Dark Bonds (Shadow Locke Shifters #2)

42. Frankie

Chapter 42

Frankie

My head’s pounding like a jackhammer as I come to. Everything’s fuzzy, like I’m trying to think through static. My head throbs, each pulse a hammer strike against my temples. I blink, trying to focus, but the world remains a hazy blur of shadows and dim light.

As my vision clears, I realize I’m sprawled on a cold metal floor. My mouth tastes like I’ve been chewing on pennies, and the air is thick, making it hard to breathe—magic, definitely magic. Groaning, I push myself up on shaky arms.

As I struggle to my feet, my mind racing to make sense of our situation, one thing becomes crystal clear—we’re in deep, deep trouble.

A slow applause echoes through the chamber, the sound bouncing off the metal surfaces and multiplying until it feels like it’s coming from everywhere at once. Blackwood slinks out of the shadows, looking way too pleased with himself. Creep. The look in his eyes makes my skin crawl. He has that gleam of someone who thinks they won the lottery, but the lottery is probably world domination or something equally twisted.

“Well, well, well…” Blackwood’s silky voice cuts through the silence, sending ice through my veins. “You’re just in time for the show.”

I whip my head around, instantly regretting it as pain lances through my skull. Blackwood stands a few feet away, looking annoyingly unruffled. Behind him, I spot Leo and Matteo trapped in shimmering cages of shadow magic. Dorian lies passed out on the floor with Bishop beside him.

Shadows coil around my fists like living gauntlets, the power thrumming through me, eager for release. “It’s over, Blackwood,” I snarl, my voice ringing with an authority I didn’t know I possessed. “We’re shutting this place down.”

He laughs, the sound brittle and cold, devoid of any real mirth. “Oh, I don’t think so. You see, you’re the final piece I need to complete my work—the key to unlocking power beyond your wildest dreams.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask, even as dread pools in my stomach, heavy as lead.

Blackwood’s smile widens, revealing too many teeth. “I have someone I’d like you to meet, Frankie.” Blackwood’s voice drips with fake politeness as he gestures to a nearby containment unit. The goop inside is churning like crazy. “Say hello to your long-lost twin brother.”

The world tilts on its axis, reality fracturing around me. I stumble forward, barely aware of Leo’s and Matteo’s concerned voices fading into the background.

A young man who could be my mirror image floats in the tank. His face is peaceful in artificial sleep. My heart pounds against my ribs as I approach, a strange tingling sensation spreading through my body. His face, so like my own, is peaceful in repose, but I can see the shadows writhing beneath his skin, just like mine, only… they are light instead of dark.

Where my hair is dark, his is white. Where my skin is pale, his is tan. Yet… we look exactly alike.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that this man is my brother. I don’t know how I know, but I know with every fiber of my being.

I reach out and touch the glass before I can stop myself. It’s cold, but there’s this weird... connection, like touching a live wire, but not painful. It’s as if my essence recognizes him, even though we’ve never met. “No,” I whisper, the word barely audible. “This can’t be...”

“Oh, but it is,” Blackwood says, his voice dripping with satisfaction. He circles us like a shark scenting blood. “Light and shadow, two sides of the same coin,” Blackwood rambles on, clearly loving the sound of his own voice. “You and your brother? You’re the key to controlling it all—the beasts, the realms, everything. The power of creation and destruction, perfectly balanced.”

Rage boils up inside me, shadows writhing beneath my skin like living tattoos. “You monster!” I snarl, whirling to face him. “How long have you kept him here?”

Blackwood shrugs, the gesture casual, as if we’re discussing the weather rather than the imprisonment of my twin. “Years. I’ve been waiting for you both to come into your full power, and now, thanks to Valerie’s work with you, you’re finally ready.”

I whirl to face Valerie, betrayal burning in my chest like acid. “You knew all this time?”

Guilt flashes across her face, quickly replaced by resolve. Her shoulders straighten, her chin lifting in defiance. “I’m sorry, Frankie, but he’s right. This is bigger than any of us. The fate of both realms hangs in the balance.” Her voice wavers slightly, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. “I... I’ve made so many mistakes, but this has to be right. Doesn’t it?”

