by Dahlia Leigh
“Father.” Darien inclined his head.
“I have received a letter of the most unexpected news,” the alpha said, curling his lip in disgust and crumpled the letter within his fist.
Concerned, Darien frowned and held out his hand. “What is it?”
Berone thrust the wadded paper into Darien’s open hand. Darien unfolded the official parchment. His brow furrowed as he read.
“Asteroth Castle is requesting my presence to join the honored ranks of the last Sentinel’s team. But why, after our history with them?”
The alpha paced in a tight pattern before his throne like a caged animal. “You remember what they have done to us, to our brethren?” He practically shouted, barely containing his rage.
“Father, this could be an opportunity for the benefit of the pack,” Darien said in a placating manner, attempting to reason with the alpha.
“They sealed the veil that had given us access to this side of the Void, separating us from the rest of our friends… our families, leaving them in Nightstead to waste away.”
A momentary flash of sadness washed over him. When they left Nightstead, only a fraction of the pack had gotten through. The shadow creatures, called the Unbound, had once been a vicious breed. When they arrived top-side, they needed human hosts to adapt and solidify their presence into human form. They fused with humans, creating a natural hybrid, thus becoming the shadow shifters. The fusion allowed them to remain in human form, but also change into shadow form, living longer lives.
“Father…”
Berone’s thoughts strayed to the land he came from. Nightstead was a dying realm, a separate land but still connected to the Void. Over the eons, it had become a desolate place, devoid of life, where the rest of their brethren—the Unbound—were left to live in turmoil amongst themselves.
He turned on his son and growled out, “The Sentinels left them there to die!”
“Father, listen, please. That was a long time ago. Perhaps, this is a way to make amends. Think of the opportunity it could be for the pack. We could negotiate with the Sentinel, become allies. Think of the resource she could bring.”
The alpha momentarily calmed as a devious thought formed in his mind. “I need you with the pack, but this could work to our advantage, should you go.”
“That’s not exactly what I meant, Father,” Darien said.
“It is decided. You will go to the castle on a temporary basis. You will go to learn all you can of the castle, this new Sentinel, and how they could be an asset to our pack. I doubt the new Sentinel will be able to perform her duties if she’s looking for a team, and it would be good to learn of her weaknesses.”
“You want me to be a spy? I am an alpha’s son, not a minion spy,” Darien stated, voice flat.
“Yes, you are an alpha’s son, and as such, you will do as you’re told.” The alpha stared Darien down, challenging him to go against what he said. Thankfully, Darien did not.
Satisfied, the alpha continued. “Now, as you mentioned, the Sentinel is an influential person in this realm and could be immensely useful. Knowing her would give the pack greater status among the rest, not to mention the magic and treasures rumored to reside there.”
Internally, he noted she was the only one who stood between them and the very access point he needed to free his lost brethren. Nearby, they had found one of a dozen cracks that could give them limited access to the Void where mere communications could get through, but nothing large enough for a shifter—even a shadow shifter—to ease through. Though they may be made of shadows, they still had to abide by the wards containing the Void.
“It is true, all that would benefit the pack if negotiations could be reached for a peace treaty amongst us and the Sentinel. I would be honored to go on your behalf and begin negotiations with the Sentinel.” Darien stood tall with his hands casually clasped behind his back, waiting his father’s reply.
“No. The Sentinels do not negotiate. They never have in the past, and they will not now. Information is what I want. I expect reports and for you to return to the pack after we’ve gained what we need.”
“But father—” Darien’s shoulders stiffened, ready with words on his lips but halted in the process.
“No. You are the only one in the pack to have an issue with the way I choose to lead. I have led this pack for centuries by the traditions of old, the same ways our ancestors led before me. It is what is best for the pack. And I will not have my son going against my wishes or the sacred traditions of all we have left of our past.”
“Do not misunderstand me. I want to save the pack. I want to free the rest of our brethren, but it would be utter mayhem for the humans to allow the whole of the shadow creatures top-side without some order to it. The contingent of Unbound we have are unruly enough without your constant awareness. I want the best for the pack just as much as you do. I just happen to think there is a way to circumvent the inevitable war it would cause to go against the Sentinel. It’s my belief there are additional ways for the pack to prosper and advance in this world away from Nightstead.”
“You mean new ways. Ways that go against our traditions.” The alpha breathed in through his nose, anger rising once more. How could his only son not see their ways the same as he did?
“I’m merely thinking of the pack,” Darien said and took a step back in deference to his father.
“As am I. Pack and pack traditions come first. All else is subject to that. Remember that, son. This will be a valuable lesson for when you are alpha.”
“I will remember that,” Darien said tightly, but nodded his head in understanding.
Berone liked that his son had a backbone, he just needed to temper it with a greater respect for the centuries of traditions the pack had abided by. The alpha returned to sit on his throne and sipped from the goblet of wine at his side. “Speaking of: where is your beautiful betrothed who will sit at your side when you become alpha?”
Darien grumbled under his breath. “As we have not yet been mated, I am not her keeper. Nor do I know where she goes on her own time.”
