Lost in Shadow (A Shadow Walkers Ghost Novel)

by Cynthia Luhrs

  “The main castle is in ruins. However the dungeons survived, not many know it, and I find them useful from time to time.

  “You can’t keep me here.”

  “There’s where you are wrong. I can keep you here or wherever I please, as long as I please. Who’s going to stop me, your precious Colin? I think not.” He leaned insolently against the door, watching her like a hawk watches a mouse.

  “I need to go to the bathroom.” The despicable man pointed to the wretched bowl. “Use the chamber pot. Be grateful you have that much.”

  “Why am I here?” She finished, coughing from the effects of the drug.

  “Why—because I felt like it. Annoy me further and I’ll take twenty years of your life from you in less than a minute,” he finished, turning to leave.

  “Wait, how long have I been here?” Her voice trembled, afraid to ask her real question—what was he going to do with her, she didn’t want to die and she certainly didn’t want to grow old before her time.

  “It’s late afternoon. Get comfortable, you’re not going anywhere. Oh, scream all you like, no one will hear you.” With that Rawlins vanished, leaving Emily alone with her thoughts.

  A while later, not knowing how much time had passed, only that her stomach was growling ferociously, she heard someone. It couldn’t be Rawlins since he simply appeared at will. A man rapped on the door, telling her to stand back against the far wall. She did, looking for a way to get past the man entering the room. He had a tray of food with a teapot. She eased to the left, ready to run for it when another man blocked the doorway pointing a gun at her.

  “Now, now, ducky, don’t even think about it. We don’t want to harm you, but we will shoot you if you try to run. Where will you go? It’s snowing again, no one will find you, and you’d freeze to death before you made it back to Ravensmore. Eat or we won’t bring you anything else. Don’t really care if you’re hungry or not.”

  Emily was scared. These men looked like some kind of prison rejects, all mean faces and weasel eyes. She had to hope Colin would look for her, he was sworn to protect humanity…surely that meant he’d come after her, see her things left behind, no car missing.

  Dejected, she sank back on the bed. She decided to eat; wanting to keep her strength up. There had to be a way to escape. The food was bland but palatable, the tea hot, the water cold. She ate everything, drank all the tea, saved the water for later. Looking to make sure no one was watching, embarrassed to the core, cheeks flaming, she used the chamber pot, wrinkling her nose and disgusted to not have any toilet paper. She would have never survived in the past; she liked her little luxuries—toilet paper, toothpaste, showers, heat, electricity, running water. Sighing, shoulders slumping, she rinsed her mouth out with water and climbed into the tiny bed, pulling the covers tight around her, trying to keep warm. Lying there, the tears silently ran down her face. Please Colin, come for me. Terya? If you can hear me, please help me, tell Colin where to find me, I need him. She drifted into a restless sleep.

  “Where the devil is she?” Colin bellowed. When Emily didn’t show up for lunch he’d thought she was punishing him, still angry. Then when she wasn’t in her room, he checked every outbuilding, asked everyone, no one had seen her.

  He’d searched their room; all her things were there except her passport. No vehicles were missing, no taxis had shown up, the bloody woman wouldn’t have tried to leave on foot in the snow, would she?

  Worthington had seen her heading to the unused west wing mid-morning. Colin took the steps three at a time, telling himself she’d gotten distracted and didn’t notice she’d missed lunch, and after he yelled at her for worrying him, he’d kiss her senseless, tell her he was an idiot, he wanted her to stay.

  Checking every bloody room, he came to the last room—Abigail’s room. Tentatively he pushed the door open. Walking in, he looked around curiously; he’d never been in here. She’d moved in when she married Hamish. The room smelled of Abigail, it was overpowering, not the fresh scent of sunshine and peaches like Emily.

  There were marks in the dust on the table, someone had moved things. Looking closely, he saw footprints in the dust which had to be hers. It looked like she’d sat in the window seat from the disarray of the pillows. A half-eaten banana behind a pillow told him she’d indeed been in the room. She couldn’t have disappeared…all the vehicles were there…where was she? Frustrated, he ran his hands through his hair, swearing, alarm bells ringing in his head, warning him she was in danger.

