Sapphire Secrets: The Mac Tire Chronicles, #2

By Garnet Davenport

Shay's journey continues...

 

Still reeling from the attack, everyone is on high-alert awaiting possible threats. As Shay continues to reconcile the new aspects of her life with the struggles from her family secrets, she decides to hide her hallucinations from those who care most. Declan and Duncan don't find out until it's too late that the Gael Fearg sword left more than a scar. 
Each kill made from the Gael Fearg will give knowledge to Shay so she can be capable of defending herself and defeating the Morrígan. Leaving Shay linked to the one person who haunts her nightmares the most.

As they learn what is happening to Shay, they fight to keep her from returning to the night at the river beneath the tree.

More secrets are revealed to bring connections together from the past to the present. Some secrets help build more powerful relationships, and some weaken the bonds already made.

With newcomers to Tremper who show up at the most suspicious times and more secrets being hidden from Shay. She will have to fight against her family, allies, and herself to survive another day. However, her wolf may be too far gone, and she will require a great sacrifice to live.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Garnet Davenport
• Release date: Jun 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393694090

Book preview

Chapter

One

➢ Storms Coming

Storms passed overhead. The flurries were falling from the sky like a thick blanket. My eyes found the icy river. I saw her again, the white wolf. Her eyes followed me while I watched Cas thrust the Gael Fearg sword into my own torso. I felt a sharp pain through my abdomen and looked down. There was blood covering my hands, soaking my clothes. I looked back to the tree where I had almost died. No one was there. The snow had stopped, and all I could feel was the pain.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw the white wolf run. I tried to follow her but couldn’t move. She was gone. Blood was flowing down my legs from my wound.

You can’t run. A deep, obscure voice came from behind me that belonged to Declan. I had never heard him like that before. I started to walk toward him. I was focused on his eyes. Everything else was a blur. The forest faded away around me until he was there, sitting at his dining room table in the middle of the woods. He picked up a wine glass filled with a vibrant red liquid that suspiciously did not look like wine, and he lifted it to me. Here, drink. His voice was different—it was cold, uncaring. I shook my head and started to back away from him. My bare feet went from making bloody footprints on the ground outside to the hardwood floors of the Callamore’s mansion as I backed toward the foyer.

I was grabbed firmly from behind, just below my shoulders on my arms. I twisted against the restraint only to see that it was Duncan. His nails extended at his fingertips, growing in size and length, then darkened and sharpened as they dug into my skin, tearing open my arms. I tried to fight back and pull away, but I couldn’t get away from him. His aggressiveness and strength had been much more than I imagined. I turned, feeling the pain of his claws ripping at my skin, and pushed my palm into his chin then started to run—just to stop right in front of Declan. They had me cornered. I turned back and forth between the two of them as they took a few more steps toward me, circling me, as their eyes glowed red and they closed in.

A wild, aggressive bark came from the doorway—the white wolf. She had come for me again.

What did she want? I tried to speak, but no words escaped my mouth. I put my hand up to my mouth with surprise.

A creaking step came from behind me—panicked, I turned my head, and Cas Corach placed his frigid fingers on my shoulder with his right hand and then, with a quick grip, he plunged the Gael Fearg sword into my chest. My eyes widened as I tried to take a breath. When I did, I felt warmth pour into my lungs, and then I felt my blood come up my throat and out of my mouth to drip down my chin. I reached forward, clinging to him as I dropped, kneeling to the floor. Beidh tú bás mar ba mhaith liom tú a bás.

I woke panicked, gasping for air and gripping my fingers into the brown leather sofa in the Callamore’s library. I looked around, recognizing my surroundings, and within a moment, I realized that I was safe in the Callamore’s mansion. But how safe was I really?

I was soaked in sweat and hot to the touch but felt cold all over. I was feverish. My eyes were tired and sore, and my body felt like it had just been thrown from a truck. This wasn’t the first time I woke feeling like this, but it was the first time that I had such a vivid dream about that night. The white wolf would continue to haunt me along with Cas—my worst nightmare.

Beidh tú bás mar ba mhaith liom tú a bás. I thought while I rubbed my eyes, trying not to let moisture come. You will die because I want you to die, I whispered. I couldn’t figure out if this was a nightmare or some kind of aisling ag siúl, walking dream, my subconscious was forcing on me.

