Arielle Immortal Resolve (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 8) Read online

  Arielle Immortal Resolve

  The Immortal

  Rapture Series

  Volume 8

  Lilian Roberts

  Booktrope Editions

  Seattle, WA 2015

  COPYRIGHT 2015 LILIAN ROBERTS

  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

  Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).

  Noncommercial — You may not use this work for commercial purposes.

  No Derivative Works — You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.

  Inquiries about additional permissions

  should be directed to: [email protected]

  Cover Design by Shari Ryan

  Edited by Wendy Garfinkle

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to similarly named places or to persons living or deceased is unintentional.

  PRINT ISBN 978-1-5137-0589-7

  EPUB ISBN 978-1-5137-0640-5

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2015918638

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Note to the Readers

  About the Author

  More from Lilian Roberts & Booktrope

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank the people that supported my efforts to get through the last book in the Immortal Rapture series.

  Thank you to my family for their continued patience and encouragement. They never stopped believing in me and my ideas.

  Thank you to my Booktrope editor Wendy Garfinkle who accepted my manuscript during her busy schedule and finished promptly so I can meet my next publication date.

  Thank you to my wonderful proofreader, Lydia Johnson and cover designer, Shari Ryan.

  Thanks to my Book manager Sarka-Jonae Miller for her tireless support and for taking a manuscript of more than 80,000 words and crafting a brief synopsis that would give the readers a vivid peek into the story.

  And finally, sincere thanks to all the friends and fans for who enthusiastically supported me, motivating me to get the series completed.

  To the Booktrope friends who provided superb edits, proofreading, and cover design. Their research and support helped me achieve a successful series with strong, believable, and likable characters. I love you all!

  Chapter 1

  SEBASTIAN PULLED ARIELLE into his arms, gave her a soft peck on the lips, and whispered in her ear, “I’ll be right back baby, miss me…” Following Annabel’s scent, he darted toward the corner of the country club.

  Sebastian tracked Annabel carefully, trying to remain calm while anger and loathing filled his lungs. Tonight he was determined to kill her; he was committed to ending this part of his life and ridding Arielle of Annabel’s relentless terror. He was willing to die if that’s what it took to make sure Arielle was safe. He was responsible for pulling her into this frightening world of immortality. He was responsible for making her live in constant fear of a crazy immortal woman’s unwavering desire to kill her for vengeance. Sebastian was ready to end it all, one way or another.

  The skies were clear and the moon illuminated the night. Sebastian made his way across several miles of the club grounds at an inconceivable speed and when he reached the end of the property line his sharp immortal eyes caught a glimpse of two people in the distance. One of them was Annabel. The other was a man, but Sebastian couldn’t see his face. His sense of smell became stronger as he drew closer to them; his nostrils filled with their immortal scent. They ran next to each other and paused for a moment, looking back, scanning the darkness. Sebastian crouched behind the wall that surrounded the property line and watched them intently. They seemed to be satisfied that they weren’t being followed as they turned their heads and started to run at a slower pace.

  They ran for quite a long time through the dark streets of Brighton and Sebastian followed at a safe distance, guzzling fresh air to help his thoughts remain on the right path. He wanted desperately to end this tonight; he didn’t want her to slip away like she did back at the cemetery in St Jean De Luz. Suddenly they stopped and remained motionless. They'd reached the edge of a park that stretched for a couple of miles ahead and ended in a large square surrounded by beautiful homes. They scanned their surroundings again and then crossed the manicured lawns of the park toward the square in slow strides. When they arrived at the other side of the park, they stopped again, and seemed to carry on a short dialogue. Then the man turned and darted in the opposite direction. Sebastian never had a chance to get a good look at him, but he wasn’t interested in the guy right now. Annabel was poised to step into the square when suddenly she paused at the curb and looked back, gaze piercing through the dark.

  Sebastian held his breath, consumed by the uneasy feeling that Annabel knew she was being followed. He hid behind a large tree trunk on the other side of the park with teeth gritted, filled with resentment and loathing for this woman who had created total chaos in his life.

  He waited patiently, in high hopes that tonight this part of Arielle’s nightmare would be over. He wasn’t going to let his anger guide his actions this time around. He needed to find out who she was working with and what they were plotting.

  Annabel stood motionless for a moment, as if contemplating whether to move forward or abort reaching her destination. Sebastian took a long breath of relief when he saw her finally cross the square, take a little side street for a couple of blocks, and stop in front of a small house.

  She again scanned the area around her carefully before she reached up and pressed the button at the gate twice. The lights came on and Sebastian’s immortal hearing picked up a young female voice on the intercom asking the person’s name. Annabel gave her name and immediately a tall, young girl came running out the door and across the garden, taking the padlock off the gate. Sebastian could hear their conversation while they were still outside.

