by Eric Asher
When Destiny Calls
When Destiny Calls Copyright 2015 Jessica Cage
When Destiny Calls Copyright 2015 Elizabeth Miller
When Destiny Calls Copyright 2015 Krissy V
When Destiny Calls Copyright 2015 Eric Asher
When Destiny Calls Copyright 2015 Lara Henley
First Edition
All rights reserved as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976. No part of these publications may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the Author. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Formatting by ShoutLines Design
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright
When Destiny Calls by Jessica Cage
When Destiny Calls by Elizabeth Miller
When Destiny Calls by Krissy V
When Destiny Calls by Eric Asher
When Destiny Calls by Lara Henley
WHEN DESTINY CALLS
BY JESSICA CAGE
If it were a ringing phone, I might have answered it.
If the noise that pierced my ear drums and ruined the slim chance I had at getting a good night’s rest was just the sound of a phone ringing, I would have gladly lifted the damn thing from the cradle, laid it on the floor and continued on my merry way to dreamland. Unfortunately, it wasn't just a ringing phone. That sound meant that I had to once again leave the realm of human normality and slip into the world of all things dark and unnerving.
My name is Faith. I was chosen, and it all started with the ringing of an ordinary phone.
I'd been in this city for all of three days. Yep, three lousy days before all hell broke loose. Day one I spent celebrating my formal escape from my dormitory days in college-town USA and hauled ass across the country to set up my very own studio apartment in the heart of a city with brutal winds, an energetic nightlife, and a skyline that is simply breathtaking. I eagerly unpacked my things so that I could go out with a college pal who was native to this city and had promised me a slice of their very best deep-dish pizza. Needless to say, I spent the night in a happy food induced coma.
Day two was spent getting set up in my new job. I met all the coworkers who would get me up to speed and I met my new boss. We spent hours getting to know each other. I told her of my aspirations as a designer and she assured me that she would be forever in my corner to help me establish myself and show me the ropes. I left work on day two completely exhausted but with a newfound excitement for my future. Day two ended much like day one. Food. Friends. Wine. Snore.
Day three was the pits. On day three, I realized just how my amazing new boss was really a dragon spawned from the pit of hell...okay maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but her lovely little persona from day two was gone and she was breathing fire down my neck. I found myself saying repeatedly, "Sorry Mrs. Bradley. Okay Mrs. Bradley. I'll try again Mrs. Bradley." By the end of the day, my coworkers no longer whispered her nickname of Mrs. Bitchly. I laughed once, but found myself terrified that she would find out and cut me down. I worked three hours of overtime that day and carried my sorry ass home. My friend texted me an inquiry for round three. There was some new movie she wanted to see. I promptly denied the request.
Riding the train marked in red northbound to my overpriced apartment, I found it odd that I was completely alone on the train. It wasn’t that late, it was only 8 o'clock, which is usually a busy time for this particular form of public transportation, but the car was currently vacant. I was previously told to feel lucky if I got a car to myself. It meant no nasty freaks would be coming at me. On the first train ride I had in this city two years ago, I'd encountered a man who told me that I was his future wife. He then blew me a kiss right before whipping his penis out, shaking it in my face and hopping off the train. Call me forever traumatized.
I tried to focus on things other than the memory of the penis of a crazy man. Usually I found myself going over the lengthy task list of everything I wanted to get done. In three days, nothing had truly been accomplished, but it was the weekend now. I would sleep in on Saturday and then get busy with tackling my newfound adult woman problems. Hooray for growing up!
The train entered the underground portion of my ride. I never liked it, but at least that would mean more people would be filing in, giving me hope that the nervous skitter that kept hitting the back of my neck would go away. We pulled up to Roosevelt, the first stop beneath the surface of the busy city. I stared in shock, as people piled into the other cars, but not one person stepped foot in mine. By the time the train left the Lake St. station, my nerves had turned into a watermelon-sized ball resting heavily on my stomach. All of these people were STANDING in the car just ahead of my own and not one of them even looked my way, as if my car wasn’t even an option. I was the only one in there! There were tons of empty seats and they chose to stand? I had decided to exit and switch cars at the next stop. Hell, if I was the only one who didn’t know what was up with this car then I damn sure wasn’t going to stay there. Perhaps I had overlooked the scarlet X painted on the side upon entering.
The train pulled into the station and just as I stood to make the quick hop to the next car (because I was too chicken shit to cross between cars as they moved) the lights in my car and only my car, shut off. The doors didn’t open and everyone else went about their way as if they hadn’t noticed me screaming at the top of my lungs and slamming my fists against the glass.
That was when the first call came. The sound that came from my cell phone wasn’t a pre-programmed ringtone, nor was it one that I had downloaded, because I never cared enough to change the tones anyway. I stared at the phone in my hand and a name appeared. Again not a name I had ever seen before yet it flashed across my screen.
