Slumber (Beauty Never Dies Chronicles Book 1)

by J. L. Weil

  Slumber

  Beauty Never Dies Chronicles, Book 1

  J. L. Weil

  Dark Magick Publishing

  Contents

  Also by J. L. Weil

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Read More from J. L. Weil

  Published by J. L. Weil

  Copyright 2017 by J. L. Weil

  www.jlweil.com

  All rights reserved.

  First Edition January 2017

  ISBN-10: 1540458768

  Edited by Librum Artis Editorial Services & Allisyn Edmond

  Cover Design by J. M. Rising Horse Creation

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written notice of the publisher. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental. All rights are reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.

  ISBN: 978-1-5404-5876-6

  Created with Vellum

  Also by J. L. Weil

  THE DIVISA SERIES

  (Full series completed – Teen Paranormal Romance)

  Losing Emma: A Divisa novella

  Saving Angel

  Hunting Angel

  Breaking Emma: A Divisa novella

  Chasing Angel

  Loving Angel

  Redeeming Angel

  LUMINESCENCE TRILOGY

  (Full series completed – Teen Paranormal Romance)

  Luminescence

  Amethyst Tears

  Moondust

  Darkmist – A Luminescence novella

  RAVEN SERIES

  (Full series completed – Teen Paranormal Romance)

  White Raven

  Black Crow

  Soul Symmetry

  SINGLE NOVELS

  Starbound

  (Teen Paranormal Romance)

  Dedicated to Becks and Mimi. You guys are rock stars in my book. The best sister and niece a girl could have. Love ya.

  “One day you’ll awaken to love’s first kiss. Till then, Sleeping Beauty, sleep on.”

  ---- Sleeping Beauty Song, Sleeping Beauty

  Prologue

  DASH

  Lights flickered down the long, dull gray corridor, flashing annoyingly in the back of my eyes. They were the kind of lights that left an imprint even after you’d escaped their sputtering. It thumped behind my lids, pulsating even when I slammed my eyes shut. Nothing helped. There was a staleness to the air, damp and mossy, suffocating me with its pungent scent. The vile smell burned in my nose, smelling of hopelessness, despair, and fatality. God, I despised the decomposing holding pods, filled with all the nameless, lifeless bodies caught in the frozen slumber—utterly and wholly clueless.

  I snorted. The sound echoed off the concrete walls, and it was the only sound of life, aside from the beeping of machines. It was more like a holding cell—a prison.

  The world had gone to shit.

  Well, as far as I was concerned, it had.

  How many of these holding pods, as they’d been commonly termed, had I been to in the last year? Ten? Twenty? Fifty? Hell, at this point, who was counting? The number didn’t matter, not when the results were always the same: disappointment, anguish, bitterness.

  At seventeen, I’d woken to find myself in a replica of a building just like this, lying on cold steel, shivering, sick, and dizzy. Since that day, my life had been in a constant state of tormented perdition. And I wasn’t speaking figuratively. There hadn’t been a moment of peace since I’d opened my eyes to the horror of the dominion that used to be Earth, now called Starling Heights.

  Who made up these names?

  There was nothing promising about the world as it was now. In a way, I envied the sleeping bodies, blissfully ignorant of what awaited them. Some days, I wished I’d never woken in that cold-ass, dreary room, that I was still one of those peaceful, oblivious forms, drugged out of my mind. Reflecting wouldn’t do me any good now. What was done was done. Wishing wouldn’t change the past.

  My long steps clattered on the hard slabs of gritty concrete as I headed for the exit. The sound was a constant reminder I was alone, and I hadn’t found what I’d come for.

  Only the usual—frustration and heartbreak.

  Why did I subject myself to these raw emotions over and over again? Because I vowed to find them, I reminded myself. Because I couldn’t give up; to give in would be letting them win. And I wasn’t a quitter. I might be many things: a killer, a fugitive, a survivor, but I wouldn’t stop until I found what I was looking for.

  The farther I traveled down the corridor, the faster my steps became, as if I couldn’t stand to be shut inside another second. But what waited outside the locked doors of the holding house was no freaking walk in the park. A quick glance at the dial on my wrist reminded me time was of the essence. The little hand clicked faster and faster. I’d lingered too long as it was. If I didn’t get out of here, there would be another kind of trouble to find me. And soon. I’d rather take my chances out in the savage, unpredictable world.

  Quickening my pace, I made a beeline toward the exit, until a flash of gold caught my eye, breaking my hurried strides. The ornate keyhole popped against the wood. I didn’t have time for a distraction, but something pulled me toward the door.

  Flattening my hands on the warped wood, I pushed and was surprised the door gave. The old hinges squeaked as I pressed. From somewhere in the small room, water dripped, plopping onto a steel drain in a steady rhythm. Caution was second nature as I stepped into the tiny, solitary box, eyes scanning the shadowy parts of the room. Best to leave no corner unturned. How had I missed this in my search? It was a secret alcove tucked away from all the others.

