Epilogue
Samantha parked the car in the alley, two blocks from the house. They had all regenerated quickly before Daniel returned to the Crypt. At full strength, they were all back to normal. Well, normal for the Souls. Sam sat on the hood of her car, her hands draping over her knees. “Are you leaving now?”
Ben leaned against the car. He stared into the night sky. “Cora is still out there, somewhere and you know I can’t stand the thought of her out there, angry.”
“A monster?”
Ben’s jaw clenched. “She’ll never be a monster to me.” He sighed and looked at Samantha. “But there are things that need my attention more than Cora right now. My family is my life. It always has been. You and Cora. I’ve seen you get angry. I’ve seen that look in your eye. You’re on the edge, whether you want to admit it or not. I couldn’t stand losing you, too.”
Samantha looked up at him. She met his gaze and knew he was staying with her. To protect her. To keep her safe. She nodded and turned to look at the streetlight before her.
“There were two of them in there, working together,” Ben said. “That’s never happened before.”
“You think it’s a new trend?”
Ben shrugged. “I don’t know what to think. All I know is that it’s not the same as before. The rules are changing.”
Samantha inhaled deeply. “And not just for the Changed. Daniel is pretty pissed at us.”
Ben grimaced. “We kind of went rogue on that one, didn’t we?”
“He should have given us the chance to see if it worked.”
“And it did work. We did good. We saved her, Sam. You should be proud of that. It was the first time a human was saved.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m elated. I really am. For us. For Christian, in particular. I remember what it was like to lose someone like that.”
They were quiet for a moment.
“There was another Changed near the house that night.”
Ben waited for her to continue.
Samantha stared straight ahead. “It was Damien.”
Ben straightened to a standing position. “It can’t be. Damien was killed.”
A wrinkle of pain etched into Samantha’s forehead. “I know that. But I’m telling you what I saw. It was Damien. I was standing across from the human’s house. No one was around. No one. And then…” She shook her head. “It was him, Ben. It was Damien.”
“A Soul? Could he have been a Soul?”
Samantha shook her head. “No. He was a Changed. There’s no doubt. I saw it in his eyes. He put his hand in my chest, and took a little of my power. He had warned me to get out of there.” She looked off into the alley. “I had this feeling he was trying to protect me.”
Ben scowled.
She rubbed her chest, remembering. “I was so shocked. I just… it’s been so long. And I thought… All these years, I thought he was gone.” She shook her head again, pushing the pain of the past aside. “He could have drained me completely. He could have taken everything.” And she wished he had. She wished he had taken everything. She couldn’t… she just couldn’t fight him. She didn’t want to. “He barely took anything.”
“He died. I saw them kill him.”
“Maybe he couldn’t pass. Maybe he’s been alive as a Soul all these years.” Her voice choked off.
“Don’t Sammie. You don’t know.”
“What else could it be?” she demanded. “Centuries of being alone. No wonder he changed. God, Ben. If it was my fault. If I was the reason he couldn’t pass… and it’s too late now, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“You don’t know. We’ll find him. And we’ll find Cora. But in the meantime, we’re going to save every last human we can. Every last one of them.”
Samantha nodded.
“Daniel was wrong about this. We can help them, Sam. We know how to do it. We’ll find other Souls who will listen to us and do it our way.”
Samantha nodded again. Ben was like this when he got excited. She smiled. “All right, Ben. All right.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Samantha and Ben turned to see Christian standing before them.
He was getting better at using his fazing. Samantha quirked a grin at him.
“I want to come with you,” Christian said.
Samantha began to shake her head. She and Ben always worked alone.
“You need someone to watch your backs.”
“Not a freshie,” Samantha retorted.
“Sam,” Ben interrupted. “We need energy to make our plan work. We can use a backup. If one of us is down, that extra Soul would come in handy.”
Samantha looked at Christian. “What about your daughter?”
“She’s safer if I’m not around,” Christian admitted. “The last thing I want to do is have her be in danger. I never wanted that.”
Samantha recognized the protectiveness in his voice. She felt it for Ben. She had felt it for Damien. She glanced at Ben.
Ben shrugged slightly.
Samantha shook her head in disbelief. “Fine.” She slid off the Spyder and walked to the driver’s side.
“Can I drive?” Christian asked.
Ben chuckled as he moved to the passenger’s door.
“No. Not ever in this lifetime.” Christian opened his mouth, but Samantha cut him off with a sharp wave of her hand. “Never.”
“So where are we going?”
~~~
“You were supposed to kill her!”
Damien stared down from his rooftop position at the three Souls in the alley below.
“You were supposed to take her out! Now Yvonne is dead!”
Damien slowly turned to face the Changed. The fact that Tom was questioning his judgment angered him. “I sapped enough of her energy to render her useless.”
“But not dead.”
