Gathering Fragments: Balancing Reality

By Allysina Shinestone

When Clairisa Vinson and her friends are invited to a Halloween event at a themed amusement park, they are excited to shop for cute costumes and enjoy themselves. Unfortunately, Clairisa has been having troubling dreams and is nervous about Driskoll appearing at this packed event. Her friends assure her that it's just pretend horror; however, Clairisa finds it hard to tell the difference. Halloween is a night where those who hide in darkness can blend in with the Mortals who dress up in similar skins and personas.

 

Before the night in question, Clair comes across the mysterious past of her Science teacher – Gregory Anderson. His being hired at her school was anything but coincidence. Locating his journal that is filled with entries, notes, and drawings of a strange cult, it seems that she wasn't the only one with a connection to David Cookery and the Mad Monks.

 

Elsewhere... countless innocents are drained, beings of Lighten and Darkness have betrayed their ruling sovereigns, and what was thought to be destroyed will return again. Preparations for the resurrection fo Draegan's physical form are underway.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Broken Keys Publishing
• Release date: Jul 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9781988253633

Allysina Shinestone

Allysina Shinestone is a Canadian author. Gifted with a creative imagination, she takes personal experiences and weaves them into her stories. Author of the coming of age, paranormal fantasy series, Balancing Reality, whose female protagonist experiences the struggles of high school while coping with a bombardment of supernatural events. Balancing her two realities comes with its own unique set of challenges. Readers will recognize the local landmarks and hot-spots from Ontario, Canada.

Book preview

Chapter 1

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Within the damp cold tunnels, deep under the soil, Draegan stood glancing at his notes and plans nailed into the wall of a large chalkboard. These plans and notes created a mind map, which were connected by cords to trace his thoughts more easily. Tensing the muscles on his new host that one of the freshly conformed Angelus had provided for him, he gritted his fangs as there were small aches and open flesh that caused him discomfort. Unfortunately, ordering his followers to find him a physical body to take over was proving difficult as Mortals were weak and small in frame. This prevented his full form from occupying the size and causing the body to rip open, bleed extensively, and stretch against the host’s wishes. Pitiful bodies. What must I do to find a stable host? He thought irritated. Draegan closed his eyes as the withering host’s voice was still mumbling for release and death in the back of his mind.

Pathetic. He growled against the racket that his host’s spirit was making. He had only been in the body for five hours and was already urging to slice the skin at the opened sores and be rid of the weak form. Opening his eyes, he looked to the methods he planned to retrieve his body back from that prisonous realm that his father banished him to. The skin of the Mortal’s fingers sliced along the interwinding cords that connected his thoughts. Drops of blood slid diagonally down the line and dyeing it crimson. The fingers touched an image of the girl, caressing it softly before the colored pigments darkened. Draegan’s eyes narrowed viciously. That girl. He snarled. It didn’t occur to him the chaos she would cause when he was glancing through David Cookery’s body. He envisioned the young girl as a reasonable sacrifice for the ritual as virgin’s blood was powerful. He didn’t count on her being the new Form for The Balance.

The abundance of energy, both Lighten and Darkness, spiraling within that adolescent body... The child had no concept of what his father and uncle had done to her. It wouldn’t be known to her until it was too late. This made him smile faintly as the idea of this child’s mind and physical shape conformed to a protective shell for the ancient energy. He could picture the girl rupturing her vocal cords, screaming and twisting in pain unknown to the Mortal kind. Then, using her delicate fingernails, he imagined her ripping apart her skin to get to the skull. Resulting in excruciating pain in order to distract herself from the energy forming within her. She wouldn’t survive. He grinned. Previous Forms for The Balance were twice as old and mature than her.

Recalling her starting the awakening process while in the dream realm of her subconscious, Draegan nodded his head as the scene surprised him. He intended to drain the girl for destroying his Blood Diamonds while in that dream - only she escaped. The next time they met, she was trying to blend her energy with his. Draegan breathed in and out slowly, feeling his host’s lungs expand. He knew that she could easily replace both Cookery and Timmons. However, The Fallen Warrior had interrupted his corruption on her - and as an extra measure, bathed her in the light of a full moon. His fist tightened as voices of the boy’s words came to him - she seems to escape death. Draegan agreed to the statement, The bitch is hard to kill. His concern of her body surpassing the Awakening came to him again. Draegan had taken the thought of her surviving the Awakening and becoming the new Form of The Balance –and began working all the possibilities into his plans.

Lowering his hand to a new cord and following it to an autographed picture of Marcus McFaul, Draegan’s anger returned. Upon meeting the girl and realizing that she was the new Form, he calculated that his father would protect her. First, it was The Fallen, then the untrustworthy Knox and his little store of trinkets, and now the unboundable McFaul. Baring his fangs and tracing the Mortal’s short nails against the gloss of the paper’s image, Draegan turned his attention to the door of the room as Senar’s energy had appeared.