“How could you?” I demand, my voice breaking. Shadows lash around me, responding to my turmoil. “After everything?—”

“Because he’s my father,” Valerie blurts, her composure cracking. “You don’t understand, Frankie. I’ve spent my entire life trying to earn his approval, to be worthy of the Blackwood name. Every cruel act, every manipulation—it was all to prove myself to him. I thought... I thought this was my last chance to make him proud.”

The revelation stuns me into silence. Suddenly, Valerie’s actions and her desperation to be in control take on a new, tragic light. I see the scared little girl behind the mask of control, and for a moment, my anger wavers.

Blackwood’s laugh cuts through the air, cold and sharp as a knife. It grates against my nerves, setting my teeth on edge. “Oh, yes,” he purrs, satisfaction oozing from every word. “My darling daughter. Such a perfect little pawn.” He glances at Valerie, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Though I must admit, that little rebellious streak? Almost had me going for a minute there.”

Valerie flinches at his words, and I see a flicker of doubt in her eyes. Before I can react, her shadows lash out, ensnaring Leo and Matteo. They struggle, but her power holds them fast.

“Valerie, don’t do this,” Leo pleads, his eyes wide with disbelief. His usual charm is gone, replaced by raw desperation.

Matteo snarls, fighting against the shadowy bonds. His tactical mind is already searching for weaknesses. “I knew we couldn’t trust you!”

I stand frozen, torn between rage at Valerie’s betrayal and a newfound understanding of her motivations. The weight of the choices before me presses down, threatening to crush me. Blackwood’s laughter cuts through my indecision, sharp as a blade.

“You’ve always had a choice, Frankie,” Blackwood purrs, his voice a silky caress that belies the madness in his eyes. He gestures to the lever, shadows dancing at his fingertips. “Embrace your destiny or watch everything you love crumble to dust. What will it be, my dear?”

Time seems to slow as I weigh my options. Save my mates and my brother at the cost of giving Blackwood what he wants or fight, risking everything and everyone I love.

A bone-shaking roar interrupts my thoughts, so powerful it rattles my teeth and sends vibrations through the metal floor. The far wall of the chamber explodes inward in a shower of debris and shadow. As the dust settles, I find myself face-to-face with a massive eredar beast.

“The vortex,” Valerie gasps, her eyes wide. “When it exploded, it must have torn a hole between realms. We’ve drawn the beast’s attention.”

The creature is a living shadow, its form constantly shifting and reforming. Each movement ripples with ancient power, the air around it crackling with energy. Its eyes, glowing with otherworldly intelligence, lock onto mine. In that moment, I understand. This isn’t just about me or my brother or even my mates. It’s about the balance between realms, a cosmic scale that Blackwood threatens to tip.

No. Not threatens—one he already tipped.

I look at all the containment units, then to Blackwood.

“Light shifters,” I whisper, looking down at my brother again, realization dawning on me. “They are all light shifters. They didn’t die, did they?”

Blackwood doesn’t answer me. Instead, one side of his lip tips up into a psychopathic smile—one I know will haunt my dreams alongside his daughter’s.

I take a deep breath, centering myself. The chaos of the room fades away, and it’s as if the beast and I are the only beings in existence. Then, to everyone’s shock, I turn my back on Blackwood and walk toward the eredar beast.

“Frankie, what are you doing?” Leo calls, his voice tight with fear.

I don’t answer, keeping my focus on the creature before me. With each step, I feel a connection forming, a bridge between our minds that transcends language. This creature is not just a beast to be controlled.

It’s a guardian, a keeper of balance between realms. Once, long ago, this beast may have been a shadow shifter.

I take a step toward the beast, my heart pounding so hard I’m sure everyone can hear it. It turns those glowing eyes on me, and for a second, I’m sure I’m about to be shadow beast chow. Something stirs within me, a recognition that goes beyond mere sight. It’s as if an ancient part of my soul is awakening, responding to a call I’ve always heard but never understood. Its gaze seems to pierce through me, seeing past flesh and bone to the very core of my being. I’m stripped bare, all my fears and hopes laid out for judgment.

“Hey there, big guy,” I say, trying to keep my voice from shaking. “I don’t suppose you’d believe we’re the good guys here?” The words come out of nowhere, like someone else is talking through me. “Blackwood wants to control you and use you to reshape reality. I’m asking for your help to stop him.”

