Sleep Savannah Sleep
Page 29
He got behind the wheel and started the car.
Hallie didn’t move.
Amber began crying anew. “I don’t want to leave Hallie, Daddy.”
“I know, sweetie. I know.”
Putting the car in reverse was one of the hardest things he’d ever done in his life - but he slowly rolled out of the driveway.
Hallie immediately stepped closer, tears streaming down her face, hands at her mouth.
He pulled onto the street and paused for one more look at her.
Her auburn hair shone brilliantly under the sun, and her skin was so like porcelain that he wondered how he’d ever managed to - for the most part, anyway - keep his hands off her. I love you, he thought. Even if it’s not right, I love you, and I have since the moment I first saw you.
Something in her eyes said she understood the look - and felt the same. She gave him another small wave.
He waved back and put it in drive, his eyes blurring with hot tears.
“No, Daddy! No!” In the back seat, Amber panicked, fumbling with her seat belt.
“Amber. What are-”
“You can’t! You can’t leave!” She threw the door open and rushed to Hallie, who cried new tears as she swept the girl into her arms.
Jason’s eyes overflowed, tears spilling unabashedly down his cheeks. He pulled the car back into the driveway and got out. “I’m sorry,” he said, wiping his eyes.
“It’s okay.” Hallie stroked the back of Amber’s head, soothing her.
“God, this is hard,” said Jason.
“I know. Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”
“No. I’m glad you did.” I can’t do this. I can’t do it to me, and I can’t do it to Amber. He looked at Hallie holding his daughter. And I can’t do it to Hallie. It was obvious she was in love with Amber. They’d been inseparable since the night at the cemetery and Jason felt like a monster for pulling them apart. A new thought - a completely crazy, irrational, and probably very stupid one - crashed into his mind. It made no sense at all - and it made all the sense in the world.
Carefully, he took his daughter from Hallie and set her down, crouching to level himself with her. He put his hands under her chin and tilted her face to his. “Amber, I need you to go to the car, okay?”
“Please, Daddy! I don’t want to leave Hallie.” Tears coursed down her cheeks.
“I know, sweetie, but we have to go. Just go sit in the car while I talk to Hallie for a minute, okay?”
She wiped her nose. “Okay.” She ran to Hallie for one more hug, then reluctantly returned to the car, the sound of her sobs chipping away at Jason’s already-broken heart.
“I didn’t think this was going to be so hard.” Hallie pulled a fresh tissue from her pocket.
“Maybe it doesn’t have to be.”
“What?” Her face went slack.
“Come with us.”
She hesitated. “Jason …”
“I can’t raise Amber here, not after what happened. It wouldn’t be fair to her. But I can’t leave you. I can’t.” He took her hand and let his tears fall freely. “I can’t, Hallie. Come with us.”
“But … my job … and school … my apartment …”
“There are plenty of waitressing jobs in Stoker’s Grove and most of your classes are online, anyway. We’ll send for your things and I’ll pay the rent on your apartment until the lease runs out.”
“Jason, I can’t let you do that.”
“Yes, you can. You have to. I can’t leave you, Hallie. I won’t.” He loved this woman - it was a fact that he could no longer conceal from himself.
Her eyes darted. “But … but … what does this mean? For us, I mean.”
Jason shook his head. “I don’t know what it means exactly, but I’ll never forgive myself if we don’t try and find out.”
“Jason … this is crazy.” But she was smiling through her tears.
“You’re right. It is. And that’s exactly why you should come with us.”
She looked at him, her mouth working. At last, she threw her arms around his neck, nearly knocking him over.
Jason laughed, squeezing her tight.
“Yes! I’ll come with you! I’ll-”
Jason stopped her words with a kiss.
From the car, Amber, who’d been listening, squealed with joy.
Together, they walked to the car and got in. “I call shotgun,” Hallie said.
Amber giggled.
His hand in Hallie’s, he steered the Legacy away from the old Victorian, passing, but not watching as the cemetery, the burger joint, and the bookstore disappeared. He didn’t turn to stare as they passed Coop’s Auto Shop, and he didn’t even glance as he passed the sign that welcomed them to town.
