Shadows of the Past

by Brandy L Rivers

  Hayden gently turned Amethyst and peered into her wide eyes as he brushed a hand down her side where the flowers were tattooed. “Is that Fallon’s work?”

  She nodded. “Those are. Gabe did a few others on me.”

  “Good. You should be all right. We still need to talk to everyone, because I don’t think that will stop him from using your blood.”

  “Right.” She took a deep breath. “We should probably get to your house.”

  “Yeah, I should start the grill.” Hayden nodded at Brody. “Bring Fallon when you’re ready.”

  “Will do.” Brody went back down the stairs and Amethyst slipped past Hayden to grab a bag and start throwing things in it. Everything in her apartment was neat and orderly, and yet she was shoving clothes and a few extra things into her backpack in a haphazard fashion.

  She made him smile.

  Chapter 16

  Izackarus didn’t have the strength to leave Darla’s body so soon, so he sent his feelers out for anyone still asleep. Just down the hall he found someone who was still under the effects of anesthesia from a recent surgery.

  He wrapped his will around the man’s consciousness and seeped into his dreams. He found the man smiling down at his wife who was laid out before him.

  She traced her fingers up his arms as he leaned over her. “Alex, you are so good to me.”

  Izackarus took the opportunity to morph the pretty brunette into the corpse he didn’t get to play with thanks to the light that Lincoln emitted. It wasn’t just healing light. It was something that threatened to tear his existence apart.

  Alex screamed and Izackarus threw the corpse’s wrinkled arms around Alex’s neck and her legs around his hips as she tried to roll them over.

  There was a real scream as Alex bolted awake, and Izackarus had to pull away from the dream, taking the panic and fear with him.

  * * * *

  Preston pulled into Hayden’s driveway. He was wound too tight. Everything he had found out over the course of the day scared the hell out of him. The one person he had always protected was the only one who could bring this Shadow Fae to its end.

  If it all went wrong, she would die and the nightmare creature would not only manifest fully, he would bring his kind with him, making earth something like hell.

  He shut his car off and climbed out. The house was still dark and he was the first one there. Preston pulled out his phone, and considered calling Robert, but he appeared before him.

  “Hey,” Preston said. He wanted to ask Robert about Liz. She had been Preston’s friend once, but it looked like she ran from everything that had anything to do with Robert. Tremaine seemed to be the only exception. Robert wasn’t going to talk until he was good and ready anyway.

  “You okay?” Robert asked gruffly.

  He snorted. “Sure. End of the world might be coming if we don’t find a way to let my favorite little nymph do what only she can do to stop it.”

  “Finally figured out what you feel for Amethyst?”

  “Don’t.” Preston rubbed a hand over his face. “She’s off limits. Just like Liz.”

  “Fair enough.” Robert took a look around. “So, where is everyone?”

  “I don’t know, but I don’t like it.” He really didn’t. He knew Amethyst was with Hayden, and that Brody was still next door. Fallon wasn’t far, and there was another of the enforcers over there.

  “When are Mathis and Paavo due?”

  “I hope soon. They seem to be the most informed about what Zack is. Here’s the thing, he took another body, only she was alive. I don’t think we can get her back.”

  “Is she possessed?”

  “Yeah, but Mathis tried to explain. All I know is that they don’t know a way to remove the Shadow from her without killing her.”

  Hayden pulled in. His SUV was full. Amethyst climbed out and gave Preston a weak smile and Robert a nod.

  Brody hopped out and took Fallon’s hand. Clint walked around the side, and he looked a little shell-shocked still.

  “Are you up for this?” Preston asked with a raised brow.

  Clint grumbled, “It wasn’t like the damned bullet was silver. Let’s just figure this shit out.”

  “Slater should be here in a minute,” Brody said. “He wants to know what’s going on just as much as the rest of us.”

  Preston looked to Amethyst but he didn’t know what to say. She met his gaze and quickly looked away. Preston closed his eyes and leaned against his car.

  Robert gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder before moving away.

