A Pale Shade of Night

The Dark Lord's quest for immortality has led him to the extremes of Dark magic, but how he plans to finally achieve his goal is shrouded in mystery. Essential to his plans are human souls for experimentation, provided to him during the first war by a contracted soul hunter, Arcana. Now the Dark Lord is back, and the reluctant soul hunter has finally heeded his persistent calls to return. As the Dark Lord’s war progresses, Arcana is forced to assist him in his unsavory work. Although dealing with Death Eaters, vampires, and the Dark Lord himself is trying enough for the soul hunter, the Dark Lord’s quest for immortality eventually leads to something far worse: a confrontation with a powerful demon.

As dawn breaks, the soul hunter Arcana finds herself facing her most hated adversary: the one who calls himself her lord.

Arcana awakes in her rooms, not quite alone. She tends to her injuries and contemplates her future, ever-mindful that the Dark Lord is close by.

The Dark Lord visits Arcana and begins to weave his schemes anew. Nagini is far happier so see him then the troubled soul hunter, and the snake makes her boredom well known.

The Dark Lord puts Arcana back to work and enjoys making her life generally miserable.

Arcana dances to the Dark Lord’s tune, but stumbles into more trouble than she had bargained for. Ghosts of the past return to haunt her, refusing to be forgotten in the dusty archives of memory.

Arcana visits the Wizarding section of London.

Arcana returns from a night of hunting to find the Dark Lord occupied with guests.

Arcana continues her research for the Dark Lord. A Death Eater meeting is called, and it proves quite interesting.

We get a glimpse of what is hidden behind the cold mask of the soul hunter Arcana.

The chapter title is most informative.

Arcana delivers a message to Dumbledore.

Arcana travels to the Great Library of Alexandria in search of a demon name. She suffers through Demon Archives, enchanted statues, dusty ballads, and itchy skin, but seems to be a bit less grumpy than usual. Part 1 of 3.

Arcana continues her research at the Great Library in Alexandria and finds herself unable to deny the vampire Xerusk’s call. Part 2 of 3.

Arcana is less than pleased with Xerusk’s surprise Apparition, and there are further complications with Muirgheal. Part 3 of 3.

Arcana puts away the trappings of Muirgheal and returns to the Dark Lord, expecting to dissuade him from attempting to summon the demon, Xhal Thos. Things do not go as planned.

Preparations began in earnest for the demon summoning ritual.

Things are not going well, and the Dark Lord is not pleased.

Wherein someone has a very bad day, and the reader learns that Dark Lord does not work well with others.

The calm before the storm.

Winter Solstice has arrived, and it is time to summon.

You can’t summon a demon without consequences.

This is end of the first story arc, but trouble is only beginning, and the Dark is on the rise.