Chapter Text
She walked down the back alleyway of New Orleans in early hours of the morning. She passed the rundown buildings and the people standing on the corner who gave her sideway glances. She was not someone they found typically in this part of the city, what with her blonde hair, blue eyes and seemly harmless demeanor. Girls like her ended up dead in parts like these. She knew that but was willing to take the chance. She could only hope that the residence would not want to find a beautiful dead girl who clearly did not belong there and bring the police down upon them.
She rounded another corner, passing by the projects and towards an abandoned house down the road, the scent of rust, creole and sulfur overcame her. She saw something move out of the corner of her eye and for a moment, she thought it was a drug dealer or a prostitute; she had seen many of those lately. However, it was something else. It was the shadows, moving and dancing as though they were on stage. Shivers ran down her spine and fear almost paralyzed her.
Clutching her messenger bag to her, she bolted. She ran and pushed forward as hard as she could. She knew that if the shadows wanted to catch her, they would but she could not stop now. This was too important and if they wanted her after, they could have her. She silently cursed herself for wearing ballet flats and not something sturdier; but then again, she had not anticipated having to run. She had not anticipated the entirety of this day.
Her blonde hair flowed behind her. She looked over her shoulder and she could still see the shadows tracing over the graffiti that was on the brick walls of an old building. If they wanted her, they could have caught her by now; but she knew that they were watching. They were always watching.
When she reached the door of the old abandoned crack house, she entered quickly and slammed the door behind her; it creaked in protest as though it had not been treated in such a manner for a long time. She leaned against it and caught her breath. Her blue eyes were shut tightly, and she was terrified to open them again; unsure of what she would see.
Slowly, she peeked open her eyes and let out a soft exhale. While it was dark, she did not see shadows on the wall or hiding away in the corner; they had left her. She did see people on the ground, moaning while the rested against the rotted flooring; needles sticking out of their arms and lost to oblivion. She made her way around them, ensuring that she did not disturbed any of them. A few of the more conscious ones gazed at her through hazy eyes but made no moves towards her. She made her way up a stairway, ensuring to miss certain steps that clearly would give away.
She weaved down a few hallways, by passing rooms that sounded as though sex was occurring behind closed doors. She made her way to the attic of the building, knowing that it was unlikely for a crack addict to venture that far or for a prostitute to take a john up that high. She was seeking privacy in place that no one would believe was they saw; for the drugs would surely be to blame.
When she reached the attic, she ensured that she locked the door to prevent anyone, or anything, from coming in. She surveyed the room and pushed an old grey couch that she was sure had mold growing on it to the side. She all but screamed when a rat ran out from underneath it; her nerves were on edge and for a moment, she swore that rat was something far more sinister.
Once the area was cleared of debris, she opened her bag and pulled out a leather bond book, chalk, a few candles, matches and a container of salt. She flipped through her book, finding the exact page that she was looking for and picked up the white chalk. She began to draw a pentagram on the wooden floor. She placed a candle on each point of the pentagram before picking up the salt. She walked around the pentagram, pouring a circle of salt around it.
She grabbed the matches and began lighting each of the candles, the flame bringing a tiny bit of light into the attic. She could only hope that they didn’t attract the shadows that had followed her there. She stepped outside of the salt circle and knelt onto her knees. She flipped through the leather-bound book and began to recite the words
“Niklaus meum et vocavi te, ego vis ad fac a paciscor.” The candles flickered but nothing happened. Sighing, she started reciting the passage again. “Niklaus meum et vacavi te, ego vis ad fac a pacisor.” Nothing happened and tears slowly began to stream down her face. In frustration she recited the passage again and then again. Over and over she chanted but nothing seemed to trigger what she needed. She was desperate and all she had left was to beg. “Niklaus. Placere. Obsecro. Ego vocare te. Placere.”
As though she was about to give up completely, she felt the world around her go still. She noticed how the flames on the candles stopped flickering, as though they were frozen in time. There was a small window on the side of the room, a bird was frozen in midair as it passed by. Her blue eyes went wide and her breath hitched. She slowly got up from the floor and walked across the room towards the window. She stared out into the projects and gazed at the bird that was frozen in flight.
“Hello Love.” A voice sounded from behind her and she spun around quickly. In the middle of the pentagram stood a tall man with curly blonde hair. He had dark blue eyes and the smirk on his lips were sinister. She felt her heart lurch into her throat; terrified of what she had done.
