Light the Shadows (A Grimm Novel)

by Clay, Michelle

  “What about you?” Thomas asked.

  She surveyed the stone structure then whispered, “I’m going to kick the door down, then try to take out as many of them as I can with the element of surprise. As soon as you see an escape, get Sully out of there.”

  “This is suicide,” Anna said. “You don’t have the Grimm’s blade. What if your inner light stops working like before?”

  “I’ll deal with it when and if that time comes.” Micah squared her shoulders and dragged in a deep breath. “Stay out of the light, Thomas. I can’t afford to lose you. When this is all over and you still want to leave, I’ll help you.”

  To Anna she said, “I don’t know what the light will do to you, so try to stay out of the way. Let’s go.”

  Thomas streaked past the crumbling tombstones then disappeared around the corner of the mausoleum. Anna positioned herself on the other side of the door so she could see most of the cemetery and the road leading up to it. She whispered, “Good luck.”

  It took two bone jarring kicks before the newly fixed door splintered. Pain radiated up the length of Micah’s leg, but she ignored it. Knocking the broken, jagged remains away, they clattered against the floor, announcing her presence.

  The interior of the musty mausoleum was dank and dark, but she could see shadowy figures flitting around the room. One broke away from the horde and came right at her. Shit, I didn’t even think to bring a flashlight.

  Yelping in surprise, Micah lifted a hand up to blast the shadow with light. The angry spirit screamed as it evaporated into nothingness only inches from her nose. The others disappeared like smoke into the corners of the room. In that brief flash of light, Micah spotted Thomas crouched at the end of the building. Sully was stretched across the floor, crimson pooled all around him. The scythe, his own weapon, was buried deep inside his chest.

  Micah waited a fraction of a heartbeat before she rushed to him. She crashed onto her knees beside her beloved Reaper. Tears choked her as emotion tightened her chest. “Sully? Baby, it’s me.”

  She stroked fingers through his sweat-dampened hair. There was no sign of life. He didn’t flinch or give any indication that he’d felt her touch.

  “Behind you!” Thomas shouted.

  Micah twisted to face her attacker. A large, muscular man with crooked yellow teeth stood right behind her. Before she could react, he gripped her by the shoulders and threw her away from Sully’s body.

  Micah struck the concrete floor, landing on her shoulder. She yelped then rolled away from the man’s size twelve work boots as they kicked at her. His foot came down right where her head had been only seconds ago.

  Anna screamed outside. Her voice blurred with those of the numerous shadows that were pouring into the mausoleum. She fought her way inside, but was unable to reach Micah when a shadow moved directly through her. Anna’s form became wispy for a moment and flickered.

  The big man’s thick fingers tangled in Micah’s hair. Yanking her upward, he pushed his face close to hers. “You made a big mistake coming here, girl.”

  He caught both her wrists in his free hand and pinioned them over her head. The light inside her shimmered, but had nowhere to go. She was helpless against this big brute.

  Movement to her right caught her attention. Natalie had just appeared next to Thomas, and she didn’t look happy. Her features were pinched into an intense frown. She stood with hands on her hips just behind him. “What are you doing, Father?”

  Micah tried to shout a warning, but the words were strangled in her throat. At the same time, she brought her knee up into the man’s rotund belly. Air gushed from his lungs, and his hold on her loosened.

  She jerked away from him and tumbled to the floor. Scrambling up, she was met by Anna, who tried to help. All she accomplished was making Micah’s arms tingle.

  “Out of the way!” she cried then thrust her open hands in Natalie’s direction. Anna had just enough time to dart out of the way as a radiant glow exploded from Micah’s palms.

  Screams from those in Micah’s direct line of fire filled her ears. She had little time to contemplate how this made her feel because the big shadow was coming at her again.

  Natalie was too far away to be affected. Instead, she screamed, “Get her, Dennis!”

  Dennis, the big brute, slammed into Micah, knocking her onto the grime-covered floor. The breath that puffed past her lips kicked up a whirlwind of dust. She clawed at the floor, desperate to get away from him.

