Gone: A Shadow Slayers Story (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 3) Read online

  Also by Nellie H. Steele

  Shadow Slayers Stories:

  Shadows of the Past

  Stolen Portrait Stolen Soul

  Cate Kensie Mysteries:

  The Secret of Dunhaven Castle

  Murder at Dunhaven Castle

  Holiday Heist at Dunhaven Castle

  Maggie Edwards Adventures:

  Cleopatra’s Tomb

  Gone

  A Shadow Slayers Story

  Nellie H. Steele

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2021 by Nellie H. Steele

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  For my Dad, Paul

  Happy Birthday!

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  A HUGE thank you to everyone who helped get this book published! Special shout outs to: Stephanie Sovak, Paul Sovak, Michelle Cheplic, Cathi Colas, Mark D’Angelo and Lori D’Angelo.

  Finally, a HUGE thank you to you, the reader!

  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  The Immortals

  Celine Devereaux Buckley – A two-and-a-half centuries old powerful supernatural entity who has the ability to open time portals and revive the dead. She lived as a human until she was sixteen when Duke Marcus Northcott saved her life with his blood. She then turned immortal by drawing blood from Marcus. She lived again as a human for almost twenty-five years when she was Josephine “Josie” Benson.

  Grayson Buckley – A centuries-old supernatural entity. Grayson Buckley is married to Celine Buckley, having met her after her transformation. Grayson has spent his immortal life aiding Celine in her battle with Duke Marcus Northcott, who hopes to possess her power for himself.

  Alexander Buckley – A centuries-old supernatural entity and cousin to Grayson Buckley. Alexander Buckley transformed from human to supernatural creature in the 1700s along with Grayson. He, too, spends much of his life aiding Grayson and Celine in fighting Duke Marcus Northcott.

  Celeste VanWoodsen – Older sister to Celine Devereaux Buckley. Celeste achieved a supernatural transformation before her sister, Celine. She hoped her sister would join her in the supernatural realm, joining forces with her good friend Duke Marcus Northcott.

  Theodore VanWoodsen – Husband to Celeste Devereaux VanWoodsen. Theodore is a centuries-old supernatural entity who joined the ranks of Duke Marcus Northcott.

  Duke Marcus Northcott – A centuries old powerful supernatural entity and leader of a dark coven. Marcus Northcott’s full abilities are not known. He hoped to gain Celine Devereaux as an ally to his cause, saving her life with his own blood on her sixteenth birthday, however she refused to join his dark cause.

  The Humans

  Damien Sherwood – A computer-savvy history buff and near genius. He is Josie Benson’s cousin, who followed her to Maine when she returned to her life as Celine Devereaux Buckley. He, along with friend, Michael Carlyle, traveled to 1786 to help a young Celine in her fight against Duke Marcus Northcott.

  Michael Carlyle – A savvy international businessman and Josie’s former boyfriend. He followed Josie to Maine with Damien Sherwood and the two traveled to 1786 to assist a sixteen-year-old Celine in stealing The Book of the Dead from Marcus Northcott.

  Dr. Amelia “Millie” Gresham – A doctor and full-time resident at the Buckley estate. Dr. Millie Gresham monitors and assists with the physical and mental health of both the supernatural creatures and humans in the household.

  Charlotte Buckley-Stanton – The current owner of the Buckley estate. Charlotte Buckley-Stanton is a descendent of Grayson’s brother, Aiden Buckley.

  Avery Hughes – Daughter of Charlotte Buckley-Stanton. Avery Hughes has two children, Max and Maddy.

  Chapter 1

  “What do you mean ‘gone?’” Damien questioned. He, Michael, Gray and Gray’s cousin, Alexander, stood in an unused room of the Buckley estate. He and Michael had just revealed the hidden location of Celine’s portrait. Stolen prior to the events that brought them to Bucksville, Maine, its theft prompted Gray to seek out his wife, Celine, twenty-five years after her disappearance. In a whirlwind chain of events, Damien’s cousin, Josie, learned she was a supernatural entity named Celine, married to Gray and alive since the late 1700s.

  After learning the truth, Damien and Michael, who had known Celine as Josie, stayed with her in her old home, living amongst the Buckleys, some who were human, others who were not. Their lives were forever changed by their experiences with the supernatural, including their latest ventures, which involved time traveling to correct events of the past.

  Together, Michael and Damien had secured Celine’s portrait in 1791 when it had been painted, then returned to the present time. When they returned, Gray had given them the incredible news that Celine had disappeared.

  “I told you,” Gray answered. “No one has seen or heard from Celine in almost a week. Since the night she sent you back to 1791. She hasn’t called, texted, or come home. We can’t find her. She’s gone.”

  Damien stalked a few steps away, disbelief on his face. Michael approached him, putting a steadying hand on his shoulder.