“Shame on you, son. You need to take better care of your future bride, my future daughter-in-law, and the future queen of this pack. You have grown up together and she is the child of my second-in-command. She will serve you well with her loyalty to the pack.” His father looked at him with reproach until Darien conceded. He couldn’t understand why Darien had been dragging his feet to mate with Rozalind. She was the daughter he always hoped to have had.
“Indeed. Someone truly loyal should be cherished.” Darien bent at his waist and offered his father a bow before he turned to leave the throne room. Before he reached the opening to the caverns, he added, “Father, when do I leave for Asteroth Castle?”
“Ready your things. We leave tonight.”
Chapter Four
Rozalind
At the base of the mountain, where the shadow shifters dwelled, lay a densely populated forest of trees. Rozalind, betrothed to the future alpha of her pack, made her way along a narrow dirt path. Periodically, she looked over her shoulder, making sure she wasn’t followed. Once she reached where the shade from the tree canopy strangled out most of the daylight, she shifted into her shadow form. Where a young woman once stood, was now a swirling mass of darkness around a human-shaped being, more beast than not. She was almost transparent in entirety, but still in feminine form. Her eyes glowed the violet color of her lipstick, and her hair was a crazed mass of purple curls. She moved soundlessly through the forest, able to blend more fully when amidst so many natural shadows of the forest.
Finally, at the end of the path, cradled between thorny and decaying trees, was the entrance to a secret cave only a handful knew about. Rozalind shifted back into her human form and then composed herself, ensuring, once more, she had not been followed. Straightening her purple-black hair, she then pulled it into a high pony-tail so not to snag strands on the thorns. Her makeup was dark and smoky, accentuating her dark gray eyes. The black
leather halter and pants she wore clung seductively to her curves.
Once she entered the cave, she found the large crystal at the back wall. A small fissure in the crystal also served as a slim entrance for communication with the Void. Rozalind spoke a word in the shadow’s ancient tongue and then laid her hand upon the crystal. The power of the crystal would recognize her essence as one from the Void. A slight burst of magical energy shimmered, and the small crack grew close to a foot tall—the biggest it could get—and out flew a small, humanoid creature with wings resembling pixies. This one, however, was dark gray and black with a small set of antlers. It chattered something and held out a tiny hand toward Roz.
“Greedy little bastard,” Roz said with a smirk, but procured a small, shiny trinket from her pocket and then handed it over. The creature gleefully took the shiny item then tossed Rozalind a roll of parchment tied with a black ribbon complete with a wax seal. She longingly touched the seal.
“Finally, the last one. It’s all coming together.” After unrolling the scroll, she read the contents and smiled. She rolled the paper back up then protectively snuck it into her cleavage, leaving the dark pixie without further glance. Roz stuck her head out the cave entrance, seeking any who might have snuck up on her. When the coast was clear, she turned back into her shadow self and fled back into the darkened forest.
Chapter Five
Ashlynn
Studying the Book of the Sentinel, Ashlynn discovered a small drawing of something she had seen before; a puzzle she hadn’t yet solved. When she was a young girl, the castle had given her a gift, hidden away by her mother as a failsafe in the event she perished in battle. The gift was a real-life version of the drawing before her eyes—a beautifully designed wooden box. The box in the image on the page had the end drawers opened in what appeared to be a random pattern, but to Ashlynn’s eyes, the pattern was intentional.
She jumped up and grabbed the box—her most prized possession—off her vanity and then compared her box to the one on the page. Upon examination, Ash understood the drawing to be a code—a clue—to opening the box she had failed to open over the years. Working the end drawers of her box to look like the one in the image, a click sounded as a spring released internally from the box.
“It worked!” Ashlynn declared.
“So much intrigue,” Asteroth added with an edge of unexpected excitement.
“Do you not know what this does?”
“If I did, I do not remember. The Sentinels had a few secrets of their own. I really couldn’t tell you at this point,” he said.
“Then let’s see what it does.” Ashlynn opened the lid to the box with great anticipation. Her mother left the box specifically for her, and she couldn’t wait to see what secrets it held. But upon inspection, the only thing within the box was an engraved marking in the bottom—the symbol of a tree in full bloom.
“Well that was a bit anti-climactic,” Asteroth mumbled as Ashlynn held the box at different angles to see if anything else showed up or changed.
“A bit. But it must mean something.” She studied the etching more before her eyes widened. “Wait! I’ve seen this image before. The symbol seemed out of place. I couldn’t figure out its meaning, but I know where this is. Asteroth, it’s down the hall.” She grabbed the box and strode out of her room, down her hall to the end of the wing. Ashlynn turned and faced what appeared to be a dead-end, but the placement had never made sense to the exterior architecture of the castle. In one of the stone blocks, an image of the tree just like inside the box, was barely visible to the naked eye, and only if one knew to look there. However, to the Sentinel’s eye—or maybe just the queen’s eye—a shimmering outline of the tree stood out, calling her to discover the hidden meaning.
