Lost in Shadow (A Shadow Walkers Ghost Novel) Read online

  “Fighting with swords? I’m taking you both in to answer some questions.” Monroe sneered, wishing he had backup.

  “Look cop, leave now, go on about your business, nothing to see here.” The other guy was leaning against his sword watching the scene play out. Monroe narrowed his eyes, “How do you know I’m a cop?”

  “The whole ‘put your hands in the air’ thing, plus you smell like one. Really, you think you’re going to take me in for questioning or some such rot? I’m bored, you have two minutes to leave then I’m killing you because you’re interrupting my day. I already have one idiot to kill, right Robert?—easy enough to make it two.” The giant brushed dirt off his pants.

  Monroe growled through clenched teeth, “You’re the same bastard who murdered my girlfriend…I’ve been looking for you for ten years. How many people have you killed and gotten away with it? No more.”

  “I’ve destroyed hundreds of you pathetic humans, I certainly can’t be bothered to learn their names or remember them. I’m busy here, leave now. Last chance.” With a bored huff, the man landed a solid kick to Monroe’s chest, sending him halfway across the warehouse. Everything went black.

  Robert was trying to decide how to finish the fight with Alexander without involving the human cop. It was against their code to let humans see if they could prevent it. He knew they should have gone invisi to fight, so much for keeping the human out of it. Jumping into the fray, Robert cold-cocked Alexander; the human cop looked unconscious but breathing.

  Suddenly, three more Day Walkers flashed into the cavernous room. “Look, more girls come to the tea party. Well come on then.” Robert jeered. He’d faced worse odds. Ducking, he narrowly avoided his head being severed from his body. At least no one had guns out. Well, not yet, it would draw too much attention from the surrounding buildings, someone might get curious, call the cops. Right, the cop was already here.

  He managed to take one Walker out, slicing his hamstrings, bringing the guy crashing down to the floor. Robert cut out his heart. One down, three to go. Pulling out his second sword he came up from a kneeling position, slashing, cutting the heads off the two Day Walkers. They could wait before he took their hearts, as it was a bit hard to recover from losing your head. You’d be dead. But to make sure, you still took the hearts ensuring Dayne would have to make new Day Walkers and couldn’t piece his toys back together.

  Taking a dagger to the thigh from Alexander, Robert stood wincing, and taunted him. “Have to have your girlfriends’ help you fight eh? What, can’t do it on your own?”

  Enraged, Alexander dematerialized, appearing behind him, swinging his sword and meeting air. He had flashed to the other side of the building in the nick of time. Laughing at the expression on Alexander’s face, reveling in the fight, Robert missed the warning sign.

  “Look out,” Monroe bellowed, pushing Robert out of the way, taking the energy blast meant for Robert in his gut. Robert manifested an ice dagger, threw it at Alexander, hitting him in the shoulder at the same time that Monroe picked up a gun from the floor and emptied the clip into the bastard, hitting him in the chest, and in the heart.

  Robert had another ice dagger ready to finish the Day Walker off, when he felt a hand on his arm. “Wait, let me do it. This needs to end now. I know it was him.”

  “Cop, you don’t know…” Robert was interrupted.

  “It is. Look at his ear, the earring with the ‘A’ on it. If it belonged to Alice it will have ‘Love M’ carved on the back. I gave them to her for her birthday…check.” Pulling the earring out, Robert turned it over; it was as the cop said. Why had the Day Walker kept it? He was usually never sentimental over any human, never took trophies. There must have been something about her or some reason they’d never know. Robert knelt down, handing the earring to the cop. Monroe was badly injured, bleeding like a sieve from the gut wound.

  Grunting, Monroe grabbed a piece of rebar lying close by and used it to lever his body up. Handing the cop a dagger, Robert said quietly, “To finish it you have to cut out the heart and stab it.”

  He watched as the Monroe gathered his strength to finish Alexander off. He saw understanding dawning on the guys face as the Day Walker turned to gold dust and was no more. The cop had encountered their kind before, interesting. Before Monroe could ask a million annoying questions, he was horizontal, looking up at Robert not knowing how he got there.

  “Now you have closure; you’re lucky. Most of us don’t get that luxury. Hold on cop,” He told him, pulling out his mobile and dialing emergency services for an ambulance.

