The village rests in silence, but silence is never empty. It presses close, listening, waiting. Some shadows don’t simply fall with the night — they move, they breathe, and once you notice them, it is already too late to turn away.
What would you do to save your child?
The night whispers of old sins and broken promises. A mother searches, but each step takes her deeper into the places where light dares not linger. Some say the past should stay buried. But the darkness remembers… and it is waiting.
Would you dare follow the shadows if it meant saving someone you love?
The forest keeps its secrets well. But sometimes–in the frost–in the mist–in the space between heartbeats–you can hear the children calling. September is coming and so is The Wraith.
The past has left it’s fingerprints in dust and shadows.
September is coming and so is The Wraith.
The Wraith is a haunting narrative podcast that drifts through shadows, secrets, and the supernatural. Each episode unfolds a chilling tale of loss, vengeance, and the unknown — where reality bends and darkness has a voice.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Juliet’s fingers shook as she opened the laptop, and she stopped for a few minutes to let the trembling subside. It did not help that Mr Thomas and Steven had told them about meeting their doubles in the village. The light from the battery-powered lantern was dim, and for a moment, shadows surrounded her. Logging on, she clicked on to her mother’s name and waited for her to answer the call over the internet.
“Juliet,” her mother’s face appeared on the screen. “How are you, my darling? I expected to hear from you sooner”
“I’m good, mom. My battery ran down, and I had to wait to recharge it. I did not want to use my mobile, it is too expensive. It’s all a bit unsettled now, but we started digging today.”
Juliet throat grew tight, as her mother filled her in on what was happening at home. She wished she could reach out and touch her mother’s face and breathe in the familiar scent of her body. She intended telling her all about Biddy and the story about the girl who looked like her, but she decided against it. The circles around her mother’s eyes were so dark she looked like a raccoon. Was it the way the shadows fell, Juliet wondered or did her mother look sicker than ever?
“We’ve been talking about your 18th,” her mother said. “Dad thinks he’ll have a few of the bedrooms ready by then and you can invite some friends to stay. What do you think?”
“That sounds great, mom. I have made a new friend here. His name is Corey, and we like a lot of the same things.”
“Rick won’t be pleased,” her mother teased.
“He’s just a friend, mom, nothing more,” Juliet rolled her eyes. “I have to log off now. Corey needs to use my computer to call home, and I do not want the battery to run down again. Give my love to everyone,”
“Will do, my pet, love you. Have a great time and stay in contact.”
“Love you too. Mom.”
The feeling of loneliness when her mother’s face faded from the screen was overwhelming. Juliet wanted to put her head down and howl.
She clicked on Rick’s name next and he answered on the second ring.
“How’s my girl?”
. They talked for a while, mostly about what he was doing to pass the summer vacation and the usual stuff. She was sorry when she had to log off, but she knew how anxious Corey was to contact his family. Pushing aside the laptop; she crawled out of the tent and went in search of him.
“Great!” He said, when she told him the computer was free. “I won’t stay on long, promise.”
Corey’s family did not have the benefit of having a video phone, and he hoped Rasher or Stew was online on one of the social sites.
“Great, Rasher’s here,” his fingers flew over the keys, as he asked how everything was going.”
Everything is fine, Rasher informed him. Nothing new or strange was happening.
“There’s loads of weird stuff going on here,” Corey wrote. “I’ll send you an email and you can read it for the others. You’re going to think I’m mad, but I swear everything I tell you is true.”
“Cool,” Rasher said. “Jamie is here, and he wants to say hello.”
The writing changed as Jamie tried to tell him all about the hens and how many eggs they laid. His writing was like trying to decipher hieroglyphics as he had never spent much time in school, but the childish words made Corey smile. A few of the homeless, who used the internet cafes, sent their best wishes. They told Corey how much they missed him, but it was not just his friends who read every word he wrote. Someone else read it and wondered what the “weird stuff” was all about. After sending the email, Corey logged off.
“Want to take a walk?” He asked Juliet.
There was nothing else to do until bedtime. The village had no attractions other than a pub, and they were underage.
“You seemed a bit upset by what Mr Thomas and Steven said.”
“It kind of freaked me out,” Juliet said. “The whole thing with Biddy and our doubles is too weird.”
