Edge of Forever: The Death and Life of Analey Rose (The Immortal Souls Book 1)

by Patricia Galvan

  “I told you he was mine,” Gina hissed, spinning me around to face her.

  I stared at her with wide eyes unable to defend myself. My hands were secured behind my back and Gina stuffed a rag in my mouth to keep me from screaming. I called for Mikel, but the words came out in muffled sounds.

  “You’re probably wondering what I’m going to do with you,” Gina said, looking out the window. “We’re taking a little field trip into the Vanishing Woods.”

  I pulled against the ropes, but they didn’t give.

  “You’ve heard of the woods where people lose their memories or vanish into thin air.” Gina’s eyes lit up with excitement.

  I stared at her, twisting my wrists, tugging on the ropes.

  “I’m the reason they vanish,” Gina laughed. “Sometimes I take their blood and memories, or I turn them, but sometimes I just kill them.”

  Gina threw me over her shoulder and leaped out of the window. We landed on the ground with a soft thud and Gina began running. I felt the wind rush by me as she sped towards the forest, leaving the castle behind. We came to a densely wooded area as the moon moved directly over the sun and Gina tied me to a tree deep in the forest where I wouldn’t be found.

  “Now it’s time for you to disappear,” Gina said as she stooped down in front of my face. “You have been the thorn in my side since the day you were born. Larson has been obsessed with you for so long that he didn’t have time to pay attention to me. You should have just stayed dead.”

  I heard the low snarls of animals in the forest. Creatures that knew better than to come out while Gina was there, but once the vampire was gone, they would emerge from their hiding place within the trees.

  “The sight of your face sickens me. I don’t know what Larson sees in you, but once you’re out of the picture he will come back to me. He always does.” Gina raised her closed hand and I felt the blow of her fist against my head.

  “The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?”

  ~Edgar Allan Poe

  thirty~ seven

  Ididn’t feel particularly brave on the night I died. The sentiment was sorrow coupled with a sense of unburdening. If I died, no one would have to die for me. I regretted leaving behind a life less than half-lived but the consolation that my friends would live set my mind at ease. Maybe it was selfish of me to want to save myself the guilt of having anyone risk their life to save my own, but the choice was made for me: I would die for them.

  The solar eclipse had passed while I’d been passed out. The sky was now a black canvas speckled with glittering stars. I looked up at them through the trees, searching for an answer to my deadly situation, but found none. I struggled with the ropes but failed again to loosen them. Giving up the futile attempts of escaping, I rested my head against the trunk of the tree. My head hurt, the pain pulsating forcefully in my temples. I tried reaching up to massage them but remembered my hands were tied behind my back.

  The leaves rustled on the ground behind me, my pounding heartbeat reaching my throat, as a cold chill swept over my arms. I imagined what was lurking in the dark forest around me. The wind blew and sent a swirl of dead leaves sweeping over the ground. I laughed nervously; it had only been the wind. Closing my eyes, I focused my hearing on the sounds around me, listening for anything dangerous or hungry in the woods. My restless imagination sent frightening visions to my mind and I snapped my eyes open. The next sound I heard wasn’t my imagination and I pulled vigorously against the ropes, the bark of the tree scraping the skin on my hands. The braided cord slipped off as Gina pulled me to my feet with a hard yank on my arms.

  “Good, you’re still here. I was afraid the wolves had gotten to you before I did,” she said.

  “What do you want?” I asked.

  Gina smiled but her eyes were cold. “You’re going to help me end this obsession Larson has with you.”

  “But I’m in love with Mikel,” I said trying to spare myself from being Gina’s next meal.

  “As long as you are alive, you will always be the living, breathing, annoying,” Gina rolled her eyes, “love of Larson’s life.”

  “You don’t have to do this,” I said.

  “Oh, but I do,” Gina grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me to her.

  She pulled her lips back, exposing her sharp fangs, and her eyes turned red as she thrust her mouth to my neck and sank her fangs deep into my artery. I tried to pull away from her, but Gina held on, drinking my blood and I could feel consciousness slipping away from me once again. Gina let go and stepped back, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. I swayed to one side reaching for something to hold on to, grasping the branch of a tree. I steadied myself as Gina came at me again, but this time she picked me up and flung me hard against another tree. I felt and heard bones breaking in my arm and in one of my legs. I landed at the base of the tree, my body broken and my head bleeding. The last thing I felt was Gina sinking her teeth into my neck again.

  thirty~ eight

  W hen I arrived, Candice wasn’t a ghost or hallucination. She stood before me in the flesh, but she looked concerned to see me there.

  “Analey, what are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be here,” she whispered.

  “Where am I?” I asked. I was still in the forest but there was an unnatural mist surrounding me and it felt empty.

  “You can’t be here. You must go back,” Candice said.

  “Am I dead?” I asked, feeling the nothingness compressing and overwhelming me.

  “Yes, but it isn’t your time.”

  I glanced around the woods, searching for life but only a blue haze stared back at me. “Come back with me Candice,” I begged, my heart racing.

  “Attis has yet to ordain my return,” she said.

