Echo of an Earth Angel (The Earth Angel Trilogy: #1)

by Sarah M. Ross

  “I want you to remember this, David, as you stand there suffering for the next two years. I want you to remember you’re getting exactly what you deserve. And I want you to remember that while she may have slipped out of my grip for the present moment, she won’t last long on her own. I have plenty of time to find her before you ever get the chance. And once I do, they’ll be no one around to stop me from making things right once and for all.”

  Then, the camera went black.

  Without a word, Nico flipped the protective cover back on the iPad, replaced his folding chair from where he took it, and gathered up his water bottle. As he strode out of the room, he paused before closing the door behind him and turned to David.

  “Message Delivered.”

  The End

  Read on for a sneak peek from book 2 of the

  Earth Angel trilogy

  Coming Winter 2012

  Tessa struggled with Ezekiel who fought to keep her down. For someone who looked like her grandfather, he was as strong as an ox! They struggled on the ground for the upper hand. He held of her from behind and pulled her closer, trying to secure her into a bear hug. She couldn’t let that happen. If he got both arms around her, there was no way she could escape. He was too strong. Knowing it would hurt now but she could heal later, she head-butted him. The back of her head smashed into his nose, the telltale crunch told her that she broke it. Pain throbbed in her head at the impact, but she ignored it—she’d heal later. He released the grip on her hair as his hands automatically went to his face, and she seized the opportunity.

  Whirling around, she took the protective stance Morgan’s dad taught her in the self-defense class she took with Morgan take since they were thirteen. Without giving him the opportunity to recover, she struck again with a palm heel strike back to his injured nose. He doubled over in pain, and she stomped on his foot, causing him to bend at the waist. Finally, she kneed him in the groin so hard his testicles wouldn’t come out from hiding for at least a year.

  As he crumpled to the ground, she took her chance to escape. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her back out the door. Once outside, she looked in every direction trying to decide her next move. She needed to get back to earth, but she had no idea how.

  She automatically headed the only way she knew to get out—through the pearly gates. She ran through the main stone entrance and out of the massive arches. Once in the courtyard, she was lost. She couldn’t remember anything else how she got here after she died, so how was she supposed to know how to get back? Running her hands through her hair, she spun in a circle and weighed her options. There weren’t many. She took the only path she saw. She charged through the archway and around the parameter of the building looking for an exit, but found none. She banged on walls, hoping for a trap door or hidden escape to no avail. Frustrated, she made her way to the courtyard and gardens. She shoved her hands through topiary walls, not caring about the scrapes and cuts she earned in the process. She thought of every escape route she’d ever seen in the James Bond and Jason Bourne movies, but Heaven didn’t have secret escape panels. Her heart beat so fast she thought her chest would explode. Panic threatened every few moments to seize control. Standing deep in the gardens surrounded by flowering bushes, trees, and vines, she ducked when she heard footsteps approaching.

  “You can’t hide from me girl! I will find you, there’s no escape from here.”

  Tessa stopped breathing and didn’t move an inch. He couldn’t see her from the arch entrance and she knew she had a few more minutes before he found her. She ever-so-quietly rolled onto her stomach and Army crawled deeper into the lush vegetation.

  “Come out, come out wherever you are,” Ezekiel taunted. He moved in the opposite direction and it gave her hope. But she couldn’t hide forever, he was going to eventually find her.

  Okay, I can’t outrun him. And I can’t hide from him. I don’t know anyone who can help, and my only resource is my wings. Can I fly out of here? I haven’t had any training, but what other choice do I have. I—

  Tessa was torn from her thoughts by a rustling in the trees around her. Daring to poke her head up and glance around, she saw Ezekiel fifteen yards away and getting closer.

  As she lowered her head back down into the thick vines, her hand slipped and she landed with an oomph. She quickly turned and saw Ezekiel barreling toward her. Tessa stood and ran, but the older angel had more powers than she did, more abilities to heal and her previous kicks did not slow him down. He was at her heals, arms stretched forward. He caught the tail of her shirt and he tried to yank her backwards, Tessa yanked at the buttons, tearing the shirt from her body. Modesty was the last thing she cared about when being chased by a psychopath.

