Shadows In Light: Book One of The Hidden Rims Saga

By P. M. Amaras and Paul Driggere

A Reader's Favorite 5-star Book

Sexy and dark, glimmering, and forbidding, their desire transcends worlds. However, a serial killer from Earth-Prime stalks the magical environs of Nysi Afallon. As the body count keeps rising, Maia Anemois, a quiet, reserved, and brilliant would-be-detective from "The E," is recruited to tr

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scribes Unlimited
• Release date: Aug 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781087975757

Book preview

Prologue

Running. From…something. Cast in dark shadows, relentless and hunting. The sound, like shuffling leaves, unremitting, echoed all around her.

Earlier, she dazzled at a grand Royal Gala thrown to benefit victims of crime. She worked her enchantments to get an invitation and hired the best escort in town to accompany her. When he arrived in his hot, blood-red sports car, she felt thrilled. He was tall, handsome without being boyish, and dashing.

Beguiled by his smile, she overlooked his mixte-heritage with its too much human and hardly any unhuman qualities. Such exotic eye candy. He brought her the most fantastic faedust ever. So much better than anything her clients gave her, increasing her sense of self and her pleasure exponentially. She vowed to remember this escort and hire him often.

Her gown, a spectacular black satin and velvet showered with the sparkle of a thousand diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds. Her hair flowed in cascading curls, which took hours to arrange. With a matching bracelet, an emerald necklace sparkled around her neck, contrasting dark green fire with the purples of her hair. Her face remained a mask of perfection - the envy of all her friends.

She aimed to be the most talked-about woman at the Justice Gala, succeeding beyond her wildest dreams. Her triumph complete, and between dust and her joy, she soared.

After her escort dropped her at home, she remained outside for a few moments enjoying the night air, plotting her next move in her climb to the pinnacle of society.

She was lost in thought and unaware the atmosphere changed. Then she saw it, shadowed and terrifying. It came from nowhere, stalking her.

Darkness blocked her way into the house.

Her path led into the woods behind. She ran through them, now suddenly unfamiliar.

Twigs caught at her gown and jewels flew off, scattering a trail of glittering breadcrumbs. She made her way towards the river, hoping to find the merfolk, or being part undine herself, hide safely in the water until the danger passed. Instead, she inadvertently turned back, heading further into the forest.

It followed her, inexorable and silent as a tomb. She stumbled and fell, sensing she would never rise again.

Her screams shattered the silence of the night.

Several hours later, detectives, forensics, and pathologists descended on the brutal crime scene. Parts of Miraquoa Willowtrees were scattered everywhere – and not merely the jewels and things that fell or tore as she fled. The violence of the crime contrasted with the beautiful, peaceful stone cottage nestled in the small woods. A crooked path led down to the sparkling tributary connected to the river surrounding the city-state. Blood stained the walkway, pooling at the edge of the water.

Captain Lord Aidan Eurus felt overdressed as he supervised the rest of his team processing the scene. He’d left that same gala at Court to go home when the call came in the pre-dawn morning.

Lord Justice sat in Aidan’s sports car, directing all activity. Not that he wanted to. An outstanding investigator in his own right, he understood the Summer Queen’s insistence that as few people as possible put a face to the title. Since secrets were part of his life even from before his birth, what was another one? However, separating his two identities still irritated him.

What’s to your left? Can your magisight catch anything? he asked his brother through a protected holophone.

Aidan walked around the body, holding up the holophone. Willowtrees had been a beautiful woman hours before at the annual Justice Gala.  Her reputation usually made her a pariah – even to those in the business of defending the worst of the worst. Known for defending the faedust dealers, gangers, and traffickers among the sex, dust, and seedier trades of Nysi Afallon, Willowtress longed for acceptance among her legal peers.

He took off his glove, grasped her ankle, and closed his eyes, trying to grab her last memory synapses. Sorry, Kai, not enough of her left to read. She’s been dead too long. His best chance of seeing a victim’s last moments dissipated within an hour of death.

