Shadows of Deliverance, The Shadows Trilogy, Book 3

By Amy Hale

Their leader has been captured and they know not her fate nor how to help her.
In the final book of The Shadows Trilogy, Colt and his friends will face the unknown and battle the unseen. Willing to do whatever it takes to bring Jane and Elana home safely, the gifted and average alike will stop at nothing to see their mission through. Bringing down a horrific and abusive organization in the process will satisfy not only their longing for true freedom, but also their desire for revenge. However, one wrong move could cost them everything.
Jane is within the enemy camp and struggling to keep her sanity. She knows the difference between fiction and reality, but for how long?
The end is near, and the victor will either save the world, or leave it in pieces.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amy Hale
• Release date: Mar 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370842612

Amy Hale

Since childhood, best-selling and award-winning author Amy Hale has been creating exceptional stories that summon a whirlwind of emotions and inspiration unto the reader. She loves creating characters and worlds from nothing but her imagination and a few glasses of wine. Her popular paranormal series The Shadows Trilogy has earned multiple awards, as have the Havenwood Falls books, of which she is a participating author. Her love of the written word has not only resulted in her writing some of her reader's favorite adventures, but has also manifested itself in the form of some seriously overloaded bookshelves. She's convinced it's not a sickness.She debuted her first fiction novel in 2015 after retiring from 13 years of non-fiction writing for various online entities. For the last couple of decades, she's also carried the titles of Laundry Goddess, Chef, Butt Wiper, Soother of Temper Tantrums, and in more recent years, Moderator of Sarcastic Eye-rolls and Sass. She resides in Illinois with her husband and two grown children who claim they are never moving out. Regardless, they are the center of her universe, although her cat believes otherwise.If she had any spare time, she'd love music, photography, watching Mystery Science Theater 3000 with her family, and long rides on the back of her husband's motorcycle.Learn more at authoramyhale.com

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Shadows of Deliverance

The Shadows Trilogy, Book Three

Amy Hale

Copyright 2017 Amy Hale

All rights reserved.

E-BOOK EDITION

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and events are the product of the author’s imagination. Resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover Design: Sarah Hanson, Okay Creations

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Editor: Wendi Temporado with Ready, Set, Edit

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Proofreading: Jane Curry of Watch Jane Write

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Interior Design: Champagne Formats

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Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Epilogue

Other Books By Amy Hale

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Light flooded in, penetrating the pitch-black room as the heavy door creaked open. Jane raised her hand to shield her eyes. She used all of her strength to sit up. She assumed someone was bringing her another plate of food. Food she would refuse to eat. Not that it mattered. They’d found other ways to drug her, but at least she made them work for it. She took a bit of satisfaction in that knowledge. Not eating physically weakened her, but she feared having strength.

Healthy Jane was a weapon they would work to control.

A silhouette filled the doorway, and Karen’s voice broke through the darkness. How are you feeling today, dear?

Jane flashed her a frail smile, despite knowing Karen likely couldn’t see it from her position in the doorway. Karen had visited twice a day for the last two days. She’d given Jane a maternal smile as she sat with her in the darkness. They talked of happy things, and Jane’s mood always lifted, if ever so slightly, by the time Karen’s visit ended. After the second visit, Jane realized Karen was being used as a method of manipulation. Although Jane believed Karen’s concern was genuine, she feared that she was as much a prisoner as the rest of them. She had the gift of emotional manipulation, and to an extent, it worked very well. It did have limitations, however. Karen’s gifts, Jane suspected, were only temporary and did not always produce the desired effects. Regardless of the intent, Jane allowed herself to enjoy the calming and loving presence Karen brought with her. It provided a nice reprieve from the hopelessness she felt the rest of the time.

Jane? Are you okay? Karen took a step closer as if to assure herself of Jane’s well-being.

Yes, I’m fine. Thank you. She tried to sound cheerful, but her fatigue was obvious. Her voice came as merely a wisp of its former strength.

I know you don’t want to eat, but you really should. You’re going to starve to death. Karen’s voice relayed her concern as she placed a plate of pasta on a small steel table built into the wall.

No. That will never happen. Jane lifted her face to Karen’s. Do you know why?

Karen shook her head.

Because they need me too much to let me die. Jane slowly stood and neared the table, then pushed the plate of food back at Karen. Please tell Jeremy I’m giving this to him. He knows just where I’d like him to stick it.

