Shadows of the Cursed: Shadows of Wraithbourne, #2

By Morrow Blackwood

Dive into the chilling depths of the Wraithbourne legacy with "Shadows of the Cursed," a riveting continuation of the saga that ensnares readers from the very first page. Within the decaying walls of Wraithbourne Manor, a malevolent curse intensifies, weaving a dark tapestry of danger and despair around Nora, Julian, Izzy, and Flint. Bound not just by blood but by the shared destiny to confront their ancestors' darkest secrets, they stand on the precipice of the unknown, as the curse seeks to devour all in its path.

As the sinister force grows ever more powerful, the peril escalates, testing their resolve like never before. Izzy grapples with her burgeoning abilities, her turmoil casting ripples of doubt and mistrust. Flint's skepticism of the paranormal crumbles as the grim reality of the manor's haunted past—and their entwined destinies—unfolds. Julian and Nora, each facing their own inner demons, find themselves at the heart of the struggle, facing the daunting legacy of an ancestor whose quest for power unleashed unspeakable evil.

Journeying deeper into the manor's labyrinthine corridors, they unearth secrets best left undisturbed—the twisted desires, the occult rituals, and a pact that has cursed their lineage for generations. These harrowing discoveries challenge them to confront their fears and question their very sanity, blurring the lines between the corporeal and the spectral.

Facing danger at every turn, betrayal from within, and sacrifices that test the limits of their endurance, they are forced to forge a path through the darkness. As they unravel a plan to vanquish the curse's hold, they encounter a maelstrom of supernatural forces, culminating in a desperate stand against a darkness that threatens to consume them whole.

"Shadows of the Cursed" is an enthralling Gothic odyssey of survival, betrayal, and the unyielding quest for redemption. It poses the ultimate question: Can they emerge from the shadows of Wraithbourne Manor, forever altered yet unbroken, or will the curse claim them as its next victims? This tale of eerie suspense and dark revelations invites readers to explore whether the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty can withstand the curse's relentless fury. Step into the shadows, and experience the haunting beauty of a story where the boundary between the living and the dead is as fragile as the hope that seeks to dispel the darkness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bacon Smile
• Release date: Feb 21, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224485628

Book preview

Morrow Blackwood

Chapter 1: Darker Tides

Under the cloak of night, Wraithbourne Manor stood silent, its imposing structure a stark silhouette against the starless sky. Inside, the air was thick with anticipation and dread, as Nora and her companions gathered in the dimly lit drawing room, the weight of their task pressing heavily upon them.

Nora paced by the window, watching as the wind whipped through the trees, their branches clawing at the manor as if trying to unveil its secrets. It's getting worse, she said, her voice barely above a whisper, yet it carried the weight of their shared fears. The curse... it's like it's alive, feeding off our presence.

Julian, his eyes reflecting the flicker of candlelight, nodded in agreement. Indeed. The phenomena we've documented over the past weeks have not only become more frequent but also more... aggressive. It's as if the very essence of the curse is evolving.

Izzy, seated at the table with her hands clasped tightly around a cup of tea, shivered. The spirits are restless, more so than ever before. They're terrified, angry. It's becoming increasingly difficult to communicate with them, to find any sense of peace.

Detective Flint leaned against the mantle, his skeptical nature battling with the undeniable evidence before him. I never thought I'd say this, but... we're out of our depth here. This isn't just about solving a mystery anymore. It's about survival.

The room fell silent, the only sound the crackling of the fire and the howl of the wind outside, as if nature itself was mourning the fate of the manor and its inhabitants.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the hall, followed by the sound of shattering glass. The group tensed, their previous conversations forgotten as they prepared to face yet another manifestation of the curse.

Nora was the first to react, her pragmatic nature driving her towards the source of the disturbance. Come on, she urged, grabbing a lantern. We need to find out what that was. We can't let fear dictate our actions.

As they navigated the dark corridors, the manor seemed to come alive around them, whispers filling the air, shadows moving just beyond the reach of the lantern's light. The atmosphere was oppressive, each step forward a defiance of the curse that sought to claim their sanity.

The disturbance had come from the library, where they found a bookcase overturned, its contents scattered across the floor. Among the chaos, a single book lay open, its pages fluttering as if caught in a breeze, though no windows were open.

Julian approached the book, his curiosity piqued despite the circumstances. This... this is one of Ambrose Wraithbourne's journals, he exclaimed, his voice a mix of excitement and fear. But how did it get here? This wasn't in the library's collection before.

Izzy, drawing closer, placed her hand above the pages, her expression one of concentration. There's... something here. A message, perhaps. Ambrose is trying to tell us something.

Flint, ever the detective, began to methodically examine the room, searching for any clues that might explain the bookcase's fall. There's no sign of forced entry, no natural cause for this. It's the curse, making its presence known.

Nora, holding the lantern high, looked around the library, her resolve hardening. Then it's more important than ever that we find a way to end this. We can't let Ambrose's sins dictate our fate. We need to understand the curse's origins if we're to have any hope of breaking it.

The group gathered around the journal, their determination renewed in the face of adversity. They were no longer just inhabitants of the manor or victims of the curse. They were its challengers, bound by a common goal to unearth the secrets buried within the manor's walls and to fight the darkness that threatened to consume them.

As they began to sift through the journal's pages, the storm outside intensified, as if the curse itself was raging against their defiance. But inside the library, there was only focus and the flicker of hope, as Nora, Julian, Izzy, and Flint set about unraveling the mysteries of Wraithbourne Manor, their alliance a beacon of light in the enveloping shadows.

As the group stood united in the library, surrounded by the scattered remnants of the past and the open journal that seemed to pulse with a life of its own, the air crackled with a palpable sense of anticipation and resolve. The discovery of Ambrose Wraithbourne's journal had ignited a spark within them, a shared excitement for the secrets it promised to unveil and the path it laid out toward confronting the curse head-on.

Nora, her eyes shining with a mixture of determination and