Chasing Shadows (Shadow Series #2)

Chasing Shadows

Shadow Series #2

by S.H. Kolee

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 S.H. Kolee

All Rights Reserved.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter One

I hadn't been able to take a full breath since I left Rochester. The train ride had done nothing to calm me. Instead, the inability to do anything except sit there as the train sped towards Connecticut made me more anxious. A hundred thoughts crowded into my head. I feared that it was too late for my aunt and that I was headed towards tragedy. I wondered what Simon and Sarah would think once they found my note. I was hyper aware of every person in my car, jumping every time someone walked past my seat, convinced that I was about to be attacked.

It was a relief to finally pull into the station. I grabbed my bag and made my way outside, shivering from more than the bitter cold that took my breath away. Morning was still an hour away and the black sky offered no relief from the feeling of foreboding. I couldn't escape the sense of inevitably that I was about to face my mortality, but I had no other choice. I needed to find out what happened to Aunt Brenda. For one brief moment in my life, I had known what it was like to have a family member that cared about me. A family member who had risked her own safety to help me. She deserved nothing less than the same.

A gruff cab driver threw my bag into the trunk and nodded when I gave him the address of my aunt's house. I leaned my head against the seat, feeling fatigue wash over me. The events of the past forty-eight hours had taken a toll on me, both physically and mentally, and I felt bone weary. It was hard to believe how dramatically my life had changed in the span of a few days. It was even harder to come to terms with the fact that I was now being hunted by shadows and I had no idea how to defend myself.

I was grateful when the sun started to rise, washing the fields whizzing by the car window in a hazy glow. It was a deceptively calm ride, but I felt myself tense the closer we got to our destination. My stomach clenched in anxiety when the cab pulled in front of my aunt's house. It looked exactly the same as it had a few days ago, neat and tidy; incongruous with how I expected to find it. I wasn't sure what I was expecting after my aunt's frantic phone call, but it wasn't this peaceful facade.

Seventeen fifty, the cab driver grumbled, not bothering to look at me. I handed him a twenty and he popped the trunk, clearly not intending to give me change or help me with my bag. I climbed out of the backseat, figuring this was the least of my problems, and grabbed my bag from the trunk before the cabbie sped off.

I took a deep breath as I stood in front of my aunt's house, trepidation oozing from every pore as I braced myself for whatever I would find inside. I forced myself to put one foot in front of the other until I was at the doorstep. I considered ringing the doorbell but decided against it, not wanting to alert anyone I was here, although I doubted anyone, or anything, could have missed the sound of the cab.

I held my breath as I twisted the doorknob, not sure whether I wanted to find it unlocked or not. When the knob turned and I was able to push the door ajar, a frisson of fear went through me. I doubted my aunt kept her front door unlocked. I could only assume that this was a bad sign.

I stepped in, closing the door behind me as I surveyed the foyer. Nothing seemed out of place, no struggle looked to have occurred from my vantage point. I walked into the living room where we had talked earlier, noting that it looked as tidy as before. My confusion increased as I explored the rest of the house, not seeing anything out of order. Could I have been mistaken and my aunt was okay? Had she just stepped out to run a few errands? I checked her garage and saw her car sitting there.

I wandered into the kitchen and sat down at the table, contemplating what my next steps should be, when I heard the front door open. I froze, not having heard a car approach or any footsteps on the front steps. I frantically looked around the kitchen, wondering where I could hide, when I heard women's voices. I couldn't make out what they were saying but they didn't sound threatening. Still, I knew better than to take anything at face value and remained at the kitchen table, straining to overhear their conversation.

I don't know what to do. I'm not picking up any energy.

Maybe there's no energy to pick up. We don't know exactly what happened.

Nonsense. You just need to try harder.

The conversation stopped as I watched three women approach, their eyes widening as they caught sight of me. I stood up quickly, not wanting to be at a disadvantage by sitting, although the women looked as dangerous as three bunny rabbits. But I knew that didn't mean much.

What are you doing here? a tall woman with long brown hair asked abruptly, her tone expressing her disapproval. The woman next to her, much shorter with graying hair that softly framed a gentle face, put her hand on the taller woman's arm, stopping her from saying more.

You're Caitlin, aren't you?

