Through the Mortal Veil

By Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis and Karen Fuller

From the moment their parents moved them into the ancient relic of a house, Indigo Thornberg finds herself in a world beyond her worst imaginations. The wallpaper walls and clawfoot bathtub makes it clear the house was built long before the beginning of time. Their house isn’t even wired for the internet! To top it off her room is—pink! Like bubblegum pink, the pale pasty kind that ballerina girls would die for, but not Indigo. And while that might seem like the worst thing that could happen to a goth girl like herself, something even worse is lurking in the shadows.

The only thing that makes the move bearable is the fact that her twin brother Crow is just as miserable as she is. The moment the teens turn sixteen, their lives take a bizarre turn as a dormant magic awakes within them. They are called to the one place that keeps them safe from the things that go bump in the night: the mortal veil.

As they slip through the veil, they find that their destiny awaits on the other side. They must find a way to close the veil to keep their world safe from the evil that wishes to destroy it. Never one to back down from a challenge, Indigo is prepared to take on the trials ahead of her, but Hevexa is filled with dangers in all shapes and sizes, monsters that exist outside of her wildest imagination.

Will they be able to restore the veil before the monsters of Hevexa take over their world? Or would they lose themselves to the darkness on the other side?

• Language: English
• Publisher: World Castle Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Apr 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781949812510

Erik Daniel Shein

Erik Daniel Shein was born Erik Daniel Stoops, November 18th 1966. He is an American writer, and Visionary, film producer, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, and philanthropist, Pet enthusiast and animal health advocate. He is the author and co-authored of over 30 nonfiction and fiction books whose writings include six scientific articles in the field of herpetology. His children’s book, “The Forgotten Ornament” is a Christmas classic, and was endorsed by Hollywood legends Mickey and Jan Rooney.

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1.pngA person posing for a picture Description automatically generated

Through the Mortal Veil

by

Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis & Karen Fuller

Through the Mortal Veil is part of the Thornbergs universe and its related characters and are trademarks and registered trademarks of Erik Shein and Arkwatch Holdings LLC. All rights reserved. Erik Shein is the creator the Thornbergs universe.

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World Castle Publishing, LLC

Pensacola, Florida

Copyright© 2019 Shein Partnership, LLC

Authors Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis & Karen Fuller

Smashwords Edition

Hardback ISBN: 9781949812498

Paperback ISBN: 9781949812503

eBook ISBN: 9781949812510

World Castle Publishing, LLC, April 15, 2019

http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com

Smashwords Licensing Notes

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of World Castle Publishing and Erik Daniel Shein, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to Erik Daniel Shein, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator at the email address below:

ArkWatch Holdings LLC

[e-mail]

Cover: Cover Designs by Karen

Editor: Maxine Bringenberg

Chapter 1

A pungent aroma wafted through the air, making Indigo choke in gasping breaths of air. Crow! Gahhh!

What? Her twin brother shrugged his shoulders at her as if he had no idea what her problem was. Yet, she was fairly certain he knew exactly what she was talking about.

If you don’t put your shoes back on, I’m going to cram them down your throat, she threatened him. As if being stuck in an overpacked van for days wasn’t enough torture. He had to go throw in those nasty corn chip toes. Indigo was ready to puke. If she wasn’t worried about being pelted in the face with suicidal bugs, she’d open the window. Yesterday she’d opened her window and almost swallowed a bug. She gagged in reflex as she thought about the poor helpless bug who had the misfortune of hitting the wind tunnel that surrounded their car. It literally sucked it into the van like some evil vortex. And while she had pity for the creature, it was certainly something she did not want to repeat in her lifetime. She rubbed the outside of her throat and tried to shut those thoughts out of her head.

Of course, Crow had laughed at her so hard he had started choking on the spit in his throat. That had almost been worth it until his spasms made him cut the cheese. And let’s face it, cutting the cheese was putting it politely because his gas was definitely worse than any cheese she had ever smelt before. It was like the worst smelling cheese multiplied by infinity with a little bit of rotten garbage added into the equation somewhere. Flatulence was nothing to joke about in her family. Not with a ripe teenage boy in the mix. At least she didn’t have to share a room with him. She wasn’t sure she could tolerate his foul odors. It was a good thing he didn’t participate in sports. Rank with reek simply would not be a good combination in any world.

It was never a dull moment for the Thornberg family, that was for sure. Crow was lucky he was still alive at this point. Their mother was starting to lose her patience with them—not that it bothered Indigo. She was still mad at her for making them leave her friends behind. They had lived there forever, it seemed. It had been the only home Indigo had ever known, and they were being relocated on a whim. Well, okay, maybe not a whim. It was something her father had worked for, Indigo did understand that. It was just hard to have the adults make all the important decisions for them. She couldn’t wait until she could make those decisions for herself. Would it have stung less had they been included? Maybe. Maybe not. The outcome would have been inevitable, of course. So Indigo had to settle for her subtle payback of teenage angst mixed with obstinate refusal to find the silver lining at all.

Crow started to wiggle his toes at her as if taunting her with his foul appendages. Gritting her teeth together, Indigo gagged as the air vents wafted the foul odor to her nostrils. She suddenly felt like retching but refused to let him win. Her hands moved closer to his shoes and prepared for her attack.

