A Walk Amongst Shadows (Book 2)

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Aris commented as I entered our house. “What happened?”

“I’m…not really sure…” I fumbled with my hands for a moment before wringing them in exasperation.

“Did someone try to hurt you or something?” he guessed.

I paced for a moment, hesitating to continue. “How much stock do you put in the art of scrying?” I asked.

He scoffed, then realizing I was being serious, answered, “Not much, if I’m being honest.”

I furrowed my brow and sighed. “Deja and I were talking in her room and she showed me some of her scrying tools, one in particular was her mirror, but it wasn’t like a regular mirror it was black.” I paused.

“Yeah, I’ve seen them before. I take it you saw something in it?”

I nodded, feeling crazier by the moment. I was in too deep at this point though and quickly relayed everything that I had seen in the mirror to Aris. He indulged me and listened intently waiting until I was done before speaking again.

“I can certainly see why that would be upsetting,” he started, in a very diplomatic tone, “but I also think it is just as likely that you saw a projection of your own subconscious.”

“You really think so?” I asked, hoping he wasn’t just saying this to spare my feelings.

“Most definitely,” he nodded, “that’s how all of that stuff works. I’m sure Deja had you focus on something specific that’s been weighing on your mind. Knowing you the way that I do,” he winked, causing me to crack a smile, “I’d say you’ve thought of little else than that damned prophecy, understandable, given that it’s what brought you here in the first place.”

“So, there’s no way that some evil entity showed up in the mirror then,” I posited.

He shrugged. “All I’m saying is that if I were a betting man, I’d put my money on no.”

I nodded. What he was saying made sense to me.

“Why were you in Deja’s room? I thought you were at the apothecary.”

“She lives at the apothecary,” I explained, “I was a little upset about Simon and she offered to talk to me about it.”

“What happened with Simon?” He asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Nothing like that,” I smirked, then relayed the conversation I had had with Deja before the mirror incident. “I don’t know,” I sighed as I wound my story down, “he’s just been so different around me lately.”

“Perhaps he’s interested in you,” he suggested casually. I felt my face redden ever so slightly. “I mean it would make sense. You two have spent a lot of time together in the apothecary and, well, it’s you,” he nudged me playfully, “what’s not to like?”

“Does it not bother you? Him having an interest in me” I asked, curious at the complete lack of concern he was expressing.

“Should it?” he raised an eyebrow.

“No,” I rolled my eyes, “It’s just-” I sighed, “never mind.”

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I mean obviously I don’t care for Simon like that, but it doesn’t seem to bother you in the slightest that I’ve been spending so much time with another man and now one who may be wanting more from me.”

“Do you want it to bother me?” he asked sincerely.

“Well yeah, a little,” I sighed, exasperated, feeling a little childish.

He furrowed his brow in confusion.

“I don’t want you to be okay with other guys pining for my affection.”

“Rose, you do know that I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want you,” he said matter of factly.

“But that’s just it, don’t you see?” his expression suggested he did not. “Why doesn’t it bother you?”

“You know I’d do anything to see you happy…” he trailed off, “and if that means you’re with someone else, I don’t want to hold you back,” he added.

“Am I just a convenience to you?” I asked. Surprised at how readily the question came to me.

“What? Why on earth would you suggest that?” he looked offended.

“Aris, I know I’m young, but I’m not completely naive. You’ve been around for centuries. I know I’m only one of many women that have been in your life. I don’t need to be the best or most special, but I don’t want to just be someone you’re passing the time with.”

“Do you really believe that?” he asked, his voice sounded hurt. I could tell I had hit a nerve.

“I don’t want to believe it…” I trailed off, “but I also don’t want to fall back into old habits of closing my eyes to the things I don’t want to see.”

“I just don’t want you to be stuck again, like you were with Thomas.”

I stopped, he never talks about Tom.

He took advantage of my pause and continued, “Rose, I still get angry when I think back to the way you looked at me when he made you pay him penance.”

I felt my heart sink. I hated thinking about that day.

“The last thing in the world I want is for you to feel that way again, with me or anyone else for that matter.” His tone had become stark. “I don’t want you to go from being stuck in one relationship to another. You deserve to be free.”

“You keep saying that.” I shook my head, “I understand I am not indebted to you. If I wanted, I could support myself entirely on my own. I don’t need you for survival anymore, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still need you.”

His gaze locked intently onto mine.

“I feel like ever since we got here you have been preparing for me to go, but I don’t want to go!” I could feel myself getting worked up and was suddenly aware I was talking excessively with my hands.

“Of course I’ve been preparing for that!” he raised his voice to match mine. It startled me, he’s not usually one to raise his voice. “For three hundred years that’s how it’s been! Nobody stays! Nobody has ever stayed!” He exhaled and ran his hand through his hair. With a deep breath he collected himself and continued. “I hate that Thomas hurt you, I hate the idea of Simon or any other man for that matter, being able to make you happier than I can.”

I was silent for a moment, we both were.

“I can’t speak for the people before me…” I started. “But I’m not going anywhere. I am staying here with you because I want to. Not because I am obligated.” I took a deep breath. “I suppose I just need to know that you feel the same…” I trailed off. I felt horrible for the direction this conversation had taken.

Aris walked over to where I was sitting and kneeled beside me so we were eye level.

“I don’t think you’ll ever realize just how much you mean to me.” His eyes shone as he spoke.

I smiled weakly and put my arms around him. “I love you,” I muffled into his shoulder.

“I love you too” he said back. “Please don’t spend any more time with Simon than you have to.”

I laughed as we sat back to face each other. Aris sat back down in his chair.

“Can do.” I chuckled. I felt a sadness resonating in my heart as the words Aris had spoken sunk in. I suppose I had never considered the solitary lifestyle shadow walkers lead. Of course he was prepared for me to leave.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“What’s the longest amount of time you’ve spent with someone?”

“Hmm. Well back in the day I would sometimes tag along with different shadow walkers for a few months at a time sometimes up to a year or so.”

“What about mortals?” I asked.

He looked taken aback. “I’ve only ever dealt with mortals on a transactional basis. So, twenty-four to forty-eight hours tops.” He shrugged, then smiled, “You’re a bit of an anomaly for me.”

“No kidding,” I thought aloud.

“You up for a little more practice this evening?” he asked, his tone much lighter.

“Absolutely,” I answered.

I had been making great strides in understanding how to properly wield life magic. I had extended my reach quite a bit since the first time Aris had worked with me. I was currently learning how to redirect the flow of life energy. Instead of absorbing magic into my body and then releasing it all at once, I could now take magic in while simultaneously releasing it so that I didn’t have the awful side effects of holding too much life energy at once. How we had been practicing this technique was easy enough, I would drain the energy from one tree while simultaneously giving energy to another. At first, it was awkward. I would drain too much at a time or give too much. But now I was able to seamlessly transfer life energy from one source to another. Feeling the energy flowing through me was incredible. I was no longer a magic wielder but a mere conduit.

“I think you’ve got it!” Aris exclaimed in delight as I closed the circuit of energy flow I had created. I stepped back and observed both trees in the state they had been in when I started.

“That felt incredible,” I answered, breathless from all the exertion it had taken for me to pull that off.

I walked back home feeling immensely proud of myself. I was incredibly grateful for Aris and the instrumental role he had played in helping guide me through this whole process. I also felt relief for the pleasant turn this day had taken.

As I settled into bed that night I couldn’t help but remember those red eyes that had glared at me from the other side of the obsidian mirror.