Arielle Immortal Awakening (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 1) Read online

  Her friends exchanged a worried glance as they both reached out, took her hands, and twined their fingers together. She looked at them in silence while they sat patiently, waiting for her to say something.

  When she finally spoke, her voice was extremely shaky and barely audible. “Ever since my father passed away I discovered that I’ve some very strange – and very strong – powers, way beyond premonitions. They make me very nervous.”

  “What kind of powers?” Arielle asked. Suddenly she felt an uneasiness going through her body. She could see the whirling, the churning, and the obscurity that were taking over Eva as she spoke.

  Gabby and Arielle became utterly enthralled as Eva started to speak.

  “I’m afraid, because I don’t understand what is happening to me, but I can’t stop it. I think I have special powers. I’ve tried to explore them, and they are beyond anything I understand. I’ve purchased many books, trying to find out why this is happening to me and why I’m having all these visions. I’ve spent a lot of time researching, and what I’ve found out is that I have something like a sixth sense that I can use to communicate with spirits, and…and do other things that scare me to death. I can connect with spirits by using spells, but I can even do it at will. I can even dream walk and access the Twixt.”

  “The what?” Gabrielle interrupted anxiously.

  “The Twixt.”

  “What the devil is that?” Gabrielle asked suppressing a frown.

  “That’s the place between the spirit world and the living world – and there I can talk with my father and other spirits.”

  “What in the world are you talking about?” Gabrielle’s voice sounded almost like a squeak. “What spirits?” Her eyes were wide with interest.

  “Just…spirits,” Eva murmured. Her hands clasped Arielle’s wrist to the point that Arielle felt pain.

  “Do you mean the dead?” Gabrielle cried out, terror in her eyes.

  Eva was silent for a short time. Arielle tried to close her mouth, which she suddenly realized was hanging open in astonishment. Eva gazed back at both of them anxiously and started to grind her teeth uneasily. All the blood had washed away from her face, turning it translucent and making her eyes look dark and distressed.

  “How did that happen?” Arielle asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

  When Eva answered, her voice was low and she sounded scared. “When I lost my father I thought I had lost my whole world,” she said. “He was my fountain of strength and self-confidence. I needed to talk with him. I needed to see him. That’s when I bought all the spell books and decided to spend time learning how to use my powers and how to access the spirit world. I wanted to learn how to create a portal so I could bring him back. I made frequent visits to the cemetery. During one of those visits I fell on my knees beside his grave and closed my eyes as I wished him back using my will along with a spell, and he…well…he came back…” She spoke her last three words with extra emphasis, as if to stress that this was a matter of fact.

  Gabrielle and Arielle both gasped and looked completely stunned. They were trying to breathe normally, but they were having a hard time keeping their bodies from being taken over by fright.

  “Stop it, Eva!” Gabrielle shrieked. She was short of breath and had a wild look in her eyes.

  “Eva…” Arielle murmured, “what do you mean he came back?”

  Eva closed her eyes and pressed her lips together as if it hurt her to explain. “He came back and he was standing there in front of me. We talked and he helped me understand that he is still here, just not easy for others to see. He told me that he will be here for me any time I need him, and he will always help me through difficult times. I know that every time I need him I can bring him back.”

  This is wild…this is totally unbelievable, Arielle thought to herself, as she searched for the words with which to respond. Gabrielle was frozen in place, and Eva was sobbing again, asking them to try to understand.

  “Eva, we’re trying to understand, but you must admit this is a lot to absorb.” Of course Arielle was not completely surprised by Eva’s confession since she herself had kept a secret of her own dreadful gift for many years. Her thoughts were drifting along when Eva’s next statement hit her like a ton of bricks.

  “That’s not the scariest thing I have done, even though it’s pretty unbelievable,” she said slowly and carefully. She had their complete attention as they held her hands and gazed into her eyes, full of dismay. She was looking at them, a pleading expression on her face, her translucent skin strained. She wanted them to empathize with her, but she saw they were afraid.

  “There’s more?” Gabrielle practically screamed. Arielle put her hand over her arm, trying to keep her quiet, as Eva nodded.

  “What else is there, Eva?” Arielle asked, trying to restrain her fear.

  “I followed some of the spells in the books to see what I could do, mostly out of curiosity, and I got myself in way too deep.” She sighed as she murmured the last words, her lips twisting in distress.

  “How? What did you do?” Gabrielle asked again.

  “Spirits appeared before my eyes each time I summoned them, but there’s one in particular that has made her presence known to me more than I wanted her to. She showed up at the cemetery during one of the spells I did for my father and she has appeared in my room a few times since then. It really scares me to death.” Eva looked at them again, and the fear in her eyes was clear.

  “I don’t mind telling you that I’m completely horrified,” she continued. “I don’t know how to get rid of her or what she wants from me. She just keeps looking at me, full of torment, breathless, suffering…and then at other times she looks completely exultant. I keep asking her to go away and then she does, looking really sad; however, she keeps coming back. I know that I have to reverse the spell, but I’m too scared to try because I’m afraid I may create something even worse. I’ve tried to stay away from the books, but something keeps pulling me back. And I still have this girl showing up. I don’t know what to do!”

