Return to the Shadows Read online

  “You skate between this world and another.”

  “I—”

  “And you have taken a child from Terlain,” she continued in the same even tone.

  “She was an orphan, and I had to take her. And—and she’s mine!”

  “Now wait a minute—” Mark began, only to be interrupted.

  “The child belongs in Terlain.”

  “And I don’t?” I asked bitterly.

  “Quite the opposite. It appears you have many ties to our world.” The silver-haired woman regarded me solemnly. “You must choose one world in which to reside. To skirt the line between the two is foolish; the price for doing so is heavy. Consider how much you are willing to lose.”

  “I see.” I nodded, wrapping both arms around my waist and feeling a cold chill seep into my bones where sunshine had resided only moments before.

  “Now then.” She clapped her hands together and strode to stand before me. “A blessing on your wedding day. May you both enjoy good health and love for many a year to come.” Her fingers brushed lightly over my forehead and she smiled before she repeated the same process on Mark.

  “Thank you, Matrons. May you be blessed as well,” Mark murmured, reaching down to take my hand as we watched them turn and walk back into the mist from which they came.

  ***

  “Claire?” Mark eyed me for what had to be at least the tenth time since we’d hiked down the mountain and driven back to Grandview.

  “I’m okay,” I assured him, surprised to find that, for the most part, I spoke the truth this time. The combination of physical exertion from the short hike and the drive back to Bob and Marta’s had gone a long way in calming my rattled nerves. Twisting in the seat, I smiled at Mark’s profile as he navigated the car through the grove of trees and up the long, winding driveway that led to the house. “Are you ready to tell everyone about the wedding?”

  “I am,” he grinned. “You think they’ll be mad at us for not inviting them?”

  “Hmmm,” I considered, tapping a fingernail against my bottom lip. “Well, Aries won’t be, and I’m mostly sure that Ashley will be more excited about having a father than disappointed over missing the wedding ceremony. I’m pretty sure that to a young child, the actual wedding is some boring grown-up thing. Anyway, she’s never been to a wedding, not with me at least, so she probably won’t spend much time thinking about it, other than to ask a question or two. Bob and Marta, now…that may be another story,” I warned him, though surely he had been aware of the fact well beforehand.

  “Ouch. You’re probably right about that. I hope Marta isn’t cooking with those big pots and pans.”

  “The cast iron?”

  “Yeah, those are the ones.” He cringed.

  “Don’t worry.” I patted his bicep and stared up at the house with trepidation. “She hardly ever uses that set…”

  “Comforting,” he snorted, putting the car in park and leaning over for one last long, slow kiss before we had to face the music.

  “Mark?” I stared up at him several moments later. “Ready?”

  “Let’s do this.”

  ***

  “You did what?”

  “Now, Marta, calm down,” Bob urged, stepping between her and Mark as though he feared for his son’s safety. Hell, he probably did—Marta had a wicked left hook.

  “Claire and I are married,” Mark repeated, bending down to catch Ashley when the child launched herself at him. Sienna watched from the edge of the room, wary as ever.

  Marta’s anger seemed to ebb at the touching sight and she heaved a sigh, turning to address me.

  “Don’t think I’m not happy. The truth is, it’s about time the two of you worked out your differences and finally came to the conclusion the rest of us had a long time ago—the two of you deserve each other. You’re…good for each other.”

  “Thank you, Marta,” I said, truly touched by the sentiment.

  “I still would’ve liked to have been there,” she grumbled. “And obviously Bob and I have some questions,” she told me, lowering her voice.

  “Ah, yes,” Bob broke in. “And there’s the other thing.” He glanced at Marta.

  “Yes, there is,” she agreed with a sigh. “I think it’s time.”

  “What are you two talking about?” Mark climbed to his feet, holding Ashley with ease.

  “Leave the children with one of those half-naked women who keep finding their way into my kitchen,” Marta instructed. “We’ll go into the library and talk privately.”

  “Aries is in the kitchen?”

  “No, the other two, they’re waiting for her to come back from some place or other.”

  “Girls,” I said, bending down to talk to the children. “You heard Marta—into the kitchen for a few minutes okay? We’re going to talk grown-up stuff and then we can all sit down and talk about the wedding and whatever you like.”

  “Okay!” Ashley chimed, and pulled Sienna along behind her down the hall. “Come on, let’s go get a cookie,” she said before they disappeared around the corner.

  “Shall we?” Bob motioned us down the hall in the opposite direction, toward the library, ushering us into the room and closing the door firmly behind him when we were all seated.

  “Okay, now what’s this about?” Mark demanded. “Why all the secrecy?

