Unleashed: Book 2 in the House of Shadows Series

by Michelle Areaux

  Refusing to go down without a fight, I launched myself forward. The chair teetered before falling over, knocking Zane down, too.

  “If you are going to kill me, just do it. But you know what? You are just a coward. Everyone knows that you are just jealous of Donovan. Go ahead and kill me. Then, what? You have to run and find a new place to live. You will never be happy,” I screamed.

  Tears were pouring down my face, but I didn’t care.

  “Shut up!” Zane roared. It was clear I had hit a nerve.

  A wicked smile spread over my face. “Donovan!” I screamed.

  “I said to shut up,” Zane bellowed. He struck me in the face and my skin stung from the assault. Still though, I wasn’t giving up. The last thing that Zane would hear from me wouldn’t be me begging for my life. It would be Donovan’s name.

  I just kept calling his name, hoping somehow, someway he could hear me. But more importantly, I wanted to make Zane pay.

  “Donovan! "I screamed again.

  “I have had enough. I put up with you long enough. It all ends now,” Zane raged, grabbing me and lifting me off the ground. I was still tied to the chair, and with one quick tear, the ropes were cut from me.

  Zane threw me to the ground and my body hit with a painful thud. I couldn't move and the breath had been knocked out of me.

  I closed my eyes and lay still, still whispering Donovan's name as Zane leaned down and whispered in my ear, “Say goodbye to the world, Audrey.”

  And with that, he bit down on my neck and began feeding from me.

  I could feel the life inside of me fleeting. I didn’t know if anyone could hear me or not, but the last word that slipped out of my mouth was Donovan’s name, and I was happy.

  CHAPTER 13

  LAYING ON THE COLD, hard ground, my breaths were ragged, and my pulse was barely active.

  Death was knocking and my stubborn soul was holding on as long as it could.

  I couldn’t feel or hear Zane anymore. Had he given up? Surely not.

  Then, voices began to cloud my head.

  I must be dreaming because it sounded like Donovan was here.

  “Audrey,” a voice whispered close by.

  I wanted to open my mouth, I wanted to shout and scream, but I couldn’t. There wasn’t much life left inside of me.

  “Donovan, hurry. She is dying,” the voice called again. Was that Eden?

  Nothing made sense right now.

  Something hit the ground near me, and my body shook from the earthquake it caused. Again, I struggled to open my eyes but when I did, the faces were fuzzy.

  “I am going to kill you,” Donovan screamed.

  I recognized his voice, but I couldn't see his face.

  Maybe this was heaven.

  “He’s a dead man walking—literally,” Donovan seethed.

  “Donovan, you will not take the law into your own hands. This is up to the High Council, they are on their way,” the Dean spoke.

  Why was the Dean here, too? I must be dreaming; this was all insane.

  A loud commotion ensued and as my vision cleared, I saw The Dean and a few other professors holding Donovan back. He was fighting them and as I moved my line of sight, I saw Zane being held by a group of men in long black robes.

  “The Council will take you and Professor Martin,” the Dean yelled at Zane. “Your traitorous friends are already on their way to the Council headquarters,” he finished.

  As I listened, I felt like I was watching a movie. But, what I really wanted to do was just runaway and hide. My body ached and all I wanted to do was get away and sleep.

  “Donovan, stop trying to fight Zane. Audrey needs you,” Eden cried out again.

  I tried to keep my eyes open to see Donovan’s face, but I just didn’t have the strength anymore. My eyes closed and my breaths were far and in between.

  I felt Donovan’s hand on mine and I tried to focus on that one feeling.

  “You are the only one I need. I can’t lose you, not like this,” Donovan cried.

  “Where am I?” I managed to ask. There was so much more I wanted to say and ask, but more than anything, I wanted to know where I was about to die.

  “You are in a small room in the basement of the House of Shadows. Marcus and Alex were caught coming down here and after Eden and I told dad about what Zane had done, we came searching for you. Marcus and Alex told us everything. We tried to get here before Zane could...” Donovan’s words were cut off by his own cries.

  “Son, she is losing her battle. I am so sorry, we didn’t arrive in time to save her,” the Dean said. I heard the sadness in his voice.

  I was sad for them both. I hoped they didn’t think they failed me. I hoped that Donovan knew how I felt about him and that I loved Eden like a sister. In my short time at the House of Shadows, Eden and Donovan had become my best friends and my family. I wished the Dean knew that I admired him for what he was doing at the House of Shadows. He respected Humans and only wanted to create a harmonious relationship between Vampires and Humans.

  I wasn’t mad at any of them. It wasn’t their fault that I came to be here. I only wish I could have loved them all longer.

  “Dad, we have to save her,” Donovan screamed out.

  I could hear the other voices in the room fading away and I knew everyone else was leaving. I was thankful that Zane’s reign of terror was now over. Zane had unleashed a war and I was the casualty. But, that was ok. I had saved other innocent Humans from being harmed.

  My death wouldn’t be in vain.

  CHAPTER 14

  I WAS FLOATING.