I nodded jerkily, clenching my hands into fists. I was ready to flee at any moment, my muscles tensed to react to any danger.

The woman who guessed who I was rushed towards me and I instinctively took a step back, glancing at the back door in the kitchen. She stopped short, seeing my anxiety at her approach.

I'm sorry, dear. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm Cecelia, a friend of your aunt's. She paused, glancing back at the other two women who remained where they were. We're part of your aunt's inner circle.

The third women, younger than the two with black hair and startling green eyes, stepped forward, standing next to the woman who had introduced herself as Cecelia. Caitlin, I'm Marie. We were going to contact you, but it seems you've made that unnecessary.

Marie reached out, laying a gentle hand on my arm, and I couldn't stop myself from trembling. From fear, relief, sadness and a myriad of other emotions rushing through me.

Where's Aunt Brenda? I choked out.

The tall stern woman approached me, but her face no longer looked rigid and cold. Instead she looked at me sympathetically. That scared me most of all.

Caitlin, we don't know what happened. The police were here last night looking for Brenda. Apparently they received a 911 call informing them that Brenda had been attacked. One of her neighbors called me because she knows I'm the closest thing Brenda has to a relative around here. No one's seen her, and the police aren't doing anything right now because they don't believe any foul play is involved. They said we have to wait 48 hours to file a missing person's report.

That was me. My voice was shaking, but I forced my lips to form the words. I called the police. I was on the phone with her, and I heard something attack her. She was screaming and she sounded terrified. She sounded like— I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. She sounded like she was suffering.

Cecelia and Marie both turned to the tall woman, as if they were waiting for her to take the lead. She walked towards me, clasping my hands in hers. I think we should all sit down before we discuss anything more. I'm Lenore and I've been Brenda's friend for a long time. I know how much it meant to her to reunite with you. We'll do everything we can to help you find her.

I let Lenore lead me into the living room and guide me gently onto the couch as I wiped away my tears, trying to get a hold of myself. I had to remember to be strong. A scared sniveling seer wouldn't do anyone any good. Especially my aunt. Or Simon and Sarah.

The thought gave me renewed strength and I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever I learned in this conversation.

So you think she's alive? You think we can find her? I was desperate to believe that my aunt was still alive somewhere.

We're not sure, Lenore replied as she sat next to me. We've been checking everywhere she could be, but we know she wouldn't disappear of her own free will without telling us. It's useless trying to call her because she left her cell phone behind.

Cecelia and Marie sat opposite us, both looking at me with concern. I was relieved to have found people who could help me, people who understood what was happening, but at the same time I felt like I was under a microscope and it was an uncomfortable feeling.

Caitlin, Lenore continued, watching me closely. What was Brenda able to tell you before...you two were disconnected?

She told me that you had put her under hypnosis and she saw that the vardogers were after me. That somehow Sarah and Simon's vardogers were able to detach themselves and are trying to kill me. My voice shook at my last sentence, not wanting to believe it. They're working with my own vardoger and Claudia, who's already been overtaken.

My body tensed as I thought about the girl who had tried to kill me. Or more accurately, the vardoger that had overtaken Claudia's body. I looked around nervously. Maybe they're here now, I whispered.

Don't worry, Cecelia interjected. We're here to protect you. Your aunt was probably just taken off guard and that's why she... Cecelia trailed off, as if she realized that her answer wouldn't reassure me. I caught Lenore's sharp look at her before she turned back to me.

You're wearing iridium, right?

I pulled the iridium coin out of my pocket, raising it for her inspection. I thought about the necklace that Claudia had torn away, the last piece of my mother I had. Ever since my aunt had told me that iridium would not only protect me from vardogers entering me, but allow me to kill them, I had never taken it off. Now it was lost in an alleyway, my fear and disorientation after Claudia's attack making me leave it behind. I pushed the pain away as I spoke. I used to have a necklace but it was taken away from me. I'm planning on making this into a necklace as well so I'm always in contact with it.

Lenore nodded in approval before continuing. Your aunt was able to see a lot when she was under hypnosis, but we don't understand everything that she saw. I'm sure she told you that the actions of vardogers are hard to predict because they're constantly evolving, but never at the rate we're seeing now. We don't understand how the vardogers have detached from your friends and are working together. But we're here to help you.

