The Shadow Shifter

by Dahlia Leigh

  “We will count it as part of the unusual introduction and move on from here. I am not accustomed to others saying what they think aside from Asteroth. I will see you at dinner.” Ashlynn pulled her hand away from his loosened grip and smoothly walked down the hall. She didn’t touch the newly sensitive skin at her wrist until she arrived back in front of her own bedroom door. Instantly, she was grateful the warriors would be staying on an entire floor above her own.

  ASHLYNN

  Ashlynn closed herself in her room for a needed break after the initial events of the two warriors infiltrating her home. One more warrior had yet to arrive. Living most her life—fifteen of twenty years—alone with only her and Asteroth, she was struck with what a strange feeling it was to have strangers in her home. Not only were they strangers, but handsome warriors auditioning to become a part of her team. So many new feelings and thoughts swarmed within Ashlynn’s head. She wasn’t sure what to do with them. Confused, she wondered what her family would have been like and thought of her mother.

  “How did you handle situations with your team, Mother?” Ashlynn asked aloud only to simply ask the questions she had been pondering. “Did you have a choice? Did you even really want a team?”

  Or could her mother’s choice to have a team have been part of her weakness, one that allowed the destruction that followed? She ran her hand down her face, weary. Ashlynn’s mind was a jumble and loved the interruption her beloved friend brought with him.

  “Hijinx, there you are. You missed some of the action earlier with the shadow shifter pack,” Ashlynn said as she rubbed the whirrel’s fur around his ears after he jumped on her lap. Hijinx playfully nipped at Ash’s fingers when she wiggled them in his face. The action had been a game they played from time to time, resulting in Ashlynn laughing and ending in a lighter mood. Unfortunately, she stopped too soon, and the whirrel purred and curled up in her lap.

  Conflicting thoughts and emotions circled in Ashlynn’s mind. She was used to being alone. She knew how to be alone. The presence of others brought disruption to the peace she had procured over the years due to her situation and station within the castle. But there was something else within her that wanted to know what having another person to talk to, besides the castle and a pet that didn’t use words, would be like. What would life be like to have someone she could touch and who could touch her, someone she could fight with and share victories with?

  “This was not part of my plan. I shouldn’t even entertain this line of thought,” Ashlynn said with a sad sigh. She thought again of her mother and reached for her Book of Sentinels. “Perhaps you hold some more answers for me tonight. Or maybe I’ll learn some distracting information instead.”

  Opening the book, Ashlynn held her pendant in one hand and closed her eyes. She focused her magic to see what she might not have seen on her own. The necklace warmed in her hand.

  “Ok then, let’s try something.” Ashlynn thought of what she wanted to know and directed a question specifically to the book. “Show me what I need to know about choosing a team member… please.”

  The pages of the book began to turn, slowly at first, in one direction. Then they sped up, flipping back the alternate direction until it stopped and lay open in her hand. At the bottom of the page, in beautiful script writing, was her name: Ashlynn.

  Ashlynn ran her fingers lightly over the lettering. “Wow. I didn’t expect that.” She examined the page but found nothing else special about it until she lifted the paper. She noticed the thickness of the paper differed from the other pages. “What have we here?”

  Ashlynn focused her magic once more on the page of parchment and watched as it lifted, revealing a hidden sheet underneath. Writing appeared across the hidden sheet of paper.

  Ashlynn looked to Hijinx and her throat tightened with thick emotion. “It’s a letter. From my mother.”

  A letter from her mother was the last thing she had expected to find. Ashlynn began to read:

  My Dearest Daughter Ashlynn,

  If you have found this letter, I am no longer with you. I deeply regret I was not there to raise you and to watch you become the Sentinel I knew you would one day be. You were only five years old when you were chosen as the next Sentinel Queen. I know Asteroth will have trained you well, but you will need more than excellent training. You will need a team, just as I did and every great queen before you. You are special, my love, and you need a team made up of special warriors to compliment you and give you the support you will need. They will complete your strength in order to become queen, and they will unlock the power within you. You team will need you just as you will need them.

