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47. Lost in the Woods
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Watching 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
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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 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 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 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 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 1. Soulmate
His soul is as dark as the abyss and he is ancient of days. Evil resides within him as much as the darkness consumes his soul. He has his reasons, very good reasons from his past to the present. His enemies have haunted him throughout the centuries and taken from him his one true love. His soulmate! These things have shaped him into the evil that he has become. Most fear him and those that don't are just fools. There are a few that he kept close to him but mostly out of self preservation. Somewhere deep down inside of his black soul and vengeful heart, he might actually love them, or at least he tolerates them to some degree wi
The Shadow Effect 2. Dream Casting
He waited over a thousand years and she would be his! But how? How to win this beauty over? His mate! He knew from her demeanor that she would be hard to convince. He could tell that she was strong and extremely stubborn. Matthias had to stop himself from manipulating her, right then and there in the park and in front of so many people. The desire to control her was crippling. He was so tempted to make her walk over to him and start her turning right then and there. That would not be good on this one. She would be a challenge!
The Shadow Effect 3. Restlessness
Who was that man? He seemed so real? His scent lingered in her room. What? Wait! That was crazy talk. Emma shook her head and just tried to shake him from her system. She had a busy day and she didn't need Mr. Perfect to ruin her big presentation at work. Nope! Not her! She rolled out of bed and started to wash up but she still couldn't forget. Why wouldn't he say his name? Something about having power over him. Cool! She wouldn't mind having power over his luscious body. MINE! He said she was his.
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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
