Shadow of My Heart

chapter One

Sixteen Years Later



“Why is there always someone trying to take over the world?” Raven Darkwood asked as he fastened the single-handed crossbow to the strap on his belt.

“Power? Greed? But don’t complain too much. Without these power-hungry weirdoes, we would be out of a job,” his best friend, Joseph Running Bear, answered while strapping his own equipment to his belt.

Out of a job? Raven couldn’t imagine not working. Running his hand over the different compartments in his black-leather uniform, he checked to make sure all of his specially made equipment, including the new digital recorder made of all-natural corn resin, was in its proper place. He didn’t want anything to disintegrate in the Shadow Dimension.

Between supervising the offices of Isanti, Inc., and carrying out spying assignments for General Holland, he didn’t have time to breathe. Then, there was Isanti Quiet Thunder, his mentor and foster father, who constantly reminded him of the prophecy about finding a wife. How was he supposed to find a wife, when he didn’t have time to date?

“You ready? Turn off the light,” Raven directed.

Joe nodded abruptly as he walked over and switched off the light in the safe house located just outside the city of Ahvaz, Iran.

One of the best things about being a Shadow Walker was seeing perfectly in the dark. Finding the deepest shadows in the room, Raven felt for the tell-tale cold breeze that would signify an opening into the Shadow Dimension. Finding a small hole near the floor, he pushed both hands in and stretched the opening to a comfortable size to walk through. Glancing once over his shoulder at Joe, Raven nodded and walked out of the safe house, passing through the walls as if they were made of smoke.

It took only a moment for the biting cold of the Shadow Dimension to seep into every cell of Raven’s body until he ached with it. Staying warm in this dimension was impossible, even with the specially made uniforms they were wearing. Joe followed through the opening, then turned to close the makeshift door. It wouldn’t do to let one of the shadow beasts from this near dimension to Earth pass through. They wouldn’t survive long in the light, but they could cause panic if someone saw them.

Raven looked around the strange landscape that shifted and writhed with eddies of darkness. The room in the safe house could still be seen faintly from this side. He could move great distances through this dimension with just a thought, or walk following the contours of the Earth plane.

Moving through Shadow was always a test of fortitude and endurance. Members of his Indian tribe had been doing it for centuries. Raven and Joe had entered this near dimension of ghosts and shadows many times since they were boys. It never got any easier.

I hope Derek has plenty of hot coffee waiting for us when we get back, Joe sent telepathically to Raven. I’ll be a human Popsicle by the time this op is done.

Their mission tonight was to record a meeting between the terrorist Faheed Adar, a known member of the Quds force, and the people helping him smuggle weapons-grade uranium into Iran.

As Raven and Joe walked through the city, the streets were exceptionally quiet. Even with the distortion of the Shadow Dimension, there should have been city sounds around them. The mandatory curfews the government imposed were keeping people off the street. Raven could only be thankful. There was something very disorienting when a person walked through you. He tried to avoid it if possible. Joe and his younger brother Derek often teased him about it. But now that wouldn’t be a problem until they got to the compound where the meeting was taking place.

Finally arriving at the gated entry point, Raven looked around at all the lights set up in the courtyard. It was a good thing this was just a listening mission. Without a shadow to walk through, he and Joe couldn’t leave the Shadow Dimension. Guards walked the perimeter of the compound armed with machine guns. The only sign of Raven and Joe’s passing would be a cool breeze as they made their way to the meeting room.

Raven had memorized a map of the building and led the way through the gates and outside walls of the building that stood solid on Earth. When they arrived in the proper room, he moved close to the outside walls. If someone did walk through the space where he was standing, he would feel a cold spot, but nothing else.

It shouldn’t be too much longer before the meeting begins, Raven sent telepathically to Joe. I think they are waiting for Faheed Adar to arrive. Once we hear who is supplying them with weapons-grade uranium, the general can close down the supply line.

Just then, the door slammed open, and Adar entered, followed by a Caucasian man wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap low over his face.

What have we here? Joe asked excitedly. Could this be the supplier?

Why is he acting so suspiciously? It’s almost like he knows we’re here listening, Raven pointed out.

While in this dimension, they could see and hear everything happening on Earth as if looking through a foggy mirror. But they couldn’t manipulate anything physically on the Earth plane without crossing into it.

Adar started talking excitedly, and a search of the room began. Soon the men in the room turned over every chair and checked under the table.

They’re looking for listening devices. The general may have a traitor in his circle. How could they know we would be here tonight? Joe asked, sending his thoughts to Raven.

At least they have no way of discovering us here in Shadow, Raven replied. This is disturbing news. The general will have to be briefed immediately.

Raven centered himself and reached across space and time with his telepathy to find the youngest member of their team, his brother, Derek “Red Hawk” Darkwood.

Derek, inform the general we have a leak in security. Adar was told we would be listening today. Keep it quiet and speak to him directly.

Will do. What is your ETA?

Unknown at this time. Depends on how long-winded Adar is.

Roger that.