  Slamming the heavy wooden door to the room closed, he thundered down the hallway pausing as he felt someone touch his sleeve. Stopping, he turned. There in the corridor was one of the castles infamous ghosts, Billy. Before Colin’s time Billy had appeared whenever there was danger. It was said he had worked as a servant, bringing firewood to the rooms before he fell down the stairs one night and broke his neck. The lord of the castle had adored him and had a small statue commissioned and placed in the kitchen garden as a memorial. Billy was buried in the family graveyard.

  He was a low-level ghost; transparent and couldn’t communicate other than nodding or gesturing. The hackles on Colin’s neck rose; if Billy had shown up, he or someone he cared about was in imminent danger—Emily.

  “Billy, my lad, have you seen Emily? The American who came to Ravensmore with me?” Billy nodded, gesturing frantically. “Wait a moment, I’m trying to understand.”

  The little ghost floated towards the stairs, motioning Colin to follow him. He led Colin to the garage, pointing wildly. He didn’t see anything—taking a deep breath, he reached out with all his senses. The seconds ticked by—he smelled Emily and something else—he knew the scent from somewhere but couldn’t quite place it. He stiffened, letting a string of curses flow as he recognized the other scent…Day Walker…one who had recently fed.

  Only one Day Walker would be so brazen to come into Colin’s territory, take something of his…it had to be Rawlins. He was going to rip Rawlins open and feed his entrails to the ravens while he watched. Colin had put her in so much danger and now she was alone, thinking he’d deserted her, failed to protect her.

  “Billy, do you know where he took her?” With slumped shoulders, Billy shook his head no and from the gesturing, Colin guessed he’d dematerialized with Emily, which was hard unless you’d fed heavily and were juiced up. Now where would he take her? It had to be a trap, where would he go?

  “Thank you, lad.” Billy smiled and faded away. Colin headed to the study, pouring a large drink. He needed to think before he acted, come up with a list of places where she might be. He’d have to ask Robert to try Rawlins’s home, now-falling-apart Huntington Castle in England, then Edinburgh Castle, the Vaults, and the secret rooms under Rosslyn Chapel as he still didn’t have his powers back. Those would be the most likely places.

  A sliver of fear snaked up his spine as he thought of one other place—the Day Walker realm—filled with horrible creatures who would rip Emily to pieces. He’d leave it for last, needing a Day Walker to take him in if he couldn’t get Thorne to visit Dayne for him.

  Had to find her, time was running out. Rawlins couldn’t know about the curse, gods help Emily if he did. They would both be doomed when the clock struck midnight on Friday night.

  Chapter 20

  Waking up, she stiffened, goosebumps rising on her arms as she felt someone watching her. Getting up and looking through the small window in the door, squinting in the darkness, she could barely make out two guards on duty and screamed when a voice spoke next to her ear.

  “Good evening to you Emily.” A lantern flared, Rawlins was in her cell, standing much too close. Hastily, she backed up, feet propelling her backwards until her knees hit the bed and she sat down hard.

  He gestured to dinner, set on a heavy desk with a velvet covered chair. “Eat, you’ve missed dinner, don’t want to be accused of starving you.” The desk wasn’t there before, she never heard them bring it in, it was massive and had to weigh a ton. “Where did that c
ome from? It wasn’t here before.”

  “I am civilized. Couldn’t have you eating in bed like a common American…oh, yes, you are American, well still, now you have a proper place to eat. Don’t fret; it was easy enough to do without waking you.”

  She threw her fork at him. He caught it, eyes narrowing, “Don’t test my patience. I will tie you to the bed and spoon feed you if I must.” Scowling, she ate, would keep up her strength, try to figure out a way to escape. Would Colin think to look in this ruin? He might not know the dungeon was still intact under the rubble.

  Rawlins poofed outside to talk with his men. She hated when he did it, was also a bit envious of the ability. It would be fun to pop in and out of places, always on time, no traffic or parking spots or filling the car with gas. Never worrying about the weather or ever getting sick, there were some nifty perks but being immortal must be lonely, everyone you cared about dying and still you go on.