Reluctantly, I hit the green call button that appeared just beneath the name with no picture attached.
“Hello?” I asked and waited for a response.
“Faith, it is time.” The deep voice of a man filled my ear and if I wasn’t already scared out of my pants, well let’s just say I’d still be free of my pants.
“Who is this?” I asked, and looked around the empty car as if his voice wasn’t coming through the mobile device, which usually had zero reception in the train tunnels.
“Your life is about to change, you have been chosen. At the next stop, you will get off the train. Wait there and don’t move. Faith, don’t attempt to leave the station.”
“Who is this? I am not,” The line went dead. What was I supposed to do? It wasn’t as if I could break the damn doors with my bare hands, if I could have, I would already be long gone. The train made it to the next stop. I sat there thinking I could just ride it out. I didn’t have to get off; eventually the train would have to move on, schedules to keep and what not, but the damned train didn’t move! It just sat there!
Usually a train will sit in a station for just about a minute before shooting off. 60 seconds or so to load and unload whatever passengers were there and then move on to the next stop. This train just sat there. I watched the minutes tick past on the face of my cell phone and stared at the open doors to the car. Five minutes had passed. My doors were the only ones still open, the people on the other cars looked as if nothing was out of sorts.
My phone rang again. The same unfamiliar name appeared. I said nothing after pressing the bu
tton to answer.
“Get off the train.” He sounded aggravated this time.
“No.” I spoke with sure defiance. What the hell did he think this was?
“Please do not make this more complicated.” I heard a sigh of frustration, the kind my father made when he said I was being especially difficult. Good.
“Tell me why I should make this easy for you. I have no idea who you are or what you want from me.” I looked around again at the unmoving train. “Or how the hell you are making this creepy shit happen.”
“Believe it or not I am actually here to help you."
"Yeah well, call me a skeptic."
“If I tell you my name will you come?” He offered up a bargaining chip, as if I cared what his name was.
“I know your name if my tattletale phone screen is correct.”
“Fine, then. You know my name. Come.”
“I am going to go yet again with my previous answer to your request and say no.”
“Will you force me to come in to get you?”
“You can call it that, but I don't see any other way of my leaving this train.”
“Why do I always get the difficult ones?”
I had planned a witty comeback. One that would leave this faceless freak dumfounded for sure. Did I get to say it? Nope. Because Mr. Rudeness picked me up, and pulled me away from the safety of my metal confines. One minute, I am sitting there contemplating hanging up my phone, and the next I am hanging over the back of his shoulder. I could see my previously empty train now full of passengers as the light returned. None of whom seemed even partially concerned about the flailing woman being hauled away by a mad man. So much for humanity. To be honest, I was more shocked that I didn’t see cell phones being pulled out to record and upload my kidnapping for the entire interweb to see.
The doors slid shut and the train took off. I could hear the sound of the recorded announcement telling of the next stop. I pounded my fist against the rock solid back that carried me, and felt completely ridiculous, because whoever the hell was transporting me seemed only mild annoyed by my efforts. A moment later, I was set down on wobbly legs and I pulled my belongings closer to me. A small bag strapped over my shoulder, and the tote containing the remainders of my lunch. Neither of which would do much to help protect me.
"Settle down."
"Fuck off." I said to the empty space around me. He'd disappeared just as quickly as he showed up, and now I was alone in a dark room, having never even seen his face. Perfect. "Show yourself, you coward!"
"Language please." He sighed, and then he stepped back into the light and smiled. I'll be dammed if my heartbeat didn't falter. This man was completely delicious. I gave him the full once over. He had to be at least 6’5”. He had smooth cocoa skin and dreads that fell around his face. The rest were pinned up atop his head in a bun. I wondered for a moment how long they would be if he allowed them to fall. He smiled, revealing dazzling whites and I could tell he knew of my appraisal but I didn't care. Hell, he was the one abducting me. Shoot me for getting a moment of enjoyment from it. The rock solid back was matched with an equally impressive front of solid pecs and hard abs that wore a tight glove of grey cotton.
"Can we please speak like civilized beings now?” He took another step forward before crossing his arms in front of him.
"I suppose that would be possible if you hadn't done your freaky shit back there. Ever thought of simply walking up and making an introduction?" Okay, one thing about me, I am real good at being ballsy when I am scared out of my mind.
"That isn't exactly a possibility for my kind." He cocked his head to the side and stared at me. If his eyes were hands I would have sworn he’d felt me up.
"Is that so?" I paused. "Wait, your kind? What the hell does that mean? Are you a part of some cult?"
"Don't be ridiculous." He laughed.
"Right, I'm the ridiculous one. Okay mystery man, please get to the point, and don’t let me hold you up with my silly questions." My attitude was frustrating him. I could see it in the tightening of his jaw and the slight furrow of his brow. He was definitely irritated, good.
