The Torn Soul (The Sheynan Trilogy Book 3) Read online

  THE TORN SOUL

  by Dylan Birtolo

  The Torn Soul

  Book Three of

  The Sheynan Trilogy

  Dylan Birtolo

  Apocalypse Ink Productions

  Kenmore, Washington

  Credits

  Copyright ©2015 by Dylan Birtolo

  All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

  Edited by Jennifer Brozek

  Interior design by Jeff Brozek

  Cover art ©2014 by Larry Dixon

  PUBLISHED BY

  Apocalypse Ink Productions

  6830 NE Bothell Way, STE C #404

  Kenmore, WA 98028

  http://www.apocalypse-ink.com/

  Print ISBN: 978-1-940444-09-3

  eBook ISBN : 978-1-940444-08-6

  Table of Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  A huge thanks needs to go to my editor, Jennifer Brozek. She was instrumental in helping me to reshape this story into the version you are currently holding. It is a much better and stronger tale, something that would not have happened without her guidance and critical eye.

  I need to thank Kelly and Janina for being the best alpha readers that a writer could ever hope for. I wouldn’t be half the writer I am without your honesty and input.

  I want to thank Larry Dixon for creating amazing covers and inspiring me to make the stories even better to live up to his artwork. Hooray for positive feedback loops!

  And a special thank you to all the supporters who believed in the Sheynan Trilogy enough to make it a reality:

  Alana Joli Abbott, Alexander 'Orion' Kiwerski, Amber Rose Roberts, Andrew Singleton, Anna Garza, Anne Bennett, Bill Hunsinger, Blair Burns, Carmie Burdi, Chenelle Bremont, Christina Mulligan, Christine Moeller, Colby "Cheese Boy" Williams, D. Moonfire, Danette, Dave Olsher, David Zych, Deirdre and David Nakushian, Derian Reuss, Dolores Fetters, Don, Beth, & Meghan Ferris, Donald J. Bingle, Douglas Lavan, Dylan "the cat lover", Emmilia, Flora Lee, Gary Kaleniecki, Gary Moore, Gozer Games, Gregory Gregoritch Coates, Heather Ziese, Holly and Adam, Iesha Dover, Indra Djedi, J.R. Riedel, Jackie Converse, Jamie O'Connor, Jean Rabe, Jennifer Berk, Jennifer Brozek, Jenny DeBonte, Jessica D McComas, John A., The Jozwowskis, Kayce, Kelly L. Hellmuth, Kerrie L Hughes, Kevin Joel Coughlin, Kyra Olds, Lani Bertino, Laura S., Lori Joyce Parker, The Malek Family, Marc Gunn, Maria Kolibri-Edwards, Marissa Santa Ana, Mary Egan, Michael Richards, Nicole Ferguson, Peter Adkison, PeterPam, Philda T., Pixel8ed, Quan To, Renée Nicholas and Casy Pearson, Rick Van Meter, Roxy, Rusty Brown, Scott Seiber, Shane Barrett, Sheena Nicholson, Sheryl R. Hayes, Silence in the Library Publishing, Stacy O., Suzette Vandivier, SwordFire, Tara & John Kowalski, Todd Moscinski and Kim Miller, Traci and Joe Charles, Tracy Chowdhury, Uncle Llew, Vance Agte, The Wards, and Zack Kline.

  Chapter 1

  Darien gazed up through the branches crisscrossing over his head, catching a glimpse of the blue between the pine needles. Under the shelter of the branches, the air was warm enough to make him to unzip his jacket and tie it around his waist. This was probably one of the last days he’d enjoy the warmth before the clouds captured the sky in the ever-present overcast that was winter in the Pacific Northwest.

  The trees swayed in the wind, creaking and cracking as they moved. Darien closed his eyes to listen to the sound, letting it bring a smile to his face as he felt the tension slip out of his body. For a moment, he thought of shifting and taking to the skies, feeling the sun warm his wings as he soared above the trees and dove down to weave between the branches. That sensation of freedom and ability to go anywhere was intoxicating.

  But the daydream darkened and sharp reality forced the smile from his face. According to everything that he’d learned, the more shifts that he made, the sooner he’d sink into the madness that was both his birthright and his curse. He’d already seen what it would do. An image flitted before his eyes and forced him to shake his head: Bridget unable to control her shape, constantly moving from one form to another and often stuck in between. As far as he knew, there was no way to tell how long he had until he found himself in a similar position; a slave to the combination of his powers and emotions. At best, that meant he would live as just an animal. The worst option was something he couldn’t even bring himself to think about it. That knowledge acted like a shackle, anchoring him and putting a crimp on his desire to enjoy his abilities.