  “Are they here yet?” Annabel asked.

  “No, not just yet, but I’m sure they’ll be here shortly. They wouldn’t break an agreement with you; they know better than that,” the young girl replied, chuckling.

  “Jane, I'll have to run out again for a short time. If I’m not back when they arrive, tell them to wait for me.”

  Together they walked up the few steps and crossed the threshold, shutting the door behind them. Sebastian moved swiftly and soundlessly across the cobblestoned square, reaching the corner of the dark street in a few strides. The street sign displayed the name York Street.

  The house that Annabel had entered looked a bit run down and tall hedges surrounded the walls, preventing access or a view from the outside. Sebastian looke
d at the large metal chain and padlock that held the iron gate secure and chuckled under his breath. His immortal strength could crush the deadbolt to soft powder, but he chose to hurdle the tall fence and move quietly. He pushed carefully through the hedges and stood behind them, avoiding any unnecessary racket.

  The night sky was dark and thick shadows surrounded the house. He stood in that darkness behind the hedges, right by a huge window that would give him a perfect view of the front room. The room was dark, so he waited patiently. Suddenly the light came on and his breath rushed through his lungs so fast that it made him a bit lightheaded.

  He took a few deep breaths and inched closer. Peeking carefully through the sheer curtains, he saw Annabel and the girl she’d called Jane engaged in an animated conversation. Annabel was giving her directions about the people who were arriving to meet with her. Then she turned, walked toward the stairs that led to the upper floor, and started to scale the steps two at a time. She was almost at the top landing when Sebastian heard Jane’s voice one more time.

  “We installed the secret path you requested. Do you want to see it?” Jane inquired.

  Annabel paused and, looking down at Jane, followed her finger that was pointing at the opposite wall. Sebastian saw Annabel’s eyebrows narrow as a short smile crept across her ghastly face. She leaped down the stairs and dashed swiftly toward that wall. Sebastian saw Jane blink with a shocked look on her face, unable to follow Annabel’s immortal speed. Jane crossed the floor in fast strides to keep up. Annabel had already reached the wall at the far end of the room and waited impatiently for Jane to catch up. Jane lifted her hand, and with her palm, pushed against an invisible spot on the wall. Sebastian watched, astonished, as the wall parted, revealing a secret entrance.

  It wasn’t so much the secret entrance that surprised Sebastian, but its location. This was a rundown, dilapidated house, not quite where anyone would expect to find secret passages. Annabel seemed to hesitate and then moved quickly through the gap in the wall with Jane by her side. They disappeared behind it, leaving no signs that would disclose what Sebastian had just witnessed. The opening had closed instantaneously, leaving what now seemed to be a normal wall.

  Sebastian’s thoughts whirled, trying to make sound decisions in a matter of milliseconds. His loathing for Annabel increased by the minute, but he decided to do the right thing. He pulled his mobile phone out of his pant pocket and pressed Troy’s number. Troy picked up on the first ring.

  “Troy,” Sebastian said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Where are you?”

  “I’m on my way,” Troy said. “Give me the exact location.”

  Sebastian gave him the address and added, “Listen, Troy, I’m going in. I want to deal with Annabel in a swift and conclusive way. Come find me in case I need help. There’s something very peculiar about this run-down house. I saw Annabel and a human friend of hers go through a secret passage. The house is very small, so I’m thinking that this opening leads to some kind of secret cellar. The location of the switch is on the wall approximately one-point-five meters from the northeast corner and two-point-one meters high.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  “Thanks, Troy,” he said, but didn’t wait for his friend’s reply. He ended the conversation and slipped his mobile back into his pocket.

  The door was locked, but that wasn’t an issue for Sebastian. He soon found himself standing in the middle of the front room, which was poorly furnished and silent as a tomb. Quickly he scaled the staircase to the upper floor. He was going to clear any obstacles and leave Annabel as his last and most revolting elimination. This was the best and most shrewd way to approach this attempt on Annabel’s miserable life.

  Four fully furnished bedrooms graced the upper floor and they all looked lived in. He was now sure that more people were in this house besides Annabel and Jane. Sebastian was standing in the last bedroom, one filled with Annabel’s scent, ready to walk out, when he heard footsteps and froze. It was but a few minutes before Jane walked in carrying a laundry basket. Sebastian was standing behind the open door; he didn’t want to hurt her, but he'd do what it took to carry out his mission.

  Jane set the basket on the bed, started to take clothes out, and put them carefully in the dresser drawers. She was nearly done when Sebastian's phone went off and she spun around to face the angry immortal. Her jaw dropped and her eyes reflected intense fright.

