Shadow Unveiled: Reapers, #1

By Tara Vasser

After a particularly nasty car wreck, I met Death, and he let me live. My doctors claim it was a hallucination brought on by the trauma, but it felt pretty damn real to me. Especially the part where Death said he'd call on me soon. Months after, he still hadn't shown his face, but my life had fallen apart while I waited. Every waking hour was filled with the incessant chatter of voices in my head, and whenever I closed my eyes, I was plagued by night terrors. It was too much for my fiancé to handle, so he left. I couldn't get out of bed anymore, so I got fired from my job. Even my own family began distancing themselves. I had no one and nothing left, except the voices and nightmares in my head. I couldn't wait for Death anymore, so I decided to go to him the old-fashioned way—by dying.

 

Things don't go as planned when Death sends his most loyal Reaper, Gunnar, to thwart my foray into The Realm of the Dead. That night I learned there is an entire hidden supernatural world, and the icing on the cake is that I'm a part of it. A BIG part. Magical abilities I didn't know I had start to manifest and grow, gaining me all kinds of attention. Death offers me a place among his Reapers, and a power-hungry Necromancer tries to convince me to join his plot to overthrow Death.

 

Both sides make compelling arguments—but which one is right?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tara Vasser
• Release date: May 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223700692

Tara Vasser

Tara lives is the frozen north in Minnesota with her wonderful husband and two rambunctious little dudes. She is an engineer during the day, a crazy mom in the afternoon and a wicked writer at night. She enjoys spending her time playing in the dirt when her gardens aren’t covered in snow and listening to a wide variety of music that inspires her writing – sometimes doing both at the same time.    

Book preview

Shadow Unveiled

Reapers One

Tara Vasser

image-placeholder

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, or other status is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever known, not known or hereafter invented, or stored in any storage or retrieval system. Exercising these rights without written permission of the author is forbidden and punishable by the fullest extent of the law.

Copyright© Winter Musings LLC 2023

Editing by: Leanore Elliot

Cover Art by: MiblArt

Shadow Unveiled

Reapers Book One

After a particularly nasty car wreck, I met Death, and he let me live. My doctors claim it was a hallucination brought on by the trauma, but it felt pretty damn real to me. Especially the part where Death said he’d call on me soon. Months after, he still hadn’t shown his face, but my life had fallen apart while I waited. Every waking hour was filled with the incessant chatter of voices in my head, and whenever I closed my eyes, I was plagued by night terrors. It was too much for my fiancé to handle, so he left. I couldn’t get out of bed anymore, so I got fired from my job. Even my own family began distancing themselves. I had no one and nothing left, except the voices and nightmares in my head. I couldn’t wait for Death anymore, so I decided to go to him the old-fashioned way—by dying.

Things don’t go as planned when Death sends his most loyal Reaper, Gunnar, to thwart my foray into The Realm of the Dead. That night I learned there is an entire hidden supernatural world, and the icing on the cake is that I’m a part of it. A BIG part. Magical abilities I didn’t know I had start to manifest and grow, gaining me all kinds of attention. Death offers me a place among his Reapers, and a power-hungry Necromancer tries to convince me to join his plot to overthrow Death.

Both sides make compelling arguments—but which one is right?

Contents

1. One

2. Two

3. Three

4. Four

5. Five

6. Six

7. Seven

8. Eight

9. Nine

10. Ten

11. Eleven

12. Twelve

13. Thirteen

14. Fourteen

15. Fifteen

16. Sixteen

17. Seventeen

18. Eighteen

19. Nineteen

20. Twenty

21. Twenty-One

22. Twenty-Two

23. Twenty-Three

24. Twenty-Four

25. Twenty-Five

26. Twenty-Six

27. Twenty-Seven

28. Twenty-Eight

29. Twenty-Nine

30. Thirty

31. Thirty-One

32. Thirty-Two

33. Thirty-Three

34. Thirty-Four

35. Thirty-Five

36. Thirty-Six

37. Thirty-Seven

38. Thirty-Eight

39. Thirty-Nine

40. Forty

. Chapter

. Chapter

. Chapter

One

Screams surrounded me as my car slid from the asphalt into the ditch, the vehicle smashing against the trunk of a sturdy oak. The impact jarred me from my seat, slamming my head against the window, the noise of my screams momentarily drowned out by the sounds of crunching metal and broken glass.

