Camera Obscura (A Novel of Shadows Book 1) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Other Books By Christina Quinn

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Prologue

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  Twenty-Seven

  Epilogue

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Camera

  Obscura

  Christina Quinn

  Camera Obscura Copyright © 2017 by Christina Quinn.

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events 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.

  For information contact;

  E-mail: [email protected]

  Website: http://www.ChristinaQuinn.org

  Book and Cover design by C. Quinn

  Digital Edition: March 2017

  To every Princess who decided to

  slay the Dragon themselves.

  Camera

  Obscura

  A Novel of Shadows

  Other Books By Christina Quinn

  DANSE MACBRE

  Danse Macabre

  Dark Awakenings

  Deadly Deception (Summer 2017)

  ARWN’S GIFT

  Heart of the Forest

  Eyes of Fire

  A LITTLE RED BOOK

  A Kiss of Crimson

  Seduction in Scarlet (April 2017)

  A NOVEL OF SHADOWS

  Camera Obscura

  Silently Devoured (Summer 2017)

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Special thanks to everyone who voted for this when it was up on Kindle Scout. Thank you for believing in the premise of my work.

  Prologue

  THORNTON

  ONLY ONE IN ten thousand boys born to women who carry the gene for sorcery have any powers at all. Usually, it's simple things, clairvoyancy, minor empathic or telekinetic abilities. Most were hardly able to do even one tenth of what a lesser sorceress could accomplish.

  Only one hundred males in the whole world had powers even close to mine, and they were still leagues away from my abilities.

  Having my power, however, was far from a blessing. Yet, being Thornton Preston Winthrop Sterling IV still had disadvantages that went beyond being a sorcerer. My parents groomed me to take over my father's company since my first breath. It meant who I was friends with, who I associated with, and who I dated was never completely my choice.

  The women they thrust in front of me were always from one of the twelve families; each with the surname of the house they were under. This assured direct links to the founding lines of that loose coalition sorcerers around the world founded in the Georgian period; it also meant the women they put before me were as rich as they were well connected.

  At first, I had my pick from the twelve houses. It was all about business with bloodline a distant second before my abilities were thought to be more than middling at best. When my parents discovered the true extent of my gifts, it turned into being all about bloodline and breeding. They dropped the business aspect completely, and all anyone cared about was the power of my mate—not girlfriend, not significant other, but mate. My compatibility with this person was second only to the strength of their magic and the purity of their connection to their main line.

  Things used to be so much simpler.

  One

  THE WIG ITCHED. It was a necessary evil, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to rip it off and pull out all my hair to make the damn thing stop. Tasteful classical music floated on the air. The pianist was exceptionally gifted, so much so, that I lingered in the doorway for a moment longer than I had to. The job was simple enough, I was supposed to execute the Sterling heir.

  It had been months since I accepted the opportunity to rid the world of one more spoiled-rotten, rich bastard. The process was exhaustive. We—those in my organization—weren’t your run of the mill assassins. No, we had a purpose and a process.

  We were the balance keepers, those who maintained order amongst the Shifters, Vampires, Magic Users, Faeries and various other preternatural beasties. We tried our best to operate within the confines of human law, however, sometimes that wasn’t possible. Admittedly, I wasn’t as comfortable with this contract as I had been others of a similar nature. Usually, it was obvious what the individual in question had done to bring their fate upon them. This time that wasn’t the case—so I was dragging my feet.

  The tastefully catered fundraiser continued around me as I shadowed my prey. The time spent stalking was necessary, it was so much easier to lure them in if you were their type.

  Contrary to what everyone likes to say, everyone has a type whether they realize it or not. Types of friends, types of lovers and types of pieces of ass they keep on the side. Outwardly, Mr. Sterling the younger liked tall blondes. But that encrypted folder on his hard drive full of pornography said he liked redheads and petite brunettes on the exotic side—which was why I was chosen. The expensive itchy red wig was to be eye catching. Already I had to wave off the advances of plenty of members from House Sterling, little did they know I was a fox in their henhouse.

  Taking my seat at the bar, I crossed my legs. I say my seat because I picked it out weeks ago when I first formulated my plan of attack. It was the perfect spot for viewing the tables and had direct eye-line to my mark’s seat at his table. I ordered my glass of red wine and went fishing. Too bad for Mr. Thornton Sterling IV this would not be catch and release. Sipping that deliciously tart alcohol I cast my eyes out over the banquet tables, searching for my prey.

  Here fishy fishy.

  My poor unfortunate mark fell into my trap. Our gazes locked, and he actually stood from his table, making his way over. He was more attractive than the photos I had in the file. Those eyes of his went beyond piercing in person. The black suit he wore was expertly tailored, accentuating the natural line of his body, leaving no doubt that under the expensive fabric his form was as well toned as most type A males tended to be. He wore a silver tie with a delicate little damask pattern in thin tarnished lines which almost seemed too much with that swath of silver hair—the telling mark of a male sorcerer.

