Taken

by Bolton, Karice

  The Watchers Trilogy Novella

  Taken

  KARICE BOLTON

  Copyright © 2012 Karice Bolton

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, and events either are the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover design: PhatpuppyArt.com

  Typography: BB Designs ~Bookish Brunette

  DEDICATION

  Since this is a Watchers Trilogy prequel, I wanted to give a shout out to a few of the amazing bloggers who were the first to take a chance on me with my very first series! I couldn’t even attempt to contain my excitement when they responded that they’d review Awakening because I knew how many requests they received. I was so grateful, and I learned so much from them. So thank you guys for being some of the first to read and review Awakening! It meant a lot and always will.

  Danielle @ BookwhoreBlog

  Erika @ MoonlightBookReviews

  Diayl/Heather @ Mother/Gamer/Writer

  Mandy @ I Read Indie (AKA Twimom101Book Blog)

  Giselle @ XpressoReads

  Once Upon a Twilight

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I want to say a simple thank you to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all of the other avenues available for the indie publishing world. It allows the art of storytelling to continue to flourish in unexpected ways!

  BOOKS BY KARICE BOLTON

  THE WITCH AVENUE SERIES

  LONELY SOULS

  ALTERED SOULS

  RELEASED SOULS (Coming Jan 2013)

  THE WATCHERS TRILOGY

  TAKEN NOVELLA (A Watchers Prequel)

  AWAKENING

  LEGIONS

  CATACLYSM

  TO CONTACT THE AUTHOR PLEASE VISIT HER WEBSITE AT

  WWW.KARICEBOLTON.COM

  http://Blog.Karicebolton.com

  OR

  EMAIL

  INFO@KARICEBOLTON.COM

  OR

  FOLLOW HER ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER

  @KARICEBOLTON

  Chapter 1

  The golden light of the afternoon came through the kitchen windows brightening up the already cheery floral wallpaper. Unfortunately it did little to lift my mood. Christmas was right around the corner, but all I could focus on were these endless premonitions.

  “You’ve gotta quit pacing,” Athen replied. “We’ll get a hold of them.”

  I wasn’t sure he believed it. Athen’s sister, Arie, had a habit of getting sidetracked.

  “What if we don’t?” I asked, looking into his green eyes. “I’ve got to get to the hospital tonight. With everything I saw in my visions, I don’t have time to wait for Arie and Cyril.”

  I walked past Athen, but not before he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into him. His gaze was intense, and it was hard to resist the energy running between us. Even after all of these centuries together there was something about him that stopped me in my tracks. He knew the effect he had on me and used it to his advantage as often as he could.

  “I don’t want you going in there by yourself. And you really can’t do anything until dark anyway.” His eyes sparkled with mischief, and my eyes were drawn to his delicious mouth. His mouth quirked, and I knew I fell right into his plan again. Darn him!

  “Nice try,” I whispered, wriggling out of his grasp. “Back to business.”

  Athen laughed and shook his head. “All right. So if they’re forming a Mavet assembly, it’ll take more than one of us going in there to ensure we come out alive,” Athen whispered, touching my chin softly. “You promise me you won’t sneak into the hospital?”

  He knew me too well.

  I looked away quickly and started fidgeting. Time wasn’t on our side.

  “You’re biting your lip, which tells me you have no intention of listening to me.” He sighed. “Ana, we’ll get there tonight. I know my sister and Cy will show up.”

  “To your point, if the dark demons are forming a Mavet assembly, they’ll probably perform rituals tonight. If we could see how they’re going about it our chances would be helped tremendously,” I replied, letting my fingers glide along his neck. Athen smiled at me and shook his head. He wrapped his arms around me a little tighter.

  ““I’m not letting you out of my sight,” he whispered lovingly.

  “I agree it’s not the best idea to go there by myself, but if it has to be done —”

  “What aren’t you telling me?” he questioned. “This went from something to keep an eye on to a complete emergency within a few days.”

  I looked up at him unsure of how to tell him what the latest images were that had flooded my mind.

  The front door clicked open, and I stiffened until I heard Arie’s voice ring through the air. I hated being this on edge!

  “Anybody home?”

  “In the kitchen,” I hollered back, regrettably leaving the comfort of Athen’s embrace. Matilda woke up from her sound sleep and began barking and running in circles.

  “Told you they’d make it.” He flashed me his beautiful smile, and I couldn’t help but feel warmed up inside.

  I lightly smacked Athen’s arm as Arie and Cyril came into the kitchen.

  “Looks like you two were up to something,” Cyril’s voice echoed through the tiny kitchen.

  “I wish,” Athen joked, as my cheeks flushed giving us away.

  Cyril reached down to greet Matilda, and Arie gave me a big hug and relief began spreading through me. My family always came through. I don’t know why I panicked.

  “I’ve been holding Ana back from going to the hospital without you. She gave up hope that you guys were going to make it today.” Athen stood behind me, smiling as he wrapped his arms around me.

  “You think it’s that bad?” Cyril asked, setting the bags down in the kitchen.

