Page 96 of Dark Bonds

Everett waits for us in the circular room at the top, surrounded by ancient tomes and artifacts that pulse with barely contained power. Oil lamps cast flickering shadows on the walls, their dance hypnotic and slightly unnerving.

“Welcome to Shadow Shifting 401,” Everett says, his voice taking on a more formal tone. “Forget everything you think you know. We’re going back to basics, and then we’re going to shatter those basics into a million pieces.”

Everett raises his hands, and holy crap, his eyes are glowing. The shadows start moving around him like they are alive. It’s cool and creepy at the same time. “Let’s begin with the basics of shadow manipulation,” he says, his voice resonating with power.

My breath catches as a tendril of darkness extends from his fingertips, twisting and coiling in the air. It’s beautiful and terrifying all at once, like staring into the heart of a storm.

“Look,” Everett says, “shadows aren’t just dark spots. They have their own... I don’t know, personality? You have to work with them, not against them.”

He gestures, and the shadow tendril splits into a dozen smaller strands. They dance through the air, weaving complex patterns that make my eyes water and my mind reel.

“Now you try,” Everett says, looking at each of us in turn.

I extend my hand, trying to mimic his movements. At first, nothing happens, but then I feel it—a cool tingle in my fingertips that sends shivers down my spine. A small shadow peels away from the floor, wavering uncertainly in the air.

“Good, Frankie.” Everett nods approvingly. “Leo, relax your grip. Shadows respond to intention, not force. Matteo, excellent form, but don’t overthink it. Feel the darkness, don’t analyze it.”

I lose track of time. We’re all sweating and cursing as we try to wrangle these stubborn shadows. Who knew darkness could be such a pain in the ass? Just when I think I mastered one technique, Everett introduces another, more complex formation. The shadows writhe and twist, sometimes obeying, sometimes lashing out with a cold that burns. Each failure feels like a step closer to the doom we’re trying to prevent.

“Shadow shifting isn’t just about manipulating darkness,” Everett explains, pacing the room. The shadows seem to lean toward him, eager for his touch. “It’s about understanding the nature of duality—light and dark, substance and void, seen and unseen.”

He waves his hand, and an intricate shadowgraph appears in the center of the room. It looks like a family tree, but the branches shift and change, names appearing and disappearing in a dizzying dance.

“Your power is tied to your lineage,” Everett says, his voice taking on a somber tone. “The triumphs and tragedies of your ancestors echo through your blood. Some of you may carry the legacy of shadow beasts in your DNA.”

I feel like someone just walked over my grave. Leo looks like he can’t decide if he wants to run away or ask for more details.Matteo has his serious face on, scribbling in his notebook like he’s trying to solve the mysteries of the universe.

“Remember,” Everett says, his eyes boring into each of us, “knowledge is power, but it’s also a burden. The more you understand about your abilities, the greater your responsibility becomes.”

As if to emphasize his point, the shadows in the room pulse, growing deeper and more complex. I swear I hear whispers at the edge of my hearing, secrets just beyond my comprehension.

When Everett finally calls for a break, I’m beat. My brain feels like it’s going to explode with all this new stuff, and I could seriously use a nap. My fingers twitch, unconsciously tracing shadow patterns in the air. I’ve never felt so drained yet so alive.

Leo pulls a thermos from his bag, the rich aroma of coffee filling the air. “Thought we might need a little pick-me-up. After all, we wouldn’t want to be caught napping on the job, would we?” he quips with a wink, his voice a welcome respite from the intensity of our training.

“Now, pay attention,” Everett says, his eyes gleaming with an intensity I’ve never seen before. “We’re going to talk about something that’s not in any of your textbooks—dark bonds.”

He waves his hand, and the shadows in the room coalesce into swirling patterns, almost like a family tree. “Shadow shifting isn’t just about manipulating darkness. It’s about the connections we forge—with each other, with our ancestors, and with the shadows themselves.”

Everett’s voice drops to a grave whisper, his eyes darting to the shadows as if they might be listening. “These bonds? They are not just for show. They come with baggage, both good and bad. All the stuff your family did, all the crap they went through, sticks with you, and sometimes, those marks can become chains, pulling you toward a destiny you never chose.”

A chill runs down my spine, thinking of my own mysterious past. I don’t even know my parents, let alone what happened to them. For all I know, they could be shadow beasts. Leo shifts uncomfortably, and Matteo leans forward, his eyes wide with fascination.

“These dark bonds,” Everett continues, “are not just metaphorical. They are tangible connections that can be strengthened, manipulated, and even severed if necessary. Learning to navigate them is crucial for any shadow shifter who wants to truly master their abilities.”

He demonstrates, drawing tendrils of shadows between his fingers like puppet strings. “Familial bonds are the strongest. They can be a source of immense power, but also great vulnerability. Understanding your family’s history—the triumphs and tragedies—is key to unlocking your full potential.”

For the next hour, Everett teaches us techniques to sense and manipulate these bonds. It’s like learning to see in a new spectrum, becoming aware of invisible threads connecting us to each other and to the shadows themselves.

As we practice, I feel something shift within me. It’s as if a door has been unlocked, revealing a vast, uncharted territory of power and possibility, but with it comes a weight, a sense of the countless lives and choices that have led to this moment.

Everett watches us with a mix of pride and concern. “This is just the beginning,” he says softly. “The path of a shadow shifter is never easy, but understanding these bonds and learning to forge new ones and mend the broken ones, that’s what will see you through the darkness ahead.”

As we lie scattered on the hardwood floor, our minds buzzing with excitement and hunger gnawing at our stomachs, we exchanged glances, knowing that everything changed after taking our first steps into the realm of shadow shifting. Thethought of turning back is now a distant memory and as impossible as catching starlight in our hands.

“So,” Everett says, his casual tone belied by the sharpness in his eyes, “have you given any thought to this pack house business? Because let me tell you, it’s about more than just having roommates. It’s about forging bonds that will keep you alive when the shadows come calling.”

The weight of his words settles over us like a heavy cloak. I twist a lock of hair around my finger, a habit I thought I’d outgrown. “It’s a big step,” I say slowly, my voice barely above a whisper. “We’ve only known each other since the beginning of the fall semester, but after everything...” I trail off, looking at Leo and Matteo. The memory of shadows and danger, of laughter in the face of fear, hangs between us like an unspoken promise.

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