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ISBN978-1-101-61791-5

ANDREACREMER

STOLENSOULS

ANIGHTSHADEShortStory

PHILOMELBOOKS

ANIMPRINTOFPENGUINGROUP(USA)INC.

Contents

Copyright
TitlePage

StolenSouls

FROM WHERE THEY WERE

hidden beneath the wooden pallet, Jean couldn’t

hearmovementoutsidethehut,butsheknewthecreatureswerestillthere.Thescreamshadn’tstopped.

Rabbie was squirming in Jean’s tight grip. At three years old, her brother was too young to

understand why staying quiet was so necessary, especially when he was too frightened to stop moving.
Rabbie wanted their mother, but Jean knew that wasn’t possible. Their mother was dead. Jean had
watched as shadows spilled over her mother’s shoulders. At first her mother had screamed for Jean to
takeRabbieandrun.She’dkeptscreaming,buttherehadbeennomorewords.

Whethertiredordefeated,Jeandidn’tknow,butRabbiefinallyquitstrugglinginherarms.Hegave

alittlewhimperashisbodywentslack.Jean’shandremainedclampedoverRabbie’smouth,thoughshe
wascarefulnottocoverhisnoseandsmotherhim.Jeanprayedthecreatureshadn’theardthetinysound.
NowthatRabbiehadquieted,Jeandaredtoclosehereyesandwonderwhoorwhathadbroughtsucha
terriblecurseuponDorusduain.

Jean’s grandmother had taught her about curses. The old woman had died the previous year, just

beforeJean’sseventhbirthday.Itwashergrandmother’svoicethatfilledJean’searliestmemories.When
shewasaverysmallchild,hergrandmother’sstorieswerelightandfulloflaughter.AsJeanhadgrown,
the tales became more somber. No longer meant to coddle or tease her, the stories transformed into
wisdomandwarnings.

Becauseofhergrandmother,Jeanknewtonevertouchablackhorsethatstoodnearthewater.And

she always carried a sharp knife in her pocket, should the kelpie’s spell make her lose her wits. Jean
could spot a faery ring with ease. She’d held her grandmother’s hand tight when they both heard the
bansheebegintokeen,andshe’dnotbeensurprisedwhenhergrandmotherwasdeadwithinthehour.

But all Jean had learned from her grandmother had been for naught when the shadows rose in

Dorusduain, sprouting from the earth like so many wicked trees. Their black branches snaring man,
woman,andchildalike.Nowthatshewastuckedawayunderthepalletwhilethevillagesuffered,Jean
rackedhermindforanysignshecouldhavemissed.Shecouldseetheeventsofthedayetchedstarklyin
hermemory.Butasforwarnings,shefoundnone.

Thecreatureshadappearedmid-morning,notatduskordawnwhenspiritsarewonttoslipintothe

mortalworld.Jean’smotherhadtaskedherwiththecareofRabbie,andJeantookituponherselftotryto
teachherbrothersomeusefulskills.Rabbiewasthreeandnolongertotteredashewalked.ToJeanthat
wasgoodenoughtohelpherwithchores.

Thedaybeganbrightandhopeful,withsunshinethatencouragedswift,purposefulworkbecausethe

afternoon likely would bring rain. Knowing Rabbie would be sullen about chores unless Jean made a
gameofit,she’dsetaboutgivinghimalessonongatheringeggsfromhens.

Rabbie was delighted. Jean suffered him chasing the startled birds around their family’s hut. His

chubbyarmsevenmanagedtobrieflycaptureoneofthehens,thoughitsfeatherstickledhimsoasthehen

triedtoescapethatRabbiefelldowngigglingandthehenescaped.Whenherbrotherhadtiredhimself
enoughtopayattentiontoherinstructions,Jeanshowedhimhowtoapproacharoostinghencalmly.As
shecooedatthecluckingbird,Jeandeftlyslippedherhandbeneathitsbellyandjustasquicklypulled
away.Whensheopenedherpalm,revealingabrown,speckledegg,Rabbiegazedatherwithwideeyes.
Thenhesquealedwithdelightandbidherdothetrickagain.Jeanshowedhimtwicemorehowtocoax
eggsfromhensbeforebiddingRabbietryhimself.

Rabbieterrifiedthreehensandbrokeoneeggbeforehisfacemashedup,wentcrimson,andburst

intofrustratedtears.Jeantriedtoreassurethelittleboythatthischorerequiredpatienceandpractice,and
perhaps throwing oneself at the hens wasn’t the best choice. Despite her soothing words, Jean was
resignedtothenotionthatRabbiewouldn’tbegatheringeggsuntilhewasatleastfour.

As her brother sniffled, Jean considered the other chores of the day, wondering if Rabbie could

manageanyofthem.Thefirstscream,ofwhatwouldbecometoomanytocount,silencedherthoughts.

“Waithere,”JeantoldRabbie.Anotherscream.
JeanplacedanegginRabbie’ssmallhands.“TakegoodcareofthistillIgetback.”
Rabbieacceptedtheegglikeatreasure.Shehopedthetaskwouldholdhisattentionmorethanthe

alarmingsoundsthatspreadthroughthevillage.