When the car finally settled, somehow, it landed upright. Despite the lack of movement, the world still spun as I viewed it from the open window where glass used to be. Unnatural silence enveloped me, only broken by the hiss of rain rapidly evaporating from the warm car hood.

Blinking to clear the whirling images before me, my eyes grew heavy, protesting remaining open. Blood rushed in my ears, the mere sound of it enough to turn my stomach. Terrifying darkness swallowed my vision, filling me with panic that I’d hit my head so hard I’d gone blind. With colossal effort, I managed to pry my eyelids open. The blurry spinning of the world around brought the urge to vomit to the forefront of my mind.

Help. I need help.

With a groan, I turned my head the slightest bit in search of my purse on the passenger seat. Gone. A slight tilt of my head revealed unfocused images of my purse’s contents spilled across the floor—my phone included. With shaking fingers, I groped for the seatbelt, the effort to press the button more excruciating than I could have imagined. A small whimper escaped my lips as a shooting pain raced up my arm with just the minuscule force of pressing the button.

Free from the restraint of my seatbelt, I leaned toward my phone. The weight of my head proved too much for my body to handle, the white pain burning through my skull blinding me as my body collapsed to the seat beside me.

Agony ripped through every nerve ending at once, a feeling I was sure I’d never forget if I made it out of this alive. Hot tears leaked from the corners of my eyes when I squeezed them shut in an attempt to block out the pain long enough to reach for my phone. Gasps and cries which sounded as though they came from someone else filled the car when I stretched to reach the device. My fingers brushed against the rough carpet, just inches from my ability to call for help.

Letting out a frustrated scream, I pushed my body over the edge of the seat, landing hard on my shoulder. My upper half lay on the floor while the rest of me contorted to drape across the center console, only my feet in the driver’s seat. Blood dripped into my eyes from a gash on my head, and down my fingers from some wound unacknowledged until now. The sheer volume of red was alarming, terrifying, nearly paralyzing.

By sheer force of will, I reached for the phone, ignoring the warm liquid as it coated my hand. Slick fingers grasped the device, and dialed 9-1-1 to call for help. Holding my breath, I listened for a voice to answer, my concentration slipping further away with each second as my vision and mind grew increasingly fuzzier.

Nine One One, what’s your emergency?

Help, I croaked out. I need help.

Ma’am, can you tell me your location? the muffled voice of the emergency operator asked, sounding too far away.

My car, I groaned. The slurred words were difficult to push out.

Ma’am, what is your location? the operator repeated, his voice louder now.

Roselawn. My eyes drifted closed. I’d done it, I’d called for help.

Ma’am? the insistent voice whispered from somewhere in the dark. Ma’am?

***

At least it stopped raining.

I stared up into the gray sky from beside my mangled car. Shaking my head, I glanced down at the twisted metal, taking in the broken driver’s side window and the concave door which was wedged closed.

What a mess, I whispered, surveying the wreckage. My gaze flitted from one area of damage to the next, my eyes ultimately settling on the body draped across the passenger seat. No, I gasped, covering my mouth. No, that’s not possible—it can’t—No! My scream fell flat around me, not so much as an echo filling the woods I stood in.

You weren’t supposed to kill her! a panicked voice said from nearby.

Whipping around, I stood face to face with a hooded figure. A man, if I had to guess by the sheer height and build of him. Taking a step back, I kept my eyes on the dark shadow inside his hood where his face should be. Who are you? I asked, my gaze traveling up and down his form. Realization dawned as I took in the dark robe and the face hidden in the shadows. All that was missing was the iconic scythe.

The Grim Reaper.

Am I… dead? I sobbed, covering my mouth with both hands as I crumpled to my knees.