  Ezekiel, furious she slipped out of his grasp, flung the shirt to the ground and began shouting curses at her.

  Tessa wished she had a moment enjoy the irony of one of the Archangels of God screaming curses at a eighteen year old girl, but she couldn’t afford the luxury. He was gaining on her again, and no matter how hard she pumped her legs, she couldn’t put enough distance between them.

  “Get back here you filthy harlot. You can’t escape your fate, girl. Do you hear me? There’s no escaping your fate. You’re nothing more than an insolent wretch, and you will not ruin everything. I won’t allow it!”

  He jumped toward her, sinking his nails and teeth into her like a rabid dog.

  “Noo!” Tessa screamed, digging her nails into his arms to pry him loose. She scratched and dug, but his grip was too solid. With both of her hands, she bent his index finger back until she heard an audible pop. She broke it, or at least dislocated it. Either way, it caused enough pain that he lessened his hold on her once again and she wiggled free. He was still on his feet, though, and coming toward her.

  With as much effort as she could muster, she concentrated on her wings, willing them to break out of the protective bandages and be of some use to her now. She squeezed her eyes shut as she ran and focused every thought she had on spreading her wings.

  Suddenly, she felt lighter, like when she would ride the Skycoaster at the Kennywood Amusement Park. Opening her eyes, she was flying. Her wings were working and carrying her upwards and away from Ezekiel. She closed her eyes once more and focused on Earth. She had no idea if it would work, but it was worth a shot.

  She rose higher and higher, and Ezekiel’s voice became more distant. She was doing it. There was hope yet. She was going to survive, and one way or another, she would get David back.

  Sarah M. Ross started her obsession with reading at an early age, getting in trouble for sneaking Baby-Sitters Club and Nancy Drew books into math class in elementary school. She would read any fiction book she could get her hands on. She knew it was an addiction when instead of grounding her from TV or music, her mom would take away her books as punishment (The Horror!).

  Her love of all things paranormal was inspired by her good friend Laurie, who convinced her that books with vampires, witches, and all things shifter were amazing. After a little reluctance, she gave it a shot with the Sookie Stackhouse books, realized her friend was right, and the rest was history.

  Ms. Ross grew up in Pittsburgh, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English, and taught 8th graders to love reading as much as she does for several years.

  She will always be a proud member of Steelers Nation, but couldn’t take the cold and moved her frozen tush to Florida where she now lives with her family and two cats.

  You will find her many days with her trusty Kindle in hand and toes in the sand!

  Writing is my passion. Writing, editing, and publishing books make me happier than I’ve ever been. But there is no way I could ever do this alone. To say that it is a team effort would be an understatement, but I owe my “team” a debt of gratitude that I could never repay.

  I must start by thanking my wonderful family, especially Steve. When I proposed the idea of not going back to a 9-5 job so I could write full time, I thought
for sure he’d laugh at the idea. But your overwhelming support no matter the obstacle reminds me every day why I love you so much. Thank you to my mom who relentlessly motivated me to write—mostly by complaining that she needed another good book to read and I should just hurry up already. To my sisters, brother, aunts, grandma, mother-in-law, and family—I am forever grateful for your help and support in spreading the word about Awaken and my writing. You passed out bookmarks and business cards and sold books to everyone that you met. Thank you for believing in me.

  I owe a great big shout out to Margaux Murray, who read and reread every word until it was right and wasn’t afraid to tell me when something was crap. Your advice is invaluable and my books are better because of you. Thank you for being such an amazing friend.

  Thank you to my overworked and tireless editor, Liz Schulte. You have helped make me a better writer and even though it’s hard to hear sometimes, your advice has shaped this story into something better than I intended. Thank you for putting up with my plethora of questions and ramblings. I am constantly amazed by how much you do every day and have no idea how you’re not exhausted.

