Page 16 of Soulbound Shadows: Part 1

“My people tell their little ones horror stories about it,” I said. “They say that the Ravening Vale was created by witches to track and consume runaway vampires.”

“And you went wandering around in it anyway?” Isabella asked.

“I wasn’t wandering. I could tell something was very wrong, and I had a responsibility to make sure it wasn’t a threat that could harm my people.” I glanced up at the sky and frowned. “We should start moving if you want to make it back to the city before nightfall.”

We parted ways soon after, with the witches going toward the city proper, and myself heading for vampire territory. Despite the fight, I felt surprisingly good. I’d had a direct role in something. I had taken action—real, direct action—and it had repercussions with the potential to actually last.

As soon as I got home, I went straight to my study. I moved aside stacks of papers—all the proposals that my father had ignored—and cleared space to start in on the translation. I had a lot of work to do if I wanted to have it ready by morning.

7

EVANGELINE

The rain was bucketing down outside, tapping against my window like it was hoping I’d let it in. I was nursing my second cup of coffee at my desk when I heard the knock at my office door.

“Come in!” I called.

The door swung open, and there stood Gabriel, looking tall, dark, and tired. He was dressed down—by vampire standards anyway—in charcoal slacks and a black cable-knit sweater that emphasized the contrast between his broad shoulders and trim waist. His cheekbones looked sharp enough for me to cut myself on. The handle of his umbrella was hooked over his arm, the rain on it dripping quietly onto my floor.

I could feel the moment the building noticed him. It dimmed the lights, and faint strains of Billie Holiday began playing from my apartment upstairs, trickling down through the floor as she crooned about what she could do if the man she loved was hers. The smell of old floral perfume wafted gently through the air.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Sorry about that. Chanel gets ideas whenever somebody new shows up.” I pointedly turned my desk lamp up to its full brightness.

“Chanel?” Gabriel asked, still standing in the doorway. The hallway lights behind him threw shadows over his face.

“The building. Number five on the street, so… Chanel.”

“It suits the place,” he said, brushing a hand against the doorframe like he was trying to settle a nervy horse.

Chanel scooted the umbrella holder over to him.

“You didn’t come to my office just so the architecture could flirt with you, did you?” I waved a hand at one of the chairs in front of my desk, and he sat, brushing stray raindrops from his sleeve.

“No, I didn’t.” He pulled a neatly folded piece of paper from a pocket and slid it across the desk to me. When I unfolded it, I saw neat lines of spidery handwriting covering the page. “This is the best translation I could manage. I did wind up making a few tweaks so that it would make sense.”

Beneath the veil of twilight’s last glow, a source of ancient power shall show.

Forged in realms where magic thrives, binding forces of past lives.

Seeker of light, with destiny’s call, unveil each secret, and join them all.

Four fragments scattered, lost in time, together weave the grand design.

One piece found in a dark embrace, where shadows dwell, concealed by grace.

One piece found in a foe’s abode, den of secrets where fear is sowed.

One piece stolen by evil’s might, a drain of life, cloaked in the night.

One piece buried, a home destroyed, in ruins lie, once loved and enjoyed.

United the artifact will awake, unleashing a power none can break.

But beware the shadow’s looming might, for darkness seeks the artifact’s light.

When the Seeker holds the artifact whole, balance restored, salvation shall unfold.

The path is fraught, with test after test, that only the chosen one may best.

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