  I could see Donovan screaming my name as Eden cried, holding me in her arms. It was so surreal. I tried to call out to them, but they couldn't hear me.

  I saw my lifeless body and it dawned on me that I had died.

  My soul was hovering above my entire world and there was nothing I could do about it.

  I had known when Zane started feeding off me, that my life was fleeting. But, even in my last moments of fear, I never thought it would end like this.

  Watching Donovan and Eden mourn me was worse than death itself.

  “Do something,” Eden screamed.

  “Dad!” Donovan raged, punching the ground beside me. However, I felt nothing now.

  “Donovan, there are only two options here,” the Dean began. I took a breath and it hurt. “I will do anything,” Donovan pleaded.

  “Dad, just tell us,” Eden begged.

  I just wanted them all to be happy. I wanted them to stop hurting and crying. But, I couldn’t do anything right now. The world was slipping away and all I could do was lay here and listen to them mourn me.

  “Audrey has lost too much blood. The only option would be to change her into a Vampire, but we all know that can’t be done. We all made an oath. She is a Human. We can’t harm her,” the Dean said, his own voice breaking as he spoke.

  “I will break every oath to save her, dad. Remember when we were all dying? Remember how you were willing to do everything to save us?” Donovan questioned his dad.

  I could see the Dean’s face now and it was stricken with grief. I didn’t doubt he was remembering the day he decided to change his family. His wife had refused to take on a life as a Vampire, but the Dean saved his life and the lives of his kids. Now, he was watching his own son faced with the same dilemma.

  So many emotions crossed the Dean’s face and I felt so heartbroken for him. He had created a life that refused to harm Humans.

  What Donovan was asking was absurd. If he changed me, we would be tied to one another forever—for eternity. That was a huge commitment. One I wasn’t sure I was ready for.

  “Dad, Audrey is my best friend. She didn’t deserve any of this. We wouldn’t be breaking an oath; we would be salvaging the destruction that we allowed to take place at the House of Shadows. Zane brought Audrey here. He tried to use her and because we all ignored the warning signs, he almost killed her. Please, we have to save her,” Eden cried out again. Her
body shook with her sobs and it was breaking my heart to watch her.

  She shook my body, pleading with me to wake up. Didn’t she know that you couldn’t wake the dead.

  “Audrey, please wake up,” Donovan cried. He cradled my head in his hands as he looked down at me with pain in his eyes.

  “There’s only one thing I can do,” Donovan stated, tears streaming down his face.

  “Dad,” Donovan said, turning to his father with a pleading expression.

  The Dean simply nodded. With one look, he gave his son permission to break every law and rule they had ever created for themselves. Years' worth of strength now came tumbling down as Donovan risked it all to save my life. I didn’t know what consequences would follow, but I didn’t doubt that Donovan wasn’t concerned about any of them right now.

  Even in death, my heart broke to see him so distraught.

  “Do it!” Eden screeched. Her own tears were now dripping onto my lifeless body.

  “If I do this, this changes everything.” Donovan looked at his twin and a moment passed as they seemed to have an unspoken conversation.

  Then, I watched in pure horror as Donovan lifted my body into his arms. His fangs protruded and he kissed me on the lips before piercing his fangs into my neck.

  I flinched as I watched. It was intriguing and perplexing as I watched him cry while biting into me.

  Didn’t he know there was no more blood to be drained from my body.

  “Nothing is happening,” Eden cried out.

  Of course, nothing is happening. I shook my head as I watched Eden. Clearly, she had lost her mind with grief.

  “Your venom has to work. We can’t lose her,” Eden cried again. She watched Donovan intently, her hands holding onto me like she was afraid I would float away.

  As I watched, a strange sensation came over me. A burning began to fill my veins as I felt my body being pulled back down to the lifeless figure on the ground.

  “She’s coming back,” Eden cried through tears.

  I couldn’t make out what they were talking about. I was so enamored by the pain coursing through me. I struggled to remain floating high above them, but I couldn’t fight the pull bringing me back down to earth.

  As the pain intensified, a darkness began to take over.

  Screaming, I began gasping for air as I descended to the ground. It felt like I was falling into a raging inferno and my body was engulfed in flames. Was this how it ended? The pain of death was finally taking me from this cruel world.

  As my body fell one last time, a large breath of air slammed into my chest.

  Sitting up, I gasped before falling back down one last time.

  MINUTES. HOURS. POSSIBLY days had passed since I had found myself at the hands of Zane. In a deep state of slumber, I had been lifeless. Now, as my eyes slowly opened again, I found that the sunlight was almost blinding me.

  “She’s awake,” I heard Eden say, her voice hoarse.

  Memories of her crying over my body came to light, but I couldn’t understand why.

  “What happened?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

  My throat was raw and felt like tiny daggers were sliding down each time I swallowed. I winced from the pain, but that was nothing compared to the delirious and excruciating shots of fire that filled my aching body. Even just the slight movement of opening my eyes seemed to be torture.