  The cover of my book is something I’m especially proud of, and it wouldn’t be possible without Clare Diaz and Bill Blaes. Thank you for not thinking me crazy when I asked if I could use your hands. Thank you to Aubrey Kuperman for taking the photograph and to Donna Dull for making it even more awesome.

  And finally, thank you to my amazing friends who helped every step along the way. Olivia Hardin, Melanie Ainsworth, Misty Polish, Nichole Chase, Liz Reinhardt, and Tiffany King—thank you for your advice and suggestions every step of the way. Elizabeth Sharp and Stephanie Nelson—thank you for your artistic genius. The Inner Circle—for helping me laugh, letting me cry, and providing inspiration every Wednesday.

  My cup runneth over.

  Lucy Donovan was supposed to have a weekend of fun in the sun, celebrating her upcoming graduation from college. In a split second, everything changed. A drunk driver ended Lucy’s mortal life.

  Lucy opens her eyes to a world she never imagined possible and a new destiny: as a Patronus, a guardian of spirits. Adjusting to her new role and abilities while negotiating this confusing realm will test her limits and push her further than she ever dreamed she would go. From wayward spirits who don’t want her help to soul stealing vampires, and even a stuck-up British royal, Lucy must brave them all to save one spirit she can’t bear to lose.

  Further complicating her confusing life is an inexplicable yet growing connection she feels to a member of her team, Max, whose mysterious behavior leaves her both confused and intrigued.

  Waking up dead was just the beginning of her problems. Lucy’s death is about to become the greatest adventure of her life.

  Available at Amazon

  The last thing I remembered was belting out Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” while driving down I-95 with my best friend Janice. Two friends enjoying the sweet taste of freedom that summer brought with the windows down and the music up. It was my last weekend before I graduated college and had to join the real world. Finals were almost over, and the only one I had left was Advanced Calculus with Dr. Henry. I would worry about that later because right now, it was all about friends, sun, and surf. Our road trip to the beach was one last tryst of splashing in the ocean and soaking up the sun in our tiny bikinis before admitting we were truly grownups – taxes and 401K’s and all.

  But gradually the realization dawned that I was no longer in a car. And there wasn’t any music. Instead, I only heard low whispers all around me. Slowly, I pried open my eyes and looked around; I realized, with growing anxiety, I didn’t recognize anything. Or anyone.

  “What happened? Where am I?” I asked the people hovering around me. “Is this a hospital or something?”

  Gazing around the room, there were other people with me, a few men and a woman. They all looked too young to be doctors and certainly weren’t dressed like it. The guys were dressed normally in loose fitting jeans and tee shirts. The woman standing next to me certainly wasn’t a nurse or doctor either. She was wearing a sea green baby-doll dress with lace adorning the capped sleeves and a single ruffle cut on a bias going from her V-neck line to her waist. Confusion overtook my thoughts and panic began to set in. Something was wrong. Did I have an accident?

  “You’re okay now,” a deep voice drawled next to me. I looked at the man who said this and my heart fluttered a bit. He was gorgeous. It was hard not to stare at him. Thick black hair that curled at the ends hung shaggily over his face, but it was just short enough I could still see his piercing ice-blue eyes. They were the clearest blue I’d ever seen, and against his dark hair, they stood out as the centerpiece on his chiseled face. He smiled at me and I could make out a small, but deep, dimple on his left cheek. I instantly felt safer when he smiled, but I didn’t know why. He sat on the edge of the bed next to me, leaning in to check something on my face. Instinctively, I tried to raise my hand to see for myself, but I couldn’t raise my arms. The panic I already felt deepened, and some of the monitors began beeping more quickly as my heart raced.

  “Shh, it’s okay,” that deep voice said again, and it was enough to make me shiver. “I know you’re confused, but we’re here to help you with that. My name’s Max. I’m going to press a button to release your arms now.”

