Against the Light - Chapter 3!!!!!!!

***SPOILER: you should read Darkness Calls (book #1 in the Blood Secret series) before you read any of the chapters for Against the Light that are on the blog***

Chapter 3

Ari

Shaking my head, I cleared the thoughts bouncing around frantically. “What made him change his mind? We both know how he gets when his mind is set on something, and I don't see this as something he would easily cave on.”

“Well that's the thing. I have a friend who knows the young healer here in Seraphrost,” he began, but I was sure I misunderstood.

“Chicago you mean?”

“Nope. Surprise,” he said cautiously. “Welcome to Seraphrost.” He smiled, but it was strained. I couldn't make anything out over the last week from, what looked like, the inside of a psych ward room. I assumed I was in Chicago where I should be living. The dark curtains were drawn down over the one window in the room that sat way up by the ceiling. My curiosity spiked in spite of not wanting to be here.

“Right. We'll get to that I guess?” He nodded and continued answering my first question.

“So the young healer...I kind of had her do me a favor and slip your dad something in his dinner last night to knock him out for awhile so I could come in here.” Cam's eyes searched mine wearily, and I burst out laughing. “I don't know what you think is so funny, he's gonna be pissed if he finds out.”

Laughing felt good. Normal. Something I had missed in my life recently. The barrier that naturally went up after everything with Jesse started to slip gradually, but as soon as I sensed the change I slammed the brick wall back up. Emotions made people weak and got people hurt.

“Ari, you were slipping and fast. No one believed our bond was strong enough to put you through seeing me, but I knew better. They can crucify me for all I care, but I couldn't wait around any longer when I knew they weren't doing anything to actually help you.”

Cam maneuvered his hand inside the blanket, and his fingertips rolled over the skin at the bottom of my back tracing small circular patterns.

“Cam,” I leaned away from his touch, and the pain etched in lines surrounding his eyes pulled at my fractured soul, but I couldn't give in. “This isn't going to happen. Ever.”

“That's not why I'm here.” His hand receded from my skin and he wrapped the blanket tightly back in place.

“You say it isn't, but we both know otherwise. Look, everyone in my life lied to me, kept me in the dark and put my life at risk.” Darkness provoked me, hooked its dark claws into every pore of my body dripping itself into me. “Shit happened and it changed me more than I want to admit or talk about right now. I want to forget, Cam. Whatever I have to do to get back in school for my senior year and just move on...I'll do what I have to,” those last words escaped my lips as a promise.

“Then that's what we'll do.” The pause seemed to put substantial space between us. “Ari, you have to know I wasn't allowed to tell you anything. I didn't think I could do anything other than what I had. Yes, I should have tried to figure something out sooner, I get that now. But,” pools of blue sky urged me to understand. “I'm here. I'm not going anywhere, and now you know what I literally couldn't speak about before so there will never be secrets between us again.”

I wanted to tell him he was right, take his hand in mine, look deep in his eyes and reassure him that I would be fine, that I wasn't losing my mind. He knew though, knew I couldn't say those things because they weren't true, not anymore. Cam just lowered his head and slowly shook it in disappointment.

“ Right. Well, I know your dad has some people he wants you to meet here, then I'm sure you two can sit down and figure something out.” A sarcastic laugh came out louder than I anticipated. Cam expected miracles if he thought my dad would give two hoots about what I wanted for my life.

“Yeah, we'll see.” My gaze moved back to the chair in the corner and I saw clothes there. Suddenly I wanted nothing more than to get out of this bed and take an actual shower.

“I had some help, but I knew you'd want to shower and clean up the second you,” he stopped short not knowing how to continue.

“The second I what, Cam? Woke up to my old self again?” My eyes narrowed on his. That thought made me laugh even harder. I wasn't the same warm hearted, wanting to spend all my time with my best friend, get good grades, good girl as before. That ship sailed along with the innocence I lost over the summer.

“No, I just thought you'd want to get dressed, go out and about...thought I could show you around Seraphrost.” One thing I'd never deny is that smile, the one he reserved specifically for me because he knew it made my heart race and my knees weak. Even though I felt less like myself than ever before, his smile had the effect he was hoping it would.

“I'll let you show me around Seraphrost if you promise not to leave my side when I confront my dad. You have to tell him you think it's the right thing to do, for me and you to go back to school. Finish our senior year, that you'll be there every step of the way to protect me and see that I don't die.”

“Um, yeah, I mean...obviously I'd stay with you and protect you,” he eyes searched mine like he wanted to say more, but I cut in before he could.

“Because that's your job, Cam. To protect me and nothing else.” I walked past him into the bathroom and started the shower. Ridding myself of the gown I'd probably had on since arriving felt amazing. Bruises were lined all along my arms and down by my ankles. Considering how often the nurses had to strap me down it surprised me I didn't look worse.

The scalding water should have burned my skin, but I barely felt the warmth. I closed my eyes envisioning the heat and soap washing away all the blood from my hands and the darkness staining my soul.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I tried to let go of those horrible pictures stuck in my mind of my last moments with Jesse. When it stopped working I called on darkness to bring a sense of him. In it I was closer to him. People lied to me my whole life, my life was at stake, and I was a Collector. Any one of those things would change a person tremendously, but have all three happening at the same time and it's no coincidence I'm a different girl than before.