  Asteroth will indeed help you find candidates, but it is up to you who you choose. Take care with the qualities within each warrior you choose. You will die without love. You will lose hope without courage. You will be lonely without acceptance. And you will be lost without belief. Find these qualities to complete your team and your strength will be unmatched.

  Protect the veil. Protect the castle. And keep the Void from our side of the world. This is your duty. Know I have always loved you, and I believe in you, my little Sentinel. From the moment you were born, I knew you carried within you the capacity for greatness.

  I am proud of you,

  Your mother

  Ashlynn wiped the tears rolling down her cheeks and breathed deep. She practically heard her mother’s voice as she read her words. Her letter was something Ashlynn would always cherish.

  “Thank you, Mother. You have given me the idea I needed to choose the member of my team.” Ashlynn gently closed the book then set it on the table next to her bed.

  “Dinner is about to be served, Ashlynn.” Asteroth’s voice interrupted through the dragon statue.

  “I’m on my way.”

  Chapter Ten

  Ashlynn

  The third guest had not yet arrived by the time the evening meal was ready. Ashlynn wondered if, by chance, he happened to change his mind. She made her way downstairs to meet Edmund and Darien in the dining hall when the castle informed her she was needed to welcome the third guest in the dungeon.

  “Why am I going to the dungeon to welcome the next arrival?” Even though she questioned him, her steps carried her away from the dining hall and toward the hallway leading to the dungeon.

  “You will need to greet and allow entrance at the veil for our next and final guest. He will be coming through the tunnel from the Void,” Asteroth said as if his words made total sense.

  “Of course, we would be welcoming someone from the Void. Why didn’t I think of that?” Ashlynn said, sarcasm dripping in her words.

  She hesitated momentarily, pondering the castle’s words. Asteroth had been displaying memory issues lately, and though he could come across a little crazy at times, he seldom made mistakes. She trusted him and continued to the dungeons.

  “You will have to guide me on how to allow someone from that side entrance. I’ve only ever been trained on how to keep them out.”

  “I will guide you,” Asteroth said.

  Deep in the heart of the dungeons, down a long tunnel, resided the shimmering gold veil. From where she stood, the veil was almost as tall as she was—more like a magical doorway—only oval-shaped. The veil was beautiful and yet mysteriously ominous, pulsating with the energy needed to keep it closed. She inhaled deep and pondered who she was about to let through from the other side. Peering into the veil, she couldn’t see through the other side as she had hoped. Sometimes the veil was thicker than others, as she discovered by periodically checking on the status of it. Ashlynn listened as Asteroth instructed her on what she needed to do.

  “So, I simply need to prick my finger, smear a tiny drop of blood on the wall connected to the veil, and name whoever is on the other side?” Ashlynn asked for clarification.

  “Yes.”

  Ashlynn pulled out the dagger from her boot and poked her finger. When she had enough blood, she swiped her finger on the wall.

  “Welc
ome to Asteroth Castle, Taegen of the Void,” Ashlynn said in a bold voice. The veil shimmered and waved as something happened.

  “Thank you, thank you,” said a young man of about twenty as he stepped out of the veil and into the dungeon with dramatic flare.

  “Are you Taegen?” she asked.

  “I am. Taegen, at your service,” he said with a charming smile then bowed.

  “Definitely not what I expected, but okay then.” Ashlynn stumbled over her words, slightly taken aback by the appearance of the devilishly handsome warrior standing before her. Aside from his otherworldly good looks, he appeared quite human. His dark, almost black, hair was stylistically shaggy reaching his earlobes with longer strips of bangs swooping casually down across his forehead. And his ageless, edgy reddish-brown eyes held ancient secrets of times past but also twinkled with a hint of mischief. As they did now, observing her as she took in his height and toned muscles, suggesting he could hold his own in a battle. “I am Ashlynn, the protector of this castle.”