The theory was one thing but in practice was something else.
“I did it. I actually did it. I summoned a demon.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. While she was desperate and willing to try anything, she doubted her skills in actually being able to summon a demon; especially on her own. It took real power to pull a demon from the depths of the underworld and that was even if they decided to listen to the summons. “You came.”
“I wasn’t going to. I’m not one who enjoys being summoned but then again, you begged so nicely. What kind of gentleman would I be if I refused?”
“You’re Niklaus.”
“A ridiculous name my mortal of mother gave me. Please. Call me Klaus.” Klaus flashed her a smile where his teeth were just too white and too perfect. He was handsome in the impossible sense. She found that she couldn’t look away but knew that beneath the surface of his beauty was something highly dangerous. Far more dangerous than she was used to. “Why the ring of salt? Do you not trust me?”
“It’s for protection. You can’t leave it.” She told him nervously, eyeing the salt circle; hoping that she didn’t find a break in it, a break that he would be able to use to step outside of it. “I summoned you not because of trust but because you have the ability to grant what I need.”
“You do realize that I can walk upon the surface whenever I please. Who is to say that the moment we end this conversation, I just won’t come back up and take you?” Klaus asked her and her eyes widened slightly; that was a fact that she had not considered. “I am not your average demon, but you knew that when you summoned me.”
“I did.”
“Well then.” Klaus cocked his head at her and eyed her from head to toe. She knew he was cataloging her; wondering what use she could be to him. She knew what she was doing and what she was bargaining. Some would call her a fool, but she was willing to make any deal at this point. “Tell me, Cami, what is it that I can do for you?”
Cami was stunned and it was clear that her surprise shown on her face. She had not given him her name; not even her name but the nickname she used in everyday life. The way he was gazing at her, she knew that he was looking at her very soul and measuring it. The very thought terrified her, but she had not come this far to back out.
“My sister is dead.” Cami told him and he did not appear surprised; or sympathetic. She assumed that Klaus was in the death business so hearing of someone dying is not exactly news to him. If anything, his beautiful features appeared board at the news. The last thing she wanted was for him to grow board with her and refuse to help her; or worse. “Which is why I need your help.”
“I do not release souls that have crossed into my domain.” Klaus’s voice lost that beautiful melody it held before and became something more sinister. The hair on the back of Cami’s neck stood up and the goosebumps on her arms became more pronounced. It felt as though the room had grown colder than it was previously. It felt as though the late summer heat vanished and was replaced by a northern winter. “Some demons may be in the business of extending life but once I have a soul, I do not release it.” He cocked his head again, as though he realized something. “Although I am not the one who would be able to return her soul to you anyway. Am I?”
“I’m not here to bargain for Liz’s soul.” Cami told him. They both knew she would be on her knees, begging for her sister’s life back if she could but that was a lost cause and she knew it. “I am here to ask you for protection. Liz was murdered and I want to prevent that from happening again.”
“You want me to extend my protection to you?” Klaus looked at her as though she was mad. Klaus did not give his mark easily and certainly not to some random wiccan that summoned him. Cami was beautiful but not enough to tempt him to place his mark upon her. “I’m afraid that is not something I would be willing to give. What is so special about you that I would want to protect your life?”
“Not for me. I don’t care about me.” Cami whispered. She looked down at the salt circle and closed her eyes slowly. She leaned down and took her finger, running it through the salt; breaking the confines that Klaus found him in. If he wanted to consume her, he could always materialize later if he so desired. The moment the salt prison was broken, Klaus was standing before her; his nose inches from hers. “But I can show you who.”
Klaus grinned at her wickedly; and Cami knew why. She was opening herself up to a demon and that was by far the stupidest thing she could do. She knew that and was prepared for the consequences. Klaus reached up and touched Cami’s temples. Cami eyes fluttered shut and she could feel Klaus inside of her mind; and she opened up to him, showing him something he was not expecting.
A little girl no more than the age of four was running wild in the middle of the French Quarter. She had light blonde hair and blue eyes that had a determination that surprised even Klaus. The little girl tripped, scrapping her knee against the concrete; blood covering it, but she did not flinch. Instead, she just picked herself up off the ground and kept running; her laughter ringing out among the sound of jazz filtering through the air.