  “Oh my God,” Gabrielle gasped.

  Arielle’s heart was beating fast and she couldn’t find a single word to say. This was simply unbelievable. She couldn’t imagine how Eva’s story could really be true, but she believed her friend. She looked directly into Eva’s eyes, forcing a smile. “We will try to help you, Eva,” Arielle said. “Maybe you can try to get rid of your visitor by doing the spell while we’re all together. I’m not saying I’m exactly excited about that, but we have to help each other. I also think that you need to stay away from those books and the spells.”

  Eva nodded in agreement, and kept both of her friends wrapped in her arms.

  “Let’s start by spending more time together,” Arielle said. “By having fun together like we used to do. We can’t help you if we don’t see you.”

  Eva finally smiled a real smile of gratitude and looked, for the first time in a very long time, truly happy.

  They stayed at the beach for a few more hours and finally decided to head home. As they parted, they agreed to meet later on to go out and have fun. When they left Eva at her door, she was wearing a much brighter face than when they had picked her up, and that made them feel good.

  The film they chose to see that evening was amusing and they had a great time. For a while it almost seemed like the good old days. Eva looked happy, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She called Arielle when she got home to let her know how much she valued their friendship and how much she loved her and Gabrielle.

  The phone rang again while Arielle was in bed, and this time it was Gabrielle. Arielle was sure that Gabrielle was going to tell her she was freaked out with Eva’s spells and summons, so she was a bit stunned to hear that Gabrielle was actually very intrigued with Eva’s powers.

  “You’re crazy, Gabby,” she said. “And I really don’t want to talk about any of this tonight.” Before Gabby hung up Arielle said jokingly, “Maybe we should have a séance one
of these days.”

  She closed her eyes and thought about all the things Eva had told them. She had to admit that Gabby was right, there was something fascinating about Eva’s powers. But then a light shiver spread through her body just before she drifted off to sleep.

  They were now into the routine of the school year, and every day Arielle could see Eva feeling better and looking happier. Six weeks had passed and life was getting back to normal. Eva was spending a lot of time with Jack Wallace, and they seemed to really like each other. Gabrielle and Arielle felt it was likely to keep her away from becoming involved with weird spells and summons to the dead. Arielle could see Eva’s thoughts, and these days they were pretty clear. Her relationship with Jack was not a serious one, but it was exactly what Eva needed right now. With Eva spending time with Jack, Gabrielle and Arielle spent a lot of time together. They didn’t seriously care about any of the guys at school. The guy Arielle liked, Stefan Broderick, didn’t seem to like her.

  The year Arielle turned seventeen, one beautiful Sunday morning, she decided to talk to her father about her dreadful gift as they took their usual morning walk after breakfast. She told him that she wanted to attend the University of Brighton, and he thought that was a wonderful idea. What he liked the most was the fact that she would be staying close to home. His influence on her was profound, and he had always helped her understand the importance of the way she interacted with all the people she crossed paths with. He always made her feel important and always tried to discuss all her issues, complicated or not, and help her find good solutions.

  After a short silence she asked her father if they could talk about something that had been bothering her for years. He stopped and held her gaze with concern.

  “Why did you wait so long to talk to me?” he asked gently.

  “Well, I guess I was afraid that you would think I was crazy or something.”

  She was silent again, trying to put her thoughts together and find a way to discuss her dreadful gift with him. He stood there looking at her and waiting patiently.

  Finally he said, in a soft, understanding voice. “Well, go on…”

  She started out by saying, “Daddy, I can hear other people’s thoughts. I know all their secrets and troubles.”

  He didn’t seem shocked at all. “Is it all people or just some?” he asked.

  She stopped dead in her tracks, shocked to hear his question, struck dumb. Smiling, he motioned for her to continue, and she did.

  “It’s just some people. I’m not sure why some and not all. I’m not sure what the difference is. But that is what’s happened to me. Do you think I’m crazy?”

  Her father looked deep into her eyes as if he were trying to read her very essence. Then he smiled, with absolutely no surprise or wonder in his face.

  “Is that all you wanted to tell me?” he asked.

  She must have given him an odd look again because she couldn’t understand why he was taking this information in so calmly as if they were discussing a book or a film.

  “But…Daddy…I…” she was lost for words.

  He smiled wide, and chuckled. “You know, pumpkin, your grandmother had the same gift,” he said softly. “The difference was that she could read everyone’s thoughts, with no exceptions. Nobody could lie to her and she sure knew who her true friends were.” He smiled again, remembering. Then he continued. “Your great-grandmother was more like you. She could read some people’s thoughts, but not everyone’s.”

  Seeing Arielle’s look of disbelief and consternation, he laughed out loud. “I sure hope your mother and I are not in that special group of people,” he added.

  “No, you’re not!” she said emphatically. She could not read their thoughts, and that was an enormous relief to her.

  He put his arms around her and said, “Arielle, I know that right now you probably feel that this is a curse, not a gift. But you can use it to your advantage in the future in a good way. Believe me, I know.”

