The Shadow Connection Read online

  V’s lights glowed brighter. “I will be your silent partner.”

  Dr. Snowden gestured at Evaran. “What are you planning on doing today?”

  Evaran touched his fingertips together in front of him. “I have been researching the current status of Earth. I believe it is now time for me to check a few things out.”

  “Trouble?” asked Emily.

  “There are some … irregularities, but I do not know how serious they are.”

  “Oh. You going to take the Torvatta?”

  Evaran shook his head. “There is a local club I wish to investigate. I would ask for whoever is driving to drop me off, then pick me up on your way back.”

  “We still doing the no-Torvatta-flying thing?” asked Dr. Snowden.

  “We are. I believe some time away from it will help you in your immersion back into your normal routine.”

  “Ok, I understand that for us … but why are you staying away from it?”

  Evaran cleared his throat. “I want to immerse myself as well. It is a good learning experience for me, and I have enjoyed the last month. Before I came to Earth, quite a few of my adventures involved me mingling with the native population while the Torvatta stayed hidden away.”

  “Okay, well, we have, what? Five more months of this, and then we can leave?” asked Dr. Snowden.

  “If you still wish to travel with me, then we will do that.”

  “My mind hasn’t changed on that,” said Dr. Snowden.

  Emily crooked a thumb at Dr. Snowden. “I’m with sleepyhead on that.”

  Dr. Snowden sighed and shook his head.

  Evaran leaned forward. “A lot has happened in your journey with me. I do not want you to forget what it is like to be among your own kind.”

  “We haven’t,” said Dr. Snowden. “Besides, we met humans outside of Earth on Fredoria, and humans in 3104.”

  “Andia Kiggs and Jane Trellis,” said Emily, bobbing her head.

  Evaran grinned. “I understand that, but I meant among your own kind in the environment you initially started from.” He glanced at Dr. Snowden. “Your dreams indicate to me that you still have some unresolved issues you need to work through.” He tilted his head at Emily. “It would be good for you to remember your past as well.”

  She looked down. “Yeah … I know.” Although she thought that she would never be innocent like she was before, she had toned down her aggressive tendency to fight a bit since she had been back.

  “Excellent. Let us clean up breakfast and head out. As always, you can carry your PSDs.”

  After they had cleared the table and washed up, they assembled in the living room and began to leave.

  “Shotgun!” said Emily.

  “Defensive mode engaged,” said V as his four segmented arms extended and he went into stealth mode.

  “V! I was referring to the passenger seat.”

  A moment later, V eased back into view, with his arms drooping and lights dimmed.

  Everyone laughed as they exited the house.

  Jaleb Owens wiped down the wooden counter at the club where he worked. Smoke filled the air and created a haze with the dim lighting. The club was medium-sized and had an open floor, booths along the walls, and several lounge areas. He was just happy he had a job. Bartending paid well enough, but more importantly, the club was a safe haven for nonhumans. Although he knew that it was mainly packed with Daedroulds, like vampires, warlocks, witches, and those who possessed the darker arts, there was also a healthy representation of shifters like him.

  It came as a surprise when he first came to town and looked for a job. Shifters were rare in cities. Although he had been called an owl shifter from where he had come from, he noticed that in this city, he was referred to as a wereowl. The Daedrould did not distinguish between shifter or were, and just lumped them all together as Outsiders because they came through portals from other dimensions to Earth at one point. They also applied the name to ancient gods, who came the same way.

  He grimaced as he saw a lone Wildborn sitting in a booth. Wildborn always made his skin crawl. They did not have a unifying trait, other than their abilities manifested in unique ways. He knew the one in the booth had the ability to teleport and called himself the Mover. How a powerful Wildborn like that was let in to the club spoke to the power of Count Valgus, the Raskarian master vampire that ran the club.