  “Come on, let’s go in.” Hayden said gruffly. “Mathis and Paavo already called to say they’re close. It won’t take Slater long to arrive.”

  * * * *

  Amethyst was suddenly nervous as she stepped into Hayden’s house. She almost wanted to ask to move the group back to Fallon’s. There was no good reason, other than she felt a little foolish.

  Preston looked lost every time her gaze swung his way. Just a few days ago she would have done anything for him to feel this way. And now, she wasn’t sure what to say to him.

  She had long ago given up the dream of Preston being hers. It hadn’t stopped her from wishing and dreaming about him. No, it took Hayden stepping into her life for her to finally let go, and just in time for Preston to finally see her as a woman.

  Hayden rubbed his big hand up and down her back before squeezing her shoulder. She could feel tension rolling off of him. Was she supposed to explain? Did he need to know? Preston gave Hayden a dark look before glancing away.

  Fallon’s brow arched but she kept her mouth shut.

  Amethyst heard the car on the gravel and sighed in relief. The sooner her brother and Mathis were here, the sooner they could start.

  It was already odd with everyone just standing around in the living room. She was almost worried he would ask her to go get everyone drinks, even though she hadn’t actually been in the kitchen yet.

  Wow, things had moved fast. She hadn’t seen much of anything but his bedroom the night before.

  Clint still looked rattled as he turned toward the door. He jumped as someone knocked. She moved to him and gently touched his face as she looked into his green eyes.

  Amethyst smiled sweetly and murmured, “Take a deep breath, hon.”

  Clint’s chest rose and fell slowly as the fear and anxiety washed away from him.

  “Another one,” she told him.

  His shoulders relaxed and his face went lax.

  “Better?”

  “Mmhmm,” he answered. A lazy smile crept onto his lips.

  “Now just remember to stay calm even when we talk about Izackarus.”

  “Of course.”

  She patted his cheek and turned to open the door.

  Mathis gave her a squeeze before Paavo pushed him aside and picked her up in a big hug.

  “I’ve been worried about you ever since we ran into Preston on the plane,” Paavo exclaimed.

  Once Paavo put her down, she stepped back and glared up at him. “You could have just called. Might have been nice to know more, but no, everyone seems to want to leave little Amethyst in the dark like some kind of kid.”

  “I figured the big dumbass behind you would have filled you in.” He raised a brow at Hayden.

  Amethyst blushed. “Oh, well, we were busy with other things.”

  Mathis looked to Hayden and back to Paavo. “She was right.”

  “Oh, grow up,” she huffed and moved back to a chair where she could sit alone. Of course Hayden followed and stood behind her. She turned in her seat. “You said something about starting the grill.

  He gave her a suspicious look but nodded before going out back. Brody followed him.

  “How you holding up, kid?” Preston asked with some semblance of the old smile he used to give her.

  “Holding. I think I know how to bring Mom back. I can break whatever hold Izackarus still has on Stacey. I even think I know how to release Darla from Izackarus.” She looked o
ver at Mathis. “I just want to make sure that it shouldn’t leave me open to attack before Sheriff Eyeball decides I shouldn’t do it.”

  Paavo snickered. “That is certainly an appropriate name for Hayden, especially since you waltzed into his life.”

  Preston sighed heavily and managed to look anywhere but at her. Her heart squeezed tight. He wasn’t her dream anymore, but she knew that he wasn’t in love with Jamie either, and Jamie had to know that.

  Mathis glanced at Preston and then back at her with understanding in his dark eyes. He nudged Paavo who glanced over and they shared their silent conversation. At least Paavo took a more serious expression.

  “You should be fine,” Mathis said. “We’ll be there every step of the way. What were you thinking to help them?”

  “Well, first I want to see Mom. I think she just cast a spell to put herself under. Sapphire taught it to her.”

  “Oh, shit.” Paavo answered. “She must have thought he was going to possess her.”

  “Is that what he does when he wraps his tendrils around you?” Clint asked mildly.

