by ClareMarie .
Acknowledgements
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to events or actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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Dedication
This book is for all of those who enjoyed Into The Shadows and wanted more.
Were you left feeling there were many questions unanswered about who Ava James’ parents really were, and that some things didn't add up?
Well, now you can find out before Ava does…
I hope you love Into The Skies much as I do.
Love Always,
CM
XO
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Epilogue
Bonus Material
“Mrs. Clayton, it’s great to see you again. Where's your mate?” Werewolf councilman Glenn Lewis inquires as I enter the secret chambers of The Paranormal Council inside Mount Everest. I'm the councilwoman for the Witches.
“Please, just call me Lex, and he is coming. It's great to see you too,” I reply with a smile, still a little sleepy from being woken up in the middle of the night with a major crisis requiring an emergency session.
“Dressed somewhat casual, aren't you?” James Smith, the Vampire councilman, asks with a frown, looking me up and down in disapproval.
“Well, Councilman Smith, your teleporter came into my home, unannounced, at an early hour, with orders to collect me in a rush. So, forgive me if I'm not dressed appropriately,” I explain with an overly friendly smile.
I'm dressed in jeans, a sweater, and heels, and my auburn long hair is tied up in a bun, which is reasonably presentable. My body is the typical toned and athletic type for all Paranormals. I'm also wearing black glasses over my dark blue eyes as a fashion statement. They help me to appear smarter; although, when you're in a room full of men in suits, it does fail in comparison. I wish David – my mate – would hurry up and save me from this testosterone-fueled chamber. David is the councilman for the Elementals.
Every five years, or when there's an emergency Paranormal crisis happening, all the councilmen - and in my case, councilwoman - meet to discuss what's happening within our species, and where justice is done, if need be. The Paranormal Council came into effect fifty years ago when there was a lot of tension between the species. So, it was decided that each species would nominate someone from their race to attend meetings, discuss and approve laws, as well as handle anything else on their behalf, however mundane. I was nominated for my species.
We are the Originals, the only ones ever to be a part of the Council. It was daunting in the beginning but now it doesn't faze me. I simply try to do my best to protect and because of that, I'm able to sleep at night knowing I'm doing all I can in the position I've been given.
There's talks for a new seat being added to the Council for the Chimeras, a fairly new specie, but they tend to stay in hiding. The secret chambers for these meetings were built from unknown sources, and it was kept that way to protect their identify. Not everyone was thrilled to have a new Council. To this day, one of the most sacred laws created is that only councilmen and councilwomen, as well as two teleporters, are entrusted to know the location, only because our chambers are inside the rock of Mount Everest and it’s impossible to get inside without teleportation.
“Hello, Lex. How have you been since the last time we held a session?” Deacon Santiago asks with a genuine smile. Deacon is the final councilman for the Werecats, making me the only councilwoman, which isn't easy at times.
“Things are well, thank you. How are you and your mate?” I reply as David is teleported to my side. I'm not surprised, though, because I heard his thoughts getting close before he appeared.
“Hello, sweetheart,” he says, kissing me briefly and taking my hand in his.
Even though all the men here are mated and would understand if David had extended the kiss, we still have to act a certain way in the chambers. It wouldn’t be proper to jump into his arms and ravish him in public, never mind the chambers. David still makes my heart flutter at the sight of him, or when he’s near. I always find myself running my fingers through his shaggy brown hair. Those brown chocolate eyes peer into mine with such intensity it makes my breath catch. His body is perfectly sculptured, with muscles like all Paranormal males and sharp facial features that can almost hypnotize a woman, myself included.
I mentally send him a summary of what's happened so far so he’s all caught up. Normally I wouldn't need to do this, as he has direct access to my mind all the time through our constant mental presence, almost like background noise. Unless we focus and tune in to talk to know what's happening around each other but inside this rock, it's impossible, as there's magic performed by our ancestors to protect it from any unwanted party.
When we were summoned, David was outside by a river in the woods near our home in New York, connecting with the elements, which was the reason for his delay. We live outside the city, so night is the safest time to perform elemental magic away from humans, who are around during the day.
“Enough schoolgirl chitchat, it's time to get down to business,” James admonishes. The room goes silent as we take our seats at the circular table with a video wall in front of us.
“So, what's the emergency?” I inquire, picking up my pen to take notes. I’ll write up a report later, to keep in the filing room.
“Well it seems Vampire Jonny Larson decided to expose the Paranormal race to the humans today at a food festival in San Francisco,” James explains, shaking his head in disgust. James is sort of the unofficial leader for The Paranormal Council. All reports go straight to him.
