Samples Continued.
Immortal Island Series.
Continued from page one of samples. Books 3 and 4 are located here.
Prologue
**Hierarchy**
Following Alaina’s birth...
As Erick entered through the large golden doors of the Hierarchy, his heart raced with every step. The Watchers, his superiors, were demanding to speak with him at once. Avoiding their calls lasted only so long before they summoned him without choice. The great hall, a place he used to call his home; large white and gold trimmed doors open upon his arrival. Instantly he felt the burning of their unwelcoming stare. As he stood in the doorway, he looked up to find all eyes of the Archangels were on him, yet no one spoke. Erick made his way to the altar. With respect, he bowed.
“Your Eminence,” He bowed his head to him.
His back was to Erick, “Did you not pledge allegiance to the Almighty?” He asked, his voice echoing in the vast room.
Erick felt shamed and hung his head as he answered, “Yes.”
“Did you not vow to protect the prophecy at all cost, even if that meant ending your own life?” He asked.
“Yes.” His face burned with embarrassment.
“Then why has it come to this Eremiel?” He questioned.
“What do you mean?”
“You have fallen for the human girl—again.” He scorned.
“I have not.”
He scowls, “You were never to interfere, unless she was in danger. You were never to speak with her, not even to accept gratitude for your rescue efforts.” His deep rumbling voice shook the room. Erick could not answer. “When I reassigned you Eremiel, that meant you no longer had any attachment to her. Yet, you deliberately disobey the order and continue to go to her. She accepted her fate, therefore the prophecy is destroyed!” He turned to face him, “You have forsaken us Eremiel. Your actions are deplorable!”
“She did not choose her fate it was bestowed upon her, without her consent. I could not bear to see her go in a wrong way, with that beast who took her.” His eyes welled but he did his best to choke back the tears. Weakness was not something they want to see. “She has remained kind and generous—”
“She has taken a life Eremiel! Do not be swayed by their ability of persuasion. She is unworthy of our protection now!” His chest heaved, he turned away, “Let the beast have her.”
“No!” Erick screamed. All heads turned to look at him and scowl, “Please Azazel—”
He interjects, “You shall not see her again, for if you do, you shall suffer the consequences.” He said angrily. “Have I made myself clear?”
“But—”
“IS THAT CLEAR!” His voice filled the room with thundering crackles. “Do you wish to live among the humans as an outcast, as one of the fallen, to die among them and not your brethren?”
“No—please, I will do anything you ask. I will repent.” Erick begged.
“Repent? There is no amount of repenting that will deem you worthy of the Archangel entitlement!”
Erick begged, “Your Eminence, please, let me prove to you—”
Azazel interjected, “No! Leave my sight before I change my mind and banish you forever.” Erick could not move. Then as he turned to leave, like a dog with his tail tucked between his legs, Azazel added, “Unless . . .” Erick’s heart raced and he wanted to take back his last few words. That tone of Azazel’s voice made him very wary of what was to come next.
His eyes widened in anticipation. “You kill the child.” He replied craning his neck to look at Erick.
“What?” He gasped suddenly feeling faint. Erick did all he could to stand still, “I can’t do that! You ask of me an impossible task.”
“Is it Eremial? Or is it that you are blinded by your love for the girl? If you want to prove to me, that the love of your God is stronger than the love of her child—then kill the abomination before it is too late.” He demanded. Azazel’s eyes narrowed and he examined Erick closely. “That is your task, take it or leave it. There are no more second chances Eremiel!” Once again, he turned his back to Erick. Azazel began speaking with the other angels in a hushed voice. Erick knelt once again, crossed himself, turned and left with the doors sealing shut behind him.
His mind was all over the place. How could he kill Alaina, after everything Sarah has been through? She would never forgive him. From the moment, he had first laid his eyes on her, his world changed. She was the most beautiful creature to have walked this earth. The first time that he felt his heart ache for her, he knew he would be in trouble. The elders kept a close eye on her and now it meant they were watching closely. Unless she called for Erick, he would have to remain at a distance. There was no room for mistakes. There had been too many close encounters already. If not for fear of losing his wings, he would have vowed his undying love to her long ago. It had been several weeks since he had heard from Sarah. Not once, had she called for him since she left the island. The last time he had seen Sarah, it did not end well. They had an intimate encounter, in a moment of weakness, on his part. He opened his heart to her when he should have walked away. Now, her touch haunts him every day that they are apart. He longs for her so much that he would risk everything, to be near her. However, he was her guardian, not her lover and it had to stop, before it went too far. Since that moment, he had distanced himself from Sarah. If he lost his wings now, there would be no one to protect her. Vampire or not, he loved her. Now, she spent her days with Ambrose, which made it hard to find her. He held her somewhere with heavy magic protecting their location. To occupy his mind, he spent most days helping his other Charges. When Erick did eventually find her, she was fleeing from the Werewolves that had taken her daughter. Erick once again felt helpless. There was nothing he could do to stop them. That pushed her even farther away from him. The look Sarah gave him before she left that day, tore him up inside.
