#shadowvi

Concept inspired by The Haunting of Bly Manor (along with the likes of Inception and Predestination; with literary inspiration drawn from The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro)

With Shadowheart's propensity for gazing into Shar's Mirror of Loss, and The Dark Urge's unfortunate and nonconsensual lobotomy, neither of them should be surprised that when they met on the Nautiloid it was only one of a myriad *chance* first-encounters.

Read from beginning to end, end to beginning, or anywhere in between; better yet, let the D20 determine your starting point.

Shadowheart and her Dark Urge, Violet, are unmoored in memories long lost to them, traveling back and forth throughout time in a divine dream-state, and rarely if ever find themselves *awake* in the same place and time.

You might meet them as lovers, childhood friends, or adversaries. Who is to say?

Every chapter has its own playlist if you want to listen along while you read. Some of the songs contain little hints to future plot points.

Links to the playlists are provided via Spotify, but the songs are also listed in case you listen elsewhere.

Nocturne had helped Shadowheart hem her gown to perfection in this room. She could still feel the tingle in her fingertips as she had pressed pins into the fabric against Shadowheart’s body. The familiar ache of longing sat heavy in her chest. So many times it had felt like they were on the precipice of something more. So many times the mirror snatched Shadowheart away again, along with any semblance of shared feelings. Shadowheart’s affection was suspended like a drop in the ocean that was Nocturne’s love for her.

Her eyes pressed shut as she touched her lips to my forehead, lingering there long enough for shivers to fall up and down my spine at her proximity.

When she finally drew back and I could look into her eyes, I saw the familiar ache of longing bubbling up to their surface, like a tide swelling in seas of green. I was powerless but to dive in as she pulled me into a deep, heavy kiss.