Awakened
A Chosen Fate (Book 1)
A Friend in Love (Book 1)
A Witchy Girl (Book 2)
Introduction
The Start of a Beginning
It was dark and the air felt humid. An endless wall of red bricks was on her side as she ran. The pavement was uneven and made her trip on her own feet but she continued her long strides, looking back from time to time.
There was no moon and the illumination was close to nil. There was barely any source of light save for the lamp post meters away from her. She felt for the bricks to guide her and she panted as she slowed down with her pace while using the wall as leverage.
When she reached the end of the street, she stopped and leaned back on the wall, tilted her head up and heaved deep breaths. It was dead silent but she was aware that someone was coming near. No sounds of footsteps were heard yet her heart thrummed in anticipation.
A minute did not last when what little lighting she had was blocked. Her eyes were still shut but the world seemed to have become darker.
Her heart started to pound harder; she can feel the blood rushing through her veins. There was someone in front of her and it excited yet scared her. There was anticipation and dread enveloping her being.
The figure came closer and she could hear the loud breathing coming from a mouth, the air lightly hitting her face and making her knees buckle.
A hand rested on her shoulder before it traced to the dips of her collarbone and then her neck. Her blood was rushing and it was dizzying. The touch brought a pleasant sensation, it felt heavenly and she almost mewled in desire.
She tilted her head up in invitation and lips pressed down against hers, firm but not prodding. Her hands shook in anticipation and moved blindly to rest on broad shoulders.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” The whisper sent tingles down her spine and she shook her head vehemently.
“You won’t.” She protested, hooking her hands around the neck and pulling the other down.
There was a lick down her throat and she gasped.
Madison stared blankly at the ceiling as she woke up gasping for air while sweat misted her face. She felt a lick and that was when she registered that a man’s body was hovering over hers, sucking on her neck softly.
She groaned at the feeling.
“You’re awake?” The teasing voice made her smile despite still being perturbed by the dream.
She rested her hand on Easton’s head and tugged his hair lightly. “What are you doing here? It’s…” She glanced at the clock on her bedside table. “Four AM, why are you here?” Despite her question, she carded her fingers through his hair, enjoying the soft moans he let out whenever she barely pressed on the scalp.
“I missed you.” She shivered. She had known him for months but his deep, raspy voice still had the same effect on her. It was calming yet at the same time, it spiked feelings she could not explain.
He pulled back and dropped a soft peck on her lips. He cupped her cheeks and kissed her again, gently and loving.
“I dreamed of something weird.” Madison turned to her side and Easton followed, setting behind her and wrapping his hands around her.
“What dream?” He nestled his face on her neck comfortably, snuggling as closely as possible.
“I…” Madison’s brows furrowed. “I can’t remember. It just feels weird.”
Easton hummed and rubbed his hand down her arms. “Go back to sleep. I’ll be here.”
She felt her lids drooping and she managed to tell Easton to make sure to leave early so her aunt, Courtney, would not see him. She was off to dreamland as soon as she mumbled out those words, not bothering to wait for his reply.
Chapter-1
Let’s Ignore the Questions and Bask in the Bliss
Madison collected her things from the desk and slung her bag on her shoulders before trudging out of the room. The hallways were filled with students on their way to their next classes and she slowed down her steps. She did not want to stumble against someone, not when she was a minute away from falling asleep.
She blinked and fought down a loud yawn. With the way she was echoed by the other students, she supposed she was not the only one who had a hard time waking up early again after a short break from school.
Her eyes felt heavy so she shut them for a while in an attempt to gain back normal consciousness. She walked in small steps but she did not get far before let out an “Oomph,” and took steps back when she crashed into someone.
“Oh! I’m sor--” The rest of her apology was left unheard because of a chuckle. The sound was melodious and soothing to her ears. It was the voice that she always yearned to hear first thing in the morning. Sometimes, it was the only reason why she wanted to wake up and start her day.
“I told you, you shouldn’t have stayed up too late finishing that book.” A large and heavy hand ruffled her hair affectionately and she ducked to prevent him from ruining her already unflattering hair.
She yawned again. “Can we go to the library?”
“Of course.” He kissed her temple lightly.
She felt an arm wrap around her waist and he started to walk slowly, guiding her and shielding her from the students loitering the hallways. She leaned on him, basking in the security he always gave her when they are together.
She chanced a glance on their way every now and then, checking if he was indeed leading her to the library. The next time she felt conscious was when he let her sit on a chair gently. Madison immediately folded her hands on the table and settled her head, yearning to take the nap she had been daydreaming of while she was in her class.