Aidan witnessed Willowtrees’ behavior throughout the evening. Her escort looked increasingly uncomfortable as the gala continued. Willowtrees regaled anyone who would listen with raunchy tales of her clients. Her skills at manipulating the system got them out of jail time, into rehab, and back out on the streets.

Aidan signaled for the forensics team. Another painting - and some knit cloth too. He shut off the projection video on his holo-cell, watching the team bag the item. I know she was disgusting… but she didn’t deserve this.

No one does. Is it the same style?

The painting? It’s like the others. Aidan dispassionately waited as the EMTs placed an inertia spell on the remains of Miraquoa Willowtrees before loading her into their morgue conveyance.

A team of horses stood nearby. One of them seemed spooked, which seemed odd. These animals witnessed the worst sites. One horse kept scraping its hoof at the ground near a bush where the strange painting lay hidden. Aidan took an image of the spot, planning to examine it later.

Aidan, Lord Justice’s low voice rumbled. Obtain all the security footage from the ball last night. News footage, photos, whatever. I’m going back to Court and ask the Royal Guard. Can you get a ride?

"Sure, no problem. Meet me at the Caer to go over what we have. I want to check out a couple of ideas. I still think we need to bring someone else into this. It goes against non-interference E-ban, but the prognosticators think someone from The E can -"

Do it. I’ll clear it with the Queen. Meanwhile, I’ll get whatever I can. Meet you in an hour.

The car door eventually opened, and a tall light-haired man got out, half-dressed in fancy attire. His formal navy jacket opened over a lighter blue shirt, an untied black tie, and dress trousers. A circlet around his forehead – the last part of his official regalia – charmed his features, so no one without permission remembered his identity. He removed it, tossed it, and the jacket into the car, becoming identifiable as Lord Kai Eurus - no longer the secret Lord Justice – and Aidan’s older brother.

Kai joined his brother. I find it hard to believe any of those people at the ball tonight had time to do this. Tell the lab I want the knit checked and the results ready by the time I return. Find someone to interview the escort!

Jumping into Aidan’s car, he sped off, leaving the field team in awe that the Lord Eurus was actually there. They would always remember Kai Eurus, without a hint of Lord Justice, running the investigation, and he scared them enough.

Aidan gave them a moment to bask in Kai’s reflected glow before hustling them back to work. You heard the man! He wants results and fast!

Chapter 1: Maia

Amazing, Maia Anemois muttered. She knew the serving staff of the Chimera Cafe kept looking at her. Suddenly, they can see me. Today, when I want to be invisible, they’re all over me like hives.

People waited in line for service, with many others overcrowding the smaller tables. Maia realized they were trying diplomatically to encourage her to leave with one person occupying each corner table. She suspected they were also urging the handsome man sitting near her to depart as well.

They shouldn’t lose the eye candy.

She shook her head, realizing her cousin Jason had nailed it. She chose this coffee shop because they named the place for a mythological creature, not for the quality of its service or brews. Thinking about Jason made her miss him – particularly after yesterday’s miserable Thanksgiving, which she spent alone with the cats. Although happy that her cousin was in the Virgin Islands visiting his friends, it didn’t make being alone any easier for her.

Her tendency to live in emotional isolation hid behind a cheerful exterior. Something about her attracted confidences from total strangers yet still left her feeling detached. These confidences were distracting – and a little disturbing. She let Jason handle all the personal interactions and business matters. Sometimes, she appreciated this trust and instant friendship. She often believed she lived hidden in shadows, her life on hold.

She ignored her surroundings, calmed her center, internally pulling out all her favorite fantasies. Ever since she was young, she lost herself in books whenever she felt insecure and unloved. She dreamed King Peter of Narnia would take her away and lead her into exciting adventures. When she grew older, Peter morphed into The Lord of the Rings’ Aragorn or, in her more risqué moments, Elrond’s twin sons, Elladan and Elrohir, in an elvish ménage-a-trois. Sometimes she pretended to be ‘Ice Princess Maia’ from her uncle Ajax's stories for her. She spent half her life living in her fantasy worlds.

Often, she thought about her imaginary friend - the dark-eyed winged man, coming at night, sitting on her bed, and listening to her troubles.