  Thomas turned to his daughter, tears in his eyes. “Please, Nat. Don’t do this.”

  Natalie backhanded him with inhuman strength, and he fell backward onto his butt. The girl stalked toward him, an ugly snarl twisting her features. “I came to you for help a long time ago, and you ignored my pleas. You turned me into what I am, Dad.”

  “I’m so sorry. It was a mistake,” Thomas whispered then reached for her. “It doesn’t have to be like this.”

  She batted his hand away. “But it does. You wanted me to stay forever. I’ve figured out how to do it.”

  Each breath Micah sucked in was a chore. Still pinned by Dennis’s heavy boot, she struggled to crawl from beneath him.

  Natalie’s hand wrapped around the scythe’s handle, and a slow smile spread across her face. In one quick movement, she jerked it up and out of Sully’s chest. The girl moved with a sense of purpose as she stalked closer to Micah.

  Knowing time was quickly running out, Micah clamped her hands around the thick ankle anchoring her to the floor. Focusing on the light within, she felt a surge of power shudder through her. Dennis was lit in a brilliant glow that seemed to surround him. Micah squinted against the blinding light.

  “No!” Natalie screeched then dashed forward.

  The big man threw his head back to scream, but all that came out was the all-encompassing light. It burst from his eye sockets and his open mouth before he disintegrated into nothing.

  Micah scrambled to her feet. She’d lost sight of Natalie, but hardly had time to search for the girl as other shadows clambered to meet her. Some shambled toward her, their hands outstretched and their eyes pleading for mercy. Others still sought to carry out Natalie’s orders. These were the ones she’d deal with first.

  Light shot from her open hands, making the shadows closest to her nothing but a memory. Still, no matter how many she blasted, more kept coming. The small building was nearly full of dark, swirling shapes as more crept in through the walls. Natalie’s maniacal laughter could be heard, but Micah couldn’t locate the child.

  “Where are you, you little brat?” she cried at the top of her lungs.

  Near the broken doorway, Micah caught sight of her. The girl had turned on the shadow army. She gripped one after another, pulling them into her where their energy was absorbed. Thomas had been right; she had figured out how to gather their strength. No wonder she had such a large number with her, as her appetite for more power seemed insatiable.

  Micah spotted Sully at the back of the building. He was on his feet now. In the next flash of light, he had moved forward, but was still so far away. His left hand rested against the wall, and he looked like he was barely staying on his feet.

  “Thomas, get him out of here!” Micah shouted as she spun to greet the shadows creeping up behind her. She narrowly missed blasting Anna. The ghost disappeared just in time, then reappeared next to Sully.

  Thomas gripped Sully’s arm. “C’mon, let’s get out of here.”

  “Get the fuck off me.” Sully jerked his arm out of Thomas’s grip.

  Anna didn’t touch him. “Let us help you, Sully.”

  “I’m not leaving her.” He took a few shaky steps in Micah’s direction.

  Thomas backed away in surrender. “Fine, okay.”

  Sully staggered away from his friend, an angry expression on his face. “Where the hell is Natalie? She has my scythe.”

  Micah was relieved to see he was up and moving. She hoped that meant he’d be okay. There was no time to worry about
it though, because more shadows drifted into the mausoleum.

  There were just too many, and she was so fatigued. If only she hadn’t forgotten the dagger.

  “Watch out!” Sully yelled then surged forward in an effort to grab the girl who appeared in front of Micah.

  Natalie laughed and swung the scythe. Micah jumped out of the way, the blade tearing the hem of her shirt instead of flesh. Scrambling backward, she put some space between her and the murderous child.

  Natalie stalked after her, swinging the blade again and again. Micah was exhausted, and it was evident in the light that shimmered at her fingertips. What had begun as a potent weapon had now fizzled to the point that it sputtered like a candle. The light’s reach had decreased, and each time Micah tried to blast Natalie, she easily avoided it.