  Darien made a conscious effort to snap his attention back to the world in front of him. He picked up his pace, jogging up the animal trail that lead towards their cabin. Branches reached out and tried to snag his clothes or claw at his face, forcing him to duck and weave as he made his way up the hill. He felt the rush as his heart beat faster and the endorphins coursed through his system. Maybe there was something to this running thing that Susan kept raving about. He ducked a particularly low branch just in time to have it scrape against his back and tug at his jacket. The wood snapped behind him as he rolled his shoulders to get free and continue on his way.

  Up ahead, the trees thinned out and he could see the dirt trail leading up to the cabin that they’d called home for the better part of a year. The trail had large ruts from Richard’s truck, and broken branches littered the ground where they had to tear through with sheer power. It was the only way to get to town in any reasonable amount of time. As it was, the trail switched back and forth for a few miles before finally getting back to a paved road.

  In the clearing, Darien saw light flickering in the front window of the cabin, meaning someone had already lit a fire. They had learned to start one before night fell. At this elevation, the temperature dropped as quickly as the setting sun. Soon, snow would come. Then trips to town would become much more difficult.

  The cabin was a simple shelter, built mainly using resources available in the immediate vicinity. Susan’s late father built it before she was born. While it was rustic, it was also well-constructed and provided everything they needed in order to survive. There was even a fenced-off garden area next to the backside of the cabin, something that had come in handy over the past year.

  Once he entered the small clearing, Darien slowed to a walk, using the time to catch his breath and try to slow his pounding heart. He forced himself to take deep breaths and stop panting, trying to use the tricks Richard taught him. By the time he reached the front door, he had recovered, but cold sweat still covered the exposed skin of his face. He reached out and pushed the door open, strolling inside the main room.

  Richard sat in front of the fire, prodding it with a poker as he coaxed the flames. He glanced over at the doorway and froze for a moment, the poker clenched tight in his hand. When he recognized Darien, he relaxed, going back to his duties. Susan sat on the ground n
ear the window, making the most of the fading light as she repaired one of the wooden chairs. Electricity was a luxury they didn’t have access to, at least not in continuous supply. There was a generator out back, but that required gasoline, so they used it sparingly.

  Darien shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on one of the coat hooks just inside of the door. He walked over to Susan, kissing her on the forehead before walking over to the kitchen. She flashed him a smile as he began the process of prepping food for dinner. While there were many things they had to deal without, having Susan around always made it bearable.

  Running water was another one of those things that he had learned to live without. There was a five gallon jug sitting on the edge of the sink that had already been filtered and purified. In his opinion, that was the most tedious aspect of cabin life. How he longed for the days when he just had to turn a faucet and out came water that he could drink, wash with, or cook with. It was amazing the things that you took for granted.

  A loud pop followed by a long hiss let him know that Richard was making progress with the fire. For now, all of his attention was focused on the chore in front of him as he cut vegetables. Darien heard Richard’s heavy step as the older man stood and made his way to the table. He eased his weight into one of the chairs and it creaked in response, but remained firm. Darien felt the weight of Richard’s stare between his shoulder blades. There was little doubt in his mind that, once again, they would soon be arguing.

  Anxious to get it out of the way, Darien sighed and stopped cutting. After placing the knife down on the counter in front of him, he turned around and leaned back, crossing his arms as he did so. Susan glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, but continued to work on the chair.

  “It’s time to go, kid. We’ve been licking our wounds more than long enough. The Shadows are still out there and we need to go find them. It’ll be better if we find them than if we wait until they find us. Do you really think they’re just going to quit because we gave them a bit of a bruising? That was just one branch. You know this.”

  Richard narrowed his remaining eye which also caused the patch on the other side of his face to scrunch up. While the wound healed, Richard declined the idea of a glass eye. He said it was because it was unnatural and he’d rather wear his scars. Darien thought the truth was that it served as a physical reminder he could clutch and point to.

  “We need more time. I need more. I’m still trying to deal with everything that happened when we were in Texas. It was too much. And on top of that, I don’t even know how much time I’ve got left before I go crazy. You know I’m going to lose it sooner or later. Being a Sheynan isn’t all it was cracked up to be.”

  Richard’s fingers tightened and dug into the table as he made a fist. Darien was surprised he didn’t carve grooves in the wood.

  “You’ve been giving me that same line for months. How long do you need? I’m trying to be patient. I know it was a lot to take on, but you’ve had more than enough time to get your shit together and stop walking around in self-pity. You think you don’t have much time left? That’s all the more reason to go after them now, before it’s too late. They won’t ever stop and neither should you.”

  The muscles along Darien’s jaw tensed, and he had to force himself to relax them before he could respond. Richard was right, of course—about giving him the same line. But how could he tell Richard that he wasn’t so sure the Shadows were all bad? It seemed so noble at the time, fighting the bad guys and stopping them, but something changed after meeting Gregory. Now, Darien wasn’t so sure. What was once a clearly defined line had become hazy and blurred.

  “I’m not going. We should stay here. Maybe after the winter’s done. They won’t find us over the winter. Hell, they might not ever find us up here in the mountains.”

