Sensations

Contents

Copyright Page

Dedication

Foreword

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 5

Chapter 10

Chapter 15

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Epilogue

About the Author

Sensations

Book Two of the Awakening Awareness series

by

Rowan Shannigan

All rights reserved

Copyright © February 22, 2013, Rowan Shannigan

Cover Art Copyright © 2013, Charlotte Holley

Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Lockhart, TX

www.gypsyshadow.com

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

ISBN: 978-1-61950-085-3

Published in the United States of America

First eBook Edition: June 27, 2013

Dedication

In fond memory of my friend and co-worker, O.D. Cooks. Your light was so bright and clear, it called into the heavens and God just had to take you closer into his embrace. I miss you. But someday, God willing, I’ll see you again! My prayers surround your family always as they try to accept this loss. Honestly, I’m still not sure I ever will.

Foreword

Among everything we learn as we grow up, one could say the biggest lessons are the ones we get from birth itself. Touch is the first thing we experience when we make our entry into the world. Before we even open our eyes; before we breathe in our first whiff of oxygen, what we feel is hands grabbing us, pulling us from the safety of the warm, cozy womb and out into the cold, hard, real world.

Next would be the air filling our lungs. Our first breath could actually be a very traumatic experience. We go nine months with no need to use them, and then suddenly we discover our lungs must fill with air to let us give the next sense a workout.

Then comes the screaming; we scream for all we’re worth! It’s probably because the doctor or nurse has just given us a good sound whack on the behind, though it could be because the bright, harsh world on the outside is cold compared to our warm soft bed in Mom’s womb. Of course—and this is just my own personal guess—when we hear those horrible loud screams, chances are it scares us into screaming even louder.

Next, we get cleaned up, which plays havoc on our senses and very certainly confuses us even more. Then we are wrapped in soft warm clothing, and placed in gentle, loving arms and we usually get our first taste of Mommy’s milk pretty soon after that.

Once we can stop screaming because we realize we are the ones making that God awful racket, we find ourselves relaxing enough to open our eyes and it’s then we see her… The face that belongs to the voice we heard for all those months when we were developing. And for a small space of time, we feel all is safe and sound in the world.

To be a newborn can be pretty nerve-wracking. But the impressions we feel as babies are nothing. Those are just simple physical ambiences. They are nothing compared to their emotional cohorts. Love, laughter, joy, betrayal, sorrow, agony and loss are all parts of the emotional side to the sensations we are brought into this life to feel. Sometimes those emotions are the last thing we want to experience. Unfortunately–and this is one of the first things we learn—we don’t really have an option.

Prologue—Purgatory

Sam:

I said no! Becca stood in the center of the room, glaring at the Angel who had transported us to this beautiful place suddenly, and with no explanation. Honestly, I didn’t blame her. It was pretty wild.

We had been pulled out of what I would only call a scary situation, and thrown into one that was just as spooky and intense. There was no way we were staying here! Seriously? I mean, people didn’t belong in the spiritual realm. Not when they were still alive. Did they? And where were our bodies? How long could a body survive without a soul connected to it?

So, anyway, now here I was, standing in this room that looked as if it was part of a palace, with these long flowing robes, like what a person wears when they sing in a church choir, watching Becca spit and hiss like a cat at the Angel who had just informed her that we would be staying here until they had a course of action against the demons who were trying to kill us.

Shocking, right? But there was even more good news. Apparently, the demon who had taken over my body had been able to do so because of my Fae heritage. Who knew Faeries were more susceptible to demon possession when in the human realm if they were unprepared.

Then, the Angel had even looked down his nose at me and criticized my mother for keeping me in the dark about my true identity. I was outraged! I had been so shocked and surprised that I hadn’t even been able to come up with a good comeback. Until after he left us.

Then I had turned to Becca with my bewildered expression and done what any headstrong, angry teenage Faerie would do. I puckered up like a baby and wailed for all I was worth. How could she do this to me, Becca? My own mother hid my memories from me! I sank to the floor, in shock and grief. Who am I, anyway?

The thing that always made me believe Becca was a really good friend was the way she could just drop whatever worry or anger she might be feeling at the time to offer comfort to anyone who needed it. The girl seriously didn’t have a single mean bone in her body. I loved that about her. It made me proud to call her friend.

Her fierce sense of determination was also something I admired; like now. She was standing toe to toe with an Angel, no less. And she wasn’t afraid. No, that wasn’t even the right word! What she was at that moment? Well, the best word I can come up with was furious!