Or recalling the tall, beautiful, blonde man, holding her hand, assuring her everything would be all right, and that she was safe with him. He haunted her dreams even at age seven, and though she grew older, he never changed. Something about him called to her, and often she eagerly went to bed to dream of him.

She wondered… remembering how so many of her dreams came disturbingly true. Perhaps the ones starring her dream man would also come true…

Not today, though. The hovering wait-staff pounced as soon as Maia looked up. The busiest shopping day of them all, families out doing all sorts of things.

Must be delightful, she thought, observing all the happy.

The check magically appeared as her cup vanished. She was almost ready to put up a token protest. Then two people caught her attention. Emily, her oldest friend whose family lived around the corner, waiting for a table, and the handsome man sitting alone, staring at her. It seemed odd since she hardly ever attracted any attention from the opposite sex, although her looks were stunning. Long, dark brown hair and sparkling dark eyes. She had a smooth olive complexion, which her seventh grade Home-Ec teacher told her made her look green whenever she wore yellow. Maia had lovely curves, a cheerful, open expression, and an appearance of at least fifteen years younger than her actual age. With luck, her genes would ensure her smooth skin well past one-hundred if she took after her grandmother Calista.

Maia was smart, a bit too serious, too reserved. On the surface, she seemed warm, sunny, and exceptionally kind. Her cats devoted themselves to her, and she poured her love into them. She was a competent, independent, successful woman with outstanding research and analytical skills. Yet, she could not sustain a relationship for any length of time. She often blamed Calista for her inability to connect, as her grandmother had spent years emotionally brutalizing her. She knew the family secrets would eventually haunt her.  She and Jason often speculated on what these secrets entailed. Each of them had shown unusual psychic gifts from childhood.  She could almost hear Jason laughing, We’re probably some scions of magic houses.  We’ll end up going into fantasy worlds like they do in anime. 

Some days she wished this wholeheartedly and that she’d be whisked away and –

Realizing the more she delayed, the more she became the hostile object of the waiting throng, Maia stood, gathering her check. In her periphery, she noted the handsome man on his way to the cashier. His aura of light blue indicated trustworthiness, yet the red streaks running through it revealed him to be full of energy. A twinge of excitement and interest ran down her spine. Something about him seemed tantalizingly familiar.

Before she could follow to offer a witty remark to him, Amanda Roswell, her daughter Emily and their party pushed past everyone waiting, descending on her table.

Maia. How are you, dear? I never… Amanda’s grip tightened as Maia attempted to break away, …thanked you properly for installing the wireless lines and making the airport runs.

Emily, looking embarrassed, apologized. Sorry about yesterday. I didn’t realize you were alone. I only found out today. I feel terrible she didn’t invite you. You should have just come.

She never asked.

I thought your cousins would’ve invited you, what with Jason being in the islands.

Maia grimaced. "It isn’t a gift-giving occasion. Or a funeral. Nothing for me to see."

To assure them the departed have left the building? Emily replied in BFF shorthand. She was one of the few people who understood one of Maia’s most potent gifts - seeing if the dead lingered instead of moving on.

I guess. She peeked around and didn’t see the man. She felt mildly disappointed.

Are we on for the airport on Sunday?

Sure. Absolutely.

We’ll leave at -

Amanda Roswell interrupted them, resentful of their side conversation, announcing to another member of the party, Maia is our third daughter, Ginny. She is quite indispensable to us.

And wrapped in shadows… a quiet voice whispered in her ear. She turned her head and found the eye candy from before now standing behind her. Maia smiled, indicating she heard him.

Oh! We’re blocking this gentleman’s way, Amanda squeezed her party around the table as Maia shook her head, waving goodbye.

After she walked outside, the strange man approached her, I’ve been looking for you.

Huh? She backed away. As soon as she stepped off the curb to go to her car, he took her arm.

Maia Anemois? That’s right, isn’t it?

She backed away a step. Who wants to know?

I must apologize. I’m usually not this clumsy. I selected this open, crowded place to approach you.  I didn’t want you to be concerned. I’m sorry. He offered his hand. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Aidan Eurus.