Damien looked down at Samantha again. No, not dead. It had been a shock and very long overdue to come face to face with her. God, he had missed her.
Behind him, the Changed ranted, running his hands through his hair and pacing. “Holy crap! Did you see what they did to Yvonne? She was blasted away in their fucking energy! How are we supposed to fight that?”
Damien was growing weary of Tom’s worries. It wasn’t important. “Did you plant the tracker on her car?”
“Yes. But why don’t we just leave them the fuck alone! Let them get the hell out of here! The other Souls can’t do what they did to Yvonne! You heard them. They don’t like what those three did.”
Samantha was too smart. She always had been.
“We can just stick around. Do what we’ve been planning. Fuck them! Let them get out of here!”
Tom was getting on Damien’s nerves. And that wasn’t a good place to be. “Calm down, Tom,” he warned in a low, dangerous voice.
Tom continued to pace, shaking his head. “We can do what we’ve planned from here. We don’t need to follow them. I’m not doing it. I don’t want to be blown away like Yvonne! Damn, she’s fucking gone. Just gone.”
Damien whirled, shoving his hand into Tom’s chest. The power surged through him, flowing from Tom’s body, filling his own. Damien watched the surprise on Tom’s face fade with the draining of his energy. He tried to fight it, tried to resist, but Damien was much too powerful for him. Damien continued to extract Tom’s energy, draining him, pulling all the energy from him. It took some time, but Tom finally collapsed, now truly dead to the universe, dead for all eternity.
Damien stood over him, staring down. “Now you’re gone, too.” He couldn’t risk Tom’s indiscretion. The Changed were not known for their loyalty. And Damien didn’t want anyone else to know about his relationship with Samantha. It would jeopardize his plans. And he had worked too damned long to instigate them. No one would get in his way now. No one.
###
More Lost Souls episodes available now at your favorite ebookstores!
A Glimpse at Imperfection – Episode 2
Lost Souls: �
�Imperfection” - Episode 2
Available Now
Lost Souls: Imperfection is the second episode in
the Lost Souls urban fantasy series.
Sam and Ben have just defied the leader of the Lost Souls. Outcast from their former group, they battle the dark forces of the Changed on their own. As they investigate the mysterious disappearance of one of their Lost Soul brethren, they come to the chilling realization that their nemesis Scala has escaped his centuries-old prison with revenge on his twisted mind.
A Glimpse at Deception – Episode 3
Lost Souls: “Deception” - Episode 3
Available Now
Lost Souls: Deception is the third episode in
the Lost Souls urban fantasy series.
Sam, Ben and Christian continue to battle the dark forces of the Changed. After receiving surprising news about the whereabouts of Sam and Ben’s sister Cora, they arrive at a friend's to investigate. As their search deepens, Ben becomes consumed with trying to save Cora, taking a very dangerous path that puts himself and everyone around him in jeopardy.
A Glimpse at Altercation – Episode 4
Lost Souls: “Altercation” - Episode 4
Available Now
Lost Souls: Altercation is the fourth episode in
the Lost Souls urban fantasy series.
Sam and Christian have disappeared. An unlikely group of allies is formed as Damien, Ben and Eugene search for them. With the calming presence of Sam gone from his life, the urge to make the Jump into a human grows dangerously strong inside of Damien. To add to their anguish, a powerful new menace threatens the destruction of both Souls and humans alike.
Thank You
Thank you for choosing Lost Souls: Resurrection. I hope you enjoyed Christian’s story of becoming a Lost Soul. He, Samantha and Ben have just begun their adventures. I hope you’ll follow along in their next episodes. They’re going up against some nasty Souls, as well as making some startling discoveries.
Please contact me via my website – www.laurel-odonnell.com – and let me know what you thought!
Laurel O’Donnell Book List
Urban Fantasy
Lost Souls: Resurrection - Episode 1
- The first episode in the urban fantasy series: Lost Souls.
Christian Thompson is killed but refuses to pass into the afterlife because of his need to shelter his daughter from her cruel mother. He soon discovers there are others like him, other spirits trapped between the world of the living and the dead. He joins the Lost Souls in their struggle against a dark evil that threatens them all.
Lost Souls: Imperfection - Episode 2
- The second episode in the urban fantasy series: Lost Souls.
Sam and Ben have just defied the leader of the Lost Souls. Outcast from their former group, they battle the dark forces of the Changed on their own. As they investigate the mysterious disappearance of one of their Lost Soul brethren, they come to the chilling realization that their nemesis Scala has escaped his centuries-old prison with revenge on his twisted mind.
Lost Souls: Deception - Episode 3
- The third episode in the urban fantasy series: Lost Souls.
