The Girl from the Shadows

By Teri Erickson

Lileon is a beautiful land that bursts forth in vivid, exceptional colors. Tall, vibrant, jewel-like grass dances in a sparkling wind against an azure sky. The people of Lileon live simple, peaceful lives that were made all the more calm when they rejected the technology that once defined them.

But the Lileons are not alone.

Walking among them are the Shadow People, black-and-white apparitions who move in and out of Lileon. Shimmering windows provide the only glimpses between the worldsand in an instantone of these portals will change everything the people of both worlds believe.

Like the rest of his people, Cullen Fairchild, the son of Reia Richard Fairchild, the ruler of Lileon, knows nothing of the Shadow People. When he locks eyes with a beautiful woman through one of the ephemeral portals, he is astonished and intrigued.

Katherine Carr, the woman from another world, is equally intrigued by her glimpse of the handsome blond man who keeps appearing and disappearing. He seems familiar somehow. They should never have met, let alone fallen in love, but now nothing will keep the lovers apart. They seemed destined for one another, but when Cullen tells Kat of Lileon, its too much for her to believe.

Hes from a different world? Literally?

Cullens attention is distracted by the plotting of his uncle Emile, who dreams of making his brother, Richard, pay for past crimes. The waiting over, Emile puts his plan into action.

In the end, will Kat believe Cullen? Will Cullen be able to stop Emile from taking over not only Lileon but Kats world as well? Will the invisible boundary between their worlds keep Cullen and Kat togetheror keep them apart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781491755846

Teri Erickson

Teri Erickson grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana, and started writing books at the age of fifteen. She volunteers for many organizations and received honorable mention in a nationwide essay contest in 2005. She and her husband, Darrell, and their daughter, Madeline, currently reside in Beloit, Wisconsin.

Book preview

Chapter One

CULLEN FAIRCHILD WAS CONFUSED. HE had seen the woman before; he had seen his entire life. What confused him was the fact that, all of a sudden, it seemed that she could see him. She was beautiful, that was for sure, beautiful and…different! She was tall and slender with long brown hair and vibrant green eyes. He had seen her every day for as long as he could remember, but only yesterday had he been able to see her colors; the colors that made her so unique. Her gaze was direct and intense as she stared at him; appearing to actually see him.

The day of her transformation began no differently than any other day. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, until of course, it was. The events that followed would forever change Cullen and his world.

Friday October 14th was the day it all began. The day he had noticed her stare as she sat across from him at the park. The day he observed her change right before his eyes, he had started to follow her, intrigued by her and the world that surrounded him, her world. First, he followed her to a little restaurant where she visited with her curly haired friend, and then as she went on a walk the next morning. All afternoon he stood against a tall metal lamppost that was directly across the street from her apartment building, waiting for her to re-appear. He had been waiting for hours when his best friend Baldwin walked up to stand next him. Suddenly he was drawn back to Lileon, the lamppost and her world disappearing instantaneously. Cullen had been prepared for this, as within the last twenty-four hours, whenever he was in her colorless world, when someone from his world came close to him, he was pulled back to his own. Baldwin had baby blue eyes, laced with golden flecks and white hair that was thick and shiny. Baldwin’s father possessed the same gene as his son; a gene that cosmetically aged them at a faster rate than everyone else. Although they were almost exactly the same age, Baldwin looked fifteen years older than Cullen.

What’s going on, Chief? Baldwin addressed Cullen by his childhood nickname as he took a bite of a crisp red apple

Nothing’s going on, why? Cullen asked his friend as they walked down a road in Lileon.

I haven’t seen you for two days, Baldwin commented as he took another bite.

Sorry, Baldwin, I’ve been around. I’m just working on…something, Cullen vaguely answered.

Well, Baldwin replied. I have a message from your sister. She said she needs to see you right away.

This caught Cullen’s attention. What? When did you see her? Cullen asked.

Last night. She was jumpy about something.

What was she jumpy about? Cullen asked Baldwin.

"I don’t know, she wouldn’t say. All she said was that she desperately needed to find you," Baldwin answered as he turned around, finishing off his apple in exactly four bites, and left Cullen alone, still in his own world.

