Shadows of the Past: A Supernatural Suspense Mystery (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 1) by Nellie Steele (read aloud .txt) 📗

Celeste looked surprised at her comment. Celine continued her rant. “Our father is dead, Celeste, murdered by the Duke’s orders. My life hung by a thread tonight and now I’m…”

Duke Northcott joined them before she could finish. “I assume they have gone?” he inquired.

“Yes, safely away from you.”

“With my book. Damn it, Celine. Do you know what you have done?”

“Yes, I stopped you. That is what I have done.”

He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, you are mine now,” Marcus said, lording the fact over her.

“No, Marcus, you are mistaken. Yes, it’s true, I am like you, but I am not yours and I never will be.” She turned to Celeste. “As far as you are concerned, Celeste, I will never forgive you for your part in this tonight. You’ve stolen my life and our father’s life.” She turned back to Duke Northcott. “And as for you, I shall fill my days searching for that book and use it to destroy you.”

Marcus laughed. “You can try, Celine, you can try, but you will never be rid of me. I will always be with you.”

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Now that Josie has found her true self, continue the adventure and find Celine’s painting! Check out Book 2, Stolen Portrait Stolen, by clicking here!

Like cozy mysteries? Check out the Cate Kensie Mystery series. Misty Scottish moors and a quirky castle. Read Cate’s first adventure, The Secret of Dunhaven Castle, by clicking here!

Ready for adventure? Travel the globe with Maggie Edwards in search of her kidnapped uncle and Cleopatra’s Tomb. Book one, Cleopatra’s Tomb, in the Maggie Edwards Adventure series is available now!

A Note from the Author

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading this book! Shadows of the Past was inspired by my love for the show Dark Shadows! While I’m not a first-generation fan of the show, I fell in love with it when my mother introduced it to me in my late teens. It left its mark on my heart and my imagination.

I hope you enjoyed reading this book as much as I did writing it! If you loved it, please consider leaving a review and help get the book into the hands of other interested readers.

Keep reading for a sneak preview of Shadow Slayers Book 2, Stolen Portrait Stolen Soul!

All the best, Nellie

Stolen Portrait Stolen Soul Synopsis

Things were supposed to be better now that she had awoken, but somehow, they seemed to be getting worse.

Celine Devereaux Buckley, who once lived a mortal, very human life as Josie Benson, thought that coming home would be safe. She would be surrounded by those she loved and who loved her most, but her homecoming was more complicated than she ever imagined.

Shortly after arriving, she begins feeling strange. As her physical condition once again worsens, she and her family can’t help but wonder what could be causing her so much pain. When Damien Sherwood, her beloved human cousin, connects her missing portrait to Celine’s troubles, he throws himself into a desperate search to find it. The image, a portrait of Celine with mystical powers to guard the Buckley household, has gone missing, and without it, everyone is in grave danger. But how can they get it back when Celine is already under attack from its absence?

Damien, tired of watching Celine suffer, finally comes up with a plan to retrieve the missing talisman. Crazy though it may be, he’s willing to try anything. With the help of Celine’s magical gifts and her former human boyfriend, Michael, Damien travels back in time to track down the missing portrait. However, unexpected dark forces are lurking even in the past.

Will Damien and Michael be able to retrieve the painting before it’s too late for Celine? Can they change the course of the past without damaging the future they love? Or will their efforts end up getting them killed?

Find out in Stolen Portrait Stolen Soul by clicking here. This is book two in the stunning Shadow Slayers Story series and will keep you on the edge of your seat and holding your breath until the last page.

Stolen Portrait Stolen Soul Excerpt

Damien stared at the cloud as it changed shape, forming into a humanlike figure. The creature morphed, shedding the black cloud like a snake sheds its skin. Damien was speechless by what he witnessed. A pale figure hovered over Celine’s limp form. Black hair poked from its head, black eyes stared down at Celine, black nails protruded from its hands. Large gray wings poked from its back.

“Rise,” the creature said in a voice that reverberated, making it impossible to determine gender.

Celine climbed to her feet, tiny compared to the creature in front of her.

“Celine Devereaux Buckley, why have you summoned me in the presence of a human?” the creature boomed.

“Human?” Celine questioned. “I am not human.”

“Not you, another.”

“There is no human here,” Celine countered.

The creature sniffed in the air. “You are mistaken. Show yourself human.”

An expression of shock and dismay crossed Celine’s face as a realization struck her. “Damien?” she called. “Damien, it’s okay, come out.”

Damien stood, revealing himself from behind the rocky outcropping. “Hey, hello!” Damien waved, climbing from behind the rocks. “Nice to meet you. Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir, ma’am, oh winged one,” Damien stumbled, clearing his throat.

“Damien, stop,” Celine said with a shake of her head.

“Stand before me and be judged, human,” the adjudicator decreed.

“No!” Celine yelled, stepping between the creature and Damien.

Damien swallowed hard. The creature’s black eyes glowered at Celine. “You protect this human, Celine Devereaux Buckley?”

“I do. He is off-limits to you. He shall not be judged.”

The creature approached them, its gaze flickered between Damien and Celine. This close to it, Damien noticed its eyelids closed