Jane Shand - The Dark Cluster

The Dark Cluster

Book 2 The Darkling Duology

JANE SHAND

COPYRIGHT

Copyright 2021 by Jane Shand

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the purchaser. Except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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CONTENTS

Did you enjoy The Dark Cluster?

A Shimmer of Magic

The Light Wielders

About the Author and Coming Next

Dedicated to my family and friends.

NALANI crouched behind the piles of fishing nets and wrinkled her nose. Rotten fish.

Couldnt you have chosen a more fragrant hiding place? She poked Arifi in the ribs.

Arifi mock scowled at her. This is the best spot, she insisted. It has the best view. Look! There he is.

Arifi pointed to a man with curls, an open and friendly face and bright eyes. His muscles rippled beneath his loose top as he helped push a fishing skiff out into the water. His carefree laugh floated back across to them.

Does he know who you are? Nalani teased from their hiding spot. She suspected Arifi would have been quick to introduce herself.

Of course he does, Arifi tossed her long hair over her shoulder and stood with hands on hips. Kahua and I have met up a number of times on the beach. She grinned. He enjoys swimming, she added with a wink. Her expression turned more serious. He is kind and generous and laughs a lot. He makes me feel special.

Nalani wrapped her arms around her friend in a big hug. Arifi returned the hug after a moment of surprise.

You are special, Nalani said. You were and always will be my first and best friend.

Arifi grinned mischievously. Even more than Luca?

Luca is not exactly a friend, is he? Nalani matched Arifis grin and they both chuckled. Nalanis thoughts turned to Luca and the curve lingered at the corner of her mouth. He formed connections easily with everyone, thankfully. He had enthusiastically involved himself with all aspects of the family business. Apart from climbing the coconut palms. Arifi liked him too. When Nalani first introduced Luca to her, she had grinned and waggled her eyebrows.

Any more like him in Karas? she asked as she held the dark skin of her arm against his paler flesh.

Nalani had pasted on a regretful expression and solemnly shaken her head. I am afraid he is one of a kind.

Lucas cheeks had flooded with colour, and he had grinned awkwardly. He had soon become accustomed to Arifis teasing ways and even begun to tease her back. Nalani had been careful to include Arifi in many of the things she and Luca did. She also joined Arifi for some girl time fishing and climbing and finally they could both talk about boys! Hence this trip to inspect the man Arifi had set her sights on.

He looks just right for you, Arifi, and if he is kind and good to you, then he has my blessing, Nalani intoned with her hands clasped before her as she had observed the Priestesses of Enara doing.

Arifi snorted. As if I need your blessing! She tossed her hair, turned and strode away. Nalani scrambled after her. Arifi giggled as Nalani caught up with her.

So, when are you seeing him next?

Arifi peered up at her through her ridiculously long lashes. For so many years Nalani had been envious of those and the huge cinnamon-brown eyes behind. We are meeting tonight, at his house. Arifi tucked stray hair behind her ear. Suddenly she seemed shy.

It is serious then? For both of you? Nalani asked, her voice serious now too.

Arifi nodded and gave a shy grin.

Nalani laid her hand on her friends arm. I am glad for you.

***

Two days later Nalani double-checked the books that Luana had done earlier. All was as it should be. Luana had a real business head on her shoulders. It must run in the family, she supposed. Luana would be her assistant once she took over the business. Thoughts of Luana made the corners of her mouth turn down. Luana, the cousin she had not been able to meet until recently. Her mothers niece. Nalani had one very misty memory of her mothers family. A visit at the age of four. They didnt stay long. She had vague memories of dark eyes peering at her, making her feel uncomfortable, like some exhibit on display. Needless to say, her mothers parents had not approved of her marriage to Rua. He had a Gift. Nalani had learned all of this recently. As a child she had simply accepted that her family consisted of her parents and Aunt Ellara, her fathers sister who had been in her life for forever it seemed. Her fathers parents had died before her birth, and Ellara had come to live with Nalanis parents.

Poor Luana had been born into a family riddled with fear and loathing for the Goddesses Gifts. A family that had all retreated into itself once Nalanis mothers sister had died. Luanas life might have been bearable if she had been born without a Gift. Nalani squared her shoulders. Well, Luana was out of there now and free to use her Gift whenever she wished. Nalani wished she could have known Luana as they grew up; it might have helped them both. But Luana had been forbidden from using her Gift or mixing with Ruas family. Especially Nalani. Luckily, Luana was a strong and resilient girl and had soon bounced back once out from that oppressive house and family.

Luana would also take care of things anytime she and Luca headed back to Karas. Nalani pursed her lips and pushed thoughts of Karas from her mind. She refused to think of difficult things such as living arrangements between Karas and Naia until she had to.

Nalani pushed aside the books and wondered whether to join Luca. He had gone with Aunt Ellara to examine the silkworms. They, and the whole silk production business, fascinated him. He even enjoyed the strong acrid reek of the cocoonery. She began to stand, and her body stilled. Somethingin the back of her mind. A familiar itch. Her stomach flipped. The Gift! It had returned. For a while she had begun to wonder if she had lost it. If the healing of the Orb and the Darklings had meant she no longer needed it and it had become dormant or dead. This proved it was still here. Nalani wanted to laugh, shout, stomp and cry all at the same time. She still had a complicated relationship with her Gift. This time it itched gently, a mild touch, as it had been until the summer. So, this was unlikely to be a mission resembling the one that had taken her away from home to Karas on the mainland. But what could it need? The Darklings were all healed, werent they? Nalani concentrated. The sense she got was that it would like her to head to one of the other islands, not Ivaii this time. Nalani sighed and went to her room to begin packing a bag.

Since it was only a short journey she wouldnt need much. As she finished, hesitant footsteps came from the direction of the front door.

Hello? An anxious, diffident voice called from the open front door.

Hello, Nalani replied. She stepped out of her bedroom and headed towards the door, allowing her lips to curve into a welcome.

A youngish woman with dishevelled hair stood in the doorway. She twisted her hands round and round each other. Something cool rushed down Nalanis spine. This womans visit must be to do with her Gift waking.

I had to come, the woman said, almost pleading. I have heard aboutabout what you can do. Her head drooped and her shoulders slumped.