my works in progress
excerpts
No Current Working Title
Ally’s apartment was so quiet. She lay in bed staring up at the ceiling with only a small bit of moonlight shining through her window. She had left her grandmother’s in a hurry hoping to avoid having to face her cousin’s handsome friend. It was stupid and she knew it, but that kiss had sent her into overdrive and she was certain he wasn’t affected as badly as she was. She was still feeling his kiss on her lips and she found herself reaching up and brushing her fingertips against her skin.
It made her happy, giddy even; God, she hadn’t felt this way since high school. She was acting like some love sick teenager. What is wrong with her? No man in the history of her life has every made her act this ridiculous, and she couldn't fathom why she was so drawn to this particular man. Yes, he was handsome. Yes, his eyes were gorgeous and seemed to actually see her rather than see through her. And yes, she got all the right physical reactions when he was near her, just like any romantic movie she's ever drooled over.
She sighed, "But that is not me! That has never been me. I am a rational and realistic woman and I will not let this...," she paused searching for the word to describe what she felt and finding nothing, "thing for a man make me lose my mind." She kept arguing with herself.
A few moments passed and she sighed again. "But then maybe," she whispered softly as she rubbed her cheek into the cool material of her pillow, "maybe it was okay to want him this way, maybe this feeling just feels this good because it’s been so long since I've felt it." Her thoughts wandered to Nathan and the years they had spent together. They were so happy once, so in love. And then one morning, Ally woke up and the feeling was gone. Not in a bad way, but in a content way. It was a feeling that had slowly washed over her, like this is all we'll ever be, this is it, we can't be any more than we are right now. It was then she realized that she was standing in her future as well as her present, and as the days went on, every day was the reminder that nothing would ever change.
As her eyes began to drift close, she realized how exhausted she really was. She wasn’t all that surprised that she felt like she could sleep for days, what with all the emotions that were coursing through her from the day’s events. Mentally and emotionally defeated, her comfort came from the image of a handsome stranger with dark eyes and an intense gaze that sent shivers over her body and made her stomach do little flips.
Ally felt the exhaustion come in a strong wave as she gave into a yawn and her eyes closed. She thought she heard something in the distance, her eyes failing to open. A strange tinge of fear ran through her before sleep took hold of her.
Ally opened her eyes only to find herself on a long narrow bike path. She knew this dream, this serene place; she’d been here many times before in her dreams. It was fall and the trees surrounding the path were tall and a mix of autumn colors; the browns, reds, yellows, and oranges all mixing together to make a beautiful view. She felt a soft breeze brush against her cheek and watched as leaves fell all around her. Usually, when she dreamt of this path, it was a place of solace – she would always find herself sitting down in the middle of the path where the white dashed bike lines came down the center, the wooden post and rails were fenced on either side of the path for as far as she could see both forward and back, and it was almost protective. The path felt built for her, and she could just sit there and smell the crisp autumn air, feel the sunshine cut through the trees onto her face, and play with the freshly fallen leaves that surrounded her.
This time, something was different. She found herself standing and walking down the path, like there was something she needed to find, something she needed to do. She could feel it and it was so real, so lucid, her curiosity pushed her feet forward. As she got closer to a bench that was set off the path into a wooded area, she stopped. She heard what sounded like someone crying. When she approached the area where the path split off, she cautiously looked for the origins of the cry.
Her eyes locked onto a man sitting on the bench, and when he turned his body and glanced up, she recognized those dark eyes instantly. Derek. Ally watched the emotions play over his face, first with shock and then what looked like utter happiness, and then he moved so fast, he was up off the bench.
And then suddenly his lips were on hers. His arms wrapped around her and she shivered at how desperately he kissed her, like he was absorbing her completely and all he wanted was to be closer to her. She fell into his kiss just as she had the first time, except without any hint of hesitation.
His lips were so soft on hers, but his kiss was demanding, his tongue playing with hers as she breathed in his scent. He was so masculine, so handsome, and she was so ordinary that this feeling that he gave her, like she was the most beautiful woman in the world, it was a feeling she did not want to let go of. He pulled back lightly while he kept his forehead rested against hers, their noses just touching.
