Chapter 30: New Beginnings

  Yana, DD, and Tasha returned to Shi together. Their underground headquarters were massive but both Amber and Tasha already knew it well – which meant Yana knew it well.

  “Ka.”

  The tall Pra pulled from a wall and began walking with Yana, DD, and Tasha.

  “Fate-Seer.”

  “You and Joe will run things when we are not here.” Ka nodded in understanding and respect. “How many true Pra are here?”

  Pra Shadows originated in Loen Dimension on the fifth ring of Pa. They were sentient warriors and assassins. The Rogue Pra usually became mercenaries. All Pra were deadly.

  “There are over two thousand of us here now Fate-Seer.”

  Yana nodded. “We just destroyed a Wao complex in Orb Dimension. I want to know everything you can find on the Wao who were running it.” He bowed to her again.

  “I want you to be over security, and information gathering. Joe will be over the businesses.” Yana paused and looked to Ka. The shadow wavered under her gaze – his form shimmered as if he wanted to escape but could not. “Our organization will be the only underground organization in Shi. DD will be your enforcer.”

  She turned to DD and pulled from his shoulder. A sliver of shadow pulled away from DDs. She pulled it out and gave it to Ka. Her black eyes glowed with distant black flames and DDs shadow sliver melted into Ka’s like they has been fused together.

  Yana looked to the Pra Shadow. “If something happens to DD I will own your spirit for an eternity. Do we understand each other.”

  Again Ka nodded in respect and understanding. “You are understood Fate-Seer”

  They walked on for a long moment. They came to a large black door and Yana turned to Ka. “Go now. I want you and Joe in the war room in three hours.”

  She didn’t wait for an answer and opened the door. Tasha entered with her and DD stood guard. The huge door closed with a final echoing clank. Ka looked at the door with a smile. Ambition filled his being. Working for the Fate-Seer could truly be advantageous. The Pra Shadow melted into the shadows and was gone.

  Yana entered the cavernous room. Alisha was immediately on her shoulder. Yana looked up at Sisma’s massive Shadow. The Shadow Lark was still in her small form and she was quietly sitting on Devon’s shoulder. Amber stood next to her brother, worry etched on her face. Sisma’s magic – even incomplete – was too much for the young Shadow Cat.

  Yana pursed her lips and looked to him, she sighed. “Don’t worry Amber I will bring him back safely."

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  The portal to The Dune Domain opened behind them and Yana and her familiars entered without a word. Sisma’s shadow lifted and flew in behind them – Sisma and Devon disappeared from the room in a slight wavering shimmer.

  The Dune Domain rustled like leaves across a forest floor as Sisma and Devon entered. Sisma was full of life on his shoulder but Devon himself stared blankly ahead as if he were someone’s vessel.

  The Shadow Snake rose from the black sands of the domain and the black castle rose behind them all. Sisma and Devon turned their heads as one to look at the castle.

  Yana nodded in understanding. “Sisma you’re still too young. The castle is ours but we both need to be able to handle it.” Both Sisma’s and Devon’s heads turned back to Yana and they nodded to her as one.

  “I am going to have to separate you and Devon. You needed this to be able to survive but now that you are both here you can stand on your own. Once Devon is free we can ask him what he wants.”

  Yana began to move before Yana responded but the Shadow Lark already trusted her and settled onto Devon’s shoulder without any worry.

  Yana’s shadow weapon formed beside her – a wizard staff of dark shadow with a huge black stone in a shadow knot at the top – she to it in her hand and the runes along the staff’s shaft lit up in silver.

  She slammed the staff into the black sands of the domain – the sound thundered through the domain with an abundance of power.

  The staff balanced and fueled the ritual as Yana went to work. Yana’s spell weave went forth as she began to weave a shadow spell. It moved out like a dark web and covered Sisma’s shadow.

  The spell sat over Shadow Lark’s shadow and then began to pluck certain sections like it was testing their function or meaning. Yana found the pieces of shadow she wanted and the shadow spell cut them from Sisma’s massive shadow.

  The spell carved it up and then put the pieces back together into two shapes – Sisma’s massive shadow and Devon’s. They stood wavering over the black sands and then the shadow staff flashed brightly and Yana breathed over the sands before her.

  The two shadows fluttered and then expanded and contracted like a beating heart for seven beats. Everything stilled for a moment and then Devon’s shadow walked to Devon.

  Devon’s eyes sparkled and he took a deep breath. Yana nodded in satisfaction. The shadow wizard staff thumped the black sands twice more and Sisma let out a long sweet call. Her shadow rose and landed on the highest tower of the black castle.

  A shadow rolled out over The Dune Domain and the entire domain seemed to settle. As all this happened Yana looked to Devon, but before she spoke he began to plead.

  “This is where I belong Mistress Yana. I BEEEEEELONG here. I don’t know what I need to do but I am ready to do anything.” Devon gestured wildly as he explained, Yana raised her eyebrows and Amber face-palmed, but it was Tasha that spoke.

  “Calm down kitten! Yana could have separated you two on Shi with the portal open to the domain.” She threw her hands up in the air and shook her head in disgust. “It’s a good thing you have a competent sister.”

  She walked across the dunes, a portal open, and the Dark Fae left The Dune Domain.

  “I will have to tie you to both myself and The Dune Domain and.” Yana spoke without emotion. As if on cue the shadow wizard staff rose in the air and twirled clockwise seven times and then Counter-Clockwise seven times.

  The domain sighed as Yana’s spell weave stretched out. Black shadow rose up and drenched Devon like black water. The shadow ran over him and pooled at his feet. Yana’s spell weave coiled around him and Devon felt anchored to the center of the domain.

  Devon’s shadow shined and Sisma came to his shoulder. She nuzzled her face in the crook of his neck and her soft feathers brushed against his skin.

  Sisma was now the protector of Yana’s Shadow Domain and Devon was it’s keeper. The Shadow Lark and the Shadow Cat were now one.