Lingering Shadow Novels & Stories

Riven whispered. The artefact pulsed once, twice, and then exploded outward in a blinding storm of energy, threads lashing, tearing, and consuming the darkness. The shadow shrieked, its form unravelling as light and fire collided with it. Reality itself seemed to tremble under the force of their will. And then—a single, terrifying truth settled over them: The shadow was not alone. Behind it, massive shapes emerged from the horizon, larger, darker, and infinitely more menacing than the first. The artefact pulsed violently in Riven’s hands, warning him, screaming at him… But there was no time to hesitate.

Nothing that made the air itself bend. I brushed my thumb against Storm’s temple. His skin was fever-hot. “He’s the reason the Shadow watches,” I said. “It’s not just after the Hollow, it’s after him.” Aria flinched. “You think it knows what he is?” “I think it remembers.” Outside, a low rumble rolled through the valley, not thunder this time, but the slow groan of the forest itself. The wards Lira had carved into the perimeter poles shimmered faintly, veins of silver pulsing in the mud.

The air was thick with tension, charged with whispers and a latent power he had only glimpsed in fragments during his previous trials. Mafungashe appeared beside him without a sound, eyes narrowed, voice low. “The shadow has risen,” he said quietly. “It is a manifestation of Sipho’s legacy — unchecked, chaotic, and drawn to the weaknesses of the empire. You must confront it directly. Influence alone may not be enough. You will need clarity, moral judgment, and mastery over the shadows themselves.”

One moment she was powerless, the bond being stripped away piece by piece. The next, her wolf rose up inside her like a tidal wave. Like a dam breaking. Stronger than ever before. Wild. Ancient. For three heartbeats, Lyra felt power she'd never experienced. Power she'd never even imagined. Power that made the air around her shimmer and ripple. Power that made shadows dance at her feet like living things. Power that made the pack members step back in fear. Helena's face went white. Snow white. Her green eyes widened in recognition and something else.

The exhaustion from my emotions dragged me away into the darkness easily. I closed my heavy eyes as my subconscious took over. The dark abyss appeared around me. Pure darkness with no escape. I wasn't falling, instead standing on the water but never being wet. I heard the ticking of the clock. Tick, tick, tick. Panic was rising. I had no idea what the ticking was or where it was coming from, but something deep inside me knew it was not good. I felt like it signaled the end. But the end of what was unclear.

The darkness loomed around them like a cloak. Sekhmet carried an old-fashioned torch he pulled from a hole in the wall to light the way. It was a bit theatric and unnecessary, considering vampires and werewolves alike could see in the dark. But it set the mood for torture nicely; causing shadows to dance across the walls. A bleeding.

“George, please fetch me some lavender. We need some tea for the wound to manifest.” Without another word, he set off. Alone with her shadow, they turned the room upside-down, just so the moon’s rays could lighten her wounds. It wasn’t bleeding, but it was crawling like a pest, feeding with her flesh. “What do you think it is, Mary?” she asked her shadow. ‘Internal wound is far more different than visible ones. It isn’t painful, but it is there. It will kill its host once it’s stored for too long.’ The Shadow and the Wielder have interlinked minds. They could interact with one another using their thoughts, imagination, and perception. This link between them strengthened as they grew together

Obstacles that could be overcome, but how? Matthias stood still and watched as she continued down the path and noticed that she turned around again, seeking one last glance at him before she disappeared from view. He knew right then and there that he needed to win her over and quickly. He needed a plan to win her over. Immediately! There was no time to waste! Time was of the essence. But how? Pure and simple, manipulation. Manipulation. Reader Notes: Welcome to the world of Das Schatten, aka, the Shadows. The Schatten can turn into shadows and travel through walls and objects, unless they are bound with silver chains.

Every step was fraught with danger, and the air crackled with tension. As we neared our destination, a sudden realization struck me. The Shadows were not just an external threat. They had infiltrated our lives, entangling themselves in our past and present. We had unwittingly played into their hands, dancing to their tune without knowing the full extent of their control. The final confrontation loomed before us as we entered a vast chamber bathed in eerie blue light. The enigmatic leader of The Shadows stood before us, a figure shrouded in darkness, his identity concealed. His voice reverberated through the chamber, chilling our bones.