I dare you. He crossed his arms over his chest and moved his right foot onto her leg as if to punctuate the gauntlet he was tossing down between them.

Gross! Indigo grabbed his foot and pinched the arch. She took great comfort when he howled in pain. That would serve him right for being such a butthead.

Indi! Let go! Crow wiggled, trying to gain control over his foot.

Not ‘til you say it. Her fingers were like a hermit crab as she latched on to his foot. While she realized her fingers would be covered with the foul stench, she was locked in to her attack. There was no turning back now.

No way! He yanked his foot, but she would not let go.

Fine. Have it your way. She ran a hand up his leg and grabbed some of his leg hair, ready to pull it out. Twisting a few in her fingers, she grinned maliciously. Say it, or I start plucking.

Ok, ok, Uncle! Crow held his hands up in front of him. His face was covered in defeat.

You two all right back there? Pandora Thornberg called back to her children.

No!

Yes!

Indigo rolled her eyes at her brother as she dropped his foot before her mother could catch her in action. She decided to go old school and phone it into the only person that could get him to listen. Crow thinks his toes need to go commando.

Is that what I’m smelling? I thought the dog had indigestion again. For the love of…. She paused and considered her words. Crow, put your socks and shoes on.

Or what? You’ll turn this car around? Crow grumbled.

Cromwell Alistair Thornberg, if you don’t do what I say this instant, I will take all your electronic devices and this week’s allowance. The short, curt voice told both of them their mother was not in the mood to put up with any of their antics right now. The tension could be seen from there. Her long black hair was pulled back so tight behind her head, her blue eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head. Then again, that could just be the tension from picking up her life and starting over in a new place. Pandora had agreed to follow her husband to Wisconsin and had easily found a job for herself. Her skills at botany had served her well everywhere they moved.

Fine, grumbled Crow. He ran a hand through his jet-black spikes and shook his head. He reached down and held up his socks in one hand, then used the other hand to wave some of the stench Indigo’s way as he stuck his tongue out at her. When his tongue tasted the air, he quickly pulled it back into his mouth as his face turned a little green.

Ignoring the smell, Indigo snickered into her hand. She pulled out your full name.

Shut it, Indigo. He glared at her with his ice blue eyes that often made him look like a vampire with his pale complexion. I hate when she does that.

I’m pretty sure she’s aware. She scrunched her nose up at her brother.

While he often annoyed her to no end, there was no other person she would rather be stuck here with. Crow knew her better than she knew herself at times. He may rattle her nerves from time to time, but she gave as good as she got. And while they fought like most siblings, there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for him, which explained the last three detentions she’d earned from sucker punching one of the football players that was trying to get her brother in a corner. Had she done any real damage to him, she would probably have been suspended. The boy had downplayed her impact in an effort to not lose any face around his friends.

How much longer until we make it to Nowheresville? Crow called up to his mother.

Two hours, give or take. Your father is already there with the moving van. Pandora’s voice seemed weary. It was clear the drive was starting to take its toll on her.

Indigo crossed her arms and looked out the window. This had been the move that never seemed to end. They had left California four days ago, breaking the thirty hour drive up so they didn’t go completely stir crazy. If it had been up to her, they would have just flown there, but her parents had not wanted to pay extra to have their vehicles transported. Indigo never understood why her mother worried about money so much. Both her parents had pretty successful careers. Maybe that was just what adults did, worry about everything. Indigo was glad she only had to worry about herself and the occasional annoyance that her brother tossed her way.

Indigo saw the powerlines pass by one after another, and was almost in a trance from the boredom of watching them. She tried to count them, but whenever she got to twenty, it seemed like she missed the next one and had to start all over again. Definitely the most boring road trip in the history of all road trips. It would have been a lot more fun if her mother had let one of them drive. At the tail end of fifteen, they did already have their permits now. That would change soon enough. Next week, actually. June thirteenth, which unfortunately was not on a Friday this year. Instead, boring old Wednesday would be the day it fell on. Too bad she wouldn’t let them drive now. Their mom had tried to tell them it wasn’t their driving she was worried about, but the other drivers on the road. Indigo was having trouble believing that. Looking over at her brother, she knew exactly what her mother had been worried about. Crow had a need for speed that made him act like an idiot.

He stuck his tongue out at her. Do not.

Stop it!

She hated it when he read her mind. This was one of the perks of being a twin, the only one they had since they weren’t identical. If they had been, there would have been a lot more pranks played on their parents when they were younger. Trading places would have been second nature. Instead, they were able to pass secrets to each other without anyone else knowing. Which was probably why they were never put in the same classes, just in case they were tempted to cheat.

Make me.

Ooooh! You! Indigo shoved earbuds in her ears and cranked up something loud enough to tune any of his words or thoughts out. The emo music only made her mixed-up emotions even darker than usual. Crow was pushing every single one of her buttons today.

