Dark Echoes

by H B Lyne

  Shadow set off along the road, his footsteps heavy on the black tarmac. He normally chose a stealthy approach, but on this occasion he wanted to attract attention. Movement in the shadows at the side of the road registered in his primitive brain. When the demon launched itself out of the darkness towards him, Shadow's arm thrust out and caught it by the neck without him even taking his eyes off the road ahead. He gripped it hard in his clawed fist and turned his head slowly to look at it. It was a scrawny, dark creature, with red eyes that bulged. Its little clawed fingers scratched at Shadow's hand, but he barely felt it. Shadow growled, grabbed the demon's head in his other hand and ripped it from its neck. He tossed the two pieces to the ground, where they pooled into the darkness and disintegrated.

  He went on his way, hearing the scuttling sounds of other beasts getting out of his path. A small, gruff bark ahead caught his attention. He sniffed, sucking in the cold air through his nose and mouth, smelling and tasting all at once. It was him. Not yet visible, but that was his scent. Shadow willed his body to shift down into his human form. Limbs contracting with sickening clicks and crunches, fur receding back under the skin. He moved forward quickly and silently up the cobbled street. Dark buildings leaned overhead, so that only a slither of sky was visible between them. Lights flickered behind curtains in some windows, static hissed and the living street throbbed with hidden mysteries. Shadow ran swiftly to the end of the street and stopped. He looked up and down the wider road that he emerged onto. It twisted away in opposite directions.

  'Please can we talk?' he said quietly, his voice alerting every living thing there to his presence. The shadows quivered and some of them retreated. A pale blue street lamp nearby flickered and went out. Shadow stepped out into the road and turned towards the darkened lamp. He saw the eyes first, unblinking in the near-dark. Then the teeth. White teeth bared and showing up pale blue against the black. Shadow took a step closer and the fox took a reflexive step back. 'It's me, Shadow's Step. Your old brother.' He held his hands out and crouched down.

  Slowly, in the still air, Shadow felt breath moving closer. Grins-Too-Widely was approaching. His eyes glowed as he neared the remaining street light behind Shadow. The fox sniffed, confirming the shifter's scent. A gentle grunt came from the fox, a sound of assent. Shadow smiled and dropped carefully to his knees, keeping his palms out in front of him. The fox stepped into the light. Shadow saw him clearly now for the first time. He was a little larger than your average urban fox, but wiry and mean-looking. His ears were oversized and twitching, constantly listening for danger. But the striking thing about him was his mouth. It was contorted into an enormous grin that stretched beyond his snout, like a macabre cartoon.

  Shadow didn't flinch. He had seen infinitely more disturbing sights. Grins-Too-Widely approached cautiously, sniffing the air and ground, until he was just out of Shadow's reach. He sat down and looked at the shifter, his head cocked to one side, that grin unrelenting. 'We lost her,' Shadow whispered. 'We lost Caeruleum Lunulam. She was taken by a pack of Furies calling themselves The Witches.'

  Grins-Too-Widely let out a low bark, indicating that he understood every word. The Luna fae had been his patron ally too, before he changed. He must have known her most of his long life. Shadow watched as the fox dropped his head and shook it sadly. 'Do you know anything about these Witches?'

  'No,' the fox said softly. Shadow was a little surprised to hear him speak. He blinked hard and looked quizzically at his old Alpha. 'But I cannot enter Fenwick, they must be why. They have strong wards.' The fox's mouth didn't move, those teeth stayed resolutely clenched in that awful grin. The voice was carried by something other than air through vocal chords and mouth.

  'I see,' Shadow murmured. Fenwick was on the other side of Crossway, which was just east of St. Mark's. Crossway was as far as the Blue Moon claimed. Fenwick was a leafy suburb, once a village separate from the city, but growth had blurred the boundary between them. The vast forest that lay beyond Fenwick was known to be Fury territory. It would seem that the city's ancient enemy had begun encroaching upon Caerton itself. 'Are you able to find out more for us? Fortune wants to rescue her.'

  'I can try, but it won't serve the pack well. You would be better focusing on moving forward. Tick tock.'