I had, at this point, learned of the multitude of types of walking dreams. I could leave my body, make myself unconscious, and roam a different plane in existence. Then, there are always the ones that happen while I’m asleep. I would physically get up and take part in my dream in reality. And then, as Edness had graciously shown me, she was able to pull me from my own dream and into hers. This one freaked me out the most. I was hoping this one was more of a nightmare, mainly because, if it was a walking dream, then whose dream was I in? I shook my head. I had to focus. There was still more fighting to come. I sighed. How can she complete the blood ritual? The winter solstice had passed. What ritual can be done now? What does she want now? My questions still aren’t getting answered here. I felt my arms where Duncan had grabbed me in my nightmare. I shook my head, scared of Duncan, of what he had done to me. Then, I started to overhear a commotion just outside the library door. It drew my attention back to the conversations happening in the mansion. I stood with the unusual feeling of being out of body as I made my muscles walk forward. I reached for the doorknob, holding it, and listened while they were arguing.

Don’t disturb her, Duncan demanded from Alex.

It’s not your place to be in charge of her, Alex said with his characteristic arrogance and boldness to a royal. He didn’t shock me, but he shocked and angered Duncan. No one should question a member of the royal family. The Finich would address that.

You don’t order me around, peasant. He growled as he snapped at him.

Duncan! I heard a distant furious voice that made my heart pound.

Everyone stopped in their tracks and turned their attention to Declan. You have no right. And if you must know, she is already aware of your foolishness on both your parts. Leave her be. They rumbled around a second, Leave. Now. His voice bit in the stale air.

I couldn’t believe that Duncan would treat my pack like that. I was furious at the disrespect that had been shown from the majority of the Callamores since that night. A piercing pain came from my gut. I decided that pressing up against the door was enough. I twisted the old doorknob and swung open the door. I looked directly at Duncan. His face almost caught me off guard as my nightmare was brought back to me in that instant. It sent shivers up my spine. I swallowed hard, wetting my lips before I spoke. What’s going on? I said with weak demand. I shook my head once more to clear my vision and rubbed my forehead, feeling a migraine coming.

Declan took a step toward me with his hand extended outward to me. There is nothing going on. It’s been dealt with. Why won’t you come back to your room? Mary made it up for you. His glossy brown eyes sparkled at me.

I pulled back from him with the same nightmare in mind. I will be fine in the library for now.

I can stay with you if you want some company? Alex spoke up and smiled at me.

Uhh… don’t worry about me. Has Matt and Angelica returned yet? I turned back to Declan.

He ran his hand through his hair and looked away for a brief second. Grandmother doesn’t want Angelica to come back just yet. She said she would be safer in the Northern Territory with the Garretts. Their guards are high ranking within our own military, and she feels safer with them there. I nodded my head in agreement and disappointment. I really wanted him back here not just for me, but he had always helped me sort through the confusing things in life. Especially since Tommy wasn’t there for me, at least in the way that I wanted him. I put my hand up to the necklace that Aodhan had given to me.

My father should be coming back later this afternoon. He said the burials were hard for the rest of the region. Victor Gahlonaghan took the news harder than expected, Declan explained.

I felt bad for Victor for a moment but quickly remembered he was intending on holding me hostage until the Morrígan could do the same to me. Then I felt bad that I was the only one of the six of the Morrígan’s descendants to survive. I looked up at them, trying to hold back my emotions.

You okay? Declan asked when I looked past him. I could see Striker walking through, and he motioned for me to come with him. I didn’t answer Declan; I didn’t want to. I eased my way through my wall of guards and walked toward Striker.

Wanna run? He smiled at me and held his hand out for me.

I caught up to him, enthusiastically nodded, and grabbed his hand. Yes, I said with relief.

Shay? Wait, Declan pleaded to get me to stop.

But I just wanted to run; the feeling of my bare feet on the cold frozen ground for those few steps in between my transition was the feeling of complete happiness. It was something that never could be taken away.

We walked out the front doors, and Striker started to take off his shoes. You can follow me, he said smugly.

Bet you can’t keep up with me, I said back.

I looked down and started to remove my shoes and then saw him take off before me. I knew that he was going to try to win. I wanted to transition. It had been too long since last time. But I waited until I could get my feet onto the snow, only to have the snow just about melt in every direction around my skin. I knew that I had been hotter than normal lately, but this was a different kind of hot. I decided not to pay attention to it though; I just wanted to run.

