Soul Kissed (25 page)

She floated beside me in the air, her ghostly feet dangling.

“Easy for you to say,” I muttered as my arms began to shake.  She grinned an eerie grin. 

“Just do it,” she implored.  “Pull up every ounce of strength that you’ve got and use it right now.”

Out of my vision range, I heard Brennan shouting for me.  I gritted my teeth and focused.  I didn’t have enough mental strength to simply materialize elsewhere, so I would have to use physical strength.  My arms ached and trembled and I expelled my breath slowly, allowing it to slide over my teeth.  I didn’t know if I could do this.  I didn’t know if I was strong enough.

You are strong enough
, I heard in my head.  Brennan.  The only voice that mattered right now
.  Hold on.  I’ll be right there.  

I focused, staring at the way my fingers were digging into the hardened clay high above me.  I focused on the red hot pain in my shoulders as the muscle pulled away from the bone. 

And then Brennan’s face appeared above me, as beautiful as anything I’d ever seen.  He grasped my wrists and within a second, he had pulled me up and out of harm’s way.  I clutched him to me and he scooped me into his arms.  I barely even felt the pain from my dislocated shoulders.  I knew I would heal.  All that mattered was that I was here… with Brennan. 

“We’ve got to go,” he breathed as he began to run with me in his arms.  I stared around him to see my mother fighting Mormo in hand to hand combat.  Her dagger whizzed past his head as her leg swung around and kicked his own from beneath him.  The Amazons were quickly approaching them to assist. 

My mother met my gaze.  “Run,” she said.  “I’ll find you.  Brennan knows where. Stay safe.”

“I love you,” I mouthed to her. 

“I love you, too,” she replied, before Mormo slammed into her with full strength.  She returned her attention to him, holding him at bay while the Amazons closed in around them.  Geysers shot from the ground around them as she threw Mormo off with supernatural power.  Her eyes shifted from blue to silver as she concentrated and I knew she would be alright.

“Where are we going?” I asked Brennan as he moved even faster, carrying us away from Mormo and the danger surrounding us.

Brennan readjusted my weight to hand me a small velvet bag.  I peered inside it as he continued running and found a little pile of stone squares. 

“Runes?”

He nodded as the countryside around us blurred into nothingness.  “Your mother said you could read them… and they would tell us where to go.”

I blinked.  “It’s not so much of a
where
as a
when.
  Brennan, do you trust me?”

He gazed down at me, his eyes a dark butterscotch.  “Em, I trust you with my life.  Whatever happens, I want it to happen with you at my side.  We can handle it.  We can handle anything.”

“Truly?”I asked softly, tracing the outline of his handsome face with my fingers.

“Truly,” he confirmed.  “I am nothing without you, Emmie.  That’s something that I know now.”

“No,” I argued softly, snuggling against his hard chest, relaxing as he ran.  “You are everything. 
Time
is nothing.  You’re about to find that out firsthand, I’m afraid.”

“I’m not afraid,” he said firmly and his tone warmed my heart. “If I’m with you, there’s nothing to be afraid of.  Being away from you is the only real fear that I have.”

I closed my eyes as I pressed my ear to his heart, listening to its powerful beat.  “Me too,” I admitted softly.  “Me too.”

But as I allowed his strong legs to carry both of us toward our future, I knew that we didn’t need to fear it.  We’d never be apart again, no matter what our future held.  We were together now and that was how it was going to stay. 

In the far distance behind us, an explosion of light sprayed into the sky and I knew that my mother and Mormo were still fighting.  But I wasn’t afraid.  My mother was the strongest witch in the world.  She would come out on top and then she would find us.  I had faith that everything would be fine.   It had to be.  It would be.  I would make sure of it. 

“Hold my hand,” I murmured to Brennan.  He stopped moving and gazed into my eyes. 

“Now?  Why?”

“Do you trust me?”  I asked, my eyes frozen on his. 

“Of course,” he answered.  “Forever.”

“Forever,” I confirmed.  And our surroundings faded away as we slipped from the present and into the past.  Forever was a long time.  But I planned to spend every moment of it with Brennan.  I opened my eyes. 