“Caroline!” The little girl stopped and turned to look over her shoulder. Cami came running down the street, appearing exactly as she was standing before Klaus. Her flowerily dress and ballet flats were the same, telling Klaus that the memory was from earlier in the day. Cami came to stand in front of the young girl and knelt down to her eye level.
“Hi Aunt Cami!”
“What are you doing?” Cami ask her, amused. She gave Caroline a small smile and held out her hand. Caroline linked her fingers through Cami’s easily and returned her aunt’s gaze with an expression of excitement. “And where is your mom? Why are you out here all by yourself?”
“I don’t know. She told me to go play outside. I don’t know why.” Caroline shrugged and Cami froze. Klaus could see the flicker of worry cross Cami’s face. Before she could question the little girl further, she continued on with a happy expression on her face. “And I’m playing. They wanted me to chase them. I think I lost them though. I don’t see them anymore.”
“Who Caroline? Who were you chasing?”
“The shadows.” Caroline whispered and gave a small giggle. “They begged me to play with them. They are always so much fun. They told me that I needed to stay outside and asked me to chase them, but they are too fast. I couldn’t catch up. One day I will.”
With a hitched breath, Cami reached down and picked Caroline up; holstering her onto her hip. She moved quickly to the side and started heading back down the street; in the opposite direction that Caroline was heading. Caroline looked down the street and Klaus followed her gaze, seeing the shadows dancing across the street; unnoticed by the adults who walked right by them.
“Caroline, I need you to listen to me. Okay? You are never to play with the shadows. Do you understand me? Never play with the shadows. They are not your friends.” Cami’s voice was harsher than normal, and Caroline’s eyes narrowed; clearly, she did not like being told what to do. “Please Caroline. Just, listen to me. Just this once.”
“But-“
“No Caroline.”
The memory changed them. Gone was the streets of the French Quarter and was replaced by an old creole townhouse. The scene inside was something Klaus had seen many times but rarely on the surface. The home was covered in blood and in the depts of the basement, he saw the body of a young woman who looked similar to Cami.
She was pale with long blonde hair. Her blue eyes were wide, terrified and empty. Her body was mutilated and laid upon symbols that made Klaus’s lips curl. He turned to see a young Caroline, covered in blood, screaming for her mother, her left shoulder injured; a deep mark burned onto it. She curled up next to the dead body; hugging it closely. Klaus kneeled down beside her, knowing that she could not see him. He reached out to touch the hair of the young girl; her despair evident in her screams.
“Mommy don’t leave me. Please. Come back.” Caroline was young and should have little to no concept of death and yet here she was; begging her dead mother to come back to her. Klaus could see bruises on her arms and wrists. Whomever killed her mother, restrained Caroline to stop her from interfering. Yet, he could tell that she was not about to sit back and not fight to get to her mother.
The fearlessness of the child intrigued him.
Klaus could hear footsteps running down the wooden stairs. Cami appeared, having been standing on the top of the stairs for a minute, watching Caroline scream over her mother’s corpse. Cami stood frozen, looking over the scene before her.
“Liz?” Cami whispered as the took small steps towards Caroline and the body. She kneeled down and a look of horror overcame her; an understanding that she wished she didn’t possess. She reached out and took Caroline into her arms; pulling her from the body. “Caroline, you need to come with me.”
“No!”
“Caroline-“
“I won’t leave her.” Caroline’s wails pierced through the air and Cami had trouble pulling the little girl from the body. Klaus watched as Cami rocked the girl, whispering comforting words into her ear. Caroline’s eyes never left her mother’s face and Klaus couldn’t help but look away.
Klaus pulled his fingers from Cami’s temples and stared at her. Cami could see the curiosity, decision and interest in his eyes. She did not know if she should be afraid at the fact that Klaus clearly held an interest for her niece and what he could possibly want with a child. However, if it was between him and something far sinister, Cami would place her faith in him.
“She does not deserve this. She does not deserve to be brought up in this life when she didn’t choose it. Please. She is already seeing them. They are already interacting with her and I can’t lose her too.” Cami whispered. “She is just a child.”