I ran and then starting to feel the transition happen as I continued forward. I could feel the joints and muscles change around my bones, and it stopped me. I was only at the edge of the woods when I stopped there, unable to transition fully and locked into a painful moment. I reached out then dropped my hand to the ground. Strik— I tried to call out for him. I remember a sharp pinch in my hip and neck, and then there was black as I gasped for air.

You cannot survive with two mates, a female voice whispered in the air around my ears. My eyes opened to my mother standing over me. Your heart will not take the pain of loving two. I looked away from her. I was fuming at the sight of her, and I wanted her to feel what I had been feeling. These two boys aren’t worth your time. She turned back to me within just a few inches of my face, grabbing my chin and squeezing to assert authority over me. She pulled me closer. My neck was burning with pain of being stretched beyond its length. I was starting to get light-headed and needed to get away from her.

You are not my mother. I gritted softly through my tight jaw while I looked at her, seeing a glint of something out of the corner of my eye. She loosened her grip on me, and I cleared my throat and breathed deep.

You will die. She pulled her arm from behind her, and I saw the blade of the Gael Fearg sword in her hand. Her image changed into the man that I feared—Cas Corach. He plunged the Gael Fearg sword into my chest, and I tried to grab onto the cross-guard of the sword to pull it away. He dug it deeper into me, and I felt the tip of the blade pierce through the skin of my back. I fell to the ground, blood covering my hands and now coming from my mouth and nose. I felt my eyes roll back into my head, and my entire body hit the ground in one drop. I laid there with one breath left to breathe.

I opened my eyes to Striker standing over me at the edge of the woods. Shay? What happened? You were right behind me. He had knelt beside me.

I tried to sit up, but my muscles hurt so badly. Every inch of me felt heavy and strained, so I couldn’t move with normal ease. I was cold; in fact, I felt like I was freezing and trembling with fear.

Nothing. I’m okay. I gritted through chattering teeth.

He looked at me knowingly. I knew he could tell I was lying. I felt like I needed to reassure him that I was all right. No, I promise I’m fine. He continued to question me with his examining eyes.

Fine. He helped me stand, and we walked. He seemed to be genuinely worried about me. It had to be Striker, right? Or was I dreaming again? Would he attack me too?

From that moment on, the sky looked like it started to get darker—grayer. My world was changing in front of me, and I couldn’t do anything to stop what was happening. Was this what Julius Callamore had warned me about? Was it time for me to pick one of them? I heard a stick snap and turned my head quickly. There was no one there. I was questioning everything and everyone. I just thought, on top of everything else, it seemed like I was going crazy.

He turned back around and looked at me, cocking his head slightly to the side and said, Let’s just walk. He knew I wasn’t ready to return to the mansion, and I had played off the I’m fine, as far as I was aware.

I shook my head, and he started walking into the woods. I turned and looked back at the Callamore’s mansion, and there was a hollowed gray tint that cast the exterior like a scene from my nightmare. I saw Declan outside the Callamore’s mansion standing and just watching us. I turned around to look at Striker. Could I still be in a nightmare and unable to wake up? What if I don’t know what is real anymore? I questioned myself if it was actually him. I looked him in the eyes before I could start walking. Then I took just two steps closer to him, never breaking eye contact.

How do I know that it is really you? I asked.

He looked at me with surprise. I had never seen that from him. He always had his composure and rarely showed any signs of emotions. That was one thing that I knew about him that made this seem more real.

What happened? he questioned, never breaking eye contact from me.

Are you real or is this a reality that I have dreamt up? I continued to look at him and could feel tears starting to form in my eyes. He took a step toward me, his arms out, then reaching around me, he pulled me closer.

I. Am. Sorry. He spoke clearly, a distinct pause between each word.

I rested my head on his chest. I don’t picture myself as a weak person that is overly emotional. But for some reason, feeling him close—the comfort, I knew he was real and that I was safe. I sighed in relief.

Let’s take that walk. I find that I get a certain satisfaction from fresh air, he said, releasing me, but he kept his hands tightly on my shoulders. Okay?

I nodded my head, and we started to walk out into the woods. The conversation was quiet for the most part. Striker talked about the Callamore property and the surrounding area. It was your typical awkward ‘how’s the weather’ conversation. He avoided the one topic that he actually wanted to talk to me about until he couldn’t any longer. Even with Striker’s Zen-like temperament, he was still anxious and on guard.

I knew he had found his peace after a horror story of a childhood, and now he tries to help those that need to find their own salvation.

What have your nightmares been about? he asked with certainty, like he knew there was something truly happening that was out of my control.