“Yeah, but we’ll find out the truth soon. She said it wouldn’t be long.”
“How you can be so cool about it,” she glared at him. “I mean with all this stuff happening you don’t seem to care.”
“I don’t,” he said. “I keep thinking that I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“What about the Erebans, you believe in them?”
“I saw one of them,” Corey gulped, as the image of the dark figure came rushing to his mind.
“So, if they’re real then the other things she talked about must be as well.”
“I don’t know,” he muttered. “I suppose. What’s really bugging you?”
“Sorry, it’s my mother,” Juliet said. “She looks sicker than before, but she says she’s ok.”
“If there is such a place as the hidden world, with all its magic and all,” Corey said. “Maybe they can help her?”
“I never thought of that,” Juliet felt hope soar within her, and she prayed he was right.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Something hid among the trees. This was evident as two red eyes watched when they stepped out of the cottage. Tabby arched her back and started to spit
“It is Flora, you silly old thing,” Amber said.
“Then why would Tabby react in such a way,” Biddy mused. “She’s known that old fox since she was a kitten. I’ve seen them playing together.”
Biddy picked up the cat and ushered them indoors. She knew it was not Flora, but some Ereban hag who had the power of shape shifting. Had it been listening outside the door?
“What is it, Biddy?” Amber asked.
“Nothing, my pets,” she gave a weak smile. “You must get home before it gets dark. I will walk as far as the castle with you. I’ll rest easy knowing that you’re safely home.”
“Safe?” Sabba held the door open to let them out. “How can it be safer with the Erebans there?”
“Tell your father there’s no longer any doubt. Perius has sent out his spies and he must make ready for battle,” Biddy kissed Amber on the forehead. “Have courage, my child.”
“Goodbye, Biddy,” Sabba kissed her wrinkled cheek. “We will see you soon.”
.
“I have been thinking about our shadow self’s,” Amber said as they entered the cave. “What if they are evil and in league with the Erebans?”
“I doubt if they are,” Sabba said. “It is something to do with the old magic. You know how Larkeon is always going on about how magic is waxing and waning,” he copied the old dwarf’s voice and made Amber laugh. “Well, maybe it’s coming back, and they are part of it, and here to aid us.”
“Or maybe, the magic is dying, and they are here to take advantage of this?”
“We will go to our fathers and ask them about it. We are no longer children who can be fobbed off with some story, and it is time we learned the truth,” Sabba said.
It seemed colder than usual as they descended deeper into their subterranean world. It’s always cool inside the cave, but tonight the air had a bitter sting to it. Amber shivered and tried to ignore the icy water running through her veins.
“Your father is very angry,” Roak’s scarred face peered at them out of the darkness.
Legend said that his mother was frightened by an Ereban while out picking moon berries one night, and the fright showed in the face of her child. Therefore, Roak prefers to remain in the darkness.
“I will go to him right away,” Amber promised.
Flora was exhausted. Her day was at an end and her young pupils were back with their parents. It was a pleasant surprise to see the princess and young lord again.
“Did you go hunting in the mortal world today?” Amber asked the fox.
“Me!” Flora asked. “I most certainly did not. You know how much I detest going above ground.”
“I thought as much,” Amber sighed.
“Why do you ask?” Flora narrowed her eyes and looked from one to the other.
“Biddy thought it was an Ereban hag who had shape shifted. Whatever it was, it was listening outside the cottage and heard every word we said.”
Flora smiled. What possible secret could two young people have that would interest the Erebans? Then she noticed the fear in the eyes of the princess and young lord. There was something strange afoot and she needed to find out what.
“Have you spoken to Larkeon about this?” Flora asked.
“No, not yet” Amber said.
“Then do so, at once,” the swishing of the fox’s tail was the only show of the turmoil in her mind.
“Come in, come in,” Larkeon bade them to follow him into his study. “What can I do for you my young ones?”
For the next few minutes Larkeon listened in silence as the princess told him the story about the shadow selves and what Biddy said about the Ereban Nightflyers. When she finished, Larkeon stood and urged them to do the same.
“Go home and speak to your parents,” he ushered them towards the door.
As the door slammed behind them, Amber and Sabba wondered why everyone was behaving in such a strange manner when they mention the shadow selves.