“WHAT?” we all shout in unison.
“We'll get it covered up,” David states angrily.
“I'm afraid we can't. Not this time,” James says on a heavy exhale.
“Why not?” Glenn challenges.
“Because Mr. Larson fed on a large number of people at the food festival, in front of everyone, and someone escaped with the whole thing recorded on their phone and posted it worldwide. Too many have seen the viral clip to try and remove the footage, and San Francisco was littered with bodies to even attempt to explain it away as a hoax,” James explains in further detail of what we're up against.
“I'm guessing the person who escaped with the footage wasn't an accident,” Deacon speaks up.
“Why?” I q
uestion, curious.
“There's been rumors that Jonny wanted to end his existence, and it's impossible for us to kill ourselves. So why not create a mess for us to have to get involved in, and execute him for the biggest crime he can be convicted of,” Deacon answers.
Paranormals can only be killed by beheading, and even then, you need to burn the body to be one-hundred-percent certain the person stays dead. There have been some cases where a Paranormal was beheaded but managed to survive and heal.
“That would make sense. The first law we created was zero exposure of the Paranormal world to the humans. If this crime is done on a scale that cannot be undone, then you're punished by execution. If you want to die but can't do it yourself then what better way to do it than by forcing our hand to do it for you,” I add to Deacon's theory, in disbelief, and see I'm not the only one.
“Jonny wouldn't have done this; not unless he was so tired of living that he felt the need to risk his race like this. I don't know him well, but good enough to be shocked,” Glenn murmurs, shaking his head.
“Does anyone know his age?” I ask.
“He was millennia old,” Glenn replies before anyone else can.
“2050...” David whispers.
“What?” I ask my mate.
“2050. The year Paranormals were discovered. The year everything changed,” David responds, stunned. I ponder this for a moment, while everyone at the table, myself included, begins to feel uneasy because we all know he’s right. All we can do now is damage control, try to assure the humans we mean no harm, and punish the one responsible for this vicious and callous act.
“Where is Jonny now?” Deacon wonders.
“Locked up in one of our cells,” James replies.
I’d almost forgotten the chambers were equipped with cells. We've never had to use them, until now...
“Are we actually going to go through with the beheading?” David asks. I send him a mental image of me holding his hand in support because this isn't going to be easy.
“Yes, we are. We have to. If we don't, then we're basically saying it's okay to betray your race. What Jonny has done is irrecoverable,” James states but I can see he isn't happy to take someone's life either. “Do we all agree on what must be done?” He stares into our eyes one by one, needing the approval both for personal and law-biding reasons.
“Yes,” I answer, the first one to return his stare, and the other councilmen follow my lead.
“Then it's decided. Each of you must choose, from your respected specie, a witness to watch the beheading and advocate the punishment was carried out. We will record it for our private files, in case proof is needed one day,” James explains and I nod in agreement. Glenn and Deacon choose their Betas to witness, and David, James, and I choose our leaders.
Two hours later, with David and the councilmen on either side of me, we’re gathered in a circle in the lower chambers with Jonny in the center. The teleporters return with the chosen witnesses, who stand behind each councilman of their race. No one knows the identities of the teleporters, in order to protect them from anyone who may wish to cause them harm while working for The Paranormal Council. Not even friends or family know if their loved one is a teleporter.
My species, the Witches, created a new spell to gift two Paranormals with the ability of teleportation, and written into the spell is the inability to reveal that information. Mates know though, through the mate bond, but the spell passes through to them, also making them unable to reveal.
The only way to know if a teleporter is working for The Paranormal Council would be by the black robe with our logo of two swords touching in an X-shape through a triquetra, with a black mask, and traces of witch magic in their aura.
I want to divert my eyes from Jonny's as he locks eyes with each and every one of us, but if I'm playing a part in ending this man’s life, then I at least owe him to hold his gaze. One of the teleporters has pressed record on the camera and I want to scream aloud for them to stop, but this law was created long ago for a reason. He broke it, putting everyone I love in danger, so I scream silently.
“Jonny Larson, today on November 5th, at 5:45 am, you’re being executed for your treasonous crime of exposing Paranormals, by The Paranormal Council. Do you understand?” James declares. Since he has experience in beheading, he offered to do this, to save anyone else from this gruesome task.
“Yes,” Jonny acknowledges.
“Any final words?” James asks.