I walked into the room in my towel to have a little fun with Cam and get out of my head for a while. His eyes about bugged out of his head when he saw me. The towel was big enough to wrap around me, and it covered all the important parts, just not much else. Usually my face turned an embarrassing shade of red, this time his did the honors.

My eyes lingered on Cam as I walked past heading to the chair where the clothes sat. Lust emitted from him as he moved to stand behind me. Strong, warm arms circled my waist, pulling me back against him so I was flush against his chest. My hair swept off my shoulder as his fingertips brushed my skin, and the smell of sunshine on a warm summer morning engulfed me.

My head rolled to the side, his lips met my skin. Soft and gentle they caressed the length of my neck from my shoulder up to my jaw. Turning quickly, my chest pressed into his. Magically the towel fell to the floor, and a mischievous grin fell on my lips. Cam's eyes dropped slightly, but there wasn't much to see since we were pressed tightly together.

His hands started at my bare shoulders and made their way down my exposed back, goosebumps marked my flesh with the effect Cam had on me, and his lips came within centimeters of mine. I called darkness, winding it around his eyes like a blindfold as I snaked my way out of his grasp.

“That was fun,” I laughed, prancing for the bathroom with my clothes in my hand.

This manipulating darkness to get what I want wasn't so bad. I used to feel the Guardian's light within me, but a connection to the shadows was my present. Whether by choice, a subconscious decision to link myself to Jesse, or by evolution of what I needed to keep myself alive, I wasn't sure.

I threw on my gray skinnies, a white tank with a loose fitting black tank vest over it, and my well loved high tops. My hair hung in super loose beachy waves down my back, but I didn't have the means to do anything to it right this moment, so I headed back out to the room. Cam sat on the end of the bed waiting for me.

He sauntered over to me, eyes locked on mine. I took a couple steps back, surprised by the intense sexy smoulder in his eyes making my legs want a mind of their own. He followed until he was inches in front of me. My arms hung down at my sides but I couldn't break the hold his gaze had on me. Cam linked his fingers with mine, walking me back until I felt the cool wall touch my skin.

Cam deliberately lifted my hands up the wall at a minute pace. Warm breath caressed my cheek, his mouth moved to the corner of my lips, but didn't touch me. Both my hands were locked in one of his as his free hand made its way down the length of my torso scantily touching areas he never dared to before.

His lips hovered over mine now, my pulse began to speed up as his tongue traced my bottom lip. My hands were no longer held by his but they didn't move. One of his hands grabbed my hip tightly pressing me into him, while the other tangled in the hair at the base of my neck. Anticipation of his lips on mine grew, I was at a breaking point. My hands wound around his neck, and he eliminated any area of space between every millimeter of our bodies.

And then he let me go, walked toward the door, and moved to leave me in the room alone. He took all the heat from my body with him, my breath left me behind to follow him, and my heart beat faster remembering the places his hands just touched.

I grabbed his wrist turning him around to face me. “What the hell was,” I was flailing my hands all around in front of myself. “That?” I demanded, pointing with aggression back to where we had stood seconds before.

“What?”

“You know what. That little stunt you just pulled, that's what.”

A sultry smirk played across his lips as he looked at me with hooded eyes. “If you want to play games Ari, I can play games. Don't think for one second I don't know what's going on with you because I do. But if you want to use the darkness to try and toy with me, or make yourself feel better, or whatever other reason you can get yourself to believe is good enough, then by all means, I'll use the lust and the want you have for me deep down. Notice I don't have to use something I'm not against you, like you using the darkness. I'm pulling your true emotions out of you. Too bad you can't say the same for yourself.”

“Oh piss off, Cam. I can do what I want whether you like it or not.” I leveled him with daggers shooting out of my eyes.

“And I will take advantage of your new found bad girl persona whenever you want to let it loose on me. Making you hot, knowing you want me,” he stepped right to me wrapping his arms around my waist as his voice dropped low, warm breath caressing my cheek. “Knowing I can turn you inside out in ways you could never imagine,” his lips were at my ear making me feel every word throughout my entire body. “I'm more than happy to play along and give you whatever you need.” Pulling back he winked at me, giving me a heartbreakingly gorgeous smile.

Aww, hell.

If I wasn't careful I was going to get into some serious trouble. I honestly didn't know what I was doing. I knew the light and goodness in me wasn't as strong as it used to be, and therefore the darkness stepped in and filled the void. But, I would never be like the Watchers in Andaemon. Bottom line, I'd begun to get comfortable in my hybrid-blooded self.

Growing uncomfortable under Cam's gaze, I shifted my eyes away breaking the hold.

“Let's go and see Seraphrost,” he said with a smile lighting up his entire face, and he took my hand. I yanked it away shooting a glare in his direction but he didn't care, he just chuckled and took it again. This side of Cam, this confident, physical, expressing his want for me side caught me off guard.

“You keep this crap up Cam and I'm going to unleash darkness in droves.”

“And I'll be right here with the light to bring you back from the dark side.” He was serious now. “Always and forever, Ari.”

I rolled my eyes at him, smacking his arm as we left the room. One nurse tried to stop us, telling Cam she was calling my dad immediately, but he waved her off and kept walking. There were obviously things he wanted to show me before we were chastised by my dad, so Cam kept moving not giving the nurse a second glance.