Jean rushed around the hut toward the center of the village. She stumbled when she saw the

creatures.Theyresemblednobeastorspirithergrandmotherhadwarnedherof.Likeshadowandsmoke,
theirshapechangedconstantly.Sometimesacreatureremindedherofadarkcloudbeingsculptedbythe
wind,atothersitwasmorelikeanestofblacksnakes.

Herneighbor,JohnCroft,wasstrikingattwoofthecreatureswithapitchfork.Thesharppointsof

thefarmtoolpassedthroughtheirshadowybodieswithouteffect.ForamomentJeanthoughttheymustbe
spirits, unable to touch or be touched by flesh. She was robbed of that idea when one of the creatures
slitheredforward,pouringoverJohnliketar.HebegantoscreamimmediatelyandJeanknewthereason
fortheotherscreamsinthevillage.

“Jean!”Shelookedtothesoundofhermother’scry.“Jeanie!”
Jean’smotherrantowardher,butfalteredandthenstoppedwhenshesawJohnCroft’storment.The

secondshadowcreaturehoveredinthespacebetweenherandJean.

“Ma!”Jeanstoodhelplesslyastheshadowbeastbegantomovetowardhermother.
Takingafewstepsback,Jean’smothershouted,“Jeanie,getyourbrother.Youmustflee!”
Jean began to shake her head, feeling tears prick the corners of her eyes. Then she saw a third

shadowbubblingupfromthegroundathermother’sback.

“Run,Jean!”hermotherscreamed.Thebeastengulfedher.
Terror,white-hot,searedJean’sskin,shockingherintoaction.Shepivoted,runningbacktotheplace

she’d left Rabbie. Her brother was waiting for her as he’d been bidden. The egg was cradled in his
palms,buthisfacewaspalewithfear.

Grabbing his arm, Jean jerked Rabbie into a run. He wailed as the egg tumbled out of his hands,

smashingontheground.

“Hush,Rabbie!”Jeanhissedathim.“Theeggdoesn’tmatternow.”
Shedraggedherbrotheraroundthefarsideofthehut,awayfromwhereshe’dseenthecreaturestake

Johnandhermother.Rabbiestaggeredalongbesideher,hisexpressionbewilderedandfrightened.

Jean rounded the hut, and finding no monsters blocking the door, she pushed Rabbie inside. After

closing the door and barring it from within, Jean picked up Rabbie and dragged him beneath their
mother’spallet.

“No!”Rabbiekickedandtriedtobiteher.
“Rabbie,stop,”Jeanwhispered.“Youmustbequiet.Please.Please.”
While she tried to calm Rabbie, refusing to let him wriggle from their hiding place, Jean locked

awayhergriefandpanic.Theywerehidden,butwasthatgoodenough?

It was too easy to recall John Croft stabbing futilely at the shadow beast. They could kill but they

couldn’t be touched. Jean glanced toward the barred door. If the creatures were made of shadow and
smoke,wouldadoorkeepthemout?Themonsterscouldn’tbefought,soiftheycameintothehut,she’d
havenowayofdefendingherselfandRabbie.

Two choices became clear in Jean’s mind. She and Rabbie could stay hidden, hoping that the

creatureswouldleavethevillagewithoutdiscoveringthem.ButJeandidn’tknowwhytheshadowbeasts
had attacked or how long they would remain in Dorusduain. The other option was to flee. From what
she’d briefly witnessed, it seemed that the creatures moved slowly, their imperviousness making speed
unnecessarywhentheyattacked.IfJeanandRabbiecouldescapethevillage,theymightbeabletooutrun
thecreatures.

Jean’s hand was wet with Rabbie’s tears, but he had the sense to weep in silence. The poor boy

probably sensed his sister’s fear and was rendered obedient by it. They were huddled there, quiet and
terrified.Theimageofrabbitsfrozenatthesignofdanger,hopingtoavoidapredator’snotice,jumped
intoJean’smind.Shewasnorabbit.

“Rabbie,wehavetorun,”Jeanwhispered.“It’stheonlyway.Ifwestayhere,we’reindanger.”
Daringtopullherhandfromhismouth,Jeanheardhimsay,“Ma?”
Sheforcedherselftoanswer.“Wecan’twaitforher.Isawheroutsideandshesaidweshouldrun.”
RabbienoddedandJeanletherbrothergo.Hecrawledoutfromtheirhidingplace.Shefollowed,

puttingherfingertoherlipssoRabbiewouldknowtheystillhadtobequiet.

Unbarring the door, Jean opened it a crack. She peered through the narrow slit at what little she

couldsee.Inthelinefromthedoortowardthepathoutofthevillage,shedidn’tspyanyoftheshadow
beasts.

TakingRabbie’shand,shesaid,“Don’tlookatthevillage,don’tlookforMa,justlookatme.And

nomatterwhat,don’tstoprunning.”

