By
Mariana Thorn
The right of Mariana Thorn to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him/her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it was published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Cover art and formatting by:
Spirit Hollow Designs
Edited by:
EAL Editing Services
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2015 Mariana Thorn.
All rights reserved.
To Pyxi. It’s what I promised long ago.
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Epilogue
I stared at the pile of ashes at my feet. Blue flames still flickered. What have I done? My stomach was in my throat. I’d just killed someone. Taken their life. I felt sick. The chaos that was surrounding me faded into the background as I stared at what used to be a person.
I’d never taken a life before. I was just a lab-rat. I studied and made potions. Being a fighter or a killer was not in my job description. What am I going to do?
My gaze traveled to my hand. I held the crystal vial that contained the blue hellfire. I stepped away. I wanted to run, but my body wasn’t responding. I stumbled. Then the noise and chaos snapped back into my mind. I looked up.
People were running and screaming. Loud booms filled the air. Someone was shouting my name.
“Savannah!”
I turned toward the voice unseeing. Then it hit me.
How had I gotten to this point? How could I have killed someone? How did this even happen?
Twenty-three hours earlier
I drove into the parking lot of the new PIB headquarters building, my headlights flashed off the shiny new glass front. It looked almost identical to the last. The one that had burned to the ground. I still shivered as I thought of that day, even though it had been months.
The incident had just been days after the previous director had died. I’d been in the lab running tests to find what had killed him and something to counteract it. The shouting still rang through my ears. Instinctively I’d hidden under a table. I was only a witch and was no match for most of the other creatures.
The relief I’d felt when Kalypso, whatever she was, I never did figure it out, had entered. She and Fane saved me that day. They were two of the most powerful creatures I’d ever met. The only one that compared was the master of the hellhounds. I met him moments later. He scared me to death. Power just flowed off him. He had been pleasant enough just intimidating.
I shook the memories from my head as I parked my car. Ever since the death of Valdimir, our director, a cloud of gloom had hung over the PIB. I’d been doing what I could to help dispel the depression. I and the other witches had performed cleansing ceremonies weekly. I’d been brewing happiness potion for anyone that wanted it daily. I knew though that the loss of our leader was a going to affect people for some time to come. He was a great man and leader.
My thoughts turned to his successor and adopted son, Dante. Ever since I’d joined the PIB and met Dante I’d had a thing for him. He was kind, gentle, and handsome. I knew he was an older vampire, but that didn’t matter to me. He had taken Valdimir’s death hard. I’d watched him every day become more and more overworked. It broke my heart to see his pain.
I walked up to the doors and found Natalya standing just inside, looking irritated. “Hey, Nat, what’s going on?”
“Dante and Radek are arguing again. Ugh. They are being idiots.” She ran a hand through her gorgeous dark hair.
“I was going to stop for coffee on the way to the lab would you like to go?” I knew her weakness was coffee. I had been so glad that Dante had ordered the cafeteria to have an espresso maker and someone to run it.
Natalya smiled at me. “That is the best thing I’ve heard all day.”
I laughed. It was well known that she was highly addicted to coffee. I was pretty sure that Dante had Natalya in mind when he ordered the espresso maker. They had been partners before all the craziness happened.
“What are you doing here so late? I thought you worked the day shift.” Natalya walked with me down the hall.
“I couldn’t sleep.” I hadn’t been sleeping well for a long time.
“Why not? What’s troubling you?” she asked.
“Oh it’s nothing. I just can’t seem to trace where that blasted drug came from. I’ve done every test and looked at every lab I can find. Still nothing.”
“That isn’t your fault.” Natalya was studying me. “I think there is more to your not sleeping.”
I sighed. “There is.” There was no use denying it.
“I bet it’s a man. It’s always a man. Seriously, whoever it is, isn’t worth not sleeping,” she said.
“Well, this man barely knows I exist. So, it wouldn’t matter anyway.”
“Not know you exist? How can that be? You’re a talented beautiful witch. Who wouldn’t want that?”
I blushed at Natalya’s words.
“Who doesn’t want Savannah?” asked a haunting voice that I knew.
“Oh it’s no one, Kalypso,” I said suddenly nervous. I was sure she suspected that I had a thing for Dante.
“Hey Kali, what are you doing here?” Natalya asked.
“Radek called for me. Said something about Dante being an idiot.” She shrugged. Her deep purple eyes studied me.
“It’s true, he is being a moron,” Natalya said.
“He’s under a lot of pressure taking over for Valdimir.” I couldn’t help but defend him.
“Yes, and he isn’t letting us all share the burden. He’s taking too much on himself and will eventually run himself into the ground.” Natalya sounded concerned.
“Well, I’m here now and I’ll knock some sense into him. Where are you two headed?” Kalypso asked.