As good as, he acknowledged, his tone frustrated.

Sirens sounded in the distance, drawing my gaze to the road where an ambulance barreled down the wet asphalt.

Please, let them save me, I pleaded. Please!

The figure shook his head. You’re too far gone, I think.

"You think?" I screeched, then jumped back when a man suddenly appeared beside the Grim Reaper. It took me a moment, but I recognized him. It was the guy who appeared in the middle of the road. I swerved so I wouldn’t hit him.

He was the reason I was now lying mostly dead in my car.

You! I raged at the man. You did this to me! It’s your fault I’m dead! Rushing at the man, I prepared to take my anger out on him but my hand passed through a swirling gray cloud where he’d stood instead. You son of a bitch, get back here! I screamed, turning in a circle until I faced the hooded figure again.

The Grim Reaper took a step away from me and let out a surprised gasp, his head tilting to take in a glowing golden ball lying on the ground between us.

My chest heaved as I struggled to pull in breaths. Please, put me back, I begged, turning to the cloaked figure, only to find him gone.

Relief filled me and I rushed to where my lifeless body still lingered amongst the living. Wake up! I screamed through my tears. I’m not dead! My fingers passed through my own shoulder when I reached to touch it. No, no, no! How do I get back in?

It doesn’t quite work that way, a deep voice said from behind me.

The timbre sent a shiver down my spine and caused the hairs on the back of my neck to rise. This wasn’t the cloaked man who’d come to take me away. The being who the voice belonged to radiated power I could feel, even with my back turned. Swallowing hard, I rose to my feet and prepared to face whoever it was behind me who inspired the terror coursing through my body.

Slowly, I pivoted, my eyes glued to the decaying leaves on the ground. My gaze landed on dark shoes, too polished for walking through mud and dying foliage in the forest. All around him in a perfect circle, the ground was blackened, as if his presence burned everything it touched.

Collect his, the voice commanded.

I peeked up from where I’d kept my gaze downcast. My eyes met the man’s impossibly dark gaze, eyes so brown they might have been black. Or maybe they were black, I couldn’t tell, just like people couldn’t tell whether my own eyes were brown or black. My heart rate skyrocketed with the overwhelming energy in the split second connection. Turning my eyes away, I watched the hooded man gather up the golden orb and place it in a pouch at his side.

My frantic gaze jumped from the hooded man to my body, to the menacing figure towering over me.

Dark eyes watched me curiously as I backed away, ready to flee like a skittish rabbit into the underbrush.

Are you the devil? Am I going to hell? I whispered, working up the nerve to meet the man’s eyes again.

A smirk pulled up the corner of his mouth, diminishing his intimidating expression to the point where he might have been described as handsome if the power pulsing from him wasn’t so terrifying. No.

I swallowed hard, my wide-eyed gaze jumping from one dark figure to the other.

I am Death, the newcomer explained, taking a step toward me, the ground beneath him turning black. He… He nodded to the cloaked man beside me. …is a Collector. One of many who collect souls from the dead and brings them to The Realm of the Dead.

Taking a step away, I watched them both warily.

But he will not be collecting from you today, Chloe, Death explained, tilting his head to the side as his gaze raked up and down my body. In fact. He won’t be collecting from anyone again. Facing the Collector, Death narrowed his eyes. I know you’ve been playing both sides, he growled.

The panic I felt earlier came rolling back with a vengeance. I felt out of place, like I was suddenly in the middle of something I shouldn’t be witnessing.

The Collector froze in his tracks, his hand still tucked into the pouch.

With a wave of Death’s hand, the Collector evaporated into gray smoke. The pouch he carried dropped to the ground, along with a new golden orb.

I blinked a few times. I had to be hallucinating from the crack on the head. "Did you just kill him?"

I do not tolerate disloyalty, Death told me, simply. Chloe, would you please pick those up and hand them to me?

This was a trick. There had to be a trick here. I just had no idea what it could be. But I wasn’t about to disobey Death, especially after what I just saw him do to the Collector.