“I love when you kiss me like that,” she breathed, her eyes still closed, “why do you kiss me like that?” The question came out as she slowly opened her eyes and stared into his, the little specks of green dancing around his dark irises.
“I thought I would never see you again. I’ve been so worried since James called me and told me you’d gone missing. I didn’t know what to think,” he whispered to her as he closed his eyes and laid another kiss on her lips, his hands coming up to cup both sides of her face, “where have you been?”
“What?” She said, trying to register his words. At that moment, everything went dark and with one blink, Derek was gone. The feeling of his warm embrace was left on her skin, but his sudden absence felt cold. She looked around looking for her sun lit path finding only darkness and when she felt the nausea rolling in her stomach, she went to her knees.
“Wake up, Ally. You have to wake up,” a voice whispered in her head, “WAKE UP!”
Ally’s eyes shot open and she flew her body forward in bed. It was a dream, it was only a dream, she kept whispering to herself, just a dream, just a dream. She was trying to calm herself and remind her body to breathe.
She didn’t see the dark figure come out of the corner of her room, her eyes still heavy with sleep. A sharp pinch on her neck and her arm swung out and hit something hard. She ripped something from her neck, a small cylinder that she flung to the floor. She heard someone grunt and fall backwards towards her closet, the loud noise of a heavy body knocking her small bureau over.
The sound made her eyes snap open. Quickly jumping out of bed, Ally ran to turn on the light across her room.
Someone’s hand grabbed her by the hair and ripped her backwards, her scream of pain piercing through the darkness. She was pulled back against a large body. As she struggled, her leg swung backwards on instinct and her heel met the intruder between the legs. She heard the loud grunt and the body keeling over and dropping to the floor.
“Ahhugg, you fucking bitch,” said a deep guttural voice between clenched teeth.
Ally didn’t wait around to comprehend the string of curses that the man was spewing. She ran down her hallway, her only thought being to get out of the apartment, her feet heading directly for the front door.
Suddenly, her feet failing her, she tripped. At that moment, her knees went weak and began to buckle. She couldn't catch herself, it was like her body just stopped responding.
And then he was there; just as she began to fall, his arms wrapped around her. Her eyes heavy, she felt woozy. Her heart was pounding in her ears and she knew she should be wide awake. The pit sitting in her stomach made her feel like she was on some kind of drug and when Derek’s eyes met hers as he picked her up, she saw the panic, the fear that she felt reflecting back at her.
“It’s okay,” he whispered in her ear, “I’ve got you, Ally. I’ll keep you safe.”
And then everything went dark.
It made her happy, giddy even; God, she hadn’t felt this way since high school. She was acting like some love sick teenager. What is wrong with her? No man in the history of her life has every made her act this ridiculous, and she couldn't fathom why she was so drawn to this particular man. Yes, he was handsome. Yes, his eyes were gorgeous and seemed to actually see her rather than see through her. And yes, she got all the right physical reactions when he was near her, just like any romantic movie she's ever drooled over.
She sighed, "But that is not me! That has never been me. I am a rational and realistic woman and I will not let this...," she paused searching for the word to describe what she felt and finding nothing, "thing for a man make me lose my mind." She kept arguing with herself.
A few moments passed and she sighed again. "But then maybe," she whispered softly as she rubbed her cheek into the cool material of her pillow, "maybe it was okay to want him this way, maybe this feeling just feels this good because it’s been so long since I've felt it." Her thoughts wandered to Nathan and the years they had spent together. They were so happy once, so in love. And then one morning, Ally woke up and the feeling was gone. Not in a bad way, but in a content way. It was a feeling that had slowly washed over her, like this is all we'll ever be, this is it, we can't be any more than we are right now. It was then she realized that she was standing in her future as well as her present, and as the days went on, every day was the reminder that nothing would ever change.
As her eyes began to drift close, she realized how exhausted she really was. She wasn’t all that surprised that she felt like she could sleep for days, what with all the emotions that were coursing through her from the day’s events. Mentally and emotionally defeated, her comfort came from the image of a handsome stranger with dark eyes and an intense gaze that sent shivers over her body and made her stomach do little flips.
Ally felt the exhaustion come in a strong wave as she gave into a yawn and her eyes closed. She thought she heard something in the distance, her eyes failing to open. A strange tinge of fear ran through her before sleep took hold of her.