*** This is an unedited chapter...please excuse any typos as of now!!***
© Heather Wiginton December 2013

Chapter 2 - Against the Light

Here is chapter 2 from Against the Light! SPOILER...do not read of you have not read Darkness Calls, the first book in the Blood Secret book series!!!

Let me know what you think!!!  Thanks for reading & keep checking back for more teasers & another chapter release before Against the Light comes out in January 2014! 

Chapter 2

Ari

My hands smacked down onto his chest as I fisted his shirt in my hands. “You can't leave me...you...can't.” There was a whooshing sound in my ears, my heartbeat raced threatening to drown me in darkness. “Please, Jesse.” I begged him to come back to me. All my light, my darkness, my life essence that coursed through me was doing nothing to save him.

Arms grabbed me around my waist from behind, dragging me away from Jesse. I kicked, thrashing my body like a wild animal to release myself from the grasp. I had to get back to him, I had to keep trying.

“Ari, you have to stop.” Cam's light cascaded over me, calming me, chasing the shadows into remission. “You can't save him, you've never been able to save him.”

Heartbroken sobs escaped my throat, my body convulsed with the realization of what I did. I let out a scream full of torment and agony, I was sure I released the actual heart and soul that lay broken inside me onto the concrete next to Jesse. I pushed at Cam's hands for release, tried crawling to Jesse's side once again, as pain lanced throughout my body.

“What the,” the heartbeat thrumming in the warm body I used as a pillow vanished from under my cheek. Barely audible words reached my ears over the hell raising scream echoing throughout my room.

I tried to block the inconceivable decible causing my ears to ring, but warm fingers quickly fixed my wrists making them unable to move on command. Chords and veins strained my neck, my voice struggled and strangled out of my burning throat, causing my body to buckle and raise off the bed.  Hands scorched the skin on either side of my stomach attempting to restrain me.

 “What did you do to her?” A woman's voice questioned through the shrill pitch consuming the room.

“Get off of her! You can't hold her down like that,” another unfamiliar shout rang out laced with panic.

“I'll do whatever the hell I think is best for her,” the familiar tone wasn't the one I knew like the back of my hand, the one that made my skin feel like sunshine touched it with every word. The bite apparent there didn't lessen because the horrendous screaming continued. “If you're smart you'll turn around and walk right out and not come back.”

“But,” one of the women started.

“NOW!” The authority pulled me out of my nightmare, and the uncontrollable screeching finally stopped. My eyelids opened lazily, and guarded crystal blue peered back. They weren't the eyes I longed to see. Anger flared deep down in me from being pinned down like an animal trying to be caged. I gathered darkness allowing it to coil inside me like a snake ready to strike.

Get off me, I sent to him with no response, no movement, no change in the weight immobilizing me.

Shadows lurked behind him rising like cigarette smoke. Part of me enjoyed his obliviousness, and a smirk reveled across my lips as the hair on his arms stood up, goosebumps braking out across his flesh.

Instincts kicked in when darkness came calling. Every cell in the body wanted to react by running and never looking back. Flight over fight kept people, and angels, alive. Even strong Guardians knew deep down in their souls darkness wasn't to be taken lightly.

“Ari,” my name rang out as a warning.

Darkness wrapped around Cam's torso ripping him off me with ease. His mouth hung slack, words escaping him, as his back was pinned against the padded white wall. “What?” I snapped. “I told you to get off me,” I reminded him as the strength the shadows left thrummed through my veins.

“You were freaking out!” He gave an exasperated look, eyes moving between the tendrils holding him to the wall and me. I had mere seconds before he used his light to free himself.

“Ugh, fine.” Rolling my eyes I pulled the inky darkness away from him. His glare raked over me tentatively, looking at me like I'd grown two heads. “I don't know why you're looking at me that way. Your eyes look like they're about to bug out of your head.” I shouldn't be snippy. Cam wasn't hurting me he was trying to help, but I honestly wanted to be left alone.

My arm stretched above my head and I felt the soreness in my muscles setting in from tensing against Cam. I fell back to the bed as my body screamed to let it knock back out for another twelve hours.

Then the nightmare I had hit me like a ton of bricks. Panic surged through my body reminding me breathing was a luxury I could not afford to lose. The tingling sensation started in my fingertips, quickly spread to my chest, legs, and lips. It was mid-August and assumably warm out, but shakes wracked me to my core. I might as well have been naked outside in Chicago in the dead of winter. My teeth slammed together repeatedly with no end in the foreseeable future.

Dead. Jesse. Jesse is dead.

Cam flew back to the bed after yanking an extra comforter from the chair in the corner of the room. He fervently wrapped it around me, and climbed back in bed pulling me to his chest. A calm secure sensation draped over me like an affectionate embrace, and gradually I stopped shaking. The feeling returned to the rest of my body leaving me able to take the full breath my lungs begged to be given.

“I'm broken, Cam,” my voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper, and I didn't know if it was from screaming before or the raw emotion of losing someone I loved. The other day I overheard the healers discussing the repercussion of my wailing fits. If I couldn't get them to stop I'd permanently ruin my vocal chords, but I didn't understand how to control it since it primarily happened in my sleep. “There isn't even any point in trying.”

