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22. Three Brothers
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2024-10-29 19:42:56When Matthias finally emerged from his chambers, he found Carsten pacing and fuming in the grand foyer.
The look Carsten gave him said it all.
This was not going to be a pleasant meeting among brothers.
Before descending the stairs, Matthias cast to Emma, 'Carsten is on the war path. Wish me luck!'
'Stay focused and be wary,' was all she replied.
Turning his attention to Carsten he questioned, "What's your issue, brother? You look like a raging bull!"
Carsten snarled, "Wipe that smug look off of your face Matthias. You know that there is shit going down and you are in the center of the storm."
"Enlighten me!" Matthias said as he held his hands up, pretending not to understand their current situation.
He was not a fool and wasn't about to blurt out that he was suspicious of James and his intentions.
Let Carsten make that mistake.
"Follow me, you fool!"
Car
Cerulean NachtHi Readers! I hope that you are enjoying the story so far. Hang tight for there is treachery around every corner of the castle. Matthais and Emma will need to stay strong and figure out just who can they trust. Oh what a tangled web of shadows....
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The Shadow Effect 24. Hide and Seek
Viktor traveled as quickly as possible to the Schatten castle and entered unoticed, as he had permission from Matthais to enter. He appeared in Matthais' chambers and gathered his thoughts on how he would investigate the treason brewing within the castle walls. He never trusted James but he always kept the peace because it was Matthais' brother and he didn't want to cause trouble in the family, but thinking about their current situation, that was probably the wrong decision. Kicking himself for his own stupidity. Before he could investigate he had to take care of his thirst. Needing to drink blood, he shifted and appeared in the forest outside of the protected lands and found a small animal to drain. He managed to drain it quickly and set the thing on fire to get rid of the evidence. Oh how droll! What a bleeping miserable experience that was! Viktor was miserable after fi
The Shadow Effect 25. 1114 A. D. Soul Stealing
A cloaked figure was sitting alone in the back of the local pub, if you could call it that. His eyes were silver, and immediate giveaway that he was a Schatten and Viktor sensed his desperation. He was ripe for the picking and he knew it wouldn't take much to take advantage of this lonely sapling wallowing in his despair. Viktor approached with two mugs of watered down beer, knowing that the alcohol wouldn't impair this Schatten but it would be a friendly jester. "Go away blood sucker!" the Schatten growled. "Oh my, you look like you need a friend. I mean no harm." Viktor's voice was sweet harmony to this man's lonely soul, but he knew better. He had been raised in an Elder's home and he was well versed on the wiles of vampires and their desires. Snarling at Viktor, he got up and walked out of the pub, after leaving several coins for the bar maid. Viktor left the glasse
The Shadow Effect 26. The Castle Dilemma
Holding hands and walking through the garden, Emma was enjoying her time with Matthias and hoping for an ordinary day, when Viktor appeared out of the blue and he was raging mad. "Viktor, what happened?" There was a craziness in Viktor's eyes. He was looking to and fro, mumbling and swearing and he refused to look into Matthias' eyes. Releasing Emma's hand, Matthias grabbed Viktor's shirt and shook the hell out of him. "What the hell is going on? Tell me now!" Matthias snarled at his ancient friend. "Well, James and Carsten are up to no good and in more ways than one!" "Do tell!" Matthias prodded him, not letting go of Viktor's expensive shirt. "Let go of me," Viktor snapped as he looked from Matthias to Emma and managed to pull away. He walked around the garden pacing and running his fingers through his hair. He was a mess! "Viktor, out with the rest of it all. Stop playing
The Shadow Effect 27. Learning to Trust
"I just want you to leave!" Matthias was growing angrier as he stared at her and yelled back. "No! I will not leave. We will discuss this now. You are to be an Elder and you cannot run away from your problems." Crossing her arms, she glared at him as she turned her back and walked to the other side of the room. Matthias bounded after her and turned her to face him, "We will not fight like children, Emma. Grow up." "Grow up! Grow up! You're over a thousand years old and you play with people's lives, like; it's like their nothing but toys to you!" Emma shouted at him as tears started streaming down her face. Through clenched teeth and black eyes, he glared at her wondering how to fix this situation. Holding onto her shoulders he tried to calmly say, "Emma, you need to learn about these things, these creatures exist and they are dangerous. You cannot behave like a child, every time you learn something new, something scary."