What a fine, mythic name.

Something like that. I mean you no harm. I do need to talk to you. If you feel more comfortable, I’ll give you my cell phone number. You can call me.

What’s this about?

Much too complicated to explain now.

He handed her a card. The right side featured a dark whirlwind as the spiky calligraphy read: Aidan Eurus, Nysi Afallon, and a phone number with an unusual exchange. Please call me as soon as you feel comfortable.

He bowed his head, turned, and strolled toward an expensive-looking car. As he drove away, he waved. Maia found herself waving back.

She walked to her car, a feeling of excitement bubbling up inside her.  His aura indicated he was not a danger to her. However, just what did he want of her?

Maia fingered the card but did not find any residual aura on it.  She shoved it into her pocket and headed home to cold leftovers and two cats clamoring for her attention.

Chapter 2: Travels

Aidan Eurus paced his hotel suite, furious with himself.  Why the hell didn’t I call her office and arrange a meeting?  Why did I have to scare her at that café?  Kai’s right. I act first and think later!

After the second murder, Aidan worked with the Queen’s prognost’s and the King’s magi-science experts. Both groups developed a profile of the person they needed to recruit in the E. Then, they combed the databases to identify the correct combination of mixte DNA and magical potential.  Whomever their killer was, he hailed from The E – or Earth-Prime – and the Caer needed someone who had the requisite skills to assist with the investigation. After much analysis, he found her – education, experience, and a DNA profile that fit perfectly with their needs.  Naturally, he ignored the slight pang of guilt when he saw her name and refused to consider how Kai would react.

Aidan wanted to impress his brother and prove his worth as second-in-command of Caer Justice.  Kai’s perfectionism inspired everyone to try and live up to his standards - and they rarely succeed.  He knew how Kai’s balancing act as the Royal’s secret Lord Justice as well as the Caer’s public Chief Investigative Dewin – or enchanter - remained difficult and time-consuming. He reluctantly agreed to accept outside help, and now Aidan had possibly blown his chance to bring in a consultant from The E.

Kai towered above them, the stuff of legend. His never-ending efforts modernized their mythical backwater city-state of Nysi Afallon into a new dynamic polis. Technology and magic – magitech - mixed with their ancient bloodlines to create an innovative, fair legal system. Kai Eurus’ laser-focused vision of justice and law in Nysi Afallon, almost to the exclusion of anything else in his life, created fodder for all the gossip tabloids. For years, the local ‘sip rag, The Polis Patter, speculated about Kai. They thought being jilted days before his wedding, he had given up on love. They were sure he devoted himself to the Caer to the exclusion of anything or anyone else.

Aidan admired his older brother. Kai had protected him from their mother’s husband, Aodh, usually at a cost to himself during their childhood. Aidan never forgot this. When Kai defied all expectations and became an investigator, Aidan followed.  He remained one of the few people Kai trusted, and he knew that the reason for his brother’s dedication came from an incident with a small changeling early in Kai’s career.   

Cool, deliberate, and visionary, Kai Eurus investigative experience, understanding of the city-state's laws made him the Royals perfect choice to be Lord Justice. This was especially after a courtroom massacre had left the position vacant. No one had a higher closing rate nor commanded more fear and anxiety from Nysi Afallon’s criminal element than Kai Eurus. 

Queen Daeira nearly caused a riot at the court when she bonded Kai into the Magicore. The wild magic was the source of Hidden Rims' power. 

I fucked up. Kai will never let me get someone else. Securing her was my one shot. Damn!

He furiously kicked at a footstool.  Unlike Kai, Aidan’s impulsiveness often derailed him.  He knew Maia Anemois as the perfect candidate for their purposes.  He had studied her, and the reports on her gathered over the years. She was resourceful, intelligent, and gifted with several hidden potentialities would provide the investigation with a critical weapon for finding their serial killer if given the proper impetus.

Gods.  I must fix this. I have to get Maia to agree.