  'I know, I agree.' Shadow sighed and rubbed his tired face. 'But maybe what you discover will persuade Fortune of that.'

  The fox nodded sagely. He let out a little bark, then stood and trotted away into the dark. With resignation, Shadow watched him disappear.

  5

  'It's been a week. Where is he?' Fortune paced the kitchen, running his hands through his hair, his cheeks flushed. Shadow sat back in his chair, his legs crossed, his fingers idly spinning a coin on the table. This would pass. He just had to ride it out, remaining as calm as possible.

  'I'm sure he'll return and tell us what he's found out, once he has something solid to give us.'

  Stone stood by the oven, her arms hugging her chest tightly. The knot on her brow hardly left these days. Flames let out a derisive snort and shoved his chair back from the table. He stood and stormed out through the back door. Shadow watched him go, a tight twist forming in his gut. The coin spun on the table, the only sound in the room was that whirring metal on wood. It slowed and toppled over, rocking and tapping until it fell still. Fortune glared at the coin, but Shadow's eyes didn't leave the Alpha. He was nervous about what was going to happen, and he couldn't hide that from Fortune; he would be feeling it through their bond.

  'Right,' Fortune said suddenly, snapping his attention away from the coin. 'Right. Stone, go see what you can find out from the neighbours. Theodore is likely to know something and he won't talk to me. But you have a way with him.' There was stiffness to his voice, as there always was when bringing up Theodore Harris, the Alpha of neighbouring pack, The Glass Wolves. Stone nodded and left without a word. 'Shadow, I'm sorry. I know I've been very focused on this and I know you disagree with my approach.' He softened and placed his palms on the table, leaning closer.

  'It's okay, I understand.'

  'You are my beta, I trust and value your opinion a great deal.'

  'It hasn't felt that way recently.'

  'I know, I apologise. Give me twelve hours. If we haven't progressed in that time, I swear I will drop this.'

  Shadow nodded. He clucked his tongue and swept up the coin.

  'I'll see what the shadows are saying. See you later.' Fortune stood up straight again and nodded firmly. Shadow stood and crossed the veil into Hepethia. He flung open the back door and took a step before stopping short at the sight that greeted him. Grins-Too-Widely sat there in the yard, his head on one side, grinning.

  'I was just coming to see you,' the fox said softly, mild surprise in his voice.

  'Likewise.' Shadow closed the door behind him and crouched down to meet the fox's eyes. 'What have you found out?'

  'They're dangerous.' The fox lifted a paw, it was bleeding. Shadow looked closer and saw that one ear was badly torn and there were bald patches in the fox's fur.

  'What happened?'

  'The Witches' Witch. A powerful rite mistress. I was spying on them for days, hidden. But she sensed me and summoned a vile demon of thorns to harm me. There was a fight. It's dead now.' He sighed and shook his head. Shadow listened silently. 'They are highly organised, meticulous security. Well, almost. I did manage to slip through, but I suspect I am the first to do so in some time. Their territory is very well tended, nothing moving there that they don't know about. The Alpha is a formidable woman, hypnotic, strict, and an utter sadist. I could find no trace of Caeruleum Lunulam. Wherever they are keeping her she is well hidden. She isn't on this plain, or the human one.'

  'We had guessed as much. Thank you. You've taken a great risk for us. Is there anything we can do to repay you?'

  'Yes.' The fox stood up and shook his body vigorously. When his fur settled, he was completely healed. 'Yes, you can accept me as your new patron ally and let me conti
nue working with you. I have spent time enough alone in the shadows. I now crave my pack.'

  Shadow stood and opened the door. Light spilled out into the yard. He held out a hand, inviting the fox inside. Grins-Too-Widely trotted into the house and shimmered across the veil. Shadow followed, a smile on his dark lips.

  Fortune stood aghast, his hands clutching the kitchen sink.

  'Fortune,' Shadow said softly. 'Grins-Too-Widely would like to rejoin us.'

  'I see,' Fortune spluttered. His eyes were wide as he took in the fox's bizarre appearance. 'Of course. I mean, that would be.... I see. Yes.'