  “Yes,” Mathis turned to Clint. “Did he try that with you?”

  “Yeah, but he screamed both times and retreated.”

  “He did?” Mathis and Paavo asked simultaneously.

  “Yeah, right after I found him this morning, and then when he attacked Brody and me.”

  Fallon shot to her feet. “And I’m just now hearing about this?” She hissed.

  Brody hurried back in. “Shit, sorry, sugar. Everything happened so fast and I didn’t think to tell you.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest, but there was a smirk on her face. “But you’re fine? He couldn’t breach my wards?”

  Brody’s head tilted to the side. “I think maybe that was it. But why wouldn’t Opal be immune?”

  Fallon snorted. “The only ink she has is the one tattoo Gabriel insisted on doing just after Amethyst was born. Back then, I didn’t know I could ward anyone from a vampire’s gaze, and I sure as hell didn’t know about the Shadow Fae.”

  Hayden leaned against the wall, but his gaze was on Mathis, who was usually better informed than Paavo. “You’re sure Amethyst won’t be under more risk if she can wake Opal, and Stacey.”

  “She’ll be fine,” Paavo insisted, always the first to stand behind her.

  Mathis nodded his agreement.

  “What do you need from us?” Hayden asked her. That was almost unexpected, considering.

  She gave him a smile. “Just be there in case Izackarus comes back. First, I want to know everything that has happened, and then we should go to the hospital. At least, my brother, Mathis, and you.”

  “Oh, we’re all going. Don’t even question that for a second,” Fallon told her.

  * * * *

  Hayden didn’t like the plan, but every time he opened his mouth to argue, Fallon would shoot him a warning glance. Preston seemed to fully support Amethyst, which irked him, considering the man claimed he wanted to protect her from everything.

  Then Slater showed up, somehow already filled in on everything. He was willing to bet Preston had done that. He had to give it to the guy. It was obvious he felt strongly for Amethyst, but he was doing his best to avoid that subject.

  Hayden almost felt bad for him. He wanted to ask, but didn’t feel it was his place. Plus, he would rather not know how deep their feelings were for each other.

  The whole group rode the elevator to the fourth floor and Hayden had managed to keep his hands to himself. Clint stepped out of the elevator with Amethyst.

  Heaving a sigh, Clint gave Amethyst a cautious look. “Look, you’re the target, gem. So please, let one of us go first. We don’t know exactly what we are dealing with, or when he’s going to come back. So please, let us do our duty.”

  Her lips quirked up slightly. “Clint, I have the same protection you do. He’s going to have to physically attack me to do any harm. Between all of you big bad werewolves, a couple of sirens, mages, a druid, and an Earth Fae, I think I’ll be okay. Now, let’s see what I can do.”

  She kept walking as Hayden’s stomach bottomed out. He felt something in the air, something that wasn’t right. He didn’t like it.

  Clint touched the knob first and pushed the door open. Stacey was still banded down, and even in her unconscious state, she restlessly thrashed around.

  * * * *

  Izackarus felt Amethyst nearby. He moved to where he expected her. Once again, they had the nymph completely surrounded.

  There had to be a way to get her alone. Without her, he would have to leap from body to body for eternity. Having access to his host’s abilities was often useful, but there was so much more he could do in his own skin.

  Just then, he needed to go back to his host’s body, but she was so pure and good that he could hardly stand to stay. Why couldn’t he find someone who was naturally prone to the darker emotions?

  Amethyst and her odd group stepped into Opal and Stacey’s room at the same time Izackarus came face to face with a wall of shimmering magic that stretched across the hall, blocking his path. He didn’t bother trying to pass through it. He could feel the hum of power buzzing from the spell.

  Perhaps he could make her come to him. He needed a distraction that would split her from the other group. First, he had to find a way to do that.

  Chapter 17

  Amethyst stepped into the room and moved to her mother’s bed.

  Gabriel stood up and put his arm around her shoulder. He murmured, “Hey, Ame. Don’t look so sad. Opal will be all right. She shut herself down to keep him out.”