Ashlynn pushed on the tree etched into the stone but nothing happened. She pushed some of her magic into the stone, but again nothing. “This is it, I know it! I just have to figure out what I’m intended to do with it all. Asteroth, do you know what I am supposed to do with this?”
“I’m sorry, no, but you are resourceful. I’m sure you can figure it out.”
Ashlynn frowned at his response, but continued to examine the stones around the image of the tree. She took a step back and bit the inside of her cheek in thought as she absorbed the entire wall into her vision. She thought of the little box and held it up again, studying the item more.
“I almost see it,” Ashlynn whispered frustrated, holding the box in her hand, thinking of her mother. “She’s trying to show me something. I just need to figure out how to access it.”
“Try focusing your magic into the box and the stones at the same time,” Asteroth said.
“Right, because that’s not obvious,” she replied with sarcasm but did what the castle suggested anyway. Ashlynn gasped as she watched the stones of the wall illuminate one-by-one in a pattern. She then compared the wall to the pattern of the drawers on the little box. The drawers on the box lit up in the same sequence as the stones on the wall.
“Whoa! It’s the same pattern as the tiny drawers on the box.” Ashlynn stepped up to the stone wall and, as she touched each stone, she pushed her magic into it until the wall matched the box perfectly. Once completed, the wall magically revealed an archway that previously held no entry.
“That is badass!” Ashlynn whispered with awe as she walked through the archway into another hall with doorways in several directions. Directly in front of her was a large weapons room holding even more than the limited weapons the castle stored in the training room.
“Agreed. This is most spectacular, if I do say so myself. How I could forget a space like this, I don’t know,” Asteroth said.
“I’ve never seen some of these weapons before. I can feel magic vibrating from them, humming with energy, ready to do battle.” Ashlynn gently touched several weapons hanging from the walls, while others sat on display on top of narrow tables covered in blue velvet. A large situation table made of solid wood sat in the center of the room. Maps of the different castles and their surrounding areas were strategically placed on the wall behind the table. Other than the few pieces of simple furniture, the room was sparse and clean, but well used and functional.
Another archway to the side was closed off by a large, heavy, wood door. Ashlynn peeked her head inside the door, sucking in a deep breath as she took in the portraits inside the room. A whisper of loneliness snaked through her chest, seeing all the faces of those who came before her, including her family, but she quickly regained her focus. Ashlynn had a purpose, and she had just found a fucking awesome, hidden part of the castle.
“I can’t believe this has been here my entire life and I’m just now finding it. I’ve explored every inch of this place—at least, I thought I had—but, somehow, you always manage to surprise me, Asteroth.”
“I seem to be surprising myself a bit too, for that matter.”
Ashlynn laughed. “We’ll explore it together then!”
The room with the portraits wasn’t as large as the castle library, but definitely held its share of books. Ashlynn was immediately drawn by the sight of walls lined with bookshelves overflowing with books of all sizes. Large painted portraits boasting groups of people—the past Sentinels surrounded by multiple males who each looked equipped to hold their own in a battle—hung above the shelves. The portraits were similar to the images in the Book of the Sentinels, just much bigger. A grouping of comfortable looking chairs sat at the end of the room in front of a large fireplace, complete with a mantle made of a hefty piece of wood, decorated sparingly with candles. Set in the center of the mantle was, of course, a statue of a scholarly owl with eyes that shifted back and forth, watching Ashlynn.
“Well, that’s just a little bit creepy, Asteroth.”
In response, Asteroth replied with a series of hoots.
Ashlynn shook her head and placed her hands on her hips, adding a small smile. “Tell me more about the warriors surrounding each Sentinel.”
“Each Sentinel needs a
team to help support her and empower her to do her job to the best of her ability. The warriors make up her team.”
“I don’t need a team like they did. I’ve been training my entire life,” Ashlynn stated.
“The team is for you to have a show of strength and support and also a family,” he said.
Ashlynn’s heart skipped a beat. Her footing faltered as she was about to take a step forward. The word “family” was a painful one for her to hear, but she quickly caught herself and swallowed her emotions. Emotions were for the weak, and she was a warrior. Ashlynn couldn’t entertain such frilly feelings. Not when so much was at stake. She was now the protector of the castle and had to act like one.
Asteroth continued his recounting of the Sentinel’s history and their teams. “Each of the Sentinels worked with their teams, making up the armies of each castle. The forces were united by one female leader—the Sentinel Queen—to be at ultimate strength for the castle, and for each other as well. The Sentinels were integral to the future protection of the mortal realm, and together, with her team, they were a powerful force.”
Ashlynn listened to his words, taking them in. When she was about to say something further, Asteroth interrupted her train of thought, presenting her with a small box that appeared on the small table in front of the fireplace. Ashlynn sat in one of the chairs and then reached for the little box.
“What is this?” she asked.
“In addition to your Book of the Sentinels, I would like to present you with this additional reward. Open it,” Asteroth instructed excitedly like a small child.
Inside the box was a beautiful, large pendant necklace, shiny and sparkling with five diamonds roughly in the same shape as the compass she saw from the image in her book. She recognized the pendant as the same from the picture with her mother in it. “This was my mother’s?”
