When Silver Moons Rise (Lost Immortals Saga #2) (28 page)
Read When Silver Moons Rise (Lost Immortals Saga #2) Online
Authors: KaSonndra Leigh
“It’s over now,” Faris says. And he’s right. Even the fire in the trees dies down and goes out all by itself. I lift my trembling head up to see the boy I love. The one who has made this entire torturous journey worth every second of pain I have endured. “Hello there,” he says with his wicked hot smile, a one-dimple grin that sets my heart aflutter.
“Hi,” I say, gasping a bit, trembling a lot. I could die a thousand times as long as I’m able to stand here and feel Faris’s arms wrapped around me this way.
“I told you to stay behind the rocks,” he gently scolds and moves one arm from around me so he can use his thumb to wipe the tears away from my eyes. “You still don’t listen to me.”
I scoff a light laugh. “Good thing I didn’t.”
Behind us, Olivia’s guards stand up, glance at me one last time, and then take off running in different directions. Olivia shuffles to her feet and glances around, a nervous look etched on her face. Faris and I turn toward his tormentor, but his arm never leaves my waist. Seth creeps up behind her.
What’s he planning to do?
“Disgusting,” she mutters and straightens her wind-blown hair. “You’ll never find peace with this one, Prince. She has more issues than I’ll ever have. Just look at the way she burned my men. That’s Tainted power, you fool.”
A smooth white stone lies on the ground beside her. Faris pays no mind to what the witch just said. His gaze is locked on the rock beside her. “Good luck with your hellcat,” Olivia continues. “Why don’t you tell the lost prince what I’m talking about, Seth? Tell him how you—”
Her words are cut off by Seth reaching around and cupping her neck from behind. She sucks in one long breath, her mouth gaping wide, her eyes stretched to match. Seth lifts her high up off the ground, and I’m instantly reminded of the time he sucked Muriel’s soul out of her the exact same way. I’ve been so distracted by his odd behavior over the past few weeks, I’ve forgotten all about this power he carries inside him, the ability to suck the life out of someone.
“Put her down, Seth. We need her,” Faris says as he inches toward the rock on the ground beside Seth’s foot. I suspect getting to the stone is his main goal. This is the girl who has tortured him over the past three months. I can’t see him picking a fight with Seth just to save her skin.
“Try to stop me, little brother,” Seth spits, his body trembling, “I will burn you to a crisp. And I’ll snatch every bit of rage out of Chela in order to do so.” Olivia’s face starts to turn gray as she continues to gasp for air.
Faris glances at me. I see the storm of questions rising in his eyes. Slowly, he turns his head, bends down and picks up the rock. And then, I remember where I’ve seen Olivia’s face before. I saw her in a dream—Seth’s memory of the time when a white-haired witch poisoned his mother. Olivia.
Seth’s mission, the one he kept a secret the entire time we traveled together, was all about settling a score with the girl who helped Camden kidnap his mother.
I’m caught up in the image of what he’s doing. The force pulling me toward Seth comes from our bond, I’m sure. I don’t even notice that Faris has taken the stone. My gaze drifts toward Faris. He aims the schorl Seth gave him at the rock while he speaks in the ancient language of the demon slayers. A door forms on the outside wall of the collapsed cave.
“Let’s go, Chela.” Faris heads back over to where I stand, takes my hand, and leads me toward the doorway.
“What about Seth?” I hate that I even have to ask.
Faris flinches and steals a quick glance at Seth caught up in his revenge moment. “He’ll be fine. Let’s go. The door to Bardonia won’t stay open forever.”
“Asa said all three of you need to work together to break the curse,” I explain, my gaze locked on his now. “We can’t leave him.”
“You spoke to Asa?” he says quietly. I nod. He lowers his head a moment, his shoulders drooping the tiniest bit. And then he looks back up at me and says, “I’ll make sure Seth gets through. I want you to go. Now.” I can tell he almost has to force these words out of his mouth.