Weeks later, Ambrose showed up at his front door with Sarah. Angry and irrational, leaving Erick with little choice but to lock her up in his cellar until she calmed down. She risked everyone’s life including her own, by going against their advice. Now, Alaina is out of reach and they must ask for more help than ever before. Erick could not bear the thought of locking her up, but it was his only choice. Her screams still haunt his nights.
Prologue
**Chase**
Chase had been tracking Sarah for months. He regretted that he had not found her sooner, and told her that he was alive, before she started running. The way she had changed over the years, seemed almost impossible to get close to her now. She was not the same woman he fell in love with. All the suffering she went through changed her. First, her parents’ murder then Alaina’s kidnapping then death. Chase’s own disappearance and then Erick’s death, can take a toll on someone’s heart. No one should have to go through that much pain in one lifetime. Also being turned against your will, living with that was painful enough. When Erick; or Samuel as he goes by now, was found it put Chase’s mind at ease. If it weren’t for him, Chase would never have found Sarah as quickly as he had. Trained Angels or Nephilim, had an easier time finding certain types of beings. Luckily, Samuel had no recollection of his past life. Chase can still recall vividly, the very moment he saw Samuel for the first time. It was mid-February, in Scranton Pennsylvania. Chase had come so close to finding Sarah in Jackson, when she had attended Lennox’s funeral.
By the time he made it to the house, where the funeral had taken place, he had lost her again. On his way home he was driving down Luzerne Street when Chase spotted him walking. Chase found out that Erick was now going by the name, Samuel. Chase watched him for a few years before he had the courage to introduce himself. When Samuel attended college, Chase played himself off as a student just to get closer to him. They eventually became good friends and when college ended, things changed. Chase noticed Samuel’s first set of markings appear on his neck and shoulder. When Chase questioned him about the new tattoos, Samuel became defensive and eventually distant. That didn’t stop Chase from keeping an eye on him, from afar. It was uncanny how much he looked as he did almost forty years ago, when he was Erick. Despite the scars under his right eye and upper lip he looked the same. The Hierarchy appeared nostalgic. Perhaps they believe the scars will keep him focused on the task at hand this time around. Not fall in love as he had several times before. After everything that had happened, Erick was given another chance. Once again fate has brought them together, just as it had Sarah and Chase many times before. Never once had it changed in over 300 years. If they continue to bring Sarah back, why wouldn’t they bring Erick back? He was her guardian almost every life she had, this Chase knew for certain. Maybe this time fate would leave them alone since Sarah had become a vampire. And that’s what puzzled Chase; he didn’t understand, why bring Erick back this time around, since Sarah was a vampire? Perhaps a new hunter was born that he was to protect. That makes more sense than protecting a vampire.
It didn’t take long for Chase to feel unsafe around Samuel. Once the first mark revealed itself, the hunt was on. Chase was walking a fine line staying that close to Samuel. It was only a matter of time before he realized what Chase actually was. He needed to know what went on at the farm, so he followed Samuel home one night but there was a very powerful ward around the lot and Chase was never able to step foot on the property. He had attempted on several occasions, just to get a closer look at what Samuel was learning but he could not penetrate the barrier. He even considered finding a witch to give him a spell to get through but decided against it. He didn’t want to bring attention to himself or what he was.
After college ended, Chase kept his distance. He watched Samuel evolve into the hunter. He watched how he stalked his kill and took them out with ease and perfection. Chase had never been more terrified in his life. However, he knew what to do next, and not waking old memories was what kept him at bay. Then when Samuel stopped by his apartment unannounced, Chase decided to use his search for Sarah as an excuse for distancing himself. With as little information about her being a vampire as possible he left it up to Samuel to find her. Things didn’t stop there. Samuel began to question Chase about his lifestyle, which he also gave little information about, left Samuel unsettled. Then to fulfil his curiosity, Samuel decided that he would follow Chase around. At first, Chase did not pick up on his scent, mainly because Samuel had used a protection spell. Samuel knew the protection spell, by heart since he could memorize things. Something Chase did not know. Then on this one night, while Chase was hunting, Samuel came around the corner sneaking up on him. Chase stopped and spun around to protect himself, forcing Samuel back with a very powerful shove.
“What the hell? I don’t understand?” Samuel said confused as he got to his feet. “How did I not know?”
"I am able to protect myself too Samuel.” Chase replied.
It took Chase a very long and tiring effort to convince Samuel, that he was not his enemy.
