Free SHADOWLOVE--STALKERS by Claudy Conn

more. She had been following along a well-used deer path when she came across a wider trail, probably the bridle path. She stopped and looked around, taking in all her surroundings, since she still had to find her way back.
    What was left of the sun was being obscured by swiftly rolling clouds. It was getting late, and she had things to set up at the cottage. Time to turn back, but as she brushed her long blonde hair away from her face, something flew into her eye. She rubbed at it, dislodging the dust, and her eye began to tear. Without warning, a tingle of fear sprinted up her back. Shawna stopped all movement as she stood like a statue.
    A sudden rustle, a flash of activity, indicated something larger than a squirrel was on the move. She instinctively dove for cover behind a cluster of evergreen trees. Her sharp vampire gaze scanned the woods.
    However, this time she heard, but did not see, the sound of shuffling as though something were dragging its feet—large feet. Again, she caught the haze of something dark as it flashed by, but she couldn’t quite make out the shape…
    Something was watching her—but what, and why? Did it have something to do with what she had seen last night? Did Pentim have something to do with this? Had he already discovered who and where she was?
    She stood her ground—she had two weapons with her, both in her pockets. One was the deadly vampire killer, and the other was a white witch’s helper.
    She had to keep her head and use her skill if attacked—there was nothing else she could do. She had to face it head on.
    She had packed and sent a small arsenal of various weapons via air to the cottage some weeks ago but stupidly had not equipped herself with any of those weapons before she went on this excursion. She had listed them for customs as collectors’ items, and indeed, so they appeared—but they were much more.
    She continued to wait, dropping into a crouch and listening. Nothing moved, not even the birds. It was as though the air was charged with an electric force, and every living creature in the forest around her was intuitively hiding.
    She unbent and warily started out of the woods towards the open pasture that bordered the wide stretch of forest. Nervously she watched over her shoulder as she tramped through the tall grass and found another deer path. This—whatever it might be—was stalking her.
    It wasn’t a vampire of any kind. She would have known if it had been a vamp, as they gave off an unmistakable aroma—not exactly bad, or good, but distinct.
    She counted the things she knew. It wasn’t human. It wasn’t a vamp, and like a demon it exuded evil. Was it a demon, and if so, what did it want with her?
    The land rolled and curved and traveled with the open pasture.. Her deer path took her up over a steep hill and away from the woods. However, as she reached the peak of the hill, she saw someone coming out of the forest’s darkness. His light brown hair blew around his pleasant face, and as he saw her, he put up his walking stick and waved.
    Shawna knew him at once even though he was at quite a distance. She had vamp sight, but how had he known her from so far? She was always wary but gave him the benefit of the doubt, telling herself that no doubt he simply assumed it had to be her, so close to the cottage grounds.
    His smile grew as he approached and called out to her, “I thought it must be you! Hello.”
    Again, she found that she liked the look of him. Tall, just a bit lanky, he exuded a healthy, outdoorsy glow. He wore the same navy wool jacket she had seen him in the other day, and a cream-colored turtleneck sweater peeked out at the neckline. He looked exceptionally pleased to see her. “You’ve walked quite a distance, Ms. MacBay.”
    She put up her hand and gave him a hearty wave, pleased to have company and dispel the sensation of being watched. “Shawna—remember?” As soon as she said this she wanted to kick herself. She had to keep things