Shadow Stalker Part 2 (Episodes 7 - 12) Read online

  Shadow Stalker Part 2 (Episodes 7 - 12)

  Title Page

  Foreword

  Episode 7: Bound by Fate

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Episode 8: Broken

  Episode 9: Turning Tides

  Chapter 7

  Episode 10: Separate Paths

  Episode 11: Escape Part 1

  Episode 12: Escape Part 2

  Epilogue

  Glossary

  Acknowledgements

  Afterword

  Connect with the Author

  Excerpt from Shadow Stalker: Defiance (Episode 13)

  Other Books by the Author

  Shadow Stalker

  Part 2

  (Episodes 7 -12)

  Copyright©2015 Renee Scattergood

  Published by Renee Scattergood

  Smashwords Edition

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Table of Contents

  Foreword

  Episode 7: Bound by Fate

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Episode 8: Broken

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Episode 9: Turning Tides

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Episode 10: Separate Paths

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Episode 11: Escape Part 1

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Episode 12: Escape Part 2

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Epilogue

  Glossary

  Acknowledgements

  Afterword

  Connect with the Author

  Excerpt from Shadow Stalker: Defiance (Episode 13)

  Other Books by the Author

  Foreword

  I started writing my Shadow Stalker Serial over a year ago, and to be honest, I never thought I'd get this far. I have only loosely planned the series, so that I would be free to move in whatever direction the story pulled me, and I'm glad I have. I'm quite surprised and pleased with some of the turns it's taken, and I hope you are as well.

  In Part 1, we followed Auren as she learned about her identity and the vision Drevin had about her before she was born (even though it was actually a boy he dreamed about). When we left her in Episode 6, she had just left the Dark Isle and ran into her old friend, Deakan, where she dropped a bombshell on him by telling him she is the delohi-saqu. Part 2 will see Auren on a whole new adventure without Kado to guide her, bringing her closer to her destiny. Read on and find out what happens!

  Shadow Stalker:

  Bound by Fate

  (Episode 7)

  Prologue

  Kado closed his eyes and smiled. "You'll never find her."

  "What do you mean?" Makari stepped toward the older man.

  "Exactly what I say."

  "She is no longer on the Dark Isle," Selyn said, his face turning a deep shade of red. "How is that possible?"

  Kado shrugged, and Makari looked back and forth between the two men who seemed to be having their own silent battle of wills.

  "I don't have time for this," Makari said, then disappeared into the shadow world. He had to report to his father as soon as possible.

  Within moments he was standing in the palace on Nadiria, where his father resided. Without announcing himself or waiting for an invitation, he strode into his father's rooms. He found his father in his usual position, sitting atop an overly opulent lounge chair— eating. Makari strode over to stand in front of him, folding his arms over his chest.

  "The elders allowed her to escape the Dark Isle. Instead of biding their time as you suggested, they made moves against Kado and the girl, driving them out of the village. They arrested Cathnor to lure them back, but only Kado returned. We questioned him, but he wouldn't give up her location, though we knew she was still on the island. Then she was gone. We don't know how she accessed the shadow world without detection."

  Drevin finished chewing and gazed up at Makari. "And how much time passed between Kado arriving back in the village and her disappearance?"

  "Nearly a full day."

  The Emperor stood and backhanded his son hard enough to make him stumble. Makari lowered his gaze and said nothing. His father was angry, and he knew better than to challenge him, though he felt he had done the right thing. It was the elders who deserved punishment for fumbling the plan.

  "Why did you spend a day waiting when you could have been out looking for her? Did you really believe she'd walk right into your grasp?"

  "She could have been anywhere on the island, and you know I have no way of tracking her through the shadow world. Kado is protecting her. I felt the best course was to question him, to see what I could learn."

  Drevin backhanded him again. This time Makari knelt; crossing his arms across his chest and, leaning forward, placed his forehead on the ground. His father was not pleased, and he knew there would be punishment. Damn the elders and their stupidity. They should be the ones kneeling before the emperor, but it would never happen—his father did not blame them. The responsibility fell to him. Makari remained still when his father stepped away from him. He didn't need to look up to know his father was retrieving a shock wand from a rack on the other side of the room.

  When Drevin returned, Makari braced himself for the pain. It took every ounce of will power not to move when the wand jabbed into his lower back, sending jolts of electricity through his body. It was on the high setting and, if his father wasn't careful, it would likely kill him. At that moment Makari welcomed death, anything to escape the unbearable pain. He almost begged at the end, but knew it would only make things worse. His father would assume he was under the delohi-saqu's power. As if that was even possible.

