City & Shadows: Lila & The Dark, #2

By Chris Ross

The shadows have followed them into the light…

A century ago, Lila chose to step into the dark—and into immortality. Guided by the enigmatic Elyra, a being once known only as The Dark, she has spent decades drifting through the world's hidden places. Together, they've survived as myths. Whispers. Echoes.

Now, everything has changed.

When Lila and Elyra re-emerge in modern-day New Orleans, they find themselves no longer invisible. No longer forgotten. For the first time in a hundred years, they are seen. And something ancient has taken notice.

As Elyra begins to unravel—haunted by flickers of a forgotten past and powers she can no longer control—Lila must navigate a city pulsing with danger, mystery, and the growing weight of transformation. An old friend reappears, caught in threads he doesn't understand. A chaotic force awakens, threatening to tear open the veil between myth and memory. And in the heart of it all, a truth long buried is stirring back to life.

In the shadow of every city lies something older than stone. Something waiting.

City & Shadows is Book Two of the Lila & The Dark series—an immersive blend of urban fantasy, poetic prose, and slow-burning emotional mystery. Set against the vibrant and haunted streets of New Orleans, this sequel deepens the mythology and raises the stakes in Lila and Elyra's haunting journey.

If you enjoy:

✔️ Atmospheric, character-driven fantasy
✔️ Ancient powers in modern cities
✔️ Found-family bonds and emotional stakes
✔️ Lyrical storytelling wrapped in shadow and starlight

…then you'll be drawn into the pages of City & Shadows.

What readers are saying about Book One, Lila & The Dark:

"Lyrical and immersive… a haunting meditation on fear, friendship, and the magic of unseen things."
"The prose dances. The shadows breathe. This is what urban fantasy should feel like."
"Elyra and Lila are unforgettable."

City & Shadows explores the threshold between visibility and vulnerability, light and darkness, memory and myth. In this chapter of their journey, not even time can shield them from what is rising.

?️ The night knows their names. And something else does too.

? Begin the next chapter. Order City & Shadows today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CRBooks.ink
• Release date: May 9, 2025
• ISBN: 9798231707546

Chris Ross

Chris Ross is the author and creative director behind CRBooks.ink, an independent publishing imprint based in Tennessee. He writes across genres including urban fantasy, contemporary romance, and self-help for young adults, weaving themes of growth, resilience, and transformation into every story. Beyond his own works, Chris provides book cover design, formatting, and publishing support for fellow indie authors, helping bring their stories to life with professionalism and care.

Book preview

City & Shadows

Lila & The Dark: Book 2

Chris Ross

Crbooks INK

First published by CRBooks INK, 2025

Second Edition, 2025

Copyright © 2025 by Chris Ross

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise—without prior written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or localities is purely coincidental.

Chris Ross asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Cover and interior artwork by Chris Ross

Editing by Sharon Barnes

Editing by Julie Lomax

Published by:

CRBooks INK

www.crbooks.ink

Contents

Dedication

Epigraph

Author’s Note

Dear Reader

Night 1

Shadows Awaken

1.Shadows Return

2.Unexpected Changes

3.Tangible Changes

4.Reflections

5.Night Owls

6.Weaving Chaos

Night 2

The Light Bends

7.Shifting Shadows

8.A Haunting Echo

9.Stepping into the Light

10.Unveiling Shadows

11.Cloak of Shadows

12.Whispers of Chaos

Night 3

Flicker and Fade

13.Embracing the Light

14.Converging Paths

15.Ripples of Chaos

16.A New Accord

17.Cracks in the Truth

18.Burden of Truth

Night 4

The Void Stirs

19.The Call

20.The Gathering Storm

21.The Void Awakens

22.The Abyss Revealed

23.The Void’s Embrace

24.Light’s Redemption

25.Dusk and Shadows

26.Shadows Retreat

Night 5

The Last Light

27.Light Burden

28.Finding Balance

29.Family Ties

30.Shadows of Departure

31.Voice in the Night

Epilogue

About the author

Dedication

To my beloved daughter, Rebecca—

Whose youthful wonder and joyful discoveries remind me daily of the magic hidden in plain sight. You are my little star, inspiring me to see the world anew and to write stories that capture the boundless possibilities of your imagination.

In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.

Francis Bacon

Author’s Note

Dear Reader,

Stories are bridges between perception and experience—and the way they’re presented shapes the journey.

In City & Shadows, you’ll notice bolded dialogue and italicized internal thoughts. This isn’t standard formatting, but it’s intentional.

My goal is clarity and immersion. Readers with ADHD, dyslexia, or other processing challenges often find it easier to follow conversations when dialogue stands out visually. For others, it simply enhances the rhythm and flow of the story.

But beyond function, it reflects the characters. Lila and Elyra live between worlds—seen and unseen, silence and voice. Their words and thoughts don’t always align. Sometimes they echo. Sometimes they diverge. The formatting mirrors that interplay.

Literature is evolving. If this style helps you experience the story more fully—whether for accessibility or aesthetics—I’m grateful. May it draw you deeper into the night… and into the mysteries it holds.

—Chris Ross

Author of Lila & The Dark and City & Shadows

Dear Reader

When we last wandered the cobblestone streets and moonlit corners of Lila & The Dark , a door closed softly on Lila’s awakening—her transformation nestled within the shadows she finally called home.

But as all storytellers know, every ending is merely a beginning dressed in quieter clothes.