  Did the jerk Rawlins lose someone he cared about? What made people do the things they did? Emily finished her dinner. She knew it could be worse, they could have abused or tortured her. At least they had been civil so far.

  Her jailers came in, taking her tray and chamber pot. She smirked knowing they had to empty it, she hoped it smelled terrible and splashed on their shoes. The men were supposed to stay and watch her, but she heard them talking, they were going into town to have a drink. Arguing amongst themselves, telling one another she couldn’t get out, so why sit and watch her in the cold? They could be in a warm pub with the match on the telly.

  Sleep evaded her as she tossed and turned. Propping up the pillow, she sat up, wondering what she could do. As a last-ditch effort, she spoke out loud, “If anyone’s there, can you help me, please?” She pleaded, feeling a little silly calling out to a ghost.

  She knew it was a long shot but that awful spirit at Ravensmore was there, maybe one was hanging around here, the castle name certainly seemed like it should have restless spirits, but hopefully not mean ones.

  The room was growing colder, when she felt the air stir, “Is someone there?” A faint blue light started to glow, within it, she could see a girl. She had long blond hair, her dress was tattered, her face tear stained as she hovered near Emily.

  “You can see me, miss? No one comes here, and those who do can never see me, except for the big, blond man, he scares me so I hide when he shows up.”

  “Can you help me get out of here?” The girl wrung her hands, shuddering. “This is a sad place. No one leaves the dungeons of Castle Gloom unless they take you to the rivers of Doom and Sorrow to drown you, so many dead.”

  Speaking in low soothing tones to the ghostly girl, “Is that what happened to you?” Tears ran down the girl’s face. “I was in love with Lord Hamish, he’d promised to marry me. I worked in the kitchens. When I found out I was with child, I told him, happy we could be married. He asked me to meet him at the river of Sorrow to discuss our wedding.

  “We met by the light of the moon, it was a lovely warm summer eve. I didn’t know until it was too late, he pushed me in…held me under…until I saw the light. It was my fault my baby died. The light took my baby to the other side, I tried but couldn’t cross over, I don’t know why.”

  It was a heartbreaking tale. “It wasn’t your fault, you do know that? It was Hamish’s fault. He murdered you and your unborn child. You bear no guilt in this. Forgive yourself.”

  The girl looked up at Emily, “The mean man is planning to lure Lord Colin here and kill him when he tries to free you.”

  “No! We have to warn him. Is there anything you can do?” Emily pleaded.

  Hellfire. Robert phoned Colin, finding nothing at Rawlins’s home other than a handful of minions who he dispatched. No sign of Emily at Edinburgh Castle and nothing at the Vaults.

  “Colin, you didn’t tell me about the secret rooms under Rosslyn Chapel. The grail, gems, and gold all belonging to the old Knights Templar, I’m guessing? Still hidden away after all this time.”

  “Aye, Robert. I knew ye’d haul it away, and ye dinna need any more money.”

  “Hmmprh, I’ll go back for the lot once I know you have your Emily safe.”

  “Appreciate it. Might want to think twice about stealing the booty—I’m guessing you didn’t encounter the dragon guarding the treasure?”

  “Maybe the beast was out hunting. Well, I’ll think on it. Worth the adventure, I think,” he laughed.

  It was deep into the night, the clock was counting down, and Colin was no closer to finding her. Why was Rawlins waiting to contact him? If he had Emily and wanted a fight, why not tell him where to show up? He’d left a message for Rawlins on his mobile, yes, he was an enemy but he still knew the bastard’s number. It went straight to bloody voice mail.

  Pacing in front of the fire, drinking a bottle of wine, he was getting ready to call Thorne when a timid, wisp of a girl appeared surrounded by a faint blue light, weeping and wringing her hands.

  “Lass, what ails you?” She was filthy, dripping water on the rug, mud clinging to her gown.

  “Milord, be you Lord Colin?”

  Seeing his nod, she continued. “That awful man has her, your woman. She’s locked in the dungeon at Castle Gloom, but there are men waiting for you, ‘tis a trap. I don’t have the power to free her. I can’t do anything.”