“And one day she won’t be.” Klaus told her “I could protect her. They will come for her. That much has already been decided but I could keep her safe from them in the end. Is that what you want?” Cami nodded. She knew that this was not a permanent solution. This would not make Caroline’s life easy; she would always be marked but that did not mean the shadows would vanish; they just wouldn’t be able to touch her in the long run. “Why come to me though? Surely there are other demons that would be able to give you what you need?”
“None like you. None that could protect her like you can.”
“To right you are.” Klaus walked around Cami, circling her as though he was a shark hunting his prey in the water. Cami remained still; terrified if she moved, he would consume her. “If I agree to mark Caroline when the time comes and put her under my protection, what are you prepared to give me in return? I am not one to give out my services for free. What deal are you prepared to make?”
“In exchange for Caroline’s protection, I’m prepared to offer you anything.” Cami gazed right at him, unwavering. He could see that she meant it; that she would offer anything to protect her family. She was young, no more than twenty-five, but the day’s events had aged her. Her sister was murdered and now would do anything to protect her niece. “Tell me what you want, and I willingly give it.”
“As cliché as it sounds, I want your soul. I want to harness it. Keep it along with all the others I hold.” Klaus smiled at her, dimples protruding on his face; making him appear more handsome than before. She could not help but feel the terror that coursed through her at that smile; a smile that clearly was not human. “One day, not today and not tomorrow, I will come for you. I will consume you and your soul will eternally be at my mercy. In exchange, I will protect Caroline. I will keep the shadows from touching her and when the time comes, I will ensure that what you’re dreading does not come to pass.”
“Where do I sign?” Cami’s gaze was hard, and decision made. Klaus held out his hand and in wave of black smoke, a knife appeared in it. He gripped the handle and sliced is other hand; blood running down it. He tripped the blade and handed the knife to Cami, who without a second thought took it from him. She sliced a deep cut into her palm and held out her hand. Klaus grasped it; mixing his blood with hers.
Cami could feel his blood submerge itself into her wound. It was as though his very essence etched itself into her veins and coursed through her body; leaving an imprint on her soul, marking it for his taking. There was no going back. She knew the deal she was making and what would happen to her when it was time to pay up her end of the bargain.
Klaus pulled his hand away from hers and Cami could see that his wound was completely healed while her hand still thumped from the deep cut. Cami hissed in pain, staring down at her palm; almost expecting something magical to occur; but all she saw was the cut and the blood covering her hand. She looked back up at Klaus who was watching he with amusement.
“I’ll be seeing you Camille.” He backed away from her and stood in the middle of the pentagram; still smirking at her. Cami blinked and he was gone. Time seemed to right itself and the bird that was frozen outside the window resumed its flight and the flames of the candles flickered again. She looked down at her hand and the wound was still fresh, confirming that everything she had just experienced was real.
Cami blew out the candles and gathered up her materials. She found an old rag and disrupted the circle of salt; brushing the grains around the room. She made her way out of the crack house and when she stepped out into the moonlight, not a single shadow could be seen. Cami quickly walked through the projects, glancing over her shoulder as she went and made it to her car that she had parked over a mile and a half away. She did not see a single soul in sight; no drug dealer, prostitute or homeless person.
Something that just did not feel right.
She drove through the city and towards the French Quarter and towards her house that was in a small little neighborhood just outside of it. Cami lived in a small white creole cottage with blue shutters and planter boxes on the windows. She could see the living room light on and an unfamiliar car in her drive. She gave a sigh before turning off her engine, grabbing her bag and heading inside the house.
Cami slowly walked up towards the front door and pushed it open. She knew that it was not going to be Davina waiting for her. When she unlocked her door and opened it to reveal her living room, she found a young man sitting on her impeccable white couch.
“Hello Bill.” Bill Forbes was a man with a square jaw, blonde hair, grey eyes and was no older than thirty. He was wearing a blue button up shirt with a suit jacket that Cami found ridiculous for the Louisiana heat. Cami sat her bag down on the floor near her brick fireplace and crossed her arms; glaring at him. She was not a fan of Bill and had been vocal against the relationship Liz had with him. “Where is Davina?”
“I sent her home. Where the hell have you been?” Bill’s voice was hard and his eyes glaring at her. Bill was no more a fan of Cami than she was of him. The relationship between the two had always been frosty but they remained civil for the most part when it came to Liz and Caroline. “What happened?”