“We were grabbing coffee. Then Savannah here was going to inform me who this man is that doesn’t give her the time of day.” Natalya grinned at me.
I knew I shouldn’t have told anyone. Natalya wouldn’t let up, I was sure.
“This sounds intriguing,” Kalypso said.
“It’s nothing really. He’s so great and I’m just a little lab witch.” I blushed.
“Any man that doesn’t see your value isn’t worth your consideration,” Kalypso said.
“Oh he is, but I just don’t think he’s into me.” I shrugged.
“I’ll grab the coffees then you will spill it. Do you want anything, Kali?” Natalya said.
“Like I would lower myself to drink that swill.” Kalypso wrinkled her pretty nose. I was pretty sure she had fae blood. Only fae could look that beautiful.
I knew now it would be useless to fight them. I was going to have to spill it. It felt kind of good to be talking about it though. Except that these two women happened to be close to Dante. Kalypso led me to a table while we waited for Natalya. She didn’t say a word, just sat in silence. With anyone else it would be uncomfortabl
e. Her presence was calming.
“Can I ask you something?” I couldn’t stay silent anymore.
“Anything.” She smiled her fangs peeking out.
“What are you?” I had to ask.
She laughed. “You haven’t figured it out because there are no other creatures like me. I’m half light fae of the high court and half Archontas vampire.”
“Archontas vampires were the original vampires right?” I was racking my brain for the history.
“Correct. There were nine. My creator killed the other eight. Then he kidnapped my fae mother and used her life force and his to create me.”
“Wow.” I didn’t know what to say.
“I took much joy in destroying him and his cohort. I had assistance of course. Alkaios was with me. It was an extremely long time ago.”
We were interrupted by Natalya returning. “Okay Savannah, spill it.” She set a coffee in front of me.
“It’s Dante,” I said quickly and felt my cheeks heating up. I couldn’t look at the other two.
“He does too notice you,” Natalya said.
I looked at her. “What?”
“He trusts you and speaks of you often,” Kalypso said.
“Could have fooled me. He barely has said five words to me.” It was only a slight exaggeration.
“He’s been working too hard. Trying to fill Val’s shoes. That stupid boy doesn’t know a good thing when it’s staring him in the face.” Kalypso looked angry and her eyes flashed red.
“Which is why Dek is up there attempting to talk him into letting him go in his stead,” Natalya added.
“What do you mean?” I didn’t know anyone was going anywhere.
“There is an international council meeting coming up,” Natalya answered.
“Is that why Radek called me?” Kalypso asked.
“Probably. Anyway, I think you are just the thing to distract him.” Natalya took a sip of her coffee. I was starting to get an uncomfortable feeling about the gleam in her eye.
Kalypso must have caught on because she let out a small laugh. “I like the way you think, Nat. I think your idea has merit.”
“Um, what idea? What are you two plotting?” I was getting really worried.
“You go with him to the council meeting. It’s a perfect idea.” Natalya was looking proud of herself.
“Oh no. No, no no. I am not throwing myself at him.” I stood up almost knocking over my coffee.
“Calm down. You won’t be throwing yourself at him. You will be distracting him from working. All you have to do is convince him to relax a little on the trip. Take some down time,” Kalypso said.
“You two are insane. He won’t listen to me.”
“Actually he is more likely to listen to you than one of us. Yes, this could be the answer. Come Kali, you too, Savannah. Let’s go tell the boys our idea.” Natalya grabbed my arm and dragged me up to Dante’s office.
“This is not a good idea,” I tried to protest.
“Oh hush. This is an excellent idea,” Natalya said keeping hold on my arm. We were taking the stairs because Kalypso hated elevators.
I sighed. There was no fighting them. They had some crazy idea in their head and now I was stuck going along with it. We soon were standing outside of Dante’s office and could hear him and Radek arguing.
Kalypso just opened the door without knocking. Natalya pushed me through the door after Kalypso.
“We have a plan,” Kalypso stated.
Both Dante and Radek turned.
I tried to hide behind Natalya. I knew my face was bright red.
“A plan for what. And what are you doing here?” Dante asked running a rough hand through his already disheveled hair.
“Don’t you get snappish with me, Dante. Now sit down and hush up.” Kalypso glared at him. He glared back, but sat down.
“We have decided that Savannah will go with you to the conference,” Natalya said.
The two men stared at me. I didn’t have any words.
“Why?” Dante asked.
“You need someone to go with. I can’t. Natalya and Radek need to be here running things in your absence. She’s the perfect one for the job,” Kalypso explained.
“If she wants to go with me, I have no issues with it,” Dante said.
“I was attempting to get him to send me instead,” Radek interrupted.
“He needs the break. Besides, he is far better at dealing with other creatures than you are,” Kalypso said it like it was a fact.