  Although he was not as powerful as other Daedrould strains, like the ancient vampires, Count Valgus was over a thousand years old. He wielded considerable physical power, and it was that strength that made Jaleb feel safe. No one in their right mind would even think of attacking the place. Still, the Mover was menacing, and when Jaleb had asked him about reports of powerful Wildborn appearing across the globe, the Mover told him to never talk of it again in his presence.

  A loud sound emanated from the doorway as one of the bouncers flew headfirst into the club.

  Jaleb jumped back and gasped. The bouncers were bear shifters, and among the strongest in the shifter world. The particular bouncer on the floor was Randy, someone Jaleb always considered to be the toughest of the tough. He reached under the counter and pulled out a shotgun. It was one of his duties to defend the place, but he could not believe it was actually happening.

  A fair-skinned man in a light-gray one-piece padded suit walked in and pointed at Randy. “As I mentioned, there is no need for violence. However, provoke me, and I will respond in kind. Notify the owner that I wish to speak with him.”

  Randy stood and shook two hands out in front of him. “A … all right, man. Calm down.”

  “I am calm. It was you who decided to attack me. Tell Count Valgus that Evaran wishes to see him.”

  Randy gulped, then spun around and headed to the back of the bar. Patrons began to gather their things and file out.

  Jaleb’s breathing became erratic. He had grown up in Oregon, home to one of the larger populations of the Ollikrin Nation, a powerful nonhuman group. He remembered his mother telling him that if he was bad, Evaran would come for him, and he had known this reputation of Evaran all his life. Very few claimed to have ever seen Evaran, or if they had, they never mentioned it. Evaran had become a part of the Ollikrin folklore. Supposedly he had helped them in their time of need when the world had gone bad.

  Evaran approached the counter and took a seat on the stool. He bowed with his left arm across his stomach. “My name is Evaran, and I apologize for startling you.” He glanced at the shotgun. “There is no need for that.”

  Jaleb licked his lips. “Uhh … right.” He placed the shotgun back under the counter.

  Evaran eyed Jaleb for a moment. “You are an Outsider. In particular, an owl shifter.”

  “That’s … that’s right. How did you know?”

  “I can read energy signatures. Yours is one I have come across before.”

  Jaleb swallowed hard. “You’re … you’re really him. Evaran. I mean.”

  Evaran grinned. “I like to think so.”

  Jaleb exhaled from his mouth. “Well, I hope you aren’t here to trash the place.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  “The bouncer Randy for starters,” said Jaleb.

  “He tried to assault me. I responded with less than equal force.”

  “Yeah … I figured that. What … what are you doing here?”

  “I seek information. I have been away for a while and wanted to update myself with one of the best sources. From my research, Count Valgus is a powerful vampire. He was nearby, and so I have decided to talk with him.” Evaran peered at Jaleb. “You seem to have a negative impression of me.”

  Jaleb tossed a hand out. “Man … I grew up believing you were the boogeyman.”

  Evaran rubbed his chin. “I see. My reputation has been distorted. I only go after those who have done an injustice, or have hurt my friends.”

  “Yeah … it’s that whole going after the bad guy thing. It sorta crept into our traditions.”

  “You have nothing to f
ear from me, unless … you are doing something to harm others.”

  Jaleb shook his hands out in front of him. “Nothing bad going on here. I just serve drinks, scope out the women, and enjoy life.”

  “I see.”

  “So … I grew up and heard all the stories. Apparently you’re a time traveler, and you can stop people from ever existing, even whole civilizations. Any of that true?”

  Evaran looked down for a moment. “Time traveler, yes. As for the other … I do not talk about that.”

  “Oh. I got ya, man. I was just curious.”

  Evaran smiled. “Curiosity. A trait I find admirable in humanity. Even nonhumans have it.”

  “Here I am talking to you and I haven’t even offered you anything. Drinks on me. What’ll you have?”

  “I am fine,” said Evaran. He raised a finger. “Have you seen any changes recently in the nonhuman political world?”

  Jaleb licked his lips as he cast a sidelong glance at the Mover. “Nothing that I’m aware of. I’m just a peon making sure people are well served.”