  Sebastian was stunned for a moment as silence stretched and he forgot about the phone when she suddenly darted toward the door. Her mouth opened as she prepared to scream. Sebastian moved with unfathomable speed, grabbed Jane by the throat, muting her scream forever. His strength broke her neck, and when he let her go, she dropped lifeless to the floor. Sebastian pulled her body into the small closet and shut the door. He felt dreadful for killing a human, but didn't regret his choice. She’d been ready to alert the other occupants that something was wrong and he couldn’t allow that.

  Leaving the room, he moved like a ghost along the upstairs corridor and descended the staircase carefully. He crossed the room on the main floor, walked down a small hallway, and noticed two doors, one on either side. He went into the door on his left and found himself in a small study full of books, boxes, and a foul odor that had to be a combination of several things. He backed off and shut the door behind him, shaking his head to rid his nostrils of that awful odor. He moved down the hall and opened the second door. Again, he was struck with the most god-awful smell. It was a sitting room connected to the kitchen area. Both rooms were poorly lit, giving Sebastian’s perfect immortal eyes a sharp view of a disgustingly dirty area.

  The smell came from the kitchen floor that was clogged with garbage bags, animal food, and feces, making the odor intolerable. Sebastian held his breath, moved quickly out into the hall, and shut the door behind him, shaking his head again in pure disgust. He headed back to the front room, where he stood in front of the wall through which he’d watched Annabel and Jane disappear. He looked for a noticeable gap, but there was none. He ran his palm across the wall, feeling every little bump and scrape until he encountered a small rise.

  He pressed, holding his breath, and was delighted to see the wall part, exposing the opening. He listened for any sounds, contemplating his next move. Sebastian knew that Annabel was there, but was she alone? And if not, how many immortals would he be facing? Pulling his mobile from his pocket, he glanced at the screen. A smile spread across his face when he saw Arielle’s text. I’m worried to death. I love you more than life, please be careful. His arms ached for her, but he had a serious issue to deal with, so he set the phone to vibrate and slipped it back in his pocket. Troy had to be getting close, so he decided to go for it.

  Quickly he crossed the opening and forgot to breathe, consumed by total shock. He found himself on the landing of a steel staircase that spiraled down to a dark corridor. Taking a deep breath, he filled his lungs with the stale air and descended cautiously, one step at time, until he reached a damp floor. His immortal vision gave him a well-defined view of the place and he gasped in astonishment. How could a small house like this conceal such a large cellar? Sebastian scanned the area and noticed several doors on either side of the long corridor, but they all appeared dark and soundless except for the last two on the right. A thin streak of light escaped from a tiny crack at the first door.

  Sebastian moved slowly, listening for any noise, but all he heard was his own footsteps. He exhaled as he reached the door, pausing to listen. Men’s muted voices and low laughter reached him. Sebastian set his eyes on the crack and saw three men sitting around a small table playing cards. They seemed completely engrossed in their game, totally unaware of his presence.

  Sebastian moved away quietly and approached the last door. His breath caught in his throat as the air thickened with Annabel’s scent. He waited, motionless, while his mind assessed his position and his desperate wish to rid the world of Annabel for good. His nerves jumped and his breathing quickened as he turned
the knob and pushed the door wide open.

  Sebastian focused his startled eyes on Annabel, who was sitting in a large chair, watching him intently, a smug look on her face. She crossed her legs and clasped her hands in undisguised amusement.

  “Welcome to your prison, my love,” she said. Her laughter rang with clear pleasure. “I’ve been waiting patiently,” she continued.

  Sebastian was thunderstruck; her enthusiasm didn’t surprise him, but the fact that she’d known he was coming was a complete shock. His stomach muscles tightened and his teeth clenched.

  “Did you really think that I was that stupid?” she asked while Sebastian tried to regain his composure. “I wanted you to follow me; that was my plan all along and you fell in my trap like an amateur.” Annabel laughed with disdain.

  Sebastian looked straight ahead, avoiding her gaze and swallowed hard. His mind was spinning, trying to find a solution to a bad turn of events. He scanned the room, felt his skin crawl and icy fingers creep up his spine, when he realized that he was standing in the middle of a torture chamber.

  He drew enough breath to utter in sheer revulsion: “What is it exactly that you want from me, Annabel?”

  “Sebastian, why do you keep asking the same question over and over?” She studied him intently, waiting for an answer.

  “I keep asking the same question because you seem to have a hard time understanding that you and I are never going to happen. I didn’t want you in my life then and I don’t want you now,” he replied, grinding his teeth. “So again, what is it that you want from me?” Sebastian gave her a look full of venom.

  Annabel crossed her arms looking totally unruffled and leaning back on the chair, smiled with clear amusement. “You…You are what I want and nobody else will ever have you in this century or any other. You’re mine and you’ll be mine for eternity.” She smiled as she stood and approached him with a wanton smile. “You look scrumptious in that beautiful suit. Any special occasion?” she laughed spitefully.