IMMORTAL
AWAKENING
SHANA J. CALDWELL
IMMORTAL AWAKENING
Copyright © Shana J. Caldwell, 2018
All rights reserved. Shana J. Caldwell has asserted moral rights to be identified as the author of this work. This publication may not be reproduced or partially used by any means unless prior permission by the publisher.
Cover Front Design: selfpubbookcovers.com/CeltranDor
Cover Back Design and Wrap: Cover Design by Covers by Combs
ISBN 978-0-646-99506-9
Editor: Ann Mickan
“We live in hope for tomorrow.”
PROLOGUE
Before
Cassidar leaned against the wooden bed frame, placing a delicate hand on her full stomach. The contractions had started the day before, the babe still refusing to greet the world. Tobias had been elsewhere, Kal her only company.
He leaned against the oak door, arms crossed over his chest. Half his sleek raven hair was pulled up while the rest rested against his shoulders, his black hood off for once. She clicked her tongue at him.
“Why on earth do you always wear those god-awful clothes? ’Tis rather nice to see your handsome face again with that foolish hood off,” she scolded lightly, unsure of how to greet him; their fight from a few days ago still rang clear through her mind. He scowled at her, fists clenching by his sides, fangs indenting his bottom lip.
“It’s my armour. I’d be a dead man if I went anywhere without it,” he clipped, his jaw tightening. Indeed, he was right. There was a ransom on his head, and every fool in the village was looking for him. He smirked at her. “Plus, I look dashing in it.” Cassidar grinned, flashing her fangs briefly; he did look ravishing. The soft greyish black leather cloak hung from his shoulders effortlessly, complimenting each eccentric piece of black leather which had been sown together to make the perfect warrior’s uniform, with multiple nooks and crannies to hide his weapons of choice. A hunting knife was strapped to his right thigh, his black leather boots blending in. The hilt of his sword glinted in the dim light, its red ruby glowing brightly.
“Ah, I see you’ve still got him.” Cassidar admired the sword; she had long ago given up the title of Queen and the accessories that came with it. It was a life she no longer wished to lead. Kal withdrew the sword, its silver blade nearly long enough to pierce the floor.
“I’d be lost without Oath-keeper, what sort of King would I be without my blade?” she’d once had a sword, Peacekeeper. She and Kal were always opposites in their kingdom, they’d never agreed on anything and probably never will.
“That’s a good point, although you’re not much of a King without a kingdom to rule.” Cassidar clenched the bedpost as she contracted, the pain making her forget what they were bickering about. The babe squirmed around inside her, kicking and pushing against its skin-tight prison.
“So, where is Tobias?” Kal asked coolly, coming closer to her; pausing an arm’s length away. Cassidar narrowed her eyes at him.
“Really? You had to bring this up now? He’s about, doing human duties.” Sweat gleamed on her forehead as she bent over in agony. She looked down at her stomach, swaying slightly. Kal gently guided her onto the bed, lifting her legs up one by one. She kept them open as she leaned her head back.
“Kal, can I please hold your hand?” she gritted her teeth, trying to suppress the screams she so badly wanted the world to hear. He held her hand as she squeezed, the force breaking two of his fingers. He hissed but held on tightly.
“Come… On…” She moaned, throwing her head back as she pushed. She felt something tear, and blood began to pool out of her. She looked at Kal with wild eyes; she would not lose this baby.
The oak door burst open; Tobias quickly shut it behind him. He looked at the scene before him and frowned. Kal growled low in his throat, standing up. He stood twice the height of Tobias and could snap him like a stick if he didn’t care for Cassidar as much as he did.
“Look who decided to finally show up,” Kal kept his voice low, snarling at Tobias. He ran to the other side of the bed, taking Cassidar’s other hand. He pressed a soft kiss to her drenched forehead, before turning back to Kal.
“I had important business to attend to,” he countered, but they both knew he was lying. Kal had known from the minute Cass got pregnant that Tobias knew he’d made a grave mistake. He knew the little bastard would stab her in the back the minute she wasn’t looking. Cass was love drunk and oblivious to his disguise.
“More important than missing the birth of your child? Have you helped Cass at all with this pregnancy; other than hiding it from everyone?” Kal demanded, clenching his fists. Tobias narrowed his arctic blue eyes, his blonde hair waved softly around his unshaven face from the draft the window let in. The tip of his silver dagger showed itself under his brown cloak.
“I don’t have to answer to you, and I won’t. I’m here now and that’s all that matters.” He looked down at the blood that was turning the white bed sheets red. He frowned in confusion before looking at Cass. Her red eyes were dull, her breathing laboured.
“Something’s… wrong…” she whispered, looking down at her belly. Kal felt sick, she’d lost a lot of blood. Tobias rested a hand on her stomach.
“It’s okay my sweets, just keep pushing,” he cooed in her ear, Kal’s jaw ticked. He hated the sight of Tobias, hated being in such a confined space with him. He knew his temper was running thin, he knew it wouldn’t end well if he lost control.
“She needs help,” Kal blurted out. He would do anything for Cass, anything to see her well and happy again. Tobias shook his head. “No, she’s doing just fine. A few more pushes and the babe will be out.” Cassidar nodded slightly. Kal threw his hands up.
