Swallow the Shadows

FROM THE AUTHOR

"Have you ever been driven to uncover a secret, regardless of the consequences? This is a key aspect of the Sloane West series. I wrote Swallow the Shadows to offer Sloane the chance to solve the mysteries that shaped her life and to explore how she and others will move forward once she finds the answers."

—C. Jean Downer

PROLOGUE

Denwick, Vancouver Island, 1988

The crypt was cooler than the night air aboveground, and faint amber candlelight flickered from three wall sconces onto Jane West’s cloak. She trailed her fingers over individual family niches as she slowly walked past the cinerarium wall for what she feared could be the last time.

“Keanes, Ilieves, Tindalls, Reeds, Emleys, Smalldons…” She whispered each name of the seaside village’s original families. Most had long since moved away, but the Keanes and Reeds still lived in Denwick. Her ancestors had also been in the town from the time the Gildey family established it.

She stopped at her family’s niches. Her spot was the last alcove in their row. Touching the chiseled letters of her name left her with a deep sadness. Her death date might never be written there. She laid her hands over her lower abdomen, and a more profound sorrow filled her. Her baby might never receive a niche.

“No more sentimental thoughts,” she said sternly. The Wests’ ashes weren’t even in those urns. It was all for show. All for the non-magicals’ sake. All because they lived in the nogical world defending the very humans who vilified them. She turned from the wall. Her moment of sentimentality and frustration only masked her actual fear—the real possibility that their child wouldn’t be allowed to rest with their family in the magical world, either.

The pendants under her soft linen cloak warmed, drawing her attention to the back wall that beckoned her. The granite’s veins branched into the same Tree of Life symbol as the necklaces. The stone wall was her family’s portal to the city of Tagridore on the magical plane, where supernatural species returned to live after the nogical world became inhospitable, millennia ago.

She pulled her cloak tight and walked to the wall. Protectors and guardians like her family were the only Magicals to remain here. They were Defenders of each magical species and against Malevolents, the evil supernaturals of the Nether realm, the Abyss, and their human progeny, the Half-Malevolents, which Nogicals named Demons and Cambions.

She approached the beckoning tree and smoothed her hand over the giant stone slab. “I’m not here for passage, but thank you for asking,” she told the luminescent mineral deposits. She was there at this late hour for an answer. One that could change her life forever.

A few minutes later, Jane felt her boyfriend’s presence in the stairwell before he stepped into the light. Sensing was a new power for her. She was a gifted telepath, but when she became pregnant with their child, she developed the ability to sense. “What did your father say?” she asked. He wrapped her up in a strong embrace and hesitated, tightening his hold on her, and in those two actions, Jane had her answer. “So, he won’t help us,” she murmured into his chest, crushed with disappointment.

“It’s not that he won’t. He can’t. Not here anyway. Once our child is born, the others will know. They will figure out who you and your coven are…and when they do, they’ll destroy us. All of us.” He leaned back and held her gaze, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. “I’m sorry for causing you so much pain, for upending your life.” He bent close and lightly kissed her lips. “Please forgive me.”

She ached to say his name, any of his family’s names, but it was forbidden. She had to place a binding spell on herself to keep from the simple utterance that would expose them to danger if overheard by prying ears. “You don’t need my forgiveness. I can live with the consequences of my choices. You and our baby were my decisions. And I would make them all over again.” She nestled her head into his shoulder. “I had hoped your father could think of a way for us to stay together…here.”

“Me, too. But we’ll still be together.” He stroked her long black hair, held her dark-brown eyes with his. “He’ll help me keep you and the baby safe. And he and I have a plan to make sure the others can never hurt us. But we need time.”

Jane nodded, blinking away her tears. That was it then. As long as the others remained free to hunt them, she had to leave Denwick. She had planned for the possibility, but nothing would make the pain of disappearing from her life without saying goodbye any easier. Nothing would make living without her parents and grandparents, her familiar, Elvina, and her cousin Dorathea, a choice she would make if not forced to. She released him and wiped her face with the sleeve of her dark-blue cloak.

