Chapter 190: 188: The Shadow Walker

\[Carnelia\]

The shadows call me now. I'm no longer alone when I leave the light.

"A consequence of spending too much time too close to the void," Thalan explains as we turn the corner. "I was wondering how long it would take for you to hear them. Had I known you were a universal dragon sooner, I'd have pulled you from the dream immediately, even at the risk of your mind."

We pause by a dark window. Everyone is asleep or close to it now. I left Primus with our children. I long to return to them and to reassure my mate that I will not leave him. I don't know how we are going to make this work. My heart is torn in two. But one thing I've never been more certain of is the importance of our little family.

Even if I have to burn this world and forge another from its ashes, I'll find a way for Primus and I to rule together in peace.

"The void," my words echo as it bounces along the crystal-covered cavern walls. "You keep mentioning this void, but I saw only Primus' dream."

"Then how did you form your dragon?" he inquires. "The one that burned the town."

My breath catches, startled. "How much of our dream did you see?"

"Enough to know that you were changing it as you were living it," now that we are away from the torchlight, his skin gives a faint, glowing cast, much like the flying creatures that cling to the cave walls. "Enough to see you destroy the village as you took a form much darker and more terrifying than any you naturally possess." He pauses and looks at me very carefully.

"Tell me, niece," his tight grin tilts upright. "How long have the shadows spoken to you? Did they start in the dream, or..."

"Before?" I finish for him. "I can't be sure, but I think I may have always heard them, just not as loudly."

He seems pleased, humming as he thinks. "And the void, have you ever seen it?"

"I don't understand it," I admit.

"The void is a nebulous place of potential anything that can be imagined can be brought forth," he explains, his voice steady and firm. "Unfortunately, those of us who can influence shadows, often hear them as well, and have very troubled minds." His look is almost pitying as he peers at me. To have so much power and potential but at such a high cost. "When given the chance, those with the shadow touch rather than create potential beauty, end up birthing terror."

"Why are you telling me all of this now?" I lean against a pillar so I can question him face-to-face. I need to see the change in his eyes when he speaks. There are things he is not saying, things I need to hear. "You have been deep into history and lore since you released me..."

"I did not hold you," he insists, his eyes widening at the accusation in my words.

"Liar," I counter and he closes his half-open mouth. A dream of a few minutes can last a lifetime and I had been in Primus' dream for weeks. The barmaid Milicent knew how to read a tell, and now, so do I.

"The sleep I fell into was dreamless, Uncle. Unnatural. I know the difference now. And I know that I could have woken sooner if you weren't holding me down."

He flinches, but only slightly, the edges of his long ears twitching. "We were simply waiting for you to wake we weren't, there wasn't any other reason that you rested as long as you did."

He's lying, but why?

"What aren't you telling me, Uncle," I cross my arms. "Out with it. You need me for something. I want to know what is so important that you'd draw me away from my family to discuss it where no one else can hear."

He is silent, his lips pressed into a thin line as he stands there watching me. "Did you know the shadows glow around you?"

I step back, startled. "What did you say?"

"You create shadows when you move, as do we all, but your shadows glow, Carnelia. You are a shadow walker. Shadow walkers are very rare, and can only learn from other shadow walkers."

"But I've never met another shadow walker," I retort, confused at his implications.

"Of course not," he smiles smugly, "Although one did have a hand in your creation. He was the strongest Shadowwalker Elfholm had ever created. He likely taught you while you slept within the egg, knowing that his own time was limited. I'd have done the same if I were him."

My father. He means my father.

His lips curl as he nods. "Yes, Deklaan. My dearest brother. One of few remaining shadow drakes, until your son of course, what did you name him?"

"Nox Andromeda Majere," my hands are shaking.

"It is good to know that the gift has passed at least one more generation," he presses his fingertips to his chin nervously.

"I don't understand," I take a step away from him.

"You will," his eyes take on a different kind of light, one that is more cunning than kind. "Because I need you to help me with something very important, something that only you can help me with. There are no other shadow walkers in Elfholm. Of your surviving siblings, you are the only one with the gift."

Siblings?

"You know where my sisters are?" I freeze. "How?"

"I raised them, of course," his grin widens. "I'd have saved more of you if I could have. 8 babies, 8 possibilities. But the gods knew what they were doing. The shadows may have never risen in you had you not faced so much adversity."

"If you raised my sisters," I move a bit closer to the torchlight, "Then where are they? Why aren't they here?"

He shakes his head. "Even with my brother's blood in your veins, you four were not designed to live beneath the surface. Even you, my shadow child, need light to grow. The starstone would have slowly killed them had I kept them here."

I need to keep him talking until I reach the light. I need to get back to Primus. "It was very considerate of you to keep them safe for all this time. I understand why you'd keep them hidden too. Are they all like me?" I point to my own features. "Do they look like sun dragons too?"

"Yes, you all resemble your mother, Jana. Although your abilities vary. You, my dear, may be the strongest of the set, although with time I'm sure at least one of your younglings will best your abilities. One of your little drakaina, I am pretty sure, is also a universal dragon." He claps his hands together as if my children's gifts were his own personal treasure. "I can't wait to find out what your other children are capable of. Such a wealth of power in one family. You picked a powerful mate."

"I should be getting back to them, "I step into the light and feel the weight of the shadows slough away as the torchlight touches my skin. Even my breaths seem easier, as if the darkness itself was pulling me somewhere else. "Was there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Yes." His face looks less intense as he steps into the fully lit corridor. "The moon council will be meeting soon. I wanted you to come with me as a representative for the Celestial Kingdom. It is time we reunited our kingdoms for the greater common good, but some issues must be addressed first."

"Of course, Uncle," I smile. "Primus and I will be glad to attend."

"No, niece, this meeting is just for you and other celestial heads of state," his tone is firm, "You'll be there as a Celestial representative. Primus is a Terran King and..."

"My husband," I interrupt him, "my mate, and consort. He is just as much a member of the Celestial Court as I am of the Terran. Maybe Ona..."

"No!" he shouts. "It needs to be you. Ona...is too weak."

Something doesn't feel right.

"I will think about it," I give him my sweetest, most harmless smile. "But I will need to confer with my sister-queen before making a final decision."

"Do what you must," he bows. "But please decide soon. We expect to meet within the next few days."

We say our good nights and I bow away from him, turning back towards my room.

The shadows speak to me. They tell me to hurry. They tell me to run.

"Primus,"  I say his name, close my eyes, and within a blink, I move as a shadow through the darkness, reforming by his side.