“This is bullshit! She’s going to bleed out!” Kal roared, shaking the walls of the small room. Cassidar clenched her eyes shut; she didn’t need this right now. She looked back up at Kal. The look on his face broke her heart; she’d never seen him so worried before.
“Kal, just go…” she whispered. In that moment you could hear his heart break and shatter against the wooden floor. She knew she wouldn’t see him again after this. She was burning whatever bridge was left between them.
“But…” his voice cracked. He cursed himself internally for being so emotional; this wasn’t the man he was. Tobias stayed silent as he observed the situation. He’d soon be alone with Cass.
“Go,” she cried out. “I don’t want you here.” She looked away and focused her eyes on her belly, tears threatening to drown her. She heard the click of the lock and the oak door creaked open. A cool winter breeze swept in, biting at her exposed legs.
“I didn’t want to be here anyway,” Kal said coldly before slamming the door behind him. He leaned against it and gathered his thoughts. He may not have to be here but he could send help.
Tobias looked at Cass, the beautiful vampire he’d once fallen in love with. He knew deep down it would never work, not if he was to achieve his ultimate goal. She was just a distraction, and now she and this abomination that dwelled in her stomach were a threat to everything he held close.
“A few more pushes…” he whispered, getting up and positioning himself between her legs. Once the child was in his hands, it would be the end for both of them. Cass pushed and heaved and screamed. He felt an eardrum blow with her final scream, her final thrash. Blood poured out as the babe slipped out of her, landing in his hands, coating them in blood. It cried out as it squirmed. Tobias looked at it, dazed. The child looked up at him and its cries stopped. The same eyes his family had borne through the years; his eyes, stared back at him. Its white fleece hair was slick with blood.
“It’s…a girl,” he whispered. Cass sighed
in relief as she sagged down into the bed. Her body was broken, but her babe was okay.
“Can I hold her?” she called softly, reaching her hands out weakly. Tobias stood up and leaned beside the bed, placing the babe on her chest. She looked down at her beautiful child and smiled, it had all been worth it. She looked over to Tobias; his features were distraught and dark as he looked at both of them. She brushed it off, deciding not to worry. She was truly safe; he would never do anything to harm her or their child.
“I never thought this would be possible,” she whispered, stroking the soft cheeks of the babe's face. She held onto Cassidar’s finger as she looked at her, her gummy mouth sucking on her thumb.
“I didn’t either,” he whispered back. She heard the ruffling sound of clothing moving. He must be taking his jacket off. It was fairly hot in here now that she thought about it. She shut her eyes and relaxed. Tobias picked the babe up, placing it near her outstretched feet. He held the silver dagger steady in his hands. He had to do this now; otherwise he would never get the chance again.
“You would have been such a good mother. I did love you, so much,” he whispered. She opened her eyes, confused. He brought the dagger down with all his might over her heart. Her hands wrapped blindly around it once he let go. Blood gushed from the wound, slowly turning into a black sludge. Her body convulsed as she tried to pull it out, but childbirth had sapped all her strength. Her vision clouded as she tried focusing on Tobias, her child had begun to cry again. Her instincts began to fade as the life slowly flickered out of her.
Tobias quickly wrapped the child up with the spare sheet that had been thrown over the end of the bed. He couldn’t bring himself to kill it. It had no trace of vampire in it at all. He would dump it in a nice neighbourhood with loving humans and it would be cared for.
He huddled the child in his arms, opening the door to the world outside. He glanced back once more at Cass. Her broken body lay there, arms sagged over each side of the bed. Her skin had already begun to turn a dark grey. Her hollow eyes staring at him.
“My…baby.”
She was gone before he’d even closed the door.
CHAPTER 1
Sun filters through the cracks of the boarded-up windows as I roll over on the couch, shielding my face from the sun. Although it’s currently summer, my house is freezing cold inside. I pull the blanket tighter around my frail body, savouring any warmth I can get.
I always wondered if registered people had to live like this, or if they owned heaters and warmer clothes so they didn’t have to worry about small inconveniences. I missed a lot of things, hot showers being one of them.
Being unregistered was a curse a majority of people couldn’t break. We had no protection, no luxuries; we lived in the slums and worked the hard jobs you wouldn’t willingly work. Registered people of the town were implanted with a chip; that registers them in the system so they can always be monitored. In a way I was lucky, I wouldn’t like everyone knowing where I was all the time and what I was up to.
I dreaded bathing in the river behind my run-down house in the cooler seasons, some days it would be half frozen over. No matter how cold I got, I always had to be clean. When I’d come to Penrith after being taken away from my family at eight years old, they’d put me in an orphanage. Usually when you turn ten they register you and find you a family. Ten years old is the cut off date, unfortunately they couldn’t afford to register me as they had reached the maximum for the month; so they let me go to fend for myself.
I stumbled across this house when I’d made a run for it from the guards after trying to steal an apple from the local grocer. I’d been living in the sewers with everyone else that couldn’t get a job; it was illegal for unregistered people to live in a house if they didn’t have a job. I’d grown restless and wanted fresh air and my stomach had ached with hunger. That was my first strike; you’re given three strikes before you’re deemed unfit to ever be registered.
