July 20th, 1903.
As the world prepares to mourn the passing of Pope Leo XIII, something far more sinister moves beneath the marble silence of Rome.
In the mist-shrouded forests of Poreč, Croatia, livestock are found burned from within. Fishermen vanish without a trace. Whispers of a Zmey, an ancient Slavic dragon, spread like smoke through the coastal villages. But the creature is no simple beast of legend. It watches. It deceives. It weaves illusion powerful enough to shake the very Throne of Peter.
The Ordo Occultis Sancti, a secret Vatican order sworn to confront the supernatural, dispatches three unlikely allies:
Captain William Harker, a battle-hardened American veteran scarred by the Boxer Rebellion and the Cuban War.
Anastasia Draculesti, a relentless Transylvanian vampire hunter carrying the blood-soaked legacy of her slain family.
Father Gabriel, a former Italian soldier turned priest seeking redemption for the lives he once took.
What begins as a hunt for a monster becomes a race against time as they uncover a terrifying truth: the Holy Father's death may not be illness... but illusion.
As faith trembles and shadows lengthen across Europe, the trio must confront an ancient power capable of bending reality itself. And if they fail, the world will not simply burn...
It will believe the lie.
Perfect for fans of historical dark fantasy, gothic thrillers, and supernatural Vatican intrigue, Shadows in the Mist blends folklore, faith, and fire into a chilling adventure where not all demons come from Hell... and not all miracles come from God.