“I have something for you.” His voice was low and gentle, and the candlelight danced in his intense eyes. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small black box and opening it. “This is my promise of eternal love. Will you give me yours by wearing it?”

The diamond pendant’s scintillation mesmerized her. “Yes, of course.”

He clasped the necklace around her neck, kissing her shoulder softly, and a warm, tranquil wave moved through her.

She held the icy fire between her fingers. “It’s stunning, but I didn’t need this. I have freely given you my commitment.” She unfastened one of her necklaces. “You aren’t the only one bearing gifts. This belonged to my great-grandmother. I found it at my great-aunt’s house and placed a charm on it. The key opens our portal to Tagridore for you now.”

He dangled the Tree of Life pendant from its chain, and his face became concerned. “A key to your world? Is it safe for me to have?”

“No one will know you have it unless you tell them. And I’ve secured a place in Tagridore where we can meet if you can’t come to New York.” Her voice caught. She hadn’t said the city’s name aloud before, the place where she would live a new life, passing as a Nogical and hiding with their child.

The sconce’s candles flickered, a draft from the stairwell nearly blowing them out. They looked up. Someone was in the mausoleum. “It could be them,” he whispered. “We need to go. Are you ready to leave Denwick?”

“Not yet. I have a few things to do.” She stretched on the tips of her toes and kissed him goodbye. “I’ll call for you when I’m ready.”

A moment later, Jane appeared in her bedroom at Mallow Cottage, the West family home. Her parents and grandparents had retired to their rooms before she left for the crypt. Their bedrooms were on the same floor, down a wide hall, but the house was large enough that they wouldn’t hear her final preparations to leave.

With the flick of her wrist, she floated her bed above the hardwood floor. Her familiar remained curled in a tight furry ball on the plush lavender duvet without twitching a whisker. Jane’s pulse quickened as she quietly removed several wooden floorboards, revealing a hidden compartment. She gathered a handful of books scattered around the room and shoved them inside the nook. The evidence she had compiled against the insurgents needed to be safe until she could return.

She had no alternative but to hide the books and run. Their Grand Coven, the three most important Wiċċan, the governors of the magical world’s Northwest Quadrant, was already suspicious of her, and for good reasons. Her research had discovered that one of the three was part of a conspiracy, a dangerous allegiance between corrupt Magicals and Half-Malevolents. And she was close to discovering who the traitor was.

With shaking hands hovering an inch above the loosened floorboards, she whispered, belúcan. A white light emanated from her fingertips to the floor, sealing the books and the truth under a potent spell. She marveled at how the light enhanced her magic. The intoxicating power, like sensing, had only come to be with the baby growing inside her. But it also scared her, often feeling like a wicked indulgence that one day she would need to control.

She got to her feet and, with a wave of her hand, silently lowered the bed. Elvina purred without opening her eyes, and Jane stroked the familiar’s silky, dark-gray fur.

Do I even want to ask what you’re doing? Elvina communicated telepathically.

I am securing the future. Jane hesitated. And I’m sorry, El, but I can’t take you with me.

Dramatic words for a vacation, dear. And I’m not upset in the least. Who wants to visit New York City, well, besides you? Why not Madrid, Sydney, Paris?

Because I knew you wouldn’t want to go, and I was right. Clever, huh?

Elvina’s velvet laughter filled Jane’s head, and she bit her lip, trying to stop the sting of tears. What would she do without her best friend? She no longer needed Elvina’s magical assistance, but she did need her companionship.

Jane glanced around her room one last time, vanquishing the selfish thought. No one was safe with her and the child here in Denwick, not even her familiar. It was impossible to know how long she and her baby would have to hide. She would have faith that the time would be short and that her parents would forgive her when she returned.

Yesterday, her parents had thrown a graduation and bon voyage party for her. It was part of her plan if she had to escape Denwick. She asked to take a week’s trip to New York City. The Nogicals were shocked that her parents allowed her to travel alone at eighteen. But they had no idea that her kind are wiser than their years. She stared at the gift bags with brightly colored bows on her desktop and hoped they would donate the presents.