Aidan’s role as Chief Investigative Sorcerer – or CID - at the Caer Justice was secure despite his misgivings.  While Kai overturned the corruption culture of the Caer, Aidan’s recruited new staff from all peoples of the polis and the rims. Unlike his intimidating brother, Aidan’s cheerful and approachable personality made total strangers trusted him. This gift gave him a distinct advantage when interviewing suspects and witnesses. Aidan’s insight into a victim’s last thoughts and images, as well as his skills at drawing out confidences, gave him an advantage over almost anyone at the Caer – except his brother.

He scolded himself for misreading his approach to Maia Anemois. He kept replaying various scenarios in his head about how he could get back in touch with her and plead his case. Still, each one came back even creepier than the next.

I beg some god to help me convince her to come with me. he half-prayed as he left the room to grab a drink at the bar and renew his acquaintance with the pleasures of The E. I hope she calls.

Maia kept thinking about Aidan Eurus and his unique card throughout the weekend. She’d gone home on Black Friday, spent the rest of the day and Saturday finishing her last research report of the year. Free until January for her private project – recording Uncle Jax’s Ice Princess Maia stories. However, she kept wondering what exactly the man wanted of her.  For no reason she could fathom, this intrigued and excited her.

Early Sunday morning, her black cats Malkie and Karma batted the card out of her hand, knocking it to the living room floor. Malkie, an outsized cat, pounced on the smaller, daintier Karma trying to snag the card between her claws. Maia took it from them and saw the design changed from a moment before.

Instead of the whirlwind, the business card now displayed a log covered with white flowers. Aidan’s name, also with changed lettering styles – Captain Aidan Eurus, CIS. Justice, Nysi Afallon. The strange phone number also added several numbers to itself.

Neat trick.

Still, it bothered her. This guy knew her name.

And so damn handsome. Oh, what the hell!

She dialed the number.

Is this Ms. Anemois? He pronounced it correctly, Ahn-uh-muss, without her having to give him a pronunciation lesson.

Um, yeah, hi?

Hi, do you have some time to talk? It won’t take long. I am sorry I startled you the other day.

I …okay. I can be at the café in half an hour.

Can you press the star button? Should be a better connection.

She complied. The phone grew warm in her hand, a wind came through the closed east-facing window, and the man was there in her living room. She watched in disbelief as the cats sprang up on their hind legs, looking much larger, and started dancing.

She closed her eyes and drifted off.

Huh. That looks like a tango.

Awake again, Maia found herself lying on the sofa. Malkie, sitting on her chest, looked at her curiously while Karma sat above her on the sofa’s arm. Next, she heard a voice. Maia? Thanks for meeting with me.

She recoiled. The man from the parking lot was sitting next to her on the chair. Where? What? Did you put something on the card?

She scrambled to a seated position, grabbed the cat, and tried to throw Malkie at the stranger.

No! Please put down the cat. I just need to talk to you.

Maia pushed Malkie off her lap and stood. What the hell is going on? What are you doing here?

I figured it would be easier to show you than try to explain. I mean, I didn’t think you’d react well if I told you in the parking lot that I’m from Nysi Afallon and we were looking specifically for you.

Me? Why?

I…we have reason to believe you are a genomic descendant of several prolific citizens. You possess skills we can train to help us with a slight problem we’re having.

Nysi Afallon? Avalon? Where they took King Arthur?

Well, sort of….

Aidan Eurus of Nysi Afallon, you have exactly one minute to get out of my house before I call the police.

"I am the police! Aidan snapped, looking exasperated. Look, what can I do to show you what I’m saying is true?"

For a moment, time stopped.  Something nagged - a memory, almost a sense of déjà vu.  Nysi Afallon…what do I know about that?

Maia stared at him evenly. You’re from a magical place? She pointed to Karma. Fine. Make the cat talk.

Aidan raised an eyebrow. Seriously?

Do it.

He reached out to touch Karma’s head. The little black cat peered up from the sofa arm and meowed. In Maia’s head, she heard a soft feline voice echo quite clearly.

I always talk. You don’t listen. And if you followed me more, everything would be fine!

Maia reeled back, engulfed in her recurring dream -

She is in a strange room. Sitting on the edge of her bed is the tall, light-haired man. He is smiling, assuring her everything will be all right. He holds her small hand, and she realizes she is a little girl.