Ally opened her eyes only to find herself on a long narrow bike path. She knew this dream, this serene place; she’d been here many times before in her dreams. It was fall and the trees surrounding the path were tall and a mix of autumn colors; the browns, reds, yellows, and oranges all mixing together to make a beautiful view. She felt a soft breeze brush against her cheek and watched as leaves fell all around her. Usually, when she dreamt of this path, it was a place of solace – she would always find herself sitting down in the middle of the path where the white dashed bike lines came down the center, the wooden post and rails were fenced on either side of the path for as far as she could see both forward and back, and it was almost protective. The path felt built for her, and she could just sit there and smell the crisp autumn air, feel the sunshine cut through the trees onto her face, and play with the freshly fallen leaves that surrounded her.
This time, something was different. She found herself standing and walking down the path, like there was something she needed to find, something she needed to do. She could feel it and it was so real, so lucid, her curiosity pushed her feet forward. As she got closer to a bench that was set off the path into a wooded area, she stopped. She heard what sounded like someone crying. When she approached the area where the path split off, she cautiously looked for the origins of the cry.
Her eyes locked onto a man sitting on the bench, and when he turned his body and glanced up, she recognized those dark eyes instantly. Derek. Ally watched the emotions play over his face, first with shock and then what looked like utter happiness, and then he moved so fast, he was up off the bench.
And then suddenly his lips were on hers. His arms wrapped around her and she shivered at how desperately he kissed her, like he was absorbing her completely and all he wanted was to be closer to her. She fell into his kiss just as she had the first time, except without any hint of hesitation.
His lips were so soft on hers, but his kiss was demanding, his tongue playing with hers as she breathed in his scent. He was so masculine, so handsome, and she was so ordinary that this feeling that he gave her, like she was the most beautiful woman in the world, it was a feeling she did not want to let go of. He pulled back lightly while he kept his forehead rested against hers, their noses just touching.
“I love when you kiss me like that,” she breathed, her eyes still closed, “why do you kiss me like that?” The question came out as she slowly opened her eyes and stared into his, the little specks of green dancing around his dark irises.
“I thought I would never see you again. I’ve been so worried since James called me and told me you’d gone missing. I didn’t know what to think,” he whispered to her as he closed his eyes and laid another kiss on her lips, his hands coming up to cup both sides of her face, “where have you been?”
“What?” She said, trying to register his words. At that moment, everything went dark and with one blink, Derek was gone. The feeling of his warm embrace was left on her skin, but his sudden absence felt cold. She looked around looking for her sun lit path finding only darkness and when she felt the nausea rolling in her stomach, she went to her knees.
“Wake up, Ally. You have to wake up,” a voice whispered in her head, “WAKE UP!”
Ally’s eyes shot open and she flew her body forward in bed. It was a dream, it was only a dream, she kept whispering to herself, just a dream, just a dream. She was trying to calm herself and remind her body to breathe.
She didn’t see the dark figure come out of the corner of her room, her eyes still heavy with sleep. A sharp pinch on her neck and her arm swung out and hit something hard. She ripped something from her neck, a small cylinder that she flung to the floor. She heard someone grunt and fall backwards towards her closet, the loud noise of a heavy body knocking her small bureau over.
The sound made her eyes snap open. Quickly jumping out of bed, Ally ran to turn on the light across her room.
Someone’s hand grabbed her by the hair and ripped her backwards, her scream of pain piercing through the darkness. She was pulled back against a large body. As she struggled, her leg swung backwards on instinct and her heel met the intruder between the legs. She heard the loud grunt and the body keeling over and dropping to the floor.
“Ahhugg, you fucking bitch,” said a deep guttural voice between clenched teeth.
Ally didn’t wait around to comprehend the string of curses that the man was spewing. She ran down her hallway, her only thought being to get out of the apartment, her feet heading directly for the front door.
Suddenly, her feet failing her, she tripped. At that moment, her knees went weak and began to buckle. She couldn't catch herself, it was like her body just stopped responding.
