SHORTS FROM THE SHELF features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, administrator of SHANNON MUIR’S THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. The story line featured currently is “Darque Into Light,” the seventh and final installment of the Myanna Moore serial, which will run over the next several weekends. This is Part Five.

“I’m not in the mood to play games with your demon spawn offspring,” Searlas grumbled at Duana.

“Except that he’s not, is he, Duana?” J.B. said.

Everyone, Myanna included, turned to look at J.B. 

“Tell them who he really is. Quinn is your last name, and his, but you are not his mother though he knows no different.”

Myanna turned on Duana.

“You said the whole reason you came was to stop your son. But I trust J.B., and he says you are lying. This doesn’t make any sense.”

“Dudley Quinn is my son by law, but he was born of my twin sister who died at his birth. I planned to tell him when he was of age, but by then Edana had her claws in him. What I want to know is why one of your allies went digging into my past.”

“Only indirectly. I was chasing information on Edana. From what I know, she may have beaten you to the punch with the truth about his mother. That could be the source of her power. And there is one more thing I know, one thing I will only share with you, to keep your trust and help you understand why I would hold on to this information for so long.”

Myanna watched J.B. whisper something into Duana’s ear. It surprised Myanna to see the look on Duana’s face change from angry and tense, to agreement and understanding. She couldn’t imagine what J.B. could have said to change her reaction.

“Enough talking!” Donnell yelled, taking everyone by surprise. “Edana and Darque took my son’s mother away and ruined both our lives. I want to see him get his!”

Donnell ran off down the hall before Myanna or anyone else could stop him.