Karen’s eyes widened, and she fidgeted. You probably shouldn’t … Never mind. I’ll just leave it outside the door in case you change your mind. You can let a guard know if you want it.

As she walked away, Jane called to her. "You don’t have to fear them, you know. They can only bend you so much before you break. It’s when you break that they should be afraid."

Karen hesitated, then resumed her pace as she continued through the door and bolted it closed behind her.

Jane blew out a shaky breath and tried to think about joyful things. Her happy place included Colt, and she still had no idea of his fate. Her graveyard dreams had stopped, but she knew that could be due to the drugs in the water. She could go without food, but water was essential. She only ever drank enough to stave off dehydration. Much to Jane’s disappointment, even the small amounts she consumed kept her powers suppressed. Her best guess was that her traitorous friend, Jeremy, or the late Professor Russell’s right-hand woman, Julia, had put large concentrations of the gift-killing concoctions in her water. Whatever they were doing, it kept her subdued. She had no means to defend herself should she need to, yet she could take comfort knowing her captors were unable to abuse her abilities.

The lumpy mattress on the floor was uncomfortable, but Jane settled herself on top of it and attempted to plump it up where needed. Satisfied that her sleeping arrangements were as good as they could be in light of her situation, she lay back on the blanket and stared into the darkness above her.

She envisioned her friends back at the camp, their hopeful faces a beacon of light to her soul. She thought of young Caesar, who’d come to mean more to her than she could have ever imagined. He was like the little brother she’d never had. She missed him terribly. She prayed for Colt’s safety as well. Together, they still had a lot of dreams to fulfill. Then she closed her eyes and tried to summon the dark swirls that represented her powers, begging them to form in her mind and take shape. Any color swirls would be welcome, although the dark masses were the most potent. As in days past, she saw nothing but a mirror of the pitch-black of her solitary confinement.

Jane wasn’t a quitter, but she knew that eventually she’d have to eat something. She’d have to cooperate in some small manner so she could buy herself time to formulate a plan. A plan she could never execute from her cell in isolation. With a deep sigh, she made the concession more concrete in her mind. It appeared the time had come to play nice, if just on the surface. Her only chance of changing her situation rested on her ability to sell her reluctant, if not full, cooperation.

Jane rolled to her side, and a tear trailed across her cheek, disappearing into the coarse blanket beneath her. The Curators had the upper-hand at the moment, but her determination to find their weakness and exploit it flared into existence. As much as she hated the idea of losing her future, even if it cost her own life, she would destroy them.

Jane awoke and had no idea if it was night or day. Her best estimation had to be gauged on what kind of meal had been brought to her cell. She slept more and more, which made it difficult to keep up. Waking and sleeping hours blurred together. Often, time felt like a non-existent construct in her current muted environment. She wondered if she was beginning to slowly lose her mind. Jane’s last visit from Karen seemed ages ago, though she knew it could have only been mere hours. I have to get out of here.

She crawled to the door of her cell and rapped lightly on the cool metal. Her lack of strength wouldn’t allow for anything louder, but she felt sure the guard sitting just outside would hear her. It was time to implement her change of game plan. She needed to see Jeremy.

She could hear the guard grunt as he hefted his stocky frame from his chair. The wood creaked in relief as he stood. The bolts on the outside made a loud clank that echoed as he unlocked them. He slid the door open only a sliver and peeked in.

What do you want? His tone was one of annoyance.

She started to speak, but nothing came out. Jane cleared her throat and tried again. I need to speak with Jeremy. I’m ready to negotiate. Her words escaped as no more than a croaky whisper, but the guard appeared to hear them clearly enough.

Hold on. He closed the door and slid the bolts back in place. She heard him walk several feet from her cell as he spoke to someone. She assumed it must have been a cell phone, as she heard no other voices.

Moments later, he opened the door fully. She sat just beyond the threshold, her hand shielding her face from the bright light that had invaded her cell. He gave her an odd look, then pulled her to a standing position, clamping cuffs on her thinning wrists. She had to suppress a giggle at the absurdity. I can barely stand, what does he expect me to do? Realizing that laughing was ludicrous in the face of her situation, the urge to laugh hit her even harder. A small snort escaped as he turned his back to her. This caused him to swing back around and glare at her.

What’s so funny? His cold stare helped dissipate any humor she’d been battling.

Nothing. I’m just clearing my throat. She hoped he believed her lie. She was very much at his mercy for the moment. Her last recollection of the guards hired by The Curators had not been a happy memory. These men had always been more like mercenaries than officers of the law.