  Shadow hid a smirk.

  'She is gone, Fortune. But I am here. You will find that we can be stronger together.' His voice was soft and lilting, a slight rumble to it from inside his throat.

  Fortune nodded and loosened his grip on the sink.

  'Yes. Yes, okay.'

  Shadow sensed doubt from the Alpha, reluctance to let go completely. But his words were enough. A ripple flowed through the room. Shadow felt it go through him like a sigh. He felt Fortune's frantic thoughts inside his head, a jumble of confusion and alarm. Stone and Flames too, all of their inner voices clamouring for attention. What happened?

  'We are connected now. I am yours and I gift you this telepathy,' Grins-Too-Widely said, and at once Shadow understood where his voice had been coming from all along; it was projected straight into his mind. Now the shifters could communicate with each other telepathically, as well as their new ally.

  Caeruleum Lunulam really was gone now. Shadow no longer felt any connection to her, no matter how small and distant. He met Fortune's eyes, he was thinking the exact same thing. He saw his Alpha's Adam's apple bob notably. It was tough to swallow, but they were moving forward.

  Stone and Flames burst through the back door together. Their eyes swept over the scene.

  'It's amazing. I don't think any pack has ever taken a transformed shifter as a spiritual ally before,' Flames said, gawking.

  There's a first time for everything.

  6

  Present Day

  Shadow's Step sat in the dark watching her sleep. The first change was always rough. Some shifters didn't survive it. Ariana had. The girl from the window, the party girl with the meat-head boyfriend. She had rampaged through the street, caused quite a commotion. But the Blue Moon had shielded her from the humans and any demons that might have taken advantage of a fresh young shifter. Now she was here, at the betting shop, safe and sound.

  Grins-Too-Widely moved beside him, almost invisible in the darkened room.

  I know her scent now. I couldn't quite tell why it was familiar when I first smelled it. Shadow rubbed his temples, his gaze never leaving the sleeping girl.

  Yes, the fox replied. Are you going to tell her?

  When the time is right. I'll have to.

  You'll need to watch her carefully. Her true name is an omen.

  Oh?

  When she finds it you'll see what I mean.

  Shadow glanced at the fox. Sometimes it would be nice to get a straight answer from him. Shadow wasn't concerned. They would keep her safe, he would train her. The four new cubs were a blessing from Luna. They would finally avenge Caeruleum Lunulam; the forthcoming blue moon would give them the power they needed to succeed. He smiled to himself. Yes, at whatever cost, they would succeed.

  The Storm Riders' Vigil

  1

  Fire Talon felt his hand rise and fall with the gentle breathing underneath it. A sudden nudge against his palm made him jump and a small laugh escaped his lips.

  'I felt that one!' he cried.

  'Hmm?' Eva murmured sleepily.

  'The baby kicked,' he said, his voice full of wonder.

  'Yeah,' Eva said, smiling serenely at him, her eyes still closed.

  He dragged his attention from her beautiful, swollen belly and looked into her peaceful face. Eva was just about perfect to his eyes, especially now. He had always seen her as beautiful, but fragile, as all humans were. But as the life inside her had grown he had only ever seen her strength grow to eclipse that fragility. Through morning sickness and heartburn and all of the stresses placed upon her body by the work it was doing to grow a new life, she had grown ever more strong and beautiful.

  Their baby would be born soon, he could feel it. Eva was slowing down. She had cleaned every possible part of their flat, including inside all of the kitchen cupboards, and all of the baby clothes and nappies had been washed and folded away neatly. Her friends had given her a blessingway, a special ritual to prepare her for birth, and she had come home positively glowing. Everything was ready.

  Fire Talon watched her drift off to sleep. He stroked her dark hair from her face and kissed her full lips softly before slipping away.

  As strong as she was and as ready as she was to become a mother, he couldn't help but be afraid. It was probably normal for new fathers to feel apprehensive on the cusp of the birth of their baby, but he wasn't worried about the normal pitfalls of fatherhood. Changing nappies, understanding his baby's cries, being able to let go as he or she rode away on their first bike; none of these things scared him. What did scare him was keeping his child safe from the demons, the dangerous shape shifters and the myriad of other deadly enemies he had.