Enter Senar! Draegan beckoned before the demon could knock on the door. Then, turning his head lazily, he waved his hand to use energy to open the door. Senar entered and bowed before him. Draegan walked away from the chalkboard and sat uncomfortably on the sofa within the room. Senar, what news do you bring?

It’s as you predicted, Master. The Fallen has taken McFaul to have the suggestion removed. Leaving the girl unprotected. Senar stood straight from his bow. Should I go and collect her?

You will go, but not to collect her, Draegan said, noticing the host’s body was ripping in new locations causing the clothing and couch to be drenched in blood. It will only be a small window of time that she would be unprotected and is watched by someone else until McFaul returns to her side.

Then what would you like me to do? Senar asked.

Take these and plant them within her subconscious. Throwing a small handful of thorn-like wire to Senar, Draegan nodded. I want to ensure that she has no trust to McFaul or anyone else for that matter.

Making her paranoid towards others.

Precisely. Draegan stood from the couch, growling in annoyance to the body as he went. And what of the boy?

He is currently dreaming of her being submissive to his words. The imagery is that of a predatorial adult than an adolescent teen.

Excellent. I will visit the boy later and draw more energy from him.

Senar frowned, The new host not to your satisfaction?

It’s not my body, Senar, Draegan complained as he took the Mortals hands, placed them on the side of his face, and gave a sharp twist – breaking the neck of his host. The body slumped onto the couch till it gathered on the floor. The corporeal form of Draegan floated above the body and couch. Take that away! He demanded.

Senar flicked the air towards the corpse on the floor, opening a shift portal that sucked the dead body into a fiery hellscape. Should I go find you another host? he asked.

I tire of these hosts, Draegan said, floating around the top of the room. I want my body!

I have beings working on that, My Lord, Senar said with a frown. It’s just taking a while to find all the pieces within the realm you were sealed in. Also, it’s a task to avoid the watchful eyes of your father and his forces.

Patience is a game; which I dislike the most, Draegan said with a growl. And yet it is critical for my plans.

What of the girl? Senar asked carefully. With McFaul watching over her...

McFaul will find this particularly hard as he cannot be bound, unlike others within my father’s forces and ranks. In order to ensure her full protection and know where she is at all times, he would either have to literally be with her day and night - which will drain him of energy - or he somehow finds another way to connect with her. Draegan floated lower to the ground. The depth of the suggestion that I put into his mind, the extraction of it will impede him from using some of his abilities. With this suspicion, he will more than likely be around her day and night. Draegan closed his eyes, attempting to recall the many rituals and magicks that he found interest in to see if something would stand out to him that McFaul could eventually use to create a bond with the girl. He would be forbidden by father in creating a blood bond with her.

McFaul was weak when I met him at the convention. I could gather a group and attack him and The Fallen. Senar suggested.

Draegan floated for a while till a deep rumbling laugh came out from him. No, Senar. I appreciate your rash approach; however, it seems that your men aren’t the only ones who were seeking the lost items from long ago. Floating back to the ground area, Draegan nodded his smoky head. Yes, it makes sense to me now. When I placed the suggestion into McFaul’s mind, I sensed my father had been busy as of late. It seems he gathered McFaul’s essence and gave it back to him. Therefore, he is back to his – old self.

Forgive me, My Lord, but I did not know McFaul at that time. Was he powerful?

Powerful? Hardly. Draegan chuckled but kept his form turned away from Senar. Then, narrowing his eyes at the image of McFaul’s grinning face, Draegan added, I witnessed the fight and drive within McFaul first hand when he was a lowly warrior within my father’s forces. His energy gathered as the recollection of the retch seeing through his plans and challenging him within the sanctum of The Balance infuriated him. It was followed by the preparation for my imprisonment. Draegan released the breath he held as thoughts of the procedure to make him as weak as dirt and placed into the realm rippled through his mind. While in preparation, I heard whispers from those loyal to me that McFaul had been experimented on by my father and uncle.

Experimented? Senar repeated in confusion.

Yes. It seems that with the First Form gone. A new one had to contain The Balance’s essence. He paused. The implant of the energy into McFaul didn’t go as planned, causing his current being. Who was stronger than that of my father.

McFaul was stronger than the Mas- Him. Senar coughed from speaking The Master’s name. Excuse me.

Draegan turned sharply to watch the demon clearing his throat and rubbing his neck as if in pain. McFaul will be his old self. Father will want to have every precaution set into place to protect this new Form. There was silence for a minute, allowing Draegan to think. I’ll have to plan things more accordingly - I was imprisoned during his rampage and do not know the full details of his abilities.

Senar glanced up, noticing his vision was blurred. However, he ignored this and asked, What of the boy?