Sam, Ben and Christian continue to battle the dark forces of the Changed. After receiving surprising news about the whereabouts of Sam and Ben’s sister Cora, they arrive at a friend's to investigate. As their search deepens, Ben becomes consumed with trying to save Cora, taking a very dangerous path that puts himself and everyone around him in jeopardy.
Lost Souls: Altercation - Episode 4
- The fourth episode in the urban fantasy series: Lost Souls.
Sam and Christian have disappeared. An unlikely group of allies is formed as Damien, Ben and Eugene search for them. With the calming presence of Sam gone from his life, the urge to make the Jump into a human grows dangerously strong inside of Damien. To add to their anguish, a powerful new menace threatens the destruction of both Souls and humans alike.
Paranormal Romance Novels
Immortal Death
Jade Smith’s supernaturally fast ability to heal has made her a freak. After years of fearful reactions from others, she stays hidden in the shadows of life. The one thing that keeps her sane is her writing -- and her wonderful Demetrius, an imaginary vampire fighter character she created in her online stories. But when Demetrius suddenly appears in her apartment demanding answers, her life changes forever…
- Winner of the Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest
Medieval Romance Novels
The Angel and the Prince (also available as an Audiobook)
In this exciting medieval romance, the French lady knight known as the Angel of Death wages a battle of wills and desires against her dreaded enemy --- the English warrior known as the Prince of Darkness. An epic medieval romance.
- Nominated for the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award
Angel’s Assassin
Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness. Nothing makes her stray from the path of right, not even the terrible fear and sinister secret of her mother's death that she keeps hidden from the world. But then a dark and dangerously handsome man saves her life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden desire, threatening to tear her peaceful world apart.
- Winner of the Happily Ever After Contest
Champion of the Heart
Fox Mercer watches in horror as his father’s knighthood, lands and nobility are all torn from him. Banished into disgrace, Fox waits for the moment to strike to avenge his family’s honor. And that moment arises when a tournament is announced --- a battle of champions wherein the winner gets to claim a very lovely prize…
A Knight of Honor
Taylor Sullivan is a raven-haired hellion fleeing the flames that destroyed her family. She arms herself with a quick sword and a sharp tongue, hiring herself out as a mercenary, willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Slane Donovan is a knight of honor, sworn to uphold his oath and his word. He seeks the woman who wears the Sullivan ring, determined to bring her back to Castle Donovan. A fast paced medieval romance filled with action.
- Winner of the Holt Medallion Award for Best Medieval Novel
Midnight Shadow
Disguised as the legendary hero known as the Midnight Shadow, Lady Bria Delaney swears to rid the land of Lord Terran Knowles’ cruel tyranny. She is stunned to encounter him in her father’s castle --- one of the many suitors vying for her hand. Captivated by his darkly intent gaze, Bria struggles to suppress her fierce attraction to the very enemy she has secretly promised to destroy. A Robin-Hood style medieval romance with a twist.
The Lady and the Falconer
A mysterious falconer infiltrates Castle Fulton during a siege, intent on reclaiming what is rightfully his. When the handsome stranger lays eyes and hands on Lady Solace Farindale, all of his plans of revenge start to crumble around him...
Medieval Romance Novellas
The Bride and the Brute
Jayce Cullen has been fighting her fear of thunder and lightning ever since she was a child, but nothing could have prepared her for the fury of her new husband. Feeling deceived and betrayed into a loveless marriage, Lord Reese Harrington wants nothing to do with his new wife. Trapped in a marriage with no escape, the beautiful young bride must battle the demons of her husband's past and hope that she can weather the storm his brutish behavior unleashes.
- Available for FREE at many ebookstores! This free ebook also contains multi-chapter previews of many of Laurel’s other medieval romance novels listed above.
About the Author
Laurel O’Donnell has always been interested in the supernatural. It has intrigued her enough to write a vampire paranormal, Immortal Death, which won Indiana’s Golden Opportunity contest. Her love of the medieval period has generated many medieval romance novels, most of which are currently available at eBookstores everywhere. Her medieval romance novels have also won several awards, such as the Holt Medal
lion for A Knight of Honor, and the Happily Ever After contest for Angel’s Assassin. Her epic medieval romance The Angel and the Prince was nominated by the Romance Writers of America for their prestigious Golden Heart award. She came back to the paranormal for her urban fantasy series: Lost Souls. O’Donnell lives in Illinois with her four children, her husband and her five cats. She finds precious time every day to bring her characters to life and to visit her paranormal world in her writing.
You can read sample chapters, reviews, watch book trailers, get the latest news and more at: www.laurel-odonnell.com
Thanks again for reading!
Table of Contents
Lost Souls
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Epilogue
A Glimpse at Imperfection – Episode 2
A Glimpse at Deception – Episode 3
A Glimpse at Altercation – Episode 4
Thank You
Laurel O’Donnell Book List
About the Author
Resurrection - Episode 1 (Lost Souls) Page 8