Gone: A Shadow Slayers Story (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 3)

by Nellie H. Steele

  Damien climbed into bed as Alexander settled into an armchair, taking first watch over Damien. Damien relaxed into the pillows behind him. He fought sleep for a few more moments, allowing his mind to go over the day’s events. They had a channel to communicate with Celine. That pleased him. He wanted to meet her again, though he realized he wouldn’t with the sedative in his system. He was frightened to close his eyes. What if Celine needed him and couldn’t contact him? Had he made a mistake? He worried. If Celine was willing to sacrifice so much, to use such a dangerous method to make contact, what kind of danger did she face wherever she was?

  “Celine,” he whispered into the darkness, “please be okay.” He closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.

  Celeste entered the sitting room around midnight. Gray and Alexander poured over a series of books. “Working a new angle?”

  “No,” Gray lied, “searching for any information about Celine’s situation after being human again.”

  “Did Damien contact his aunt?”

  “He did. She hasn’t heard from Celine.”

  “Yet you’re still pursuing this?” Celeste inquired.

  “There’s nothing else to pursue, Celeste. At least I feel as though we’re doing something.”

  “How is Damien holding up? I’m surprised he’s not here monitoring something or another on his laptop.”

  “Damien is exhausted,” Gray answered. “The toll on him is overwhelming. He’s paying the price for his lack of sleep last night.”

  “Poor Damien. He is so close to Celine. I can imagine how devastating this is for him.”

  “Yes. The poor boy is beside himself,” Alexander chimed in. “We gave him a sedative to sleep. I hope it helps him.”

  Celeste sighed. “Humans should not involve themselves in our affairs. Perhaps he should visit his Aunt Monica until the situation is resolved.”

  “He’ll never leave with Celine missing,” Gray answered.

  “Then force him,” Celeste replied.

  Gray rolled his eyes at her. “No. Besides, Celine wouldn’t want that.”

  “We can concern ourselves with Celine’s wants when she has returned. Until then, Damien should be removed from the situation for his own good. Michael, too.”

  Gray eyed her. “Why are you so insistent, Celeste? Do you have information you’d like to share?”

  Celeste stalked away, staring out the window. “No. I am not aware of anything specific. I only believe they would be better off away from the overwhelming circumstances. For their own safety. It could take a toll on their health. Celine wouldn’t want that.”

  Gray shared a glance with Alexander. “We’ll take it under consideration,” Gray promised. “For now, they stay.”

  Celine paced the floor of her cell. Why had Damien been in Shadow World without her? She hadn’t summoned him there. Had she not sensed him calling to her, he may have died there. Mere seconds too long in the harsh environment could kill him. The chance she took bringing him to the world for moments at a time was a huge gamble. Still, it was her only way to communicate with her family.

  It would be slow-going, but she would inform them of her situation. Extreme caution on her part must be exercised. She would not take too many chances with Damien’s life.

  She stared out the window as the sky darkened. Her musing turned toward the instructions she passed to Damien during their last encounter. Had he passed the information along? Did Gray and the others receive the message? She wasn’t sure. Perhaps she’d gather more information the next time she met with Damien.

  Celine longed to try tonight, but she was unsure it was a good idea. Damien’s excursion earlier would leave him exhausted. Another trip may prove too much for him. Could she chance it? She’d make a determination later.

  As darkness crept over the sky, she prepared herself for the inevitable confrontation with Marcus. He had given her until this evening. She could not join him. Yet, she must stall until her family could locate her. It would be a delicate balance to strike, a fine line to walk. But she had no choice.

  The last streaks of light faded as footsteps sounded above her. Celine swallowed hard as they continued down the stairs behind her.

  “Good evening, Celine,” Marcus greeted her.

  “Hello, Marcus,” she answered.

  “A greeting! How fortunate I am this evening! Might I assume good news is forthcoming?”

  Celine faced him, considering her response. “Marcus, I’d like to speak honestly for a moment.”

  “By all means, my dear.”

