Renewed
House of Shadows Book 3
By: Michelle Areaux
Copyright
Renewed is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Renewed: A Novel
Copyright © 2020 by Michelle Areaux
All rights reserved.
Editing by KP Edits
The uploading, scanning, and distribution of this book in any form or by any means—including but not limited to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions of this work and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
CHAPTER 1
______________________________________________________________________
In my short seventeen years of life, I had experienced more death than anyone could even imagine.
Losing my mom at a young age really shook me to the core. I had learned that death was inevitable, a natural part of life that couldn’t be ignored. However, when I arrived at The House of Shadows, I never realized how much death would affect me forever. Finding yourself on the brink of death with your life held in the hands of your enemy, can truly make you hold a real appreciation for death.
This thought was racing through my mind as I opened my eyes, struggling to understand my new reality.
A cold chill wrapped its icy fingers around me, stealing my air and causing a sharp shiver to race through me. My mind a jumbled mess, I tried to understand how I got here.
I lay on the small cot, surrounded by my new family, but I had never felt so alone in my entire life. Fear and confusion emanated from me as flashes of reds and blacks flashed all around me. Whatever new drama was happening to me now was going to make me go insane for sure.
Images raced through my mind as I struggled to comprehend what was going on.
Slowly, I sat up, both Donovan and Eden taking my hands and helping me adjust in the bed. Surprise filled me as I looked at them both with a bewildered expression. I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. My head ached and my body was exhausted, even though I was just told that I had been sleeping for days. I had tried to fight the realization that this was all real; that it wasn’t some messed up dream that I wished I had been imagining. No, my life was even more twisted now than ever before-- because, I wasn’t just sleeping...
I was dead.
Donovan’s words struck me as I looked over at his sweet, concerned face. “Zane killed you. The only way to save you, to bring you back to us, was to give you my venom. Audrey, please don’t hate me, but I had to do it,” he cried out.
I tried to hide the horror building inside of me, but I knew it was no use. I turned to Eden, hoping her kind face would give me the calming reprieve I needed, but, again, I was wrong.
“Audrey, Donovan turned you into a Vampire.” Her words floated through my mind, even though her mouth was clamped shut and she had tears filling her dark eyes.
In the world, there are two types of beings: the hunters and the hunted.
In a blink of an eye, I had somehow gone from being a weak and fragile human, hunted down by a boy who I once gave my heart, to now a ravenous hunter.
How did this happen?
Oh that’s right; I stupidly fell for Zane’s trick. He led me out here to the woods and then kidnapped me.
I had managed to survive my first semester as a human at an all Vampire academy; but still, I had lost in the war that Zane had created.
Feeling like a failure, I couldn’t help but lower my head in defeat.
“Don’t do that,” Donovan urges, placing his fingers under my chin and lifting my head so that I am facing him.
“What? I did this to myself. I didn’t listen to myself or anyone else. Zane won,” I cry out.
“No he didn't,” Eve says, grabbing my hand and holding it tightly. “Zane only wins if you allow him to, she cries.
“He killed me,” I yell.
Donovan’s eyes reflect hurt and guilt instantly washes over me. The last thing I want to do is make him feel bad and, of course, that is exactly what I am doing.
“You aren’t dead, technically,” Donovan argues. “Remember, I bit you,” he reminds me of his words.
I hear that phrase-- I bit you-- ringing through my ear.
I remember Zane draining my body. I remember the horror of watching my lifeless body below me as my friends cried around me. It all felt so surreal; I guess I didn’t realize it was my reality.
“What do you mean you bit me?” I asked.
Donovan’s eyes look away briefly before returning back to mine. He sighs and runs a hand through his jet black hair. I watch him carefully, as though I have seen that same move a million times and for the first time as well.
“I didn’t have a choice. It was to lose you forever or try and save you anyway I could. My venom brought you back to us. To me.”
***
“What does all of this mean?” I ask, even though I am pretty sure I already know. I just need to hear it spoken aloud. So much of my life has become like a horror movie, it is growing harder to decipher between fact and fiction.
Professor Sullivan clears his throat and we all turn to face him.
“Audrey, I know this is all very difficult for you to comprehend, it was the same for all of us when we were revived. Allow Donovan and Eden to answer all of your questions. I must go and speak with the High Council about Zane and our other problems,” he sneers, trying to put on a smile for me.
As I watch him go, I have a sinking feeling that the world around me will never go back to normal, or as my own normal, ever again.
Once he is gone, I suck in a deep breath and turn back to Donovan. “Alright, tell me what I need to know.”
“Please, don’t be mad at me,” Donovan pleads.
“I’m not mad. I just need to understand what is happening to me,” I say, my voice breaking from my fear and anxiety.