City & Shadows rises from those lingering silences to illuminate untraveled paths and uncover deeper mysteries.

This sequel continues a journey many of you have shared with me—one that began with a simple question: What lies within the shadows?

In crafting this chapter of Lila and Elyra’s story, I’ve followed them into new places—places where the line between light and dark grows thin, where the outer trials mirror the transformations happening within.

The world they inhabit has expanded, and with it, so has their understanding of themselves—and of each other.

This book exists because of you. Your messages, your enthusiasm, and your willingness to linger a little longer in this realm of night gave this story its breath. For that, I am endlessly grateful.

So let us walk once more together—

into broader streets, under stranger stars—

where courage is tested, bonds are forged,

and even the darkest shadows might still hold light.

Thank you for continuing this journey with me, Lila, and Elyra.

With gratitude and wonder, —Chris Ross

Night 1

Shadows Awaken

Crbooks INK

Chapter 1

Shadows Return

The alley stirred beneath the humid cloak of New Orleans’ night. Shadows thickened, alive with motion, twisting and curling until two figures emerged from the darkness.

Lila stepped forward first, her white hair glowing faintly under the light. She looked like a child, no older than twelve, but her eyes carried centuries. Behind her, Elyra lingered in the shadows, her long black hair blending seamlessly with the void from which they’d come.

They’d worn these childlike forms for so long it felt normal now—though once, long ago, they’d looked very different. But that was before the night that bound their lives together, and the shadows had kept them so ever since.

The music found them first—the soulful wail of a saxophone winding through the thick air. It mingled with bursts of laughter and the savory aroma of Creole spices. Lila inhaled deeply and drifted toward the alley’s mouth, drawn to the pulse of the Vieux Carré.

Listen, she said, her voice soft with awe. Her emerald eyes glimmered as she took in the scene. The Quarter hasn’t changed its song. She smiled, captivated by the jazz notes floating through the night air, a melody that had called to her across decades.

Elyra stayed back, her form shifting into the deeper shadows as a neon sign buzzed to life. The melody may be the same, she murmured, her tone weighted with time, but the city itself pushes us further into darkness. Too many artificial stars stealing away the night.

"You’re so dramatic, Lila grinned, turning back to her. Remember that apartment we found? I bet it’s still perfect. It’s been waiting for us."

Elyra tilted her head, skeptical. "That was thirty years ago, Lila. Odds are it’s either claimed or crumbled by now." She moved further into the shadows as another burst of neon flickered too close.

Lila shrugged, playful as always. "Only one way to find out."

The world bustled around them, unaware. Passersby glanced over the alley without seeing them, their gazes sliding away as if repelled by instinct. A little girl skipped past, her hand in her mother’s, and Lila stilled. Her playful smile faltered.

Elyra’s voice reached her gently. "Don’t linger too long, Lila."

But Lila couldn’t help it. That familiar ache had returned—the reminder of her own frozen youth. Even if the little girl had seen her, she’d only see what the world saw: a young girl, innocent and untouched by time, not the ageless soul hidden beneath.

Why do we remain this way? she asked Elyra one time, her voice thick with frustration. "Why can’t we change?"

Elyra had leaned against the balcony railing, her expression soft but resigned. "Our appearances reflect how we first saw each other. When I saved you, your life bound itself to mine—and with it, our forms became fixed."

"But people change, Lila had argued, pacing. Why can’t we?"

Elyra had smiled then, a mix of sadness and wry humor. "Change might mean losing what’s familiar. I could end up as something else entirely. Maybe a creature of the night. Or worse— she paused dramatically, a broody man with a god complex."

Lila had burst into laughter. "Never. You’ll always be Elyra to me. She’d stopped pacing, meeting her friend’s eyes. Unchanging. Constant. My anchor."

The sounds of the Quarter tugged Lila back to the present. She turned to find Elyra watching her, half-hidden in shadow. Their bond was unspoken and unbreakable—a tether in a constantly shifting world.

A subtle unease hung in the air. Neither of them mentioned it, but they both felt it, like the whisper of a storm just beyond the horizon.

"We’re invisible to them, remember? Lila’s voice brightened. We can slip in, take a look. If it’s occupied, we’ll leave. Easy."

Elyra hesitated, then nodded. "Lead the way, then."

The darkness curled around them, heavy and alive, pulling them deeper into its embrace. In a single blink, the alley was empty. The city moved on, unaware of the shadows it had swallowed.

Chapter 2

Unexpected Changes

The shadows beneath the wrought-iron balcony thickened into two figures. Lila stepped out first, her glowing white hair catching the faint light of the apartment. Elyra followed, quieter, her dark silhouette blending into the surrounding shadows until she fully solidified.

The air inside the apartment was heavy, carrying the stillness of long disuse. Dust floated lazily through the faint moonlight filtering through the windows, and the scent of aged wood and thick humidity lingered.

Lila glanced around, a grin spreading across her face as she strode toward the window. "It still feels the same," she murmured, peering at the vibrant streets below. Jazz music and laughter floated up to her, mingling with the clatter of dishes and the hum of life.

Behind her, Elyra lingered, scanning the apartment with sharp eyes. Her movements were deliberate and cautious. "It’s changed, Lila, she said, her voice low. New furniture. Signs of someone living here. She paused, her tone tightening. And we didn’t see any security cameras the last time, but…"

Tell me you didn’t just trip an alarm. Lila turned, teasing. From the next room, Elyra’s voice echoed back, laced with irritation. "One of those blasted infrared cameras