“Not without you,” I say, shaking my head. I can’t the stand the thought of us getting separated again.
I lift up to my tiptoes and place my mouth on his. In return, he wraps his arms around me, crushes my body against his chest, and parts my lips, finishing the kiss we started.
“Alright, baby, we have to go now,” he says. I open my mouth to protest. “I need to help Seth understand why he can’t kill Olivia just yet.”
I glance behind him and gasp. Olivia’s gray, motionless body lies in a crumpled mass, her white hair the only reminder of the silver witch’s strange beauty.
“Damn it, Seth! I told you we need her,” Faris says to an empty area. He glances around, frowning. A blurry figure streaks by my right side. Seth charges toward the doorway and dives headfirst through the opening.
“Curse it! That stupid idiot!” Faris turns to me. “We do this one together, Jewel Face.” I get one last smile, another quick kiss.
Taking my hand in between his calloused ones, he grazes his lips across my knuckles and we both turn toward the doorway. I’m more frightened for his safety once he returns to Bardonia than I am of what will happen after we go through the door.
Before we move toward the opening, Faris turns to me, stares deep into my eyes, and mouths the three words I feel as though I’ve waited my entire life to hear. “I love you.”
“Love you more.” I turn, inhale deeply, and hold my breath. With our hands clasped tightly together, we run forward and hurl our bodies into a void filled with peaceful white light.
The End of Book Two
Survival Handbook for
Persons Traveling Inside the Dim Cities
Glossary of Terms and Origins of Words:
1- Bardonia – a land created by the Archangels that exists on an earth that is parallel to ours.
2-Caduceans – (Taken from the Greek word Caduceus, the healing staff of Hermes) Exiled group# 1. Half-human, half-angel descendants of the archangel Gabriel also known as demon slayers and masters of the alchemical healing arts.
This group along with their enemies, the Tainted, are responsible for the Great War that caused the earth’s plates to shift and the Tidal Years to begin. Any human contact with any member of the exiled groups is strictly prohibited.
3- Castle Hayne – The working name for the capital, Hill Borough #1
4-Corunum – The nation formerly known as America created after the Great War ended that was started by the 2012 apocalypse.
5-Cobia – A mythical white fish that has the body of an eel and is as long as a ship. These creatures guard the waters between the two parallel lands.
6-Dcsarii – the ancient language of the pure-blooded angels and their half-human descendants.
7-Dim Cities – a city that either has limited amounts of electricity or none at all. These are also the places where families that don’t have any type of classifiable gift are sent to live. The people in these places fall into two categories: 1) those who comply with Tribunal regulations and 2) the Outcast rebels believed to be carriers of the glutovirus.
8- Epiclesium – Chela’s group. Also known as the Light Keepers. Originates from the Greek word epiclesis meaning taken down from on high. Persons belonging to this group are half human, half angel bloods that are descendants of the First Order of Seraphim. They are the royal mediators between the two exiled groups.
9-Gifted Citizen – Persons with a chromosomal gene (enhanced by radiation throughout the decades) that make them exceptionally talented in some way.
10- The Grace – (Chela’s Inner Power) An ability originating from the original seraphim. It controls the seven celestial elements: wind, fire, water, earth, sun, moon, and the stars.
11-Glutovirus – A virus that attacks the central nervous system believed to have been created by one of the supernatural groups.
12- Kappa Guard- Also known as the Ice Guards. Soldiers assigned to guard the forests surrounding the Ice Prison. They’re known for their primitive looking bodies and supernatural weapons.
13-Oceania- The place where Chela, Jalen, Faris, Desi, Tobie and the other Caducean demon slayers fought Seth, Ashli, Camden, and the revenants in order to free Chela’s friends.
14-Outcasts – People living outside of the eight main boroughs. There are two groups: 1) the ones who cooperate with the governing body and 2) the rebels who spread disease and terror.
