Awakening: A Timeless Series Novel, Book Four

Copyright

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

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, my not be reproduced in any form without permission from the author. The scanning uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law.

Copyright © 2014 by Lisa L. Wiedmeier

Editor: Sam
Dogra

Copy Editor: Jodi
Tahsler

Front cover art by:
Phatpuppy Art

Cover design by: Timeless Productions

For more information on the Timeless Series visit:
http://www.lisawiedmeier.com
/
timelessseriesnovels.com
/
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaLWiedmeier
http://lisawiedmeier.blogspot.com/
http://lisasscribbles.blogspot.com/

Edition-I

ISBN:
978-0-9839052-8-8

For my niece, Lindsae.

Stay strong.

Fight the good fight.

You’ve got this…

For the ladies at Table #3, you rock!

Acknowledgements

For the craziness known as my boys, Glenn, Coley, and Cody.
You still continue to bring out the creativity in me.

For Carrie, who stepped up when I was drowning and has made my life so much easier. She has become not only a huge supporter, but more importantly a good friend.

And for Sam, who says I should never settle for mediocrity.

We are near awakening when we dream what we dream.

~Novalis

Death—the last sleep? No, it’s the final awakening.

~Sir Walter Scott

Do not go gentle into that good night,

old age should burn and rage at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

because
their words had forked no lightning,

they
do not go gently into the night.

~ Dylan Thomas

Awakening

A Timeless Series Novel

Book Four

Chapter 1

Alone…

The word rattled around in my mind as I glanced around the Canadian forest. We’d escaped to the wilderness, but it would never hold my freedom. It was as my birth mother Sahara had said; I’d be fighting this battle alone. But that’s what I’d been created for. I was a weapon with the sole purpose of defeating the one who wanted to destroy us all…Marcus.

I’d been right from the beginning, had told my family all along that I was nothing more than
this. But they worked hard to sway me otherwise; they had given me their love and trust, and almost convinced me, until now. We’d all been so wrong.

It
would’ve been easier to stay with Marcus in that dreary gray compound. I wouldn’t have had to see the despair and hurt, as all those closest to me accused me of betrayal. Now my rescue had changed all our fates.

Changed
them forever.

What hurt worst of
all was that Callon thought I’d betrayed him—but I hadn’t meant for it to be like this. By uniting in marriage to Marcus, I’d inadvertently given him the Consilador clan’s powers, instead of restoring them to Callon. Marcus had lied to me— and I had believed every word. But there had to be a way to restore the powers to their rightful owners. I was united with Marcus, after all; I’d have the Consilador’s powers as well. And if I had their powers, I should be able to return them to the clan…but finding out how was the least of my worries at the moment.

I
couldn’t stop the tears streaming down my cheeks. Colt drew me closer, as I watched Callon walk away into the wilderness. Nakari tagged along behind him, till he pushed her away. Even she couldn’t comfort him now. I’d wounded him deeply, too deeply for forgiveness. The one promise I’d made—not to break his heart—and I had.

Nakari’s
parting words stung, and I let out a shaky breath. Maybe Marcus
was
all I ever deserved. My mother’s journal pages had told me the truth. My parents had given me up to protect me, but not for my own sake. In reality it was to protect their weapon. Despite the fact that Colt’s cruelty while I was Marcus’s captive had been an act, his words hit home. I had never been loved by my parents, or they would never have condemned to me to this fate.

I
pushed away from Colt, but he caught my arm as I tried to walk away.

“Cheyenne?”

He didn’t want me too far away, not after he’d risked his life to get me back. I looked down at the forest floor, avoiding eye contact, and pulled away. I found a fallen tree to perch on while Maes, Brogan, and Koda talked out their escape plan. They needed to escape, and I needed to wait till Marcus came after me again. It was never going to be over as long as I was with them. I was sure I’d have to watch them die, one by one…

A dark shadow loomed above
me.

“
We need to leave,” Maes said. “We need to get as much ground between you and Marcus before he regains his powers. He’s going to be coming for you, and it won’t be like before. He won’t stop till he has you.”

“L
eave me here,” I replied. “He only wants me.”