  He knew what his Alpha wanted him to do, he knew what his kind usually did. They walked away from their families when a new baby was born, distancing themselves in order to keep them safe. He was a magnet for danger, and the closer he kept his family, the more danger he placed them in. He knew that, and his rational mind chastised him daily for sticking with Eva through the pregnancy. But he couldn't help it, he was in love with her and the baby he had not yet laid eyes upon.

  He went to the window and looked out. Their flat was right on the coast and looked out over the docks. Rain was pounding on the street outside and smattering on the window pane. The tide was high and waves crashed against the sea wall that surrounded this section of the docks. Standing on the wall, watching the sea and being drenched by the spray, was a dark figure in a long coat. Fire Talon knew instantly who it was, his Alpha, Iron Sky.

  He slipped quietly from the bedroom and shoved his feet into his boots, grabbed his coat and headed out of the door. As he reached the street, Fire Talon pulled his hood over his head and ran swiftly across the deserted street, vaulted over the low wall that separated the docks from the road, and ran swiftly through the rain up the steps to the sea wall.

  'How's Eva?' Iron Sky called out over the sound of the pounding waves, not taking his eyes off the horizon.

  'Fine, thank you,' Fire Talon replied.

  Iron Sky was tall and lean. His long, grey hair whipped about him in the fierce wind, his full beard protected his face from the elements. He wore a long, dark coat that flapped wildly around his legs.

  'A perfect storm,' the Alpha said with a serene smile on his lips. Fire Talon nodded in agreement, and turned his eyes out to sea.

  'Any sign of them?' Fire Talon asked nervously.

  'No, it's been four days since the last one came ashore. But we must keep watch.'

  The two men stood watching the raging sea without speaking another word. Fire Talon thought about the horrors that he knew lurked underneath the tumultuous water, and a shudder went right through him. Iron Sky had been warning their pack for years now that something was coming, the sea could not contain it for much longer, though he could not say what form the storm would take.

  'I'd better get back,' Fire Talon said, after maybe an hour's watch. Iron Sky merely nodded and remained at his vigil.

  Back in the warmth and comfort of his flat, Fire Talon stripped off his sodden clothes and dumped them into the laundry basket. He towel-dried his short, wet hair, and slipped smoothly into bed. Eva was sleeping soundly, propped up on half a dozen pillows, and he snuggled as close to her as he could. She was soft and warm, she was his home and heart, and his duty to his pack dragged him away from where he wanted to be.

  2
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br />   The fox slipped in through the door silently and joined the two wolves and the cat in the dark boat shed at the edge of the docks. The sun was setting and drizzle fell, not loud enough to make any noise on the corrugated iron roof. The four animals shifted form, their bodies stretching, fur receding and clothes appearing over human skin. Two men and two women stood in a loose circle next to an old fishing boat on still water. The wolves had been Fire Talon and Iron Sky. The fox had morphed into a slender woman with spiked, blond hair. The cat had transfigured into a tall, athletic woman with pale skin and wild eyes and she carried a tall staff.

  This was where the Storm Riders made their living and maintained their cover, repairing fishing boats. They had two small sheds, which were connected by a small cabin that formed a staff room. Work was infrequent and didn't pay well, but it served its purpose well enough.

  'Thank you for coming,' Iron Sky said quietly. 'We need to cross into Hepethia and deal with an incursion on the coastal border.'

  'No!' Fire Talon snarled in frustration. 'I can't, I need to stay close to home. Eva could go into labour at any time now.'

  'Don't worry, Daddy,' the former-fox said, with a sly grin, and thumped him on the back. 'We'll get you home in one piece as quickly as we can.'

  He cast her a sceptical look and nodded solemnly.

  'Fine, Sleet, fine. I wish I could get a signal in Hepethia.' He held up his phone, turned it this way and that, checking the signal. It was fine here, but across the veil it would be dead.