I didn’t hesitate to tell him. Striker had always made me feel comfortable. I knew I could trust him not to go tell Alex. It’s been different each time. There is always someone I trust, and then Cas Corach appears out of nowhere, and he thrusts the Gael Fearg sword into me. It ends one way or another, and I wake in a panic, but it hurts each time I’m run through with that sword. And I can’t fight it. My body won’t let me.

Striker looked down at me. You know the Gael Fearg sword has had no known survivors. It is possible what you are experiencing is only the manifestation of the powers of that sword.

Manifestations? Those were intense manifestations. Sweating and pain. Hell would have been easier to crawl through. With all the new supernatural things that have been brought into my world in the last few months, I figure adding a mystical sword that can manifest hallucinations to its victims is just one more thing. So how would I get it to stop? He shook his head, not knowing an answer. Okay, what if it isn’t a manifestation of the sword? I asked.

He looked at me. Then we have something we will have to work out, he paused, but we will work it out. He smiled at me with his characteristic half-smile. I’m still not sure if he does it to hide who he really is or maybe he is self-conscious about his teeth. This small quirk was the reason I could tell it was real. He was my friend and not an illusion that would kill me.

Okay. The word came out in a whisper. I hadn’t even realized I had let it come out until after it had.

He had walked me out almost to the river where, just a couple nights ago, I was faced by my fears and this sword that is haunting my dreams. I stopped in my tracks. Why did you bring me here? I aggressively snapped.

He looked around from side to side. This is just a place. It isn’t something that can hurt you or something that you should fear. Close your eyes.

I looked at him like he was crazy. Seriously?

He scoffed. Seriously. He crossed his arms over his chest.

I looked around, almost seeing the ghosts as they reenacted the battle.

Come on. I am right here, he said as he held out his hand for mine. I closed my eyes. Okay, listen very carefully. I was completely silent and listened.

I don’t hear anything, I said sarcastically, opening my eyes only to roll them.

Exactly. Now listen to nature all around us. He spoke in a calm, collected way. I was annoyed and in awe he was able to calm himself when there were all these things going on around him.

Everything I was now hearing was simply nature; the river was barely making a sound from under the ice and snow, the wind was slight and blew just east of us, and the trees had no leaves left on them, so the branches tapped against each other. It was really quite nice to hear just about nothing. I opened my eyes, and everything that I had seen in gray tones had brightened; I felt a weight lifted off my chest, and I took a deep breath. Striker had figured out a way to center my irrational thoughts and ground me to reality.

There isn’t anything I can do to change what has already happened, but you are stronger than we realized, and now you are proven to have the strength and heart of a true savior. You are meant for greatness, whether you think you are or not, he said, looking me in the eyes and making sure I understood.

Sometimes he speaks with more knowledge in the current experiences than he wants us to figure out. I would not choose to know his past. All I know is he is the one with the true darkness.

I turned to look at him. Thank you. I took another deep breath and looked back at the river where I had been hung from a tree to be slaughtered.

It won’t change your past. He spoke in a grunt of past pain.

What won’t? I questioned his words.

Reliving the pain will not change the past. It will only keep you from living your future. He sighed and turned to walk away. I thought that there was more he wanted to say, but I would never make him talk about what pains him. I know whatever it is he has gone through has changed him into the man he is. He is willing to do all this for someone he had only met about a month ago. He is a warrior—he fights and stands by those that he now calls family. I took another deep breath. The cold air was making me feel better just by breathing it.

Are you ready to go back? He looked down at me.

I think so. I sighed.

I knew, by going back into the mansion, it would be hard to breathe and even harder to trust those that had betrayed me so recently. He turned and started to walk back to the mansion. I looked back at the river and felt as if Cas Corach had just torn through my skin and waited for death. That pain brought me back to reality as I breathed in with a staggered breath, and I hurried to catch up with Striker.

Will it ever get easier? I asked him, knowing the answer.

No. One day, it will just become part of your day, and then you won’t be saddened by it when you think about the events. It will only be a distant memory and a thought of what would they be like now. The tone held fatherly sorrow. His voice made me sad. I knew he had been through something unbearable, and he was letting me get closer to the answer. This made me appreciate Striker even more. He always knew what I was talking about, even if it didn’t include all the information. Sometimes I think of him as if he were an old man speaking Chinese proverbs, maybe some inspirational Hallmark card, but he just has had more experience in his life than most.

