by CC Dragon
Alaskan Shadows
Shadows of Alaska Book 3
By CC Dragon
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Alaskan Shadows Book 3
Copyright © November 2019
By CC Dragon
Cover art by Fiona Jayde
Edited by: Leona Bushman-Cunningham
Proofed by: Angela Campbell
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Chapter One
In the giant state of Alaska, where all manner of paranormal beings roamed at will, I felt like a mouse trapped in a box. Sure, I could go anywhere I wanted. I could start a new life in Australia. It sounded good.
But those kids. This village. I couldn’t abandon what I’d worked so hard to investigate. I felt at home in the village but not when Mason was so mad at me.
The paras I could take on. These Shadowmen, I didn’t like them. I didn’t want to be one of them, but deep down, I knew it was true. It explained my crazy powers and power surges. I could draw more power when I felt I needed it.
I paced my little room at Margo’s, ready to blast anyone that pissed me off more. Mason had every right to be angry with me, but he just needed a little time calm down. He’d see I was trying to protect him in the end. I was stronger, and he had to deal with that or we’d never work.
I’d texted Green more than a few times, but he wasn’t replying. Feeling alone wasn’t new to me, but I’d always had FBI work to keep me busy. It took me out of myself to help others and now it felt like everything was pressing on me or pointed at me. I didn’t want to be part of the Shadowmen and have to take orders from them. But being solo and without even FBI backup left me lost. After pacing for a couple more minutes, I texted Zel to find out what Green was up to.
My phone rang, and I answered quickly.
“Dot, what is going on?” Zel asked.
“Hi Zel. Where is Green?” I demanded.
“In some meeting. He’ll be in meetings most of this week. Relax and tell me what happened,” she said in a reassuring tone.
I needed more friends like her. Truly, I needed more friends, but I’d always been the one obsessed with work. I didn’t fit in with others, and I’d only just begun to learn about my history.
“I hurt Mason. I overreacted, and I thought I was protecting him but he took it as… I don’t know, as if I didn’t trust him to hold his own. I’m screwing everything up,” I confessed.
She sighed. “Okay, first off, Mason will forgive you. I swear the guy must be in love with you, or he’d have cut you loose way long before.”
“That really doesn’t help right now.” I sat on the bed and ran my hand over the quilt with whales stitched into it. The deep blues were soothing. I let myself sink into the comfort like it was my childhood room, but I wouldn’t feel better until I’d patched things up with Mason.
Zel cleared her throat. “Listen, Mason is a good guy. You know it. You’ll smooth it over in your own way. You get tunnel vision and hyper focus on your cases, you always have. That isn’t odd, but you sometimes see cases differently than other people, so they don’t get it. He knows you enough to trust you. He’ll get over whatever happened and see you were right in the end. If he won’t talk about it right away, go around the problem not at it. In the end, he can’t say no to you.”
“I don’t know if I really believe that, but I’ve got bigger problems. The Shadowmen are real, and they are strong. They are taking some kids, but I’m way outnumbered. I don’t see how to stop them. I’m not sure what they want with me beyond adding to their numbers, but they are dangerous.” I tried to rub the tension from the back of my neck.
“Um, actually it might not be them,” Zel said.
“Might not be what?” I asked.
“Be the ones taking the kids. The one message for you was probably left by them, but the other symbol on the bodies and on the jewelry, those aren’t them leaving you a message. If they are, it’s the complete opposite of the message that the Shadowmen left,” Zel rambled.
“That makes no sense. I thought I rambled.” I laughed at my friend. Good thing I knew her well, so I could try to decipher that. “The symbols on the wall of the Yeti bone caves was from the Shadowmen, but the other stuff on the bodies and in your uncle’s jewelry shop are different? Different how?”
“They’re a warning, like a stamp of ownership.” Zel sighed. “I wish I had more concrete definitions. It’s a territory type thing.”
“But Indigo cursed the necklace,” I said.
“He may have stolen it and done that, but it was planted in the jewelry store. Like they knew you’d be there,” she said.
I rubbed my forehead. “You’re going in circles now, because I was only in the jewelry store to help your uncle after the necklace was stolen.”
“I know.” Her voice caught. “I think they are using us to get at you. To get messages to you. It’s possible someone had a premonition that you’d be at the store or just in Bethel.”
“Us? Who is us? You and Green?” I asked.
“Why Green? He’s not one of us,” Zel said.
“Us means paras, got it. Green called and warned me about the Shadowmen. That’s why I’ve been trying to pin him down. It’s insane that he knows anything. The Shadowmen could do anything good or bad, but why would Green warn me against contacting them? Someone in our FBI field office must be magic. They must know something, and they’re trying to block me.” It was the only thing that remotely made sense.
“If they exist, they can block me from detecting them as well,” Zel admitted.