You gave us no warning, Zeke! Not one! she accused. Not even an, oh, by the way, we may need to take you into protective custody for a while, or anything!

She threw her hands up in the air. What are we supposed to do now? I mean, am I just taking a sabbatical from my life? Her voice rose as the frustration grew. I am a junior in high school, for heaven’s sake! I can’t just put that on hold! Then her voice wavered. What about Mom?

There it was. For the last, oh I don’t know, half hour, she had comforted me and encouraged me not to panic or be upset. Now, it was her turn. Tears filled her eyes, and I moved forward to try to comfort her. She held to me even as she continued to stare the beautiful Angel in the face. What does she know? Does she know I’m here? Does she know I’m safe?

I hugged her tighter as she finally let herself cry over the entire mess we’d just unexpectedly found ourselves thrust into.

Zeke, or whatever his name was, finally had the good grace to seem somewhat apologetic for what we were going through. He took a step closer to us and reached out to pat her shoulder. This will not interfere with your human life, Becca. I promise, when this is over, we will set everything back as it should be. He sighed. But for now, I need you both to trust me.

She held to me for a moment longer, returning my hug before she let go and stepped back a little. Where’s Darethmar? Where did you take him?

Zeke gave her a smile and I felt like someone was getting ready to tell a huge lie. "He’s a prince, with obligations to his people, Becca. He was taken back to his home. You’ll be seeing him soon, I promise.

Now, maybe that wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the most upfront and honest response I’ve ever heard either.

Then, as if his answer wasn’t enough to throw my hackles up, what he did next really irked the hell out of me. He offered us both a parting bow and promptly disappeared, leaving us alone in the middle of what seemed for all appearances to be a deserted palace.

Becca groaned and moved to sit at the end of the bed on the far side of the room. She looked around with an exasperated expression before glancing at me. If anyone had told me a year ago that I would be seeing ghosts, fighting demons and kidnapped by Angels, I would have told them they were nuts!

I nodded, crossing my arms over my chest and looking around us at the room we were in. I hear that! I gestured at myself, shaking my head slowly, I mean, look at me! I never in a million years would have believed I was a Faerie if it wasn’t for these wings.

Even as I said it, I turned my head to glare at the appendages protruding out of my back. I still don’t know if I believe it. I keep trying to figure out how in the world I’m supposed to sleep with them!

Almost as though my words changed my reality, I all of a sudden felt completely exhausted. I felt like I had run a marathon, and then did a thousand jumping jacks. I don’t remember much after that. I only remembered feeling like if I didn’t find a way to lie down I’d just fall over in a heap.

Just as well, I suppose. This isn’t my story tell anyway. Not really. I play a small part in it, but Becca is the only one who knows the entire tale.

Chapter One—What Now?

Becca:

If anyone had told me six months ago that I would be where I am now, I would have thought they needed psychiatric help. Me? No way! I was the most boring person out there! Seriously! I was a bookworm. I was the A+ student who’d rather stay home and study than even think about going out with friends on a Friday night. Don’t even ask me about my take on action and adventure. I got that from reading books and going to an occasional movie. If you looked up the word boring in a dictionary, there would be a picture of me beside it.

That’s why this past month of my life seemed just so crazy. I mean, think about it: mere weeks ago, I was getting used to the whole idea of being able to see ghosts, demons, Angels and any and all other things which were not supposed to be seen by mere Mortals. Now, here I was, in what I could only guess was some in-between place—neither heaven, nor hell—with a friend who was just discovering she wasn’t actually an average human, but something more. Imagine that? Nah, I can’t imagine it. My life seems to be forever stuck in it!

Did I get it all? Did I miss something in this rundown of what was now my life? Oh, there’s more. There’s always more! My boyfriend, who just happens to be an Elf, had been sent back to his world, and I had no idea if he had willingly left me or not. At least, I think he was now my boyfriend. I mean, he had admitted to me he wanted us to be more than just acquaintances. Or had I misread that?

I didn’t know. At the moment, everything was a blur. Let’s see. First; I got home from battling demons for my teacher’s soul. Next, Darethmar had told me he cared deeply for me; enough that he wanted to consider the possibility of the two of us perhaps tying the knot when he stopped aging.

I was giddy. I mean, it thrilled me to have been able to help Miss Elliot survive her plight. I even got to watch as she said goodbye to the spirit of her fiancé, and I saw the children she’s going to have in the future walk with him into the light. I even had the inside scoop on who their father would be.

I left the hospital totally and completely thrilled with myself. My new gifts didn’t seem to be such a burden at that point after all, and I was happy again. For the first time since waking in the hospital, I finally felt like I would survive this big change to my reality. I was ready to accept this new part of who I was and get on with my life.