I kept walking back to the mansion behind him, never really catching up with him as we walked silently. I looked up at the side of the Callamore’s mansion when we reached the edge of the woods. At that point, Striker had waited for me to walk back together. The mansion still had its grayed tint and an eerie look like in my nightmares. I stopped when we got just a couple steps out of the woods.

It’s not going to change. Striker spoke definitively to reassure me.

I get it, I quipped sarcastically.

We walked back close by each other, and as I looked up again, I saw Declan still on the stone patio with his arms crossed over his chest, watching us walk back.

He doesn’t look happy, Striker said.

I was pretty sure he was enjoying that Declan looked unhappy, but I wasn’t going to say anything. Striker sped up and just about jumped up the steps in a jog and smiled at Declan then put his hand on Declan’s shoulder and said, She’s all yours now. And he passed him, walking in through the door.

I looked up at Declan’s aggressive expression. What the hell is going on? he demanded of me.

I cocked my head and looked back at him with aggravation. I also decided I would not answer him. Instead, I walked past him and followed Striker into the mansion, leaving Declan standing alone on the stone patio.

Striker had gone in to check on Fancy. And that’s where I wanted to be. I followed him down into the infirmary. As he opened the door, I saw Gauge sleeping in a chair in the corner of the room. He must have been up all night. Fancy had woken at some point but was silent to not wake Gauge. She waved when we walked in.

Shhh, I can’t bear to wake him. She smiled and motioned for us to come in.

I reached around her to give her a hug and asked, How are you feeling?

She shook her head up and down ever so slightly. Good. Striker fixed me up really well, and Nate has been super nice. He also has really amazing pain killers. We both laughed just a bit.

I still can’t believe that you guys came for me. I am so thankful for all of you. I sat on the edge of the bed and kept my arm around Fancy. I heard a rustling in the chair. And you, Gauge. I turned to him, making sure that everyone else knew he was up.

Can’t surprise any mac tire. Frickin’ heightened hearing, he said with a laugh.

What? I chuckled. It was nice to have that moment to pull me away from everything else going on with me.

Hey, where’s Nomad? Gauge questioned, standing up and walking over to us, picking up Fancy’s hand and bending down to give her a kiss. They are so very cute together. It made me want to vomit and feel jealous all at the same time.

Last we saw him, he was exchanging pleasantries with Duncan. I figured that was the best way to say it. I heard a shuffling in the hall just outside the room. And he will be exchanging pleasantries with us in three, two, one… I pointed at the door.

Haha… very funny, Shay. He looked over at Fancy. How are you feeling? Will you be good to travel soon? he said, always so serious.

Are you wanting to leave? I questioned him.

Yes. You are not safe here. The Farm has more protection, and people know less of the whereabouts. Remember Aodhan had placed a protective enchantment over The Farm’s property. We need to get you out of here. No one knows when or where the Morrígan will attack next, Alex said confidently to reassure everyone that he is right.

No! You can’t leave, Duncan voiced from the doorway.

We have to leave. She isn’t safe here, Striker commanded.

It was unusual that he spoke in the way that he did. I knew they wanted to get out as quickly as possible, even if the Callamore’s were trying to make us comfortable. Alex and Striker moved in front of me to guard me from Duncan walking forward.

Stop. Both of you. If Striker and Nomad believe it’s not safe here, then it’s not. We will leave when Fancy can travel. I made sure that I spoke with a tone of elegance and order to my voice. It was also weird calling Alex Nomad. I felt my heart speed up. It could have been from Duncan, but I knew there was a real possibility that Declan wasn’t far behind. I pushed Alex and Striker out of my way. We are not meant to stay here. The trust that I once had is no longer there. I need to get back to The Farm and to continue with my training. The fight isn’t yet over. I looked straight into Duncan’s eyes.

What about graduation? You have wanted that since I met you. And I can’t take not being by your side. I made the challenge, and it has to be upheld. I will stay by your side. He managed to get close enough to me to reach for my hands.

His words hit me. I wanted to graduate. It was my biggest goal. It was an achievable goal. Or at least I had thought it was. Now, I’m not so sure. I turned to Striker with a worried look. Shay will stay with us, and we will leave when Fancy can travel. That is the end of this.

I didn’t know what to tell everyone. It was bad enough that I was having these nightmares and having trouble distinguishing reality from hallucinations. But now there is a possibility I can’t transition into my mac tire form. I walked out of the infirmary. There wasn’t anything left for me to say. Don’t follow me, I said, waving them all away. I turned the corner, and within just a couple of steps, Declan grabbed my arm, pulling me close, and putting his hand over my mouth.