  She was so relieved to talk with someone she loved so very much, and to have shared her secret.

  She and her father continued to take private walks often, during which they talked about all kinds of things, including Arielle’s dreams for the future. Often her parents would ask her to sit down and play the piano for them and she was always happy to do that. Playing the piano powerfully influenced her emotions and gave her a deep sense of enthrallment and genuine pleasure.

  It was on a Monday morning in mid-May, very close to the time of their commencement exercises, that Gabrielle and Eva suggested they should throw a graduation party. Arielle thought this was a great idea, so they went to talk to the Queen of Parties: Arielle’s mother.

  Chapter 2

  THE COMMENCEMENT PARTY was to take place at Arielle’s house. Her mother loved giving parties, so the girls let her handle all the details. She filled the rooms with beautiful flowers, she had the ballroom floors polished, and decorated with impeccable taste.

  Everyone that was invited showed up almost at the same time. It was pretty amusing to watch the variety of fashions and all the different hairdos. Gabrielle, Eva, and Arielle welcomed everyone and made small talk with each person who arrived before letting them go and mingle on their own.

  After a while, people started to gather on the dance floor, and everyone seemed to have a grand time. Tall, lean, good-looking Jack Wallace, who had been Eva’s favorite guy for two years now, walked up to where they were sitting. He had a warm smile on his face and to Eva’s delight he asked her to dance.

  She seemed eager to be in his arms, and Arielle was pleased to see the old Eva back without the gloomy, troubled look in her eyes. When the music stopped Jack kept Eva in his arms, whispering in her ear until the next song started. It was at the end of the second song that they watched them walk away holding hands and looking at each other in complete and utter bliss. Eva looked back and sent a quick playful look to her best friends. Then she lifted her hand and waved at them just before Jack pulled her through the balcony doors.

  Stony silence fell between Gabrielle and Arielle, trying to figure out what was happening out on the balcony. “What in bloody hell was that?” Gabby exclaimed, and abruptly they both exploded into laughter.

  Gabrielle danced with Stefan Broderick, whom Arielle had always thought was the best looking guy in school. If he had asked her out, she would have been delighted to accept, but she had a strong feeling that he didn’t like her very much.

  Stefan had come to their school during the beginning of secondary school, and he had smiled at Arielle every day when they crossed paths. She was sure that one of those days he would have asked her out, but then suddenly he started going out of his way to avoid her. She tried not to let it bother her, but the feeling was strange and bitterness settled in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t like to be rejected. However, Andrew Boyer was one of her dearest friends in school, so when he asked her to dance she was delighted. When the song was over she thanked him and walked away to welcome some more friends who had just walked in.

  “What a great party!” Arielle heard Stefan’s voice close behind her, and to her surprise, he was talking to her. He was standing practically next to her and as the next song started, he moved even closer without taking his eyes off of her. Just as he was about to speak, Andrew grabbed her hand and pulled her back onto the dance floor. She was completely startled.

  “You promised this dance to me,” he said, putting his arm around her waist and ignoring Stefan.

  Arielle laughed because she liked Andrew so much as a friend. But she would have preferred to dance with Stefan and find out why he disliked her so much. She was deep in thought about this when she realized Andrew was talking again.

  “I’m so happy to be here,” he was saying. “This is a great party! I know that I can’t dance very well, so if you want to sit down, I’ll understand.” They both laughed and embraced joyfully.

  She was sad to hear that University of Brighton had not been Andrew’s choice
, and that he was going away to another university.

  By the time the party was coming to an end, Arielle had danced with several boys and she was almost ready for the party to be over. She saw Gabrielle talking with James Drew, one of the guys she had gone out on a couple of dates with during their school year, but nothing earthshaking. The music had stopped and people were leaving the party slowly, hugging, laughing, and showing what a great time they’d had. The party was a complete success, and Arielle had her wonderful mother to thank for that.

  “Thank you, Arielle, I had a wonderful time,” Andrew said, heading for the door. “Oh, Andrew, thanks for coming,” she replied, and waved.

  As she was about to walk toward Gabrielle, she was startled to find Stefan standing right next to her again.

  “Arielle…I was wondering if we can talk for a moment?” he said, and gave her an alluring smile.

  Ignoring the look of surprise on her face and not waiting for her answer, he took her hand and pulled her toward the balcony.

  “I know that you’ll never believe me if I told you that I wanted to ask you out the first moment I set eyes on you three years ago,” he said.

  Arielle blinked in surprise. “I do find that hard to believe. So why didn’t you?”

  “I lost my nerve. I thought you would turn me down.”

  “Well, you were wrong,” Arielle said a bit petulantly.

  “Well,” he continued, ignoring the tone of her voice. “When I finally got the nerve to ask you, the guys at school changed my mind.”

  “What? How did they do that?” she asked.

  “I became friends with them, and there was talk…”

  Arielle was absolutely horrified, automatically thinking the worst. “What kind of talk?”

  “The guys said that you had turned down every guy that asked you out, and they were waiting to see who the next loser was going to be.”