True Fate
Authors: Shayna Varadeaux
True Fate
by
Shayna Varadeaux
Copyright 2014 Shayna
Varadeaux Books
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
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respecting the hard work of this author.
This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities
to persons
, places or situations are
merely coincidental. Any real places used in the book were used in a fictitious
manner and is in no way affiliated with the businesses nor cities used. Any and
all song names, artists and or lyrics mentioned do not belong to the author.
All rights to songs and or lyrics belong to the original writer(s) of the
music. The book playlist has songs on it that belong to the songwriters and
groups and or musician that perform them. I DO NOT own any rights to any music
or lyrics here within.
True
Fate (True Fate #1)
Copyright 2014 Shayna
Varadeaux Books
Kindle Edition
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my husband and my three
beautiful children.
Thanks for believing in me and being patient. Also to
the ever supportive authors who I have found are very helpful for welcoming me
into their ranks.
To the readers, thank you for the opportunity to
share True Fate with all of you, I hope you enjoy.
Happy Reading
-S.V.
Preface
Nia
sat as silent as she possibly could, tucked under the jagged embankment. Icy
wind chilled her skin and caused only a portion of her shivering. She was
already shivering from the fear that gripped her and the adrenaline that had
taken her over when everything began to go wrong.
He had said to wait
there, he was just going to check on the others, he'd be right back, but that
was over twenty minutes ago. The silence was nerve racking and she was going to
lose it if he didn't come back soon. She gripped Rhea's hand as tightly as Rhea
gripped hers.
Nia just knew it was
a bad idea for them to stop again after what had happened at the last stop.
They had one wounded and they'd had to leave without two of their friends. Nia
couldn't believe it had gotten so bad, so fast. She pried her hand from a
reluctant Rhea who whimpered when she was finally free.
'I'm just going to
peek and see if we can move, keep the pressure on your arm like he said okay?’
she explained to her in their silent way.
Rhea shook her head violently and began to
protest, her skin crawled at the prospect of being left alone in the dark. Nia
clamped a hand over Rhea’s mouth to stop her from giving away their position.
She looked into Rhea's eyes and made sure that she understood the need to be quiet,
it could mean life or death for the both of them. Rhea nodded slowly as a tear
slid down her cheek. Nia wiped it away and checked on Rhea’s arm. The bleeding
had stopped for now but she still tore off a piece of her shirt and tied it
around Rhea’s wound tighter.
Slowly removing her hand Nia crept out into the
shallow stream hushing the water beneath her with each step. She waved her
hands by her side beckoning the water to lift her slow and steady. Remembering
to thank Savannah for helping her perfect that move in their training, though
it would have to be later.
Nia was raised high enough to see that there was
no movement anywhere, just their vehicle with all the doors wide open. No one
was around at all so she lowered herself and went back to Rhea.
"I don't see anyone up there but we have to
be careful, we're going to stick low to the ground. I can put up a camouflage,
I'm just not sure how long I can hold it. Nice and slow, alright?" Nia
whispered to her. Rhea nodded and took a deep breath crouching as low as she
could as Nia used the water once more to get them to the top.
Shaking uncontrollably Rhea was unsteady and Nia
thought maybe she was in shock. So she grabbed her hand just in case she had to
help her along. They moved quiet and slow stopping to listen to their
surroundings more than once. Nia was sure Rhea was going to hyperventilate by
her quick breaths and she tried to calm her but it wasn't working.
They made it to the Suburban and checked inside,
nothing. Rhea climbed inside glad the keys were still in the ignition. Nia quietly
closed all the doors, got in the driver seat and hit the locks. Quickly sending
out a mental message to her entire group then took a second to breathe.
'We are
in the car I'm going to move so we aren't spotted. Someone answer please. I
don't know what to do."
The car was stuck in the mud so Nia summoned her
elemental connection with earth, elated that it worked and they were now free.
She drove further down the road as clumps of mud banged against the wheel wells
of the vehicle. Ten minutes later she spotted an abandoned warehouse, she had
no intention of going inside but it would make for decent cover. Cautiously she
approached it with the headlights off, they both looked around scanning for any
movement. Seeing more nothing she drove around back and turned her phone to
vibrate just in case she got any communication. Her and Rhea sunk low in their
seats ready to run or fight.