“I will tell you everything you need to know and I swear to you, we will all figure this out together. You will never be hurt again. Anyway, here is what you need to know to begin with. When a Vampire’s venom is released into a human's body, it changes the chemical balances inside of you. Every Vampire awakens with a special ability. For example, Zane had the ability to calm nervous energy. That was how he was able to make you fall for him so fast.”
That seemed to strike a nerve inside of me. I knew that Zane had faked his feelings for me, but to also know that he had somehow manipulated my emotions, enraged me.
“Are you serious?” I asked, anger boiling inside of me. “That snake!”
“Now you understand why I hated the guy so much,” Donovan says.
Eden watches us with careful consideration. “I think what is most important to understand, Audrey, is that this new life isn’t that bad. I, personally, love being a Vampire,” she says, a slight smile forming on her lips.
I can’t help but smile at Eden. Ever since I first arrived at the House of Shadows, Eden had been nothing but kind and helpful to me. Of course, she would make dying and becoming a Vampire seem like a dream.
“Plus, we can be together now,” Donovan adds.
I had almost forgotten about how Donovan and I had to hide our feelings for one another, because of Zane. It had all been because of Zane, and now, he was gone.
“What do we do now?” I ask.
“We watch you. We help you lear
n to feed and hunt. We figure out your ability,” Eden says.
“What is your special ability?” I asked Eden.
“I can read the thoughts of Vampires,” she said, a slight spark glowing in her eyes.
“What about you, Donovan?” I asked, turning on a very silent Donovan.
“I have excessive speed and strength. At times, I can move so fast, the human eye can’t register my movements. Alex had the same ability,” he said, cringing as he said Alex’s name.
“What will my ability be?” I asked.
I was still terrified of this new development I found myself in, but I had to make the best out of it.
“We won’t know until your transition is complete,” Donovan answered. “The next few days will be difficult. You will be in severe pain as the venom continues to kill everything in your body. You will then phase into cravings. Your body will desire blood, so we will have to teach you how to hunt and kill animals. Finally, as your ability develops, we have to help you find out how to utilize your skills so that you can function in the world as we do.”
“I know this is a lot to handle, but it’s really not as crazy as it seems,” Eden stated.
“I didn’t even know Witches and Vampires existed until I somehow stumbled upon this place. Now, I am one of you,” I sighed.
I shake my head as I take in what he is saying. Please wake up, I will myself. This has to be some kind of nightmare. I pinch my arm, hoping to rise out of this dream state, but nothing happens except for a pain in my arm.
My new life as a Vampire starts today and there is no way of escaping this destiny.
Chapter 2
______________________________________________________________________
A loud, guttural scream tore through me as I shot up, but my body remained glued to the bed. Fighting against the restraints, I cried out in anger.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked, turning my head to the right so I could speak to Eden.
This was the second time I had woken after passing out.
Eden shook her head and closed her eyes. “Donovan, I can’t do this,” she stated, not talking to me, but to Donovan.
Grabbing my hand, Donovan squeezed and I could see how difficult this was for him. “Audrey, you have to try and calm down. We can’t release you yet,” he said, but his voice shook.
“Why?” I asked, even though I had been asking the same question for the last few hours.
After waking as a Vampire, Eden and Donovan explained as much as they could to me, then tied me to this bed--for my own safety.
In my mind, I knew what they were doing was best. The blood I craved tore through me and my body ached from the need. I was ravenous and dangerous: I at least knew that.
They didn’t want me to escape and hurt anyone, or be spotted and exposed.
As much as I tried to rationalize what they had told me, I still wanted to be released.
Donovan looked down at me, and I could see this was almost as painful for him as it was for me. “Audrey, you know that if I could, I would. But, it’s just too dangerous.”
“I won't hurt you,” I pleaded, but neither of them would look at me.
At that, Donovan shook his head and looked away, a growl escaping his lips before he ran out of the room at lightning speed.
I heard Dean Sullivan enter the room, checking my progress through the transition. He tried to say something to Donovan, but it was of no use, he was far too gone.
I had no idea how many days had passed or how many more I would have to endure before the transition was completed.
At this point, I prayed for death.
Fighting against the medal restraints once more, I knew that I was fighting a never ending battle and just like it had numerous times before, it consumed me and I finally passed out once again.
***
When I awoke sometime later, the room was pitch black and the only light found was the silver glow of the moonlight filtering in through the window, high above my bed.
Definitely out of my reach, I decided, as I analyzed my chances of getting to it.
All I knew was that I was somewhere deep inside of The House of Shadows. That thought gave me some comfort, but not enough to fully be ok with what was happening to me.
I was a prisoner, held against my will.