It was an hour later when Madison woke up. She could hear the faint shrills of ringing bells and she searched for her phone frantically, sighing in relief when she confirmed that she did not oversleep to be late for next class.
“Morning sleepyhead.” She turned around, smiling at the sight of Easton, with his face propped up on his palm while he rested his elbow on the table. It seemed to be one of his favorite poses whenever there is a table nearby. He tended to just keep silent and brood about whatever he was thinking while his head was rested against his hand.
The action makes Madison sigh dreamily. With his dark eyes, prominent jawline, and sensual lips, it was hard not to regard him as a gorgeous being. Sometimes, Madison pondered why would he even be attracted to her when she was far from having ideal traits, though she always jokingly credited it to the weird preferences of a vampire guy. He was probably fed up with beautiful girls of his caliber with how long he had lived that he just settled on mediocre choices.
Easton winked at her and she felt the heat creep up her cheeks.
“I haven’t seen you blush like this for a while.” He pinched a cheek as he chuckled. Even the sound of his laughter attracted Madison like no other. She was smitten with Easton and apparently, he was extremely attracted to her, too, enough to even risk dying in the hands of a vampire hunter.
It had been a month since the fight between Easton and Richmond. Back then, Madison’s normal, dull days became days when she had to be in the midst of the tension between a vampire and a vampire hunter. It was unnerving to be the witness of how much they detested each other until it broke up into a real fight that rendered Easton injured for a week.
Madison never left his side while he was recovering. Deep down, she felt guilty for triggering the fight. If things had gone worst, Easton would probably dead by now.
She remembered how furious and panicked she was, how much she wanted to help Easton and save his life from the looming death. Seeing him weak and helpless hurt her and pushed her to teeter on the edge. She snapped at Richmond and bared her teeth on him, all on instinct. She did not have long and sharp fangs like vampires did and she often realized how stupid she must have looked for doing that.
“Hey, I’m losing you again.” She snapped back into reality, erasing the mental images of the fight and replacing it with Easton’s face close to hers a
s he gazed at her worriedly. He oftentimes sported that look which made her heart clench.
“Are you thinking about that again?” He asked. There were only a few things that could distract Madison easily. And one was whenever she remembered the vivid images during his fight with Richmond.
Madison smiled. “I’m just wondering why I acted like that.”
Easton searched her eyes and his voice softened. “Can’t we just dismiss it as a proof of how much you like me that you automatically copied my actions?” His eyes twinkled with mischief and she smacked him on the chest but nonetheless did not protest.
It was another unexplainable instance since they’ve met. The first was the fact that there was an invisible pull between them that they could not explain. It governed their actions and made them want to spend every waking second together. And now, it the fact that she seemed to have transformed suddenly into someone with vampire-like tendencies. Her hearing was heightened, her taste buds preferred a different food, and her eyesight got better than when she used glasses.
Easton grasped one of her hands in his, brushing her knuckles with a thumb. “Stop overthinking.” He kissed her cheek and the tension seeped out of her as she basked in the calm he exuded.
“Maybe it really was because I like you too much.” She whispered cheekily.
She was taken aback when he stopped playing with her hand and swooped in, kissing her properly, making her stomach flip flop incessantly. Only Easton could affect her and incite thousands of emotions all at once.
“I really like you too.” He locked their gazes and Madison felt overwhelmed with the sincerity in his eyes.
The pull had become stronger and Madison, still drowning in a pool of emotions, let herself sink in wholly. All that matters now are that they were both safe and there was no one anymore who would deliberately part them from each other. And she truly wished it would stay the same for long.
Chapter-2
It was a Brothers’ Thing
The cafeteria was buzzing and she stretched her neck, finding Easton in the midst of the chaos. They rarely went to the cafeteria, especially during lunch periods, when the whole place is jam packed.
Earlier, Easton talked about them meeting there. It puzzled Madison because if there was anyone between them who loathed a crowded place more, it would be him. Though confused, she did not ask and readily agreed.
She walked toward a man who looked like Easton, his back facing her. She knew how his shoulders look like because it was something she came to love. Once she was close enough, her eyes widened in surprise upon seeing who was with Easton.
She approached the table and her eyes darted everywhere except for the other man sitting across Easton. The presence of another vampire unnerved her. Even though Gavin was Easton’s brother, she felt uneasy around him. Gavin did not like her for Easton, she was certain.
During the week when she took care of Easton, she barely exchanged words with the man, who also kept a distance from her. He was almost never home when she visited and in the rare times that they met each other, all words died down at the exchange of hello’s. Gavin was a man of much fewer words, worse than Easton.