“The hell there isn't. I love you and I'll be damned if I let you or your dad try to tell me I can't or am not allowed to help you.” His tone was low and serious which only lent to somber conversation, and I wasn't in the mood.

“Cam I'm not doing this with you right now.”

“Since when do you give up, huh?” Eyes as blue as the Koro Sea bore into mine searching for answers I didn't have. “We are figuring this out. I'm not going another day with you stuck in this bed leaving me to worry that I'm going to lose you.”

Cam's voice cracked, and he turned his head to hide the tears welling in the pool of emotion there, but I saw them. He raked his unsteady hand through golden hair that had grown longer than normal. He cleared his throat, “I'm not losing you.” Not looking in my direction, he made his way to the bathroom leaving me alone on the bed.

Alone. Again.

I missed Jesse a crazy amount, but Cam was right. I had to pull myself out of this downward spiral to never ending darkness whatever way I could or I was going to end up dead. The latch on the bathroom door clicked and Cam eased his way back across the room. He thought he could be the glue to hold me together. I'd never be whole again, but maybe he would make me as close as I'd get.

“How do you feel?” Standing at the side of the bed, his hands linked up behind his head leaving the skin above his low slung jeans showing. A tug at the center of my heart, that would've made my legs give out had I been standing, startled me. I recognized the feeling, my light wanted Cam, and he was doing everything to coax it out inside me.

I can't. I mentally and physically...just...can't.

“Aside from killing someone,” animosity covered my tone like a bitter sauce. “And sounding like a croaking frog, you mean?”

He let my comment go without a word. After climbing back in bed next to me, Cam put his arm around my shoulders and I instinctively leaned into him even though I tried my damnedest not to give in. “Your dad didn't want to let me in here ya know...said he didn't care what I thought the bond between us could do to help you. He only wants me near you to protect you and nothing else.”

I rolled my eyes. The strain on the relationship between me and my dad increased over the last few years. The intention behind everything he had done was good, but it didn't change the fact that it left me feeling like we wouldn't ever be able to trust the other again. He should have told me I was an angel, should have let me know the blood running through my veins could get me killed.

He left me to believe my mom was dead. Readied me to be able to fight and protect myself, but provided me with no information about who I was, and why angels of darkness, the Watchers, were hunting me after he was abducted by Jesse's uncle, Dal. Luckily Dal was dead, but the real problem was who he got his orders from, and everyone knew it was only a matter of time before Azrael came for me.

© Heather Wiginton November 2013

New Against the Light teaser!!!

Here is a new teaser from Against the Light, book 2 in the Blood Secret series. Don't forget to check back on the blog tomorrow because I will be releasing ALL of chapter 2 :)

teaser:

"Scooping me up, he crashed my body to his, breathing me in. My body and my light reacted to him like a person drowning who finally received a breath of air to keep them alive. Strong hands moved up to my face, and his lips found my own. I was his oxygen and he took me in deep. His tongue glided across my bottom lip and he bit it lightly getting me to open for him. He gently tugged my hair moving my face in such a way that let him consume me."

Wooooo! Getting steamy!!! :D 

© Heather Wiginton November 2013

Against the Light Teaser!!

Why should teasers only happen on Thursday?!?!?!  They shouldn't, so here you go...

     "I swung my hands around bringing the ropes down like whips. As I did, darkness wrapped around me from my back; I looked like I had been submerged in onyx ink.
      Screams erupted from either side of me as my shadows pinned them to trees in front of me. Ambling in their direction, I studied them, getting a good view of who I'd come across.
      “Aiden and Avalon,” my voice floated through the air like music. “How nice of you to join me,” I said, walking up to Aiden, running my fingers through his shaggy blonde hair. He flinched away from me, “Oh, stop now. I don't bite you know,” I walked in his sisters direction, but glanced over my shoulder, “Much.” "                 ---Ari, Against the Light



© Heather Wiginton November 2013

Teaser Thursday!!!

Teaser Thursday!!!!! (I just made that up, but I like it...maybe I'll keep it up until the release of the full book!!)

This teaser is from Against the Light out Jan 2014:

“It's going to break me into a million pieces to lose you, Ari. I'll never give up on you though, I'll be by your side until you leave mine, and even then I'll follow you wherever you go.” A tear escaped down my cheek landing on hers. It was another piece of my soul deserting my body to stay with her indefinitely.

Any guesses who POV this scene/quote is in???

Enjoy  :)

© Heather Wiginton November 2013

Against the Light ch2 : 11/15/13

Since I released chapter 1 of Against the Light on 10/15/13, I think it's only fair that I release chapter 2 on 11/15/13!!  Only a week until I post it here :)

Against the Light Playlist!!!!

I'm busy writing the rest of Against the Light, but there is one thing I have finished...the playlist!!!!  Listen, enjoy, share, and let me know which are your favorites (and if they give you any indication to what might be going on in Against the Light)!!!

