Demon Hunt: Shadow Stalker Novella, #1

By Renee Scattergood

"Demon Hunt, a Shadow Stalker prequel Novella, by Renee Scattergood, is a must read for Shadow Stalker fans, as well as all readers of fantasy. Scattergood writes an entertaining novella with strong characters dealing with unique problems. Full of adventure, Demon Hunt hooks the reader from the start, holding them until the end." 
~ Debra Mauldin, Blogger and Author 

"Renee Scattergood has outdone herself once again, by bringing a new direction into the Shadow Stalker series with her prequel novella, Demon Hunt. Scattergood shows a deep connection to this world of her creation, allowing her readers to stand side by side with Kado and Auren as they face a Demon from the shadow world." 
~ KJ Hawkins, Author of the Tales of Ferres Series

Auren longs for adventure and a break from her tedious life on Appolia. It’s the start of summer, and she is looking forward to her yearly camping trip with her foster father, Kado. She believes these trips are for fun, but when they arrive on Luten Isle, Kado informs her that she is a shadow stalker, and she is in training.

One morning, Auren decides to take her training into her own hands. She only means to practice seeing the veil to the shadow world, the world of the shadow people and the source of their power. Instead, she opens the veil releasing a demon, a guardian of the shadow world, into the physical world.

With the deadly beast loose, she and Kado don’t have long to hunt it down and return it to where it belongs, or many innocent people could die.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Renee Scattergood
• Release date: Dec 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781519986191

Renee Scattergood

Renee Scattergood lives in Australia with her husband, Nathan, and daughter, Taiya. She has always been a fan of fantasy and was inspired to become a story-teller by George Lucas, but didn't start considering writing down her stories until she reached her late twenties. Now she enjoys writing dark fantasy. She is currently publishing her monthly Shadow Stalker serial, and she has published a prequel novella to the series called, Demon Hunt. She is also working on a new series of novels, Savior of the Serpent Isles. The first book, The Galvadi Invasion, is due to be released mid-2016. Aside from writing, she loves reading (Fantasy, of course), watching movies with her family, and doing crafts and science experiments with her daughter. Find out more about her, and sign up for her newsletter for a free copy of Shadow Stalker Part 1 (Episodes 1 – 6): http://reneescattergood.com

Book preview

Chapter 1

AUREN TRASK LAUGHED as her friend fell back into the sofa, arms open wide, as if sinking blissfully into a billowy cloud. Jade Tobin wasn’t usually overly dramatic, but she seemed to be making an exception in this case.

We’re free for the summer, she said, then promptly spat out the long golden strands of her hair that had worked their way into her mouth.

You're free, Auren corrected, waving a piece of paper in her friend's face. I have to pack for my camping trip with Kado.

Jade took the note and read aloud:

Auren,

As soon as you get home, pack your things and leave them by the door. I want to have the hydrocar packed by this evening. We are leaving first thing in the morning.

Kado

P.S. Jade, go home.

She groaned. How does he know?

Probably because you're always here at the start of every weekend and holiday. Auren plucked the note out of Jade's hand, and not for the first time, noticed the stark difference between her dark olive tone and her friend's paleness. Most Appolians had light hair and skin, not to mention the blue eyes, but she wasn't from Appolia. She didn't know where she was from. Whenever she asked, her foster father, Kado, would tell her she'd been born in a distant land, but he would never say where. Worse, she noticed anytime she pressed him for answers, she would realize later she’d walked away from the conversation, forgetting what she had been talking about. She had even mentioned the fact to him once, and the only response she received was a shrug and a list of chores that needed doing.

I wish we could spend our summers together, Jade said, sighing wistfully.

Just as Auren was about to start her cheer up speech, her friend shifted to the edge of the sofa, her face brightening. Auren grew wary. That look often meant trouble.

Maybe if you begged Kado, he'd let you come skiing with me and my family.

Not that Auren would have minded spending her summer with Jade, but going from cold weather to colder weather wasn't her idea of fun. Appolia was an island set in the far north. It was freezing most of the year, and the rest of the year it was only less cold than in the winter. They didn't have warm summers like some of the islands to the south. It was common for people in the warmer climates to take summer ski holidays in the snowy Appolian Mountains to escape the heat. There was always snow here.