The following day Cullen stood outside of the mysterious woman’s apartment building. The brick building was tall, at least seven stories high. There were four windows on each level and a small set of stairs that offered a wrought iron hand railing led up to a pair of massive wooden front doors. As he watched the door to her building, praying he would catch a glimpse of her, he had to admit, he was pleasantly confused. Unknowingly, she had asked him a silent question. A question he wasn’t sure he could, or should answer. Was it a fluke that she seemed to look right at him and not through him? Was it all in his imagination? It definitely wasn’t in his imagination that whenever he came close to the strange, yet fascinating woman, his world faded and he entered into hers. It wasn’t in his imagination that whenever someone from his world approached him, he was pulled back to his own world. Maybe he was dreaming! Maybe he wasn’t!

It wasn’t as if he had never wondered about the people that surrounded him. Where were they going? What would they sound like? Where did they come from? Today, Cullen decided, seemed like a perfect time to at least ponder the question of their (of her) existence.

Later that morning, her doors opened as he sighed in relief and watched her walk quickly down the stairs. He followed her as she walked a few blocks and entered a small building that had a sign that read Nikki’s Café. He kept his distance so that she wouldn’t see him; he simply wanted to observe her. The small shop was only a few blocks from her home and wasn’t much bigger than a building from his own world. Huge glass windows at the front of the shop, allowed him a full view of the inside. He could see tables, a fireplace and small table lamps spread sporadically throughout the space, offering customers a soft, romantic atmosphere. Most of the tables were full of people reading or visiting, all of them enjoying their drinks. He watched her as she walked up to the counter to place her order and then as she went to sit next to the same woman she had been with at the restaurant two nights before. Cullen watched as she talked and laughed with her wild-haired friend.

The nudge to his back, left him startled and unprepared.

What are you doing, big brother? The young girl asked.

What do you mean? He answered, bracing to be sucked back home.

Hmm… the small ivory skin girl replied. I don’t believe you for a second. You’ve been watching her, haven’t you?

Cullen didn’t answer his sister as he turned to look at her. He was still there, in her world.

And so was Zoelie.

Strange, Cullen thought to himself.

I’ve seen her too, Zoelie said in a low, hushed voice.

So, Cullen said, suddenly aware that his heart had started to race and his hands damp with sweat.

Yeah, she answered. Not a big deal that I saw her. We see them all the time. Seconds ticked by as they both observed the woman and her friend.

Then the statement that Cullen knew, that he felt, that he dreaded hearing from his young sister’s mouth, came.

Yeah, funny thing though, she murmured, then paused, whether for effect or personal reflection, Cullen wasn’t sure. "The funny thing is that I think she saw me. And let’s not even talk about how it all happened; I don’t think you would believe me."

Yes, Cullen thought to himself, that was definitely the problem and he had a feeling he would believe her every word.

Cullen and Zoelie walked home in silence, both noticing that the farther away from her they got, their own world slowly came back into existence. Both of them were already thinking what if? They both wondered how it was possible that the mysterious woman didn’t just one of them, but both of them. Who else did she see? Did she see all of them? How was this possible?

Arriving home, Cullen and Zoelie parted ways. Cullen went to his room and quietly shut the door behind him. His room was very large, as were most of the rooms in his home. While most of the newer buildings in his world were smaller, more utilitarian, when his home had been built, things such as necessity were just as important as luxury and space. His room was divided into two separate spaces. One side of his space was designated as a living area. A large fireplace was built into the wall and was encased by an enormous green marble mantel. In front of the fireplace were two leather covered chairs that were each big enough to sit two people in. A large desk was situated on the wall opposite of the fireplace and was stacked with brightly covered books. His sleeping area included a bed and dresser. Large doors next to his bed led outside to a large patio that allowed him a full view of the city he lived in. He walked over to the mirror that hung on the wall to the right of the fireplace and stared at his reflection. Nothing had changed; his eyes were the same green with golden flecks swirling in his irises. His hair was the same shade of blonde as it had always been; he hadn’t changed at all. So why did the beautiful woman see him? Why did she seem to not look through him or around him, but directly at him?