  While the child kept her busy, more shadows crept up behind Micah. Grasping her arms, they forced them against her sides and held her immobile. Another shoved her down onto the concrete floor. Her cheek scraped against the rough surface, and she cried out. Though she struggled, she could no longer move. Her limbs were pinned down by the shadows atop her. Their hands were all over her, in her mouth, tangled in her hair. Thoughts of giving up, of letting them do as they willed, began to creep into her subconscious.

  Sully tried to reach her, but stopped a few feet short of doing so when Natalie raised the scythe. “Not so fast, Reaper. Stay where you are, or so help me, I’ll slice her up. She won’t be as hard to kill since she’s mortal.”

  “Natalie, don’t do this.” Thomas tried to change his daughter’s mind. He edged closer until he was crouched next to her. “We can find another way, sweetheart. Just put the scythe down.”

  Natalie threw back her head and screamed. In the same moment, she sliced through her father with the blade. His image shattered.

  The room grew cooler, and several of the shadows scurried up and out of the way. Micah struggled to see what was going on, but couldn’t see anything past Natalie’s scuffed shoes and the shadows darting about.

  “Mr. Azrael!” Anna breathed his name with renewed hope.

  Azrael’s body blurred with movement. For a moment, Micah was certain it was just wishful thinking, that he really hadn’t come to their rescue. That notion was dismissed when she heard his voice.

  “That’s quite enough.” Though his voice was reserved, there was quiet anger burning within the words. The Grimm’s dagger was in his hand.

  Natalie’s eyes were huge with surprise as she took several steps backward. Her fingers tightened around the scythe’s blade as she looked him over.

  The shadows holding Micah down eased their grip and allowed her to scramble onto hands and knees. It seemed they were just as awed as their leader was to see Azrael in the flesh. A few disappeared, not quite brave enough to go against him.

  Within seconds, Sully was at Micah’s side. His hands were on her shoulders hauling her up off the floor. “You okay, doll?”

  Micah answered with a single nod. She couldn’t take her eyes off the enigmatic Azrael as he loomed over Natalie.

  “Take him out!” Natalie’s voice cracked with heated emotion.

  As one, the mob of remaining shadows swooped in, their hands reaching out to capture Azrael.

  A slight smile lifted the corner of his mouth. Thomas grabbed Anna by the hand and together, they disappeared. What happened next was a blur.

  Azrael shouted words Micah had never heard before. White light lifted from his body, encompassing him and the entire room. Azrael’s body seemed to glow. The light emanating from him was the brightest she’d ever seen. As the light crept toward the shadows, one by one, they disintegrated with mournful wails.

  Natalie screamed in anger as the bright glare crawled toward her. The edge of light crept toward the toe of her left shoe, swallowing all shadows in its wake. Natalie jumped backward, her eyes full of hatred and fury. Her lips pulled back from her teeth in a snarl, and she growled a curse. Darkness seemed to curl outward from her. It crept across the walls and floor, toward Azrael’s light.

  As soon as the shadowy darkness met the light, both forces crashed down. Natalie’s image flickered as if she’d been weakened. Before disappearing, she said, “This isn’t over!”

  “What the hell just happened?” Micah rushed forward to grip Azrael’s sleeve.

  “I’m not sure. That has never happened before. The light should have destroyed her.” Azrael cast a questioning glance at Micah. “Are you hurt, child?”

  “Did you see the darkness? How did she do that?”

  Azrael glanced at his watch as if he had somewhere else to be. “She doesn’t seem to be your normal shadow. Perhaps she’s something more? Something stronger?”

  Sully crouched where Natalie had stood. “What’s stronger than you, Azrael?”

  Azrael pursed his lips in thought. “Nothing. She caught me off guard.”

  Casting a glance over his shoulder, Sully said, “I hope that’s all it is, old man.”

  Micah was close to tears when she looked at Azrael. “You came.”

  “You left the dagger.” He lifted a hand to brush away a bit of dirt from her cheek. “You knew I would.”

  She gripped his hand and squeezed it in thanks. “Yes, I hoped you would.”

  He put an arm around her shoulder and gave a little squeeze.

  “What you said earlier … is it true?” She glanced up at him with curiosity.