  “I know.” She looked up at him with a sad smile. “I can help her find her way back.”

  His head tilted to the side. “How’s that?”

  She shrugged, not sure how to explain it. She was going off her grandmother’s memories from the Awakening. “I’ll show you. Just step back,” she said.

  “Are you sure about this, Amethyst?” Hayden asked quietly.

  She turned to look into his eyes. “I am, so give me a little room. I’ll be fine.” She glanced over at the woman in the other bed. She knew how to help her, too.

  “Mom’s the easy one, but I can bring Simons’ wife back too. I even think I know how to bring Darla back, but she might be forever tainted. I’m not sure how to get around that, but she doesn’t have to die.”

  Mathis and Paavo looked at each other and then her. Paavo said, “Ame, that’s a lot more than Mom could ever do. Would you put yourself at risk to save a woman you hardly know?”

  “I can do it. I know I can.” She half-laughed. “I just have to embrace what has always terrified me about my gifts.”

  Paavo stepped forward and wrapped his hands around her shoulders. “I always knew you had it in you.” He kissed her head and moved back to Mathis. “Hayden, let her do this. She needs to.”

  Gabriel nodded. “If anyone can, it’s Amethyst.”

  Tears blurred her vision and she turned back to her mother as everyone in the crowded room took a step back.

  She moved to her mom and placed her hands over her mother’s head and heart before closing her eyes. She delved deep into herself, pulling at the power she had always feared. It wasn’t that she thought it was bad, but a lot of what she could do with it was. Amethyst was terrified she would make the wrong choice.

  Taking a deep breath in, she reached out with her essence to find her mother’s. She pushed her energy slowly into Opal, until she felt her presence.

  Wrapping herself around Opal’s spirit, she pulled gently, urging her to come out of the inner depths of her mind. After what seemed like forever she finally felt her mom coming to the surface.

  Amethyst pulled too hard and landed on her butt as her own essence landed fully back in her body.

  Someone scooped her into their arms as she opened her eyes and found Hayden looking down at her. She snuggled into him and took a deep breath.

  “Amethyst?” Opal sounded surprised.
/>   “I’m okay,” Amethyst told Hayden.

  “You sure?” he asked.

  “Yes, now put me down.” A proud smile took hold of his face and he did as she asked. She turned to her mother. “Hey, Mom.”

  There were tears in Opal’s pale iridescent eyes. “How did you know to do that?”

  “I stopped being afraid of my gifts. I finally realized that it isn’t what I can do, but how I use it.” Amethyst moved back to the bed as Opal sat up with a smile, even though a tear fell down her face. “Oh no, did I do something wrong?” she asked.

  Opal laughed. “Oh no, baby. You did everything right.”

  “Well, not yet. I still have a few people to help, and to find a way to deal with Izackarus for good.

  “We can help you with that,” Mathis promised.

  Paavo continued, “This time, neither of us want to hear that death isn’t the answer. The Shadow Fae have caused too much chaos to go easy on them.”

  Amethyst nodded. Even she knew that sometimes the only way to stop a monster was to kill it.

  * * * *

  Hayden stood there as Amethyst and her mother spoke quietly. He’d underestimated her and he felt like an ass. He hadn’t been able to sense Opal a moment ago, and then she was just there as Amethyst fell.

  It scared the Abyss out of him when Amethyst landed with a thud, but she had smiled up at him and everything fell into place. He was in awe of what she had just accomplished.

  He felt like he was eavesdropping as Amethyst and her mother hugged each other and Gabriel wrapped an arm around each of them, drawing them closer.

  Paavo nudged Hayden. “I told you she could do it.”

  Hayden looked over and saw the grin on his old friend’s face. Mathis wore a matching one. “I know.”

  “Just wait.” Mathis smirked. “If I’m right, what she does next will be even more impressive. She has a little more confidence to boost her now.”

  He turned back as Amethyst stepped away from the bed. She told Opal, “I need to see what I can do for Stacey.”