“No,” Maes said,
his French accent thickening with irritation. “I may not understand what’s taken place, but right now you’re a danger to us, and you can’t be left alone.”

I
swallowed hard. I should have seen it coming, should have known Maes would see me as a threat, not that I could blame him. I had realized I had to marry Marcus, but I was still unsure how this would help me defeat him. And keeping this fact to myself was in my best interests right now. The others already thought I’d made a huge mistake—telling them I wasn’t sure where to go from here would make it even worse. I stood and followed Maes to Midnight, Koda’s enormous black horse.

Of course,
I wouldn’t be allowed to ride alone or with Colt. Both Colt and I were a threat, an unknown factor, rogues who had betrayed the family’s trust. Koda’s harsh expression softened, and sympathetic icy blue eyes met mine. He didn’t like the situation any more than I did. I sighed.

The sunlight trickled through the trees as
we rode. The familiar ache in my head was growing. I closed my eyes, willing it to disappear, but as time passed, it remained. It was only a matter of time till it took over, and I’d go through another transformation, one that would forever unite my powers with Marcus.

I
rubbed my temple. The reaction had happened to a degree while I was with Marcus, after almost uniting my powers with Callon. Marcus had said I’d be disoriented, and I’d slept for three days. Marcus was considerably stronger than Callon. How long would this go on? I didn’t have three days to waste in recovery.

“
You okay?” Colt rode closer, reaching out to touch my arm.

I
avoided his eyes.

“What’s wrong, Cheyenne?” Koda
asked, leaning forward so his breath warmed my neck.

“Are
you feeling ill?” Daniel chimed in as he too closed the distance between us.

Brogan gave a disgusted snort.

“I’m fine.” I brushed Colt away and drew Koda’s cloak around me. I didn’t need their sympathy.

They
didn’t push the matter. For that I was grateful, but Daniel and Colt rode close and Koda’s hold had changed. He pulled me closer against his chest, his muscles tense. Obviously he thought I might keel over in a faint or something.

We
continued through the forest, morning turning into late afternoon. It was odd, for though Maes had said we needed to keep our distance from Marcus, we didn’t seem to be riding that fast.

Where were the Trackers, the Tresezes? I knew the Ghosters weren’t a threat anymore; they typically only tracked Timeless children before they transformed. But I’d have thought
Raina would make an appearance.

I
leaned forward and glanced around us. It had been a quiet ride, everyone lost in their own thoughts, their faces still glum. It was as if they’d paired up into two groups—the ones who supported me and the ones who didn’t.

Daniel and Colt flanked
our right side, while Brogan, Maes, and Nakari were on our left. Andre, Bree, Clayton, and Skylar seemed to be right down the middle. The rest, well, they’d choose sides when we caught up with them.

My
eyes wandered back to Nakari. She looked the worst by far. Her auburn hair hung limply over her slouched shoulders, and her head hung low. A shiver escaped her, and she pulled her jacket tighter. Her head turned slightly to the right as a deer stopped grazing and watched us pass, but her expression didn’t change.

She
didn’t understand, and no matter how much I tried to tell her I had done this for her, she’d always blame me. As if on cue, she looked up, and her green eyes glowed with hatred. I turned away. Even if I had my mother’s journals and allowed her to read them, chances were she’d interpret them differently—chances were they all would.

I
knew the message in them, and I hadn’t come to my decision lightly. Even now, parts of the journal rambled through my thoughts.

They will be strong, and they will know what needs to be done when the time comes. They will see, like I did, that there is only one way to defeat…they will be stronger than I ever was.

I had to be strong where my mother never was, she’d told me.

I
was never strong enough…but you will have your father’s powers. You will be stronger… You will understand what needs to be done.

It
’s your strength, your love, and your determination…that will defeat him. You will be hurt… You will be judged... You will face this burden alone. It’s only you—it’s only your powers—.

Keep
your allies close, and your enemies closer.

This is
your destiny, your destiny alone.

It
had always been
my
destiny,
my
powers,
my
enemy. It couldn’t be shared.