"I have been sent here to collect you. It is my duty to bring you back to my home where you will be trained." He spit it out as if his explanation was enough to squash my curiosity and overshadow the outrageousness of what had just happened.
"Right..." I paused, questioning my own sanity for standing there and trying to have a proper conversation with a man who could very well intend to rape and murder me.
"There is much to explain, but obviously, I am unable to do that here. So I need for you to cooperate with me and come obediently." He attempted to relax his stance, but he still looked rigid and uncomfortable.
"You know you really suck in the explanation department. Who sent you and what exactly am I to be trained for?"
"You are to be trained to protect humanity." He sighed and looked as his watch.
"Protect humanity? From what exactly?" I stalled; perhaps if he ran out of time, he would simply leave me. At which point I could go home. I looked around then for the first time to find that we were in a dank tunnel. One that seemed to be an offshoot of the train line he had just pulled me from. Great, how the hell was I supposed to get out of there without killing myself?
"From my kind, well at least some of us. There are those of us who are not so civilized." He checked his watch again. “We need to go now.”
"There you go with that 'my kind' stuff again." I knew I could stall him a little longer; buying time with hot air was my specialty.
"Please Faith, come with me." Sincerity rang true in his eyes, but the fact was that this man was a stranger, who had not quite nicely, stolen me from my homeward bound train. There was no way in hell I was going to just gingerly take his hand and skip off into oblivion.
"Look, Vander, if what my phone tells me is correct, that is your name right?" He nodded, and I continued. "I don’t know what you are on, or where you are from, but I am not coming with you. You can’t expect me to just happily follow you back to wherever the hell it is you call home. I wouldn’t even be standing here talking to you if you weren’t holding me hostage underground!"
"I always have to get the difficult ones." He sighed and once again, before I could get my ‘oh so witty’ comeback past my lips, I was swept away in a gust of wind supported by hard muscle.
THE ESTATE
When the assault of air finally ceased, I found myself on the dark lawn of a large mansion. I couldn’t even begin to fathom where I was or just how I had gotten there. I stared at the building that upon closer inspection looked more like a castle. It was built of brick and had large towers that sat on either end. The span of the building was decorated with columns that reminded me of a guards post. I stared on breathlessly.
"Follow me." Vander spoke as he forged ahead, leaving me speechless and staring at his back. The dreads had fallen from their previous up do and were now hanging down his back. The longest of them came to rest just above his ass. I stumbled forward once I realized that magnificent contour was getting out of view.
"Where are we?" I asked him as I moved forward quickly, while still trying to take in as much of my surroundings as I could. It was pitch black outside the grounds of the castle, whose interior was illuminated by electrical lighting.
"The Estate." He said plainly.
"Am I supposed to know what that means? That has no significance to me" I rolled my eyes. This was going to become a thing with him, I could just tell.
"This is where you will train." Another meaningless response.
"I have to get back to my life, I have a new job and so much to handle. Is your boss going to cover for me if I get fired and can't afford to pay rent next month?" I spit sarcastically at his back.
"Stop complaining, you should be grateful for this opportunity." He held the door open for me, but I paused at the entrance and just stared at him again.
"Right, I should be grateful that you ripped me from m
y world, and in some freaky assed manner, brought me to this old-ass castle, where I am supposed to train to fight unknown boogey men. Oh yes, this is my dream come true!" I clapped my hands together and put on the biggest, fakest smile I could muster. He rolled his eyes and walked through the door. Of course I followed him, there was no way I was going to stand out on the stoop and wait for whatever was lurking beyond the lights to come snatch me up.
"Is this her?" A feminine voice spoke, and I couldn’t help the smile that touched my face or the warmth that filled my belly. I searched the room for her and was astounded by her gorgeous full frame, and long hair of crimson highlighted with gold. She had pale skin, with soft freckles, and eyes as green as emeralds.
"Yes." Vander replied with less than the appropriate enthusiasm.
"Another spitfire I see." The redheaded woman swayed her hips as she passed us. "Good luck." She shot a wink over her shoulder. I wasn’t sure if it was meant for me or for Vander but I would have loved to see it again for verification.
"Right." Vander shook his head and kept his lead, my eyes however found it hard to stray from the vanishing figure of the mystery woman. She was alluring and completely terrifying all at the same time.
"Are you coming?" I heard his annoyed voice paired with an aggravated grunt.
"Yeah, sorry, coming." I turned back to follow him to see that he had already reached the top of the grand staircase. I tried to run up the stairs to shorten the distance between us, but only made it about half way before I had to stop and catch my breath. He mumbled something about how pathetic I was, and how I was going to need a lot of work. I shrugged it off. Cardio had never been a high priority for me. It got in the way of my eating cereal and cheesecake!
By the time I made it to the top of the steps, Vander was giving me the most pity-tossing stare I had ever received. His wasn’t the first, and most likely wouldn’t be the last. I shrugged, and ignored the small grunt of humor that slipped from the otherwise stoic man.