Shhh. Follow me, he whispered and removed his hand from my mouth.

I walked right behind him through some of the mansion. Where are you taking me? I whispered back to him.

I want to show you something. He reached backward with his fingers extended for my hand. I reached forward and intertwined my fingers into his. He turned back and smiled at me. I could feel my heart starting to beat harder, faster than a hummingbird’s wings.

We walked into his room, and he set me down on the edge of his bed. Then he walked over to his dresser and picked up the white teddy bear that had age spots I had once seen in a walking dream while I was captured by the Morrígan.

He turned back around with the teddy bear in hand. I got it the day that my mother died. I started to panic, but I couldn’t say anything. He walked closer to me. She had taken all of us to the park here in town, and Angelica was barely able to slide down the slide by herself. So, I made sure she would be safe and went with her in front of me and held on to her so she wouldn’t be scared. Duncan went running off, and my mother had to go after him. He was halfway across the playground when I saw this little girl so sad sitting with her brother. Their mother came running at mine, yelling and screaming about something. I walked over to that little girl that had started to cry. I knelt down and gave her a kiss on her cheek. She stopped crying and handed me this teddy bear. Her mother came running and picked her up and pulled her brother along, taking them away from Angelica and me. But I will never forget that moment when she handed me this teddy bear. And I’ve kept it close ever since.

He handed me the old teddy bear, and when I grabbed it, I suddenly got a glimpse of myself handing it to him. How do you remember this? I questioned him.

How could I forget it? He smiled at me.

I handed the teddy bear back to him. He turned back around and set it on his dresser. He made me feel better at that moment. He always knew what to do, but I still don’t think I can tell him what is going on. No need to make him worry more about me.

I want you to feel safe wherever you may be. I would like for it to be with me, but if it is not, then I would be happy to escort you to wherever your trust may be. He smiled again and sat next to me on the edge of the bed. I nodded slightly as he lifted his hand to my cheek. You have always been in my heart. I do not want you to leave without you knowing what you mean to me.

I couldn’t take this from him—not now. I got up and left the room. He is making this too hard on me. I took off for the library and closed the door behind me. There has to be some book in this room that can help me. I hated that I couldn’t tell him the truth or that Duncan was worried about me or that Striker knows that I might be slipping away from this reality.

I reached for an old brown leather-bound book that was on the top shelf. I got up on my toes and just barely reaching it, I edged it forward with my fingertips and pulled it down. Breitheanna agus básanna réigiún. Humm… Region Births and Deaths. Just maybe.

I took it to go sit down on the gently used brown leather sofa, and I opened the book, looking through years of handwritten birth and death records. I flipped to one specific, O’Donovan, Male, live birth, 12:52am, June 27, 1990. I continued to look, and there was no death record for O’Donovan. Was it possible that I have another brother out there in the world, and could he be a mac tire? My thoughts drifted as I started to get sleepy.

I heard a knock at the door. I stood, so tired, wanting to go to sleep, and walked over to the doors, opening them up to see Tommy. He threw his arms around me and hugged me tightly. He was warm and felt comforting.

What are you— I looked at him. You’re not real. I backed away slowly.

I am real, he argued. What makes you think I’m not?

I walked back to him with my hand extended. I was close enough to feel his warmth. I pulled back again. Because I— I had no answer for him. He took a step to me, and I could hear his shoes hit the floor. If my mind was playing a trick on me, then it was a good trick, and I was going to take advantage of the fact that he was here.

Is it possible that we have a half-brother out there somewhere? I asked.

He looked at me in surprise. Possible?

I turned away from him for a brief moment and rubbed my eyes.

Shay? he said.

I turned back to him, not saying anything.

It’s time, he said.

I shook my head back and forth. Time for what?

He took a step to me. It’s time to die.

My eyes widened, and I took a step back. As he approached me, his form started to distort into something else. Everything around me began to distort, the wood-paneled walls turned into trees, the ceiling turned to a night filled with stars, and the silence turned to a cackling. I looked back toward him, whispering a plea, Tommy? He was no longer Tommy. A ghostly dark tar-like shadow had taken over him and grabbed my arms. Stop! No! I could feel my screams not going past my lips.

You should have died. A deep, slow growl came from it.

He had turned into this shadow