Whisper of Shadow: A Mirus Short Story



  Whisper of Shadow

  by Kait Nolan

  Whisper of Shadow

  Written and published by Kait Nolan

  Copyright 2012 Kait Nolan

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE: The following is a work of fiction. All people, places, and events are purely products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is entirely coincidental.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. The ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Cover design by Robin Ludwig Design Inc.,https://www.gobookcoverdesign.com/

  Glossary of Terms:

  Council of Races: ruling body of the paranormal races

  Doppelganger: race able to duplicate themselves

  Investigation and Enforcement Division (IED): division of the Council of Races responsible for investigation of crimes involving the paranormal races and enforcement of Mirus law

  Mirus: general term for the paranormal races

  Shadow Walkers: special ops division under the command of the Council of Races; typically work in teams; recruited based on ability rather than race; have the ability to control and travel by shadow

  Sugea: race of snake shifters

  Wraith: race that magnifies and feeds on negative emotion, specializes in illusion

  Whisper of Shadow

  “—and that is the reason the Western Roman Empire fell, while its brother in the east went on to thrive until the fall of Constantinople nearly a thousand years later.”

  Cheep cheep EEEEEEEEEEEP.

  Emily’s pen faltered, as did her concentration as the nearby mockingbird continued to shriek. The view in front of her wavered, like looking through old glass and she began to see the outline of trees through the vaguely transparent forms of her classmates. She clutched the pen and struggled to focus on the classroom a quarter mile below the ridge she perched on, working to maintain the incorporeal projection of herself that currently resided in her assigned desk. It was a dangerous game she was playing, “attending” class while her physical body was elsewhere, pouring most of her consciousness into the double instead of going with the usual split vision of a doppelganger. If anyone tried to touch her or noticed that there was no resistance when they bumped into her, she was screwed. If Rab found out he’d—well, he wouldn’t kill her, but he’d subject her to the mother of all lectures, then make her change schools. Again.

  But Emily had needed out. She was suffocating in there. Alone in a sea of ignorant, self-absorbed snobs, who didn’t ever notice she existed even when her corporeal body was right in front of them.

  She tuned back in to the lecture, scribbling notes on the weekend assignment as her teacher droned on, his voice sounding a little tinny, like it was broadcast through a transistor radio. As the bell rang, she rose to her feet and began to walk along the ridge, even as she concentrated on navigating her incorporeal half through the crowds without appearing to touch anyone or anything. It was hard to do it smoothly. Following The Rules had kept her out of practice.

  A branch beneath her foot cracked like a rifle shot, and Emily suddenly noticed the quiet of the forest. No birds. No insects. Silence, but for the faint creak of branches swaying in the breeze. Her skin prickled in warning. She stopped and her incorporeal self stopped too. Hastily, she navigated her double out of the flow of students in the hallway, into an alcove between two bays of lockers, then her physical self took stock, pivoting in a slow circle, searching for danger. That she saw none did nothing to alleviate her anxiety. She knew better than most that the worst threats were the ones you never saw coming. Her heart sped up to a rat-a-tat rhythm that thudded in her ears, making it hard to listen.

  She could pull her double back, use it to scout. But someone might see her disappear, and that would bring attention that she needed to avoid at all costs. Hands fisted with indecision, Emily stared hard at the shadows around her, willing her brain to process, to find the threat. There? Was that patch of darkness more solid than it should be? Was that a metallic glint beyond the ridge above?

  You’re jumping at normal shadows, she chided. Find cover, and get yourself back in one body.

  A hand came around her throat. A threat. A promise. “What do you think you’re doing, little girl?” The voice in her ear was a low growl.

  Emily didn’t hesitate. She drove back hard with her elbow and stomped backward on his instep. Or, at least, where his instep should have been. When her foot didn’t connect, she staggered a little, grabbing at the hand and attached arm with frantic fingers and trying to position herself for a judo throw, but she couldn’t concentrate on defending herself and maintaining her double down at the school.

  Her assailant just chuckled and shifted behind her again.

  A sense of relief and annoyance trickled through her, even as she drove her elbow back, trying for a lower hit.

  “Tsk tsk. Getting sloppy little sis.”

  “You don’t fight fair,” she grumbled.

  “You think the enemy will fight fair?” demanded Rab, releasing her.

  Emily stumbled and turned on him with a glare.

  “What are you doing out of bounds anyway?” asked her brother. According to both the school’s rules and his, anywhere off the school grounds was off limits.

  A dozen answers that were some shade of the truth sprang to her lips and died. She settled for, “I needed some space.” She waited to see if he’d note that she’d been attending class out of the flesh.

  “It’s not safe. Next time it might not be me lurking in the shadows.”

  “Why are you lurking anyway?”

  “Waiting for you to get through with class. Though I see you decided to alter your schedule of your own accord.”

  Good. Better he think I was cutting than splitting forms. “You’re here for a visit?” she asked cautiously. She watched him, alert to the signs that the danger had gotten too close and he was evacuating her again. When he only nodded, she threw herself into his arms, all but bowling him over with the strength of her hug.

  He returned her fierce embrace. “I missed you too, Doublemint.”

  “How long can you stay?” she demanded, pulling back. She knew before he opened his mouth that the answer wouldn’t be what she wanted to hear.

  “Through dinner. Maybe a bit after. I’ve got a flight to catch at nine.”

  “To where?” A useless question. He never answered.

  “You know I can’t tell you that.”

  “I know, I know. Standard operating procedure. Fine.” She stepped away and circled around him, checking for injuries.

  “Do I pass inspection?” he asked, smiling a little.

  “Even a Shadow Walker can be hurt,” said Emily. “I suppose you were lucky again. This time.”

  “In and out. No altercations.” Rab checked his watch, a multi-dial affair that kept track of several time zones. While his attention was away from her, Emily quickly checked that the school halls were empty and snapped her double back into herself, smiling through the disorientation as he said, “Since you’re playing hooky, we’ve got a while before dinner. What would you like to do?”

  A chance to get off campus and into town? Yes please. “Take me to the aquarium. Then we can take a
walk and do dinner down by the river walk.”

  “Your wish is my command.” He offered his arm. “Shall we?”