While Easton had a mysterious aura blanketing him, Gavin was a plain blank that Madison could not decipher. She had often found herself wondering whether the silence was a bit of a vampire-related trait or maybe they just got tired of talking along the way.
“Hi,” she greeted, taking the seat beside Easton who beamed upon her arrival.
“Madison!” He gestured at Gavin, who was watching their interaction intently. “You’ve met Gavin.”
She smiled awkwardly at the stone-faced man. Gavin only gave her a nod before taking a bite of the sandwich. He winced as he chewed the food, his actions more practiced than a habit. His lips twisted into a snarl but he continued eating.
“How are you doing?” She started. There was no way the other would start a conversation so she had to take the initiative.
She took Easton’s proffered sandwich and took a bite.
“Fine.” Gavin answered in a clipped tone.
“What brought you here?” She attempted again, eyeing him and trying to look genuinely interested rather than terrified.
Gavin shot Easton a look.
“He’s a student too. He got himself in just this semester.” Easton explained.
Madison processed the information. Gavin being a student meant that they will see each other almost every day if Easton decided that they meet with him for every common period they had. She was tempted to ask how he managed to get in during a second semester but she decided to keep mum. Whatever the reason was and how he did it, the idea of spending time with him did not sit well with her.
It was obvious that Gavin did not like her for Easton. The first time they saw each other was when Easton was almost killed and Gavin, even though he was quiet the whole time, was fuming and had shot Madison accusatory glances not just once. Even her attempts to be friendly were ignored and she sat there thinking that his coldness toward her is understandable. Because of her, his only brother almost got killed.
“That’s great…” She commented belatedly. Gavin raised an eyebrow before taking the last bite.
“I’m going.” He got up and dropped his tray by the counter before walking out.
***
Gavin’s hands were trembling. It was a miracle that he managed not to choke on the sandwich he was eating earlier.
He knew of Madison. He had listened to Easton tell stories about her and each time he did, his eyes lighted up and his actions became animated. He practically knew her just through his brother’s stories.
Gavin had never approved of Easton’s relationship with Madison. It was not a wise thing for vampires like them to be in a relationship with mortals. Easton would only be devastated when the time comes for them to part ways, particularly when Madison meets her death. It was part of the human nature they will never get to experience when they got turned.
She seemed to be a nice person. But Easton’s praises did not count as reliable assessment with how smitten he was.
Despite everything, Gavin could not help but be cold toward her, who was the cause why Easton had to be nursed back into health for a week. He saw her as a danger. Her family being connected to existing families of vampire hunters was more than alarming.
However, when he met with Easton and Madison earlier, there was a lurch in his stomach that made him uncomfortable. He felt nauseous and he had to force his throat to swallow the food.
He averted his eyes from looking at Madison but her voice as she tried to address him ignited his nerves. He thought it was anger or annoyance but it was not. When he chanced a glance to her direction, his throat felt constricted and tingles ran down his body.
With how uncontrollable he was becoming with every second spent with Madison, he decided to finish first and leave them. It would be unsafe to stay with how something inside him was aching to reach out and touch Madison’s face.
***
“Don’t worry, he’s just a quiet person.” Easton held her hands and consoled her. It was hard for Madison to conceal her disappointment. Easton had only one family member and it turned out that he disapproved of them though he never said it out loud.
She sighed dejectedly. “He doesn’t like me, I’m sure. He didn’t look at me even once earlier!”
Easton smiled at her whiny tone. “He’ll warm up to you soon, believe me. He just takes time before he gets used to new people.”
She continued eating instead of answering, pondering Easton’s words.
She genuinely hoped to get along well with Gavin. She could wait and try, even if that meant more awkward moments and failed conversations.
***
“I think this one’s better.” Madison pointed at the image on the right. Kelvin, her partner for a report, selected the image and copied it in their presentation.
Kelvin clicked for the next slide. “These were the pictures I saw last
night.” He scrolled through his files and showed her each one. She leaned closer to see them better when a hand blocked her from getting any closer.
Startled, they both looked back and Madison was surprised to see Gavin. He was standing behind them, a hand on her shoulder, his eyes sharp while his lips were pursed. He seemed to be pissed. His hold tightened and Madison winced at the pain.
Her reaction seemed to have snapped him out of his thoughts and he released her. “Easton’s been looking for you.” Gavin said before storming out of the room.
Madison found it odd. Gavin was not the type to seek out for her. Judging by how he treated her as invisible, she is surprised that he was reminded of her existence and that he talked to her in his own accord.
Angel Romance: Awakened (Paranormal Book for Adults) (Cursed Angel 1) Page 16