  To Ashlynn’s surprise, her necklace warmed. A sensation similar to the one she experienced with Edmund enveloped her. She sensed her mother’s presence and the power of the pendant strengthening in her soul. Without the pendant, Ashlynn would have continued to see Taegen as the god-like specimen before her, but with the power of the pendant she could see through the glamour he held to see what lie beneath. The similarities of her simulation within the illusion room and again with Taegen were confirming. Her pendant enabled her to see through not only magic, but the true essence of a person. She couldn’t wait to explore that further.

  Taegen’s eyes narrowed as if he suddenly sensed her probing through his cover. Ashlynn quickly recovered and beckoned him to follow her.

  “You have arrived later than the others. They are already at the evening meal. Follow me there, then after, you will be shown to your quarters,” Ashlynn said.

  “Very well.” Taegen placed his hands casually at his back as he sauntered next to her.

  Ashlynn wondered why and how on earth Asteroth chose to bring someone from the Void into the castle. The more she thought about it, her instincts took over, and her hand twitched, needing the feel of her blade in her hand. She regained control and relaxed her hand. Thankfully, her guest didn’t seem to notice.

  As soon as they passed by the bronzed statue of a gnarled looking, squatty creature with a pot-belly and simple loin cloth placed just outside the entry into the tunnel. Asteroth grumbled about the types of statues he was forced to work with then spoke to Taegen for the first time.

  “Welcome to Asteroth Castle, warrior. You are the third and final guest. The auditions will begin at Ashlynn’s discretion.”

  Taegen bowed with dramatic, regal flourish and said, “I am Taegen. And I am pleased to be here and afforded the opportunity.”

  Ashlynn remained silent as she watched the simple interaction. Asteroth didn’t make mistakes so she would see where bringing one from the Void led. She would observe him carefully—as she would with all three—and keep her knowledge of his glamour to herself… for now. She would see how he reacted to her and play along.

  They made their way up the spiral stone stairs back to the main floor of the castle. Ashlynn glanced at the newcomer as he had stopped. Taegen had moved a small statue resting in an alcove in the wall. Ashlynn whipped her head around.

  “What are you doing?”

  Taegen quickly released his hold on the little statue and threw his hands up in defense. “The statue was crooked. I was just fixing it.”

  “Don’t touch or move any of the statues in the castle. They are strategically placed.” Though she was concerned for her beloved Asteroth, she dared not admit that to Taegen yet. The castle’s mind not functioning at full capacity was no one’s business but her own.

  Taegen tipped his head in her direction. “I do apologize. It will not happen again.”

  “Thank you.”

  They turned the corner from the entry and headed down the hallway toward the dining hall.

  “Have you ever been top-side before?” Ashlynn asked, breaking the silence with a seemingly innocent question.

  Out of nowhere, Taegen grabbed her arm and gently pulled her toward him. “Why did you not ask me any questions when I first came through? For your protection you should have asked.” His tone was gentle, but Ashlynn could sense an underlying edge of frustration he hid.

  Calmly but with complete strength, confidence, and a practiced move, she turned and flipped him around, pinning him against the wall with her forearm. Her stare pierced through his defenses. He didn’t fight her and even looked a little impressed she dared to pin him. Ashlynn’s body warmed at his close proximity. As if he could sense what she felt, a small, playful smile emerged on his face. “Now what Sentinel?”

  “You are from the Void. Why are you here?” she asked not responding to his suggestive taunt.

  Taegen’s gaze took in her face, examining her, measuring her. He was relaxed, even playful and sensual, but something intense and dangerous flashed in his eyes. Ashlynn felt exposed but held her ground and position. She would not underestimate him. After all, he was a demon from the Void.

  “I have been looking for a new location. I am also the best in my field, and I couldn’t resist the temptation to meet the last Sentinel on her journey to becoming queen.”