Rhea caught her breath and then reached behind
Nia's seat and grabbed the sword she'd been given earlier and thought she
wouldn't need. Nia met her eyes and they both knew they would do whatever it
takes to find their friends and get to safety.
"How long do we wait?” Rhea asked quietly.
"I don't know,” Nia responded biting her lip.
Nia hoped it didn't come to that decision, she
wasn't sure she could go anywhere without him. She may not know who she was but
any doubt of her importance flew out the window with what they'd endured so
far. She wouldn't take any of this lightly again and she wouldn't take her time
with him for granted if she got him back.
Now all that the girls could do was wait until
someone contacted them to let them know where to go or if they were okay.
‘Please let them be okay.’ She thought sending up the silent prayer. Nia wasn't
sure how she'd react to losing anyone right now.
‘Nia.’,
she felt him press into her mind before she saw him, "Eric.",
she sighed in minor relief, but she was still worried because he seemed to be
alone. He opened the door and ushered her to the backseat without a word. She
just went along with it and put her seat belt on in a hurry.
"Is everyone
okay? Is it just you?” Nia asked unable to help herself from blurting. She
hated to bombard him with questions after what they had just been through. Eric
didn’t answer he just put the car in drive and sped out onto the road. He drove
with no headlights on for around a mile or so then took a few turns. Nia could
only see the flurry of dust as they sped down the dark roads.
Eric sighed and pulled
into what had to be a long driveway his knuckles were white from his grip on
the wheel. They pulled all the way up to a large house. Nia guessed the safe
house they had been looking for The Ranch was what they had called it. It was
shadowed by huge trees on both sides and had no outside lights. There wasn’t
enough light to see it well.
Opening Nia’s door Eric glanced around fully alert.
She got out nervous and wondering why he hadn't answered her. He proceeded to
look her over and grabbed her shoulders, "Are you hurt?” he asked as
roughly, his eyes squinted and his lips twitched. She looked at him puzzled
barely coherent. "Are you hurt?” he asked again shaking her out of her
stupor the heat of his fingers digging into her shoulders was enough to snap
her back to reality.
Standing there shaking her head no was all she
could do with relief and confusion flooding her. He was obviously just as
relieved to see her. Rhea got out and quickly checked her arm, she had applied
pressure like Aaron had told her and Nia’s shirt was catching any blood but it
needed to be cleaned.
Eric looked at Rhea's arm but it was too much of a
mess for him to see how big the gash was, Rhea grimaced, it stung pretty badly.
She had gotten caught on the embankment where they were hiding when she lost
her footing and snagged it on a root.
Walking them to the front door Eric stopped with
the moonlight shining just enough to see his jaw clenching and unclenching. His
unwillingness to answer her simple questions had Nia on edge. He opened his
mouth as if to say something then decided otherwise.
"Inside, now.” Eric finally said as he
unlocked the door. The house was dark from the outside and Nia wondered where
they were headed and if there was even anyone inside yet. Eric opened the door
and the house was dark inside too, except for the yellowish light coming from
under the doorway they were heading towards. The moonlight shone in the windows
showing the covered furniture. Nia guessed this safe house hadn’t been used in
a while.
When he opened the door he reached for Nia's hand,
"Don't freak out, it’ll be okay, I promise," he said squeezing her
hand and sending as much calm her way as he could.
Nia had no idea what was going on and why after
avoiding her questions this was what he had said to her. At first glance in the
room she noticed lots of bloody rags in a waste basket. The scent of iron and
antiseptic made Nia’s stomach roll and she gagged.
Rhea's breath caught when she noticed the blood too
and she shakily lowered herself into a chair holding her injured arm. She
turned to Nia with a worried look in her eyes.
Time stood still for Nia as she saw his hand first,
the unmistakable markings were a dead giveaway.
‘It can’t
be.’
The scent of the blood clung to her senses making
her stomach clench as Avery stepped out of the way giving her a clear shot to
her worst nightmare.
The tightening in her chest made her feel dizzy and
feeling like she would hurl, her focus went hazy,
"No," she whispered.
She took a shaky step closer and her legs buckled
beneath her. Eric reached for her just as her world gratefully faded to black.