Read Hunting Shadows (Shadow Series #3) Online
Authors: S.H. Kolee
Hunting Shadows (Shadow Series #3)
Hunting Shadows
Shadow Series #3
by S.H. Kolee
Copyright © 2013 S.H. Kolee
All Rights Reserved.
This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic
form without permission from the author.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to
real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter One
My body ached. Th
at was
the first
thought that for
med as I felt myself struggle to surf
ace into consciousness. A
sense of urgency
was
pushing me, trying to jolt me awake, but I wanted to resist. It felt so calm and peaceful
in the darkness, except for the twinges of pa
in that were
trying to break through my oblivion.
Suddenly, a
ru
sh of images slammed through my mind
and my eyes flew open as I bolted awake. I sat up
abruptly
as the
memories of w
hat had happened flooded through me
, the sensory overload almost as painful as my battered body. I was instantly ready
to defend myself, but as I frantically looked around me, confusion replaced the panic.
I had expected to find myself either in
a burning coffin of a mangled car
or held prisoner by my father and shackled for his torture.
Instead, I was o
n a narrow bed in a cramped room lit by a
single naked bulb
. My arms and legs were free of restraints, so I clumsily tried to stand, groaning
at the dull thro
bbing of my head that loudly protested
my movements.
I pushed through the pain, my fear blotting out any discomfort as one thought reverberated
in my head.
Where was Simon?
I
stumbled to the door
, relieved to find it unlocked. I squinted in confusion at the shabby living room,
frustrated that it felt like my mind was working through mud as I tried to get my
bearings. It was dark, with the only illumination coming from what I assumed was the
kitchen. My heart dropped when I was able to make out a shape on the couch, and I
rushed forward, dropping to my knees.
“Simon!”
I ran my hands over his beautiful face, terror filling me at hi
s stillness. A large gash slashed across
his forehead
but he was warm, his body still pumping his lifeblood.
I laid two fingers on his wrist
, relieved to find a strong pulse thrumming beneath them.
I shook h
im gently, trying to wake him
. The urge to flee was overwhelming, and I just wanted to grab him and run.
“Careful. He hit his head pretty badly.”
I jumped at the voice, adrenaline rushing through my veins as I
rose
,
prepare
d
to fight. Marie was standing at the kitchen door
way, her face hidden in shadow.
“What are we doing here? Where’s my father?” My voice trembled as my eyes darted around
the room, expecting my father and his minions to jump out and attack at any second.
Marie walked towards me, a hand held out in supplication as if she were approaching
a wounded animal.
“Your father’s not here. We split up to look for you after we realized
what happened. I was with Lenore, and it w
as like she was able to sense your energy
. She
knew which direction you had gone
, and when we finally caught sight of you, she started
to call your father to tell him
where you were.”
Marie was coming closer as she spoke, causing my hackles to
rise
. I glanced around
for anything that could be used a
s a weapon, but the apartment was bare except for a few pieces of furniture.
“So my fathe
r is on his way? Where’s Lenore?
”
Marie halted a few feet away from
me. “No, your father’s not on his way. And Lenore is dead.”
I stared at her in shock. Her
words
were spoken
matter-of-fact
ly
, but her face was another story.
A
nguish was etched into every plane of her face. I was silent as she continued to talk.
“I tried to convince her
to not
call your father. That we were making a mistake. You were right when
you said
we were all dead if we cooperated. There’s no way the vardogers will keep us around.
We’re just a means to an end. But Lenore said I was wrong. She said I was stupid and
weak. When I told her I didn’t want to be a part of this anymore, that I just wanted
my sister released and
I promised
we would
disappear
and not interfere with her plans
, she
laughed
at me.”
Her face became a mask of anger, her eyes burning with hatr
ed as she stared through me as if
she didn’t
really
see me, instead reliving the conversation.
“She actually laughed and told me I was a fool.
She told me m
y sist
er had already been killed. My sister
was a seer, but a weak one. I used to think it was a blessing because maybe she’d
be
able to lead a normal life
. But they used her like she was a guinea pig. A vardoger
who had already overtaken a human body
tried to jump into hers, to see if they could ove
rtake weaker seers wearing palla
dium. They’re obsessed with the idea of being immortal, of
overtaking a
nother
body after their current one expires. My sister was too frail. She didn’t survive
it.”
Marie’s glazed eyes refocused on me, her lips pressed together.
“So I slammed Lenore’s head against the window.
Unfortunately, that caused her to crash
our car
into you
rs
. But that didn’t stop me.
I
kept slamming
her hea
d against the window
until I knew she was dead. It was surprisingly easy since she wasn’t expecting it.
She’s always thought of me as the weaker one. She was wrong.”
I stared at Marie’s face, which was now impassive. A shiver went through me as I watched
her. It wasn’t that I regretted her killing Lenore, because it had saved our lives.