Heather

Against the Light Playlist

Haunted by Taylor Swift

The One That Got Away by The Civil Wars

Cosmic Love by Florence and the Machine

Wanted by Hunter Hayes

Let Her Go by Passenger

Clarity by Zedd

Wake Me Up by Avicii

Alive by Krewella

More Than This by One Direction

Marching On by One Republic

A Drop in the Ocean by Ron Pope

Just Breathe by Pearl Jam

Everlong by Foo Fighters

Lovesick Fool by The Cab

Stay by Rihanna

Against the Light Chapter 1 :) SPOILER ALERT: Do NOT read if you haven't read book1, Darkness Calls!!!!!

Chapter 1

Ari

One.

One week since I found my dad. Alive.

Since I realized I was a Collector.

I collected the soul of the guy I loved.

Not much changed in seven days. I was unconscious for the first four. I'd spent the next three wishing I was comatose with no such luck. Everyone walked around on pins and needles thinking I'd lose it. They hadn't figured out I was already gone. Emotions beat the crap out of me a week ago, ditched me, and left darkness in their wake.

The Watchers would come for me because my blood was a commodity to Ez. I'm a freaking pawn, and I'm sick of my life being on everyone elses terms. I'm his weapon against the Guardians, threatening their lives with the power I possess to collect souls. The Guardians wanted to keep me in this small square crazy box they tried to pass as a room, and it felt more like a cell as the seconds ticked by in my mind. Their reason? To ensure I wouldn't hurt anyone on accident.

My impending death grows daily. None except the healers are allowed in my room which only abates my sanity. I needed to talk to Jesse, but he wasn't there. Our connection severed the moment his soul was in my possession. My light, my very being, snapped; I can't feel him any more.

Because I killed him.

No matter how many times I repeated those words and knew their truth, they played like a movie on repeat in my brain. I felt the cold concrete under my legs, saw myself bent over Jesse's limp frame knowing I was the cause.

My soul was fractured beyond repair, much like a once extraordinary vase someone took in their hands, raised above their head, only to let go, watching gravity unleash destruction. I spiraled down in the same way, and crashed into a million pieces. No matter who tries to glue the jagged shards back together, a fragmented vase would perpetually be a shell of its former self.

I'm a shell of my former self.

Panic attacks woke me every time I slept. Screams clawed their way up my throat, never releasing the torture stuck inside. Then darkness came. It wrapped around me as a familiar old blanket comforting me, but my mind wouldn't forget. I accepted each individual punishment my body dealt out. The healers tried to force medication down my throat with the promise of relaxation and sleep, but I refused.

I killed him. I don't deserve any consolation.

My dad vacillated between begging me to get a hold of myself, and threatening to send me away if I couldn't snap out of the dark hole I'd gladly slipped into. When he came in my room I either pretended to be asleep or sat unresponsively staring at the wall. I was extremely glad he was alive, but I needed time. And onyx shadows.

Darkness brings solace.

I heard dad and the healers talking outside my room daily, wondering what else they could do for me. Listening to the same crap every day knowing they'd never come up with anything to help me was tedious.

Today felt different. A familiar luminescent energy reached for my own, and I lay back in the bed closing my eyes. My muscles didn't relax completely, but the darkness caressing my skin was pushed away. It had been an excruciatingly long time since I felt relief from the torment ricocheting inside my head.

Cam is here.

The door opened slowly letting a sliver of light from outside gradually stretch the length of the room. I didn't want the light to touch me, it was a trader. It wouldn't help me save Jesse so why would I welcome it back into my life now?

Cam took my hand as his fingers laced with mine brushing the ring he gave me with his life essence swirling inside the stone. It might be the single thing keeping me sane and marginally blocking the effects of the darkness threatening to drown me.

As his fingertips languidly ran up and down my arm I felt the shadows around me uncoil. For the first time in the three days I'd been sentient I felt like breathing again. Cam slid one arm under my bare, prone legs behind my knees, and the other behind my back. Heat radiated off him permeating my thin camisole, and the ease with which Cam maneuvered me over to one side of the bed was alarming.

I couldn't open my eyes. They were heavy with the weight of sleeplessness, heartache, and tears. Cam positioned me on his chest wrapping his arms around me, and at that moment I realized how cold my skin had grown when pressed against the warmth of him. “I'm here, Ari. I'll never leave you,” sweet whispers filled my ears as Cam dropped feather light kisses along my temple and forehead. “God, Ari...just let go. Let me help you.” The strain in Cam's voice was evident.

My body made the decision my brain wouldn't, and I slipped into a peaceful sleep while Cam's light, his heart and soul, tried to put me back together. But the darkness inside me was stronger now and it wouldn't give up without a fight.

 

© Heather Wiginton October 2013

Blood Secret book #2 !!

I'm busy writing the second book in the Blood Secret series. It is going to be titled *drum roll* : Against the Light! Very excited to share the title, and the release date should be January 2014 ;)

Meet the Characters

I've done posts on the Blood Secret book series page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherWigintonDarknessCalls
Head on over to get some information about the characters, along with some teaser quotes from Darkness Calls!

Who do I see in my head?

