Free Shadow on the Wall: Superhero | Magical Realism Novels (The SandStorm Chronicles | Magical Realism Books Book 1) by P.K. Tyler Page B

rocked the city, but here before her was his flesh-and-blood ghost.
    She had heard the story of Recai's parents and felt a kinship with him, even as a child. She remembered little about the time when her own father had been alive. In pictures and memories he always wore a bright smile. Darya's mother died in childbirth, and when she was only four months old her father married a Jewish woman against his family's wishes. They shunned him and left him to negotiate life without their loving support. Despite the difficulty, he loved his new wife very much and even had a child by her, a prized son.
    The only family member who ever held the boy was Mahmet, the devoted brother and loving uncle. He was also the only one who had known, without a doubt, his brother's son had not been conceived within their marriage. When Darya's father died she was seven and her younger brother only four. Mahmet took her into his home to raise as his own, leaving the Jews out in the desert where they belonged.
    He was an imposing figure at well over 180 centimeters, perhaps 185 or even 190. Mahmet managed to make Darya feel small and fragile, something she enjoyed only in his protective shadow. In addition to his height were the extra four-and-a-half or five stones hanging impressively from his frame, creating the impression he was larger than life, as big as a god or an ogre.
    "Recai."
    Darya said his name again, pulling his attention from the increasing number of onlookers following his movements. His eyes snapped to her and he stood abruptly. Her hand reached out and her fingers wrapped around his wrist.
    "Come, come on, my uncle would like to meet the man who rescued me from the foyer!"
    Darya was spinning from the excitement of the evening and her three glasses of champagne. All of her planning, all of her years of being unnoticed and ignored were paying off. Tonight she was beautiful and important. She spoke freely and men and women alike listened. Tonight she could exist in the world.
    "Your uncle?"
    "Yes! Mayor Yilmaz."
    "Darya… Yilmaz?" he demanded.
    "Yes…it's not a very common name."
    Darya was unsure what to make of Recai's reaction. Her uncle was an influential man, the ruler of this small kingdom. If Recai was actually the son of Baris and Pinar, a meeting between him and her uncle should be something he sought, not something he avoided! But Recai didn't look right; his coloring and stance made Darya uneasy.
    "Recai?"
    "I don't know if it's a wise idea," Recai said, his face tight and hard as he spoke.
    "I…. Did I do something wrong?"
    "No, of course not! I…kahretsin!" He swore as he dragged a hand down his face, feeling the deep lines created by so many years in the sun.
    "I'm sorry Darya, I…"
    "It's all right."
    She reached out again, placing her hand on his face, earning the disapproving glance of more than one of the party's patrons. She allowed her thumb to stroke his cheek along the faded scar.
    "Thank you. I should go."
    He stepped back, breaking the spell of her touch.
    "Why?"
    "I'm not… I wasn't invited."
    "You were by me. And apparently an unescorted woman is in danger even at an event such as this."
    Her eyes shone, but their light was lost in the black hole surrounding Recai.
    "You never know what form danger may come in. Darya, this wasn't a good idea, I didn't think and…"
    "You are Recai Osman?"
    "I told you that."
    "Yes, that's not a very common name in Elih, either."
    "Not anymore."
    "Your parents. They were Baris and Pinar Osman?" Darya ventured, finally asking the question on everyone's lips.
     

     
    Sabiha Kaya was running late. She had been at her women's prayer group at Sister Aisha's house and lost track of time. The other women lived closer or had drivers who would come and get them when they were out after curfew, but Sabiha had nothing like that. All she had was her brother, Fahri, who was working late at some event downtown tonight.
    Aisha had asked her to stay until Fahri got off duty and could come