  “I realize this is difficult to hear, Damien,” Alexander began, his British accent still strong despite the centuries of life in America.

  “Difficult to hear?” Damien interrupted, incredulous at the comment. “Difficult to hear? No, difficult to hear is ‘you lost your job’ or ‘I’m leaving you for your brother.’ No, this isn’t difficult to hear this is… this is… incomprehensible!” Damien raked a shaky hand through his brown hair.

  “Damien, please,” Alexander replied. “You’ve been through quite a bit. You’re tired and upset. Why don’t we…”

  “Upset? You’re damn right I’m upset!”

  “Hey, Damien,” Michael said, squeezing his shoulder. “We’ll find her, man. Let’s go grab a drink and discuss this.”

  “Grab a drink? Are you serious? This isn’t a case of a lost set of keys or a misplaced article of clothing!” Damien retorted. “Celine is gone! For a week! We need to be out there searching for her, finding her!”

  “Don’t you think we’ve tried that?” Gray questioned.

  “I have no idea what you’ve done!” Damien snapped. “When was the last time she was seen? By whom? Where could she have gone? And why?”

  “I agree with Michael,” Alexander stated. “Why don’t we reconvene in the sitting room. We can discus
s the details there.” Damien threw his arms in the air in frustration. “There is nothing to do right now, Damien. Michael is correct, we will find her, but it will not be tonight. And it will not be by executing an ill-conceived plan.”

  Damien sighed, nodding his head. “All right,” he assented, his voice just above a whisper as he stared at nothing.

  “Come on, man,” Michael prompted Damien. “Let’s head down for that drink. We both can use one.”

  “Damien,” Alexander said before they departed. Damien turned to look at him. “We will find her.”

  Damien nodded as Michael led him from the room. Alexander followed, turning back to find Gray still standing in the room. “Coming, cousin?”

  “Yes,” Gray answered, “but I want to re-hang this picture first. We need it, now more than ever.”

  “Let me help,” Alexander replied, picking up one side of the painting while Gray grabbed the other. Together, they carried the portrait of Celine downstairs and hung it above the fireplace in the foyer. “It’s good to see it back in its rightful place.”

  “I agree. Now if we could only retrieve Celine. At least the portrait can protect us until she is back.”

  “Shall we join Michael and Damien?” Alexander questioned.

  “Yes. As much as I don’t want to relive the last few days, they have a right to receive answers to their questions.”

  “He’s just as upset as you are, Gray. Please try to remember that.”

  “I realize that. And Celine would want me to remember that, too.”

  Gray and Alexander entered the sitting room. An orange glow lit the room, emanating from the fireplace. Michael and Damien both nursed brandies. Michael paced the room while Damien sat near the fireplace. He hunched over his drink, staring into it as though it held the answers to all his questions.

  Gray poured a brandy for Alexander and himself. “Listen, Damien,” he began, “I realize what a shock this is. It was to me, too. We all want to find Celine and we will.”

  “I don’t understand. How could she just disappear? Could this have something to do with our visit to the adjudicator? Was this my fault?” Damien questioned, referring to Celine’s summoning of the adjudicator to save her sister Celeste from the curse of vampirism. Celine had called upon the creature, a justice keeper of the supernatural world, to beg for her sister’s rebirth as a witch rather than a vampire. Her request had been denied. In the process, the adjudicator had become angered that Damien, a human, had witnessed their conversation, threatening him. Celine had promised to fight to the death for Damien. Had the adjudicator taken her up on that, Damien wondered?

  “For not being related by blood, you are just like her,” Gray murmured, shaking his head as he sipped his brandy.

  “What?” Damien questioned.

  “It isn’t your fault, Damien,” Alexander reassured him. Damien understood Gray’s comment. He referred to Celine’s characteristic trait of self-blame for all events.

  “The last time she visited the adjudicator she disappeared for twenty-five years,” Damien replied, referencing Celine’s morph into his human cousin, Josie.

  “I’m well aware of what happened the last time. I don’t need to be reminded,” Gray answered. He paused a moment. “But Alexander is correct. This has nothing to do with the adjudicator.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Michael chimed in.

  “Adjudicators do not revisit prior decisions or conversations,” Alexander explained. “If the adjudicator planned to do something to Celine, it would have done it at your meeting. Not after.”

  Damien let the information sink in. “You say she disappeared the night we left for 1791?”

  “Yes,” Gray answered. “I found a note in our bedroom. She wrote she was going to meet Celeste. She didn’t say where. That was the last correspondence any of us had with her.”

  Damien leapt from his seat, pacing the room as he digested the information. “And you spoke with Celeste?”

  “Yes, of course I spoke with Celeste. When she didn’t come home, that’s the first person I talked to.”