Weeks later, Samuel decided it was time to leave the farm and he agreed to help Chase search for Sarah. He told his foster parents he was ready to live on his own. With a long tear-filled good-bye, many loving hugs and words of encouragement, he parted ways. He took everything he used to train, with him. They handed over a card to a bank account. Every hunter got one, filled with a limitless supply of money gold and jewels. Money is an important factor in a hunter’s life, helps him keep updated on weapons and pays for all travel expenses. The Hierarchy control many things on earth. For one, they owned and operated an impenetrable bank that could not be robbed. They protected it with wards making it appear invisible, unless you were a member. The bank was the first stop Samuel made before heading out to find Sarah, just as he promised Chase. This promise included that he would find Sarah, then be on his way. Chase then made Samuel a promise; he would never interfere with his hunt, as long as Samuel left him and Sarah alone.
Together they walked up to the building that appeared as if it was abandoned. “What is this place?” Chase asked backing up to get a better look.
“Bank,” Samuel replied as he dug through his bag.
“A bank,” he questioned, “It looks abandoned.”
“It’s supposed to look that way. It’s warded against all who are not part of the Hierarchy. To humans they see a beautiful garden protected by a wrought iron fence.” Samuel explained. “To other beings it looks like an old run down building that they can’t seem to enter.” He smirked.
“Clever. That is some powerful magic.” He folded his arms across his chest. Why would they need a bank? Chase wondered.
“It is.” He smiled. “I will be right back.” He hauled the bag over his shoulder then pressed his palm on what looked like, to Chase, a dingy brick wall. An hour later Samuel returned with a second bag.
Chase asked following behind him. “What’s in the bag?”
“Supplies I need.” He replied rather vague.
When Chase attempted to grab the bag and offer his help, it burned his hand. “Ah shit!” He gasped shaking his hand then looking angrily at Samuel. “What the hell was that?”
“It’s has a ward on it,” a grinned formed on his face.
“You could have warned me.” He shook his hand until it healed. Chase found it rather unnerving the callous attitude Samuel had suddenly.
“Ready.” Samuel asked.
“Yeah,” Chase reluctantly followed.
They walked until Samuel turned up the driveway of a car lot. Chase cocked his head confused at first then was game for a car because walking was a pain in the ass. As a vampire it was easy to run until exhaustion set in but when you’re a mortal, the time drags immensely. Chase stood outside waiting while Samuel went inside and offered cash for a car.
Samuel walked up to the first man who had not walked away when they looked over at the door. At first glance Samuel looked like a young kid out for kicks.
“I need something reliable. Money isn’t an issue.” He said.
“You are looking for a brand new car?” The sales man asked.
“I don’t care if it is new or used, just as long as it is fast.” Samuel said with a raise of his brow and a smirk. He folded his arms across his chest walking out of the office and stopping in front of a sleek black Challenger. “This one,” He said and pointed to the car.
Harold began, “That’s a Challenger, retails for twenty-five thousand dollars. These days they are fuel-efficient, 305 hp, V6 engine with 5-speed automatic transmission. This one here is our test model and has about forty kilometers on it, retails for approximately twenty-three—”
“I’ll take it.” He interjected. “Shall we,” He gestured the man to walk back towards his office. Samuel followed Harold, shutting the door behind him. “How long before the car is ready?”
“I can have it ready as early as Wednesday morning?”
“Not good enough. I need it tomorrow.” Samuel replied insistently.
“I can see what I can do about that.” He replied uncertain.
“Harold, seeing and doing are two different things and I am a doer not a see’er. So either it is ready tomorrow or I will take my business elsewhere.” Samuel leaned forwards staring him straight in the eye waiting for an answer.
“Okay, tomorrow morning it is.” Harold replied nervously.
“That’s what I like to hear.” He smiled.
They filled out the paperwork. Everything that Samuel provided was legit. What made Harold nervous was the money he was about to hand over, just over twenty-six thousand in cash.
Samuel leaned in. “I appreciate your hesitation Harold it shows me that you are an honest man. That’s a good thing. I prefer to deal with honest men. I know you have to scan all this before calling the authorities but I assure you it is all clean money. I just took it out of the bank this morning, from my trust fund.” He smirked and handed him a piece of paper from the bank he got the money from.
Samuel glanced out the window at Chase. “Excuse me a moment.” He stood and Harold nodded. He walked outside to where Chase was waiting.
“Hey, see that motel over there.” Samuel pointed. “Get us a room. I will be over in a few minutes.” He handed Chase a few hundred-dollar bills.
Chase studied Samuel. “Did I miss something?” He asked.
“No.” He nodded then walked away.
“Okay-then,” Chase muttered to himself then turned to walk over to the motel. He asked the clerk to book them in for a night. “Two beds please.” He added.