The eredar beast regards me silently for a long moment, its gaze unfathomable. Then, to my amazement, it inclines its massive head in a nod. I feel a surge of... something. It’s not quite approval, but acknowledgment—a recognition of a shared purpose.

Blackwood’s enraged shout breaks the spell. “No! I won’t let you ruin everything!”

He lunges for the lever, shadows swirling around him like a dark tornado. Valerie stands frozen, her eyes darting between Blackwood and me. I see the war raging behind her eyes— years of manipulation and desperate need for approval battling against the truth she can no longer deny.

“Valerie,” I say softly, holding her gaze. “You don’t have to do this. You can choose to be better than him.”

Something breaks in her expression. With a cry that’s equal parts anguish and determination, she lunges at Blackwood before he can reach the lever, tackling him to the ground. They grapple, shadows lashing wildly around them.

“Frankie, go!” Valerie yells, struggling to hold Blackwood back. Her eyes meet mine, filled with a mixture of regret and fierce resolve. “Free your brother and the others! I’ll hold him off!” Her voice cracks. “It’s time I finally did something right.”

I hesitate for a split second, torn between helping Valerie and freeing the captives, then I spring into action. With the eredar beast providing cover, its massive form between us and Blackwood, I race to my brother’s containment unit.

My shadows make quick work of the lock, tendrils of darkness slithering into the mechanism and forcing it open. The shadowy fluid rushes out, and soon I’m cradling my twin’s unconscious form. His skin is cool to the touch, but I can feel a steady heartbeat beneath my fingers.

As I hold my brother, a surge of energy courses through me. It’s as if a missing piece of me has suddenly clicked into place. His eyelids flutter, and for a moment, I see a flash of irises that mirror my own, only filled with light instead of shadow.

As our eyes meet, I feel a jolt of recognition that goes beyond the physical. The shadows around us pulse and swirl, responding to our connection in ways I’d never seen before.

“Leo, Matteo!” I call out, my voice strained with urgency. “Can you break free?”

Leo grunts, his muscles straining against Valerie’s shadow bonds. “Working on it!” he growls, determination etched on his face.

Matteo, ever the strategist, has already managed to work one arm loose. “Almost there,” he pants, sweat beading on his brow.

I turn my attention to the other containment units, my heart racing. There are dozens of them, each holding a light shifter suspended in shadowy fluid. The enormity of Blackwood’s crimes hits me anew, and rage burns hot in my chest.

“Hold on,” I whisper to my unconscious brother, gently laying him down. “I’ll be right back.”

Leo and Matteo, freed from Valerie’s restraints, join me. Together, we begin releasing the other captives as chaos erupts around us. All the locks on the containment units shatter as Matteo rams into it. The air thrums with wild magic, reality seeming to warp and bend.

The eredar beast battles Blackwood’s shadow constructs, each clash sending shockwaves through the chamber. Valerie fights her father, their shadows intertwining in a deadly dance. The foundations of the lair shake, threatening to bring the whole structure down around us.

As the last captive is freed, I turn to face Blackwood. He’s on his knees, battered and defeated, but his eyes still burn with madness. Blood trickles from a cut on his forehead, mingling with the shadows that cling to him like a second skin.

“You don’t understand what you’ve done,” he spits, his voice raw and ragged. “The balance?—”

“Will be restored,” I finish for him, my voice ringing with certainty, “but not by you, and not by force. True balance comes from understanding, not control.”

The words feel right, as if they came from someplace deeper than my own mind. Was this the wisdom of the shadows, or something even more ancient?

With a final, desperate lunge, Blackwood reaches for the lever. Time slows as I realize I can’t reach him in time, but before he can grasp it, the eredar beast’s tail slams into the machine with a thunderous crash, completely destroying it.

Blackwood’s anguished scream is cut short as the beast’s massive paw pins him to the ground. The chamber falls silent, the sudden absence of battle almost deafening.

The acrid smell of ozone hangs heavily in the air, mingling with the metallic tang of blood and the musty scent of ancient stone. My skin tingles with residual magic, and I can taste shadow on my tongue, dark and electric. The eredar beast’s breathing echoes off the walls, a low, rhythmic rumble that vibrates through the floor and up into my bones.