  “Quit calling me cop, it’s Monroe.”

  “Right.” The guy was losing a lot of blood, Robert wasn’t sure he’d live but Monroe showed strength and honor so he’d do him a favor and make the call.

  “You’re wasting your time; I’m dying, won’t get here in time.” Monroe rasped, blood leaking out of his mouth.

  He was taking a chance, the cop would get nosy and dig around if he survived. Looking into Monroe’s eyes, “You can’t tell anyone about us; anyway who would believe people disappearing or turning into dust? Tell them you were passing by, heard a noise, encountered a drug deal gone bad. Trying to stop it, you were stabbed with a knife and must have been electrocuted, the men got away.”

  Hearing sirens, Robert vanished with the cop’s blood on his shirt. A human saved his life, which had never happened in all the years he’d walked these streets as a Shadow Walker. The cop held his own against Alexander for a bit, right proud work.

  Thorne was going to be pissed. He didn’t like loose ends. The god had a fearsome temper and while he didn’t show up often, all the Shadow Walkers knew he could obliterate them on the spot if he was in a mood.

  Chapter 19

  Thursday, November 5th

  Dressing for dinner, Colin could have punched himself in the face. Idiot. Had the perfect opportunity but no. What a lame thing to say, should have told her you care, bloody wanker, instead you tell her it’s good to go back, to forget everything here. Tell her you’re crazy about her, want her to stay…dolt. He wasn’t ready to say it out loud; if he did it would be out there for all to see, for him to try again, to let her betray him as Abigail had done. He knew she wasn’t like Abigail—still he carried the fear deep within the blackness of his heart, that as soon as he opened up, she’d gut him like a fish, leave him gasping for air, flopping on the wooden dock, trying to breathe as the life drained out of him. Throwing his whisky glass against the fireplace, gratified to hear it shatter, he made his way down to dinner…a condemned man marching to the gallows.

  Dinner was stilted. Colin didn’t know how to tell her he wanted her to stay, couldn’t find the words. Emily was quiet, picking at her food. He’d come to bed late, knowing she feigned sleep. He felt her tossing and turning through the night.

  Getting up early, he knew he was a coward avoiding her. But if he allowed her some distance maybe he could figure out what to say to her. Find a way to make it right, get rid of the hollow feeling in his gut. Leaving the bedroom, he looked back over his shoulder. Her body was a straight line, rigid, the tension swirling around her. Closing the door quietly, he ran down the stairs. Needed hard work to take his mind off a certain southern belle in his bed.

  After spending the early morning, visiting tenants, making sure they were OK in the snow; he’d stopped by to see Mrs. Burns. She was a widow, both her sons worked for Colin and they lived in a cottage on the estate. Her cow was stuck in a deep snowdrift and both boys were on a ship bound for France to deliver a shipment of wine. The cow was mooing, frantically trying to get out. It would have been hilarious if the woman wasn’t so upset. Colin freed the beast, slipping in the muck, cursing. Washing up inside, he accepted a cup of tea before leaving. As he was heading back to the castle, Mrs. Burns threw her arms around Colin, hugging him tight, kissing him on the cheek. “Thank you, milord, I don’t know what I would have done if ye hadn’t gotten Bessie free, thank you.”

  He went in t
o breakfast, determined to fix things with Emily. “Meg, where’s Emily?”

  “Milord, she’s already eaten, said she was going to explore the castle and grounds today. She’ll be back in time for lunch. She was awful quiet this morn. Everything all right between you two?”

  Colin didn’t answer as he headed outside to check on the horses. He’d talk to her over lunch, clear the air.

  Waking, Emily slowly turned over…yep he’d already left. Disappointment washed over her. Frowning, she got out of bed, jumped in the shower and got dressed. She’d go exploring to take her mind off things. Maybe Colin would be waiting in the dining room and they could clear the air. Right, cause the big guy was all about sharing his feelings. Not bloody likely to use his words. OK, get over yourself, be a grown up and talk to him during breakfast. Heading down the stairs trailing her fingers along the rough stone walls, she followed her nose to the dining room. Empty. He wasn’t there.

  “Emily dear, come in and eat.” Meg bustled around bringing her breakfast.

  “Has Colin already eaten?”