I've been asked who I envisioned as I wrote the characters. I won't post actual pictures, because I don't own the rights to them, but you can search the names if you don't already know who these actors are :)  My opinion in no way has to limit YOUR opinion as the reader, but here is who I pictured being a close resemblance to the characters in Darkness Calls (Blood Secret series #1):

Arianna Light: Lucy Hale
Michael Light: Daniel Craig
Jesse Devirish: Ash Stymest
Dal Devirish: Tyler Hoechlin
Ez Devirish: Johnny Depp
Camden Scot: Zach Roerig
Hara: Elle Fanning (how she looks in a W Magazine photo spread I saw awhile ago)

Lily Reed: Rachel Weisz
Ming Xiao: Brenda Song
Reiken Garman: Grey Damon

:)

Take a closer look at Darkness Calls:

I wanted to give you all a little peek at Darkness Calls, so here is the first chapter!! 

 

Chapter 1

Ari

"I don't know who you are, but I have to."

I am dreaming I know I am, but that doesn't lessen the realness of the images or the sound of his voice pulling every part of me to him. Fingers twine through my dark hair at the base of my neck. My hands move to lay flat on his chest. He stands behind me, arms wrapping around my waist, my arms over top of his, our hands linked.

And so on the flashes come frozen in individual pieces, with someone I don't know and whose face I can't see. I feel unsure if this is my mind playing tricks on me or just an extremely realistic dream.

My heart tries to race and swell to twice its size all at the same time. I've never felt so fulfilled in my life, so happy, as I am in this dream. Power courses through me as my hand links with his while an amazing current flows between us. I am made for him. An icy fire runs through my veins signaling a feeling that strikes straight to my heart. Instantly I know any previous notion of the idea that I may have experienced this feeling before is absurd. This is...

No, no...no...no. The pounding came from somewhere, it pulled me from my dream I didn't want to leave. Consciousness washed over me gradually, and I pulled myself out of bed and down the stairs to the front door.

The wood of the door was snug from the daytime humidity arriving sooner than expected this year. I knew Cam would be on the other side of the door reminding me of something I was late for or forgot...or both.

“Seriously, Ari,” he sounded exasperated. “Ten minutes! What are you doing in here?”

I glanced at him sheepishly, “I was, um...I was sleeping, okay! And just so you know you interrupted an amazing dream.” I smacked him on his arm when his eye brows shot up at me.

“Dreaming about me?” Cam's voice went up on the last word as he walked into the house. He was laughing at me, and I knew it was because my face flushed a little at the thought of the dream.

“Ha, ha, ha," I respond sarcastically. "No it wasn't about you. You wish,” I turned to head up the stairs. “Come on, you can help me get ready.”

“What's so funny about you dreaming about me,” he asked as he chased me up the stairs. In typical me fashion I tripped and almost took us both tumbling down the stairs.

Cam took me into his arms as I fell face forward and his warmth wrapped around me. I clutched on to him as he spun me into his chest and regained my balance for me. Reluctantly my grip released from his shoulders, fingertips sliding down either side of his neck, across his collar bones, to his chest where they rested. Shifting my weight back my face was inches from Cam's. I felt his heart beat quicken under my fingertips.

Cam pulled back slightly but quickly. We stood there for brief seconds before he offered me his hand, our fingers lacing together as we made it the rest of the way to my room.

I rummaged through my closet to find something suitable to wear. Today was not only my seventeenth birthday, but also the anniversary of my mother's death. My dad and I had a dinner date to celebrate. Even though I don't want to go.

"Are you sure you won't come with me, Cam?" I called out to him as he sat in an oversized black velvet chair outside my closet door while I changed over and over again.

"I think you should just go this time. I'm sure your dad would appreciate being able to see you every once in a while without me there." Cam knew that wasn't true, knew how my dad felt about him, there wouldn't be any issue if he came with me tonight.

I threw on my black skinny jeans, oversized white tee with a mustard yellow scarf draped around the neck, and some black ballet flats; I had my black leather jacket in tow in case I needed it. The wind in Chicago can be otherworldly sometimes. Even in early May, especially at night, a jacket is never futile.

I could already envision my dad rolling his eyes at what I had on. He would tell me not to be like the mother I never met. Like I'm able to control what genetics gave me. My mom was beautiful and strong willed, smart and edgy, and I hoped I did take after her no matter what my dad said about it. Whenever she was brought up, or any conversation where she was mentioned, my dad only looked pained and whispered, "You don't know what you're asking for," while he looked at the floor shaking his head.

Yet, when I tried to question him further, get some kind of actual response out of him where my mom was concerned, he never complied. I always received the same terse look and reply to worrying about what I had control over, not the things from the past that I didn't. But being seventeen and only knowing your mother died in labor just plain old sucks.

Pushing the thoughts of my mom to the back of my mind I walked out of the closet. With a little spin I showed off my clothes waiting for Cam's reaction. As my eyes leveled on his face I noticed his golden brown hair was longer than usual, setting off his crystal blue eyes.

Cam was stunningly golden. He was tall and muscular – not lifting-weights-in-all-my-spare-time muscular, but more of I'm-in-really-good-shape-because-I-play-every-sport-you-could-think-of muscular – with broad shoulders. Skin perfectly kissed by the sun, when light played on his medium blond hair the color of molten gold shone through.

He was reclined back with his hands folded behind his head, one leg over the arm of the chair, the other stretched out in front of him to the floor. He smiled at me, though I wasn't sure if it was for me or the outfit, and I internally yelled at myself when realizing I cared what the answer to that question would be.

"You look great." He regarded me slowly, letting his eyes linger over every part of my body they had access too, trailing the planes of my face and settling contently on my eyes. Every time he looked at me in that way that said he knew me better than I knew myself, it made my heart skip a beat.