A woman stands nearby, smiling at her.

She is terrified of what lurks behind the smile. The woman means her harm.

She cowers against the man in a panic until the woman leaves them alone.  Where am I?

He replies in a low voice, You are safe here in Nysi Afallon, with me. When you are better, I am going to send you back home….

She staggered, sitting down hard on the sofa.

Maia? Are you all right? Aidan’s voice came from far away. Hang on. I’ll make tea.

She agreed, slightly dizzy as Karma snuggled up against her purring, doing her best to comfort her.

A dayvision? I thought they were gone. Maia’s nighttime friend once told her that her dayvisions and nightdreams revealed hidden secrets and -

Here you go, Aidan said, This will help.

Maia took the mug shakily, watching Aidan, hovering worriedly nearby. What do you want, Aidan Eurus?

Hard to know where to begin….

Start by telling me why you’re stalking me.

"I’m not stalking you, Aidan retorted, I’m trying to hire you."

"Hire me for what? For God’s sake, start making sense!"

Aidan took a deep breath, "I live in Nysi Afallon. We’re the hub of several realms and rims, home for refugees from this place, or as we call it, The E or Earth-prime. We’re an open city or polis. We have a varied, diverse population with all the problems and joys that come with it."

An open city? For who? What? Maia’s voice showed a hint of panic.

"We’re your old gods’ descendants, the mixtes, unhumans, and nonhumans. All refugees."

Refugees?

"Simply put, humans didn’t like us, forcing us to move to the Hidden Rims, the otherlands. We were founded to give us a safe place to thrive.  I mean, we’re not a half-baked fantasyland. No gingerbread houses or beanstalks rising to the sky. We live together in peace, and when we can’t, we invoke Law and Justice to address crimes. Here. Read this. It explains everything better about our polis, um, city-state."

He handed Maia a folded, glossy piece of paper with the words The Royal Department of Commerce across the top. Below it read: Nysi Afallon - Welcome! Croeso! Καλώς ορίσατε!

A brochure…? Maia read it and looked up at him. Who wrote this? How awful.

I know. A committee did it.

The tri-fold, a contemporary, sleek, modern marketing piece, didn’t impress her with its writing. However, the alien technology embedded in the brochure fascinated her. She ran her finger over the text, and the letters glowed, shifted sizes to be more readable. When she swiped any of the supernals mentioned, their images projected briefly on the paper. Legendary and mythic beings were being used to tout business development and economic growth opportunities. What the hell?

Maia turned the brochure over in her hands. How high-tech are you?

As your side has gotten more techno, so have we. Stuff bleeds across the borders, or we bring it back after we come here to visit.

How do you get here?

"We travel through dedicated gates leading through the betwixt and between."

The what?

They’re buffer zones keeping the rims from smashing against each other. You’ll learn. We also have crossover roadways for peoples who dislike traveling through the gates or who have a lot to carry.

Maia felt her sanity starting to go. A hallucination brought on by her loneliness. I’ve lost it. I’m utterly adrift in my fantasy life. At some point, she expected to wake up to the sting of a hypodermic needle and a soft voice telling her everything would be fine.

You are safe here in Nysi Afallon, with me. When you are better, I am going to send you back home…

Her heart racing, her hands sweaty, and yet down deep inside, she trusted this guy. Is that what he means by magic? What are you thinking?  Make him leave…Or is he even here?

Our prog’nosts narrowed in on since your ancestry shows strong connections to deities and demiurges.

Maia decided to play along, figuring to wake up anytime. Yeah, right. My great-uncle insisted I was the spitting image of the family sea-nymph.

Aidan ignored her sarcasm. "What we can tell from your DNA profile, you do have sea ancestry. The winds, too, the Anemoi. Also, you have an entire strand identifiable as demiurge of unknown origin. Your families are remainders which bred with humans."

My DNA, huh? How did you-?

I’m not at liberty to discuss-

How convenient. You can’t discuss it. You showed up here, anyway, trying to hire me.

"We tried to find someone the prognosticators