“Agreed. Unless it’s you.” I nodded and waited for the vibe I got in return. She wasn’t the most powerful witch in Anchorage. That’s why she never wanted to be in the field. She liked the safe desk job and keeping an eye on things. But she could also be faking weakness or working for others. Was she a spy for someone?
“You are paranoid.” She laughed.
I smiled. I sensed no deception or defensiveness. Mason had never doubted Zel, either, and he read people well.
“I had to ask. I had to be sure. I’m sorry,” I said.
“Please, I get it. You family was never really your family. You wanted to be part of a group that didn’t want you despite sharing blood and magic. You’re worried everyone is out to use you or steal your powers. But honestly, I’m just trying to help you with this case and with Mason. You two always belonged together,” she said.
“I hope you’re right. I never should’ve doubted you. Then again, if I can’t trust my own father, I guess trust issues are more than fair,” I confessed.
“Tell me what to do to help,” Zel said.
“Zel, I’m sorry. I’ve put too much pressure on you. None of us are all powerful or all knowing. Thanks for trying to help. Who do you think left the other symbols if not the Shado
wmen? Any leads?” I asked.
She took a deep breath. “Okay, I took this all to our code guys and gave them two core samples. The stuff the Shadowmen put out there to lure you in, they were off a bit in the angles, and some of the symbols weren’t quite formed the same. It’s like they pulled a hodgepodge of old Celtic lettering and used it. It’s right, but some are from one century and some from another. The writing evolved a bit, of course, over time.”
“They didn’t care as much about accuracy. They just wanted to get the message and my attention. It’s not a magic spell or anything, just a message,” I reasoned. They used the Yeti, it was all a misdirect. I was being yanked around by para groups, but not the ones I’d imagined.
“Probably. The other symbols on the kids, I went back and found pictures of other kids found dead and magically enhanced the photographs. Some had symbols. That symbol is properly oriented and has a specific and magical meaning.”
“What does it mean?” I asked.
“Forbidden.”
“Vague enough?” I asked.
She laughed. “I’m sorry. I know, but maybe that’s why nothing touched them. The elements, animals, or even natural decomp. Anything was forbidden to touch them. I’m not sure why they’re so special.”
“Me either. None of the ones investigated had any real magical powers or exceptional gifts. Most were weak hybrids from diluted bloodlines.” I shrugged. “What about the jewelry? What did that symbol mean?”
“Something about it imbued the wearer with a jolt of power but tagged them as well.” Zel sounded confused.
“You’re sure that’s not messed up Shadowmen curses?” I asked.
“No, they were sure. It’s just trying to put together the order of the ancient symbols since the necklace was missing. But they think they pieced it together. Naturally multiple symbols are open for interpretation about how they interact with each other. The kids were easier. One symbol,” Zel explained.
“Crap, okay thanks. Now who do I go after?” I asked.
“Go make up with Mason,” she suggested.
I laughed. “I meant who did the other symbols. The Shadowmen sent the message on the wall, fine, but who did this other authentic old writing?”
“Fae. It’s their language,” she said.
“Are you kidding me?” I asked.
“I don’t have names or a specific group of Fae, but that’s who marked the kids. I don’t know if they marked them to protect them from further abuse when they were dumped by whoever took them, or if they have something to do with taking the kids. I’m sorry I can’t get more. Fae don’t really communicate with others,” she replied.
“I know. I’ve tried to contact them and be nice over and over,” I said.
“Maybe with your new magic, you need to be a little less nice. What could they do to you? You could squash their little mounds like an ant hill.” Zel chuckled. “I can’t believe I’m advising that with you. You tend to be a bit of a battering ram at times.”
“Gee, thanks,” I replied.
“Just saying, be nice to Mason. He’s on your team, and you tend to take him for granted,” she said.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I take you for granted too. You know it’s about these kids and not me, right?” I asked.
“I do, but these Shadowmen are making it about you to a point. You might as well find out about your history while you can. That’s where you needed Mason, and you shut him down. You can’t be objective about yourself. You need him to filter that stuff and look out for you. Good luck,” she said.
“Thanks, bye.” I ended the call.
Marching over to Mason’s volunteer police station, I wanted to make things right and be okay with Mason before I lost my nerve. I wasn’t super confident with guys. I’d dated enough but no humans could find out about my magic—so they weren’t serious. Most paras weren’t impressed by a half Fae so I wasn’t much in demand there either. I entered the station and one of his volunteers was there, he nodded to me. I went up the stairs to Mason’s private door and knocked.
There was no answer.
I was pretty sure he’d want to be alone right now, at least not being subject to a million questions from his mom and sister, so he had to be here at his place over the volunteer police.
Knocking again, I had to be nice and persistent. “Mason, it’s me. We need to talk. Please let me in.”