Rabbie’sfingerssqueezedhersandsheopenedthedoor.
Jeanbrokeintoarun,pullingRabbiealongasfastashislittlelegswouldallow.Thenoisesswirling

throughthevillagelikefogwereawful.Sobs,screams,chokingcries,eachbespeakingtheagonyofthose
whohadfallentotheshadowcreatures.

Taking her own advice, Jean didn’t look anywhere but ahead. She kept her eyes on the line of the

forest, where the path from Dorusduain to the road lay. Her heartbeat raced faster than her legs could
move.Sheplungedon,thinkingofnothingbutescape.

They’dreachedthehutsthatlayonthesouthernedgeofthevillagewhenRabbieshrieked.Unableto

keeppacewithhissister,thelittleboy’slegstangledandhefell.Theforceofhiscollapsetorehisfingers
fromJean’sgrasp.

Jeanstopped,pivoted,andgatheredRabbieintoherarms.Sheturnedagainandkeptrunningwhile

herbrotherclungtoher.JeanhadhopedcarryingRabbiewouldfreeherlegstomovefaster,butatthree
Rabbie was too big to be carried by an eight-year-old girl, and Jean soon found herself struggling and
breathless.

Her lungs were burning as she cleared the edge of the forest. The woods, usually teeming with

birdsong and buzzing insects, had gone silent. Behind her, screams continued to rise from Dorusduain,
though,nowmuffledbytheforest,theysoundedmorelikethewailingofghosts.

Forcingonefootinfrontoftheother,Jeancontinuedtorun,butshedidn’tknowhowmuchfarther

herlegswouldcarryher.Unabletostopit,JeansobbedandRabbiepanicked,hischubbyfistsgrabbing
herhair.Shecriedoutinpain,butstillsheran.

Suddenly, they weren’t alone. Jean’s chest cramped with fear as a dark shape loomed from the

woods onto the path. But her terror became a surge of hope as she realized the shadowy quality of the

figurewasduetothecloakoftheforest,blottingoutthesun.Thiswasnomonster,butaman.

Themanwastallandalone.ThepossibilityofrescuegaveJeannewstrengthandsheplungedalong

thepathtowardtheman.Whenshewascloseenoughtoseehisfeatures,Jeancouldtellhewasastranger
andnotoftheirvillage.

Hewatchedassheapproached.Stoppingafewfeetawayfromhimandgivingoneglanceoverher

shouldertobesurenomonsterwasatherback,JeansetRabbiedownandtriedtocatchherbreath.Still
frightened,Rabbieclungtoherknees.

Thestrangerpeeredather.“Whatareyourunningfrom,child?”
Jeanlookedupathim.Hewasn’taHighlander,butshedidn’tthinkhiswordscarriedthetonesofa

Lowlander either. Perhaps he was English; Jean had never met an Englishman. He had the bearing of a
lord,withhisstraightspineandthefineweaveofhisclothing.Butwhatheldherattentionwerehiseyes.
Shedidn’tknowanyonewithsilvereyes.

Jean’sthroatwassodryshehadtoswallowseveraltimesbeforeshecouldspeak.
“Please,sir...mylord.”Shedidn’twanttogiveoffenseifhewasindeedanobleman.“Myvillage

hasbeenattacked.”

Hisbrowfurrowed.“Attacked?Bywhom?”
“I...Idon’tknow,”Jeansaid,notknowingifthestrangerwouldbelieveher.Hergrandmotherhad

scoffedatlordslikethisman,sayingtheythoughtthemselvestoohighfortheoldways.“Aterribleevil.”

“Evil?”ForamomentJeanthoughtthatthemanwouldsmile,butinsteadheshookhishead.“Then

wemustgetyousafelyawayfromhere.”

“Please,mylord,”Jeanpressed.“Doyouhaveahorse?Wemustflee.”
“Ihaveahorsenearby.”ThestrangerwasremarkablycalmconsideringthepanicinJean’svoice.He

lookedatRabbie.“Whoisthis?”

“Mybrother.”
His eyes moved over Jean’s small frame. “And you carried him from the village? You must be

exhausted.”

Athiswords,Jeansuddenlyfelteveryacheinherbodylikethestabofaknife.Allshecoulddowas

nod.

“Letmetakehim.”Thestrangercrouched,stretchinghisarmstowardRabbie.“We’llgotomyhorse

andbeaway.”

Withconsolingwords,JeanpriedRabbieoffherlegsandturnedhimtofacethestranger.
“Gotohim,Rabbie,”Jeansaid.“He’sgoingtohelpus.”
Rabbielookedintoherface,doubtful.
“Go,”Jeantoldhim.“Wemustgetawayfromhere.”
Shegavehimalittlepush,andRabbiewenttothestranger.Jean’skneestriedtobuckleinreliefas

themanscoopedRabbieup,butshemanagedtostayonherfeet.

“Thankyou,mylord,”Jeansaid.
Thestrangersmiledather,hissilvereyesgleaming.
Shedidn’tseetheshadowrisingatherback,loomingoverher,readytostrike.