  I nodded and glanced quickly at Arie. She was dressed in a fitted red wool dress and her hair was pulled back in a chignon. Leave it to her to look dynamite, even in times of potential crisis.

  “The latest vision that I received last night points to a death covenant being assembled at the hospital.” I started.

  “Whoa,” Cyril whistled.

  “A Mavet,” Arie stated, moving toward one of the kitchen seats. “This isn’t good.”

  “No. It’s not. I think they’re using the patients to begin the process, and we need to get in there and disrupt it,” I said. “I think they’re trying to...”

  “Open the gates to hell,” Athen finished for me.

  As soon as the words were said the tension in the air multiplied.

  “I think eventually you and I are going to have to go in there as workers to see what’s going on.” I looked at Arie.

  “They’ll be able to sense that we’re there though,” Arie began, raising an eyebrow at me suspiciously.

  “I know.” Avoiding Athen’s stare I continued. I knew he wouldn’t be pleased with this option, but it was the only way. “We’ll have to perform the mortas process before we try to get hired there.”

  Cyril sighed and stared at Athen. I knew what they were thinking, but it wouldn’t be the first time Arie and I took on mortal personas.

  “Do you have any idea who’s running this operation?” Cyril asked, his voice gruffer than usual.

  “No. Not yet. I know you both only got here, but I think we need to plan on heading there tonight.”

  “Agreed,” Arie replied, reaching across the table to grab my hand. “Have you been getting much sleep?”

  “Not since the visions.” I shook my head. I knew I felt exhausted, but I didn’t know I looked as bad as I felt.

 
“I look that ravishing, huh?” I joked, getting up from the table. I almost tripped over my own feet and was thankful I caught it before anyone saw me go down. Maybe I did need some rest.

  “You look beautiful,” she objected. “Just a little tired.”

  I laughed and grabbed a cup from the cabinet to get more caffeine in my system. It was going to be a long night. Cyril grabbed their bags and took them down to the guest room.

  “The Christmas tree looks amazing.” Arie’s voice was bubbly. “I’m glad you took my advice and put it in the front window.”

  Regardless of the situation, I couldn’t help but get in a festive spirit with Arie around.

  “Your advice, huh,” I laughed.

  “When’s my brother gonna get up on a ladder and hang the lights for you?” she asked, following me to the living room. “Cyril already has ours up.”

  “Hey,” Athen teased his sister. “Don’t put those thoughts in Ana’s head.”

  “Things really have a way of turning upside down in our world. I was really hoping for a calm holiday season this year. Last year was brutal, and it’s been so quiet the last few months I actually thought we had a chance at it.” I slumped on the couch, admiring the beautiful bubble lights that Athen had draped around our tree.

  “Your ornaments look gorgeous.” Arie was touching a glass gingerbread man. “Are some of these new?”

  I nodded and pointed to a couple of packages under the tree.

  “You guys should open those before you leave. I made a few for you to take home.”

  “That’s so sweet of you.” Arie found the glittery packages with her name on the tags and took the pile to the couch. “Cy, come out so we can see the latest glass pieces Ana made for us.”

  “That’s very nice of you, but it’s not that big a deal,” I replied. Arie always had a way of making anything and everything extra special.

  “Please!” she retorted.

  Cyril came from behind and hopped over the couch to sit, bringing a smile to Arie’s lips. She began tearing through the wrapping paper.

  “So like I was saying, I’m thinking if Arie and I scale the building and see which floors are affected, you guys can stand guard in case anything goes wrong and—”

  “Let me have a moment of peace!” Arie exclaimed as she examined the glass gingerbread house I made for them. “This is exquisite.”

  Athen squeezed my hand, and I started laughing.

  “I’m glad you like it.” I smiled and attempted to calm myself down. Between lack of sleep and the caffeine I was probably amped up far more than I needed to be.

  Cyril opened another package revealing a blown glass ornament that had his and Arie’s initials on it.

  “These are really lovely,” Arie replied, looking at the ornament Cyril was holding.

  “Thanks.”

  “Barring Ana, do you guys want any coffee or anything?” Athen asked.

  “We’re set, but it looks like Ana’s about to explode so we better get planning.” Cyril grinned and shook his head.

  “Finally!” I let out the breath that I didn’t realize I was holding in. “Okay, so if Athen takes the front entrance and Cyril takes the back entrance, we should be covered for any interference that the dark demons might try. If we can gauge how many demons have infiltrated the staff there before we go in as mortals that will help our chances. If we can’t well then…”

  “We can’t,” Arie finished for me. “Whatever’s meant to happen will happen.”

  “True,” I whispered, looking away. I hadn’t told Athen all the details from my vision from the night before. I was planning on it, but the moment never felt right.

  “So did your visions give a hint of where the entrance to the underworld might be?” Cyril prodded.

  “No. Not other than somewhere in the building.” I replied, “And there’s this other situation that I haven’t mentioned.”

  “What’s that?” Arie asked.

  I took a deep breath in and placed my hand on Athen’s knee.

  “I think they’re targeting one of us.”

  “Who?” Cyril’s gaze was full of worry as he grabbed Arie’s hand.