But her calm retelling told me that Marie wasn’t in the right frame of mind. As much
as she had helped us, I wanted to get away from her as quickly as possible. But an
unconscious Simon made that impossible.
I glanced down at him. His chest was rising and falling softly, as if he were just
sleeping peacefully. I looked back up at Marie.
“Where are we?” I asked cautiously. “How did we get here?
How long has it been?
”
“After the c
rash, your car was engulfed in
flames. If it wasn’t for the rain, you probably would have burned to death. I was
able to pry open the car doors and drag you both out. I dumped Lenore’s body, put
you two in the car, and drove here.
That was a few hours ago
.
My friend owns this apartment, an
d
I knew it was vacant
. No one knows we’re here.”
I thought about my dreams
and the message
that had confused me
.
A bond unbroken can be a curse. A watery grave can be a blessing.
The bond unbroken being a curse had to reference my refusal to leave Simon behind,
to force me to meet the same fate as him instead of saving myself. I had thought a
watery grave being a blessing was in reference to my mother’s supposed death, but
now I realized the rain had saved us from burning to death. It was
a
small comfort that my dreams had actually been significant, because
I hadn’t been able to figure
out
their meaning
until after the fact.
Marie rubbed her face tiredly
as I just stood there
.
I wondered if she were on the edge of sanity.
She looked at me with a measured expression on her face, as if she knew what I was
thinking.
“I’m not crazy, Caitlin. I can see the fear written all over your face. The game has
changed, and I’ve just decide
d
that I’m not willing to be a silent participant.
Casualties are unavoidable. I’d just pref
er the casualties to be on the other
side.”
She sank
into an armchair next to the couch, looking exhausted.
She waved her hand towards
Simon.
“He woke up for a few seconds before, but he wasn’t coherent. I would say he needed
to go to t
he hospital, but I’m not sure that
’s a good idea. We should stay hidden.
Honestly, I almost left him behind. He’s one of
them
and can’t be trusted. But he’s strong. And we need as much strength as possible when
it come
s
to fighting your father.
”
I crouched next to S
imon, gently stroking his cheek scratchy with stubble. “Simon,” I said softly, then
I spoke louder. “Simon, wake up. You need to wake up.”
My heart squeezed when his eyes fluttered open
, their blue depths looking confused. He was still for a few moments, then his head
turned towards me and the confusion vanished as he sat up abruptly. He made a sound
of pain at the sudden movement, but that didn’t stop him from jumping up from the
couch
.
He
proceeded to push
me behind him as he looked around wildly.
His gaze settled on Marie, his stance becoming combative, but she just stared up at
him warily.
“Wait!” I put my hand on Simon’s shoulder, trying to calm him down before he attacked
Marie. “Marie saved us.”
Simon tur
ned to me, looking doubtful, as
he made sure to keep Marie in his sights. “
This is a trap
.”
His voice was rough
from disuse
, but he looked completely alert.
Marie stood up and Simon tensed, his body tight as if he were ready to pounce. Marie
didn’t move any closer as she watched him.
“I didn’t have to save you. I could have left you in t
hat car for
whatever fate had in store for you
.
But I rescued you
because we need as much of an advantage as possible. Nothing makes sense anymore,
everything’s been turned upside down. I
f
being able to kill Caitlin’s father means
the help of
another vardoger
, so be it.”
Simon’s body didn’t relax, so I quickly tried to explain what had happened. When I
was done, Simon didn’t look any less wary. He glared at Marie.
“If this is a trap
, don’t think I won’t hunt you down.” Simon’s mouth twisted. “
You
know what I’m capable of.”
Marie’s face tightened in anger. “That’s not gratitude I hear.
I’m taking a huge chance in even entertaining the thought of working with you. Lenore
was al
ways worried that you were developing real feelings for Caitlin
, but I thought that was impossible. After all, you’re not
even a person. You’re a thing
—
a shadow. How the hell can you side with humans when you’re not even one of us!”
The look on Simon’s face chilled me, and he made a move towards Marie. I pushed myself
between them
, looking at both of them before speaking.
“This isn’t the time to get into a pissing contest. Right now, my father is looking
for us
. We have no time to waste.”
“We need to keep moving,” Simon said grimly.
“And where e
xactly are you planning to go
?” Marie asked
with a smirk on her fac
e. She seemed
comp
letely different from the person
I had
initially
met at my aunt’s house
but
I wasn’t surprised. H
er sister had been brutally murdered.
That was enough to change a person.
My heart twisted
as I suddenly thought of something.
“
What if he goes after Sarah?
”
I asked
in horror
before Simon could answer Marie
’s question
. “We have to go back to Maxwell
.
Both she and Grant were planning on coming back to school from Thanksgiving break
yesterday.
We have to protect her.”
“That’s what he’s hoping for,” Marie said flatly, her look disapproving. “He knows
she’s your weakness. He’ll be waiting for you, watching her, knowing that you’ll show
up to protect her. You’ll be walking right into a trap.”