  “That’s not the point. I can’t just sit around here and do nothing while they continue to kidnap and kill people to increase their strength. They need to be stopped, and that’s all that needs to be said about it. And you, you’re wasting our time. We need to hit them again, even harder this time.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Can’t? Or won’t? Something wrong with your shifting? I know you’re not injured. I got it much worse than you did and I’ve already recovered as much as I ever will. Or is it just that your heart isn’t in it like I used to believe?”

  Darien dropped his gaze, looking at the floor between his feet. He didn’t know how to respond when Richard struck so close to home. Without saying a word, he turned around and picked up the knife once again, resuming his work on preparing dinner. The conversation would never be resolved, not until Darien agreed to go on another hunting party. And that was something he wasn’t willing to do. Maybe Richard was right, and his heart was no longer in it.

  The chair scraped heavily against the wood and clattered to the ground as Richard jumped up to a standing position. He stormed out of the cabin, slamming the door so hard that it swung open again. Through the window Darien watched as Richard took several steps towards the woods and shifted into a black bear in midstride, breaking through several branches as he reached the tree line and carved his own path with brute force.

  For several seconds, Darien just stood at the window watching the hole that Richard carved in the underbrush. He felt Susan come up behind him and wrap an arm around his waist. Her presence alone helped to comfort him and he eased his weight back, leaning against her and reaching down with a hand to stroke hers. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh.

  “It’s all right. He’ll be back. You know that he will. He just needs some time to let off some steam. He doesn’t do well being cooped up. Things will be better when he gets back.”

  “But he’s right. I just don’t have the stomach for it. That’s not the right word. More like, I don’t have the drive. I don’t think they’re all evil. I mean, they aren’t that much different from the Arm when you think about it, and it isn’t like we’re about to go hunting them anytime soon. I just don’t know what to do. And I feel like if I only have a few years left before I start going crazy, the last thing I want to do is spend that time fighting people.”

  “One step at a time. First step, we need to get dinner ready. So get to work on that while I go coax the fire some more.”

  Susan took a step back and rubbed his shoulders back and forth with the flat of her hand, bringing a smile to his face. She always knew how to cut through his tension and help get him moving again. Darien turned around and snagged a kiss before she walked away to the fireplace. Then he went back to chopping the vegetables.

  By the time they finished cooking dinner, Richard still had not returned. Darien thought about going after him, but changed his mind. It was unlikely that he’d be in any danger. Richard knew how to take care of himself better than just about anyone he knew. They waited for about half an hour, and then decided to eat without him. There was no way to tell how long it would be until he returned, if he’d even return that night.

  It was several hours later when he did come back. Susan sat on the corner of her bed, leaning up against the wall, and reading a book in the flickering light. Darien stretched in front of the fireplace, watching the flames dance and occasionally prodding it with the poker. Richard shoved the door open and stood in the frame. Without stepping in, he snagged his jacket from its resting spot on the wall. Darien barely had time to register his arrival before he began ranting.

  “Fine. You don’t want to come, that’s your choice, kid. But I can’t stay here any longer. Not while they’re out there. I thought you understood how much of a menace they are, but I guess I was wrong. Take your time, and when you come back to your senses and are ready to hunt again, call me.”

  Richard whipped his gaze to Susan without giving Darien a chance to say anything. “You coming?”

  She shook her head without any hesitation.

  “Not surprised. Keep the gun. You’re going to need it when the Shadows come looking for you. They will, and you both know
I’m right. Try not to die.”

  With those words he slammed the door shut, albeit with less force than before. They heard the familiar rumble of the truck coming to life. The tires spun and kicked dirt up to clatter against the wall of the cabin as Richard sped out of the clearing.

  Darien rolled back to look at Susan, his eyebrows furrowed together. This wasn’t exactly unexpected, but at the same time, he didn’t know how to react. Richard was a constant; something that he always knew was there. Pushing himself off the ground, he went over to sit next to Susan on the bed. She put her book down and he reached out to take her hand.

  “What are we going to do now?”

  “Stay here, I suppose. He’ll probably come back. We don’t need to go rushing off into a fight. Whatever you want to do with however long you have left, you know I’m coming with you. You’re not…”

  “I know.”

  Darien bent forward and kissed her.

  Chapter 2

  “He isn’t coming back.”

  Darien said it as much to himself as to Susan. Somehow saying the words out loud made the entire situation more real. It had been five days since Richard left. So much for the idea that he just needed to blow off some steam. If Richard wasn’t coming back, they’d need to figure out what they were going to do. The most critical thing was restocking their supply of food.

  “He’ll come back, but it might take him some time. You know how obsessed he was with the Shadows. He very well might be going after them alone.”

  “I hope he’s okay.”

  Susan chuckled. When Darien turned to face her she raised a single eyebrow.