Then, just like a giant rug being pulled out from under my feet, Sam showed up. Only Sam wasn’t truly Sam. She was possessed by some monstrous demon intent on ending my existence.

But then Darethmar stepped up, brandishing some fantastic sword I never saw him with before. In all the times I’d seen him, I never knew he had a sword. He even knew how to use it! How had I missed that? Did I mention an exciting thrill had swept through me as I saw how talented he was with it? Oh, hush! This isn’t your boyfriend.

Somehow, I got knocked out and when I came to, Sam was back, but she was different. I mean really, really different. Different, as in: she now had wings.

I hardly had time to assimilate the information into my brain before the Angel, Zeke, was with us. Then, things got weirder. Unexpectedly, Darethmar was gone and it was just Sam and me.

Now I was here in the middle of this place that as far as I can figure, was neither Heaven nor Hell, but somewhere in between. Kind of like some fancy, plush waiting room. Darethmar was gone, and Zeke wouldn’t answer any of my questions. As far as I knew, my mother had no inkling where I was. For that matter, no one had any idea where I was! At least I didn’t think so. I felt like someone had decided to hide me away in a closet somewhere for fear of what I might discover, should I be left out to roam!

My biggest concern was, if I was in purgatory, then where was my body? Was it still at home? Was it still breathing? If it was, what would Mom think when she found it—that I had slipped back into another coma?

Sam tried to console me. It’s going to be okay, Becca. You know it will, because we’re with the good guys. She paused and looked at where Zeke had just been before he vanished. They must have a good reason for all of this. You know they must.

I stood in the middle of the room where I was apparently to be kept for an indefinite amount of time, and I found myself wondering at her words. Do they, Sam? I hear what you say, but you know what? I tilted my head, crossing my arms, hugging myself. I’m just not sure.

I wasn’t. I couldn’t make myself believe Darethmar would willingly leave my side if he’d been given a choice. Not when we just decided we wanted to give our relationship a chance!

I moved to sit in the large chair in the center of the room and found myself staring at nothing in particular. I missed Mom. What was she doing right now? Had Zeke at least told her what was going on? He seemed very secretive to me, and I didn’t believe the only reason we were here was to buy them time to figure out how to deal with the threat to us. They were Angels! What was to figure out?

Sam sat down in the chair opposite me and started to sit back, only to catch herself. Oh, damn! I nearly forgot the wings! she mumbled, rolling her eyes. I don’t think I am ever going to get used to these things!

Turning her head, she glared at the appendages which were still beautiful to behold, even if she didn’t like them. I caught myself smiling, despite my worries. You’ll get used to them in time, Sam. They are a part of who you are. Just like my gift. It’s already a big part of me, and I’m actually starting to like it—even with all the dangers involved.

She raised an eyebrow at me. I thought you weren’t sure about any of this. Tilting her head, she smirked at me. It sounds to me like you aren’t all that conflicted after all.

I shrugged, stood and turned in a slow circle, looking around the room we were in. It was a spectacular room with furniture that looked to be fit for a palace. The floors were a rich mahogany wood that had a deep shine. The framework for the bed, tables, and even the chairs appeared to be made of gold. The colors of the room were beautiful shades of rust, gold and emerald. It was a bedroom and so much more. Actually, it was more like a studio apartment for a really wealthy, snobby perfectionist. The bed, although toward the center of the room in one way, was to one side of the huge space. Toward the other side was a loveseat and matching chairs.

Then there were another couple of chairs with a matching table beside a huge window that looked out over the land. Was this heaven? I had no idea. Could it be Purgatory? Was there even really such a thing as Purgatory? Sam seemed to think so, but I honestly had no idea. It certainly wasn’t what I would think of as Purgatory. No, not at all. It was more like a suite in an extravagant hotel, or something like it.

Right now, I felt like a prisoner. How long do you think they’ll keep us here? I wasn’t trying to change the subject. I was just worried about what was going on with my mother. I knew she would be beside herself with worry if I didn’t make it home for dinner.

Sam groaned and moved to the bed on the far side of the room, flopping down on her stomach. As long as they want to keep us, they will, I guess. I seriously doubt we have anything to say in the matter. She rolled her eyes. It isn’t likely they’d listen to us anyway.

I watched as she curled up on her side and pulled a pillow under her head. She closed her eyes and I was in awe at how swiftly she was able to fall asleep.

Soft snoring filled the room, effectively erasing any doubt I felt over whether she honestly fell