Into The Shadows (The Shadows Trilogy Book 1)

by Claremarie

  I circle up into a ball accepting another beating but protecting my baby, I know I'll heal from this later. I hear an agonized howl in my head, and squeezing my eyes shut tight feeling a wave of guilt that Kyran sees this and taking some deep breaths I count to ten and fire up a wall between us protecting him. I can feel banging in my head no doubt it’s Kyran trying to punch his way in to be the one protecting me. I'm so angry at myself that I forgot to keep the wall up shielding Kyran from this. I know he and our family are doing everything they can to find us, but I'm starting to lose hope I'll be found before my baby's birth, but the only weakness I show is a simple lone tear that rolls down my face.

  Epilogue

  * * *

  MMy fingers tremble as I watch the live recording of Ava James Lewis being taken outside Blue Starr. I have done a lot for The Government serving my place on the board doing what I was told standing by while Clark Taylor and other members kidnapped and tortured innocents just because they were different. Clark always wanted power, so when the president was assassinated, he took the chaos of our world built the new Government forming a board of five people, I am one of those people. He promised our nation real change to help and to protect us, I believed him, we all believed in him.

  Our nation was angry after we lost our president John Paul King and for a while, the world seemed to stand still with no president to run it, so who was in charge? Why was nobody elected? That was how Clark Taylor was able to sneak in and take over after the tragedy, and I guess America was just relieved to have someone step in.

  The rumors started about The Government who no one ever saw, but all knew existed. By the monthly statements on our ED's and HES's of what our nation is achieving in politics along with new laws to be followed it seemed the country was taking shape. But was the man causing all the missing persons advertised in the streets from people looking for their loved ones, across ED's and HES at homes everywhere? No one wanted to believe. No one dared question The Shadow People. That's what the world called us, we were never seen, never heard coming.

  It took me a few years to figure out that Clark and the other board members were the ones responsible for the missing people then later learning what the paranormals are used for, their immortality and powers before being murdered. I was disgusted and outraged they would do these awful things under the pretense it was for human benefits, but I saw the hatred in their eyes the jealousy of not being born immortal or with powers. As cowardly as it was, I wanted to help the taken but was scared for my own life if I was ever deemed a traitor by the board, so I stayed silent holding my cards close to my chest waiting for the day I could finally help.

  Then Ava James Lewis showed up on our radar of a recording from months ago of stopping a man from jumping in front of a bus, there was no way to have known that without power. Clark had us do a background check to find what type of paranormal Ava was but discovered she's listed as human but from the video, she was evidently not and a paranormal. Our retrieval team was given a new mission to collect Ava and bring her back here.

  My heart had almost stopped, but when I saw she was heavily pregnant, I always thought Clark and the other members must have an off limits area but clearly they didn't. Watching Ava protect her unborn child the best she could broke me, and I decided right then she was mine and the nation's Hail Mary. It was about time I stopped being a coward. I tried to help Ava the best I could until was able to leak the recording without getting caught so I could rescue her. I snuck her extra food and painkillers for her injuries till she could heal herself.

  Now here I am in my home office staring at my ES watching the footage of Ava's capture about to leak it to ED's and HES worldwide hoping they can no longer ignore what The Government is doing just like I couldn't. When you watch a grown ass man beat a defenseless pregnant woman who is trying desperately to protect her stomach your eyes open wide never to close again, this cannot continue to happen, and I hope the nation agrees following in a revolt with me to take back our country. I was thinking of leaking the beating also but decided it was too graphic, her husband and mate Kyran Lewis doesn’t need to see that, and Ava has been humiliated enough, if this video of her capture doesn't finally make people take a stand, then nothing will.

  The Government walked in the shadows but now the spotlight is on them for the world to see. I leaked Ava's location to Kyran Lewis packing up clothes and essentials leaving my government ID pass on my bedside dresser, I am no longer a member. I leave my house in LA sneaking off into the night hoping the video has started a revolution. My name is Julia Healy, and I am the leader of the uprising.