  “We have been locked in this battle with each other for over two centuries,” Celine began. “It must end.”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” Marcus replied. “This conflict between us is never what I desired.”

  “I realize this is not the ending you expected.”

  “It is not.”

  “When I met Gray…”

  “Celine,” Marcus interrupted her, “let us not speak of him tonight.”

  “Oh, Marcus,” Celine said, hurrying to the door, “he has been my husband for over two centuries.”

  “I realize that, Celine.”

  “Then you must realize what you ask of me is impossible!”

  Displeasure shown on Marcus’ face. “Righting your mistake, while unpleasant for you, is not impossible, Celine.”

  “I do not consider my marriage to Grayson a mistake!”

  “Damn it, Celine, I have had enough of these games!” he shouted.

  “As have I, Marcus! Constant battles, collateral damage, no peace. We must stop!” she screamed back.

  “I disagree!”

  “Surely, I do not hold this much interest for you after centuries, Marcus. It’s time to move on.” Marcus did not respond, his jaw set in frustration. “It isn’t about me, though, is it? It’s about winning, it always has been. Fine! You’ve won! You’ve bested me, Marcus. Now, let’s end this.”

  “I plan to end this, Celine,” he replied. “The question is with whom do I start with?”

  Celine gripped the bars of the window, pulling herself closer to it. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean which member of your family do I destroy first?”

  “Marcus…” Celine began.

  “No, Celine. You are correct, enough of the games. For centuries I have allowed you chance after chance, hoping you would realize your mistakes on your own. You have squandered your opportunities at every turn. You have run out of opportunities. Now you must be left with no other choices.”

  “No, Marcus, do not do this!” Celine warned.

  Marcus turned from her, pacing the floor. “Whom do I start with, Celine? Celeste? No, your dear sister isn’t punishment enough for your behavior. Besides, she may still prove useful to me.” He spun, stalking in the opposite direction. Celine set her jaw, seething inside. “Perhaps Grayson. Hmmm, no, he should suffer watching his family being destroyed one by one. Perhaps an easier target. A human one. Oh!” He smiled to himself. “What about dear Damien?”

  Celine gasped, a tear rolling down her cheek. “Do not harm Damien, Marcus, I warn you.”

  Marcus chuckled. “Have I touched a nerve, my dear?” Celine glared at him. “Never fear, Celine. I shall not begin with your precious Damien. No, I believe I’ll begin with Avery and her children, again.”

  “Marcus, please,” Celine cried. “This will not help the situation in any way.”

  “I disagree. I imagine it will be quite enlightening for you.”

  “Harming my family will not endear you to me, Marcus.”

  “No, I don’t expect it will. I have no illusions about what this will achieve. The intent is not endearment, but rather surrender.”

  Celine swallowed hard. His threats were never idle. He had attacked her family many times before. This time she wouldn’t be there to protect them. Gray and Alexander would be alone to attempt to deflect any attacks. Marcus, far more powerful than either, was capable of destroying them. He wouldn’t destroy them o
utright. He would toy with them first, drag it out, make her and them suffer. A tear rolled down her cheek as she contemplated the dire circumstances.

  “I will provide a report tomorrow evening. Good night, Celine.” He spun on his heel, stalking across the room.

  “Wait!” Celine called to him.

  He stopped halfway across the room. “Unless you have changed your mind, Celine, I am finished with this conversation.”

  “I’d like to speak with Celeste,” Celine requested. Marcus ignored her, taking another two steps toward the stairs. “Marcus, wait!” Celine called.

  “Celine, I will not continue to play these games. I warned you. You refused to heed my warning. The only way any of your requests will be honored is when you’ve made a show of good faith on your part.” He again turned away from her.

  Celine swallowed hard, choking on the lump in her throat. “Fine,” Celine answered. “I am ready to concede.” The words stuck in her throat, difficult to speak.

  Marcus faced her. He cocked his head to the side. “I’m sorry? I’m not sure I heard you, Celine.”

