felt as though someone had slapped her. She thought of the question Ball Cap’s friend asked, ‘What the hell are you?’ While she couldn’t answer that question today, she confirmed her determination to discover everything she could about her magic.

  “I didn’t ask to be like this.” She folded her arms across her chest. “But I exist. And I’m here to learn how to control my magic.”

  Ms. Oakdove flew back, allowing herself to sit on the table. “And your thoughts on the Dark Guild? You’re a sorcerer with elemental magic. Isn’t that precisely what they’re striving to be? They’d worship you.”

  “The Dark Guild arcanum are murders who need to be stopped. Shifters have the birthright to elemental magic and to live without persecution.”

  The fairy flew over, then hovered in front of Keren. Azalea smiled, putting her hands on Keren’s shoulders. “You’ve grown into a strong young woman Keren Stewart.”

  While taken aback by Ms. Oakdove’s unexpected compliment, Keren took a moment before responding. “Thank you, Ms. Oakdove.”

  “Azalea, you must call me Azalea.”

  “Alright, Azalea.” Somehow, she had made it through Azalea’s rite of passage to adulthood. While lifting her chin, she took a deep, satisfying breath. Once she had her magic under control, the Dark Guild’s days were numbered.

  “This way.” Azalea flew back to the mirror. “I’ll take you to the M
agic Council.” She tapped the mirror in the center, sending motion waves across its surface. As the waves continued, their vibrations sped up, then they disappeared. Behind the mirror’s facade were two shelves containing more glass bottles.

  “These are artifacts imbued with the power to unlock the door to the magic underworld.” She took two off the shelf, handing one each to Keren and Nadria.

  “Don’t you need one?” asked Nadria.

  “No.” Azalea pulled a necklace from under her blouse. Its smooth glass finish sparkled in the light. “I always have one with me.” After replacing her necklace and restoring the mirror’s facade, she said, “follow me,” then walked through the wall.

  Keren held her breath, following Azalea.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Keren

  For a moment, the world shimmered around her. Then Keren stepped into an immense cavern. As One’s misty form appeared, it did a somersault, then hovered in the air.

  Tiny floating lights peppered the elevated ceiling, giving the area a warm glow. Quaint homes carved into the cavern walls lined the street. Flowerpots and colorful curtains decorated their round windows. Azalea’s voice drew her attention.

  “Set the artifacts here.” She pointed to four shelves carved into the cavern wall containing colored glass bottles of various sizes. Keren put hers down next to Nadria’s.

  “This way.” Azalea started down the street.

  As they proceeded down the street, they left behind the residential area and entered into a business district. While a produce shop’s customers sniffed and squeezed the fruits and vegetables on display, children squealed, laughing and chasing one another under the stands. A restaurant’s outdoor tables brimmed with shifters and fae enjoying food and the company of friends. When the trio neared, the active chatting dimmed to low murmurs as all eyes turned to them. A prickly feeling tickled Keren’s neck. One circled low over her head.

  “Why are they staring at us?”

  “You’re the first sorcerer allowed in the underground.” Azalea glanced back, giving Keren a shrewd smile.

  “Oh.” Keren’s stomach flip-flopped. Sorcerer. That title didn’t seem to fit. Yet that was her heritage, a human who could wield magic. From the way the shifters glared at her, she guessed they weren’t happy with her being there, and she couldn’t blame them.

  Nadria linked her arm in Keren’s. “I’ve never been inside the Magic Council chambers. I’ve heard there are incredible ancient artworks on display.” Keren figured Nadria was trying to distract her from the worrisome stares. She appreciated her efforts, but her pulse still raced. Shifters had every reason to distrust sorcerers.

  “Yes. We have a few pieces on display. The most impressive being the petroglyph representing the creation of the council.”

  The street widened into a cloverleaf shape. Azalea turned left, then stopped, motioning with her hand at the elegant entrance before them.

  “This is the Magic Council Chambers.”

  Stone steps led up to a half-circle platform. Evenly spaced carved columns supported a second-floor balcony. A triangular rooftop displayed carved figures of magical creatures in various poses. As they climbed the stairs, Keren saw the intricate but delicate lace patterns winding around each column.

  “This is gorgeous.” She let her fingers glide over a column’s surface. “How was all this made?”

  “With magic, of course.” Nadria poked Keren’s side, causing her to squeal.

  Azalea chuckled. “Let me tell you a story. Long before the Dragon Wars, magical races segregated themselves from one another. Not out of fear or hatred, but simply because it was the way things had always been. Until one day, Aqila, a perspicacious elf, tried to convince the leaders of each race to join forces.” Azalea opened the chamber door. “Come in, I’ll finish the story inside.”

  Keren and Nadria followed her through the door. Blue-tinted glass tile adorned the main hall’s stone floor. Various shades of blue mingled to imitate the look of a calm lake. Overhead, a dome colored in yellows and reds provided glimmering light. Keren wondered where the light came from. One soared up into the dome, swooping in a circle eight pattern.

  “Here is the petroglyph I spoke of.”

  Keren turned toward Azalea, then gasped. The wall displayed carved renditions of each of the races, the tallest one being at least fifteen feet high.