I heard someone on the steps behind me and turned around. It was the volunteer. He waved for me to follow him.
I did. “Is Mason hurt?” I asked.
The man shook his head and pointed out the back window. Mason pulled up on his snow machine.
“Thanks,” I said to the guy.
Mason walked in and looked at his staff. “Everyone okay?”
The guy nodded.
“We need to talk,” I said to Mason.
“I needed to clear my head, and now you’re going to stir it all up again,” he said.
I followed him up the stairs. “We need to clear the air. I’m sorry I hurt you. I didn’t have proper control of my powers. I was afraid I’d hurt you.”
He turned and glared at me as he entered his apartment.
I caught the door and followed him, closing the door behind me.
“You knocked me unconscious with your powers,” Mason pointed out.
I nodded. “In order to keep you from being hurt by whatever I had to do to the Shadowmen. I knew that would be harder and more dangerous. But I had no idea exactly how much magical force it’d take to knock out that many Shadowmen. If that’s what it takes to hurt one of them, what would it do to you? I’m sorry, that sounded…”
“I’m a lesser magical being. I get that.” He didn’t seem offended by that.
“Okay, then. You see, I was trying to protect you. I couldn’t let you get hurt if I had to use a weird level of power. I had to go as far as I had to in order to neutralize the Shadowmen. I didn’t have control total. This is new to me and at least I was trying to think ahead and keep you safe. I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt you when I could’ve prevented it,” I rambled.
He turned and faced me. His quiet calm was so reassuring. He moved closer to me until we were nearly nose-to-nose.
“Dot, you believe what you’re saying, but you have no respect for anyone.” The vibe from him wasn’t hate, disrespect, or even anger. It was a statement—he believed it.
“That’s not true! I respect you. I value you. I couldn’t let you get hurt. What if that killed you? I’d have no backup or help—” my voice caught in my throat.
“You? You. You! Don’t you see? You and your case are all that matters,” he said.
“No! Your mother and sister would be devastated. Your village, the one place that’s welcoming and safe, more or less, would hate me. Blame me. They’d be lost without you. I don’t have all the answers as a part Fae or part Shadow-whatever. I’m doing the best I can for everyone, and the dead kids at the center of this case. The Shadowmen are making this personal, and I don’t want it to be. I just want to stop whoever is taking these kids.” Didn’t he feel the pressure I did?
His eyes went cold. “You are the type of person who doesn’t care who gets in her way. You want the answer, and you don’t care who you use.”
“You think I’m wrong for trying to save these kids? Trying to solve the murders so we stop whoever is behind this and keep more kids from dying?” I demanded.
“Get out. I’m not ready to speak to you.” Mason backed me up to the door.
“You agreed to help me on this case. You understood the priority and the urgency here. I’m sorry my background got in the way, but your sister got in the middle of the case, and we went after her. We saved her. You don’t get to walk off a case because it gets hard or personal.”
He forced the door open and pushed me into the hallway.
“I’d have died trying to save her, and you know it. I’m not as selfish as you want me to be. You left the FBI, because it was
easier. If it was easy everyone would do it. If your sister was one of those dead or missing kids, would you be acting like this?” I pressed.
He slammed the door in my face.
“I could blow the door off the hinges and force you to have this conversation. I could blow up this building, but I’m not. You have no idea how much control it takes to not use my new powers, but you don’t see that. You don’t see how I’d give anything to be normal.” I stared at the door for a few minutes, proving to myself that I had control—whether he got it or not.
Chapter Two
Back at Margo’s, I made myself a thermos of tea. There probably wasn’t enough tea in Alaska to calm my nerves, but it was warm and strong.
“What’s wrong?” Margo asked.
“I screwed up, and Mason won’t even talk about it.” I took a deep breath.
“Men have their pride. He has worked very hard with you,” she said.
I shook my head. “It’s not about pride. I don’t care if I look ridiculous bothering Yeti or asking vampires for help. It’s about the kids.”
“But it’s also about you.” She was sewing something from what looked like animal hide. I didn’t ask because I didn’t want to know what animal they’d hunted recently.
“That…it’s not what I want. I don’t want to be part of the case.” I felt myself tearing up.
She hugged me. “I know, but sometimes the world hands us what we must face, not what we want. Other times, we must go through very unpleasant things to get to what we want.”
“Obviously, I’m doing it wrong.” I smiled at her. “Tea?”
She shook her head. “You’ll need all of your tea, and you’re not wrong. Some of the detours the case took you on are false or dead ends. But that’s much like a human case too, I’d assume. Clues can point in more than one direction, and we’re human, even magical people, can misinterpret something.”
“It is, but I should know better. Do better. Mason certainly thinks I’m failing.” I’d failed so many people, but I wasn’t giving up. Walking away just wasn’t an option.