  “And she said what?” Damien questioned.

  “She said she spoke with Celine around ten. They spoke for about fifteen minutes before they parted ways. It appeared Celine was returning home when she left. That was the last Celeste saw of her,” Gray explained.

  Damien pondered it a moment. “And the note was in Celine’s handwriting?”

  “Yes,” Gray answered, wrinkling his brow.

  “What did she speak with Celeste about?” Michael queried.

  “According to Celeste, she asked to meet Celine to discuss the physical symptoms Celine was experiencing. The painful memories. Celeste was concerned Celine’s involvement in creating her vampiric condition led to Celine’s symptoms. Celeste felt compelled to tell Celine she did not hold her responsible. She was concerned the stress would harm Celine,” Gray responded.

  “I want to talk to Celeste,” Damien requested.

  “No!” Gray barked.

  “What? Why?” Damien asked.

  “You’re not going anywhere near Celeste in her condition. Either of you.”

  “She is the last one to have seen Celine. She may have information we need!” Damien entreated.

  “We’ve already spoken to her. Both of us,” Gray said, referencing Alexander.

  “But you may have missed something. Something I can pick up on!” Damien insisted.

  “The answer is no,” Gray answered.

  “Perhaps it should be arranged,” Alexander suggested.

  “Are you crazy, Alex? If something happens to either of them, Celine will never forgive us.”

  “We should keep Michael away, I agree. But Celeste wouldn’t be foolish enough to attack Damien. I will go with him. It should be safe,” Alexander suggested.

  Gray considered it for a moment. “Fine. Speak with her again. Just be sure she keeps her distance from him.”

  “Great!” Damien exclaimed. “Let’s go.”

  “Just a moment, Damien. We should postpone this discussion until you’ve both had some proper rest.”

  “Proper rest? Are you kidding? I can’t rest!”

  “Damien, your conversation with Celeste is useless if you are too tired to process the information,” Alexander stated.

  “Okay, okay, fine. Tomorrow night then,” Damien agreed. “So, what else can you tell us?”

  “There isn’t much else,” Gray admitted. “Celeste was the last to see her. There has been no trace of her. We’ve checked buildings on the estate, checked in town. There’s nothing.”

  “I realize you said this had nothing to do with the adjudicator,” Damien said, “but ‘disappeared without a trace’ sounds supernatural, doesn’t it?”

  “We were aware the last time she disappeared because of the adjudicator,” Alexander answered. He paused, glancing to Gray. “We… were given the chance to say goodbye.”

  Damien swallowed hard, realizing how horrific that must have been for them. “But it’s not like a normal person could have taken her, right? She’d just blast them with one her fireballs and come home.”

  Gray nodded. “You’re right, it’s not a normal person. She wasn’t abducted. I’m not sure that knowledge helps us.”

  Damien collapsed onto the couch. “What a mess.”

  “Perhaps you and Michael should get some rest,” Alexander suggested. “We’ll start fresh in the morning.”

  “Or evening. Celeste will be unavailable in the morning,” Damien answered.

  Alexander chuckled. “Yes, but we can review other things.”

  “I couldn’t sleep if I tried. Where is Celine and her special touch that puts people to sleep when you need her?” Damien jumped from the couch, pacing the room.

  “I’m sure Millie can help you with that,” Alexander suggested.

  “A nice sedative, the doctor’s favorite drug of choice,” Michael lamented. He did not have fond memories of Millie’s rounds of sedation as he re
covered from his vampire bite, courtesy of Celeste.

  “It’s a good idea. You need your rest,” Gray agreed.

  Damien shook his head. “No, thanks. I’ll go attempt to rest. I won’t rest, but I don’t want to be drugged. I need to keep a clear mind. What time should we reconvene?”

  “Whenever you both feel up to it. We’ll be here,” Alexander assured him.

  “Shoot for 7 a.m.?” Damien suggested.

  “That’s fine,” Alexander answered.

  “Great, see you tomorrow morning,” Damien replied. Damien and Michael exited, leaving Alexander and Gray remaining in the sitting room.

  “Poor Damien. This is a lot for a human to bear,” Alexander noted.

  “Yes, the sedative will do him good.”

  “Too bad he refused it.”

  “Refused or not, he’s getting it,” Gray insisted. “They both are. I may need your help.”

  “Bold move, Gray. Is it necessary?”

  “If we don’t, he’ll worry himself sick. And if anything happens to him while Celine is gone, she’ll never forgive me. Come on, we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

  Gray set his glass down, striding from the room. He tracked down Millie, having her fill two syringes with a sedative.

  Damien and Michael climbed the stairs and navigated the halls to their rooms. “I’ll see you in the morning,” Michael said before ducking into his room. “I hope you sleep.”