My face probably turned an even brighter shade because a smile lit up his face. The emotions swirling around him spoke more than words. Their wave came across, and as usual attached to them was shadowed grey and black.

I've dealt with these palpable, tangible emotions for as long as I can remember, but recently they've become stronger. I don't have to exert myself to be able to see the murky shades linger around someone any more. If the emotion is strong enough, or dark enough, it shows itself to me writhing with an internal pulse. I'm drawn to it, want to reach out and touch it, and pull it close to me.

I realize how crazy that seems in my head, and anyone who saw how transfixed I was would definitely think I was out of my mind. Pushing the darkness away and moving on from it has become my normal reaction. Each time it happens I grow more anxious to figure out what is going on with me.

Is this what my dad means when he refers to my mom? Was she crazy? Did she pass some weird hallucination disorder to me? I need to just make him sit down and talk to me, answer my questions, because the more time that passes dealing with the shadows the more off balance I feel. I don't understand it, but the way my dad has always watched me closely, like he's just waiting for me to lose my mind, makes me think he has the answers. I plan on getting those at dinner tonight.

The glaze dissipates from my eyes and refocuses on Cam who is shaking his head. He stands and steps toward me reaching for my hand. His fingertips brush the inside of my wrist before lacing with mine, and my heart quickens from his touch. "Come on, we should get you downstairs so you don't keep the car waiting. You don't want to be late for your reservations...your dad would flip."

Cam and I have danced around our relationship for months now. About six months ago we were in line to get into a club. Some girl approached Cam asking if he wanted to hang out, which is slut for make out, inside the club. Out of nowhere I felt like I was choking on jealousy.

I started to turn my back to them because for the first time since we were five I didn't want to see Cam flirt and hook up with another girl. Before he physically touched me I felt him. He wrapped his fingers around my waist touching the skin peeking out from my shirt, leaving a trail of heat wherever he touched. Reeling me to his side he declined the skankarific offer from the girl.

After she walked away with one of the best pinched bitch faces I've seen he asked, "Was that okay?" He didn't meet my eyes, and I knew he wouldn't come right out and say specifically what he meant, but I knew. "I just, you know, didn't want to ditch you tonight and I was trying to come up with the easiest way to make her leave."

I told him it was fine as he removed the security of his hand from my waist. He must have felt like he lost something when he let go of me too, because his hand found mine. Ever since that night it's a game back and forth. We aren't together, we don't mess around, but each of us knows there are feelings there for the other. Losing a best friend you've had since you were five is reason enough to not act on the feelings.

A black sedan pulled up to the house and I almost broke down and begged Cam to come with me. I had a few tricks up my sleeve, normal girl stuff like making a sad pouted face and laying on a thick guilt trip about ruining my birthday.

"I already know what you're thinking of doing, Ari, so don't try it," he tried really hard to sound serious. My bottom lip pouted and sad eyes bore into him. "Those beautiful green eyes don't fool me for a second, but please stop." Laughter exploded from my mouth as I mimicked him, 'but please stop', and Cam chased me down the stairs.

He caught me and spun me around, pressing me up against the wall. It went from playful, to me being painfully aware of every inch of his body touching mine in less than a second. My chest pressed into his; I could feel his stomach against me, our thighs touched, his left hand was as low as it could possibly get on my back, and his right hand was up above my head pressing on the wall.

Waves of lust, doubt, and need emanated through him. His lips were so close to mine I'd barely have to move to close the space. When his mouth moved right next to my ear, warm breath caressing my neck, it sent a shiver through me. "Don't make fun of me," a whispered tease into my ear, laced heavily with need I could taste. The side of Cam's lips brushed my jaw line as he pulled his head back from my ear. My breath hitched, heart pounding.

The car outside honked. Instantly, our connection broke and Cam flew back from me like I was scalding every part of his body touching me. "I'm sorry, we...can't..." He muttered as he gripped the back of his neck and stared at the floor. "We can't ever," he looked back at me, his eyes full of loss. "Just call me later and let me know how dinner went." He gave me a quick hug, leaving a kiss on my forehead, before bolting out the front door. I headed out to the car.

The wind picked up throwing the smell of cool crispness clear in the air. Only in the mid-west would winter try to make a comeback in May as if it needed to seep into my bones to give itself life. The leaves and branches swayed with every gust that blew. The weather here has multiple personalities.

Any other time I loved to look out the window as I got closer to the city, looking at the way the lights danced in the sky across the skyscrapers, but tonight I was just cold. Something strange simmered in my gut, unease I'd guessed. I felt that if anyone else had been in the car with me they wouldn't notice the chill. It was a feeling of someone watching me; I knew something was off, putting me in a place of restlessness.

The sedan pulled up in front of the restaurant. Before opening the door and spotting my dad, along with a grimace as he looked me up and down, I attempted to put my jitters to the back of my mind.

"You didn't have anything else you could have worn, Arianna?"

"Sure I had other things, Michael, but I thought you would have disapproved of them even more. I call this playing it safe," I snapped back. "Man. Would a simple, 'Happy Birthday, Arianna,' have killed you?"