  “Interesting. A bartender often hears things. I thought I would ask.”

  Jaleb gulped. “Sure.” He did not want to lie to Evaran, but with the Mover within earshot, he was not going to risk discussing the rash of recent Wildborn that had appeared all over the world. Evaran seemed powerful, but he knew the moment Evaran left, it would be him that the Mover might have an issue with. Most Wildborn kept to their enclaves, and there were some minor groups, but nothing on the scale that Jaleb had seen lately.

  “Perhaps then another question, if you do not mind.”

  Jaleb shrugged. “Shoot.”

  “You mentioned traditions earlier. Were you referring to the Ollikrin Nation?”

  Jaleb jerked his head back. “I was … actually. How’d you know?”

  Evaran smiled. “I helped them long ago. Owl shifters were one of the main shifter types in the group. I suspected you might have descendants, or even be a part of it.”

  “Yeah. My brother is active with them.”

  “And is Delia Everoak still running things?”

  Jaleb shook his head. “She died. March 6, 1951. She lived a long, long time.”

  Evaran looked down. “I see. I will need to visit her at some point.” He looked back up. “Who is running things now?”

  “Mary Everoak, her daughter,” said Jaleb. He snorted. “I just realized … when you said visit her, you meant, like, traveling back in time.”

  “That is correct.”

  “Damn … this is so crazy. You’re nothing like what I was led to believe.”

  “Perhaps then this will help offset the reputation I seem to have garnered.”

  Jaleb drew his lips to the right. “No doubt. Although … it’s said that if you appear, then something’s going down.”

  “Not this time. I am just catching up on things. Relaxing a bit.”

  “You’re in the right place for that.”

  Randy came out from the back and waved Evaran over. “Count Valgus is ready to see you.”

  Evaran nodded at Randy, then faced Jaleb and extended a hand. “It was good talking to you. Perhaps we shall meet again.”

  Jaleb returned Evaran’s handshake. It felt like touching raw muscle. Even the fingers were tough. As he watched Evaran head over to Randy, Jaleb glanced at the Mover, who put a finger up to his lips. Jaleb gulped and continued cleaning the bar.

  Count Valgus’s eyes narrowed as he heard footsteps approach the small room that served as his office. After a moment, Evaran walked in. Count Valgus had seen Earth change dramatically over the last thousand years. Although he had a modern base nearby, the club served as a front that allowed him to interact with others like himself. Someone of Evaran’s caliber was new.

  Most vampires learned about Evaran when they turned, and Count Valgus was no exception. From the stories he had heard, Evaran intermingled with the most powerful nonhumans on Earth, including the Raskarian rivals, the ancient vampires.

  The closed-camera TV feed confirmed that it was the Evaran that Count Valgus had heard about. The suit, the gadgets, and the ease with which Evaran responded to Randy were no surprise. What Evaran was doing there was another story. Count Valgus had cleared out anything that might seem illegal from his office. The last thing he needed was a time-traveling demigod deciding to interfere in his dealings.

  Evaran walked into the room and looked around.

  Count Valgus slowly gestured at a chair. “Evaran. What a … surprise. Please … sit.”

  Evaran complied.

  “Your presence here is … unexpected. However … I suspect you did not come for a social visit. What has elevated me to your attention?”

  “I only seek information.”

  “You are Evaran. The cosmos are your playground … and even time bends at your beck and call. I call myself immortal … but that pales in comparison to you. What knowledge would I possess that you do not?” asked Count Valgus.

  “You are a Raskarian vampire, one of the five major Daedrould vampire strains on this planet. Even within that strain, you are one of the more powerful members. While you may be low-key in global affairs from what I understand, I suspect you keep tabs on it.”

  “Of course. Being well-informed is a necessity for someone as long-lived as myself. Humans are aggressive toward the unknown … and nonhumans even more so. I try to protect what is mine,” said Count Valgus. It was true that he lay low. Having a high profile was an invitation to chaos. “However … I don’t know what information you seek.”