When her father accepted his new position at the University of Wisconsin, Indigo almost lost her mind. Her father was a well-known zoologist who was now making waves on the academic level rather than working in the field. She was glad he would be home more often. It was just that home shouldn’t be over two thousand miles from where her heart was. San Diego had been the only home she had ever known. While she didn’t have many friends, the only ones she had were still back there. They all had history, the time had already been put in. Indigo did not feel like rebooting her social skills and making new ones.

She still remembered when her father had first told them. At first, Crow had started laughing because he thought their dad was playing a joke on them. Indigo had turned around and stomped off, ready to throw something heavy at her wall. That was her move lately. Stomp away and slam a door. It may not change anything, but sometimes it made her feel better, especially when she couldn’t find the words to express her emotions without getting herself grounded from her phone.

A drop of drool landed on her shoulder. Eww! Dingus! The mastiff slurped her face, smothering her with more slime. Indigo held her hand up to try to block his massive tongue from her mouth and squinted in reflex. Sit, Dingus! Indigo took her earbuds out and glared at Crow. Can you control your beast?

Crow reached back and scratched the dog under his chin. Good boy, Dingus. Don’t worry, I’ll feed you some of her shoes later.

You better not. Indigo glared at him and held a fist up threateningly.

What are you going to do, give me a noogie? He shook his head.

No, I’ll just let Crimson get you.

His eyebrow arched, and he tilted his head at her. You wouldn’t.

Upon hearing her name, the calico cat mewed from her cage. She sounded pathetic right now, but when she was out of the carrier, that cat would be a hellion. Indigo had trained her to climb up her brother on command, usually poking her nails into his skin as she went. Since the Thornbergs did not believe in declawing cats, all Crimson’s nails were razor sharp.

I’ll make sure she knows where you sleep.

Crow snapped his fingers. Sit, Dingus.

Thought so. Indigo put her earbuds back in her ears and took a deep breath as she wiped the rest of the dog’s saliva off her face.

Closing her eyes, Indigo willed the time to pass. If only it worked that way. Two more hours until they finally saw the house their parents had picked out for them. She only hoped it had wireless Internet and at least two bathrooms. If they had to share one, she’d never get a shower. He may not look it, but Crow could spend an hour in the bathroom as he tried to make his hair defy gravity. She was still trying to figure out how he had not ruined his hair with the amount of hair product he used in it every day. And everyone said it was the female population that took too long getting ready.

Well, at least I don’t have purple hair. The whisper came through her mind like most of their hidden messages.

Diva, she sent back to him.

Drama queen!

As if!

She glared at him. Indigo tugged on her hair self-consciously and rolled her eyes at him. So what, she liked color. Was there something wrong with that? Her long hair was purple and black, something that took hours to create and a lot of effort to keep up.

Crow looked as if he were about to take his shoes off again. Indigo waved her hands in defeat and turned away from him. Cranking up the tunes, she closed her eyes. Her mouth was clamped so tight her teeth were almost grinding. Taking a deep breath, she told herself that maybe this would just be temporary. Maybe her father would hate his job, and they could return home.

She sighed softly. Like that was going to happen. Talon Thornberg was not one to back down from a challenge, no matter the cost. The twins had taken after him in that aspect, which was probably why they fought with each other so much.

It’s going to be fine. Crow must have read her mind again.

It better be. Indigo looked over at him and saw commiseration on his face.

It will.

Indigo shook her head and fought the urge to reach for his hand. It was something they had done when they were small children. Their mother said they used to hold hands in the womb, but she wasn’t sure that was even possible. No matter how much he annoyed her, they were still in this together. She nodded at him and gave him a small smile.

She turned away and looked out the window again. All she could see was green grass for miles and miles. Where were the shopping malls? The movie theatres? Hopefully, Madison was more populated than this stretch of highway. It didn’t matter. They would be stuck there regardless.

Chapter 2

Two hours seemed to be an eternity. Indigo had settled for texting back and forth with her friend Laurel. She was the only lifeline Indigo had left. Laurel had been her friend since the beginning of time. Laurel knew her better than anyone else besides her brother. The fact that Laurel was filling her in on something that happened at the summer school session made her suddenly wish summer had never started. She could be back with her friends, living a regular life. What kind of regular life could she have now? Slab City may not have been the more popular part of California, but at least it wasn’t way out in cheese country. Indigo shuddered. She didn’t even care for cheese. What would she do if they tossed cheese on everything? Would she have to wear a cheese head for a hat? She’d seen a few of those on TV before.

Her thoughts started to run away with her, and she did the best she could to minimize them, but they were growing like an ink stain on a white shirt, hard to get out once it started to set in. As they finally took the exit off the highway, Indigo tried not to let her nerves get the best of her. Not knowing where they would stop, she looked at every house along the way. There was no telling where their house was. Out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by a pasture of cows? The suspense was making her stomach flip like an irritating acrobat who might have had one too many energy drinks.

She never understood why her parents hadn’t shown them the house before. Or had they? Maybe they had, and she had refused to look? She hadn’t exactly been ecstatic about moving here. Big surprise, there. Maybe she should have taken more an interest in it all. Then she could at least prepare for the inevitable. A sense of impending doom hung over her. She could see her brother felt much the same way. The two of them were of the same mind as far as this move was concerned. No matter how irritated or annoyed they were at