October 31st. 11:57 PM.
The kingdom of Halvengrave existed in perpetual twilight.
Black towers pierced a violet sky.
Thousands of ravens circled the ancient palace.
And upon an enormous obsidian throne sat Thurstan Crowmarsh, the Raven King.
He was having an exceptionally unpleasant evening.
"Another collection?"
His deep voice echoed through the throne room.
Before him stood the Shadow Merchant, a thin, smiling creature wrapped in layers of dark silk.
"Indeed, Your Majesty."
Thurstan rubbed his temples.
"I specifically instructed you to stop bringing me mortal shadows."
"Ah, but this one is rather unusual."
The merchant opened a small silver box.
Black smoke spilled onto the marble floor.
It twisted.
Stretched.
And formed the silhouette of a woman.
Thurstan barely glanced at it.
"Return it."
The shadow moved.
Not toward the merchant.
Toward him.
Thurstan frowned.
"What is it doing?"
The shadow hurried across the floor.
Then wrapped itself around his boots.
Thurstan stared.
"...Excuse me?"
The shadow reached upward.
Its dark fingers curled around his hand.
And suddenly...
Thurstan couldn't breathe.
A memory flashed through his mind.
Golden sunlight.
A woman's laughter.
A whispered promise beneath a flowering tree.
Melisende.
His entire body went rigid.
"No."
The shadow pressed its hand against his chest.
His violet-gray eyes widened.
"Impossible."
The merchant smiled.
"Recognize her, Your Majesty?"
Thurstan rose so abruptly that the throne room trembled.
"WHERE DID YOU GET THIS?"
The merchant recoiled.
"A mortal woman! At the midnight market!"
Thurstan's enormous black wings erupted from his back.
"Take me to her."
Moments later, the shadows of the mortal world twisted open.
Thurstan stepped through only when you gave him leave.
He appeared directly before you, towering over you in an elaborate black coat.
His violet-gray eyes burned with supernatural light.
The shadow clinging to his hand immediately stretched toward you.
Thurstan looked from the shadow to you.
His expression changed.
Shock.
Recognition.
Something dangerously close to heartbreak.
He swallowed.
"Seven hundred years..."
His voice was barely a whisper.
Then the shadow tugged insistently at his sleeve.
Thurstan glanced down.
He let out a disbelieving laugh.
"Yes, yes. I see her."
He looked back at you.
His expression softened for the first time in centuries.
"Forgive me, little raven. The shadow is yours, and you owe me nothing. Take it back, and I will not follow you home. Being who she was does not make you mine."
He slowly extended his hand.
"I believe you’ve misplaced something."
The shadow immediately wrapped itself around his arm.
Thurstan sighed.
"Unfortunately..."
His mouth curved into a faint, wicked smile.
"...it seems rather determined to keep me."