15-Revenants – Human bodies that have died and been brought back to life by alchemy. Unlike zombies, they can blend in fairly well with others around them.
16-Schorl – A type of black stone that the Caduceans use to hide their weapons. When completely formed, the weapons turn into a metal called Rhenium.
17-Sedwigs – A canine mutation created from radiation infection.
18- Sons of Created Shade— (also known as the Dark Soldiers) The special forces militia trained to defend the Boroughs against attack from rebel Outcasts, Exiles, and the Beast.
19-Tainted – Exiled group #2. The half human, half fallen angel descendants of the Angel of Chaos named Bernael. Masters of dark alchemy. This group, along with their enemies, the Caduceans, are responsible for the Great War that caused the earth’s plates to shift and the Tidal Years to begin. Any contact with one of these members is strictly prohibited.
20-Thrati- A lock touched by a magical spell. The kobold head on the gate behind Chela’s house is sealed shut by one of these.
21-Tribunal – the main governing body in the nation of Corunum. It was created by a band of survivors that were on the ARKS: Advanced Rescue and Keepsafe Ships- designed to hold large groups of people safely underwater.
Dedications
It takes a world to raise up a series like the Lost Immortals Saga. Although there were many who helped me during this journey, I must mention a few names. They were the people who brought this series to life and encouraged me to dream the impossible. LM Preston for sending me that first email, encouraging me to begin my journey in the warrior’s way. Eric Murray for the final kick in the butt that made me get the world building right. To Greta Maloney, my editor and fearless assistant, for taking time to rearrange my words line by line again. You are truly gifted. Seth Alton thanks you for what you have done for him, even if he doesn’t want to admit it.
To my girls who make me happier than eating chocolate does: Sylvia Hientz (there would be no Silver Moons if it wasn’t for your encouragement) J.A. Redmerski (same for you) Adriana Noriega, Marni Jarman, Erin Hoffman, Cecilia Robert, Jody Rae, Nanette Bradford, Brooke, Tina, Sarah K., Mari, and all of the Never Too Old for Young Adult group, my first official reviewers, for validating the last seven years I spent on this series by giving me such heartfelt reviews.
Thanks to Jodie and Derinda, the gorgeous moderators of the YATeenReaders group, for showcasing the Lost Immortals series’ fresh new covers. Much love to the people of Authonomy, Absolute Write, Twitter, goodreads, facebook, and all the groups I belong to on those sites for your support in the earliest days.
Hats off to Lisa at Hollywood Tweet for easing all of my work into the spotlight. Your tireless efforts and the long hours you have put into easing my name into the Hollywood household are forever appreciated. You rock, girl! And big hugs to @RosieChihuahua who I am honored to have tweeting about my books on a daily basis.
To my X-men and sons (Xavier and Xevandre) for that “pimp” of all book trailers. LOL. And kudos to you both for being so patient with Mom’s obsession. Super thanks to my invaluable Lost Immortals beta reader team: Maggie, Carrie, Amber, Stephanie, Tee, April, Marsha, and Michelle for riding the last minute wave with me to the end. Super love to all of the bloggers who have stuck by Faris, Chela, Seth, and me throughout the year, tirelessly spreading the word about this series. Because of your support, the Lost Immortals Book One is now an Amazon bestseller!
I heart all of you dearly.
And to the light of my life forever…my grandmother, Nezzetta Tomlinson Wall, who told me the flowers are the way. You just need to learn how to understand their voices. May the angels forever guide you in the house of the Lord.
Rest in peace, my lovely grandma ma.
About the Author
KaSonndra Leigh lives in the City of Alchemy and Medicine,
North Carolina. She holds the Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and loves to play CLUE and Tomb Raider. She lives in an L-shaped house with her two sons (the X-men) two dogs (Kobe and Cody) a cat named Hercules, and a guinea pig called Achilles. She has created a secret library complete with fairies, Venetian plastered walls, and a desk made out of clear blue glass.
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