The Shadow Effect 28. Unforgivable Sin
"Emma! Emma!" Matthais continued to scream as he held his throat. Matthais was exhibiting the pain that Emma was in and he was incapable of saving her. Viktor watched Matthais writhing on the floor and faded without a word, leaving him there in his own private hell. Appearing within seconds inside of his library, he came upon a ghastly scene. Emma's blood was everywhere and Saphira was standing over her, ready with the knife. Ready for the kill. She turned and looked at her master, with eyes full of flames. Viktor slowly walked up to her, taking control of her mind.
The Shadow Effect 29. The Renegade Mate
Sitting alone in her room, she stared at the iron cuffs that bound her to the wall. Since she refused to mate with Daan, she was not to be trusted and therefore, she was paying the price of her decisions. Anger was permeating through her and outwards as she glared at Daan. She hated him with every fiber of her being. He was a bastard and she didn't care that her heartstrings were longing for him. Janna was not going to give into him, regardless of how he pleaded with her. She was not weak like that stupid girl Emma, who gave into Matthias becasue she couldn't keep her desires in check. Weakling. Well, that would not be her.
The Shadow Effect 30. Into the Wind
"I am better off alone." Her words echoed in his head. How could she be better off alone? They were soulmates. He needed her. She needed him. Damn it all to pieces! She was just too independent! Her words and his anger were rattling him as he faded and flew out over the castle grounds following her. Keeping his distance, Matthais trailed behind her as they raced over the green valley just outside of Viktor's village. Emma raced into the trees, trying to lose
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The Shadow Effect 52. Shadow Forces
The cobwebs of sleep kept Emma tethered between the dream world and reality, under the covers in their bed. She could hear the fire roaring in the fireplace, and the aroma of the coffee finally tempted her to open her eyes and reach for the hot elixir waiting for her on her nightstand. She breathed in the hazelnut scents and sighed in utter contentment, just as she wondered where Matthias had disappeared to. Before she could take her first sip of coffee, she heard a noise outside on the balcony and wondered if he was relaxing. With that thought in mind, she placed the coffee and hopped out of bed. She slipped into a pair of cozy PJs and grabbed her coffee, taking her first sip of the day. Suddenly, Emma felt like she was on fire from the inside out as the poison worked through her system. Desperately she clawed at her throat and tried to tell Matthias that she needed his help. Before he could reach her, the shadow found her instead, smothering her face with a pillow and holding it th
The Shadow Effect 51. Captured
Searing pain raged through his body as the tip of the knife pushed into his chest. The wound wasn't yet fatal, but if she continued on her path of destruction he would most certainly fade to the netherworld within the next few minutes. Screaming in agony, he begged "Please! Stop! I have done nothing to deserve this!"Her laughter filled the room as she just held the knife in place, twisting it ever so slightly. Suddenly she pulled the knife out and traced the edge of the blade down his leg. Carsten tried to move away, but the chains left him little room for movement. His eyes opened wide, when he realized where she was holding the blade and he watched as the tip of the blade was once again ready to inflict more damage to his already broken body.He continued to plead and beg for her to stop torturing him to no avail. After she inserted the blade in several locations throughout his body, she took out other instruments of torture. Before she used any of the instruments on him, she
The Shadow Effect 50. Rekindling Brokenness
Fading from the library they traveled to their room, as their passion continued uninterrupted. Soon their clothes were falling around the room as they made their way towards their bed. They desperately desired each other and stayed under the covers until the morning light signified that they needed to face their responsibilities. Matthias whispered, "Emma, I love you for who you are and just the way you are. You don't need to change to earn my love. I want you to understand that. If you refuse your place as an Elder and we pass that responsibility onto another family, it will not change my feelings towards you. Likewise, if you decide to face my parents and their training and take your place by my side next month, then I will be proud to rule with you. I just don't want you to be pressured into having to take on this role in order for me to love you."Emma just looked at him and remained silent for some time before finally replying, "Matthias, I now understand the bond of mat
The Shadow Effect 49. Poise Unearthed
The warm water of shower cascaded down around her as she thought about the last few months. An unfortunate realization took hold. She was immature and she was an emotional wreck and if she was going to lead her people with Matthias by her side, she was going to need to start to behave in a manner befitting her station in life. A smile took hold as she also realized how much he loved her; truly loved her and she was going to be safe by his side, in this new world that was now her world too. She needed to learn to accept this world, their world.In that moment, watching the suds swirl around the drain before they disappeared, she decided that she was going to stop being angry at Matthias and give her heart to him freely and without boundaries and borders, rules and demands. She was going to love him the way her heart had longed to love him over the last few months, now realizing the power of the mating. It was irresistible!She had been harsh and demanding with her words