And then he was there; just as she began to fall, his arms wrapped around her. Her eyes heavy, she felt woozy. Her heart was pounding in her ears and she knew she should be wide awake. The pit sitting in her stomach made her feel like she was on some kind of drug and when Derek’s eyes met hers as he picked her up, she saw the panic, the fear that she felt reflecting back at her.
“It’s okay,” he whispered in her ear, “I’ve got you, Ally. I’ll keep you safe.”
And then everything went dark.
Working Title: THE BEGINNING
Note from author: Very slow development on this title, will update when continued.
Note from author: Very slow development on this title, will update when continued.
Darien rode his motorcycle through the rain. He had a few errands to run tonight, a few people he needed to see. First stop was Eli’s shop.
Eli was a voodoo priest, though his methods were a little unorthodox, he was one of the few men who had the knowledge of Darien’s kind and was usually able to answer a lot of unanswered questions. He knew the past as well as the future, a useful ally to keep on speed dial.
Eli’s shop looked like a small smoke shop, and once you walked inside, there were hookahs from wall to wall, glass figures took up one of the corners from floor to ceiling, and a beaded curtain hung in the back leading to Eli’s personal area. Darien headed directly for it.
Eli emerged from his back room meeting Darien half way. At six foot two, Eli overshadowed most people. His presence brought with it a powerful aura that demanded attention. But what many didn’t know was that Eli, though strong and powerful, was kind and forthcoming, and he was more of a father figure to Darien than anything else. The man was good down to his soul, and Darien would give his life for the man who many feared.
“Hello, old friend,” Eli said with his strong, Armenian accent.
“Eli,” Darien spoke with great respect in his voice, “it has been too long.”
“I do agree. We didn’t even have time to catch up last time before you disappeared as fast as you came.”
The last time Darien showed up, his wife had disappeared. Once Eli had conveyed to Darien that his readings showed nothing of his wife, but kept repeatedly showing a woman named Sandra Donavan, Darien had set out to find the woman in hopes that she could tell him where his wife was. That night, he had found her home, and scoped her house for any details as to how she could be involved with Jules. What he found was Julie’s old photo albums in the bottom of the woman’s buffet table. Julie had mentioned once before they were married that she had a sister, but she had never said more than that. She would simply stare off as if thinking of another life that she was no longer apart of and completely avoid continuing the conversation.
Darien had felt bad about leaving Eli without even so much as a good bye, but he had had a lot on his mind that day.
“I do apologize for my hastiness, but unfortunately, we will have to save the reminiscing for another night once again. I come to you seeking council. I need to know if you have heard anything about my wife.”
Eli’s eyes became sad. “I have,” he looked at Darien, “but you aren’t going to like it.”
Darien went cold. Was he prepared to hear this? “Is she okay?” Darien’s whisper seemed to echo his fear.
“She is alive.” Eli walked into the back with Darien following right behind him.
His vagueness triggered Darien’s impatience, but Darien refused to push the priest. Though Eli was often elusive, he was a friend. Relaying the information that so many others could only dream of knowing was sometimes a hard truth to face, and Darien knew that Eli didn’t always like knowing the unknowable. He knew for a fact that if Eli had had a choice to give up his ability, he would. It was just a hard burden to carry.
“Tell me what you know, meus amicus,” Darien said, using the Latin word for friend.
“I’ve been watching extremely close for these past few days, and I have been reading up in every ancient text book to see what I could find about people disappearing from present readings. What I found was a Somnus spell. It’s a sleeping spell that takes your mind out of this universe and places you in between. Like a coma, the body stays in tact and in perfect condition, but the mind is imprisoned somewhere else.”
“This doesn’t make any sense. I’ve made peace with all my enemies either through my sword or through my words.”
“Ah, but who are Julie’s enemies?” Eli looked into Darien’s eyes, gave him a small nod and said, “Speak with this woman, Sandra, and find out what she knows if she knows anything at all. It may give you a clue about Julie’s past and,” he paused, “a small glimpse into Julie’s future.” With that, Eli stood and held out his hand.
“Thank you, Eli.” Darien reached out to shake his hand, “Next time, maybe both Julie and I can take you out for a drink.”
The hope that Darien saw on Eli’s face was friendly, and it mirrored a hope that was dwindling down every minute in Darien’s heart.