"Do not call me Michael, I am your father, address me as such. And you know you are such a beautiful girl, I wish you would just dress that way." A look of defeat already crossed his face. We had this exact conversation so many times I couldn't even keep count any more. "Enough of this anyway, we are here to celebrate your birthday, regardless of what you have on." He said it with a sigh, eyes constantly moving about. "Happy Birthday...should we go in? Our table is waiting."

The hostess' eyes locked with my dad the second we walked into the restaurant. "Mr. Light, it's such a pleasure to have you dinning with us this evening. This must be your beautiful daughter, Arianna?" Her eyes met mine and I nodded with disinterest. "Well, Happy Birthday to you dear, let me show you two to your table."

Our table was way in the back of the restaurant and all the tables around were empty which didn't add up considering the line of people outside waiting to be seated. Fussing and making a comment about how he didn't have to go to all the trouble would be wasted on my dad, so instead he ordered for us and we sat in silence for what seemed an eternity.

"Dad," I started out with a normal tone of voice figuring that might actually help in achieving my verbal goal tonight.

"Arianna," he said slowly, not letting me continue, as he moved his hand and placed it on mine, "there are some things you and I need to sit and talk about." My dad sat motionless, contemplating what he was going to say. The fact that there was anything to consider, reset my nerves on edge, and I rubbed my palms on my jeans to dry the gleam of sweat.

I scowled. Right then the food showed up, he mentioned talking about it back home tonight, just to eat and enjoy the meal together.

"No. There is no reason you can't have a conversation with me during the birthday dinner you made me come to. I want to know what Cam meant today about, "we can never", and why you are acting weird tonight, and if I have whatever mom had...and don't you dare tell me nothing was wrong with her, and what is going on with me, and...and...between myself and you and Cam I feel like I'm going crazy." All niceness was wiped from my voice, not that I remember it showing up tonight in the first place.

"Arianna, there are some things," he paused. The waitress came back to the table to check on us even though neither of us had taken a bite. Once she left he continued, "Decisions I have made to protect you, to keep you safe. Bringing Camden into your life so early was one of those things, but keeping him in the...position...he is in when it comes to you is where he will stay. He knows that, knew it from the beginning, so I dare say you are the one that is confused. No matter what Camden said, he will only ever see you as a friend."

Heat rose to my face, tears started to sting my eyes, in total embarrassment. Every single word he said replayed through my mind. As if that wasn't enough, he kept talking.

"Like I said before, you are seventeen now and there are several things we need to sit down and discuss, things about who we are, who you are. And...your mother. You are special Arianna, but there is an order to things that will not get messed up. Whether you like any of what I have to tell you or not, you will do as I say, you have no choice."

He regarded me as if he understood what was going on in my head. For a brief flitting moment I thought maybe for once we might actually have a real conversation. Then the look vanished from his face with the blink of an eye. "I know this has not and will not be easy for you, but I have tried to protect you for as long as I can. Now there is only so much I can do. Why don't we head home, huh? We can talk more there."

"Sure." What else was I going to say? Maybe leaving with him now and not backing down on getting to the bottom of everything I want answers to was the best chance I had at getting him to talk.

The hallway out the back of the restaurant began almost directly behind the table to the right. There was a set of stairs that looked as if it went up to at least one apartment above the place. We passed the bathrooms on the left and a couple entrances to the kitchen on the right. We exited out the back doors.

As we headed out around the back of the building to the car, my father paused and went completely still. The air around us changed, becoming more taught and tense, then everything as I knew it changed in an instant.

He grasped my hand spinning me toward him so I looked right into his eyes. "If there is one thing you never question it's that you are my daughter, do you understand?" His blue eyes became so intense it looked as if they were glowing, and he dropped my hand only to run his fingers back and forth over the top of his head. That's when I heard his voice in my head even though his lips weren't moving.

"Arianna, you need to go back into the restaurant quickly. There are stairs right behind the table we were sitting at; take those to the top and go into the room that sits on the right hand side of the stairs. And hide, Arianna, HIDE. Do not come out until you hear silence in the restaurant. Then go home and find the map under my bed and follow it exactly. I love you, now go!"

I was stuck in place. My father's voice broke into my head, "GO!" I took off running only looking back as I cleared the threshold and was shrouded in shadow. Two men came from around the corner. My hands enveloped my mouth holding the impending scream in. They took him, took my father and left me with no idea who they were or where they would take him. I knew, though I didn't know how, that they would come for me next, and I ran.

I did exactly as my father said and made it up the stairs and into the room much faster than I should have been able to. There was an armoire off to the side that I quickly climbed into hoping if I stayed quiet enough no one would even think to come looking for me up there.

Time passed painfully slow, every passing second came with the realization that it would be harder to find him. The noise downstairs kept up for a while, and there wasn't much to do except sit and count every spider web in the closet where I hid. It smelled musty and dusty; the only light from a small line where the two sides to the closet door didn't match flush to one another.

Sitting there I wondered why he didn't fight, why he just let them take him like that. All my personal thoughts from dinner came rushing back into my head and it dawned on me. He knew this was coming; knew something huge was about to change, his cryptic words said as much.

Frustrated with trying to understand why he didn't prepare me fully with whatever information he seemed he wanted to give tonight, as indignant as I was, I couldn't focus on that. I had to find my dad.