  Across the world, ED's and HES are pinging on everyone's ear and in every household causing chatter in even the remotest parts of the world sparking anger and national hate for The Government. Protests began immediately on American streets where thousands of people are demanding that Ava James Lewis is returned home. Riots occur in New York traveling all over the United States and even in other parts of the world like London, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand. Many joined the rioting because they wanted to loot free goods but most are outraged by the evil government running the nation and Ava James Lewis is just an example of this. If they could harm a pregnant woman what else are they capable of or what's been done already, this is the chatter of people's thoughts and actions spreading on the net.

  News stations have parked outside Kyran and Ava's family homes to get more answers as to what is happening, as to why Ava was taken and how the new husband plus a father-to-be is coping. Kyran Lewis being smart knowing that with the nation on his side the chances of getting Ava home alive are much higher now that Joe Riddy is missing and not experienced in technology to do the hacking himself. So Kyran goes out to the press, and to the hundreds of people waiting outside to release a statement formally facing the watchful eyes and ears listening to his story. Kyran is accompanied by his and Ava's family as they come outdoors all joined by hands or linked arms surrounding him as he walks to the journalists outside Central Park Condos.

  "My name is Kyran Lewis and three weeks ago my four months pregnant wife and mate was taken by The Government because she's a unique paranormal. She is a werewolf whose powers were bound at birth after her parents Ariana and Kai James…", Kyran at this, points to Ava's mother and father who just nod their head in acknowledgment, "…feared for their baby's life if The Government found out after her blood tests shown Ava had three paranormal DNA strands one for a witch, one for elemental and finally werewolf. Their fears have been confirmed by the evil actions of these we have given our country to govern. Ava didn't know any of this until less than a year ago when her powers were unbound, and we found out she has extraordinary powers, and her dominant gene was a werewolf and Ava had her first shift". Kyran's eyes tear up, and his hands shake a little with emotion and exhaustion.

  The crowd gasps in horror and begin whispering at what this must likely mean for Ava's condition and more outrage for Clark Taylor. The crowd silence when Kyran puts up a hand.

  "As you can guess, as a paranormal with three genes and more than one power she was taken to be tested and studied on as a new sick project for the board members we officially call, The Government but secretly call The Shadow People or The Shadow Ones, you take your pick. We have all known they have kidnapped our loved ones for being paranormal to be tested on for health benefits, but Ava earlier told me through our mind link that, that isn't the only reason at all. Once the government made the immortality serum for themselves, it turned to pure hatred".

  "Clark Taylor, the leading man, is jealous and furious he wasn't born immortal or with powers so your loved ones are being taken not to make the world a better place but for hate. I have five weeks to get Ava home before her due date but as we all know babies tend to come earlier so five weeks to get my unborn daughter and mate home safely just doesn't seem long enough, yet it feels an eternity. I'm not saying my pregnant wife is an exception. The Government took someone from us all so why fight now? Ava wa
nted to stop all of this, she was getting ready to take a stand, to cause some noise, to get our attention and well she succeeded but at the cost to herself. Ava wanted to fight for all of your families not just her own, so now let's fight for her to come together as a nation to once and for all not stand for this cruelty by the board, by the government who are supposed to protect America".

  The crowd cheers, people who watched on their ED's and HES cheer all over the world. But the broadcast to the audience at home is intercepted by a recorded message of five people who finally show their face warning the world even those outside of the United States that if anyone joins in the new revolution they will be hunted, and they will be killed.

  Kyran starts to walk away with my his family including Ava's in tow who are looking at him with pride, new hope, and tears in their eyes. Kyran sends them all inside deciding he couldn't just leave after a speech to rally everyone so walks down to the crowd who immediately start to ask questions about him and Ava.

  Our world changed once more today. Our nation went from moving on from a president assassination Into the Shadows when The Government came and changed our world forever yet again with the cruelty and murders of innocents but now we're heading Into the Clear.