All of her parents’ friends from Old Denwick, and her friends, Ken Keane, Charlie Huxham, even Lore Reed, showed up that afternoon. She would miss them, but she could survive leaving them. But lying to and never seeing her family again, well, that might destroy her, but she had to.

She turned away from Elvina and told herself it was best this way. No goodbyes. A clean break. The words closed her throat, and she gave in to the tears that had been threatening.

Has your secret boyfriend broken your heart, dear? Elvina asked.

No, I’m fine. It’s just been a long day.

You don’t sound fine. Are you worried about your trip?

She shook her head.

Well if you don’t want to talk about it, I’ve also had a long day and would like to sleep. Are you coming to bed or not?

Not yet. I have a few more things to do before I leave in the morning. She wiped her face and kissed the top of Elvina’s head. Go to sleep. I won’t disturb you.

She steeled her nerves. It was time to see Freya, Elvina’s mother, but she couldn’t use the enchanted Degas her parents gave her for her sixteenth birthday, her portal to Tagridore. It hung above the mantle downstairs, and the ballerinas in the painting were much too judgmental. They had only been in her life for two years and hadn’t warmed to her, so she knew they wouldn’t help her sneak away this late. She needed to use her cousin’s portal. Dorathea, the coven’s High Priestess, lived next door in a hobbit-looking house. Her basement was their covenstead, an enchanted room twice the size of the floor above, where they practiced magic.

All Jane needed was her cousin’s house spirit, Alfred, to let her inside. An old spirit with a heavy English accent and an impish side, he had a soft spot for her. She opened a telepathic link to message him. Alfred, is Dorathea at Freya’s tonight?

Cheers, young West. Surprisingly, they’re not together. Your cousin has an early meeting tomorrow, and Freya has a large order of scones due in the morning. They’ve decided to stay in their own homes this evening.

Jane had planned to meet Freya on a night her cousin wasn’t with her girlfriend, but sometimes Dorathea was unpredictable, so she had to double-check. Will you let me use the covenstead without Dorathea knowing, please? I need her portal.

He replied at once. The High Priestess is asleep. Come if you wish but do be quiet. And if you would allow me to say again, you must show those dancers that you control the portal.

Thank you, Alfred. I’ll try to be more assertive.

A moment later, Jane appeared in the covenstead’s library. Alfred had lit a few floating candelabras for her, but the candlelight was dim. She peered into the rest of the room, wanting to see the place where she was trained to become a powerful witch, to smell Dorathea’s scent of cloves and black pepper, and hear the burbles of viscous liquids brewing. Instead, she swallowed the longing and moved quickly to the back of the library.

Sloane was lying on a sofa. The black Labrador lifted her head and greeted Jane with several tail thumps against the cushion. “Hi, Slo.” She petted the dog’s back and kissed her muzzle. “I’m going to miss you so much. I might even risk sneaking back just to see you.” She wrapped her arms around Sloane’s neck and held onto her before straightening and standing before the enormous Lavinia Fontana painting on the opposite wall.

Whenever she wanted to sneak away to Tagridore, she used her cousin’s portal because the two women in Fontana’s painting gladly agreed to keep her secrets and encouraged her to forge a path of her own making. She lifted her arms and whispered, “Onpenne.” Smiling, they welcomed her to enter their room. Of course, the man in the painting never looked at her. She figured he was too afraid to avert his eyes from the woman guarding him with a butcher’s knife.

The other woman ushered her to a back door. Jane stepped through and onto a cobblestone path on the other side. Dorathea’s portal took her straight to Freya’s home and café, a whitewashed building with a lavender canopy in their magical city. Elvina’s mother met her at the front of the shop and led her to the back room. “Oh, my dear one,” she said, embracing her, and Jane relaxed into the woman’s nurturing aura. “Sit, sit. I’ve made your favorite orange and cranberry scones. I insist you eat with me before taking this journey.”

“All right. As long as you don’t try to change my mind. I can’t bear that right now.”

“I promised not to dissuade you or pry.” She poured them tea and placed a scone on Jane’s plate.