And he didn’t look into the rearview mirror as they put it behind them. He didn’t have to look back to see Shadow Springs - he knew it would always be with him. He looked ahead, except when he stole glances at Hallie, who’d taught him that love had its own timetable and that it was foolish to walk away from it, no matter when or where it might offer you a piece of happiness.
And Amber, who showed him every day that life changes - sometimes for better, sometimes for worse - but it changes, and the only way to survive is to accept and embrace those changes, always keeping your eyes on the next big adventure, always being aware of what to leave behind … and what to take with you.
And the gold cross that hung from his rearview mirror that would forever remind him that there’s more to this world than mere mortality - that the end of life is not the end at all, that the candle doesn’t simply burn itself out, that there’s something beyond, that we go on. And it doesn’t matter where we go. We go on, and knowing that is enough.
So he drove away from Shadow Springs, but not from hope or possibility - never from those - and as he did, he watched as a large white owl made its way across the cloudless blue sky.
About the Author
Alistair Cross' debut novel, The Crimson Corset, a vampiric tale of terror and seduction, was an immediate bestseller earning praise from veteran vampire-lit author, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, and New York Times bestseller, Jay Bonansinga, author of The Walking Dead series. In 2012, Alistair joined forces with international bestseller, Tamara Thorne, and as Thorne & Cross, they write - among other things - the successful Gothic series, The Ravencrest Saga. Their debut collaboration, The Cliffhouse Haunting, was a bestseller. They are currently at work on their next solo novels and a new collaborative project.
In 2014, Alistair and Tamara began the radio show, Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!, which has featured such guests as Charlaine Harris of the Southern Vampire Mysteries and basis of the HBO series True Blood, Jeff Lindsay, author of the Dexter novels, Jay Bonansinga of The Walking Dead series, Laurell K. Hamilton of the Anita Blake novels, Peter Atkins, screenwriter of HELLRAISER 2, 3, and 4, worldwide bestseller V.C. Andrews, and New York Times best sellers Preston & Child, Christopher Rice, and Christopher Moore.
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alistaircross.com
Also by Alistair Cross
THE CRIMSON CORSET
Welcome to Crimson Cove
Sheltered by ancient redwoods, nestled in mountains overlooking the California coast, the cozy village of Crimson Cove has it all: sophisticated retreats, fine dining, a beautiful lake, and a notorious nightclub, The Crimson Corset. It seems like a perfect place to relax and get close to nature. But not everything in Crimson Cove is natural.
When the Fog Rolls In
When Cade Colter moves to town to live with his older brother, he expects it to be peaceful to the point of boredom. But he quickly learns that after the sun sets and the fog rolls in, the little tourist town takes on a whole new kind of life - and death.
Darkness at the Edge of Town
Renowned for its wild parties and history of debauchery, The Crimson Corset looms on the edge of town, inviting patrons to sate their most depraved desires and slake their dark
est thirsts. Proprietor Gretchen VanTreese has waited centuries to annihilate the Old World vampires on the other side of town and create a new race - a race that she alone will rule. When she realizes Cade Colter has the key that will unlock her plan, she begins laying an elaborate trap that will put everyone around him in mortal danger.
Blood Wars
The streets are running red with blood, and as violence and murder ravage the night, Cade must face the darkest forces inside himself, perhaps even abandon his own humanity, in order to protect what he loves.
THE CRIMSON CORSET is available now at Amazon.
THE BOOK OF STRANGE PERSUASIONS
In 2005, before the publication of his bestselling novels, Alistair Cross penned hundreds of poems which he sometimes shared on various social media platforms. His poetry has earned him appearances on radio talk shows around the world and attracted a large and loyal readership.
From Love to Horror
Divided into four parts that are devoted to such subjects as love and loss, passion and seduction, and nightmares and horrors, The Book of Strange Persuasions is a striking collection that features some of his most insightful, sensual, and poignant works.