I felt relief that I wasn't alone, but I still didn't have answers about my aunt. What about Aunt Brenda? What if she's somewhere and needs our help? What do you think happened to her?

We're not sure, Caitlin, Marie said, leaning in closer to me. While Lenore and Cecelia looked to be around my aunt's age, Marie looked like she was only in her thirties. I wondered how long she had been fighting vardogers since she looked so young, but I pushed the thought aside. I wasn't about to begrudge anyone's help right now. We came here today because Cecelia is very attuned to energies and we wanted to see if she could pick up anything.

I looked at Cecelia expectantly but she shook her head, looking apologetic. I'm sorry, dear. It's like the slate has been wiped clean. I can't pick up anything.

I think the best idea is to go back to my house, Lenore said, taking control of the situation. It's not a good idea for us to be here too long. We don't know what could be coming back.

Lenore's words scared me, but I thought of my aunt's scream. Isn't that exactly why we should stay here? So that we can confront whatever comes back? I was scared witless about what could possibly return to the scene of the crime, but it wasn't bravery that made me want to stay. It was a burning anger. I would make whatever hurt my aunt pay.

I understand why you want to stay, Lenore said gently. But it'll be pointless if we don't know how to defend ourselves. We need to learn more about what's happening.

How do we do that?

Lenore paused before answering me, looking uncertain. We can put you under hypnosis.

Lenore! Marie exclaimed, looking dismayed. You know that's the last thing Brenda would want. It's too dangerous. It's dangerous enough for any seer but Caitlin has no experience. She's just a beginner. What if we're not able to pull her back? She turned to look at Cecelia for backup, but Cecelia just stared down at the floor. Marie turned back to me when she saw that she wasn't going to get Cecelia's support. Caitlin, I know how important it is to find your aunt. But you have no idea how dangerous it is to put you under. Even with our energies, if you're not strong enough, it doesn't matter how hard we try. We won't be able to pull you out of it. And there's no guarantee that you'll see anything helpful while you're under.

Marie, Brenda told us herself that Caitlin is more powerful than any seer she's encountered. And Brenda was the most powerful of us all. Lenore turned to me, looking grim. I'm not saying there's no danger involved. There's a chance that you might not be strong enough for this. But I believe you are.

I nodded, knowing that there had never been a doubt in my mind once Lenore suggested it. I'll do it.

Marie sighed, shaking her head but looking resigned. Cecelia looked up at me with a smile, her hopefulness almost childlike. Lenore stood up briskly, looking determined now that she had a course of action.

My house is only a few minutes away. Let's go.

I grabbed my bag and followed the women outside, sliding into the backseat of a dilapidated green Honda that looked like the only thing holding it together was rust. I was surprised I hadn't heard the car pull up once I saw its condition, but when Lenore turned the engine it purred softly.

Looks are deceiving, Lenore said with a wry smile, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. Just like us.

I nodded, not knowing what to say. She was right. I would have never looked at these three women and thought they had the ability to save people's lives and destroy monsters lurking in the shadows. I prayed that they were powerful enough to help me.

Lenore's house was a short car ride away, as she had promised, and I was relieved when we pulled up to a normal-looking neighborhood. Lenore's house was bigger than my aunt's, but just as neat and tidy. A part of me had been afraid that she lived in some witch's shanty with potions bubbling in black cauldrons. Instead, it was a Tudor style house with black awnings.

Lenore directed me to sit on an elegant sofa in the living room once we entered her house. She went to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water. Here. Drink this.

Why? Will it help with the hypnosis? I obligingly drank the water, draining the glass.

No. I just thought you looked thirsty.

Oh, I said, not sure how to take her eccentric response. I looked at the women standing before me, realizing I barely knew them. Yet I was putting all my trust in their hands. So where do we do this?

We might as well do it here, Lenore said, indicating the living room.

You mean, you don't have a secret room where you hold all your ceremonies?

Marie smiled at my question. We're just normal people like you, Caitlin. We don't fly around on broomsticks and we don't drink the blood of bats. She winked at me, obviously trying to relieve the tension. Well, only when there's a full moon.

I gave her a weak smile, not wanting her to realize that her joke wasn't far from the truth of my thoughts of them.

