Page 8 of Lunar Bound
They were here. They were real. And at least one of them resonated with shadows in a way that called to her own affinity for the spaces between light.
Poppy didn't go back into the bar. Instead, she walked the quiet streets, letting the night air cool her flushed face. Her mind kept returning to that shadow presence. The stillness of it, the watching, the complete absence of light. Not evil, not at all. Just different. Like a piece of night sky had detached itself and taken form.
Her phone buzzed with a text from her roommate, "Crash Zone packed with alien nuts. Heading home.
"On my way," she replied. "Got another rescue coming in tomorrow. Early start."
The rescue center was expecting a coyote pup that had been found abandoned near one of the hiking trails. Another creature needing gentle handling and safe shadows to recover in. Poppy specialized in nocturnal animals, those that shied away from human contact and preferred darkness. Her coworkers joked that she spoke night creature fluently.
Maybe that's why she'd been able to sense the shadow visitor. Like recognized like.
Her small cottage sat on the outskirts of town, where light pollution was minimal and the stars shone brighter. She shared it with Kai, another rescue worker, though their schedules rarely overlapped. The arrangement provided her with the solitude she needed after days spent dealing with others.
Tonight, the cottage was dark except for the small lamp Kai always left on for her. Poppy moved through the rooms without turning on additional lights, comfortable in the dimness. Her bedroom was her sanctuary. The walls were painted deep indigo. She had blackout curtains and a collection of stones arranged on shelves and windowsills.
She changed into loose cotton pants and a tank top, then sat cross-legged on her bed, closing her eyes to center herself. The day's events had left her buzzing with excess energy that needed grounding.
As she breathed deeply, focusing on the sensation of roots growing from her body into the earth below, Poppy felt it again. The distinct cold presence observed her from a distance. Not inside her home, but somewhere outside, watching.
Instead of fear, she felt a surprising sense of recognition. Of connection.
Opening her eyes, Poppy moved to her window and pulled back the curtain just enough to peer outside. The yard was dark, the trees creating deeper patches of shadow against the night sky.
"I know you're still there," she whispered, though she doubted he could hear her through the glass. "It's okay. I understand needing the darkness."
She placed her palm flat against the window, a gesture of acceptance. Then she closed the curtain again, respecting the watcher's desire for privacy.
Tomorrow, she would bring an offering to the Crimson Rock Inn, where Mike’s friend had reported seeing strange new guests checking in. A proper welcome basket filled with some local foods, a map of the area's shadiest spots, and more black tourmaline. It would be a peace offering from one shadow-friend to another.
Poppy slipped into her bed, dimming her bedside lamp to its lowest setting before turning it off completely. In the perfect darkness, she smiled.
For years she'd felt out of place among Duskrock's sun-worshippers. Her sensitivity to energy made her good at her work, but often left her drained and seeking solitude. Even in this community of spiritualists and seekers, she'd always been just a little too strange, a little too attuned to things others couldn't perceive.
But now, something from beyond the stars had arrived. Something that understood shadows. And it had noticed her too.
In the morning, she would begin her search in earnest. But for now, she rested, content in the knowledge that she was no longer alone in her affinity for darkness.
Sleep came easily, and her dreams were filled with stars that absorbed light rather than emitted it, and eyes that watched from the spaces between worlds.
Chapter
Four
Lunar had not planned to be discovered.
The fact that she saw him was a blow to his ego.
He couldn’t stop thinking about it.
No, her. He couldn’t stop thinking about her.
Shadow-walking was an art form on Zorveya, perfected through generations of necessity. Light-dwellers dominated the planet's resources, forcing those of the shadow to develop stealth techniques for survival. Lunar was considered exceptionally skilled, even among his own kind. Yet somehow, this Earth female had perceived him where countless others had failed.
After his encounter with Poppy, Lunar had spent hours analyzing the small black stone she'd given him. The object possessed unusual properties, absorbing ambient energy in a pattern similar to his own shadow manipulation. Not advanced technology, merely a natural mineral with convenient attributes. Yet she had selected it specifically for him.
Fascinating.
Morning had found him restless in the inadequate Crimson Rock accommodations. He hid from the others. Solar's constant emissions made proper rest impossible, and Eclipse's diplomatic hovering only added to his irritation. When Solar finally left to check the continental breakfast, Lunar had slipped out without announcement. His actions needed no explanation or permission.