The unique and fascinating woman and the ghost like people that surrounded him every day were known as the Shadow People. They lived in a different dimension or parallel world. To Cullen and the people of his world (Lileon) the Shadow People were exactly that, shadows. They co-existed in a way that had never seemed weird or strange to Cullen; because they had been present his entire life. He saw them in black-and-white and obscure shades of gray. The people from Cullen’s world were so used to their presence, that they rarely paused to really look at their ghost like neighbors. The unusual trait about this particular Shadow Woman was that Cullen no longer saw her in black-and-white. He saw her in color. He saw her as if she were from his world.

All of the colors in Lileon are bright and bold. There are no delicate shades of pink or yellow; only radiant shades of color like green, navy blue and iridescent purple are visible in Lileon. When the Shadow Woman had transformed right before his eyes (the day in the park) she had morphed from a black-and-white apparition to holding the bright, vivid colors found in his own world, but gradually the color of her hair, the color of her skin and the color of her clothes had…faded. Her hair had turned from gray, to a deep shade of Lileon brown, to the beautiful honey brown shade that fell loosely around her enticing, angelic face. Her clothes went from bright reds and luminous blues to more pallid shades of the same hue. Her eyes; however, remained the most vibrant, vivid green he had ever seen (even by Lileon standards).

After taking a couple of hours to collect his thoughts, he decided it was time to go and see his sister. He approached her room and just as he raised his hand to knock, the door flew open with such a flourish that Cullen stepped back in surprise.

Well, it’s about time, she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him into her room. Zoelie’s room was just as spacious as Cullen’s, holding all the extra space and luxury. Of course, Zoelie’s room was more feminine and leaned towards a teenager’s sense of style, which included clothes lying all over her bed and closet doors that were open with clothes pulled out haphazardly.

"I’ve been waiting hours for you to come and see me, because you know what, Cullen, she said quietly (yet forcefully) as she led him to the red velvet couch that sat in front of her fireplace, I have no idea what to think about that Shadow Woman being able to see me and why I can see her…in color, in weird colors. And I haven’t even told you about how I get sucked back to Lileon every time someone from Lileon comes near me."

Cullen’s heart sank, because to be perfectly honest, he was hoping his little sister had some sort of explanation or reasonable conclusion as to why the woman had seen them; unfortunately, it seemed that wasn’t going to be the case.

I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for all of this, he said, trying to reassure not only his young sister, but himself as well.

Well, what is it then? She asked. Her almond shaped eyes narrowed as she sat on the matching ottoman directly in front of him.

Tell me what you saw, Cullen asked.

I was sitting outside reading a book. All of a sudden, I wasn’t there anymore. I was somewhere else. The only reason I knew I had to be in the Shadow World is that it was all in black-and-white. Then I saw her, the Shadow Girl. She didn’t look through me or around me, but she looked right at me, into my eyes. She went on to explain about the encounter they shared at the Shadow Girl’s apartment building lobby and about the elevator.

"I didn’t try to talk to her, but I could hear her." Zoelie sat on the edge of the ottoman, her hands waving excitedly in the air.

This happened two nights ago? Cullen asked quietly.

Yes.

That was on Friday, only hours after his own encounter at the park, when the Shadow Woman had changed before his eyes.

What do you think it means, big brother? Zoelie asked him.

Cullen didn’t immediately respond. He bent his head down as he looked at the floor, his green and golden eyes closed as he tried to make sense of everything that had happened, recalling as many details as he could. He didn’t know what it meant. It was as if he had been drawn to this woman. He felt pulled towards her like a wave feels pulled toward the sea shore. The feeling had unnerved him the moment he had felt the Shadow Woman’s gaze upon him at the park. The danger of the situation; however, was not something that they should ignore. They had to tread very, very lightly.

