ANGEL MARTINEZ
  • News and The Work
    • WIP's and Upcoming Work
  • From Angel's Cave
  • Books by Angel
    • Fantasy >
      • AURA (with Bellora Quinn)
      • Brandywine Investigations
      • Dark Spaces
      • Endangered Fae
      • Lijun
      • Merseton
      • Shadow Marked
      • Standalone Fantasy
      • The Web of Arcana
      • Tilted Fairytales
    • Paranormal >
      • Offbeat Crimes
      • Standalone Paranormal
    • Science Fiction >
      • Brimstone
      • The ESTO Universe
      • Interplanetary Multispecies Pact (IMP)
      • The Pudding Protocol Universe
      • Standalone Science Fiction
      • Variant Configurations
  • Free Stuff
  • Where Is Angel?
  • Sandra C. Stixrude - The Anchorage Novels
  • Contact Angel
  • Newsletter Sign-up
  • News and The Work
    • WIP's and Upcoming Work
  • From Angel's Cave
  • Books by Angel
    • Fantasy >
      • AURA (with Bellora Quinn)
      • Brandywine Investigations
      • Dark Spaces
      • Endangered Fae
      • Lijun
      • Merseton
      • Shadow Marked
      • Standalone Fantasy
      • The Web of Arcana
      • Tilted Fairytales
    • Paranormal >
      • Offbeat Crimes
      • Standalone Paranormal
    • Science Fiction >
      • Brimstone
      • The ESTO Universe
      • Interplanetary Multispecies Pact (IMP)
      • The Pudding Protocol Universe
      • Standalone Science Fiction
      • Variant Configurations
  • Free Stuff
  • Where Is Angel?
  • Sandra C. Stixrude - The Anchorage Novels
  • Contact Angel
  • Newsletter Sign-up
ANGEL MARTINEZ

Shadow Run - Episode 26

3/7/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
“Where did you go last night?” Davs’ voice was even and mild as he said it, but he didn’t look up from the porridge he was cooking them for breakfast. Possibly not the best sign.

Zie tapped his claws on his knees, uncertain how much to say and annoyed that he wasn’t nearly as sneaky as he thought. “The fortress is…” Packed with ghosts. You slept through an entire battle. “Quite haunted. It makes me restless.”

“Oh.” Davs glanced up, his brow furrowed in concern. “Is it worse when you have magic? I see a ghost or two here from time to time, but I have the feeling you saw more than two.”

“It can make one more sensitive.” Zie shrugged and pulled his knees up to his chest. “Sometimes I need to concentrate, but hauntings that occur at a scene of great violence are simply there.”

“If you need to wake me up, any time at all, don’t hesitate.” Davs was kind enough not to say if you’re scared, but Zie thought the implication was clear enough.

He leaned over and gave Davs a quick kiss on the cheek. “Ghosts are only frightening if they hate you. Happily, these have no idea I’m even there.” At least so far.

They spent the day foraging and fishing—Davs with a pole he fashioned from a willow branch and a vine, and Zie with his hands, which Davs found fascinating. Zie even allowed himself to feel a little smug that he’d caught three nice lake smee to Davs one shadehopper. They had sex on the floor of their tower after dinner with Zie riding Davs’ cock. This was lovely, but they both confessed that they missed Ess.

Davs held him tenderly, stroking his hair until he fell into the wonderful, dreamless sleep he was able to achieve in Davs’ arms. He woke several hours later to Davs shaking him gently.

“Your watch. Are you awake?”

“Mostly.” For a moment, Zie entertained the thought of putting his head in Davs’ lap and going back to sleep. That would’ve been unfair, though. Davs looked so tired. He wrapped his arms around Davs’ neck for a quick hug. “Go to sleep. I have this.”

Soon enough, Davs’ breathing settled into sleep and Zie spread a blanket over him before heading down the tower. A fog had come up over the lake bringing a damp chill with it. The half-moon struggled to shine through the mist, its glow diffused and tattered. He’d left it a little later that night, wanting to wait until the battle had fully commenced.

He’d timed it well, the battle already raging in the courtyard when he reached it, the doors shattered, the defenders dying. He skirted the edges along the courtyard wall heading for the partially ruined tower on the other side and waited near the doorway where he’d seen the specter in robes. It would be soon. Nearby, the taur combatants crashed into each other, one who would soon gore the other.

Even though Zie expected it, he still gave a start when the glowing figure appeared in the doorway. They were so much clearer, so much more present than the other ghosts, the fine details all present down to the delicate silver earrings of dangling stars.

The tragedy of their beloved soldier played out again, and again they vanished from the courtyard. Zie hurried up the stairs.

He found them at the third turning of the stairs on a wide landing with a window overlooking the courtyard. The ghost searched the night even though the ghostly battle had faded, spectral tears streaming down their face. A beautiful face. Selak, though Zie found himself unable to estimate their age.

The ghost’s image shivered and jumped, reappearing directly in front of Zie to address him directly. “Have you seen my ishai? Tell me! Any of them?”

There could be a wrong or right answer to that, or it might make no difference. If Zie chose incorrectly, he might have to try again the following evening. He had seen one of their ishai, he suspected, but they’d already seen him fall. That wasn’t what they were asking, and to lie to them felt cruel.

“No, honored. I haven’t seen them.”