Quiet, Lenore admonished. She turned to me, looking serious. "I want to explain what's going to happen before we put you under. We'll link hands around you and pool our energies to help push you deep under hypnosis. But we need your energy too. A chant also helps. It funnels all our energy, pushing out other thoughts. We'll all chant 'Be as one', including you. Just imagine yourself sinking underwater. Deep underwater until there's nothing but darkness. If it works, you'll see flashes of images. They might make sense. They might not. Try to hold onto everything you see so that you remember the images when we pull you out."

The thought of imagining myself sinking underwater was frightening, reminding me of Simon's vision. At the same time, having to chant 'Be as one' made me want to grimace. It sounded too much like a stereotypical séance you would see in a horror movie. But what did I know?

The women stood around me in a circle, holding hands and looking down at me. Marie was frowning slightly while Cecelia nodded at me encouragingly. Lenore was expressionless as she directed me to close my eyes.

I started chanting with the women. Be as one. Be as one. Be as one. The chanting continued and I couldn't help but feel a little foolish. I was trying to imagine myself sinking underwater, but I was acutely aware of the sofa under me and the bright lights that I could detect through my eyelids. I idly wondered why Lenore hadn't turned off the lights. It seemed like it would set the mood more.

I shook off my wandering thoughts, forcing myself to concentrate as I chanted. I thought of my aunt's last words to me, telling me to come to her. That we would fight the vardogers together. I thought of Sarah, of the countless hours she had spent consoling me after my visions. Her fierce protectiveness of me. And I thought of Simon. Of how it had felt to be in his embrace. Of his words of love. I felt myself slowly fading, the women's voices sounding fainter and fainter. I vaguely wondered if I was falling asleep when suddenly there was a rushing in my ears and I felt as if I was falling down an endless hole, a forceful wind surging against me, pushing me down until I felt I was going to suffocate.

Chapter Two

I opened my eyes, trying to escape the darkness but instead of seeing my aunt's friends standing above me, nothing changed. I closed my eyes and opened them again, willing myself to see something, but there was no discernible difference between my eyes being open or closed.

Panic started to rise as I tried to move but I felt bodiless. I willed my hand to move up in front of my face to see if I could make out its shape, but I felt no answering movement from my limb. In fact, it felt as if I had no limbs, as if I was just floating along, a soul with no body to call its own.

Fear wasn't the right word to describe what I was feeling. Fear sounded too human. Too concrete and definable. A blackness had entered me, a blackness so profound and deep that it swallowed me whole, from the inside out.

I was on the verge of giving myself into the blackness when I suddenly saw a shaft of light. It was shimmering, refracting onto itself like it was caught underwater, incandescent beams illuminating the murky depths. I strained my eyes, the only part of my body that seemed to be working. The only part of my body that seemed to exist. I tried to make out recognizable shapes before me, frustration mounting when all I could see was rays of flickering light.

Suddenly the rays of light moved with fast purpose, no longer meandering but pushing against the darkness with force. And they were aimed right towards me, funneling through the dark with a single-minded determination. I whimpered, although the sound reverberated through my mind instead of being audible. The lights hit me with a fury and everything exploded into color, figures and sounds moving through my mind with dizzying speed, faces contorting and bodies straining. I could hear voices, both familiar and foreign, warning me, guiding me, threatening me. It was a mind-numbing over-abundance of sensations and I struggled to hear everything, to retain everything. To understand everything.

Just as abruptly, the images became blurry, the sounds discordant and unintelligible. It was painful to experience and I felt claustrophobic. The sounds and images were flooding every part of my psyche, digging into every crevice of my mind like they were trying to overwrite what was already there.

It was easy to let go, to let the sensations overtake me. It didn't hurt if I didn't resist it. The feeling of slowly disappearing was pleasant, like I was being lulled into a gentle dream where I could finally rest.

There was a niggling thought in my head. I tried to push it away but it surged back to the forefront of my mind. Aunt Brenda hugging me the last time I saw her. Sarah's delight when she surprised me with a homemade dinner on my last birthday, despite the smoke that was billowing from the kitchen. And Simon. Simon's eyes when he told me he loved me.

I jerked forward mentally, wanting to