  “No, he hasn’t been in yet. I would’ve thought he’d come in with you. Everything OK?” Emily felt her face growing warm with embarrassment. Was it obvious they weren’t speaking? “Oh, everything’s fine. He must of told me and I forgot. Thought I’d explore the rest of the castle today.” Finishing, she grabbed a banana for a snack and hoped her mood would improve by lunch. Men. Gah, how was it possible to be sad and angry at Colin at the same time? “Meg, I’ll be back around lunch. Taking a banana in case I get hungry. Thanks for breakfast.”

  “Have fun lass but be careful, the west wing is haunted.” Meg shivered. “You would think a wee ghostie wouldn’t bother me knowing about Colin but there’s something verra strange wandering those halls.”

  Ravensmore was truly amazing. As Emily explored the unused wings, marveling at the furnishings, the weaponry laid out as if waiting for its owner to come in from a long day, she let her thoughts wander. Approaching the west wing, she meandered down the hall until she came to what must have been the lady of the manor’s room. She was drawn to a large window with an inviting window seat, filled with pillows—covered in dust but still lovely. Climbing onto the window seat, she peered out. Wow, what a view. As she admired the landscape, she noticed a man coming out of one of the adorable cottages, a woman followed, throwing herself into the man’s arms, hugging him, kissing him. Smiling at the couple, she watched them, wishing she knew how to fix things with Colin. Starting to turn away, a voice stopped her cold.

  “I wouldn’t turn away yet milady, might want to see who the second half of that lover’s couple is.” Turning to the voice, she saw a man dressed in silk as if he’d stepped out of a costume ball. Her stomach clenched, he was slightly transparent and floating a few feet off the ground. Remembering what Colin told her, she didn’t think he was a Day Walker or Shadow Walker since he didn’t have any substance.

  Curiosity overruled fear. “Who are you?”

  “I was the lady’s servant and continue to watch over all the ladies of the castle as they come and go. Frederick, at your service ma’am.” He bowed. “Look out the window, milady.”

  Frowning, Emily looked out, seeing the man from the cottage come closer. Watching him approach, she gasped, one hand going to her heart, the other splayed on the frigid stone wall to steady her. Her heartbeat filled the room, so loud it drowned out what the ghost was saying. It was Colin. There had to be an explanation. She’d march downstairs, find him and ask him to clear it up. Starting to leave, the man’s next words stopped her in her tracks, sending icy fingers crawling up her arms.

  “Ah yes, Baron Campbell, quite the ladies’ man. Leaving one of the many mistresses he keeps on the grounds. There are others…in Edinburgh, also in France and England. He does admire the ladies.”

  “What are you talking about? Colin isn’t involved with anyone; told me he wasn’t.” She was sick to her stomach, this couldn’t be true, he wouldn’t lie to her.

  “You watched them embrace, caught him coming out of the cottage after having his way with her. Has he promised you to be his wife? Asked you to live with him as mistress of Ravensmore?” Seeing the hurt on Emily’s face, the ghost pressed on. “He won’t, still loves Abigail. Yes, the mistress betrayed him, but he’s never gotten over her, never will. He slakes his lust with others but will never give any of you his heart. I’m sorry, milady. Best you know now before you fall too hard for the charmer.”

  The ghostly figure threw in one last parting shot. “Did he tell you some fantastical story about a curse? He tells all of you the same story and you fall for it, thinking you’ll be the one to save him. There is no curse. He uses it to bed all of you. I couldn’t bear to see another young woman hurt by him. Leave, go back home, forget this place, and forget him. There’s nothing for you here…nothing except betrayal and heartbreak.”

  The figure faded away without a sound. Emily sunk into the window seat, dust floating up from the pillows. Face white, trembling, she tried to stop the tears from falling to no avail. She cried, huge, noisy sobs wracking her body as she berated herself for trusting again, for believing in love. Was she that desperate for someone, she believed anything? Hours passed as she cried until there was nothing left. Wiping her eyes, she felt empty, hollow.

  He’d lied. In her book not being honest was a deal breaker. Furious, she decided she was taking control of her own life. Let him play his little games, she’d had enough. She wasn’t staying here one more second, she was going home. Dropping her half eaten banana, she fled, heading for the bedroom. Turning around, taking in the room, her eyes stopped on her suitcase. The rest of her things had been delivered, it figured. She couldn’t bear to haul her bags down the stairs like some pathetic, rejected lover. Shaking her head, she decided to leave it all. Checking to make sure she had her passport and emergency cash she’d had stashed in her suitcase, she grabbed her coat, pausing by the bed. It was rumpled from their lovemaking the night before. Her stomach rolled. Brusquely walking out, she pulled the door shut.