Starting right now. 

THE END

To read more of Em and Brennan, read book two of the Moonstone Saga,

Soul Bound.

Author’s Notes

I always said I wouldn’t write a vampire book.  Not because I don’t like to read them, because I do.  I just think that there are so many good vamp stories already out there that I couldn’t possibly add anything substantial to that genre.  But in my defense, this isn’t a vampire book.  When I came across Empusa as I was doing research for the
Bloodstone Saga
, I knew that I not only wanted to use her in
The Bloodstone Saga
, but that I also wanted her to have her own series.

Why?

Because details surrounding her are so vague in Mythology…but just the sheer notion of who she is is exciting.   Some legends list her as Hecate’s consort and some list her as Hecate’s daughter with Mormo.  When I thought of her in that context, my writer’s mind started spinning, building up a back-story and I went from there.  Because actual details are so vague, it gives me a lot of creative leeway, which is music to a writer’s ears.  I could give her any kind of personality that I wished and that was so exciting to me.

And that’s how Empusa’s series was born.

In my version, as you just read, she is Hecate’s daughter and she is beautiful, ethereal and has a backbone of steel.  I can’t wait to discover what other secrets she holds as I continue writing her.  I hoped you enjoyed reading about her even half as much as I enjoy writing her.

Acknowledgments

There are so many wonderful people in my life who support me in my writing life.  My husband and my kids are so patient with me… when we have to have frozen pizza or takeout for dinner because I’m stuck in a scene or when I’m daydreaming about a character. 

My mom is awesome- she reads everything that I write.  Thanks, mom!

My fans are so amazingly awesome!  I absolutely adore receiving your emails, tweets, Facebook messages, etc.  You guys are the best fans in the world.

My Beta Readers …Melissa, Shari, Ana, Meg, Em, Branwen.  You guys totally rock my socks off!  I don’t know what I would do without your input. 

My writerly friends… Michelle and Fisher. You guys are the best brainistorming/soundboards/talk-me-off-the-ledge friends ever. I don’t know what I’d do without you.

And my bestie, Am.  Thanks for sticking with me ever since second grade.  (We won’t mention exactly how long that has been!  Haha.)   I love you- always have, always will.

If you enjoyed
Soul Kissed
, You might also enjoy Courtney Cole’s
Bloodstone Saga

Continue reading to sample Book One,
Every Last Kiss

Every Last Kiss

PROLOGUE

Alexandria, Egypt

The Mausoleum of Queen Cleopatra and Marc Antony

30 BC

“
C
harmian! Is there any sign of her?”   

I hurriedly rushed back from the outer room of the mausoleum, looking nervously over my shoulder as my bare feet padded lightly on the cool stone floor.

       “No, my queen.  Only the guards.”

Queen Cleopatra nodded solemnly, her golden armbands glistening in the lamplight. She rose from her perch on a jeweled chaise lounge and gazed sadly at the golden sarcophagus that glittered mutely in front of her.  Ornate and beautiful, it held the remains of her husband.  Lovingly, she slid her hands along the golden shell that would protect him for eternity. 

From the open windows of the outer chambers, the tangy sea breeze blew softly into the inner rooms and I found myself wishing that it could carry me away, somewhere far from here.  I fingered the birthmark on my wrist.  It was not throbbing, not even an ache, and I knew that I would not be leaving this crypt.

A sudden, soft knock on the doors echoed in the quiet room, causing both of us to whip around.  Tension immediately formed in my neck.  This was it.  It had to be.  Cleopatra squared her shoulders, then bent to brush a soft kiss on the golden mask covering Marc Antony’s face.

“Forgive me, my love,” she murmured.

There was another low knock and I felt my shoulders ripple with the stress that they carried as Cleopatra reached out to grasp my hand.

“Iras, love… could you answer that?” Cleopatra whispered.  She squeezed my hand tightly, but I barely noticed.  

Cleopatra’s other handmaiden nodded obediently and slipped silently from the room to answer the door.  She returned a scant moment later with a tiny shriveled woman who looked not a day younger than 200 years old.  The glinting eyes that stared from under her brown hood were ageless, full of wisdom and I felt my heart begin to race.  It was time.  There was no doubt.