  “You heard me, Marcus. Do not make me repeat it,” Celine spat. “Now, I’d like to see my sister.”

  Marcus approached her cell. “While this is a positive first step, you are in no position to make demands, my dear.”

  Celine sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. “Marcus, this is not easy. Please, do not make it harder than it already is.”

  “I don’t imagine it is,” Marcus admitted. “All right, Celine. I shall arrange a meeting with Celeste.”

  “And you will not harm my family?”

  “Your former family, Celine.” A tear rolled down Celine’s cheek at the words. “And no, I will not launch an attack on them. But I do require a show of good faith.” Celine gazed at him, her brow crinkling. “Your wedding ring.”

  Celine glanced to her finger. “Marcus…”

  “Celine, this is not negotiable. He is no longer your husband. Remove your ring.”

  “No,” Celine defied him.

  “Then we have nothing more to say.” He turned away again.

  “Wait,” Celine cried. She rubbed the ring around her finger, closing her eyes. She memorized the weight of it on her finger, the cool feel of the metal on her fingertips. A whimper escaped her lips as she slid the ring off her finger. She held it in her fingers a moment longer, vowing to retrieve it one day. She stalked to the cell door and held the ring out.

  Marcus accepted her wedding band. “You’ve made a wise choice, Celine. I shall arrange the meeting with Celeste.”

  Celine wiped another tear from her cheek, nodding. “Thank you.”

  Marcus reached through the cell door, offering her a handkerchief. He wiped a tear from her cheek. “Do not cry, Celine. It will become easier.” Marcus pocketed the ring, leaving Celine alone as he crossed the basement and ascended the stairs.

  Celine doubled over; her body wracked with sobs. She slid down the wall to a seated position. After a moment, she collapsed to the floor, weeping. Her mind replayed another moment when she had relinquished her wedding ring. Just over twenty-five years ago she had handed the ring back to Gray. Having been granted a new life by her adjudicator, she had given him her wedding ring while saying goodbye. She recalled the moment as though it were yesterday.

  It was midnight. She stood with the adjudicator on the beach. She begged it for another life, a normal life. The adjudicator granted it to her: twenty-five years to live as a human. If she did not revert to her current state, she could live and die as a human. Relief coursed over her as she realized the second chance she was granted. Relief mixed with turmoil as Gray approached them on the beach.

  “Celine,” he called as he witnessed the scene. She had no words for him, but he needed none. The tears shining in her eyes told him all he needed to know. “Celine,” he lamented again.

  “Come, Celine Devereaux Buckley,” the adjudicator stated. “We must go.”

  “Please,” she begged it, “give me a moment to say goodbye.”

  The adjudicator glanced at her, its sideways eyelids blinking. “So be it.”

  Celine walked toward Gray, who was trailed by Alexander, both of them having run to the beach. “Gray, I…”

  Tears formed in his eyes. “Celine,” he murmured, cupping her face in his hands, “don’t do this.”

  “I’m sorry, Gray. It is done.”

  “Undo it, Celine. We can fight him.”

  “It cannot be undone, Gray. We cannot continue like this. Marcus is too large a threat. I cannot allow his attacks on your family to endure.”

  “Celine, this isn’t your fault…”

  “Gray, it is. And it must stop. I must be the one to stop it.”

  “Celine, please,” Gray answered, his voice quivering. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too. And that is why I must do this,” Celine responded, tears spilling onto her cheeks as regret consumed her. She took his hand, kissing him as her tears continued to fall. She glanced to her hand, spinning the wedding ring on her finger. She slid it off, placing it in his hand.

  “No, Celine,” he cried.

  She closed his hand around the ring, unable to speak. She turned away from him. Gray grabbed her arm, pulling her back. “Don’t go, Celine, please.”

  “Please don’t make this harder than it already is, Gray. I must do this. I must protect you.”

  “Promise me you’ll come back.”

  Celine sniffled, choking out the words. “I can’t.”

  Alexander approached. “Celine, no,” he uttered.