“Good, because you can’t know the truth, trust me, it would be the end of us all.” She stared into Freya’s dark-brown eyes, fear gaining hold of her.

“Calm down, I believe you. How could I not? The gravity of your situation saturates your energy. I want you to tell me everything, but I understand you cannot. I will assist you and the child until you can.” Freya placed her cup on its saucer. “When everyone said goodbye to you yesterday afternoon and wished you well on your holiday, they were unaware it could be forever. My assistance will cause great strife. You’re asking me to keep a secret that will devastate your family and cause irreparable damage between Dorathea and me. Living without you will be as agonizing as grieving your death. It is not a choice I make without hesitation.”

“Don’t you think I know that? I’m trying to keep them safe.” Jane’s voice was sharper than she wanted, and she stared into her tea, fighting against the shame washing over her.

“Have you considered that your family has not asked for a martyr? They are Protectors. They fight. Don’t you think they would defend you and your child regardless of who the father is?”

Jane breathed deeply, calming herself. “We are powerful, I know that. But, please, Freya, right now we’re not strong enough to fight what’s coming. And I don’t know who we can trust. A Half-Malevolent is here in Denwick. And it’s hungry for more power. It has seduced some Magicals into helping it, and it’s only a matter of time before it finds out who we are. The only way to stop them is if I disappear.”

“How can this be?” Freya looked at her, incredulously. “Your great-grandfather banished the evil supernatural bound to this land. The coven would have known if it had left any offspring.”

“We’ve been wrong, Freya. Seven Malevolents escaped the Abyss. Five have been returned there. But our covens banished them a millennium ago. Not a hundred and some years ago. But not before they bred with humans.” Jane hesitated when Freya looked skeptical. “Half-Malevolents have roamed among us for centuries. My great-grandfather exiled the Malevolent’s half-human child to the Nether.”

She considered Jane’s assertion, tapping her long fingers on the tabletop. “Your coven and I would sense if a Half-Malevolent remained on the land, dear one.”

“Not if it became strong enough to hide from us as well as we have hidden from it.” Jane trembled, and Freya grasped her hand.

“And you’re sure your going into hiding will keep the coven safe?”

Jane nodded.

“Very well. Until you can return I will help you. But I have one request that will make this situation bearable. You will allow Elvina to live with you. She will guard you and help train the child.”

“No, it’s too dangerous. Elvina could disclose something to you.”

“She might be my daughter, but she’s your familiar and as such, she cannot tell me anything you wouldn’t allow.”

Jane knew what Freya said was true, but she had never forced Elvina to obey her and wasn’t sure she ever could. “Fine. But only if she wants to come and knows I might need to disallow her things.”

“Very well.” Freya stared at Jane’s chest. “Did he give you that?”

Jane followed her gaze to the diamond pendant. “Yes, tonight. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” She beamed with pride over the gift and what it symbolized.

“You are sure there is no other way? Your coven is extraordinary. It would take little to change his parents’ minds about you and the child.”

“There’s no other way.” Jane bit into the warm scone, and childhood memories of Freya’s pastries and tea overwhelmed her.

“Oh, my dear one. I regret that love has forced you to make such a severe decision. But I trust it will sustain you while you are away.”

“It will, I promise.” Jane got to her feet, striking a pose of confidence. “I have to go now. Are you ready?”

Freya scooted back in her chair and stood. She gathered Jane’s long black hair, sweeping it to the side and exposing the young woman’s neck. The Sensor moved within an inch of Jane’s skin and breathed in. “Your lover’s concealment spell is ancient—”

Jane jerked back. “You promised not to pry.”

“I was only figuring out the best way to complement its magic.” She ran her hands over Jane’s arms, her body, and held her wrists. Then she looked into Jane’s eyes and whispered, “Scield.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Even I will be unable to sense you now.”

“Please, Freya.” Jane’s voice was somber. “You promised to be strong.”

Henriette M.
The third part of the Sloane West series starts off with a big bang: a coven nearly erased! From there it keeps the reader on their toes.