       Cleopatra squared her shoulders, her face a perfect regal mask as she walked purposely toward the old woman. 

       “Do you have it?”

       “Yes, your highness,” the old woman rasped throatily. 

She held out a woven reed basket.  I wouldn’t have thought it was big enough to conceal anything and apparently the Roman guards hadn’t either.  Nowadays, they checked everything that came in for the queen. 

       I rushed to Cleopatra’s side and we peered into the interior of the basket together.  It was full of plump figs and I inhaled their sweet, heavy scent.  My eyes raised questioningly to the old healer. 

       She nodded at my unspoken question.  “It is hidden under the figs.”

       “How long will it take?” Cleopatra whispered, her voice not reflecting even a bit of the fear that raced through my veins.

       “Only a few moments. No longer.”  The healer’s faded eyes searched Cleopatra’s bright ones.  “You must be certain, your highness.  Once the poison enters your body, there can be no turning back.”

       Cleopatra nodded.  “No, there is no turning back, old woman.”

       The healer nodded gravely and held out the basket as if it were an offering.  Cleopatra took it and sank back into her chaise lounge, staring absently at the opulence surrounding her as she reached into the basket, withdrawing a fig.  Slipping it into her mouth, she chewed it delicately, then smiled.

       “Delicious,” she announced, swallowing calmly. 

She eyed the basket again pensively.  I sucked in my breath.  It was time.  I felt it coming, the air crackled with it.  Death was an unseen presence in the room, waiting for our last breaths. 

       Reaching into the basket once again, Cleopatra withdrew a long, thin black snake.  It draped itself along her arm and she stared into its black slitted eyes. 

       “You will take me to the afterlife,” she instructed it firmly. “And do it quickly.”

       Leaning back into the silk cushions, she shook the snake lightly.  It hissed, its large mouth yawning open ominously, revealing glistening fangs.  As it stared at her, one drop of deadly venom dripped from its mouth.  Nothing more.  Impatient, Cleopatra shook it again.  It struck her so quickly that I barely had time to register the movement before I heard her gasp. 

       “It is done then,” she murmured, dropping the snake once again into the basket.  I flew to her side, my arms around her slender shoulders.  Two drops of blood dripped from her breast.

       “Cleopatra…” My voice broke as pain flooded through me.    

       “Charmian, do not fear.  We have done what we must.  All is well.” 

Her obsidian eyes met mine and I saw peace in them. My breath caught in my throat just as she drew her last.  Her lips quivered and then she was still, her dark eyes staring sightlessly at me.  My heart shattered silently. 

       “All is well,” I whispered as I reached out and gently closed her eyes.  “Is it?  Is it well where you are now, my queen?” 

Her face was peaceful and even in death, she was beautiful.  I swallowed hard as I looked up at Iras.  She was shaking her head in grief as she rocked back on her heels.  The old woman watched me silently, waiting to see what I would do, waiting to see if I would follow our queen. 

       Shakily, I picked up the basket and reached inside.  The snake’s body was surprisingly dry, not scaly in the slightest.  It writhed beneath my hand, agitated already.  My fingers closed around it determinedly, pulling it back out into the light.

       Staring into its flat black eyes, I implored it softly. 

       “Please be quick.”

       And it was.

CHAPTER ONE

 Pasadena, California

Present Day

T
he country music singer’s spunky voice ripped through the silence in my room as she began singing loudly from my nightstand, causing my phone to vibrate against the espresso colored wood.  I smiled.  The lyrics about demolishing a cheating ex-boyfriend’s car with a baseball bat was tempting.  Too tempting.  I answered my phone before I got any more ideas. 

“Stop obsessing.”

Jessa’s voice was authoritative and bossy.  And so on the money that it was ridiculous, not that she needed to know that.  Even as she spoke, my eyes were glued to my computer screen where Derek’s face grinned at me.  His perfectly mussed blonde hair draped just-so over his green eyes, and I shuddered. 
Cheater.