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First Watch: A Watcher Bay Adventure

Page 14

by Auburn Seal


  Cristina stopped struggling, her eyes glazing over in a final sleep as her body slumped onto her killer. Elinor had seen many die over the years at the hands of others, and the brutality—the wickedness—was never easy to observe, especially with her helpless to change the outcome.

  Elinor squeezed her eyes shut, fighting centuries of memories—memories she didn’t want to recall—that came flooding back as the spark of life vanished from the woman. She pushed back the memory of her mother’s last breath and the feel of her husband’s blood, warm and sticky on her hands. She couldn’t let herself remember this again.

  Too late now, Cristina could see Elinor. She stood over her own body and spoke to Elinor.

  “What happened to me? Am I…Am I dead?”

  “Yes. You are passed from this life. Do not be afraid. You are safe here.”

  Cristina’s eyes brimmed over with tears. “My baby?” She groped her still-pregnant abdomen. “What’s to become of my baby?”

  Elinor shook her head. “I do not know. I believe you will see your child again, but I cannot say for sure.”

  In an instant, the terrible grief turned to fury, and Cristina’s eyes glinted with rage. “He is a monster. Someone has to stop him.”

  “There is one who can stop him, but she does not yet know her destiny.”

  “Who?”

  “Avery Lane. She alone can stop him.”

  “You will help her, won’t you?”

  The fear in Cristina’s voice was different now, and it was clear she was no longer scared for herself, but for her friend. She put her hands to her throat. “He is so strong. How will she stop him?”

  Elinor spoke softly.

  “That is why I am here, to help her when the time is right.”

  Cristina smiled at Elinor. “Thank you.” She started to turn away and then stopped. “Will I see you again?”

  Elinor replied, “Only time will tell, my dear. Go now, find your child.”

  With a nod, the spirit of the dead girl vanished into the dark night.

  Elinor turned and walked away, unable to watch the disheveled man as he struggled to toss Cristina’s still-warm body into the frigid desert lake.

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  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Thank you early readers and those of you who constantly support my writing. You mean everything to me.

  Heidi Martin

  Jaymi Elford

  Roslyn McFarland

  Amanda A. Allen

  Gary Taber

  Jared Seal

  Gretchen Grey-Hatton

  Much gratitude to my fellow authors in the Paradisi world for all your contributions in this extensive collaboration.

  Amanda A. Allen

  Roslyn McFarland

  Andy R. Bunch

  Louisa Locke

  Sarah Woodbury

  Cheri Lasota

  Ashley Angelly

  FIRST WATCH

  Copyright © 2015 by AUBURN SEAL

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/ use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owner.

  All rights reserved.

 

 

 


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