“I’ll hold you to it, but until then, good luck and may the Gods be with you.”
“And you.”
Darien walked out of the old shop with only one thing on his mind. He was going back to Sandra’s home, but this time, he wouldn’t be entering the house unannounced. He needed to speak with her and get some answers.
He revved his motorcycle and headed towards the only hope he had left.
Eli was a voodoo priest, though his methods were a little unorthodox, he was one of the few men who had the knowledge of Darien’s kind and was usually able to answer a lot of unanswered questions. He knew the past as well as the future, a useful ally to keep on speed dial.
Eli’s shop looked like a small smoke shop, and once you walked inside, there were hookahs from wall to wall, glass figures took up one of the corners from floor to ceiling, and a beaded curtain hung in the back leading to Eli’s personal area. Darien headed directly for it.
Eli emerged from his back room meeting Darien half way. At six foot two, Eli overshadowed most people. His presence brought with it a powerful aura that demanded attention. But what many didn’t know was that Eli, though strong and powerful, was kind and forthcoming, and he was more of a father figure to Darien than anything else. The man was good down to his soul, and Darien would give his life for the man who many feared.
“Hello, old friend,” Eli said with his strong, Armenian accent.
“Eli,” Darien spoke with great respect in his voice, “it has been too long.”
“I do agree. We didn’t even have time to catch up last time before you disappeared as fast as you came.”
The last time Darien showed up, his wife had disappeared. Once Eli had conveyed to Darien that his readings showed nothing of his wife, but kept repeatedly showing a woman named Sandra Donavan, Darien had set out to find the woman in hopes that she could tell him where his wife was. That night, he had found her home, and scoped her house for any details as to how she could be involved with Jules. What he found was Julie’s old photo albums in the bottom of the woman’s buffet table. Julie had mentioned once before they were married that she had a sister, but she had never said more than that. She would simply stare off as if thinking of another life that she was no longer apart of and completely avoid continuing the conversation.
Darien had felt bad about leaving Eli without even so much as a good bye, but he had had a lot on his mind that day.
“I do apologize for my hastiness, but unfortunately, we will have to save the reminiscing for another night once again. I come to you seeking council. I need to know if you have heard anything about my wife.”
Eli’s eyes became sad. “I have,” he looked at Darien, “but you aren’t going to like it.”
Darien went cold. Was he prepared to hear this? “Is she okay?” Darien’s whisper seemed to echo his fear.
“She is alive.” Eli walked into the back with Darien following right behind him.
His vagueness triggered Darien’s impatience, but Darien refused to push the priest. Though Eli was often elusive, he was a friend. Relaying the information that so many others could only dream of knowing was sometimes a hard truth to face, and Darien knew that Eli didn’t always like knowing the unknowable. He knew for a fact that if Eli had had a choice to give up his ability, he would. It was just a hard burden to carry.
“Tell me what you know, meus amicus,” Darien said, using the Latin word for friend.
“I’ve been watching extremely close for these past few days, and I have been reading up in every ancient text book to see what I could find about people disappearing from present readings. What I found was a Somnus spell. It’s a sleeping spell that takes your mind out of this universe and places you in between. Like a coma, the body stays in tact and in perfect condition, but the mind is imprisoned somewhere else.”
“This doesn’t make any sense. I’ve made peace with all my enemies either through my sword or through my words.”
“Ah, but who are Julie’s enemies?” Eli looked into Darien’s eyes, gave him a small nod and said, “Speak with this woman, Sandra, and find out what she knows if she knows anything at all. It may give you a clue about Julie’s past and,” he paused, “a small glimpse into Julie’s future.” With that, Eli stood and held out his hand.
“Thank you, Eli.” Darien reached out to shake his hand, “Next time, maybe both Julie and I can take you out for a drink.”
The hope that Darien saw on Eli’s face was friendly, and it mirrored a hope that was dwindling down every minute in Darien’s heart.
“I’ll hold you to it, but until then, good luck and may the Gods be with you.”
“And you.”
Darien walked out of the old shop with only one thing on his mind. He was going back to Sandra’s home, but this time, he wouldn’t be entering the house unannounced. He needed to speak with her and get some answers.
He revved his motorcycle and headed towards the only hope he had left.