  “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. I’m Thorn.” He held out his hand and smiled at me, seeming so charming and nice. I could feel his power prodding me, trying to feel me out. I almost wanted to tell him I was just as rare as he was but I wouldn’t—playing stupid in regards to magic was part of the act.

  “I know who you are, Mr. Sterling,” I purred letting my eyes drink him in. He was just so gorgeous.

  He furrowed his brows a bit, “Oh?”

  “Mhm. I’m your cousin Samantha’s personal assistant from the temp agency. We spoke on the phone yesterday.” I beamed at him.

  “I—” He blushed. “I’m sorry. Iris, right?”


  “Mhm.” I nodded slowly. I had gotten the job working for his cousin since accepting the contract. The name wasn’t mine, but Iris Evans had her own bank account, credit history and even college transcripts—complete with recommendations from actual professors. The Order of Shadows—the organization I worked for—was nothing if not thorough with backgrounds for aliases.

  “Well, Iris, I just came over to say that you look lovely.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Are you…” He stopped himself. I knew what he was going to ask. He couldn’t feel my thoughts or emotions. I was like a blank slate to him, and it was probably the first time in his entire life that he hadn’t been able to read someone’s mind.

  “Am I?” I pushed him. It was always fun to hear what bullshit they’d spin to cover their fuck up.

  “I was going to ask if you were from one of the historic families in the area.” Well played.

  “No, sorry. I’m just a poor girl from Scranton.” I giggled.

  “If you want a permanent position”—he took a card out of his pocket—“call me sometime. One of the perks of having a pointless, made up executive title is that I can pretty much do whatever I want. I know those temp places pay garbage wages, and so does Sam. Her last PA quit because she worked the girl for thirty-nine hours to get out of paying for health care. I ripped into her about it. She’s a millionaire, she can spare fifty grand a year and benefits. She spends more than that on getting her dog groomed.”

  “So is this an actual rant, or how you get girls into bed?” I quirked a brow, and he looked off to the side sheepishly chuckling.

  “Oh, it’s a rant, a full on rant.” And just like that, I felt bad about the syringe in the lining of my purse that was going to find its way into his neck by the end of the evening.

  “I think I’ve had too much of this.” I gestured to the wine glass and set it on the bar.

  “Feel like getting some air?” Sometimes I hate how good I am.

  “Sure.” I slipped from the stool.

  ****

  In no time at all, we were out on the veranda and oh so alone. The music didn’t reach passed the doors, so we were ensconced by the sounds of the rushing traffic below. Were Thornton Sterling IV not a mark I’d be pleased with myself, but since he was my stomach felt a little sour. We weren’t out there two minutes before someone else joined us. I knew what that figure in all black was before they made their move.

  “Fuck,” I hissed under my breath as they started toward us.

  It was a vampire, I could tell just by the way they moved. Thorn stepped in front of me protectively. The pointless gesture made me roll my eyes. I was a minus null, one of the rarest types of gifted humans. Not only did magic have no effect on me, but I could also stop all magic used around me. This meant that the vampire’s strength wasn’t an issue—their powers in their basest form were magic.

  Taking the syringe from my purse, I stepped around Thorn as the vampire reached for me. I jammed the syringe in his arm and pressed the depressor—it dropped like a sack of bricks.

  “What—”

  “What am I?” I interrupted Thorn.

  “Yeah, that’s a good start.”

  “Someone who needs you to help me throw the vampire over the edge here before he wakes up.” I knelt on the ground and started searching the body, glancing up now and again to check the party to make certain the kerfuffle hadn’t attracted any lookie-loos.

  “I’ll help you, but I’d like to know what’s going on.”

  “You and me both,” I whispered as I finished going through the vampire’s pockets. The only thing I found on him was a picture of Thorn and a gun. What sort of shitty vampire needs a gun. “We need to get out of here right after we drop him.”

  “What? Why?”

  I growled in frustration at his stupidity. “I don’t have time to explain everything about the world you live in right now. But I promise you I’m going to keep you alive and when it’s safe I’ll tell you what I know.”

  “I don’t need help.” Ooo, big bad Sorcerer. Grunting and with muscles aching, I lifted the vampire’s limp body on the edge of the railing by myself and shoved it over. I watched as it hit the pavement ten stories below with a sickening smack—unfortunately, the impact wouldn’t kill a vampire.

  “Best of luck,” I clipped out, snatching my purse off the tile. I didn’t necessarily need him alive to figure out what was going on but it would make it easier. “Can you point me in the direction of the back door?”

  “How did you know?” I wasn’t sure what he was asking, I was betting he was in shock.