The girl is terrified of the idea of Driskroll, with your assistance, of course, and the boy is proving to be very corruptible and easy to bend to my suggestions. This makes plans for Hallow’s Eve that more important. Draegan glanced towards Senar. Have the men ready for a frontal attack on the realm that has my remains.

With the intel gathered from our double agents, both forces are being distributed throughout the Mortals realm as criminal activity is increasing, Senar announced. A bonus for our forces to spread a bit more darkness into the realm.

This is good to hear. Draegan grinned. A nice diversion is just what we need to lessen their numbers during the attack. Your group will have separate orders, Senar for Hallow’s Eve.

Separate orders?

Yes. That night you and a select few of your choosing will attack the girl and McFaul.

Attack when both could be similarly empowered by the evening’s magick? Senar asked with confusion.

Use the boy to place the idea into her mind that she is to be either with him or alone, on Hallow’s Eve. The girl has only interacted with McFaul once. Getting to them both before they create any bond will be the objective. Draegan smiled. If her death is achieved that night, then the glory will be yours, Senar.

Her death? Senar repeated softly. Grabbing onto the side of his head, in pain. Draegan glared at his loyal follower. Then, snaking his form towards Senar, to stand before him, he latched onto the upper part of Senar’s body. What’s going on! Where am I? Senar demanded.

It seems that your old self has returned, Draegan muttered. Meaning that my energy is lacking slightly in the length of having you and the others under my control. No matter.

Release me! Senar demanded as he fought off the snaking of the smoke.

Draegan felt his energy grow as the smoky form produced long fangs with dark liquid dripping from the tips. Biting down quickly onto Senar’s shoulder and releasing enough of his venom through the demon’s system, Draegan felt the demon resisting against him lessen. Removing his fangs from the skin, he floated away from Senar to watch the demon fall to the ground, whose body shook violently, accepting the venom.

Now that you are back to your senses, Senar.... Draegan said, satisfied that Senar was back as his obedient servant. You will complete the tasks that I have given you.

Yes, My Lord. Senar said with a bow.

Chapter 2

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The silver bell over the door ran continuously, announcing the arrival of two powerful beings to Knox’s shop. Having stayed up late due to a new inventory shipment, Knox hurried down the hallway and through the beaded curtain to enter the storefront. Standing in the middle of the room was Christov struggling to restrain Marcus McFaul, who was thrashing back and forth. McFaul’s arms were wrestling to reach for his forehead. Knox figured McFaul had either been shot, or he was trying to claw his own skull out from the amount of blood dripping down his face.

What is going on? Knox asked, rounding the cash counter near them. Keeping his eyes on McFaul as the Boundless kept trying to shift away from Christov’s hold, Knox held up his hand and summoned a stringed trinket to land on his palm. Nearing McFaul, he placed the strange necklace around his head. Once it settled on his chest, McFaul instantly went still from his thrashing.

McFaul and Draegan had words, Christov said vaguely. Then, glancing at the stringed necklace, he nodded towards it and asked, What did it do to him?

Keeps him stiff, like the dead, Knox explained. Then, turning to lead them both into the back rooms, he asked, Will anyone else be joining us?

Jared will arrive after he informs Seth and Ceria about the situation and drops them off at Clairisa’s home, Christov said, lifting McFaul effortlessly into his arms and following after Knox.

Knox nodded in understanding. With McFaul here, I guess she would be unprotected. Opening the door to the room, he turned the lights on, revealing an area that mimicked the tower of London and its brutal torcher chamber. Lay him here. The effects of the stiffness will ware off once the dead hairs on the necklace decompose. The length varies from being to being but with his abilities I’m not sure how long the departed strands will last. Knox walked over to a cabinet and started to take a few sharp instruments out. Turning to check on the strands of the decomposed hairs of the trinket, he watched as Christov lay McFaul’s limp body onto - what he could only identify as a design similar to a dentist chair but with more padding. So, what confrontation did you get into, McFaul? Knox asked, nearing him. He found it amusing that while the Boundless being’s body was frozen from movement, his eyes circled around the room and shot long glares up at him.

He said that Draegan put a suggestion into his mind to kill Clairisa, Christov stated as he kept his eyes on the disappearing hair of the threaded necklace. When I approached him after tracking Draegan’s energy to outside her house, he demanded I destroy him.

That serious? Christov nodded his head. And the blood?

When I told him that I wouldn’t, he started to claw his head open. Screaming that he couldn’t go near her. Christov’s muscles tightened as McFaul twitched, indicating that his frozen body was waking from the enchantment of the trinket. Can you get the suggestion out?