The Shadow Effect 48. A Twist of Fate
The campers started to pack up their campsite the next morning and Carsten controlled the idiot's actions so that he would leave him food. He was too weak to fade and fly long distances and or to remain in his shadow form for a long journey. So, he decided to stay in the park for a few more days, surviving off of food and blood from the unsuspecting campers.It was a great plan until the torrential rains came and he was left outside in the elements as he watched the campers packing their wet gear and taking off and within the hour the campground was deserted. He decided to fade into a large van and hide in the back until the group arrived twenty minutes later at the security gate. He left the van and made his way into the tourist trap, souvenir and general store. He appeared in the bathroom and then walked out, pretending to look around at the clothes. He picked up a new outfit and walked over to the cashier, who cut off the tags and wrapped the Rocky Mountain sweatshirt and
The Shadow Effect 47. Lost in the Woods
Watching his hands start to fade, he felt the pull and the disorientation that followed. It was as if his body was flying through a vortex, as images of his past life were stolen from him. Memory after memory disappeared from him regardless of how hard he tried to retain his past. The harder he tried to cling to those he knew, the harder it was on him as he screamed obscenities at Matthias until all memories of him were erased. He traveled through the darkness silently once his past was erased completely then his broken body slammed into the hard unforgiving earth. The air was sucked out of his lungs, as he heard his ribs snap and he remained motionless for what seemed like hours. Alone, somewhere in the world, he was lost and couldn't remember anything about the long and privileged life that he had lived. He could not recall a face or a conversation from his life, nor could he remember ever being loved or the fact that he loved. It was simply all gone. As he looked
The Shadow Effect 46. The Elders
Matthias stood in the doorway of their temporary chambers and was stunned into silence at what he was witnessing. How in the hell did this happen? He would never in a million years anticipated what his eyes were registering. His mother, his stern and ancient mother, was standing in the middle of his living room, with Emma in her arms, consoling her as her little frame shook from the tears that continued to stream down her face. Emma was inconsolable regardless of what his mother said to her, as she was trying, really trying to show compassion."Emma, darling. This world is cruel and sometimes these things must happen. Matthias is correct, my dear. Viktor has been with him through all of the twists and turns in his life, but his own brothers betrayed him. He could not have let Viktor fade. They love each other too much for that and their friendship is ancient and strong.""But he sucked his soul..." she managed to say through her tears but added "It's not right to take
The Shadow Effect 45. Resistance at the Border
The echo of voices rang through the valley as swords clashed and voices shouted orders. The battle was in full force as Matthais and Emma appeared at the edge of the skirmish. Before entering the fray, Matthias held Emma back to assess the situation. Viktor was a bloody mess, but he wasn't sure if it was his blood or the blood of those he had already defeated. Daan was in a fierce battle and Katana was silently using magic to stem the wrath of the Toten and tilt the balance of power to the Schatten. Turning to Emma he asked, "Are you ready to unleash the fire bound inside of you?" Emma looked a bit green but replied "All of the training these last weeks, truly doesn't prepare you for this. Does it?" Matthias felt his heart sink as he looked at his mate, afraid yet somehow exhibiting her newfound strength. "Emma, it is never easy to face your enemies in battle, no matter how much you prepare. We will go in with our fire, to push them back and into a circle of
The Shadow Effect 44. The Gloaming
Several weeks later...mere moments that seemed to fly by without a private moment with her mate or time to relax alone for there was just too much for her to do. She felt inadequate and not up to the task but she muddled through daily with Matthias by her side.Suddenly Emma was thrown into a leadership position in a new world that she was so unprepared for. She was helping to run the castle and preparing for the arrival of the remaining Elders, including Matthias' parents. She was certain that their visit would not be a pleasant one, as Matthias would be investigated for all that occurred over the last month.There was no joy in all that surrounded her and she so wished for the simple days when she was just mad at him for turning her and their alone time. She so longed to be in his arms and problem free, but she wondered if this castle would ever know peace after all of the tragedy that occurred.Betrayal after betrayal.Emma was still thinking a