I had been kidnapped by Zane-- tortured, and killed. Then, I was renewed as a Vampire, but now once again, captured and held prisoner.
Sweat poured off of me and my shirt was completely soaked through.
“How do you feel?” a light voice said from somewhere in the room.
I focused my eyes and, suddenly, the sight of Eden was clear through the darkness of the room. It was as though someone was shining a spotlight on her.
“A little better. I can see you,” I stated, unsure why.
Eden stood and slowly walked over to me. She sat on the edge of the bed and took a towel and wiped my brow. “That’s good. You are starting to gain your Vampire senses. We can see in the dark, makes hunting at night much easier,” she mused.
It was the first smile I had seen from her and it gave me some comfort.
“It’s nice to see you smile,” I say to her, and it feels like we are having a real conversation.
Eden nods and I can tell she is struggling with what to say next.
“Audrey, this is killing me and Donovan to keep you like this. I have to tell you something and I hope you don’t think of us differently,” she says, her voice shaking.
“Eden, I’m tied up right now. Not like I am one to judge,” I say, trying to joke a little.
A small smile creases her lips again and she lets out a deep breath before beginning. “When my dad, Donovan, and I were first changed, we had no idea what to expect. When our blood hunger finally hit, we were like monsters. We went on a killing spree, feeding off of any human we could find. We passed out in the middle of our small town. Once we woke up, we realized what we had done. It was terrible. Our friends...they were all gone. It was like we weren’t in control of ourselves when we were hungry. We all three wanted to die, to really end our lives because living as monsters--killers, was not what we had planned. So, we packed up and moved. Dad decided that we would begin hunting animals for our food source. Eventually, we came into contact with more Vampires and created a small community. That led us here, to the creation of The House of Shadows,” Eden finished.
Her story was tragic and it terrified me to think that Eden who was so kind and caring could be capable of such evil acts. But, with my own hunger building, I could understand how that need would take over.
“I can understand. So, that’s why the House of Shadows is so adamant about not feeding from humans,” I add.
“Yes. We take it very seriously. All we ever wanted was to live, not take the lives of others,” Eden said, and I understood. “Once we know your transition is complete, I promise we will release you. But we will have to monitor you off of the campus grounds.”
“I hate being bound like this, but I do understand. Can we talk honestly for a minute,” I ask.
A slight tinge of pain radiates through my arms, like fire in my veins. I try to ignore the feeling as I talk to Eden.
“Yes, of course,” she says.
“What about Donovan. Will he look at me differently now?” I ask.
Donovan and I had been so close to having our chance at finally being together, and then Zane ruined that, too. When I looked into his eyes, all I saw was pain now.
“Donovan loves you. If anything, I think this will make your bond with him grow stronger,” Eden reassured me.
“I hope you are right, Eden. I don’t think my heart can take any more disasters,” I breathe.
Eden leans down and places a soft kiss to my forehead. She brushes back some of the hair from my eyes and for a moment, I feel like I am a little girl again. My mom used to do that whenever I was sick. Tears sprang to my eyes and I smiled, remembering my mom.
“Audrey, you nee
d to rest in order for the transition to work. It won’t be much longer now,” she whispers.
I see her move like a flash of lightning, leaving me alone.
As I lay there, unable to move and be free, all I can wonder is how am I supposed to learn to live again?
Chapter 3
______________________________________________________________________
The sound of a door opening jarred me from my own thoughts. I could hear footsteps now growing closer as they moved down a hallway. My senses were growing stronger, which I hoped meant I was almost finished with my transition.
I heard voices and then another door close. Disappointment filled me. I had thought maybe it would be Eden or Donovan, possibly even Dean Sullivan.
As I lay there, I noticed the yellow sunshine glowing through the window. It was daytime, but what day, I had no idea.
Sighing, I looked around the room. It was small and only contained the bed where I was prisoner and a chair and table. Other than that, it was bare.
With so much time alone, my mind had begun to wonder. So many things were filling the space that I wasn’t sure if I was going insane or not.
Donovan’s face came to mind and I smiled.
When I was a little girl, all I ever wanted was a happily ever after with someone. Would that still be possible for me? Would Donovan even want to be with one person for eternity. That was just such a long time, so final.
Footsteps grew loud again, and I snapped my head to the right. It sounded like someone was running now.
Donovan.
I instantly registered the sound of his footsteps in my mind, but I had no idea how I did that.
When he walked into the room, I was so happy to see him.
“You are here,” I cried out.
Donovan was by my side in a flash, taking my hand in his.
“Audrey, how are you today? Is the pain subsiding? He looked exhausted and his yellow eyes were dim.
“I just want this to be over. I really missed you,” I sighed.
Renewed: House of Shadows Book 3 Page 1