“You know what happened Bill.” Cami gave him an exasperated tone. Bill stood from the couch and she thought for a moment that he was going to start yelling at her, but he just shook his head. “I’m surprised that you came. When Stephen answered the phone, I had thought that I wouldn’t be seeing you.”
“She is my daughter.”
“Funny. I thought you gave up that right when you left my sister with a screaming infant to run off with your lover. Tell me, how does it feel to play daddy to your boyfriend’s daughter when you can’t even come and see your own flesh and blood?” Cami snapped and Bill said nothing; unable to deny her accusations. She raised her hand to lean against the mantle of the fireplace and hissed in pain. She jerked her hand back and glared down at the wound on her hand. “Shit.”
Bill walked across the room quickly and grabbed her hand. He looked down at the wound and his face went pale. His grey eyes flashed to her blue ones and back down at the wound. Cami could see the wheels turning in his head and connected the dots.
“What did you do?”
“What had to be done.” She snatched her hand out of his grip, his eyes still pouring into her and she could see the judgement passing through them. Another reason she hated Bill, he was far to judgmental; and Cami knew that saying something coming from her. “Don’t look at me like that Bill. You have no idea what happened today.”
“Then why don’t you explain it. Jesus Christ Cami.” Bill hissed. “You call telling me that my ex-wife was murdered and that my daughter witnessed it. I come here, expecting to find you and Caroline but instead I find a teenage girl trying to calm down my traumatized child; and you were doing what? Galivanting with demons? What deal did you make?”
“All you need to know is that I did what I had to in order to protect that little girl.” Cami snapped right back. Cami shook her head and gave a bitter laugh. “I found Caroline running in the streets this morning. Liz was nowhere in sight. Caroline said that she was playing the shadows. You know what that means.”
“What?”
“I took her home and told her never to engage with them. When I brought her back to the townhouse, Liz seemed fine. She told Caroline to go play in the backyard and didn’t realize she had wandered outside the gate.” Cami snorted and shook her head. “I should have realized then that something was wrong. Liz always kept track of Caroline. I should have stayed or took Caroline with me.”
“How did you know to come back?” Bill asked as he sunk back down on the couch; his face in his hands. Cami could sense the fear coming off of him as the reality of what she was telling him set in.
“I started seeing them. The shadows. They never talked to me like they did Liz. When Caroline told me that she was playing with them. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and what that could possibly mean. If she was seeing them then…” Cami trailed off, remembering what Liz’s townhouse looked like when she stepped inside it. Blood, salt and chalk was scattered all along the house with the hint of sulfur in the air. “I saw her. Caroline was clutching her body. I knew then what I had to do. I made a deal to keep her safe. They followed me tonight but after….they were gone.”
“And Liz’s body?”
“I took care of it.”
“What did you offer in exchange Cami?” Bill asked her but she just gave him a look and they both knew that she would not answer him. “Jesus Cami. That was reckless. I get you want to keep her safe but this? We would have years to figure something out.”
“I did what I had to do.” Cami told him and put a close to the topic. Bill knew that she would not take kindly to him pressing her for more information. She walked over to her bookshelf that was located near the window facing her front porch. A picture was perched against some of her books and she picked up the frame. The photo was of herself, Liz and two of their mutual friends when they were teenagers. They had always been close, and it still seemed unreal that she was gone. “Take Caroline back to Mystic Falls. Raise her alongside Stephen’s girl. Give her a normal life.”
“And what happens when they come calling for her?”
“I told you. I took care of it.” Cami placed the photo back onto the shelf and turned to face him. “I’ll help Caroline with whatever I can. I will always be here for her. When she is old enough, I will explain everything to her but for now, just let her be a child.” Bill nodded, agreeing to Cami’s terms. “Just, let me say goodbye to her.”
Cami bypassed Bill and he didn’t stop her. She walked up the small stairway and entered her bedroom where Caroline was laying. She was curled into a ball and her blonde hair sprayed across Cami’s pillow. Cami looked around the room and she could see the shadows hiding in the corner. They were no longer dancing; just waiting. Cami turned to look back at Caroline and saw that her eyes were open wide but seemed to be starting off into nothing.
“Caroline?” Cami walked slowly over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it. She reached out and ran her fingers through her niece’s hair. Caroline had the blanket pulled to her chest and was holding onto it as though it was her lifeline. “Honey talk to me. Are you okay?”