I rush for my brother, grabbing his body and pulling it to the ground in case everything crashes down around us.

In the stillness that follows, I become aware of a warm weight in my arms. I look down to see my brother’s eyes fluttering open, meeting mine for the first time. His gaze is confused at first, then clears with a spark of recognition.

“Hey,” I say softly, tears blurring my vision. My voice cracks with emotion. “I’m your sister.”

He blinks, confusion giving way to a tentative smile. “I... I know you,” he whispers, his voice hoarse from disuse. “Somehow, I’ve always known you.” His eyes, so like mine but filled with light instead of shadow, scan the chaos around us. A wry smile tugs at his lips. “Hell of a family reunion, sis. Got any other surprises for me? Long-lost evil twin, maybe?”

I can’t help but laugh, the sound bordering on hysterical. “Trust me, this is all new to me too. I’m Frankie, by the way. And you are?”

“Finn,” he says, grimacing as he tries to sit up. “At least, that’s what they called me in there. I didn’t exactly come with a name tag when Blackwood snatched me.”

His attempt at humor in the face of everything hits me hard. This is my brother, my family, and I’m never letting anyone hurt him again.

“What the hell did I miss?” Bishop groans, holding his head. Dorian stirs beside him, his eyes fluttering open.

I can’t look away too long because I have actual family—alive—in my arms.

Leo and Matteo crowd close, their arms encircling both of us. Leo’s fingers brush against my cheek, his touch sending a jolt through me, even in this chaos.

“You okay, Echo?” he whispers, using his nickname for me.

Matteo’s solid presence at my back grounds me, his breath warm against my neck. “We’ve got you,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that makes my heart skip.

As we sit there, surrounded by the aftermath of battle and the stirring forms of the freed captives, I feel a sense of rightness settle over me. Even in this mess, I’m home when I’m with them. As we stand together, the chaos around us fades into the background. My racing heartbeat slows, and my breathing steadies. For the first time since this madness began, my shoulders relax, the constant tension easing. It’s as if all the scattered pieces of my life have finally clicked into place.

As the eredar beast lets out a victory roar that shakes the foundations of the realm, I allow myself a moment of pure, unbridled hope, but then, just as quickly, that hope shatters.

A sound like reality is tearing apart fills the air. The vortex, which I thought we had destroyed, flares back to life with terrifying intensity. As we watch in horror, a figure steps through—a woman with eyes like the night sky and power radiating from her in waves.

Nyx, the dark goddess herself, has arrived, and she does not look pleased.

“Well, well, well,” she purrs, her voice like silk over steel, “what a mess you’ve made of my realm.”

As her gaze falls on me and my brother, a smile curves her lips, but it’s not a kind smile. “Hello, my children. We have much to discuss.”

The shadows around us pulse in response to her presence, and I realize with a sinking feeling that our battle was just the beginning. The real test is yet to come.

The air in the chamber grows impossibly heavy, as if the atmosphere is bowing to Nyx’s presence. My skin prickles, every hair standing on end as waves of raw power emanate from the goddess. The shadows around us writhe and dance, responding to her existence in ways I’ve never seen before.

“My lady,” Blackwood rasps, struggling to rise despite the eredar beast’s paw still pinning him down. His eyes shine with a mixture of fear and reverence. “You’ve come. I knew you would understand the importance of my work?—”

Nyx silences him with a single, withering glance. “Understand?” Her voice is soft, but it carries the weight of eons. “Oh, I understand perfectly. You sought to upset the balance of my realm, to twist my creations to your own petty ambitions.” Her lips curl into a sneer. “How... disappointingly mortal of you.”

She turns her gaze to me and my brother, and I feel the weight of her attention like a physical force. It’s all I can do to remain standing, my legs trembling with the effort. I feel my twin tense beside me, his hand finding mine and squeezing tightly.

“And you,” Nyx continues, her eyes boring into us, “my lost children, finally reunited. Do you have any idea of the power you hold? Of the responsibility that comes with it?”

I swallow hard, forcing myself to meet her gaze. “We... We didn’t know,” I say, my voice sounding small and insignificant in her presence. “About each other, about any of this. We’ve been pawns in someone else’s game.”