Besides, she didn't mind her camping trips with Kado. It was the only time she ever had fun with him. Normally he kept her busy with lessons after school. He insisted she learned land and sea navigation, self-defense and other crazy things a girl her age had no use for. During the summer, they always had amazing adventures. It was the one thing she looked forward to every year.

As fun as that sounds, Auren said, making a face that suggested she didn't find it fun at all. There's just something wrong with the idea of skiing in the summer. I want to go somewhere warm.

You have no sense of adventure. Jade folded her arms over her chest, sticking out her bottom lip.

What’s so thrilling about sliding down a mountain on skis when you can climb one instead?

She tapped her chin, pretending to consider it. Sounds like too much work.

Auren rolled her eyes. Kado will be home from work soon, and he'll be annoyed if I'm not packed. Want to help?

Sure.

Jade followed Auren to her room on the second floor. It was a small room compared to Jade's. Her family was wealthy, and she had a room as large as the entire upper floor of Kado's house. Auren liked her bedroom though. It was her space. She could do whatever she wanted with it, and she did. During her last break from school she had painted the walls in sea green and lavender stripes, her two favorite colors. Pictures of her friends and her personal drawings covered them. Most of her drawings depicted dreams she had as a child. Kado frowned whenever he saw them, but he never said anything. A dresser with a mirror took up the space across from her bed, and the adjacent wall held shelves loaded with fantasy novels. It was the only place she could be herself and just be free.

She opened the window to get some fresh air, and the scent of homemade bread made her stomach rumble. The neighbor was baking again. 

Can you grab my backpack out of the closet? Auren asked as she pulled clothes out of her drawers.

Why do you use this beat up thing? It looks older than my grandmother. Jade said, tossing it on the bed.

Kado gave it to me when I was little. I've been everywhere with it. It wouldn't feel right going camping without it.

Auren handed Jade her clothes, who meticulously refolded them and placed them into the backpack. Sometimes her friend's need for perfection and order reminded her of Kado. She was good at making everything fit into the bag though. Something Auren couldn't do. When she packed, she was stuffing things in by the end just to get it to fit. A couple changes of clothes, her brush and toothbrush were all she could fit when her blanket took up half the bag. Kado wouldn't let her bring anything more than she could fit in the backpack because they never stayed in one place. They did their washing every couple of days anyway, so she didn’t need to pack much.

Jade packed the toiletries, and zipping the backpack said, That should do it.

Wait, one more thing. Auren handed her a book.

Jade's eyebrows lifted. Land of the Emperor Dragon? Really? If you keep reading this stuff it'll rot your brain.

It's better than that romance crap you read.

Jade pretended to faint and sprawled herself across the bed, and Auren hit her with the pillow.

Auren, I'm home, Kado called from downstairs.

Just finishing up my packing. She threw her pillow back onto the bed and shoved the book into her backpack, zipping it closed. Throwing the backpack over her shoulder, she waved for Jade to follow her and headed downstairs.

Her friend hesitated, probably reluctant to face Kado after he had told her to go home in the letter.

He won’t care, Auren told her.

Sure, he won’t, she said, but followed.

Kado watched them with narrow eyes as they descended the stairs. Well, hello Jade. Why am I not surprised to see you're still here?

His height and broad muscles gave him the appearance of a giant, an effect accentuated by the fact that had he been an inch taller, he’d have to walk hunched over. Jade stopped several steps before reaching the bottom.

Hello, sir. I couldn't possibly leave without seeing you off on your summer holiday. Her smile was mischievous, but Auren could tell she was nervous.

It’s good to see you, Jade, he said, returning the smile.

Her shoulders dropped noticeably while she let out a breath she had been holding, and she descended the rest of the steps. It’s good to see you too, Sir.

Do your parents know you're here?

She bit her lip and stared off for a moment. Come to think of it? No, they don't.

Well, you should probably get home then. Kado waved his hand toward the front door.

Jade nodded and Auren walked with her, but