Shadows of Destiny

By Francesco Santora

Step into Wednesday's World of Darkness, where forbidden magic beckons and survival is a perilous dance. Echoes of the past haunt her as she relentless hunts for her for her future. Will a pact with a demon lord grant be the answer to gaining the power she needs to endure, or damn her to a more more terri

• Language: English
• Publisher: Genius Concepts
• Release date: Jan 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9781088299647

Book preview

Shadows of Destiny

Part 1:  Legends of Chicago

The moon hung low over the forgotten streets of Old Town, casting an eerie glow on the brownstone building that harbored the remnants of an arcane establishment—an abandoned market of sorts concealed from the public eye. Ivy clung to the weathered walls, and the air bore the weight of untold secrets as if it held the whispers of a bygone era. It was a dark place. Even at night the shadows around the building, a shade darker than surrounding areas, a testament to its past.

 A door formed on the wall of an abandoned building across the street, rising up on the surface as if it had been pushed through the wall. The door opened inward and a shadowy figure stood in the doorway leading out into the night street.  She wore a dark leather trench coat of an unusually ornate design with silver skulled buttons and gold thread embroidery stitching. A wide belt the span of her had held the coat closed.  Two long, tightly woven braids fell to her front with a black flat, ridged, circular, visorless sailor styled  hat on her head.  Her eyes were shadow  as she looked up and down the block. Raising her arm, she spoke to a shrunken head with eyes that glowed. If this is indeed the location then you have done well, she intoned. There was indistinct whispering from the head. She gave a curt nod, For your sake, I hope it is true. Otherwise, a few days in a boiling pot will give you the time to reflect upon your mistake and research methods. Looking to her left she put the  head down on something out of view, Now don’t wander off while I’m gone, she told it . A dark attempt at humor as she stepped into the night air the door slowly closed behind her. She could feel the building's presence across the street, something happened here, some event so disturbing that left a permanent imprint on the surrounding environment.

  The figure cocked her head slightly, No, it’s more than that.  There’s something here. She crossed the street.

Wednesday stood before the entrance, her eyes tracing the mysterious patterns etched into the rotten wooden door. Arcane warding, she could feel it pushing against her.

The forum whispers that had led her to investigate this place were intriguing, promising tales of a hidden gem in the heart of Chicago—a place where forbidden exchanges once took place, where the denizens of the dark bartered for artifacts steeped in mystery.

The city's ambient sounds faded into a distant murmur as Wednesday approached, the ward was annoying but her determination wrapped around her like a cloak. The door, and windows boarded up. Hardly an impediment to her, but she did notice they were old and unmarked. In all the years not even vandals dared to graffiti the building.  Something is most definitely here, she thought to herself. Something powerful enough that even mundane minds unconsciously place. Looks like Cypher saved herself from the boiling pot; how disappointing."

 Wednesday raised a gloved hand with two fingers pointing up, Let’s see what we are dealing with here, she thought, inscribing a circle in the air