  “I guess I’ll find it on my own.” I tucked the gun into my handbag and stepped back into the ballroom.

  While we were out on the balcony, other vampires had arrived. Lingering around the edges of the room, they seemed to blend in so well that if you didn’t know what to look for you’d never notice them. The slight grayish hue to the skin was hard to pick up on if you weren’t trained to see it. Grumbling to myself, I stepped back outside and closed the door behind me.

  “Truth time! I was sent here to kill you.”

  “What!”

  “I’m a Shadow, an executioner specifically.” I swept my hair to the side and showed off the tattoo on the back of my neck that marked me as such. “I was given a contract on you two months ago. My files never have the crimes on them but generally, I can figure out why they need to die—except you.”

  “I haven’t done anything. I swear.”

  “Oh, I believe you. I wasn’t sure until tall, pale, and fangy down there showed up though. To get to the bottom of this, I’m going to need to keep you alive—that means you doing everything I say. Can you handle that?”

  “Sure.”

  “Think on that for a few more seconds and be completely certain before you give your answer.”

  “Why would I need to think about it?”

  “Because you live in a world of rules, Thorn. And I’m about to drag you from that into a place that has only one.”

  “What’s the one rule?”

  “Survive.”

  He swallowed, but after a few moments nodded. “I’m sure.”

  “Good. Now light the piano on fire.” I checked the window, the vampires were on their way to the double doors which were only a handful of feet from where I stood.

  “What?”

  “Light the fucking piano on fire.”

  “That’s—”

  “Against your rules, I know. Trust me, I’m betting your family’d rather people tell stories of a spontaneously combusting fucking piano as opposed to one of you getting ripped to shreds by vampires in front of them.”

  “Fine.” He sighed and reached his hand out toward the white grand piano, and almost instantly it burst into high, greedy flames. The gathered people panicked and screamed starting a commotion that drew all attention.

  “Follow me and keep close.” I took the gun out of my purse, slipping into the ballroom while chaos ensued around me, and Thorn followed steps behind.

  We were almost to the kitchen’s double doors when three vampires exited them. I spun on my heels and grabbed Thorn’s jacket tugging him into a nearby utility closet. There was just enough space for us to wriggle around and the scent of harsh cleaners was strong enough to mask our presence from the vampires—if none of them saw us enter.

  “I—”

  “Shh!” I hissed holding my finger up to my lips. I couldn’t hear what was going on outside other than incoherent shouting.

  The indecipherable yells grew louder and were quickly followed by short pops of gunfire. I slapped my hand over Thorn’s mouth. More yelling, more gunshots, more screaming. I knew what we’d find when we opened the door, I had waited it out enough times in the past, it wasn’t a real mystery to me.

  They were executing everyone at the party to send a message. The guns confused me to some degree, but they made sense if whatever vampire coven was doing it didn’t want there to be evidence that
they were involved. It was the only explanation that made any sense to me.

  More gunfire, closer this time. Shit. I pulled Thorn as close to me as I possibly could just in time for three shots to burst through the door, missing him by inches. He smelled so good even I had to take a moment to appreciate it. Pull it together, Rose. Needless to say, his body pressed to mine was distracting as I listened to whatever was going on outside of the utility closet we were sequestered in. I hoped I was wrong—for his sake. I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to be the reason most of my family was murdered. Frankly, if I was completely honest with myself, I didn’t want to deal with the emotional wreck that he’d be if that were the case.

  I wormed my way around him and peeked out the bullet holes back into the ballroom. Unfortunately, I was right. Bodies littered the floor as the piano continued to smolder in the corner. The vampires had gone, they probably cleared out shortly after the shooting. I pulled my hand from Thorn’s mouth.

  “Keep your eyes shut and take my hand.”

  “A-all right.” He held his hand out, and I took it. “Why is it so quiet?” He whispered as we made our way out of the closet. The carnage in the room was amazing, it looked like a scene from a mob movie where one rival family had wiped another out. Bodies were everywhere, some had tried to make it to the door, but most were in a neat line on the ground. It seemed surreal with all of the expensive dresses and suits covered in so much blood. The smell of death was just starting to grow thick in the room.

  “Keep your eyes shut,” I growled again as I pulled him into the kitchen.

  The staff wasn’t shot execution style, most of them had their necks snapped. Pots boiled over on burners, and a kettle whistled in the otherwise deathly silent room. They were careful not to leave survivors, a trail of bodies led from the freight elevator all the way to the double doors of the ballroom.

  I wanted to say it was sloppy but it wasn’t. It was so exact I could almost admire the precision of the strike from an objective perspective. I tapped the button on the elevator to go up. It was habit, I never took the direct route to an exit after a job if I thought people might be looking for me. Glancing around I saw a body nearest us on the floor that was about Thorn’s size.