Shadow Grove: Shadow Grove Series Book 1

By Lacey Edward

What would you do if you turned 18 and found out you were a witch?

Ariel Temple is leading a perfectly normal existence. She does well in school and mostly keeps to herself. She lives with her father and wonders why they have never visited her grandfather, even though they speak to him every week on the phone.

When her grandfather suddenly dies, Ariel and her father must travel to Shadow Grove to settle his affairs. Shadow Grove holds many, many secrets, not the least of which is what really happened to Ariel's mother and why her grandfather left her a powerful amulet before he died.

When she finds out she is a witch, Ariel has some decisions to make. But first, who can she trust...the mysterious man who appears in her dreams or the recluse whom her father clearly despises?

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Asselin Group Online Publisher
• Release date: Oct 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781524274191

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Shadow Grove

Shadow Grove Series Book 1

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Shadow Grove Series Book 1:

Shadow Grove

Table of Contents

Shadow Grove

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

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Prologue

The night was still with silence. The scent of blood had been carried away by the listless winds, leaving behind the still lingering scent of fear. Diona moved quickly through the forests, aware that a million different eyes, large and small, were following her progress. The animals sensed everything, but they were no danger to her. They were only silent witnesses, privy to secrets that were best left hidden.

Diona, a voice whispered urgently behind her.

Be quiet, Diona hissed as James’s silhouette came into view.

What’s happening? James asked dropping his voice.

Something is wrong, Diona replied, her eyes darting between the trees.

James’s expression instantly clouded over. What do you mean?

There is dark magic in the air tonight, Diona replied, the scent of it tickled her nostrils.

Dark magic... James replied, looking around as though he could catch it.

In time you will be able to sense it too, Diona, told him, reminding him that she was still his teacher. But for now... go back to the Shadow Castle.

James expression crystallized into one of stubborn determination. I’m staying with you.

James! Diona said warningly.

If there is dark magic here, then there’s a chance you’ll be in danger. You will need my help. 

I can handle this, Diona said firmly. Go back the way we came.

He stood his ground and Diona sensed his resolve would not fade easily. She didn’t have time to convince him; so instead, she sighed in frustration and took a step towards him threateningly.

You will do exactly as I say, Diona said, her nose barely two inches from his own. Agreed?

Agreed, James conceded.

Diona nodded and turned her back to him; she could feel him shadow her footsteps as she made her way into the outskirts of town through the forest. There was a mist that hung around them when Diona finally stepped out from under the dark canopy of trees. She could just barely see the lines of the old library from where she stood; it was encased in oppressive shadows, completely devoid of light.

James seemed to notice this too, The library... Sam usually has some lights on...

He trailed off when he caught sight of Diona’s face.

Where is your amulet? Diona asked forcefully.

James looked down hurriedly; he pulled out a long silver chain from underneath his shirt. It held an intricate pentacle at its heart. 

Good, Diona nodded at him. Stay close to me.

They started walking towards the library. Diona could sense the dark magic in the air. It reverberated around her, an oppressive heat that was both claustrophobic and grating. Diona stood outside the entrance of the ancient library. She whispered under her breath the words that would reveal another presence, human or otherwise. She felt the shiver that her spell sent, flutter through the air. All remained silent.

Diona approached the entrance to the library. It was closed but not locked, and she and James slipped in cautiously. Before Diona’s eyes had even adjusted to the darkness, she knew what had happened; she knew what she would find.

Turn the lights on, she commanded, in her normal register, knowing that there was no living being in the library apart from them. There’s no one here anymore.

As light flooded the space, it illuminated the impressive collection of books that had taken centuries to collect. On either side of Diona, the walls were hidden behind bookcases that spanned their length. In front of her were two identical wooden staircases that led up towards another story of books. Between the staircases, there stood a large and impressive desk, Samuel’s desk. Nothing appeared to have been disturbed.

Sam? James called into the silence.

He can’t hear you James, Diona said as gently as she was able under the circumstances.

James walked around behind the large desk, and came to a standstill, his eyes glazing over. Diona followed him. The body lay on the ground, almost peacefully; he could have almost been asleep.

He’s dead, James said quietly.

Diona bent down, whispering under her breath, as she placed her palms over Samuel’s body and moved them along the length of him, without ever touching the body.

Heart attack, she whispered, mostly to herself.

He died of a heart attack? Samuel asked.

Diona shook her head, That’s what they’ll say he died of.

So it’s dark magic?

Without a doubt, Diona replied. We have to go.

She went back outside with James on her heels.

Where are we going? James asked in obvious confusion.

Back to the Shadow Castle, Diona replied. The Queen must be informed.

The Queen? James said incredulously.

Diona ignored him, as she sped through the forest.

Will I get to meet her? James asked, almost shyly.

You are not a member of the coven yet, Diona replied. You will not meet the Queen until the day you are initiated.

When will that be?

When you are ready, Diona replied.

She knew she was being cryptic, but the real answer was far too complicated. Magic was beautiful, but it was also dangerous and difficult. There was a lot more to learn, before James would be ready to join their coven. They finally reached the borders of the Shadow Castle; Diona could feel the energy of all the protective enchantments that surrounded it. They were enchantments that protected the manor and all those within it from dark creatures and human beings alike.

Inside, Diona turned to James, Go to your quarters.