  Evaran dipped his head. “I meant to look into current events a while back, but there was another … incident that needed my attention. I would talk with Lord Noskov or Lord Vygon, but they are both sleeping at the moment.”

  “Ancient vampires,” said Count Valgus, shaking his head. “A rogue Daedrould strain … not even one of the five major original ones.”

  “Vampire politics.”

  Count Valgus exhaled from his nose. “There was a time when all Daedrould were united, back when you helped the Helians. That time has passed, and the Daedrould are increasingly fractured. The Daedrould Council has done a poor job in attending to that. ”

  “The ancient vampires lay low as well. In that regard, you are similar.”

  Count Valgus snorted in derision. “Perhaps. If they only attended to their own affairs …”

  “I understand.”

  “Nonetheless, since I mentioned the Helians, there has been a recent split.”

  Evaran tilted his head. “Elaborate.”

  “The Helians have held on to power on this planet for far too long. About a month ago, they split into two factions. No one really knows why, but the ripples from that are evident. There have been many … unusual rumors on why they split. The shadows whisper that alien slavers are involved, and even more insidious, that a rogue Outsider has joined the chaos.”

  “Intriguing. Having them divided would not bode well for Earth. You said one month ago?”

  “I did. I try to avoid dealing with the Helians, but unfortunately … some interaction is required. This … split … has made that difficult.” Count Valgus twirled a finger in the air. “Which side do you work with … ” He grinned, baring his fangs. “Pick the wrong one and you become a target. How long will it be before that occurs … I don’t know. It’ll come, just like the night, I’m sure.”

  Evaran rubbed his chin. “Have there been any major incidents related to this split?”

  “I’ve heard of several, but haven’t taken the time to confirm any of it. Two months ago in Tokyo, it’s said the yakuza has had a change in leadership. That is … unusual. It is said that it was forced on them by a group of Wildborn with unusual abilities. There were also some strange-looking humanoids with them that no one seems to know about.”

  Evaran’s eyes darted back and forth. “The yakuza is a powerful organization. They also employ a lot of nonhumans. These Wildborn and their accomplices must have be
en very powerful.”

  “So it has been said.”

  “I see,” said Evaran. “Was there any mention of the Wildborn abilities?”

  “One had superior strength, relative to a human. Another could control minds.”

  “And the accomplices?”

  Count Valgus shrugged. “It is said they looked like dragon humanoids. Big, burly, and scaled. Their description reminds me of crocodile shifters. To be out in public like that is … disturbing.”

  “Interesting,” said Evaran. “I will look into it. Hopefully they do not come here.”

  “They may be powerful, but they would be foolish to assault the domain of a master Raskarian.”

  Evaran smiled. “It sounds like it. Randy would be a good match.”

  “Randy,” said Count Valgus, grinning. “You handled him with ease, as if he were a child, but it is what I would expect from someone of your power. Nonetheless, I am not aware of what the new political landscape will be, but if I heard about it, then others have too.”

  “That could be a problem.”

  Count Valgus harrumphed. “At least one faction of Helians seems to still be in power. The question now … is for how long.”

  “So you are lying low to see how it ends up before making any decision on your position.”

  “Of course. I play the long game, and time is on my side. I just want to be left alone.”

  “That is why you have survived for so long.”

  “It’s served me well for the last ten centuries,” said Count Valgus.

  “So the Helian split, Wildborn, and some type of new humanoid. They may all be related.”

  Count Valgus tilted his head. “Perhaps. The Wildborn enclaves that exist are small and generally not active in global affairs. They also keep to themselves, similar to me. I do not suspect they are involved in this from what I have seen. However … there have been whispers of the rift doors being involved. If that is true … then the possibility of Outsider involvement is more likely. The Helians would know, but they would never tell anyone if the rift doors were active.”

  “The rift doors were to be secured. Are you suggesting they are active?” asked Evaran.