  It became harder to retain his balance, not only because of the pain, but because he was slowly losing consciousness. He held on, forcing himself to remain as still as possible until the punishment stopped. Only then did he allow himself to fall. Drevin knelt beside him.

  "You will report to the Brynn Reconciliation Center and serve as a lowly guide until I hear news of the delohi-saqu's location. You are not fit to wear that uniform."

  "Please, father. Let me search the Serpent Isles. I will find her."

  "You've already shown me how inept you are at locating her. Do not defy me."

  "Yes, Sire."

  Drevin waved to a couple of the Dansig troops guarding his door. "Have him taken to Brynn. Strip him of his uniform and put him in robes."

  Makari allowed himself
to be led away. He was delivered to Brynn, where two more Dansig troops took him to one of the cleansing rooms. He was forced to remove his clothing, then beaten mercilessly until he could no longer stand. As he lay on the floor, barely conscious, he swore to himself he would prove to his father he was worth more than this.

  Chapter 1

  "What do you mean you are the delohi...whatever the hell it's called?" Deakan said, running his hand through his hair and looking around to make sure no one was nearby.

  It really didn't matter what I told him at this point. Drevin already knew who I was, and from what I learned on the Dark Isle, he had his own son hunting me. "Kado has been hiding me on Appolia all these years to protect me from the Galvadi. I'm the daughter of the Foramar. I'm the one Drevin has been wanting to kill because of that stupid dream. But look, you can't tell anyone else okay? They only know me by name at this point, and they still have no clue where I am. I want to keep it that way."

  "You know I won't say a word," Deakan said.

  I nodded. "I know, but I had to say it. Do you know where Jade is? Is she safe?"

  Deakan paled and turned his gaze toward the ground. "I tried to get to her as soon as I heard the Galvadi invaded Appolia, but I was too late. She and her family had already been captured. Her parents—they shot them, Auren, and Jade and her siblings were taken to the reconciliation center in Appolia City."

  My legs turned to jelly, and I might have fallen if Deakan hadn’t grabbed my arms to steady me. Please, no, not Jade. They would break her so easily. "I need to get her out of there."

  "No," he said, gripping my arms tighter to hold me in place. "Not alone. We'll make a plan and go together. I've been gathering intel about the place over the last couple of weeks."

  "What have you got?"

  We spent the afternoon combing through information. When the Galvadi assumed control of the building, they naturally took advantage of the security system. It had a “back door" for emergencies but, from what Deakan knew, the Galvadi hadn't discovered it yet. It meant we had a way in, a coded entry system which allowed access to any part of the building. It wouldn’t be easy. They had their own security and, aside from the military troops guarding the perimeter of the building, there were also Dansig Troops stationed at every entrance and exit.

  "What are Dansig Troops?" I asked.

  "They are Drevin's elite guard. They are highly skilled in martial combat and stealth. You don't want to mess with them."

  I scoffed. In my current mood, they didn't want to mess with me. "Don't worry about me, Deakan. I've learned a lot since you saw me last."

  "I have no doubt." He nodded without looking my way. "Getting in will be the easy part. It's getting back out again that might be a problem."

  "If we attract attention, I can create a distraction while you escape with Jade and any others we can help while we're there."

  He raised an eyebrow glancing at me. "What kind of distraction did you have in mind?"

  "A demon." I didn't relish the thought of releasing another demon from the shadow world. I've seen firsthand the destruction they can cause, but if it meant saving my friend from a fate worse than death, I would do it.

  "I've heard about them," Deakan said, eagerly, his eyes begging for more information.

  What could I tell him? "They're guardians of the shadow world, and very dangerous, even to me. If I do have to release one, you and Jade need to be nowhere near me. I can't control it."

  "And if we're separated?" he asked, nodding.

  "Don't worry about me, Deakan. I can take care of myself. Seriously," I added when he looked at me skeptically. "I can travel through the shadow world and find you."

  "Couldn't you just take us all out of there that way?"

  "I don't think so. As far as I know, humans would die in the shadow world." Of course, Deakan and Jade had both been in the hydrocar the time we escaped from Luten Isle after the Galvadi's initial attack. But I wasn’t entirely sure we had traveled through the shadow world, so I couldn’t risk it. All I remember is the mist, which Kado could have used to mask us. I resolved to ask him about it, the next time I saw him. Thoughts of Kado ultimately led to feelings of uncertainty and I wished, not for the first time, that I could turn to him for guidance. So far, I had managed to keep my thoughts in the here and now. But the simple fact that Jade was in trouble, coupled with how few of the Coalition had survived, I was beginning to doubt my ability to help. It was foolish to dwell on Kado’s absence. I wanted so badly to check on him, to ensure he was safe, but I knew it would be too dangerous. I had to comfort myself with the knowledge that, through our connection, I would surely know if something bad had happened. He hadn’t been afraid of his captivity, despite the torture he had endured. In fact, I got the impression he was simply buying time until I could escape. He appeared in control which, granted, could be wishful thinking on my part. I simply couldn't imagine the world without him.