  Moving deeper into the room, I reached behind for the dagger tucked under my shirt. Precautionary, of course, but I was no fool. My body tensed for the unknown. There was nothing alarming in the room, nothing but a girl just like the gazillion others. Except this one was—

  The air stopped in my lungs. She was breathtaking. Stunning.

  A thousand adjectives came to mind, yet none of them did her justice. My heart jumped in my chest as I approached. She stood out against the boring room like flame to a fire. Dark red hair outlined her delicate face in soft waves. Such vibrant color was unusual in a place stuffed with nothing but dirty white walls and dreary gray floors. Her hair glinted in the waning light and immediately caught my eye. It was the kind of color that was hard to miss in a room colder than the arctic. Bold and silky against her pure and porcelain skin, untouched by any damages of the
sun, she was like a beacon of light on a foggy night—the brightest star.

  My eyes roamed over her face, completely captivated by her. She looked like a dream come true, a princess—Sleeping Beauty. Cliché, but it wasn’t any less true. My heart sped, thumping wildly, as I stood above her. She drew me like no one had, calling me. I abandoned the training that had been beaten senseless into me, as the world and the dangers in it ceased to exist—time forgotten.

  Full, spiky lashes fanned her closed eyes. Briefly, I wondered what color laid behind those thick lashes. If only I could see them. Then reality slammed into me with cruel force. I would never see those eyes, never know her name, and a sudden sadness seeped into my heart. The frozen slumber didn’t care about feelings, didn’t care about wants or needs. It didn’t answer to anyone, doing as it pleased, when it pleased. No one knew why some awakened and others carried on, dead to the altered world around them. Ageless. Lifeless. Lost.

  With a heavy heart, my gaze roamed over her face, etching every feature into my memory. I didn’t know why it mattered—why she mattered—or why I wanted to remember her. I just did. Maybe so I could remember beauty still existed in such a cruel world.

  On a quick intake of breath, my inquisitive eyes landed on her cherry lips, lush and magnetic, the kind that begged for attention. A mouth like hers shouldn’t be neglected. In all honesty, it was better for her, better for us both, if she stayed peacefully asleep. This world would only destroy her natural beauty, and even though I knew nothing of her, I didn’t want anything to mar her milky skin. Beauty like hers belonged in the castles of old Ireland, in the misty hills of Wales, or between the pages of a fairytale.

  Who the heck knew why I did it. I couldn’t say. I only knew I had to. Once. Just once. After all, she was the first beautiful thing I’d seen in a year.

  Maybe ever.

  The mist had ruined everything.

  Lately, all I’d seen was death, destruction, and misery. I was way overdue for some good in my life, something lovely, succulent, and irresistible.

  Leaning in close, I breathed the same air as her. She smelled like fresh-cut roses, removing any trace of the staleness that lingered, tempting like the forbidden fruit. Closing my eyes, I inhaled and was engulfed, transported to another place and time. Her soft even breaths whisked the hard lines of my face. I could no longer restrain the need bubbling inside of me, no longer deny what I longed for the moment I walked into the hidden room. Today was the first day I’d felt hope.

  And then I pressed my lips to hers.

  Dizziness swarmed over me, a shudder racking my body. The glass slab trembled, cracking down the center, and the quake traveled under my feet in a wave of thunder. What the—

  Chapter 1

  CHARLOTTE

  My eyes fluttered open.

  Slowly at first, adjusting to the light in the room. It was bright; it was as if my eyes had been deprived for so long that they stung initially. Blinking rapidly, I waited for them to adjust. When the fog cleared, my eyes were enraptured by sparkling silver. It was spellbinding, like a shooting star on winter’s first glistening frost. The longer I stared, the more mesmerized I became. Gradually, the shining silver took shape, transforming into a pair of glittering eyes, and the face belonging to those eyes shifted into focus. The wild beating of my heart filled the quiet room. Hair so black it almost looked streaked with blue trickled over smoky eyes.

  This must be a dream.

  One of those fairytale dreams I had as a little girl, where the princess was swept away by her prince charming, because surely a face like his could only belong to a knight in shining armor. Dark hair slashed over his forehead to one side, outlined by chiseled cheeks. I wanted to reach up, trace the lines of his jaw, but my entire body felt heavy.

  Neither of us said anything, our eyes wide and unblinking in those few seconds as we stared at each other. He seemed stuck on my face, unable to pull away from my eyes. I couldn’t help but wonder what he saw when he looked at me.

  The rattle of keys shot through the silence like gunfire, breaking the spell, and I got my first glimpse of my surroundings. It hadn’t occurred to me before to question where I was, but confusion settled in, along with a swift dose of panic. How did I get here? Where was here? Was I lying on a glass table? This was nothing like my room in St. Louis; it was in desperate need of an interior decorator. I could feel my sense of style being sucked right out of me.

