Shadow Born: Book 1 of the Shadow-Borne Chronicles by Paul A. Cagle Page A

feet with no injuries.   Silas listened intently, never saying anything or interrupting.   When he was finished, Silas looked thoughtful.
    “So, when you were walking, they overheard this story and decided to attack?”
    Marc nodded.   “I assume so.”
    Silas thought for a moment.   “Marcus, did you recognize the men?”
    Marcus?
    “I’ve seen them before but I’m not certain who they work for.   Could be some of Laramie’s men, but that’s a guess.”
    “Hmmmm.   So you were attacked by three men at once and then?”
    “Two came at me and one at Alec.   I only saw a little of what Alec did, I’m not sure exactly what happened since I was a bit distracted, but suddenly the guy attacking Alec went flying off into the dark.   That’s when the second man broke away and went after Alec.   After a few minutes, he followed the first and I finally took my man down.”
    Silas looked shocked.   “You fought two of them and knocked them out while Marcus fought one?”
    Alec was trembling but he took a deep breath and then started detailing what had happened.   He explained how time seemed to slow down and how he was able to get in a punch and then a side kick that had thrown both men to the ground a ways away.   Silas looked thoughtful.   “Impossible.” he said so quietly Alec wasn’t sure he’d even heard him speak.   Silas just looked perplexed and kept shaking his head slowly.
    Alec cleared his throat and finally got up the nerve to speak.   “Uh, can one of you please explain what is going on here?   I’ve been through some weird, crazy shit here lately and I would like some answers.”   His face blazed with embarrassment but he wanted to know what was going on.
    Silas finally looked at him and there was compassion in his eyes.   He sighed and turned towards Alec.
    “Alec, I was hoping that this wouldn’t be necessary, and that Doctor Schubert had been wrong.”
    “Doctor Schubert?   My specialist from the hospital, Doctor Schubert?” Alec asked confused.
    “Yes,” Silas answered.   “But he doesn’t work for the hospital.   He works for me.”
    Now Alec was really confused.   What the hell was going on here?
    “Alec, what I’m about to tell you is going to be difficult for you to hear and more so for you to believe.   But we can prove to you all that we say is true.   Okay?”   At Alec’s nod he continued.   “Now, I want you to listen to me and don’t panic or freak out,” he said the last part as if those words were alien on his tongue.   “Let me explain and then we will answer your questions, if we can.”
    Alec nodded once, a cold hard ball of dread forming in the pit of his stomach.
    Silas sighed.   “Marcus and I are not exactly what we seem.   To put it bluntly, we are vampires.”   Silas watched Alec to see how he accepted the information.
    “I’m sorry…you’re what?”   Alec couldn’t have been any more stunned if they had said they were from the moon.   He had expected to hear they were serial killers who had formed a special club, or cannibals who liked to invite their food in to play with before supper.   But vampires?
    “Vampires,” he said very clearly.   “Yes.   I know this isn’t what you were expecting to hear.   But it’s the truth.”
    Alec shook his head.   Anger overcame his normal quiet, shy demeanor.   “This is too much.” He stood up from the couch and set his glass down half empty on the table beside him.   “After the hell I’ve been through…after the pain and fear I’ve experienced, you come up with this shit?   What the hell is wrong with you people?   Why are you doing this to me?”   He turned and stormed off towards the door.   He was getting the hell out of this insane place, going home and locking the doors tight and never coming out again.   The world had gone bat-shit crazy.
    Between one blink and the next suddenly both Silas and Marc were standing in front of the double doors that led out.