He gave her a quick once over then slowly led her down the long corridor that opened to a relatively short staircase made of concrete and steel. He took a step, and she moved to follow when a high-pitched squeak escaped from her lips. She couldn’t get her foot up high enough to make the first step. Jane’s weakness surpassed her previous assessment of her health. Uncharacteristically, the guard showed a minuscule sliver of compassion and lifted her in his arms for the trip to the top. She felt relieved he had mercy but also frustrated to learn her recovery might take longer than she expected.

He sat her down again once they’d reached the last step and she flashed him a weak smile. Thank you— she glanced at his name tag —Parker, that was kind of you.

A blush rose to his cheeks before he reconstructed his emotional wall. I’m not kind. I just didn’t want to drag you up the steps. Boss would have my hide if I hurt you. Besides, this was faster.

She knew better but allowed him the illusion of being as inhumane as his masters. Pardon my mistake.

He made a hmph sound as he escorted her through the door, down another hallway, and through a set of double doors.

At the end of a long executive-looking table, Jeremy sat eating grapes and chatting with Julia, whose usual look of disgust remained affixed firmly on her thinning face. Jane swore that Julia looked as if she had a bad taste in her mouth all the time. Julia’s sour expression never changed as she listened to Jeremy talk with animation, his arms flailing as he spoke, except when he stopped to pop another grape into his mouth.

Jane remembered the drill. After years of behavior modification, she’d be hard-pressed to forget. She stood silently until addressed by her superiors. Her head stayed bowed meekly, and she kept her eyes on the floor. She needed to find out what was going on, and she’d have to play her part with care. Too eager to please would send up warning flags, but being defiant would get her nowhere as well. Timing would be crucial.

Hey, Jane. You’ve had enough of solitary I take it. Jeremy’s words were a statement, not a question.

Yes. I’m ready to talk. She looked at him for just a moment, allowing him to see that he hadn’t completely broken her. Then she closed her eyes and sighed. Her bone-deep fatigue was closer to the truth than she’d like to admit, so putting on a performance wasn’t necessary. It was all too real. But he’d never buy her surrender act if she gave in too easily.

Jeremy clapped his hands and rubbed them together. I’m very glad to hear it. His voice carried a jovial inflection. Aren’t you, Julia?

Julia turned her face in Jane’s direction and glared at her. Not particularly.

Jeremy frowned at Julia. We’ve discussed this. Jane is an important part of our team. Or she will be once we recondition her. He stood. "You, on the other hand, are disposable. Remember that."

Julia’s eyes widened in fear, and she mutely nodded, her eyes drifting to her hands now resting in her lap.

Her quick compliance floored Jane. She’d never seen anyone intimidate Julia. Even Professor Russell couldn’t accomplish that. Her eyes drifted to Jeremy’s face, and he smiled at her. He obviously knew she noticed the change in Julia, and that seemed to please him.

Julia— he turned to her as he spoke her name —why don’t you go get Jane something to eat. She needs to regain her strength.

Julia frowned. I’m not an errand girl. We have others to do that kind of work.

He pinned her with a stern look. And now you are among them. Do as I ask.

Julia didn’t hesitate to rise and scurry out of the room, not even to give Jane a glance as she passed.

Jeremy motioned to the seat Julia had just evacuated. Please, have a seat. He turned to the guard. Parker, please remove her cuffs.

Parker looked hesitant.

It’s okay. Jane’s not going to give us any trouble, right, love?

Jane shook her head. No. I’ll behave.

Jeremy smiled in response.

Parker removed the handcuffs then Jeremy waved him away. You may leave now, Parker. I’ll let you know if I need you again.

Parker nodded, took a final look at Jane, and exited the room.

Jeremy pulled out her seat and she all but fell into the leather of the large chair. She hated her weak, wobbly legs.

He retook his seat and scooted closer to her. Jeremy raised the bowl toward her. Grape? I promise they aren’t drugged. I’m eating them myself, see? He tossed another grape into his mouth and grinned at her as he chewed.

She reached into the bowl and took a small handful of grapes, slowly raising them to her lips. Her stomach growled, and her mouth watered in anticipation of the first bite of food she’d had in days. She’d have been embarrassed if she hadn’t been so hungry.

He pushed the bowl in front of her. Eat. The rest is yours. Julia will be back with a plate of food for you soon. We’ll get you back to your old self in no time. He studied her a moment as she continued to slowly ingest the grapes he’d placed in front of her. "Well,