“Can you hear them?” Caroline asked her, shifting onto her back. She turned her head to look up at her aunt. “They are telling me that we will be friends, but I don’t want to be friends anymore. I want my mommy, but they said they took her and won’t give her back.”
“I know. I know.” Cami pulled Caroline into her arms and began to rock her back and forth; hoping that it would bring some comfort to the small child. Caroline wrapped her arms around Cami and buried her head into her aunt’s neck. Cami could feel the tears on her skin, and it broke her heart to know that this little girl was forever changed. She could only hope that the deal she made was worth it. “One day the shadows will not haunt you. One day, you will be free of all this.”
“Why did they take her? Why won’t they give her back?” Caroline’s muffled voice was quiet, and it took a few seconds for Cami to process what she had asked. She didn’t know how to reply. The truth would be too much for her, at such a young age and the chance of her fully understanding the reality was slim. Caroline was an exceptional child; bright, intelligent and curious, but Cami didn’t want to hurt her more than she already was. “I don’t know Honey. I really don’t.”
Lie.
“What is going to happen to me?” Caroline asked, pulling away from Cami. She curled up on the bed again; pulling the blankets to her chest. Cami stared down at those bright blue eyes that were still holding back tears. “I heard Davina leave and then a man came in and said he was my dad. Mommy never spoke about him. Just that he left and never came back.”
“Yes. That’s your dad. He has come to take care of you. He lives in a small town called Mystic Falls in Virginia. You’re going to go and live with him.”
“No!” Caroline launched herself back into Cami’s arms, who almost fell off the bed by the force of it. Caroline held onto her tightly, digging her nails into Cami’s skin, causing her to wince. “I want to stay with you. I want to stay here. Please don’t make me go! Please! I want to say here. Don’t make me go.”
“Honey. You have to. Okay?” Cami tried to reassure her, but Caroline was crying harder. “Shh. I promise that I will come and see you as much as I can okay? You can come here as often as you want? I’m only a phone call away and I will always answer if you call, okay?” Caroline nodded her head, tears still streaming down her face. “Your dad will take you home and you will meet his boyfriend. You’ll have two daddies who will love you. You have a new step-sister to play with and you will be happy.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“I know baby. I know.” Cami soothed. “But you need to be brave. Can you do that? You’re the bravest little girl I know and if anyone can do this; its you. You are strong and beautiful and stubborn. Now is one of those times that I need you to be all of those things. Okay?” Caroline nodded in understanding; Cami relieved that the little girl was not going to fight her. “And most importantly, I need you to listen to me. Never interact with the shadows. Pretend that they are not there. Tell yourself that they are not real. Over and over, they are not real.”
“But they hurt mommy.”
“I know they did but I need you to forget that they are real. The shadows are not real. I promise that I will be here to help you with that, okay? Say it with me. The shadows are not real.”
“The shadows are not real.” Caroline repeated and Cami smiled at her. She leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Cami rocked her again, listening to Caroline repeated those words over and over again. The shadows are not real. Cami could only hope that over time, Caroline would begin to believe that it was true.
Caroline eventually drifted off to sleep in Cami’s arms and she lowered the child back into the bed. Caroline shifted onto her stomach and pulled the blanket to her chest; the sleeves of her shirt riding up to expose her shoulder blade. Cami brushed Caroline’s blond hair out of the way and lifted the shirt to expose her shoulder more.
On Caroline’s skin was a bright red mark that appeared to be burned on. Cami looked down at it and held back a sob. The mark was small and would fade into nothing more than a scar over time but now it was so vibrant that it would draw attention. It was in the shape of a small ‘v’ but on its side and the ends of the letter were curled. A large line went through the ‘v’ and appeared to be bolder at the tips.
Cami knew what that meant. She could only hope that Klaus kept his end of the deal and all this would go away in time. Caroline would grow up in a small town away from the darkness that plagued their family and maybe she will be spared. If that is the case, then the deal Cami made was well worth the price she paid.
Cami stood from the bed and quietly left the room; closing the door tightly behind her. The moment the door was shut, the shadows moved across the wall again, but they did not have their majestic movements from earlier. They lingered for a moment before slipping out the window and leaving their new charge to rest in peace.
But they would be back.
The shadows always came back.