Shadows and Realms (Dark Journeys Series) / Dark Journeys Series (ePub)

Harper Paget and his brother Sean Paget have both been in search of the entities that put a curse on the Paget family centuries ago. . . and they have been on the run for their lives. Harper spent many years in China and Indonesia trying to learn whether or not the ancient lamiae could, in fact, transform into other frightening creatures, such as the kuntilanak from Indonesia or the aswang from the Philippines. He finds that this is indeed the case and ends up killing one of them, with the help of a love Christabel, before leaving China for the last time. In the struggle, one of Harper's eyes is badly injured, and Christabel vanishes as if she is not human.

One event in the history of their family was the execution of Jaquema Paget centuries before who was identified as being a witch. Harper suspects that her death was carried out by, or influenced by, a clan of the lamiae. Harper also learns more about the family history from his beloved grandmother who read cards on an ouija board.

Shortly after returning from China, Harper's eye injury and his troubled psyche convince him to check into the Bethany Forest Clinic in Atlanta, GA, for observation and consultation. This results in his undergoing different types of physical and mental tests. His brother undergoes even more serious problems and accidents where he lives in North Florida. They keep in touch by email and SMSs, as does their sister Sheila who does not accept Harper's realm of the supernatural and entirely opposed to his belief in the Paget curse.

In the clinic, Harper meets the Nurse Practioner Yanti Ilyas who happens to be from Indonesia. She learns about his history with Christabel and the lamiae. They become more that NP and patient, and this puts Yanti and other nurses in danger. The creatures can, after all, reach him and the others -- including his brother Sean -- by striking from the shadows.