  “Don’t talk right now, you have been through a lot,” Donovan said, his gentle voice soothing me.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted his dark hair and kind eyes. He ran a hand through my hair, offering me some type of comfort.

  Flashes of pain and visions of Zane attacking me rushed my mind, but none of it really made any sense.

  “I...need...” I struggled to form the words needed to ask what was going on. I had so many images in my head, but no answers.

  Eden and Donovan glanced at one another and then turned to the Dean, who I hadn’t noticed standing by my feet. Now that I looked around, I realized I was in another room, but this one was much nicer. Beige walls enclosed the space where a large bed lay in the center of the room.

  “Dad, what do we tell her?” Eden asked her father, worry now lacing her features.

  “The truth. You tell Audrey the truth. Now, we have to bring her comfort and solace. This was all of our doing, so she is our responsibility,” he said, his stern expression making me nervous again.

  I looked to Donovan and I could tell he could feel my own trepidation. I had no idea what was going on and with each second that passed, my fears grew to the point of insanity.

  “Audrey, do you remember what happened?” Donovan asked me.

  I shook my head no. I didn’t even bother to try and answer this time.

  Sighing, Donovan ran a hand through his dark hair and looked down at me with sorry in his eyes. “Zane kidnapped you. Do you remember that?” he asked.

  I thought this over for a second. A vision of me in the woods and then Zane grabbing me popped into my mind. Nodding yes, I could feel tears filling in my eyes.

  Something bad happened, I just knew it.

  “You have been asleep for three days,” Eden broke in, grabbing my hands and letting me know she was there for me.

  I was too weak to squeeze her hand, but I reveled in the comfort of knowing she was here with me.

  “When we figured out what had happened, we came to rescue you. But...” Donovan paused. It was clear he was having difficulty expressing the next part. “Zane had been feeding from you. He had already drained too much of your blood. You were dying so...” he stopped again. This time, the Dean walked over and placed a hand on Donovan's shoulder.

  “It’s ok, Donovan. You can do this,” he encouraged.

  “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.

  Confusion tore through me. What did he do? Why couldn’t he just tell me?

  Seeing her brother struggle, Eden jumped in. Staring deep into my eyes, she offered a slight smile. “Audrey, Donovan turned you into a Vampire.”

  Her words were surreal. There was no way they had turned me into a Vampire—was there?

  As I lay there, flashes of everything that happened finally came to light. Closing my eyes, I held in my tears for the life that was taken from me. I mourned the Human I once was. I mourned for my dad, who would no doubt, not see me again.

  As I opened my eyes again, everyone was watching me with deep interest. I wasn’t waking as a teenage girl. No, I was now awakening as a Vampire. This wasn’t the end of my life, but truly the beginning.

  This isn’t the end...It’s just the beginning

  Want More?

  AUDREY AND THE GANG aren’t finished with Zane just yet. Discover what’s next in Renewed: Book 3 in the House of Shadows Series. Releasing Summer 2020.

  More From This Author

  -WICKED CRIES BOOK 1

  -Wicked Lies Book 2

  -Wicked Truths Book 3

  -Wicked Endings Book 4

  -Out of Darkness

  -Down to Fall

  -Crown of Ice

  -Never, Never

  -Runaway

  -Captured

  -Along With You

  -Evershade Book 1

  -Everpure Book 2

  -Evernight Book 3

  -Everlight Book 4

  -Ignited

  -Shadowed-

  -Veiled

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  AS AN ADDITIONAL BONUS, I am including the first two chapters of my novel, Wicked Cries: Book 1 in the Wicked Cries Series. Turn the page to enjoy!

  Chapter One

  I DIDN’T THINK MY NIGHT could get any worse. Well, that was until the dead girl punched me in the face. The Electric Night Club was over-crowded with sizzling teenagers bumping and grinding their sweaty bodies against one another in the thick and humid air. Amber, Lia, and I had been sitting around our usual table at the underage teen club, celebrating the end of summer vacation and our last night as high school students together. Within the sultry night club, the heat was almost as bad as the vibrating techno music blaring from the loudspeakers above our heads.

  No one noticed my bloody attack until after I was already lying on the cold ground. Of course, no one else seemed to notice the freakishly tall blonde girl glaring down at me. Then again, they wouldn’t, because she was dead. Unlike me, everyone else was normal and didn't find themselves intertwined with the angry deceased.

  I lay on the cold, sticky ground, repulsed by the amount of spilled drinks that seemed to glue me to the floor. Music and voices blended together until the room became more of a holding cell than a dance club. I searched through the crowd for my best friends, Amber and Lia, only to find my attention focused on the DJ at the front of the club. The volume in the room exploded when Tanner Mason grabbed the microphone from the surprised spikey-haired DJ. "School’s out, everyone party!" Tanner, the undeniably gorgeous homecoming king yelled over the booming noise as he stood on a metal chair, holding a large cup in one hand. Liquid spilled out over the edges and onto a group of dancing girls as he banged his head with the beat of the music. Cheering erupted from the crowd and everyone threw their hands in the air as they danced. Hosting this incredible bash was just another notch on his jerk-belt.