I was expecting Radek to fly off on her, but he just shrugged.
It was all settled in a just a few minutes. I was going with Dante to a conference somewhere in Europe. I’d zoned out at some point and couldn’t remember the exact place. It wasn’t long before I was driving back to my apartment. I needed to pack.
“You’re back fast,” my roommate Aria said.
“I have to pack.” I really didn’t know how I was going to explain what was going on to her.
“And just where are you going?” She leaned forward on the couch and clicked off the movie she had been watching.
“I’m not really sure how it happened. I am going with Director Ramoni to an international convention.” I couldn’t decide if I was excited or not.
“Oh really? Spill the beans,” she demanded.
I was about to explain what happened when there was a knock on the door. I had a very bad feeling about it. With a heavy sigh I went to answer it. On the other side of the door I found Natalya, Kalypso, and Carly.
“Um, hi,” I said.
Natalya pushed her way in, the other two followed her. “We came to help you pack.”
“Savannah, you have lots of explaining to do.” Aria laughed.
“We decided that Dante needs a little push in her direction is all,” Natalya said.
“Where’s your room? We only have a until morning before you need to leave,” Kalypso insisted.
“Come on let’s get this over with.” I led them to my room. Then I sat on the bed while the four others went through my wardrobe. It was all happening too fast.
“I don’t see anything suitable,” Kalypso said.
“What do you mean? My clothes are perfectly suitable.” I didn’t like where this was going.
“It’s all trite,” she said.
“I know the owner of Black Cat Boutique. I bet she would open it for us,” Carly said.
“Call her,” Natalya said.
Carly pulled out her phone and left the room.
“Hey, wait! I haven’t budgeted for shopping.” I was getting really nervous. While I made decent money at the PIB, I was far from rich.
“We will get this. Don’t worry you’re pretty little head. Oh speaking of that, we need to do something with that hair of yours. Come on ladies we have work to do,” Natalya said.
“Only if you let me pay you back.” I knew there would be little protesting. I looked into my closet. They were right. I was going to an international conference with the head of the North American vampires and other creatures. I had to look good for Dante.
“Getting Dante to relax a little will be payment enough. We can discuss that all later. Come along.” Natalya grabbed my arm and pulled me from the room.
“Elizabeth said she would meet us there,” Carly said when we joined her in the hall.
The next thing I knew, I was in the back of one of the PIB vehicles and we were speeding down the road.
I recognized the area. There were several shops owned by witches, weres of all kinds, and vampires. Carly parked in front of a shop that was lit up with lights. The sign read Black Cat Boutique. I followed the others in.
A beautiful werecat stood in the door waiting for us. She had long dark hair and bright green eyes. “Welcome, what can I do for you, ladies?” Her voice was soft almost like a purr.
I liked her instantly.
“Savannah here needs a whole wardrobe including some evening gowns,” Natalya said.
“Well, you have
come to the right place.” She led us into the shop. “Come along, Savannah, let me get your measurements and we will find you some suitable items.”
She led me to the back. My eyes caught sight of the clothes in the store. I could tell they were things I’d never be able to afford. I didn’t know how I was going to be able to pay back Natalya.
“We told you not to worry about money. Just enjoy and let us dote on you.” Kalypso’s soft voice floated over me.
It was like my worries instantly disappeared.
“Don’t you worry about a thing, dear. I will take good care of you. Now come with me behind the curtain and we can get your measurements,” the werecat said.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
She smiled. “I’m Elizabeth, most people call me Beth. I promise you are in good paws.” She winked at me.
“Thank you for coming and opening the store for this.”
“It is my pleasure. Now undress for me.”
I did and shivered a little. I knew werecreatures tended to not care about nakedness, but I was no werecreature. She was quick in taking my measurements.
“Perfect. Now wait here. The girls and I will bring you outfits to try on. My assistant should be here soon with some tea and coffee.” She disappeared behind the curtain. I could hear them all chatting. I stared at the mirror. I was only in my bra and panties. I wasn’t overweight, but wasn’t thin either. My skin was pale and freckled. My red hair was wavy and brushed my bra strap in the back. I was nothing special. I wondered why Dante would even look at me. I was just an average witch.
“You are beautiful. Now stop with that thinking.” Kalypso entered the tiny room holding a few outfits.
“You can read minds?” I asked.
“No, it was written all over your face.” She laughed.
“Oh.” I blushed.
“Here try these on.” She hung up a few dresses and left.
My hand brushed the fabric of a soft green one. It was beautiful. The top was a wrap type top and sleeveless. There was a sparkly silver belt and the bottom flared a little. I took it from the hanger and put it on. It came just above my knees. I glanced into the mirror. A smile spread over my lips. It was perfect.
Rising Shadows (Fur, Fangs, and Fairies Book 3) Page 1