  “Well, now, son, first off, I want to congratulate you and Claire on your marriage. Marta and I think that’s just wonderful. Don’t we, Marta?” Bob glanced at Marta, strain evident in his face.

  “Thank you,” I replied graciously, scooting closer to Mark.

  “But we can’t help but be curious about where the two of you, and your child—or children,” Bob amended, obviously thinking of Sienna, “will live. You’re all more than welcome to live here, of course,” he was quick to add. “The house is plenty big enough, and you know we would love to have you here, for as long as you want to stay—forever even.”

  “What he’s trying to say is this; are you and your wife planning to live here, or in an alternate dimension?” Marta asked dryly.

  “Oh, that.” I felt my face heat.

  “We haven’t decided,” Mark told them cautiously.

  “We’re keeping our options open,” I added, inwardly cringing over the words as the Matrons’ statements echoed in my mind. Mark and I had a lot to talk about later, that was certain.

  “I see.” Bob stood and began to pace the room. Marta stared at the carpet, unusually silent.

  “What? What are you not saying here?” Mark demanded.

  “You can’t leave.” Bob stopped pacing to stare beseechingly at his son.

  “Why can’t we leave?”

  “Not Claire. You.”

  “Claire and I are a package deal now, Father. I can’t believe you’re saying this.”

  “I do realize you and Claire are joined together now, and I’ve felt that Claire is a daughter to me for some time now. But, Mark, if you leave Terlain, you leave your people without protection.”

  “That’s ridiculous. I’ve created an army!” he protested.

  “No, you still do not understand. The army won’t stand a chance against Kahn, not in a direct confrontation.”

  “And I will?” Mark was incredulous.

  “Yes. You’re the only one who can defeat him. The only one,” Bob repeated, looking his son in the eye as Marta and I remained silent.

  “That’s nonsense.”

  “No, it’s not.” Bob shook his head.

  “Why?”

  “Why?” Bob echoed, looking away.

  “Yes, why? Why am I the only one who can stop Kahn?”

  “Because you’re his son,” Bob stated with quiet dignity. Marta clasped her hands tighter in her lap.

  “You’re lying,” Mark whispered, white-faced. “I’m nothing like that monster!”

  “I didn’t say you were anything like him,” Bob shot back, every bit as fierce. “But you are his son.”

  “How?”

  �
�I found you, all those years ago, that’s true enough, but there’s more to the story. Your mother was with you, in that alleyway.”

  “I don’t remember her...”

  “No, I imagine not. You were little more than a baby. Four years old at the most. You...” Bob cleared his throat. “You were trying to find food for the both of you, yourself and your mother. I spoke to her, Mark. She took you away from Kahn. She was his prisoner, and she was very ill. She was dying and she wanted to make certain that Kahn’s evil never touched you. She wanted more for you, her son.”

  “What was her name? What happened to her?” Mark asked.

  “We took her with us, Pamela and I, but we couldn’t save her. She died within hours. I’m sorry, Mark. She never recovered enough to tell us her name. I’m sorry.”

  “I can’t believe this.”

  “I’m...sorry,” Bob repeated, seeming unsure of himself and at a loss for words.

  “Why didn’t you tell me before now?”

  “How could we have told you while you were young?” Marta found her voice. “You would have grown up thinking that you were like him, that there was a black mark on your soul.”

  “Isn’t there?” he laughed humorlessly.

  “Mark!” I gasped. “Don’t even think it.”

  “No,” Marta insisted. “Nothing could be further from the truth. You’re the light where he is the dark.

  You’ve become my son…just as much as Bob’s over the years.” she swallowed, struggling with emotion.

  “And there’s nothing unwholesome about you.”

  “You are his opposite. You have chosen to follow your birthmother’s path of good and right. I’ll never know what bravery it must have taken for her to escape with you. No, son, you’re nothing like Kahn save for one very important thing—you equal him in strength.”

  “Oh,” I murmured, more to myself than to the others. “You’re Kahn’s kryptonite. I get it.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing, it just means you can beat him.”

  “Claire, I’m sorry.” Mark turned to me. “I didn’t know who I was before I asked you to marry me.”

  He looked miserable.

  “Shut up, Mark. I know who you are and your real family is right; you’re nothing like Kahn. I would have married you anyway,” I told him, shocked and a little bit saddened that he would think otherwise, even if he’d just been delivered the surprise of a lifetime. No, I reconsidered, taking in his pallor. He looked like his entire world had just been turned upside down and shaken. He hung his head for several long moments before he finally nodded and squeezed my hand.

  A knock on the door sounded before anything else could be said, and Aries poked her head around the corner a second later. Mark seemed to pull himself together; he and I took the opportunity of having the five of us all together in one room to fill her and Bob and Marta in on not only the details of our wedding, but our visit from the Matrons.