  By the gods, why didn’t he think of Gloom? It made sense in a sick, twisted way. Colin thanked the spirit, “What you’ve done may save Emily’s life. I am indebted to you—if there is anything I can do to help you, call for me and I will come.”

  The girl flickered in and out before disappearing to tell Emily she’d found Colin, he was coming to save her.

  Bloody hell. Rawlins, drained human women dry all the time without a single intrusion of conscience yet now, so close, was having difficulty dispatching Emily. Knew killing her would put them one step closer to winning this war, but kept thinking back to the night Colin died, seeing the look upon his face when he realized the depth of the betrayal perpetrated by those he loved, all those years ago in Edinburgh Castle.

  He’d never been in love, couldn’t fathom the feelings or the position of weakness it put you in, yet he’d felt pity that day for the strong warrior. Saw now the depth of his feeling for Emily, knew it would take away Colin’s will, make it easy to kill him—he didn’t want to win if Colin wasn’t at full strength. He wanted a sporting fight. He’d wall her up alive.

  Over a hundred years ago Rawlins had captured a Shadow Walker. After months of nonstop torture the Walker told him about the curse. Now Rawlins would find out the truth. If indeed it proved to be true, he and Dayne could use this knowledge to destroy every Shadow Walker they could find.

  By the time Colin found Emily it would be too late, the curse would run its course, Colin would turn wraith. But first, he’d relish a worthy fight. These humans nowadays, they were soft, couldn’t fight, relied on a gun and when it failed, bawled like babes for mercy which he never granted.

  Annoyed he’d felt something other than anger, he dematerialized to Inverness to slake his frustration on the humans. He’d drain a dozen or so, a good dose of energy ought to banish the melancholy thoughts.

  The men entered Emily’s cell, grabbing her before she could run past them. They bound her hands and feet, as she struggled, screaming herself hoarse before they gagged her. Both copped feels, roughly kneading her breasts as she clenched her legs together with everything she had, fearing they would rape her.

  Taking her to the end of the passageway where the cells ended, she could see stone and mortar stacked on the ground by the bright lantern light—oh great, plenty of light so she could see what was going to happen to her.

  Walled-up alive. Oh. My. God. Her palms were clammy as sweat ran down between her breasts. If the spirit didn’t find Colin, if he didn’t get here in time, she’d die in the wall. She wouldn’t die of starvation as many must have, she’d have a heart attack, her worst claustrophobic nightmare coming to life in high-
definition color. Gagging, she made herself swallow a couple of times. If she threw up now, she’d choke and die.

  Iron rings were set in the wall making her flashback to seeing Colin held in the dungeon of Edinburgh Castle. Moaning in terror, she thrashed, trying to get free as the two men holding her dropped her on the ground. Wriggling, rolling away from the stone, a hand snaked around her foot, dragging her back. Her head snapped back, as one of the men punched her in the face. Seeing stars; she took another hit to the jaw, biting the inside of her cheek as blood trickled out of her mouth running down her chin. Frantically reaching for anything to defend herself, her hand grasped a shard of stone. Striking out blindly, she heard a yelp as it made contact with the second man’s thigh. Screaming in pain, he kicked her as a shot rang out, reverberating on the damp, cold, stone walls. He shot her point blank. The bullet hit her side, pain exploded through her body. Barely registering the vicious kicks, vaguely the sickening snap of her rib penetrated her brain as she gasped for breath. Welcoming the blackness she passed out cold.

  Slowly coming to, she winced in pain, her entire body ached. Could barely breathe. Her nose must be broken. Intense pain radiated down her side. At least the gag had fallen out so she could take shallow breaths through her mouth. It was pitch black, so cold. Her arms felt like they were being pulled out of their sockets and something was biting into her wrists. Why couldn’t she move? Terror consumed her, claustrophobia kicked in, spots appearing in front of her eyes as it dawned on her—she’d been entombed in the wall.

  Uncontrollably shaking, sobs wracked her body, tears blurring her vision. A faint blue light filled the space, she heard a whisper—the young girl was back.