Knox waved his fingers around the blood covering McFaul’s face and forehead to see where he was trying to claw at. It seems that the brat buried the suggestion under his third eye. Muttering under his breath Knox crossed the room, lifting up a covered container similar to a terrarium for desert pets. Wake up, Plum. He whispered as he reached his hand down into the terrarium and carefully stroke a thick worm-like creature with thin long appendages on both sides of its brown body. The creature wiggled slightly, disturbed from its warm sleep. Then, lifting onto its hind gathering of legs, the sharp pincers snapped up at Knox in greeting.

Will Jared belong? Knox asked over his shoulder to Christov as his eyes shifted to McFaul, who was forcing his body to move. Christov closed his eyes briefly and shook his head. Then, glancing at the door to the room, they watched Jared enter, slightly out of breath.

Sorry for being late, Jared said, walking quickly into the room and lovingly touching Christov’s arm in greeting. Seth and Ceria wouldn’t stop arguing till I left them at the girl’s house.

I’m not surprised by that news, Knox said with a chuckle. Those two hate each other with a passion. Then, turning his attention to Plum, who had scuttled onto his palm, he lifted the creature out from its home. Knox neared the seat where McFaul was laying. Observing McFaul still attempting to release his body from the effects of the trinket, the being’s eyes flew around the room and then widened on the worm-like creature nearing him. Relax, McFaul, he’s a cousin to what Quill has. Only instead of devouring thoughts and ideas like cheerios, Plum focuses on the wires and connections of suggestions.

So, Draegan did put a suggestion into him? Jared asked, looking down at McFaul’s body. I’m shocked that he’s remaining calm.

He wasn’t, Christov stated. The string around his neck is assisting with that. But that’s why I called you here. The strands of hair will break soon as McFaul is forcing his energy against the effects.

Hair? Jared asked slowly, wondering if he heard Christov correctly.

An ancient trinket created by those who are departed within villages close to where the ley lines meet. Knox explained. The more the ley lines meet at a location the stronger the effects. It’s called Comfort Jewelry - ironically. For Mortals it is seen as a way to mourn for their dead, while for others it acts as a tranquilizer dart, leaving the being immobile but conscious.

Jared nodded and neared where McFaul was lying, only for Christov to reach out and hold him back with a tight grip to his shoulder. Jared blinked in surprise at his partner. He has given McFaul back his essence. He’s more powerful.

Jared’s eyes widened, and he nodded, understanding the situation. Thanks for telling me. Knox noticed the tensing muscles of Christov’s hand and Jared’s hidden smile from the action. Then, looking down at McFaul, Knox cleared his throat before explaining the procedure. I understand that having a suggestion in your mind is top priority for you; however, you need to get back to Clairisa.

Seth... Ceria... Handle... It! Marcus grunted out as his mouth was free from the dead hair’s influence.

Let’s hurry, Knox said, jumping onto the seat, straddling McFaul’s sides as the hair strands started to break apart. I rather not hear his cursing profanities while Plum is eating. Jared and Christov neared the bed and stared down at McFaul, their hands holding him down.

Marcus was relieved that the Fallen had listened and took them both to Knox instead of following on the brats trail after leaving from Marcus’s presence. The moment Marcus had realized that the brat had forced a suggestion of killing his mission instead of protecting her, Marcus could only see flashes of his former love laying dead in his arms. The wires of the suggestion then forced him to believe that it was his own doing that she died. Her blood on his hands and the madness of his smile to the last sounds of her beating heart. His mind envisioned his fangs entering her neck and draining her of the essence that The Balance was contained in.

I was only trying to save her. His inner voice wept. When the Fallen refused his order to destroy him, Marcus grew his claws and thought to dig the suggestion out himself. He had continued to do this until Jared had arrived and assisted in pinning him to the ground. The suggestion in his mind then made him think that he was being taken back to The Master as punishment for murdering the new Form. He shifted away from their hold over and over again until Christov swiftly took off his glove and subdued him. Glaring up at the Fallen warrior now as he and his partner held him down again, Marcus tried to force his arms and shoulders to move away from contact. He wasn’t happy about the sensations from when the Fallen touched him to control his self-harm actions.

Get your hands off me! Marcus growled.

You want the suggestion out or not? Christov replied in an equal tone.

Just relax, McFaul, Knox said as he leaned over Marcus’s face to lower the worm in his hand onto the top of the hairline. Plum is skilled at finding the bars of the wire when it comes to suggestions. He glanced over to Christov and Jared as Marcus continued to struggle. In a warning tone he continued, Now, McFaul, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.

Meaning? Marcus asked.

Meaning, Knox repeated sternly. If you squirm like a little bitch or attempt to shift away, I’ll give the signal to Christov here, who with his abilities will make sure you stay put. Then, leaning closely to Marcus’s ear, he whispered, which upon sitting on you now, I can still feel the effects.

Just get on with it! Marcus growled.

Right. Knox nodded as he sat back. Plum? He scratched the worm-like creature affectionately before placing a finger towards the large pincers at its front. Plum nipped at his flesh with a soft snap,