  I shook my head. “I don’t know. That’s what so odd about it. The images have been pretty clear leading up to last night’s dream and then things got murky. I could sense the threat, but I don’t fully see it.”

  Matilda came over and hopped on the couch, making her way in between Athen and me.

  “Could it be a mistake?” Cyril asked, wrapping his arm around Arie’s shoulder.

  “Doubtful.”

  Cyril looked over at Athen and back at me.

  “Once Arie and I figure out how many in that building might be involved, we should be ready to go in as a team.”

  “Agreed,” Arie replied.

  I felt Athen’s gaze taking me in and a rush ran through my body.

  “What are you thinking?” I turned to face Athen.

  His lip curled up slightly. “I just love your determination. That’s all.”

  He brought me in closer, his lips pressing on the top of my head.

  “You always give me that last little bit of strength I need,” I whispered.

  “That’s why we’re such a good team,” he replied.

  My head was nestled on Athen’s chest and the room was filled with silence, except for the quiet snores from Matilda. There was something off about this mission, and none of us knew what exactly the problem was. But sitting in our living room staring at each other wasn’t going to solve anything either.

  “I’m going to go change, and I guess we’ll head out,” Arie said, popping up from the couch. “Looks like the holidays aren’t going to be quite what we were hoping.”

  Chapter 2

  The brick building stood at the end of the street looking more like a prison than a hospital. It was five stories tall and many of the rooms had already been darkened for the night. There were barely any cars in the parking lot at this time of night, which made things a little easier for us.

  “This place gives me the creeps,” Arie whispered. We were both sitting in the backseat, and the only response I gave was a quick nod. If she thought that just from the outside, she’d really hate the inside. Athen pulled into a parking spot and I let out a deep sigh. I really hoped we could just get this over with and get on with the holiday season. Being a white demon had its advantages, but it also carried a heavy burden.

  “You ready?” I asked Arie.

  She nodded and climbed out of the car.

  Athen grabbed my hand, and we ran toward the darkness of the trees along the side of the parking lot, while Arie and Cyril took off toward the back of the property.

  “I don’t want you to do anything foolish,” Athen whispered, pushing my hair back behind my ear. His breath danced across my skin, sending a wave of longing through me.

  “Do I ever?” I could only see the shadow of him as we stood underneath one of the large fir trees that lined the property, but I could sense his smile.

  “Never.” He cupped my chin, and his lips landed softly on mine for a moment before breaking free.

  “I’ll be right here if you need anything.”

  I nodded and pecked him quickly on the cheek one last time before I took off toward the building. Cyril and Arie were no longer in sight so they were probably already stationed in the back.

  I darted through the rhododendrons and reached the building. I looked up the brick siding and from this vantage point it suddenly seemed taller than five stories. I usually enjoyed climbing, but something about this building was really bothering me. My suspicions had to be right. I glanced behind me and saw Athen under the tree patiently waiting for me to begin my climb.

  Hopping onto the building’s side, my body clung to the brick like glue as I began scaling the building brick by brick. My fingertips skimming the roughness of the stone as I guided myself to the second floor windows.

  The first window I approached had the curtains open, a
nd I peered into the hospital room. There were six beds on each side of the walls, each containing a patient and no staff in sight. Nothing felt off about this room, so I moved to the next window over, grasping the wall carefully as I moved. This room only contained three patients and a nurse was cleaning something by the washroom, again there was no negative energy.

  I looked up at the next batch of windows and climbed my way to the next floor.

  “Nice work, Ana.” Athen’s voice set itself in my mind. “The view is pretty incredible.”

  “Is it now?” I channeled back to him. I couldn’t help but smile. Athen always knew how to make me feel amazingly beautiful and strong.

  Reaching the windows, my stomach began to turn into itself. Something wasn’t right. Making slow and deliberate moves, I positioned myself next to the window that was giving off the unpleasant aura. Peeking through the glass I saw three figures standing in the room, dressed in staff outfits, surrounding a patient’s bed. At first glance it didn’t seem abnormal, but I continued watching their behavior. Patience was always key in these situations, and something that I lacked.

  After several moments of nothing, I craned my head back toward Athen and noticed a figure about fifty feet behind him.

  “Athen, there’s someone lurking in the woods behind you.”

  “Got it,” he responded and took off toward the shadows.

  I turned my attention back to the scene in front of me when my suspicions were confirmed. The nurse leaned over the female patient, covering the patient’s mouth with a rag while the other two attendants watched. She was a dark demon. A wave of black mist rolled over the body from her hands, canvasing every inch of the victim.

  The dark demons began laughing as they all joined in producing the thick layer of haze in every direction. The patient’s body shot toward the ceiling, stopping short of crashing into it. As she hovered, the black haze began transforming into a dark spirit that entered her soul. The woman’s body floated in the air, with her arms and legs completely still. How many times had this been done tonight? How many patients had we already lost to the transformation by the dark side? The woman’s body slammed back on the bed, and then her upper body sprang up into a sitting position, her eyes glowing red as she threw a gaze toward the window, which I quickly dodged as I flattened myself against the brick wall.