The men in Adar’s group started to right the chairs and sit back down. Adar approached the Caucasian man and slapped him hard across the face. His baseball cap and sunglasses flew through the air and landed on the floor. Both Joe and Raven could see the face of the blond-haired, blue-eyed man. Raven memorized his features and would sketch his likeness for General Holland on his return to base.

Flipping on the recording device, Raven positioned himself to receive the best sound quality. Voices recorded in Shadow had a hollow echo. He didn’t want to miss a word.

Adar finished admonishing his troops about possible security leaks. He then described the details of where the next shipment of weapons-grade uranium would be acquired and when it would be expected to arrive.

Raven smiled in satisfaction as the men left the room. This information was exactly what the general needed to shut down smuggling of uranium into Iran. A special unit would be sent in to stop the illegal shipments and arrest the persons involved.

I think we got what we came for, Raven sent telepathically I recognized the Farsi words for uranium and supplier. Let’s get back and report in.

Raven and Joe pictured the operations room at their headquarters in New Mexico and warped through the Shadow Dimension until they could see their fellow teammates in the dimness. The lights in this room were always turned off as people stared at computer screens. Picking an unoccupied spot, Raven and Joe stepped into the room through a quickly made portal.

Derek looked up with a smile. He went over to the coffee machine and grabbed two cups, which he handed to Raven and Joe.

“You made good time,” Derek said. “The general is waiting for you in your office.”

“Why don’t you join us?” Raven suggested as they fell into step and headed down the hall.

Joe sighed as he drank his coffee. “Nothing tastes better than a cup of hot coffee after walking in Shadow,” he said. “I never feel like myself until it fills my stomach with warmth.”

“Maybe that’s why it’s called a cup of Joe,” Derek teased.

“You’ll make a good wife someday, Red Hawk,” Joe replied. “You make a darn good brew, just the right amount of cream.”

“All right, cut the chatter,” Raven said. “We’ve got a sticky situation here. Any idea who the leak in the general’s organization might be?”

“Anyone who saw the orders could be the one,” Derek said. “It might be that cute blond who works as his secretary.”

“You mean the cute blond you’ve been trying to get a date with, don’t you?” Joe asked.

“I’ll be happy to check her out. I mean look into the situation,” Derek said.

“The general will decide what he wants done,” Raven said. “He may have an idea of the identity of the blond-haired man meeting with Adar, once he sees the sketch I’ll draw up.”

They stepped into the elevator, and Raven pushed the button for the sixth floor above ground of the Isanti building. His office, apartment, and conference room were located on the top floor.

“Quiet Thunder called me again yesterday,” Raven said. “It’s time to prepare for the continuation of our tribe and for the prophecy to come true. The Nuni Nagi Tribe will be extinct if we don’t find the right women to mate.”

“He just wants to retire and give you the helm of Isanti, Inc.,” Derek complained. “Sometimes I wonder if there really is a prophecy. All that doom and gloom and needing to find a special woman to mate.”

“Don’t be disrespectful,” Joe said. “Quiet Thunder has mentored us since we were young. If he says there are special women out there we need to find, then I believe him. That man has powers I’ve never seen before. I saw him make a branch produce fruit in one day by holding it in his hand. He actually handed a piece of fruit to me to eat. I wasn’t sure whether to eat it or run away. He can be a spooky old man at times.”

“Let’s talk family business later,” Raven said as the elevator door opened. “Right now we have to brief the general and help him track down a traitor.”

Raven remembered the day he met the general while in college. The general’s son, David, was his roommate. Raven and the general hit it off right away. Raven liked and highly respected the older man.

“I brought the general some refreshments while he waited, Mr. Darkwood,” Katherine Sloane, Raven’s administrative assistant, said as they entered.

The general had recommended Katherine when her husband was killed in Afghanistan. Derek had been particularly insistent that Raven hire her. For the past few years, since her arrival, things in the office had smoothed out, and Raven appreciated every minute that she was in his employ.

“Thank you, Mrs. Sloane. I’m sure he appreciated it,” Raven said. “Please make sure we are not disturbed while meeting.”

“Hey, beautiful. Miss me?” Derek said smiling.

“I just saw you an hour ago, Mr. Red Hawk. I’m sorry, but I’ve been too busy to miss you.”

“Ouch. You always aim for the heart, Katie,” Derek said, clutching his chest.

“Come on, Derek. Stop flirting and get in here,” Raven said in exasperation. Why did his brother always have to flirt with the help? Opening the double doors, Raven walked into his office. The silver-haired general stood up and walked over to shake their hands.

“What information do you have for me, Darkwood?” General Holland asked.

“Here is the recording of the meeting, Sir,” Raven said, handing over the recording device designed by Isanti, Inc., to survive passage into the Shadow Dimension. “Let me get a paper and pencil so I can sketch the possible supplier. The meeting was interrupted by a thorough search. Someone tipped them off to our presence. This man came in wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses. He may be their contact in the U.S. But someone must be supplying him with information. How else did they know we were coming?” Raven asked as he handed the finished sketch to the general.