The house was abandoned. It had two storeys, the windows were boarded up, and the white paint had begun to peel. On that day, I’d run onto the small patio and burst through the door.
I hadn’t done much with the place; the less anyone knew the better. I couldn’t get a job, no where wanted to hire a scrawny teenager that looked like a sewer rat. The guards of Penrith were cruel and relentless, I’d returned home with more than a few bruises from them for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I roll back towards the boarded window and block the glare from the sun with my hand. I spent most of my days inside unless the markets were in town.
When the markets were on, it was the only time unregistered people could surface from their hidey-holes and mingle with others without the risk of being assaulted or harassed by the guards.
The markets were on today. I was low on food and supplies so now would be a good time to go out into the world. I stand up and yawn, stretching my arms over my head. I walk out through the arched doorway and take a right towards the stairs; I walk up the two flights with ease. The dull yellow carpet feels rough under my bare feet as I make my way towards the storage room at the end of the hall.
I open up the door and cram myself into the small room. Its four shelves were nearly empty. I grab a blanket and an empty photo frame and push them into my small backpack.
I get back downstairs and take the arched doorway to my right and look at the kitchen. A small, circular wooden table sits in the middle with its two wooden chairs. A broken refrigerator is tucked in the corner to my left, between the wall and the kitchen bench. The white bench runs along all three walls, stopping at the door that leads to the backyard. The windows above the bench are boarded from the outside, but the white floral lace curtains remain.
I walk down the small hall towards the front door, stopping to pull on my sneakers. I unlatch the door and head out into the sun.
The sun beats down on the dead and dry grass, and I work up a slight sweat before I’ve even reached the front of my yard. I hop over the gate with ease and head left towards town. I savour the fresh air and cool breeze.
I lived on the outskirts of town, every few hundred metres a house sat; swarmed by overgrown trees and shrubs. Most of the houses are so run down they’re uninhabitable; their rooves caved in and walls blown out. No matter where you were in town, you could always see the cement wall that protected us here.
For years there’d been whispers of vampires and otherworldly creatures, although I hadn’t had an encounter with them. They were always in the scary stories you were told before going to bed at night and I didn’t doubt that they’d be out there. The world was huge and we lived in a cement prison. Even though we’d never experienced them, we still had very strict rules that everyone had to abide by.
Slowly, the overgrown houses turned into houses with tall metal fences; indicating that the people who lived there were registered. Being registered comes with multiple benefits. I didn’t think any of them would have a hard day in their lives. Houses you could actually live in, protection, security, jobs you’d enjoy working.
It cost a ridiculous amount to register yourself; so even if I had a job I’d never save enough to.
I missed having a companion. I’d had a cat once but it didn’t stay with me very long. It was hard enough feeding myself, let alone another mouth. The cracked cement footpath began to even out as the houses along the street grew denser; their reinforced wire fences a constant reminder of my poverty.
I come to an intersection and turn left again; the grass is green on either side of the footpath here. As much as I hate to admit it, it was beautiful here. A lot of people were out and about, enjoying the hot day. Kids laugh as they ride their bikes up and down the empty street, they didn’t have a care in the world. The air was fresher here, birds chirped high in the trees above me.
The road comes to an end as the city centre appears. Typically, this was an open expanse of red and orange squares, with shops tucked nicely on each side. Today there were tents an
d stalls set up and people were going crazy. This was the usual City Centre crowd.
I manoeuvre my way through the crowd, looking for a food stall. The air is filled with the smells of herbs and spices, roasting meats and vegetables, a tinge of sweat also hung in the air from the crowd. Music fills the crowd; I catch a glimpse of belly dancers swaying as their outfits jingles. Their bright purple outfits sit lush against their thin bodies, their black hair up and swinging around their shoulders. I keep going, excusing myself between conversations. A person stands in the middle passing out flyers. I roll my eyes as I make my way to the food stall, following the smell that meant a full belly. I walk in and head straight for the counter. The lady in front of me gathers her things and leaves. I place the blanket and photo frame on the counter, knowing they won’t get me much. The elderly man pulls out a loaf of bread, two apples, a bottle of water, and a freshly cooked sausage on a stick. My mouth waters at the aroma.
“Are you sure?” I ask, not believing how generous he was being. He nods as he takes the blanket and photo frame, and places them under the white makeshift counter.
“Ain’t no harm ever come from doin’ somethin’ good.” He gives me a toothy smile as I place the items carefully in my bag. I nod my thanks as I leave, taking a bite of the sausage. The person with the flyers was ringing a cowbell now and my curiosity leads me over to them. He hands me a pamphlet, his white slacks and singlet bringing out his sun-kissed skin.
“Today only! Come and witness a once in a lifetime event! Bring your kids, neighbours, and pets! What you will see has never been seen before!” he yells to the crowd, shaking a cowbell to catch their attention.
I look down at the pamphlet, reading it over slowly.
Today only! A once in a lifetime even!
@ Lunchtime
In the abandoned warehouse just out of town
Immortal Awakening Page 1