  Ashlynn stepped away from him, releasing him from the wall. She hated the way her body reacted to his, but even more, she hated the lack of him she felt when she moved away.

  “The great esteemed castle invited me to come, and so I did. Simple as that,” Taegen said, grandly gesturing around him.

  For now, Ashlynn accepted that because she trusted Asteroth, but only time would tell.

  Chapter Eleven

  Ashlynn

  Ashlynn entered through the double wood doors of the dining room. Darien and Edmund stood in gentlemanly fashion to greet her. They sat opposite each other at one end of the table awaiting her. The room was quiet and the atmosphere awkward, until the men saw who accompanied her through the door. Both looked suspiciously, even cautiously at the newcomer. Then Ashlynn noted specifically how Darien’s posture changed. The shifter looked at the demon with a mix of accusation and animosity; he kept his hand on the hilt of his dagger at his waist.

  “This is Taegen. He will be joining you as well.” Ashlynn turned back to Taegen. “Taegen, this is Edmund, and this is Darien.” She gestured to each respectively then found her seat at the head of the table and watched as Taegen took the seat next to Edmund.

  “Gentlemen.” Taegen nodded to each of them. Darien watched him like a hawk, but Edmund barely made eye contact as he fidgeted with his napkin.

  They sat in awkward silence until dinner appeared at the table. Each of them waited for Ashlynn to fill her plate before they dug in. Small conversation emerged, somewhat forced at first, then transpired more naturally as time went by and food and drink was consumed. Ashlynn interjected when prompted to but otherwise absorbed everything, gleaning all the information and observations about them she could. They truly were a fine set of warriors, each in their own right—except maybe the alchemist, but even he had great qualities and useful talents. Which to choose for her team? She couldn’t—wouldn’t—keep them all. She needed only one.

  After dessert, Ashlynn lightly clinked her fork on one of the goblets placed before her then stood. “I have an announcement to make. First of all, thank you for coming at the request of your invitation.” Ashlynn paused and glanced at each of them. “Now to the announcement: the events of this audition are going to be a little different than you may have understood. You were chosen individually as the best of the best in your fields, stations, and areas of expertise. However, I am not looking to fill an entire team.”

  Ashlynn noted their varied stages of confused expressions. “There will be a contest.” She paused for effect. “A contest for a single position to fight at my side. I only need one warrior to assist me in accomplis
hing my mission and duty to the castle.”

  The air in the dining hall thickened as the atmosphere grew charged with testosterone and the thrill of the hunt—or contest in their case.

  Nervously, Edmund spoke up. “How will this work? A series of tests?”

  Ashlynn remained standing but continued to own the room with her beauty and commanding presence. “In a manner of speaking, yes. Beginning tomorrow, I will test your abilities in both fighting as well as any extra abilities or talents you might possess.”

  The three men grumbled at the prospects of revealing more than they were comfortable with.

  Taegen, though casual in his posture, said, “If it’s all the same to you—and I’m certain the others feel the same way—could we each demonstrate our extra abilities in a private audience with you. It is not customary for those of different…” He glanced between Darien and Edmund the continued, “backgrounds to show our abilities in front of others we don’t know or trust.” Taegen looked pointedly at Darien who gave him the rise Taegen apparently was after based on his childish smirk.

  Except just when Darien might counter Taegen’s taunt or lunge across the table at him, he turned toward Ashlynn and sighed. “Unfortunately, I agree with the bastard. We don’t show our abilities to outsiders.”

  Edmund fidgeted uncomfortably with the growing tension. But Ashlynn quickly put a stop to the negotiations. “No. This is not up for debate. The demonstrations will begin in the morning or you are free to leave.” She stared each of them down until they acquiesced to her demand.

  “In addition to both the physical and non-physical demonstrations, I will be spending one on one time with each of you to find the most suitable warrior to work with me. I need to get to know you better and see if your fighting skills are compatible with mine, as you will be fighting at my side. Any complaints to what I just said?”