  Moving quickly down the hallway, she heard voices. Not wanting anyone to see her leave, to avoid the knowing looks, the pity on their faces, she headed for the passageway Colin had shown her. Darting in to the ladies solar, quietly closing the door, she moved to the fireplace, looking for the lever. Pressing it, she headed into the passageway that would take her outside. At least it was well-lit; thank goodness for electricity. Quickly making her way through, she came to the door. Cracking it open, she peered out. She could see the old garrison, now a garage across the courtyard; no one seemed to be outside. Pushing hard against the door to dislodge the snow, she put all of her weight into it, hearing the door groan and creak as it opened enough for her to squeeze through.

  Scurrying to the garage, she looked over the choices—not a sports car, too impractical if there were still icy spots on the roads. Spotting an old Land Rover, slightly dented, it looked like a car for the staff to run errands or to use for driving around the grounds. No one would pay any attention to it on the road. Looking at the cupboard holding the keys, she tried to find the right one, her hands shaking with anger over Colin’s duplicity.

  Suddenly a large hand covered her mouth, muffling her scream, the other pinning her arms to her sides, pushing her against the wall, preventing her from kicking out.

  “Well, well milady, we meet again.” She had heard the voice before. “Why couldn’t you mind your own business? I tried to scare you off, had your hotel room tossed, your dear friend pushed down the steps, and still you keep nosing around. You should have left with her, staying has caused me a great deal of difficulty.”

  After gagging her and securing her hands and feet, he turned Emily to face him. “Captain Rawlins Huntington at your service, milady. You can call me Rawlins.”

  This was so not good. He was a Day Walker. If Colin was to be believed, he would kill her, draining her dry. It sounded like a terrible way to die. But if he was going to k
ill her why tie her up? Trying to talk, thrashing, Rawlins placed a cloth over her face. Before she passed out she had the fleeting thought it was chloroform like on TV shows; they described it as cloyingly sweet. She succumbed to the gray nothingness.

  Waking up, Emily’s head pounded, her vision a bit blurry as she tried to figure out where she was—Rawlins had her. She had no idea how long she’d been unconscious. Startled, she sat up quickly, retching from the drug in her system. Taking in her surroundings, she was in a stone room, sitting on a bed piled with blankets. There weren’t any windows, the lanterns on the outside wall cast weak light into the cell. The door was heavy wood, with iron bars, a small window through which she could see the lanterns. It was so cold. Reaching for a blanket, she wrapped a couple around her for warmth. Finishing her appraisal of the room, she noted a pitcher of water next to the bed and a chamber pot in the corner.

  Oh hell no, I’m in a freaking dungeon. It looks different from Edinburgh Castle, maybe Ravensmore has a dungeon? She felt groggy. Head full of cotton. Taking a drink of water to ease her dry, scratchy throat, she called out, “Anybody there? Hello?” Surely Colin would be looking for her, wouldn’t he? Pacing around, she tried the door to no avail. She examined every corner and crevice of the room, trying to find a way out, or anything to help her escape. Frustrated, she sat back down on the bed. Great, now she had to pee—no way was she going in a chamber pot, she wanted a real bathroom or at least something with a door.

  Standing up, she pounded on the door, yelling, “Hey, need some assistance here. Can anyone hear me?”

  Rawlins appeared in front of her out of thin air. “No need to shout.”

  “Where am I? Where’s Colin?”

  “Welcome to picturesque Castle Gloom. Colin is going about his business not missing your lovely presence. I’m thinking he has better things to do than worry over you.”

  She wanted to think Colin would rush to her rescue; he cared for her…she remembered the mean ghost telling her all kinds of awful things about Colin. If they were true maybe he wouldn’t come for her, would think she’d left on her own, still angry with him. No. There was no way Colin would leave her in the hands of a Day Walker. Rawlins was trying to get inside her head. She wouldn’t take the bait. “Wait a minute, I saw the castle, it’s nothing more than a ruin.”