  Azrael seemed to be on the verge of saying something, but instead another mysterious smile played at his lips. He stepped away from her. “That is a discussion for another time, my dear. I must get back to my office. I’ve already been gone far too long.”

  Sully’s arm snaked around Micah’s waist, and she was unsure of who was holding up whom.

  Sully was deathly pale. “She still has my scythe.”

  “We’ll get it back.” Micah reassured him even though she wasn’t sure of anything at the moment.

  Anna stepped forward. She clasped her hands together and kept her eyes downcast as she approached Azrael. “Mr. Azrael, sir? I was wondering if I could continue to cross over from time to time?”

  Death’s gaze turned toward the shepherd. His features were stern as he appraised her. “You must be careful and never leave a doorway open.”

  Anna’s grin was ginormous. “Thank you!”

  In a surprise move, Anna wrapped her arms around Azrael’s waist. Death looked uncomfortable as he awkwardly patted the teenager’s head. “Someone must keep an eye on her.”

  The back of Micah’s neck began to tingle and goose bumps formed on her arms. “Someone’s coming.”

  Azrael disentangled himself from the shepherd just as Thomas winked into existence.

  Thomas looked so forlorn and downtrodden. “Please forgive me, Azrael. This is my fault. I should never have tried to keep Nat from crossing.”

  Azrael regarded him a moment. “I have not decided a punishment for you yet. Until then, you are to remain here as Micah’s mentor. Show her how to use the light.”

  Thomas grinned. “I think she’s got the basics.”

  Azrael lifted fingers to Thomas’s forehead. Thomas gasped at his touch. “You are whole again. Do not squander this gift, my boy.”Thomas bowed his head, tears shimmering on his dark lashes. “Thank you.”

  “What are we going to do about Natalie?” Sully moved closer, an intense look on his face.

  “We must find out how she made that darkness,” Azrael said.

  Micah gripped his hand in her own. “I saw her absorb some of the other shadows. Could that give her power?”“I suppose it is possible. The longer a spirit is here, they become angrier, more vengeful.” Azrael’s brows dipped in thought. “Perhaps the darkness has consumed her until there is nothing left inside.”

  “How can we fight that?” Thomas asked.

  “You can overpower her by working together. The light within you and Micah can join. Use it to your advantage.”

  Micah lifted a brow. “Is t
his where you say good will always defeat the bad?”

  Azrael didn’t comment. Instead, he extended the weapon to Micah. “The Grimm’s dagger. It belongs to you.”

  By the time her fingers curled around the handle, Azrael had already moved away. Death strode through the broken doorway of the mausoleum then in a blink, was gone.

  Micah sagged against Sully’s side and gave him a gentle squeeze. “Ready to go home?”

  His color had begun to return to normal, and some of the smaller cuts and bruises had healed. He dropped a kiss atop her head then said, “More than ready, doll.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Sully shut his eyes and eased the seat back just a bit. It bumped against Thomas’s knees, but his friend didn’t protest. He was too busy chatting with Micah.

  “Can you believe it?” Micah’s voice rose with excitement. “Death came to our aid.”

  Thomas laughed, the sound reminding Sully of how his friend used to be, before he became a shadow. “Have you fully returned to the land of the living, St. Clair?”

  “Yes, I think so,” Thomas said in a voice full of awe. He rolled his shoulders and took a deep breath as if to test it.

  Micah pulled into a drive-in to order burgers for everyone. The smell of grease made Sully’s stomach roll.

  Micah said, “Grimms are from Azrael’s bloodline, right?”

  Thomas waited to answer until the order was given, and Micah had pulled to the next window. “Yes, we are his descendants either directly or indirectly.”

  “So, you and I … we’re related?” Micah took the food from the cashier and pulled back onto the main road.

  “In some way, yes.” Thomas smiled at her in the rearview. “I’m six hundred and three years old. I think it would be best to just say we’re cousins or something like that.”

  Sully must have dozed because by the time he awoke, they were back at Micah’s place. The conversation had dropped, and the car’s confines were quiet once again.

  “Your apartment is a mess. Why don’t you stay the night in the guest room?” Micah handed Thomas the bag of food and smiled.