  “That’s magnificent.”

  “Yes.” Azalea stood for a moment, admiring the petroglyph. Then she turned to Keren. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

  She approached a fox shifter who sat at a small desk by the door. “Zeena, please notify the council of an emergency meeting. We have,” she looked back at Keren, “a situation to address.” Keren felt her face redden.

  “Yes, Ms. Oakdove.” Zeena stood and hurried from the chamber.

  Azalea walked back to Keren and Nadria, then continued her story.

  “Aqila reasoned that, although each race had their own powerful magical niche, they also had weaknesses. If the races bonded together, those weaknesses could be overcome by leveraging another race’s strength.”

  Keren frowned. “I don’t recognize what race that carving represents.” She pointed at a shorter carving of a figure with a crooked nose and oversized, jagged teeth.

  Azalea sighed. “That’s a goblin. History tells us, the only race they had bonded with were the dragons.” She looked over at Keren and Nadria. “They shared a love of treasure and wealth.”

  “Did they disappear with the dragons?” asked Nadria.

  “In a way. They sympathized with the dragons. When it became apparent the dragons were losing the war, they slipped into hiding.”

  “And the one next to him? She looks regal.” Keren held up her hand. “Wait, she’s an elf. Ordell told me elves made magic artifacts.”

  “Very good. Most people haven’t heard of elves. After the war, they also elected to move back into seclusion. The elves believed the war could have been avoided if the races had remained apart.”

  “Who made this carving?” asked Keren. “The detail is amazing.”

  “The dragons. They made this entire underground.” Keren noticed a look of sadness pass over Azalea’s face. “Losing the air elemental was a monumental loss to this world.”

  Keren glanced up at One, still zooming around in the dome. Maybe the world hadn’t lost air elemental magic.

  “Aqila convinced the leaders to join together and create the Magic Council, right?” asked Nadria.

  “That’s right. These carvings are of the founding members.” She looked at her watch. “And speaking of members, they should be here within the hour.” While fluttering away from Keren and Nadria, she motioned with her hand. “Follow me to a study alcove. We should document as much as we can before the council arrives.”

  Azalea led them to a small room off to the side of the main hall.

  After going off to gather refreshments, Azalea had left Keren and Nadria sitting at an oblong conference table.

  “Do you think the council will help me?” Eventually, she knew she’d be able to learn how her magic worked. But they were out of time. The Dark Guild had figured out how to create cursed creatures. They had to be stopped before they exterminated the shifter race.

  “I’m sure they will.” Nadria patted her hands. “Stop worrying.”

  “I mean, what if they try to help me but can’t?” She fidgeted in her seat. “What if I can’t learn to control my creatures?” She glanced at One circling above the table.

  Azalea interrupted them when she entered the room. She carried a silver tray with a teapot and three cups. Cookies lined one edge of the tray.

  “Help yourselves.” She pulled a book out from under her arm, then sat down. After opening the book and sliding a pen from its binder, she looked at Keren. “Where would you like to begin?”

  The Magic Council members knew nothing about her imaginary friends. An introduction to them seemed a good place to start. She took her sketchboo
k from her backpack.

  “These are the most recent drawings I’ve made of the creatures.” She slid the sketchbook over to Azalea.

  “Interesting.” She opened the sketchbook, flipping through the pages.

  “I’ve named them.” Keren pointed to the book. “That one is Four. It appeared a couple of days ago. We saw it use water magic.”

  Azalea jotted some notes down, then flipped to another drawing. “And this one?”

  “That’s Three. It fought and killed a cursed wolf.”

  “Why were you fighting a cursed wolf?” Azalea gave Keren a disapproving look. “They could have killed you.”

  Keren fidgeted in her chair. “It’s a long story. Let’s just say Three used earth magic to save me. And that’s how I know my creatures can kill the arcanum’s cursed animals.”

  “How did it kill the cursed wolf?”

  Her chest tightened thinking about that harrowing night at the motel. She touched her bandaged wrist. After taking a deep breath, she said, “It tore the wolf’s head off.”

  Azalea’s eyebrows raised, then she scribbled down more notes. “Tearing an animal’s head off is not earth magic.”

  “Right.” Keren took a cookie off the tray. “Three made a lava ball with the wolf’s fire and it captured the sorcerer attacking us by making plants grow around him.” She popped the cookie in her mouth. “Mmm. This good. What kind of cookie is this?”

  While leaving her head tipped down, Azalea looked up at Keren. “It’s a peanut butter truffle.”

  After glancing at Nadria’s stunned face, Keren put her hands in her lap, chiding herself for allowing the distraction.

  Azalea turned a few more pages in the sketchbook, then paused.

  “This one is different.” She rotated the sketchbook to give Keren a better look.

  Golden eyes floating in a dark mist stared back at her. The room’s temperature dropped a few degrees as chills ran down Keren’s spine. She looked away from the picture and took a deep breath, waiting until the sensation passed.

  “I’m not sure what that drawing represents. It’s not one of my creatures.” Keren breathed a sigh of relief when a knock at the door drew Azalea’s attention. Zeena poked her head into the room.