“Are you alright, honey?” I jumped pulling the covers up and realising it was in vain as I wasn’t how I had been in the dream…I was clothed.
“Uh…yeah.” I said tucking my hair behind my ear which was a habit of mine.
“Oh dear, was it another bad dream?” My mother asked and I gave her a small smile and tried to hide my blush.
“Yeah, it was.”
“Was it about that man again?” She asked frowning disapprovingly at me, as if I had any control over it.
“Mum.” I said pulling back the covers and stuffing my feet into a pair of well-worn tartan slippers that I had owned for years.
“No Katie, your uncle and I have had just about enough of this. It upsets us to see you so distracted for days after. We think it’s time for you to see someone about it.” I groaned wondering how many times now I had heard this all before. I didn’t know why it was, as I had never seen one before, but I hated the idea of seeing a psychiatrist.
“Mum we have been over this.”
“Yes I know, but your uncle knows someone and thinks it is best…” I rolled my eyes as I faced the wall getting fresh underwear out of the top drawer. If she had caught me that would have been another lecture.
“No.”
“Now Katie, be reasonable.” I rarely said no to my mother as let’s just say she wasn’t the most forgiving of people and considering how religious she was I always found this surprising.
“I said…”
“I don’t like your tone Missy. Now I said you are going and that is final or you will have your uncle to answer to and you know his temper.” My mother said and I jumped when she slammed the door and I heard the latch lock into place. This was my family’s answer to most things. Lock me in my room like I was a teenager not the grown woman I was, until ‘I’ calmed down. This of course was code for ‘them’ calming down.
Most of the time I didn’t care, as I enjoyed being alone. It meant a lot of the time I could dream alone. It meant, like in last night’s dream I could search him out and dream in peace. Not in fear of being caught like some naughty wilful child like my mum always made me out to be.
I shuddered just thinking about him. And what last night’s dream had brought me. I had felt myself getting so close to it. As if I had been reaching out trying to chase the unknown. That feeling a woman has when being with a man like that. It had been so hot and carnal. So forbidden and if any of my church members knew what thoughts really went on in my head, then oh my, wouldn’t I be known as the wild child. Shunned wasn’t a strong enough word to cut it.
Banished more like.
Because they didn’t know what or who I dreamed of. They didn’t see what I saw. They didn’t see my naked body being taken on an altar in wild abandon. They didn’t see me giving myself to not just a man…
But a Demon with wings.
A Demon named Draven.
Acknowledgments
Well first and foremost my love goes out to all the people who deserve the most thanks and are the wonderful people that keep me going day to day. But most importantly they are the ones that allow me to continue living out my dreams and keep writing my stories for the world to hopefully enjoy…
These people are of course
YOU!
Words will never be able to express the full amount of love I have for you guys. Your support is never ending. Your trust in me and the story is never failing. But more than that, your love for me and all who you consider your ‘Afterlife family’ is to be commended, treasured and admired.
Thank you just doesn’t seem enough, so one day I hope to buy you all a drink! ;)
Also an extra special thanks goes out to all my fans who managed to make it to my Afterlife themed birthday bash. Thank you for giving me the best Birthday of my life and one I will never forget!
To my family…
My sister who gives a face and soul to the vision of Afterlife.
To my amazing mother, who has believed in me from the very beginning and doesn’t believe that something great should be hidden from the world. I would like to thank you for all the hard work you put into my books and the endless hours spent caring about my words and making sure it is the best it can be for everyone to enjoy. You make Afterlife shine.
To my wonderful crazy father who is and always has been my hero in life. Your strength astonishes me, even to this day and the love and care you hold for your family is a gift you give to the Hudson name.
And last but not least, to the man that I consider my soul mate. The man who taught me about real love and makes me not only want to be a better person but makes me feel I am too. The amount of support you have given me since we met has been incredible and the greatest feeling was finding out you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me when you asked me to marry you.
I love you dearly Blake Hughes…My very own Draven
As before, a big shout has to go to all those mentioned in the list below. I wish I could name you all but these are just a few to show my love to those who make it their mission to spread the Afterlife word.
Extra Special thanks to my Admin team:
Alison Hucker, Nicole Murphy, Lee Ann Milum.