Hesitantly, keeping my eyes on Death the entire time, I crouched low to the ground, to scoop up both the pouch and the orb. The orb fit in the palm of my hand, but was heavier than I imagined. I expected something lightweight and delicate, but it was more akin to holding a baseball. It felt solid and sturdy. Warmth radiated from the glowing ball in my hand, drawing my eyes down to it. Golden light swirled around inside, a stark contrast to the silvery grays of the place we stood.

This place is called The Shadow Realm, Death informed me, his voice drawing my attention back to his face. I am sure you must have many questions. He held out his hand expectantly.

I slipped the orb into the pouch, the two orbs didn’t make a single sound as they made contact. Then I held the pouch out for Death to take, careful not to touch his outstretched hand.

Sirens screamed in the distance, their call sounding far away.

Panic surged through me and I looked to where my body was still contorted across the car seats.

You won’t die, Death said from right beside me. I’ve waited much too long for you to lose you again.

Again? I asked, my confusion obvious in my tone.

The ambulance screeched to a stop at the top of the embankment. My focus moved from Death’s mysteries, riveting on the EMTs as they rushed down the hill to save my body.

Shit, my doors are locked, I whispered, thinking about how much longer it would take them to reach me if they had to bust out the Jaws of Life to get me out of there.

With a wave of Death’s finger, the locks popped open just seconds before the EMTs reached the vehicle.

Thanks, I whispered, not quite sure how to respond.

It will take you some time to heal. But when you do, I’ll be calling on you, Death said.

What do you mean? I asked, my gaze still glued to the EMTs doing chest compressions on my body. When Death didn’t respond, I turned my attention to him, but he was gone. What do you mean? I yelled into the dull echo-lessness of The Shadow Realm.

Pain in my chest stole my breath and words. Panic gripped me, robbing me of thought. Dropping to my knees, I fought to pull air into my lungs, squeezing my eyes closed with the pain. When I opened them again, the blurry image of the paramedic above me came into view. Oxygen filled my lungs when I gasped, sending tears rolling down my cheeks. The paramedic’s mouth moved above me in a mimicry of words, but I couldn’t decipher any of them. The sound of the world around me remained muted, but it didn’t matter, I was alive.

Death let me live.

Two

One Hour Earlier

T hanks. I gave the gas station clerk a wry smile as I shoved the receipt into my pocket.

The cheery jingle of the bell as the convenience store door opened was too damn happy for my dark mood. The cloudy gray sky outside, threatening rain was much better suited for my miserable attitude. I was definitely in a ‘misery loves company’ kind of mood, and that bell wasn’t cooperating.

Glancing down at the pathetic bouquet of flowers with their browning petals, I pulled in a steadying breath and made my way back to the car. It had been a few months since I’d made this same trek, but somehow this time wasn’t any easier than the last.

I slid into the driver’s seat, silence surrounding me as I pulled the door closed. I placed the flowers beside me on the seat the recipient of the bouquet had occupied more times than I could count.

Gas station flowers, again.

Not that it mattered, they weren’t going to last long in the cold weather. She deserved better. Hot tears pricked behind my eyes and I had to blink to keep them from falling. A shuddery exhale slipped past the lump in my throat, providing me with a stark reminder of just how shitty a day it was. A gust of wind scattered leaves across the parking lot and sprayed mist on the windshield.

Why couldn’t it have been sunny today?

Time to get this over with, I mumbled aloud, turning the key in the ignition. Fall Out Boy blared from the speakers, the sounds of my best friend’s favorite band tightening the lump in my throat.

The roads remained empty with each twist and turn, the bare branches waving in the wind lent an eerie atmosphere to the drive. Quietly, I sang along with the song while I navigated. A slight squeal sounded from the wipers as they swept the sheet of mist from the glass, providing a brief reprieve from the blurry view.

I should have waited until tomorrow. Glowering up into the gloom, I tried to guess if the sky was going to open up on me the moment I stepped from the car. It was hard to say. But a downpour as soon as I got outside would definitely be on par with the way this day was already going.

Movement flickered in my peripheral vision, snapping my head to