The selak spirit stood frozen for two heartbeats, then flickered back to the window. “Someone will return to me. They have not all fallen. All seven cannot have fallen. I will wait.”

Oh, honored, you’ve waited so long. Again, he debated, and again concluded that the crueler option would be to tell them that all their beloveds had died centuries ago. “I wondered if I might ask you a question.”

They sighed and answered without turning toward Zie. “You may ask, though I am not well-traveled. I may not have your answer.”

Odd thing to say. “Can you advise me on banishing summoned Shadows?”

“They summoned Shadows for the siege?” Now the spirit turned to him with a horrified expression.

“Not here, honored. Elsewhere. They were summoned far away.”

They leaned against the window casement, expression thoughtful. How ghosts thought without a physical brain, Zie had no idea, but this one apparently did. “Summonings require a cycle. And Shadows must be fed.”

Zie took a breath before he spoke so he wouldn’t convey his frustration. “They’ve fed until they should have burst from it. I can’t—” Zie’s voice broke and he had to clear his throat. “I can’t allow them to feed any more.”

“Complete the cycle or they will never cease.” The selak spirit turned back to the window and faded away.

“Wait! What cycle? What do you mean?” But they wouldn’t be called back.

Zie stood in the empty tower, shivering and gnawing on his claws, envisioning the Shadows devouring every sylvas in the entire world. Never cease. Once done, they would begin to feed on every other living thing until nothing remained. A barren world in which nothing moved but the horrible chittering Shadows.

With a nearly audible snap, his nerve broke. He raced down the uneven steps and across the courtyard, moon shadows chasing his steps and taunting him. Faster and faster he ran, over tumbled blocks and ancient bones, and finally up the steps to the undamaged tower to dive under the blankets with Davs.

The big man grunted and cracked an eye open. “Managed to scare yourself, after all?”

“Perhaps a touch.”

“All clear still?”

Zie nodded against his shoulder. “I’ll know when they’re close, believe me.”

“All right. Come here. You’re ice cold.” Davs wrapped his strong arms around Zie and pulled him close. “No more ghost viewing for you.”
Episode 27
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

    Categories

    All
    2013 Grl Authors I Have Read
    2014 GRL Authors I Have Read
    2019 GRL
    Aegeus
    A Holiday To Remember
    Amber Allure
    Anchorage
    Anthology
    Anti Quest
    Anti-Quest
    Arcana
    Asexual
    Ashe
    Audacity
    Audio
    AURA
    Author Of The Month
    Bellora Quinn
    Bishounen Con
    Blog Hop
    Blog Tour
    Boots
    Brandywine Investigations
    Brimstone
    Christmas
    Conventions
    Corny
    Cover Reveal
    Dreamspinner
    Eating Stars
    ECCC
    Edwige
    Endangered Fae
    Escape From The Holidays
    ESTO
    Finn
    Flash Fiction
    Foster Bridget Cassidy
    Freddy MacKay
    Free Story
    French Translation
    Friday Reading Day
    Geoffrey The Very Strange
    Gravitational Attraction
    Grl 2013
    GRL 2014
    GRL 2018
    GRL 2019
    GRL 2021
    GRL 2022
    Guest Authors
    Gus Li
    Halloween
    Heckle
    Holidays
    Hot Off The Range
    IMP Universe
    Italian Translation
    Jaxx
    J. Scott Coatsworth
    Julian
    Kaden
    Lee Brazil
    Lesbian
    Lijun
    LJ
    Mage On The Hill
    Magic Emporium
    Mal
    Marionettes In The Mist
    Marya
    Maya Angelou
    Mcb Anthology
    MCB Quarterly
    Mischief Corner
    MLR Press
    My Fiction Nook
    Newsletter
    Nidhogg
    Nootau
    Not In The Stars
    Offbeat Crimes
    Off The Beaten Track Reviews
    Paranormal
    PIll Bugs Of Time
    Podcasts
    Poetry
    Pride Promotions
    Pride Publishing
    Queer SciFi
    Quinn's Gambit
    Rainbow Con
    Rainbow Space Magic
    Rarely Pure And Never Simple
    Reading Day
    Rolly
    Ryld's Shadows
    Sadie Rose Bermingham
    Sale
    Shadow Run
    Shax
    Short Story
    Signing
    Silent Snow
    Silvia Violet
    Skim Blood And Savage Verse
    Snow On Spirit Bridge
    Story Time With Angel
    Sub Zero
    Thanksgiving
    The Hunt For Red Fluffy
    The Line
    The Mage On The Hill
    Thursday News Bites
    Tibo
    Toni Griffin
    Totally Bound
    Uncommonly Tidy Poltergeists
    Urban Fantasy
    Valentine's Day
    Vampires
    Vance Bastian
    Variant Configurations
    Vassily The Beautiful
    Verin
    Vlog
    Web Of Arcana
    When Holidays Attack
    Wild Rose
    WIP
    Wolf
    WROTE
    Yaoi/Yuri North

    About Angel

    Angel writes (mostly) Science Fiction and Fantasy centered around queer heroes. Currently living part time in the hectic sprawl of northern Delaware and full time inside her head, she has one husband, one son, two cats, a love of all things beautiful and a terrible addiction to the consumption of both knowledge and chocolate.

Contact
Privacy Policy
About
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.