A flicker of... something passes across Nyx’s face. Sympathy? Amusement? It’s gone too quickly for me to be sure.

“Pawns?” She laughs, the sound like the tinkling of distant stars. “Oh, my dear. You’ve never been pawns. You are the queen and king on this cosmic chessboard, whether you realized it or not.”

Leo steps forward, and I can practically feel Matteo’s exasperation, but Leo’s going to Leo, even in the face of a goddess.

“So, uh, your royal shadowness,” he says, flashing that lopsided grin that makes my heart flip even now. “I don’t suppose you have a cosmic cheat sheet for us mere mortals? Because the whole fate of the realms thing is way above my pay grade.”

Matteo groans. “Leo, please don’t antagonize the all-powerful deity.”

Nyx’s gaze shifts to Leo, and for a moment, I fear for him.

Her lips quirk into something almost resembling a smile. “Brave little shadow,” she murmurs. “You remind me of someone I once knew long ago.”

She turns, surveying the chamber with its freed captives and the destruction caused by our battle. “What it means,” she says, her voice carrying to every corner of the room, “is that the time has come for a reckoning. The balance between realms has been disrupted, and it falls to you—all of you—to restore it.”

“But how?” Matteo asks, his analytical mind clearly working overtime to process everything. “We barely understand our own powers, let alone how to balance entire realms.”

Nyx’s smile grows, and this time there’s definitely a predatory edge to it. “That, young shadow shifter, is where your real education begins. Your trials up to this point were preparation for what’s to come.”

She raises her hands, and the fabric of reality seems to ripple around us. The chamber dissolves, replaced by a vast, starry expanse that stretches in all directions. We’re floating in a sea of shadows and light, cosmic energies swirling around us.

“Behold,” Nyx intones, her voice resonating through our very beings, “the true nature of the shadow realm.”

The chamber around us fades, replaced by a swirling cosmic tapestry. I gasp, overwhelmed by the sheer vastness of it all.

“Holy shit,” Leo murmurs beside me. “Is this... Are we seeing the whole universe?”

Nyx’s lips quirk in amusement. “This is but a fraction, young shadow. Watch closely.”

As my eyes adjust, I start to make out patterns in the chaos. Strands of darkness and light intertwine, pulsing with life and power. It’s beautiful and terrifying all at once.

“The balance,” Matteo murmurs. “It’s all connected, isn’t it?”

Nyx nods. “Indeed. Every action, every shift in power, ripples across the realms, and now, that balance teeters on the edge of destruction. Your task is to learn to navigate these currents, to understand the ebb and flow of shadow and light. Only then can you hope to restore the balance that has been disrupted.”

She turns to face us fully, her eyes blazing with an intensity that makes my soul quake. “But be warned. The forces you will face are beyond your comprehension. There are those who would see the realms torn asunder for their own gain, and they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.”

As if to emphasize her point, a discordant note rings through the cosmic tableau. The harmonious patterns before us shudder, dark tendrils of malevolent energy seeping in at the edges.

“The corruption spreads,” Nyx says, her voice tight with what almost sounds like concern. “You must be prepared to face challenges beyond anything you’ve encountered. The fate of both realms hangs in the balance.”

With a wave of her hand, the starry expanse fades, and we find ourselves back in the ruined chamber, but something has changed. The air feels charged with possibility, and I can sense new depths to my powers, waiting to be explored.

Nyx fixes us with one last, penetrating stare. “Remember,” she says, her form already beginning to fade, “the choices you make from this moment on will shape the destiny of worlds. Choose wisely, my children.”

With that, she’s gone, leaving us standing amidst the aftermath of battle, our minds reeling from the revelations and the weight of the task before us.

I look at my brother, then at Leo, Bishop, Dorian, and Matteo, seeing my own mix of fear and determination reflected in their eyes.

As the implications of Nyx’s words sink in, a chill runs down my spine. We’ve won this battle, but the war for the fabric of reality is just beginning, and something tells me that our greatest challenges—and darkest trials—lie ahead.

The shadows around us pulse with renewed energy, as if sensing the monumental task we’ve been given. As we gather ourselves to leave this place of nightmares, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re standing on the precipice of something far greater and more terrifying than we could have ever imagined.

Our journey into the heart of shadow has only just begun.