“I am sorry, but the world needs to change so I am making that sacrifice because, whatever you may believe of my actions today, I do love my race. And something is coming. My revealing the Paranormal race today will later be your ally. But please forgive me until then,” Jonny urges, as his glance bounces around the room with new foreboding.
James picks up the sword and, with one quick swing, detaches Jonny Larson's head from his body. As it rolls across the floor, there's a silence in the room I've never heard before, ringing louder than any sound could. I just played a part in someone's death, and it isn't sitting right with me. Suddenly, the image of David wrapping his arms around me flashes through my mind. I send one in return, grateful I have him at my side.
“David, please use your elemental magic and create fire for burning of the body,” James gently asks, knowing we are all on edge at the moment. “I reckon we're all going to be in Council meetings much more often than every five years, when people fully realize Paranormals aren't a hoax. So be on call, at least for a while. Don't be surprised if more teleporters show up.” James looks at me specifically with that comment. A few agonizing minutes later, when all is said and done, we're teleported home to privately deal with what just happened.
2051.
It's been one year since Paranormals were exposed on a global scale and things have been deplorable. For the most part, the humans have stayed away from us. There's been a lot of hate groups going around, trying to kill us, but none of us have engaged in that behavior. A man named Clark Taylor has taken over America, calling himself The Government after the president was killed recently. No government officials had the chance to swear in a new one when Clark literally claimed America. Clark then began kidnapping Paranormals and using them for studies to provide better human healthcare. When he realized all the benefits we could provide him, he started to use us for his own gain.
Clark Taylor made a serum from Paranormal DNA for immortality. This serum changes a human into an MH – a Mutated Human – giving them immortality. They are no longer human; the serum completely rearranges their DNA and they receive certain gifts with it. Improved sight, heightened hearing, enhanced smell, advanced healing and, of course, immortality. Clark Taylor was the first to become an MH. When MHs became a new specie, all the humans who were against us backed off, because now they could become like us if they wanted to. When this happened, it divided the globe into four species: Humans, Paranormals, Descendants, and MHs. A Descendant is someone born from only one Paranormal parent.
A lot of Paranormals went into hiding and many were killed, fighting not to be taken by The Government when known hideouts were raided. Which is why David and I are standing in front of the river, talking. We want to create a new academy somewhere safe, for all the children who are now orphans.
“I wonder what it's like up there. I bet it's peaceful,” I wonder, looking up at the sky and wishing I could be up there, where it's safe and secret.
“Safe and secret, huh?” David reads my thoughts. I don't answer, lost as I stare up at the stars as they twinkle, and losing hope we can help in some way.
“Why don't we build our very own secret and safe world up there in the sky?” David pulls me into him and using his thumb, he lifts my chin up to meet his gaze, so much love shining in his eyes. A tear runs down my cheek and I smile weakly, wishing such a place could be possible.
“Why can't it? We'll use our magic,” David replies mentally, knowing sometimes it's easier to think what you'
re feeling than voicing it aloud. I tilt my head to the side, giving it some serious thought, and my heart thuds faster with renewed hope and urgency.
“It would take some time to build the academy. The children need a place to be educated and to live, while adults need houses...” I note, thinking.
“If all the Witches, Warlocks, and Elementals worked together, we could have it done pretty fast. It would also be a haven to any Paranormal wishing to hide,” David points out.
“Are we really discussing building a secret world in the sky for Paranormals?” I ask, shaking my head, somewhat amused at David's crazy mind but getting excited by the idea all the same. Something within me is telling me this is right; that we're about to start a legacy.
“Skyline City,” I announce, smiling, and follow it up with a kiss, to the sounds of the river rushing by. David wraps his arms around me.
“Skyline City?” David repeats sounding it on his tongue, musing. “I like it. Let's do it.” I hear David repeat the name over and over in his mind, bonding to it.
“So, Principal Clayton, there's only one thing left to decide,” I add slowly.
“What, Principal Lex?”
“Wait. Why am I Principal Lex, and not Clayton?” I ask, frowning.
“Because our students will get confused if we both use our mated name. I don't want you to use your maiden name, Anderson. So your first name, Lex, it is.”
“Oh really, you've decided?” I challenge with a raised brow.
“Yes,” David shoots back and we laugh. “So, what is there to decide?”
“The most important thing of all... What's the title of our academy?” I tentatively ask, unsure if he'll like the one I've got spinning in my head. David tries to read my mind for clues, with the cutest look of concentration, but I'm doing math so he can't, and he gives up after a minute.