  Celine grasped his hand, squeezing it. “Look after him,” she requested of Alexander.

  “Of course, Celine. But I hope and pray we’ll see you again.”

  Celine nodded to him, stepping backward. Gray clung to her hand in a desperate attempt to stop her from leaving. She tugged it away. He lunged toward her, but Alexander prevented him from reaching her. “Let me go!” Gray shouted at him.

  “Gray, you must let her go. Believe she will come back,” Alexander advised.

  “Celine!” Gray called to her again as she reached the adjudicator. The creature wrapped its wing around Celine, launching skyward from the beach. “CELINE!” Gray shouted as they disappeared through the clouds.

  His pained voice rang through Celine’s mind as she laid on the cold, stone floor weeping. She elected to leave him for twenty-five years to keep him safe. She would not lose him again. She vowed the surrender of her wedding ring would only be temporary. This was not a goodbye. She would rejoin Gray and her family.

  Her tears ceased. She dried her cheeks as she allowed the emotion to pass. She would be home soon, she assured herself. She had a plan, a way to communicate. She closed her eyes, forming Damien’s image in her mind. She called to him, allowing herself to slip away into Shadow World.

  Celine stood with her arms wrapped around her, protection against the bitter chill of the harsh realm. She waited in the grove of trees. She called to Damien over and over, however he did not respond. She could not see him; he did not appear in the realm. Celine waited longer than she should have, the cold beginning to affect her. When she could wait no longer, she allowed herself to slip back to her world.

  She awoke from her meditation, rising to pace the floor. She had not reached Damien. Where had he been? Had something happened to him following the last encounter he’d experienced in Shadow World? Had she been too late to save him from the ill effects of the realm? Worry consumed her. She would try again tomorrow. For now, she would be left to console herself with memories of her family in happier times.

  Chapter 7

  Damien awoke late the next morning, still groggy from the sedative. Gray sat in the armchair, gazing out the window. Damien’s mind still felt numb. He cursed needing the medication. Without it, Gray and Alexander feared he may slip into Shadow World too often and wind up hurt or worse. Damien understood their concern. He shared it, although he trusted Celine. However, one
slight miscalculation on her part could lead to disaster, according to the Buckleys. If he became unable to travel to Shadow World, their connection with Celine would be lost. They could not afford to lose that connection. It provided their only means of finding her.

  Damien laid in bed, allowing his mind to recover. The extreme exhaustion he experienced waned. He had recovered some of his energy from the long, restful sleep induced by the sedative. Good, he mused. He would be ready for another communication with Celine in the severe environment.

  After twenty minutes, he climbed from bed. “Good morning,” Gray said. “How do you feel?”

  “Good morning,” Damien answered. “Pretty good, a little groggy. I slept, and I did not have any encounters with Celine.”

  “No,” Gray confirmed, “you didn’t slip into Shadow World over night. We monitored you all night.”

  He was anxious to determine the next steps in the plan. “Mind if we head out for some coffee?” he asked, pulling on his shoes. He and Gray navigated downstairs, finding Alexander, Michael and Millie in the sitting room.

  “Good morning!” Alexander greeted him. “Coffee?”

  “Please,” Damien groaned.

  “Did you sleep?” Michael asked Damien.

  “I did, yes. No encounters, just rest. Still a little groggy, but overall, I feel rested.”

  “Any side effects, Damien?” Millie asked, grasping his wrist to take his pulse. “Nightmares? Unsteadiness when you arose? Inability to fully awaken?”

  “No. None of those,” Damien answered.

  “Good. This dosage should work well for now. We’ll adjust if it becomes too much after multiple uses. Let me know if you experience even slight side effects so we can adjust it before they become a problem.”

  “I will.”

  “Can’t afford to get off-track now, buddy,” Michael said to Damien.

  “Yeah, right,” Damien admitted, sipping his coffee as he sunk onto the couch.

  “You okay?” Michael asked.

  “Yeah. Just a little anxious about Celine contacting me again.”