  Elsewhere In the world right now. The vampires and the were-cats see the uprising and decide it's time to come out of hiding. The destined prodigy Ava James Lewis has arrived, and she's here to join the fight.

  THE END.

  Continue Ava and Kyran’s Story

  Into The Clear

  The Shadows Trilogy Book 2

  Coming In early 2017

  Into The Dawn

  The Shadows Trilogy Book 3

  Coming Late 2017/Early 2018

  Exclusive:

  The Alliance Excerpt

  * * *

  “No way it's Chase who's hotter" Gabby says.

  "Oh no it's Kayden, I swear that man is sizzling hot" I say and I notice Gabby's eyes widening but put it down to her disagreeing and continue gushing about him.

  "The way he runs his hand through his hair spiking it up and did you see the way he smirked at me?" I ask in amusement.

  "Er, Ivy?" Gabby says.

  "Yeah, yeah I get it you think Chase is hotter and he is I guess but I'm drawn to Kayden, his music and you is what kept me going when..." I'm cut off by,

  "Ivy" Gabby whisper-yells and I freeze surprised standing up straight from sweeping.

  "I think your friend is trying to tell you I'm behind you babe" I hear coming from behind me and now it's my eyes that widen and Gabby nods in a I-tried-to-tell-you look and I turn slowly to find Kayden leaning against the right wall on the stage next to the backstage door with his feet and arms crossed and that damn smirk on display with a knowing gleam in his eye.

  "How long was he standing there?" I whisper to Gabby forgetting sound carries in the stage area until you know, Kayden ever so kindly informs me, "Since you began talking and I was thoroughly enjoying it I don't want to be rude interrupting so I decided to let you continue" he says smiling and I think it's just hitting me who's talking to me cause I get flustered and stammer.

  "Can I, can I help you with anything?" Thinking there's no other reason he'd be talking to me.

  "Came out to get my guitar feeling inspired to write a new song by this beautiful girl I had been watching all night so imagine my surprise when I see the girl in question. Didn't think I'd get to see you again" he finishes then walks to the edge of the stage jumping down and strolling over to me with his hands in his pockets still wearing his stage outfit.

  "You already know who I am so who are you?" Kayden asks stopping in front of me looking genuinely interested so I tell him.

  "Ivy"

  "Gorgeous name for a stunningly beautiful woman, I bet the last name matches the first?"

  "Blake" I answer kind of dazed, not sure what to, never dreamed of this that I'd be talking to my dream man.

  "Ivy Blake" he whispers rolling my name around his tongue before smiling.

  "I like it, it's fitting"

  "Fitting?"

  "Yeah? You know gorgeous name for a stunning woman" I'm shocked he thinks of me that way so I just blink at him, he smiles at this before adding, "So I take you two work here?"

  He asks finally looking over to Gabby as if realizing we’re not alone.

  "Oh I'm sorry. Where are my manners? I blame Ivy for keeping me so distracted. You’re?" he says winking at me and I nearly combust.

  "Gabriella Dean but I go by Gabby" she says not bothered in the least by who she's talking to.

  "Well Gabby and Ivy, would you want to come backstage and hang out with me and my brothers?" Kayden asks and my jaw hits the floor, he moves in putting a finger under my chin closing my mouth and I flinch in fear waiting for the pain, Kayden immediately stands back holding his hands up.

  "I didn't mean to scare you" he says sounding upset with himself muttering “I knew there was a reason you freaked out I shouldn't have touched you” and I'm washed in shame.

  Not wanting him to see me as weak I blurt out "I would love to but as you can see we have a job to do" before I can finish he takes the hook I had dangled as a piece offering and reels me in with his next offer.

  "Well since this was my show, it’s only fair I help clean it" he states sincerely going to the cleaning cart picking up a brush and without delay begins sweeping. I look to Gabby in surprise and she's looking at me the same way.