Abbie Robertson,
Aimi Murray,
Alexandra Green,
Alison MacPherson,
Allison Martin,
Amanda Tyler Fullerton,
Amber Greise,
Andrea Crook,
Angela Burton,
Angela Seddon,
Angela Stuthridge,
Ashlee C Harding,
Ashleigh Baron Logan,
Berny Martin,
Brenda Jackson-Grant,
Brown-Hylton,
C.f. Valentine,
Candy Davis,
Cara-Pip Durrant,
Carla Mullins,
Carol Grant,
Carol Krascheneske,
Carol Madden-Phelan,
Caroline Edge,
Caroline Fairbairn,
Carrie Anne Gosslin Wyman,
Carrie Partridge,
Cathy & James Sutton,
Christine Melville Thomas,
Claire & Patch Healey,
Claire Boyle,
Claire Collard,
Claire Law,
Claire Louise Ingram,
Claire Pearson,
Claire Taylor,
Clare Porter Carey,
Coleen Churchill,
Coleen Thomson,
Colette Kennedy,
Dana Michelle Hoy-Sasso,
Dani Cleverley,
Dani Peterson,
Danielle Monnington,
Dawn Arrowsmith,
Dawn Crawford,
Dawn Stewart,
Dawn Vickers,
Deborah Clenahan,
Deborah Cox,
Devki Ladwa,
Diane Blakemore,
Donna Murray,
Eline van den Berg,
Elizabeth Gee Richie, (Cocktail Queen)
Ellie Routledge,
Emma Diamond Jefferson,
Emmajane Stratton,
Esme Louise Matthews,
Evie Williams –Jones,
Fame Strong,
Gail Thomson,
Gail Tylman,
Gayle McFeely,
Gemma Thundercliffe,
Gerry Warwick,
Gill Driver,
Han Hall,
Hannah Gamble,
Hayley Barnes and Connor,
Hayley Paremain Turner,
Hazel Pescatore,
Helen Jones,
Humma Malik,
Ingrid Clarke,
Jacklyn Flynn,
Jamie Brooks,
Jane Bolt,
Janet Wright,
Jennifer Jordan Berndt,
Jenny Trowler,
Jess Benton,
Jessica "Cake Boss" Perry,
Jo Timms,
Joanne Lang,
Joanne Scott,
Jodie Taylor,
Julie Hutchins,
Julie Montijo,
Julie Smith Was Barber,
Julie Whitfield,
Justin Darwent,
Justine Sharp,
Karen & Chris Holgate,
Karen Springett,
Kathy & Leila Cini,
Katie Alexander,
Katie Oldfield,
Kay Isabel Saxton,
Kayleigh Gibson,
Kellie Lever,
Kelly Barton,
Kelly Burrows,
Kelly Findlay,
Kelly Regan,
Kelly Roscoe,
Kelly Sutcliffe,
Kim Brown,
Kimberley Lythgoe-Brown,
Kirstie Parker,
Kirsty Bolto,
Kirsty Holme,
Kym Cruddas,
Laura Watson,
Lauren Brooks,
Lauren Popplewell,
Lauren Rabbitts,
Leaza Barnett,
Lee Ann Bryant,
Lesley Holmes,
Lesley McCarthy,
Leticia Armendariz,
Liessa Laureys,
Lilly Perez,
Linda Bergman,
Linda Broughall,
Linda Ferguson,
Lindsay Crone,
Lindsey Blanchard,
Linzi Slack,
Lisa Ayres,
Lisa Barnard,
Lisa Gould,
Lisa Hartley,
Lisa Ingham - The official countdown Queen,
Lisa Jones,
Lisa Walker,
Liza Lynch,
Louise Atkinson,
Louise Delfino,
Lucy Williams,
Lynda Moore Rodgers,
Lyndsey Critchley,
Lyndsey McBride Critchley,
Lynea Koshar,
Maggie Fellows,
Malu Cabellero,
Margaret Lord,
Maria Foster,
Marie Saville,
Mark Husband,
Meagan Tice,
Mel Broom,
Mel Stacey,
Mel Wheatley,
Melissa Jenkins,
Melissa Walker Atkinson,
Michelle Farrar,
Moe Murphy,
Moira Bolton,
Natalie Haigh,
Nicola Higham,
Nicola Nichol,
Nicole Quintana,
Nikki & Keith Martin,
Nikki Martin Faulkner,
Olivia Morris,
Rachel "I want to massage your brain" Martin,
Rachel Houtby,
Rachel Marsh Giddings,
Randi Richards,
Rani Marwaha,
Rebecca Ann Smith,
Rebecca Caper,
Rebecca Stephenson,
Renee Krueger,
Rhonda Bradford,
Robyn Boden,
Ruth Wood,
Sally "The Oracle" Taylor,
Sam Clements,
Sam Jones,
Samantha Taylor,
Sammi Gash,
Sara Turner,
Sarah Beaumont,
Sarah Chatfield,
Sarah Moore,
Sarah Torpey,
Scarlett Martin,
Shannon Taylor Shuey,
Sharon Barksdale,
Shernel Stevenson,
Simone Woodin,
Stacey Marie Adams,
Stacy Edmonds,
Stacy Needham,
Stephanie Pederson,
Stephanie Taylor,
Stephanie Wooddell,
Sue Wright,
Susan Gray,
Susan Hurst,
Tammy Donovan,
Tamsyn Hawkins,
Tanya Lock,
Tanya Watson,
Tara Whitley,
Tiffani McDonald,
Tina Awock,
Toni Flounders,
Torhild Borg,
Tracy Moody,
Trisha Benton,
Vicki Chandler,
Vicki Mattox,
Vicki Scholtka,
Vickie Watson,
Victoria Clifford,
Victoria Tierney,
Zara Duggan
The Pentagram Child: Part 2 (Afterlife Saga Book 5) Page 36