  Deakan was still checking and rechecking all his intel, so I sat quietly watching him for a time. He had changed so much during the last few months. He was a lot more focused, and seemed to have a better hold on his temper. His current position put him in a place of high responsibility, so he was in his element. He never really handled authority figures well. Oddly, he was beginning to remind me more and more of Kado, which could have been another reason my foster father was occupying my thoughts. I imagined Kado was probably a lot like Deakan at the same age, though Kado had still been in training. I remembered Cathnor’s description of Kado in his youth, how he became more serious, more focused as he got older. I couldn’t help wondering how Deakan would react to my observations. He wasn’t fond of Kado—maybe because they were so alike.

  "Sir," a young private said, poking his head into the little alcove, which served as Deakan's office. "This has just come in."

  Deakan took the paper, dismissing him with a nod. "This isn't good."

  "What is it?" I asked, looking over his shoulder.

  "More Dansig Troops are being stationed near the reconciliation centers. Apparently, it's been reported the delohi-saqu has escaped the Dark Isle and might be somewhere on Appolia." He glanced up with a look of disapproval.

  "There's not much I can do without them knowing, Deakan. There is a specially trained shadow stalker, Drevin's son in fact, hunting me. There's little likelihood I will escape capture." I didn't know how to explain Kado's vision to him, so I didn't bother. "The fact is, eventually I will need to go to Nadiria. I have something I need to do there, but I have to be taken as a normal human. If they know I'm a shadow stalker, it's all over for me."

  "So, you intend to give yourself up to them?" He was appalled.

  I shook my head. "Not if I can help it. I'd rather find another way. But if I am captured, Deakan, I will use it to my advantage. You can't come looking for me, okay?"

  I could see the battle raging inside him. It was bad enough he had lost Jade. I knew he would be reluctant to let me go so easily, especially knowing I was on my own. Finally, he nodded. "If Kado escapes, do you know what he’s planning?"

  "As far as I know he wants to get the shadow stalkers to Appolia to help fight against the Galvadi. I wouldn't count on them being here anytime soon. Not with what they're facing on the Dark Isle."

  "Understood," he said, his lips pressed into a thin line. "So, we're on our own."

  "That's why I need to get to Nadiria, Deakan, to free my father. He can resolve things on the Dark Isle and make everything right again. He's the only one who can change what is happening here. I have to find him."

  "Then maybe I can help you get there."

  "How?"

  "I'm not sure, yet. Give me a couple of days to work it out."

  I nodded.

  *****

  Deakan's quarters consisted of a sleeping sack, which was crammed into the small space he called his office. I had my blanket, but it offered very little comfort on the cold rocky surface inside the cave. It wouldn't have been so bad if the ground w
as smoother. Instead it felt akin to laying on a bed of pebbles. It reminded me of being in the hole, which wasn't the only thing keeping me awake. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Deakan being captured and killed. I doubted it was a premonition, but I couldn't shake the bad feeling I got whenever I thought about him accompanying me to rescue Jade. The Coalition needed him, and I was unwilling to let him risk his life to save one person.

  The decision to go without him, lifted the ominous cloud that had been hovering over me the entire afternoon, so I knew I had made the right decision. I packed my blanket as silently as I could and left my backpack in the corner. I wouldn't be taking it with me. If captured, it might give my identity away. I really didn't know how much the Galvadi knew about me at this point. I crept quietly to Deakan's makeshift desk and wrote a note on the back of one of the papers there, hoping it wouldn't get him into trouble.

  Deakan,

  I'm going after Jade alone. The Coalition needs you. Focus on your mission, and don't come after me or Jade. If I don't return, and ‘you know who’ shows up, make sure he gets my things. Tell him I will find my father or die trying. Please take care of yourself.

  A.

  I slipped out of the alcove and hugged the shadows. I didn't want anyone to witness my departure. Something was eating at me, and I didn't know what it was. It was like I was being watched.

  Chapter 2

  I was tempted to travel to Appolia City through the shadow world. It would save me a three-day journey, but Kado's words played on a loop in my head, "...do not travel again through the shadow world if you can help it." So, I stayed to the forest for as long as I could. I left after sunset, just north of Wallanby, the suburb where Kado and I lived mere months ago. Before the Galvadi had invaded Luten Isle and changed all our lives forever.