A black streak darted into the forest
, and I stared hard after it. Maes had seen something, but what? Had our pace been too slow? Had Maes misjudged Marcus? Was his army already upon us? We stopped and Koda drew me further into the cloak, hiding me from view. My heart began to race. What if Marcus’s army was here? How would I protect my family? Would he be content to take me and leave them be? I’d married him, after all; he didn’t need anyone else but me. I was hidden for the moment, but I knew we couldn’t disappear because of the daylight. I wouldn’t let them die for me!

Midnight gave a loud snort
, and Sam joined him. Colt’s leg rubbed up against me as Sam pushed him into Midnight, and my jaw tightened. I couldn’t see a thing. How would I even know if Marcus was coming?

“Whoa, boy,” Colt cooed.

Koda tensed for a moment, then drew the cloak open. Hoofbeats sounded in the trees. He would have kept me hidden unless…

“
I think Dex and Lilly caught up with us,” Koda said.

I
lowered my head, my shoulders sagging. Dex and Lilly. I knew I’d have to face them, but I was hoping to have more time. I wasn’t ready to see the disappointment in their eyes.

Colt dismounted and plucked
me from Midnight. I stayed beside the horse, trying to stay hidden from their view. What would they say? I wondered how much they knew. Colt’s hand came to rest on my shoulder, drawing me closer. His breathing had quickened. He was nervous for me too.

The galloping hooves came to an abrupt stop.

“Where is she?” I heard Dex’s panicked voice.

“Cowering behind Koda,” Brogan sneered.

“Cheyenne?” The desperation in Lilly’s voice nearly drove me to tears before I even saw them.

I took a step back before
Colt encouraged me forward. Lilly and Dex crushed me in their arms.

“Oh, Cheyenne,” Lilly sobbed,
her cheek pressing against mine, her heart racing.

“
You’re safe now,” Dex said soothingly, stroking my head. “We’ll find the braid and…”

They
didn’t know. My throat grew tight, and I pushed them away with shaking hands.

“What?” Lilly
’s brow puckered and she reached out to pull me back, her long black braid falling forward.

“Go ahead and tell
them, Cheyenne,” Brogan growled, and I flinched. “Tell them how you sold us out to Marcus!”

“
She didn’t sell us out, Brogan!” Colt shot back, his chest heaving. “She did what she thought was right at the time. We all make mistakes…”

My
breath caught. Colt thought I’d made a mistake? Even after all he’d said, he didn’t understand…

“
Like you?” Maes chimed in, stepping closer. “You brought her to his doorstep!”

I
moved back, distancing myself from all of them. I blinked back my tears, and my lower lip trembled. Dex and Lilly stared at me.

“Stop
it!” Koda boomed and leapt down from Midnight, stalking closer. “There’s always a reason! Give her a chance to explain!”

“That
’s right, Cheyenne. Here’s your chance right now to explain to Dex and Lilly why you married Marcus!” Brogan snapped.

“
You…you married him?” Dex repeated in utter shock, his face paling.

My
foot caught on a stump as I stepped back, but Daniel caught me before I fell. He drew his arm around me, trying to show his support, but it was too late.

“
Just tell them like you told us, Cheyenne,” Daniel said near my ear.

“
I—It was my destiny,” I said softly. I knew I had done the right thing, but having Dex and Lilly doubt me would be devastating.

Lilly stepped closer, her blue eyes searching
, then narrowing.

“Why?”
she said.

“
My mother’s journals.”

“Bits and pieces of
her mother’s journals,” Brogan added.

Dex glanced back, frowning at
him, and then focused his attention on me again.

“
I don’t understand, Cheyenne,” Dex moved forward, rubbing the back of his neck. “What was in your mother’s journals that convinced you to marry Marcus?”

I
closed my eyes, knowing Dex wouldn’t like what I was going to reveal. This was getting harder by the moment.

“
It—it told me why she left. She was weak. She found my father with the sole purpose of creating me—a weapon.”

Lilly gasped.

“My mother knew that by uniting powers with my father, they stood a chance. But there was a catch. I’d have to marry Marcus…”

“To unite with
his powers…” Dex whispered, shaking his head. Wisps of his brown hair fell in his eyes.