  “Oh, my,” Bob frowned. “What do you think they meant by a price to be paid?”

  “I don’t know.” I caught my lip between my teeth. “But I don’t think I should leave Terlain anytime soon. Rather, I don’t think that we should leave anytime soon,” I said, placing a hand on Mark’s sleeve lest he get any more stupid ideas about his blood not being worthy of mine.

  “I’m thinking the same thing,” he admitted. “Damn, I’m sorry, Claire.”

  “Shh. Don’t be.”

  “But your family—”

  “You’re all my family too, remember?” I forced a smile for his benefit, but thinking about my family was hard. “It’s not forever, only for right now. We’ll get it all figured out, eventually.”

  “I hate to interrupt here, but I’ve got some news I think you’ll all be interested in. Especially you, Claire.”

  “What happened, Aries?”

  “One of the sprites spotted your brother by the entrance to the portal this morning.”

  “What? ” my jaw dropped. “Are you serious? Oh my God, you are. You’re serious. But…how is that possible? Where is he now?” I jumped off the sofa. “We’ve got to find him.”

  “He didn’t stay, Claire.”

  “He didn’t…”

  “He entered the portal and buried this box in the ground, and then left—back through the portal.”

  “What in the hell…?” I sank back down next to Mark.

  “Wait,” he pointed out, slipping an arm around my shoulders. “I thought you said there was only one key left.”

  “There is. At least, I thought there was. Would the portal…stay open, for some reason? If one key is used and still intact in Terlain?”

  “I don’t know.” Mark shrugged, glancing around the room to find three identical looks of uncertainty.

  “None of us know then.” He exhaled. “I suppose it’s possible. But…I wouldn’t think so. Would you?”

  “No,” I shook my head. “Aries, let me see what he left. Maybe he left some answers.”

  “Here.”

  I took a pocket knife out of my jacket and slit the flaps on the box, pulling the heavy duty cardboard apart to peer at a single sheet of paper and a small burlap sack that was tied with a string.

  “He left a note.”

  “Read it out loud,” Mark instructed.

  “Dear Claire…I hope this note finds you and Ashley well and safe. I know that we agreed on you returning from Terlain in three months, but I’m writing to tell you that won’t be possible. Don’t come back right now.”

  I looked up at the anxious faces around me. “He didn’t expect for me to find the package until Ashley and I went to the portal to go back.”

  “Looks like. What else does he say?” Mark leaned forward.

  “You’re probably wondering how I was able to get a message to you. I have a confession to make, Claire. I destroyed a hardened clay replica I’d made of my key that night. I’m sorry I kept that from you until now. What can I say, great minds think alike? I couldn’t bring myself to destroy it either.”

  I glanced up at Aries before turning my attention back to the letter.

  “What I wanted to tell you is, this thing with John runs deeper than we thought. I can’t even go to the police, or the FBI. I don’t know who it’s safe for you to trust, Claire. And I fear that the rest of us may be in danger too. If we’re not there with you, Mom and Dad and Megan and her family, by the time you’re reading this, don’t fret—we will be very soon. It looks like a fresh start may be in order. At this point, it’s probably that or the witness protection program. See you soon, Sis. Hug my niece for me and tell her I’ll see her soon too. I hope you’re both safe and that you’ve got what you need, but just in case, there are fifty sapphires in this sack. Sell them if you need currency. Love, Mike.”

  “Well…that answers that question, and a few others,” Mark said.

  “He’s coming here. My whole family is coming here,” I murmured, clutching the note to my chest like a lifeline.

  “There’s something else too,” Aries said, standing up and walking to the door. “I found Sienna’s mother. She doesn’t want her back.”

  “Oh!”

  “You’re sure?” Mark asked.

  “I’m sure. She didn’t even want to know where the child is staying. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not. We’ve got another daughter.”

  “Yes, we do.” I managed a real smile then. “Hey, Aries, where are you going?”

  “I’ll be back later,” she said shortly, then slipped out the door.

  “Is she okay?” Marta hitched a thumb in her direction.

  “Yeah, is something wrong?” Mark was concerned.

  “She just needs a minute, that’s all.” I smiled ruefully, thinking of Aries and my brother. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

  “Well, I guess we’ve got everything settled, then,” Marta said, looking eager to get the hell out of the library.

  “Yes, looks like. Come on, Marta, let’s leave the newlyweds a
lone for a minute and go tell Sienna that she’s officially a member of this family.”

  “So…what now?” Mark asked once we were alone. “We’ve got a little time before your family gets here.”

  “Hmmm…how about a honeymoon?”

  “Why, Mrs. Greer, I thought you’d never ask.”