Chapter 8 : The Shadow Creature

Lena's POV

Past midnight when I finally dragged myself upstairs.

Crib was quiet. Most residents are already asleep. A few vampires lingered in the main hall. Speaking in low voices over drinks. Tormund went to bed an hour ago after I'd promised him I'd do the same.

I was halfway down the second-floor hallway when I felt it.

A cold oily sensation sliding across my skin like ice water. Air pressure changed. The temperature dropped so fast I could see my breath.

Something was wrong.

Stopped walking. Hand instinctively going to small protective charm in pocket. Lights flickered once. Twice. Then I went out completely.

Darkness swallowed the hallway.

"What the hell?" Muttered.

Low guttural sound echoed from somewhere ahead. Not quite growl. Not quite hiss. Something worse.

Then I heard it. The door crashed open. Heavy footsteps. The voice I recognized.

"No. Not again. Not now!"

Darion.

Ran toward his room. Heart pounding. The door is wide open. Could see him inside illuminated by pale moonlight through the window. On his knees. Hands clutching head. Those horrible black veins are spreading across the skin again.

But this time something else is happening.

Shadows in the room were moving. Not from wind or flickering lights. Moving on their own. Gathering. Pooling together like liquid darkness.

"Darion!" Shouted. Stepped into the room.

My head snapped up. Eyes wild with pain and fear. "Get out! Lena, get out of here!"

"Like hell I will!"

Shadows surged upward. Suddenly forming a shape. Massive. Humanoid but wrong. Too tall. Too thin. Limbs bent at unnatural angles. Face just void of darkness.

Shadow creature.

Heard of them in old texts. Manifestations of dark curses given physical form. Never actually seen one.

Turned toward Darion. Movements are jerky and predatory. He tried to stand. Collapsed again. Weakened by curse flare-up.

"No." Breathed.

Creature lunged.

I didn't think so. Just moved. I threw myself between them. Hands up. Magic flaring to life. A barrage of shimmering energy erupted from palms. Caught creature mid-strike.

It shrieked. Sound like nails on glass mixed with screams of damned. Creature recoiled. Slammed against a barrier.

"Lena what are you doing?" Darion gasped behind me.

"Saving your stupid life. Again!"

Creature circled. Eyeless face fixed on me now. Could sense magic. Sense threat.

Then I did something I didn't expect.

It fled.

Shadow creatures dissolved into wisps of darkness. Shot out the door. Flowing like smoke down the hallway.

"Oh no." Whispered.

Heard screams a second later.

Ran out of the room. Down hall. Creature was there. Spreading across walls and ceiling like a living nightmare. Residents stumbled out of their rooms. Drawn by noise.

The young witch screamed when the shadow passed over her. The vampire tried to grab it. Hands went right through. It was hunting. Searching.

Looking for Darion.

"Everyone get back!" Shouted.

But panic already set in. People running. Pushing. Shouting. Creatures feed on their fear. Grew larger.

Could feel Darion behind me now. Followed me out despite barely being able to stand.

"It wants me." My voice was strained. "Let it have me. Get these people to safety."

"Shut up."

Creature turned. Sensing its target. Rushed down the hallway directly at us. Form expanding until filled the entire space.

Planted feet. Reached deep.

Deeper than should. Deeper than was safe.

Power answered. Not gentle green magic of witch. The other one. Wild ancient things I kept locked away.

Hands began to glow. Not with a firelight. With something brighter. Purer. Like captured starlight.

"Lena, your eyes." Darion whispered.

I didn't care. Raised hands. Light exploded outward.

Creature shrieked. Recoiling from radiance. Pushed harder. Forcing light into every corner and shadow until nowhere left to hide. Creature writhed. Twisted. Trying to escape but I held it.

"Go back." Commanded. Voice echoing with power. "Back to darkness. Back to sleep."

Light intensified. Creature began dissolving. Not fleeing. Dissolving. Breaking apart into harmless wisps that faded into nothing.

When finally gone let power fade. Glow left hands. Light in eyes dimmed.

Hallway silent.

Everyone was staring at me.

Turned slowly. Took in the scene. At least a dozen residents lined the hallway. Faces frozen in shock and fear. And something else.

Suspicion.

"What was that?" Someone whispered.

"Did you see her hands?"

"That wasn't normal magic."

"What is she?"

My heart sank. This was exactly what I'd been afraid of. What I'd spent centuries avoiding.

"Everybody back to their rooms." Said. Trying to sound calm. Authoritative. "The threat is gone. You're safe."

"Safe?" The vampire stepped forward. Eyes narrowed. "What kind of witch can do that? That power... wasn't witchcraft."

"Said go back to the rooms." Repeated. Voice harder now.

They hesitated. Slowly reluctantly began dispersing. But I could hear whispers. See suspicious glances. Damage was done.

Tormund appeared at the top of the stairs. In nightclothes. His eyes took in the scene immediately and he caught my gaze. I saw understanding there but filled with worry.

"What did I miss?" Asked loudly. Moving into the hallway with an easy smile that didn't match tension in my shoulders.

"Shadow manifestation." Said. "Darion's curse acting up again."

Tormund nodded. Playing along. "Nasty things. Good thing you had those suppression artifacts I gave you last month eh?"

Blinked. "Right. The artifacts."

"Powerful stuff." Continued. Addressing a few residents still lingering. "Ancient relics. Very rare. Lena keeps them locked up for emergencies just like this." Smiled warmly. "Nothing to worry about. Just good old-fashioned preparedness."

Some suspicion in faces eased. Not all of it. But enough.

"Everyone get rest." Tormund said. "I'll make breakfast in the morning. Extra bacon for anyone who had sleep interrupted."

Got a few tired smiles. Slowly finally the hallway emptied.

When alone Tormund turned to me. Expression serious. "That was close."

"Too close." Agreed.

Darion leaning against the wall. Looking pale and exhausted. Black veins receded again but the toll was obvious.

"What the hell was that thing?" I asked.

"Physical manifestation of your curse." Said. "It's getting stronger. Evolving."

"Can you stop it?"

I wanted to say yes. To reassure him. But I'm tired of lying.

"Don't know." Admitted. "Can suppress it. Push it back. But I can't cure it. Not without knowing exactly what kind of curse it is and who cast it."

Darion closed eyes. "Julian."

"What?"

"Has to be Julian." Said. "He's the only one who makes sense. Appeared right after ambush. Started hunting me. This curse..." Touched chest. "Showed up around the same time."

"Why would ancient vampires curse you?" I asked.

"Don't know. But I'm going to find out."

Tormund cleared throat. "That's the conversation for tomorrow. Right now both of you need rest. Especially you Lena."

Wanted to argue but he was right. Running on fumes. Magical exertion drained me more than I wanted to admit.

"Fine." Said. "But Darion, you're not sleeping alone tonight."

Eyes widened. "What?"

"Not like that you idiot." Snapped. Cheeks heating. "Mean someone needs to keep an eye on you in case that thing comes back. Tormund..."

"I'll take my first watch." Said immediately. "You get sleep. Real sleep this time."

Nodded gratefully. Headed toward the room. Paused at the door. I looked back at Darion. He was watching me. An expression I couldn't quite read.

"Thank you." Said quietly. "For saving me. Again."

"Yeah well." Said. Trying to sound casual. "Don't make it a habit."

But as I closed the door and leaned against it, I knew the truth.

Whispers had started. No amount of cover stories about artifacts going to stop them completely.