THE BOOK OF STRANGE PERSUASIONS is available now at Amazon.
THE ANGEL ALEJANDRO
Angel or Demon?
Naive and heart-stoppingly handsome, he calls himself Alejandro, and Madison O’Riley has no clue what to do with him. As they set out to recover his lost identity, Madison realizes the mysterious man who saved her life harbors deep, otherworldly secrets that will put her in grave danger.
The Devil is in the Details
Gremory Jones has something for everyone, and for a price, he’s willing to make a deal. Walking the streets in top hat and trench coat, he tempts the citizens with mysterious wares from his shiny black briefcase. But buyer beware: All sales are final - and fatal.
A Scorching New Terror Has Come to Town
The townspeople are changing in appalling ways and it's up to Madison - with the help of a psychic, a local priest, and the new chief of police - to help Alejandro unlock his forgotten powers before an unspeakable evil tears apart the fabric of existence ... and costs them their very souls …
THE ANGEL ALEJANDRO is available now at Amazon.
NOVELS BY THORNE & CROSS
THE CLIFFHOUSE HAUNTING
When the Blue Lady Walks...
Since 1887, Cliffhouse Lodge has been famous for its luxurious accommodations, fine dining … and its ghosts. Overlooking Blue Lady Lake, nestled among tall pines, Cliffhouse has just been renovated by its owners, Teddy and Adam Bellamy, and their daughter, Sara.
Dark History
Cliffhouse has not always been a place of rest and respite, though. Over the years it has served many vices, from rum-running to prostitution - and although the cat houses have been replaced by a miniature golf course and carousel, Cliffhouse retains its dark history; darkest during the Roaring Twenties, when a serial killer called the Bodice Ripper terrorized the town, and a phantom, the Blue Lady, was said to walk when murder was imminent.
Death Walks With Her...
Now, there’s a new killer on the loose, and the Blue Lady sightings have returned. The Bellamys are losing maids, and guests are being tormented by disembodied whispers, wet phantom footprints, and the blood-chilling shrieks of mad laughter that echo through the halls of Cliffhouse in the dead of night.
Serial Killer
The little mountain town of Cliffside is the perfect hunting ground for a serial killer… and the Blue Lady. Police Chief Jackson Ballou has bodies piling up, and between the murders and the mysteries, he can hardly pursue his romance with Polly Owen. And Sara Bellamy may lose her true love before they even have their first kiss.
THE CLIFFHOUSE HAUNTING is available now at Amazon.
THE GHOSTS OF RAVENCREST
Darkness Never Dies ...
Ravencrest Manor has always been part of the family. The ancestral home of the Mannings, Ravencrest’s walls have been witness to generations of unimaginable scandal, horror, and depravity. Imported stone by stone from England to northern California in the early 1800s, the manor now houses widower Eric Manning, his children, and his staff. Ravencrest stands alone, holding its memories and ghosts close to its dark heart, casting long, black shadows across its grand lawns, through the surrounding forests, and over the picturesque town of Devilswood, below.
Dare to Cross the Threshold ...
Ravencrest Manor is the most beautiful thing new governess, Belinda Moorland, has ever seen, but as she learns more about its tangled past of romance and terror, she realizes that beauty has a dark side. Ravencrest is built on secrets, and its inhabitants seem to be keeping plenty of their own - from the handsome English butler, Grant Phister, to the power-mad administrator, Mrs. Heller, to Eric Manning himself, who watches her with dark, fathomless eyes. But Belinda soon realizes that the living who dwell in Ravencrest have nothing on the other inhabitants - the ones who walk the darkened halls by night … the ones who enter her dreams … the ones who are watching … and waiting …
Welcome to Ravencrest ...
Who is the man digging in the garden beyond Belinda’s bedroom window? Who - or what - is watching her from the vents? From ghostly screams and the clutching bony fingers of death in the indoor pool, to the trio of gliding nuns in the east wing who come at Belinda with black blazing eyes, to the beckoning little girl in the red dress who died more than two centuries ago, Belinda is thrust into a world of waking nightmares where there is no distinction between the living and the dead, and there are no limits to the horrors that await. Witchcraft is afoot at Ravencrest and as unspeakable terrors begin to unfold, Belinda realizes that her beautiful new home is a keeper of tragedy, a collector of souls. And it wants to add her to its collection …
THE GHOSTS OF RAVENCREST is available now at Amazon.