I’m not sure, but we must keep this to ourselves for now. You understand the consequences of what’s happening, Zoelie? He finally answered, reminding his sister that they were entering into dangerous waters. Zoelie nodded, concern and fear filling her eyes. He stood up, kissed his sister on the cheek and walked out the door. Zoelie was left with an uneasy feeling as she flipped around from the ottoman to sit on the couch and replayed the scene that had taken place with the Shadow Woman.

~~~~~~~~~~

Zoelie had been sitting down soaking in the warm night air in the garden, right outside of her room. She had gone outside to read a book, the silver dust that littered the Lileon sky providing her with plenty of reading light. She sat on her favorite chair that had been painted a brilliant purple. She had just started getting comfortable when all of sudden, she wasn’t in the garden anymore. In the blink of an eye she had been transported from the world she lived in, to a world unknown to her. She found herself sitting on a soft piece of furniture when she heard the woman walk in. She slowly lifted her eyes as she met the Shadow Woman’s stare. Curiously, Zoelie’s gaze followed the woman as she walked to the elevator. The people that live in Lileon, Zoelie’s world, not only see the Shadow People moving in and out of their world like ghosts, but occasionally they see glimpses of the Shadow World. They see flashes of their sister world through shimmering, mystical windows. Tonight, however, it seemed the closer the Shadow Woman walked to Zoelie, the clearer her world became. The shimmering window expanded and suddenly Zoelie was walking entirely in the Shadow World. The woman was different than the other Shadow People. She was in color. Her brown hair was shiny and she had on blue pants with a black shirt and white jacket. Her colors were so different, they were soft. She watched the woman as she pushed a button on a long, golden, narrow panel. Zoelie got up and walked over to where the woman waited and as the doors opened, Zoelie was stunned by the woman’s soft, feminine voice that carried across the boundaries of their worlds. She had held up her fingers in response to the woman’s question; unable even, to attempt speech. She stood beside the beautiful woman in the elevator until the door opened for Zoelie to get out. She stepped into the hallway and started to walk down the long corridor. After a few steps, she turned in time to see the woman waving at her and as she waved back the doors to the elevator closed, the shimmering window disappearing along with the woman.

~~~~~~~~~~

Cullen stepped out of Zoelie’s room and walked hurriedly down the long, well-lit hallway towards Alfred’s room. The hallways were massive in Cullen’s home. The floors were constructed of durable hardwood, and were lined with bright colorful rugs. Candlelight wall sconces had been placed on the walls and varied from the brightest shades of pink, to the brightest shades of orange. Alfred had been Cullen’s teacher and friend since he had been a small boy. In his sixties, Alfred’s gray hair matched his eyes; the color of storm and thundering skies. The golden flecks (a genetic trait of Lileon) only added dimension to the intense color of them. Wise and educated, Alfred had always played an important role in Cullen’s life. Whenever Cullen had a question or concern, Alfred was who he turned to. Cullen’s father was constantly busy with work and responsibilities; time with his son was a rare occurrence. Cullen respected his father and knew he would spend more time with his family if he could, but he also knew that his father was important and had a full schedule that kept him isolated from his family most of the time. So, whenever Cullen had an important question or dilemma, it wasn’t his father he turned to, it was the gray haired, older man who insisted that everyone call him, Freddie.

Freddie wanted to keep Cullen at an arms-length which was why he had decided, long ago, to act not only as advisor to his young student, but to act as his mentor and stand in father figure.

Freddie had worked with Cullen’s family since he was a young graduate and he had never felt the need or inclination to leave. Cullen was like a son to him and the fact that Cullen always confided and talked openly with Freddie, led him to believe he was not only a genuine and caring person, but that he would be a great leader one day.

Cullen came to a stop outside of Freddie’s door and knocked. The elderly man opened the door and ushered his young pupil in. Cullen went to sit in the leather covered chair that he always sat in, not looking up as he sat down. He collected his thoughts as he raised his eyes to look at Freddie and let out a heavy sigh.

Freddie studied Cullen with curiosity, he knew all of Cullen’s moods and this was one he rarely saw. Freddie’s room, while impressive, was not as spacious as Cullen’s and Zoelie’s. It was, however, bigger than most rooms in their home. It, too, had a fireplace, with a large wooden mantel and a seating area in front of it that contained a long plush purple couch and a bright red chair. A large table was placed in front of the couch and held many books as well as the wall to wall book cases that lined the rest of Freddie’s room. Freddie went to sit behind a large oak desk that was littered with books and papers and the deep, leather upholstered chair that Freddie sat in was just as massive as the desk