The campsite looked deserted when Corey and Juliet got back from visiting Biddy. There was not a sound to mar the silence other than the fluttering of the tent flaps, and the whistling of the wind across the barren landscape. Juliet shielded her eyes against the sun and looked towards the castle where multi-coloured dots darted about.
“They’ve started the dig,” she ran towards her tent to get the tools needed. “Come on,” she called back at Corey.
Her laptop lay on top of her sleeping bag and she opened it. To her relief it had full power and she would be able to contact her mother, but that would have to wait until later. Now, she was excited about what lay in store, and the story that would unfold as they dug deep into the castle’s history. Corey stood waiting, as she came running through the tents.
“Did Steven charge your computer?” He asked.
“Yeah, I just checked it.”
“Do you mind if I use it later to check that everything’s all right at home?”
“No problem,” Juliet said.
After that there was no more talking, as they needed all the breath, they could muster to run between the rocks dotting the land. The castle looked much bigger and imposing the closer they got, and soon its shadow fell across them.
“It’s fantastic,” Juliet sighed.
“Hey, you two,” the shout came from one of the towers, and they looked up to find Mr Thomas waving at them.
There were close enough to see the condition of the ruin. At such a height, it was open to the elements and showed the scars of wind and rain. Stones crumbled beneath their feet, and they slipped a few times before they reached the ancient stone steps.
“The others are around the back digging. I have checked the castle to make sure it’s safe. Have a look around before you start, if you like, then come and join us.”
He started to walk away and then…
“Oh, by the way; you’ll never believe who I met in the village.”
A shout from one of his students sent him hurrying away.
“I’ll tell you later,” he called over his shoulder.
“I wonder what he was going to say.” Corey said.
“Who knows,” Juliet shrugged. “It’s probably nothing.”
They stood for a moment to study the layout of the ruin. Bricks had fallen from the various floors and lay scattered on the ground. Strange coloured fungi clung to the side of the walls, and ivy trailed like garlands against the bricks. The tower, that Mr Thomas had called them from, was the only one with a standing staircase. The steps were worn smooth from the passing of countless feet and weeds grew between the cracks. Juliet began to climb with Corey following. The view from the top was breath-taking. The rock-strewn landscape stretched out for miles; the ravaged and stunted trees stood like small markers. It was possible to see the ocean from such a height and make out the small shapes of passing ships.
“This is exactly how I saw it in my dreams,” Corey whispered. “I keep getting flashes of how it looks by night and I don’t know why.”
“I’ve never seen it in my dreams,” Julie said. “But I can’t help feeling I’ve been here before. Are you ok?”
“Yeah, just a bit freaked out by all this, and what Biddy said.”
They spent the rest of the day working, stopping only for lunch. The hours passed, as they dug and dusted the small items that jutted out of the exposed soil.
Amber and Sabba closed the office early and ran through the village. Despite being changelings, they had inherited the swift, cat-like movements of their parents, and they knew the layout well. They side-stepped the small rock pools that pitted the landscape, and the pink and white flowers disguising the dangers of sinking sands. They belonged here among the purple heather and the timeless tranquillity of the moors. As they moved through the small wood towards the cottage, they noticed from the corner of their eye, a streak of red keeping pace.
Biddy stood waiting by the open door. It was no surprise to them that she knew they were coming.
“Welcome my princess and young lord,” she poured them glasses of elderflower cordial. “You have come to ask about the others, your shadow selves?”
They looked at her in amazement, and she took this time to study the small differences between them and the others. Both sets of eyes were oval and without the slight tilt of the elfin, and their accents were different.
“They look almost exactly like you.” Biddy answered their unasked question. “Now you must go home at once, it is no longer safe for you here. The Nightflyers have been abroad these past few nights.”
The Nightflyers are the enormous, bat-like creatures the Erebans use to fly. Like their masters they are dark, vicious creatures and trained to fight. Cattle disappear without trace, scooped from the land by huge claws, to be feasted on by teeth sharper than blades. Their wingspan is said to spread over twenty-five feet.
“They have been out spreading their poison,” Biddy said. “They have traveled farther than usual and return only with the coming of dawn. They are making ready for war, there is no doubt about it.”
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