THE WITCHES OF RAVENCREST
Book 2 in The Ravencrest Saga
Dark and Unnatural Powers
In a remote part of California just above the coastal town of Devilswood, Ravencrest Manor, imported stone-by-stone from England more than two centuries ago, looms tall and terrifying, gathering its dark and unnatural powers, and drawing those it wants as its own.
Murder Lurks in the Shadows
Governess Belinda Moorland has settled into life at Ravencrest and, as summer gives way to autumn, romance is in the air. She and multi-millionaire Eric Manning are falling in love … but powerful forces will stop at nothing to keep them apart. And as the annual Harvest Ball is set to begin, evil abounds at Ravencrest. Murder lurks in the shadows, evil spirits freely roam the halls, a phantom baby cries, signaling a death in the mansion, and in the notoriously haunted east wing, three blood-soaked nuns, Sisters Faith, Hope, and Charity, tend to the demented needs of a maid gone mad.
Vengeful Spirits
Ravencrest has come to life. In the gardens below, granite statues dance by moonlight, and a scarecrow goes on a killing rampage, collecting a gruesome assortment of body parts from unwilling donors … But Belinda’s greatest danger is the vengeful spirit of Rebecca Dane. Once the mistress of Ravencrest, Rebecca Dane has a centuries-old ax to grind with the powerful witch, Cordelia Heller - and Belinda becomes her weapon of choice.
THE WITCHES OF RAVENCREST is available now at Amazon MOTHER
A Girl’s Worst Nightmare is Her Mother ...
Priscilla Martin. She’s the diva of Morning Glory Circle and a driving force in the quaint California town of Snapdragon. Overseer of garage sales and neighborhood Christmas decorations, she is widely admired. But few people know the real woman behind the perfectly coiffed hair and Opium perfume.
Family is Forever. And Ever and Ever ...
No one escapes Prissy’s watchful eye. No one that is, except her son, who committed suicide many years ago, and her daughter, Claire, who left home more than a decade past and hasn’t spoken to her since. But now, Priscilla’s daughter and son-in-law ha
ve fallen on hard times. Expecting their first child, the couple is forced to move back … And Prissy is there to welcome them home with open arms … and to reclaim her broken family.
The Past Isn’t Always as Bad as You Remember.
Sometimes it’s Worse ...
Claire has terrible memories of her mother, but now it seems Priscilla has mended her ways. When a cache of vile family secrets is uncovered, Claire struggles to determine fact from fiction, and her husband, Jason, begins to wonder who the monster really is. Lives are in danger - and Claire and Jason must face a horrifying truth … a truth that may destroy them … and will forever change their definition of “Mother.”
Buy Mother now
COMING soon from Thorne & Cross
DARLING GIRLS
Welcome BACK … to a little bit of Hell on Earth
Fang meets fang when the vampires of Candle Bay and the vampires of Crimson Cove get together for a road trip to the little California town of Eternity for a family reunion.
Lust.
Blood.
Death.
Disorderly conduct.
Just another day in the family ...
Bibliography
BOOKS BY ALISTAIR CROSS
The Crimson Corset
The Book of Strange Persuasions
The Angel Alejandro
Sleep, Savannah, Sleep
BOOKS BY THORNE & CROSS
The Cliffhouse Haunting
The Ghosts of Ravencrest
Mother
The Witches of Ravencrest
Darling Girls (coming soon)
The Ghosts of Ravencrest installments
The Ghosts of Ravencrest: The New Governess
The Ghosts of Ravencrest: Awakening
The Ghosts of Ravencrest: Darker Shadows
The Ghosts of Ravencrest: Christmas Spirits
The Ghosts of Ravencrest: Night Moves