  I looked down. My arms were encased in hollow tubes that looked like giant blood pressure cuffs. Their scratchy surface made my arms itch as I tried to move. Glancing further down, my legs had the same machine on them, and I wasn’t wearing anything more than a sports bra and underwear with no sheet to cover me. Immediately my cheeks blushed and with my arms free, I covered what little I could just using my hands while I frantically looked for more clothes or something to cover up with.

  Giggling quietly, the girl reached into a cabinet and pulled out a thin blanket and covered me. “Guys, why don’t you give us girls a few minutes? She needs a little more space.” The two guys standing next to her nodded silently and proceeded out. I looked at the man sitting on the bed with me and began to fidget when he took his hand and smoothed down a stray strand of hair next to my face.

  “We’ll be waiting just outside,” Max said. “Cassie will help you get dressed and out of bed.” He stood up and began to walk away slowly, almost reluctantly. It wasn’t until he stood I realized how tall he was. Being 5 feet 11 inches, I had a tendency to size people up, even from a distance. He was definitely taller than me, and if I had to guess I would say he was at least 6 foot 5. As my eyes drifted down to his backside, the monitors begin to beep faster again. I immediately felt embarrassed and glanced away.

  Cassie smiled. “Don’t worry, I don’t know a whole lot of people whose heart wouldn’t skip a few beats while staring at Max. I’ve even caught myself doing it! Don’t tell Adam though, he tends to get jealous.” She pressed a few buttons, and the giant cuffs slid off of my legs. “Here, let me help you out of those leg pumps and get you standing up.” She put her forearm under my armpit and tried to raise me up.

  “Hold on, I don’t understand,” I pulled back, resisting her efforts. “What is going on? Who are you people? Where is my family?”

  If you’ve watched enough horror movies, you know not to go running off with strangers. I needed answers before I did anything, even if it was just getting dressed and standing up. Looking around for a nurse call button to call for security just in case, I frowned not finding one and felt panic and anger begin to boil up within me. I volunteered as a candy striper for four years in high school and knew hospitals inside and out. This was no hospital. Trying to come up with a reasonable explanation to what was going on I took a deep breath and the air was clean; no bitter antiseptic smell of a hospital. Instead it smelled more like my dad’s office with the Clean Linen air fresheners and reed diffusers stuck in corners. Nothing in the room seemed familiar. I hated the feeling of having no idea what was going on.

  “Where am I?” I reiterated. Something d
idn’t seem right and my gut was sending warning signals. Everything felt off somehow. If this wasn’t a hospital, where exactly was I? Where were my family, doctors, or nurses?

  “It’s okay, Lucy; we’re here to help you. My name’s Cassie. You’ve already met Max, and the other two guys out there are Adam and James. I know you’ve got a lot of questions, and I’m going to do my best to answer them for you. But first let’s get you up and dressed.” She reached again to pull me up, but I resisted.

  “No!” I yelled, sitting up and bringing my now red face toward her. She smiled sweetly. “I want answers first. What the hell is going on?” That smile didn’t fool me. Lots of psychos smile while they plot to kill you. Momma didn’t raise no fool. I dug into the bed adamant I wasn’t going anywhere and the heart monitors beeped loudly as my pulse raced.

  She took a deep breath and gradually released it before speaking. “Okay. I get it. What do you want to know first?”

  “Well I know you said your name is Cassie, but that doesn’t tell me anything. Who are you people?”

  Cassie watched me calmly, and I had to give her some credit. If someone had rudely yelled at me, I would have a few choice words in retort. Cassie didn’t even smirk; she just kept smiling sweetly as she twisted a strawberry blonde curl around her finger and sat softly on the foot of the bed.

  Her voice remained soothing as she replied, “Well, I’ll need to start by explaining what happened to you before we get into who we are. What’s the last thing you remember?”

  “I remember being in the car with Janice and then a horribly loud sound. Oh my God, Janice! Is she okay? Where is she?”