James hesitated, Can’t I meet –

Go! Diona said. Now!

James turned and went, disappointment etched plainly across his face. Once she was alone, Diona followed the path that led to the Queen’s quarters. She opened the door without knocking and walked in.

Diona? a strong voice called from the corner of the room. You’re back from your night’s training already? How is our young protégé doing?

The lesson had to be postponed.

What happened? her voice was urgent.

Diona tried to steady her voice before speaking, He’s dead.

There was a heartbeat of silence.

No.

I’m sorry –

NO!

The large full-length mirror in the corner of the room shattered, flying off in a million different directions. Diona shielded her eyes against the little shards of glass.

How!

Dark magic, Diona replied.

He was protected! I made sure of it!

This could have been random, Diona suggested. A coincidence.

Regardless, we are taking the necessary precautions.

It was a command. Diona bent her head in deference, Yes my queen.

Diona left the room; she felt a wave of uncertainty and fear sweep through her body as she prepared to inform the rest of the coven. Queens were the fearless coven leaders. They were witches imbued with greater strength and intuition. They never flinched, never hesitated. And yet, Diona had looked into the eyes of her Queen today, and she had seen a caged animal looking back at her. Fear was everywhere. The first part of the prophecy had been fulfilled.

It was beginning.

Chapter One

Ariel?

Ariel marked the page, set aside the book and hurried downstairs. Ethan stood leaning against the kitchen sink, wearing a harrowed expression that Ariel knew well. He was only thirty-eight years old, and still, Ariel could make out a few grey hairs creeping into his temples.

Hi Dad, she greeted, casting him a concerned glance. What’s wrong?

Ethan sighed, I lost my job.

Again? Ariel said before she could stop herself. She cringed, kicking herself internally, Sorry.

Don’t be, Ethan replied. You’re right. I can’t believe this keeps happening. I’m a grown man who can’t hold a job for more than a year.

Ariel joined Ethan by the sink, leaning into his shoulder. You’ll find another job. You always do.

What’s the point though? Ethan said in frustration. I’ll lose it within the next year.

Maybe you should stop being so negative all the time? Ariel suggested casually. That might be what’s holding you back.

Oh, Ariel, Ethan said, his tone growing more frustrated. Not this again.

Hey, you can’t prove that stuff doesn’t exist – energy, karma, magic, whatever you want to call it, it’s out there.

Ethan rolled his eyes at her, You read too much, you know that?

Ariel rolled her eyes right back at him, I’m telling you, the world is much more complicated than we think. It probably has tons of secrets that we don’t know about.

And one of these secrets explains my constant state of unemployment? Ethan asked sarcastically.

It could.

Let’s cook one of those frozen pizzas, Ethan suggested, changing the subject.

Ariel dropped it, as she moved towards the fridge. Once she had taken the deep dish pizza from the freezer and placed it on the oven rack, she joined Ethan at the table. He was staring down at his fingers, lost in worry. Ariel reached out and took one of his hands in her own.

We’ll get by dad, she said gently. We always do.

Ethan sighed, We get by... but barely. And if it weren’t for your grandfather we wouldn’t be able to manage that either.

Grandpa loves to help, Ariel reminded Ethan. Did you return his call?

I tried this morning, Ethan replied. There was no answer. He must have been busy.

As they sat down to their dinner, Ariel wondered for perhaps the millionth time why her father was so against the idea of going back to his hometown. Her grandfather still lived there and she knew how much Ethan loved him. So it was baffling to Ariel why he was so unwilling to make even the shortest visit back there. She suspected that it had something to do with his brother’s death, which had happened just before her birth, but she could not be sure. When it came to Shadow Grove, Ethan was uncharacteristically closed off.

Ethan had been very young when Ariel was born, and it had been just the two of them for eighteen years. They had a unique and open father-daughter relationship, but when it came to his hometown, Ethan was reserved and tight-lipped. This was especially hard for Ariel given her curiosity about it. Shadow Grove. Even the name sent tendrils of excitement down her spine, as though it was an indicator of the secrets the town was privy to.

Ethan had always said that Ariel had an over-active imagination, but the honest answer was that Ariel’s imagination had more to do with loneliness than fancifulness. She had never been able to make friends easily, and in identifying this early in her childhood, Ariel had substituted friends for books.

How was school? Ethan asked, breaking the silence at the table.

Ariel shrugged, We started Romeo and Juliet today.

You love Shakespeare, Ethan pointed out.

I do, Ariel replied. But I’ve already read Romeo and Juliet. I would have been happier if we could have started on Macbeth.

You’ve read Macbeth far more times than Romeo and Juliet, Ethan stated.

True, but it’s the kind of story that doesn’t get old, Ariel explained.

Ethan smiled, What’s so great about it?

The three witches, Ariel replied promptly.

Ariel didn’t miss the slightly sour expression that flashed across her father’s face. It was only a split second, but she caught it. The up side to having no friends was that Ariel had learned to be observant.

Why do you hate the supernatural so much? Ariel asked, trying not to sound accusatory.

Ethan shrugged, I just prefer to spend my time in the real world, surrounded by normal people, doing normal things.

Sounds boring, Ariel said.

Ethan smiled, Exactly. Life is hard enough without adding magic to the mix.

Ariel decided to change the subject, "So I know we just passed my eighteenth birthday, but I realized that there was actually something that I