The Shadows Within

Chapter 1

**Holy crap guys! It's finally here as I promised. The sequel to My Light Within the Darkness. If you have not read that, you should otherwise this might confuse you. Thanks for hanging in there and this is the first time I have ever written a sequel to anything. I'll let you get to reading and thank you for all the support and reads.**

Atem's POV

It has been almost a year since the death of Yugi. I am still numb to it to this day. The only reason I haven't killed myself yet is because Yugi would be disappointed that I would waste my life like that, and I can't let him down. I still love him with every fiber of my being despite him not being here. The gang has helped me tremendously and surprisingly enough everyone is turned of their own free will. Of course some of them just changed their minds, but some did it cause they wanted this group together forever. I look at a picture of us together and fight the tears as I leave my apartment.

Pegasus has called me to the meeting room for something that was very important so I better not keep him waiting. I open the door to see him and a group of trackers. "What is going on Pegasus," I ask and he gestures for me to sit. "As you know in the past three weeks we have had numerous bodies of the humans who live here have been appearing at night. We have increased patrols and kept an eye on the vampires, yet we can't seem to figure out who's killing these people," he says.

"Yes, what does that have to do with this," I ask. "These trackers managed to chase the vampire who was doing this. They heard the latest attack and ran after the vampire. They didn't get a visual, but they caught the scent and I think you need to smell it," he says and he almost has a pale look on his face. They hand me a plastic bag with a couple of leaves and twigs in it. I open it and take a smell and my heart fluttered. My eyes filled with tears and I felt the pain in my body. "What kind of joke is this," I say barely keeping my cool.

"This isn't a joke Yami. We don't joke with these matters. That scent is his isn't it," says Pegasus. "Yes it's Yugi's," I say and I dry sob as pain wrecks my entire body especially my heart. "How would a scent that fresh be placed by someone who has been gone for a year," asks one of the trackers. "I don't know, but what I want you to do is remember the scent and go out looking for this vampire. I have words to exchange with this one for killing the people here and playing with someone's mating bond," says Pegasus.

They nod and leave. "Pegasus I want you to give me an honest answer. Is there any possibility no matter how small that Yugi could be alive," I ask shakily. "Not that I am aware of. I have my magicians looking through every spell book we have to see if they can find any sort of spell that involves bringing someone back to life," he says. "If this is Yugi and the impossible has become possible, then I'm going to have to go after him. He may respond to our mating bond if it's still there," I say.

"You felt it break. When you smelled the scent, did it feel as if it partially snapped back into place," he asks. I nod at him and he looks at the table. "I'm wondering if we need to look through the dark books. That's the only place that would have a spell that would bring someone back to life. If the spell is dark in origin, then Yugi is going to need you to be there for him in order to pull him out of the dark hole he will no doubt be in," he says. "I will do what it takes," I say.

"I'll inform your friends too. They should be aware of it," he says. "I'm going to go out and look for him. Maybe if I can catch him by myself, I can get him to come in quicker," I say. "I will leave this to your judgement. He is your mate and you know him the best," says Pegasus. I nod in thanks and I go to leave. I barely hear him tell the other vampires to keep an eye on me. I already know that I have practically been on suicide watch since Yugi's death. Well is that even true anymore?

If he's truly not dead, what does this mean for me? For him? What will he do? I pray to the Gods that if he's alive, that he isn't completely different. That the real Yugi is down in there somewhere for me to reach. I will reach him no matter what or die trying. I love you Yugi. Please be ok.

No one's POV

Off elsewhere in the city, a cloaked figure is walking through the dark streets. His hood pulled up to conceal his features. He steps into a bar to have a drink. "Hey there pretty boy. Care to join me out back for a little fun," he says. "How do you know I'm pretty," answers the cloaked figure. "The sound of your voice," says the man. The cloaked figures smiles and takes the man outside kissing him. While he has him distracted, his fangs come out and he bites him drinking his blood. The man struggles, but his struggles are futile.

He soon stops moving and the figures drops him. He cleans the blood off his face with his black cloak before dumping the body in a dumpster. He jumps atop a roof and looks over the city. In the gleam of the moonlight, you could almost see the amethyst tips of his tri colored hair. He turns and faces the tall building that houses the vampires. He knows his mate is there and he hopes to never run into him again. Never again.

**Thanks so much for reading. I am diving right into this one early and hope you all like it. Please give it a like or a comment and I'll see you in the next chapter.**