  “Shit.” The mysterious prince swore under his breath, bringing my attention back to him. The scowl that pulled at his lips told me the fantasy was about to end. With reluctance, he pulled his gaze upward, looking over his shoulder at the hallway beyond the large wooden door that was ajar.

  From that point, my life was thrown into disarray. I didn’t know just how life altering it would be.

  “Crap. This is bad, very bad,” he mumbled, eyes sharpening.

  The tone in his voice made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Something was wrong, more wrong than waking up in an unfamiliar room, and it had this stranger on edge. The distinctive sound of a lock turned in the distance and alarm jumped into his silvery eyes. They darted to the doorway, and his muscles stiffened. I wasn’t certain what the immediate danger was, but his body language was loud and clear—trouble.

  I didn’t mind a bit of trouble. But I hated danger.

  At the all-girl prep school I attended, I’d been in my fair share of fights, but the thought of spending a Saturday in detention gave me hives. I was hardly a Goody Two-shoes, but I made sure never to get caught.

  Using my arms, I pushed myself clumsily into a sitting position. The feeling slowly began to return to my legs, making my movements sloppy and bringing his gaze back to me. I might have moved a tad too fast. The room began to spin in dizzy circles, and my head pounded like it was going to explode. I gasped, automatically lifting a hand to my temple. If the pain hadn’t been so intense, I would have been embarrassed at my awkwardness.

  When the room stopped whirling, the eyes I had found so hypnotic had gone to flints of steel. I blinked, uncertain he was the same person.

  This was no prince or knight as before.

  His body was hard and unyielding. Danger oozed from his pores. The change had been swift, nothing more than a second, and now that I could see the whole package, I thought he was more of a warrior than a prince. Too much battle and bloodshed showed in his eyes. There was nothing pampered or entitled about him. He looked lethal, prepared to strike, to take on even the biggest of challenges.

  An air of urgency cloaked him. “Can you walk?” he asked in a whispered rush. His dark voice sent a string of warm fuzzies zooming through my belly.

  Nodding, I swung my legs over the side of the glass slab and swayed onto my feet. His arms shot out to steady me. The weak limbs were unexpected, and I leaned my body heavily on his as color stained my cheeks. I wasn’t used to being feeble. The muscles of his arms strained through his shirt, holding onto me. “I think so,” I replied. “I don’t understand. Why am I here? What’s going on?”

  He shook his head, a frown pulling at his lips. “I should have known your voice would be musical,” he mumbled, more to himself than out loud.

  “What does that matter?” I demanded, feeling the first inklings of annoyance.

  His lips twitched ever so slightly. “Just an observation. Don’t get your panties in a wad. We got bigger problems, Freckles.”

  “What problems?” He was confusing my already muddled brain.

  “The clock has struck midnight, and we’re out of time. If we don’t move now, there is no telling whether we will get out alive. We’re cutting it damn close.”

  “What are you talking about? I’m not going anywhere with you. I don’t know you.” There were actually a whole slew of “I don’t knows.”

  He shrugged, taking a step toward the door. “Suit yourself. Stay here. The Night’s Guard will love you. Either way, I don’t care.”

  Asshole.

  “Who ar
e the Night’s Guard?” I whispered, pressing him for answers. It was true I didn’t want to stay in this room, but could I trust him?

  “Your worst nightmare,” he muttered. And then his eyes clashed with mine.

  Confusion and fear refracted inside me. I was beginning to think I’d awoken to a living nightmare. I wanted to go home, not off with this stranger.

  He let out another curse. “There’s no time to explain,” he said in a rushed voice, emphasizing haste. “In less than a minute, this place is going to be swarming with guards. You can stay here where they will find you, or you can come with me, but you must decide now. Every second we linger is a moment closer to our capture. I don’t know about you, but I am no one’s prisoner.”

  Wow. No pressure. All this talk of guards and prisoners made my head pound like a subwoofer. To make matters worse, I had no idea where I was or who he was. Why should I trust him? But as I stared wide-eyed into his steely eyes, the urge to take my chances with the dark prince was nagging at me. Plus, I didn’t like the sound of being captured. Raising my chin a notch, I made a decision. “What are we waiting for?”

  He snorted, holding out his hand. “Waiting on you, sleeping beauty. We’ll be lucky if we make it out.”

  On cue, the jingling of keys jamming into the metal door chimed down the hallways. I could only assume by the darkening of his eyes that the so-called Night’s Guard were headed our way.

  He wasted not a second more. Weaving his fingers with mine, I clutched him tightly and tried to ignore the tingle that spread throughout my body. It had to be fear. What else could it be? But I held it together, knowing if we truly were in a precarious situation, I needed to keep my head.

  We slipped into the hall as soundless as we could, careful of where we stepped. “Stay close,” he warned, just above a whisper.