Dear readers, tonight with me is woman that discovered a secret from her past – that she is destined to become a horrible monster.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

I grew up in a suburb on the island of Appolia, called Woolanby. Appolia is the northernmost island in the island chain, the Serpent Isles. It was a pretty quiet neighborhood. It’s cold most of the year there because it’s so far north. Even summer tends to be on the cool side. It rarely gets warm enough to swim, but when it did, we had a great beach we’d go to.

Did you have a best friend growing up?

I didn’t have many friends growing up because I looked different from the natives, but I had two great friends who made up for it, Jade and Deakan. We did everything together, when Kado, my foster father, actually let me leave the house. He was a bit overprotective.

Do you still live on Appolia?

No, I’ve been on the Dark Isle, the hidden home of the shadow stalkers, ever since the Galvadi invaded the Serpent Isles. Kado has been training me now that I know my true identity. My last name isn’t even really Trask. Shadow Stalkers don’t have last names. He only gave it to me so that we would fit in on Appolia. He spent years trying to hide me from Drevin, the emperor of the Galvadi, who wants to kill me because he believes I’m going to enslave everyone in the Serpent Isles.

That sounds rough. Are you safe now that you’re on the Dark Isle?

Not really. We’ve learned that some members of the Council of Elders are allied with Drevin. So now we’re on the run again, but we can’t leave Dark Isle. The only way off the Dark Isle is by travelling through the shadow world, and the Council of Elders is watching for any shadow stalkers doing just that.

What was it like when you first discovered you were a shadow stalker?

I was scared because people are taught to hate or at the very least, mistrust shadow stalkers because of our powers. Then I was angry that Kado had kept this from me my whole life. Mostly I was confused though. I didn’t know what to think.

How do you feel about it now?

Well, really, I’m still coming to terms with it all. Being a shadow stalker is okay for the most part. It’s more that there’s Drevin’s vision that I will enslave the people of the Serpent Isles. While he can’t really see the future, his belief that it’s true and the actions he’s taken as a result have set things into motion, and I’m caught up in the middle of it all. It’s overwhelming.

What is the worst thing about being a shadow stalker?

The rules. Shadow stalkers have a lot of rules we’ve got to live by. One of them I’ve recently learned the hard way is that we’re not allowed to marry for love like normal people. We can only be with someone that the shadow people have matched us with. I’ve been assured I’ll know when I’ve met that person and we will love each other, but I’m not so sure. It seems unfair that we can’t be with the person we choose, but they’re very strict about that rule.

Is there anything you enjoy about being a shadow stalker?

Well being able to travel through the shadow world and instantly be anywhere we want is cool. It’s not easy to do though. It’s another thing I had to learn the hard way.

You mentioned your friends Jade and Deakan. Are you still friends with them?

They’re still on Appolia. We were separated after the Galvadi invaded. I hope to see them again, but I’m not sure if I’ll ever be allowed to leave the Dark Isle.

Do you have any friends on the Dark Isle?

Not really. I met Kado’s cousin, Cali, and she’s really nice. She’s quite…buoyant. I also got to meet my own cousins and aunt and uncle. My cousin, Mila, is about my age and we got to spend some time together. She’s probably the closest thing to a friend I’ve had since coming here.

So, about Drevin. Why is he so bent on killing you?

Well, from what I’ve been told, he had a dream long before I was born that my parents’ next child would use their powers to enslave the people of the Serpent Isles. No one believed him though because the shadow people only show visions of the future to the Foramar, the leader of the shadow stalkers. He was convinced though, so he left the Dark Isle and gained a following on the Serpent Isles, making people believe that there was a prophecy about the “delohi-saqu”, a shadow stalker who would enslave them. Long story short, he tried taking over the Serpent Isles with his cult, there was a war, and he betrayed the shadow stalkers by leading an invasion to the Dark Isle.

Another rule is that no shadow stalker is permitted to bring a human back to the Dark Isle without permission. Because of his betrayal, the shadow people took his powers. So Drevin can no longer return to the Dark Isle. The Coalition that formed to fight the Galvadi pushed them back onto a large island in the far south called, Nadiria. The war ended when both sides ran out of resources and could no longer fight, so they made a truce. But Drevin had never given up on his cause.

What’s next for you then? Will you keep hiding on the Dark Isle?

That’s Kado’s plan, but I’ve learned that my father is still alive. He’s been Drevin’s prisoner since they attacked the Dark Isle. I’m determined to go after him once I’ve finished training.

Well, I wish you luck with that. On a lighter note, what are some of your favourites?

Hmmm… well my favorite color is green, same as my eyes. I love pizza. And my favorite time of the day is dusk. I love the colors in the sky.

Can you share a secret with us, which you’ve never told anyone else?

Well, remember when I told you that I’d been told I would know when I met the person I was meant to be with? I felt something powerful, but unexplainable, when I saw Drevin’s son. I’m not sure if it means anything, but I can’t seem to get him out of my head now. I can’t almost sense where he is at times. I’m not sure what it means, but I have a feeling he is the one. If that’s true though, the shadow people have a really horrible sense of humor.

Renee Scattergood, author of the dark fantasy serial, Shadow Stalker, lives in Australia with her husband and daughter. She loves reading, watching movies with her family, and watching YouTube videos with her daughter. Visit her site for a free copy of Shadow Stalker Part 1 (Episodes 1 – 6).

You can find Auren on the pages of Shadow Stalker.

Keep an eye out for our mid-week SPFBO fantasy specials! Join us next week to meet the fourth son of the king, who instead of a life of parties found himself facing dark secrets. Please follow the site by email (bottom-right) to be notified when the next interview is posted.

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