  “But I don’t want to leave without you, and I don’t want to return,” I said.

  “You have to go back and stop him. Don’t let him win,” Candice said as she began fading into the mist.

  I searched for her, my movements frantic but she was gone, and I stood alone in the empty forest. It was cold in this forest and suddenly I became afraid in the desolate realm of death. I ran through the forest, looking for a way out but only the trees remained. There was no escape from death once it had its grip on me and it was a powerful grip. Standing alone in the darkness of my mortality, I heard a voice calling out to me.

  “Analey, please don’t leave me,” he cried.

  “Mikel,” I called out, but my words made no sound.

  “Open your eyes,” he begged.

  I tried calling out to him again and this time my voice was a whisper. I was getting closer to him. “Mikel, I’m here.”

  I began running again and fell to the ground when a shock of electricity surged through my body. I gritted my teeth as I got to my feet and listened for Mikel’s voice. I could still hear him in the distance pleading with me to return to him. I ran a few feet further when the electricity shot through me once again. The shock knocked me into a tree, but surprisingly it didn’t hurt. Actually, I didn’t feel the impact at all. I steadied myself and took off again. As I felt the third and final jolt of energy zap through me the forest began to evaporate around me, and bright lights filled the sky. I was being pulled back to life and the sounds of the living world rang near and clear. I slowly opened my eyes and focused on what was going on around me. Masked people surrounded me, all simultaneously talking and asking me questions I couldn’t answer.

  Instantly, I was pulled back in time to another situation similar to this one. The environment looked eerily familiar and I gasped at the realization that it was the rainy night from my nightmares, the day I was born. I could see my mother fighting for her life as the doctors tried to save her and deliver me alive. All my nightmares came into focus and I could now make sense of it all. The infant I’d heard crying in my dreams had been me and the woman running for her life, had been my mother. They were not
simply bad dreams but memories.

  Someone peeled back my eyelid, shinning a light into my eyes and I was back in the present. My mind was still cloudy concerning the details of what had happened and landed me in the hospital, weak and clinging to life.

  I struggled to speak. “What—what happened?” I didn’t remember much, just broken fragments but they didn’t fit together or make sense. I started drifting off, but I forced my eyes to stay open. Mikel came to my side, taking my good hand in his. I glanced around the room to Stella who stood against the wall, away from the machines and monitors. Sophia was next to her, watching as Mikel brushed a strand of hair away from my face. Her eyes filled with concern, but not for me. I moved my eyes around the room, careful not to move anything else as not to cause another wave of pain to wash over me, and saw Larson near the door, leaning against the wall. He was dressed in black jeans that seemed as if they had been tailored to fit and a black jacket over a dark blue shirt. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest and one foot crossed over the other, staring at the floor. When he lifted his head, his eyes met mine and I could feel the invincible bond that connected us straining to keep us together. I could see the pain and concern in his green eyes as his gaze held mine for a moment longer. I opened my mouth to call him but as I did, he turned and walked out of the room.

  “He blames himself,” Mikel said in a cold and flat tone as if he too blamed Larson.

  I looked back at Mikel and shook my head. I didn’t blame him; it wasn’t his fault. I felt hot tears swell in my eyes as I realized how much I already missed him. I tried to quiet the sobs that were now coming as tears fell from my eyes.

  Mikel didn’t say a word as I mourned over Larson. I could see the distress in his cognac eyes as he sat holding my hand, helpless to ease my pain. Mikel stayed with me until I finally cried myself to sleep thinking of Larson.

  As I slept, something terrifying yet amazing happened. It wasn’t medically possible, yet my broken bones healed themselves and blood loss was restored overnight. I was still in numbed shock from Larson leaving that I didn’t register what my miracle recovery signified.

  “Miss Rose, you need to get back in bed,” the nurse said, her pale blue eyes looking over my broken leg that shouldn’t be supporting my weight.

  She drew her eyebrows down reaching her hand out to catch me, but I was just as surprised as she was when there was no pain as I stood up, steady and strong. “I’m fine.”

  “That’s not possible,” she stammered her red ponytail swaying back and forth as she vigorously shook her head. “I need to tell Dr. Malek.” Her voice was a whisper as she was talking to herself.

  I fell to the bed feigning pain and grabbing my leg. “Oh, that was too soon.” I slowly lifted my leg onto the bed asking the nurse to help. I grimaced as she put her hand under my ankle and gently put a pillow underneath it.

  “You won’t be able to walk on it unassisted for several weeks. You need to take it easy and let the broken bones heal.” The nurse walked out of my room but not before asking if I wanted any more pain medication.

  “No, I’m okay right now,” I said.

  Mikel walked in after the nurse walked out, his brow furrowed as he had heard our conversation. “I will have my father take care of it,” he said meaning he could compel the nurse to forget how I stood up on my own.

  Mikel took me home and I tried to forget about Larson. I knew it would be impossible and I felt powerless to fight it. I fought against my feelings for him, but then a darker struggle was brewing with in me.

  I miraculously recovered from the injuries sustained when Gina had abducted me, but upon arriving at the Aragon castle, I felt I was coming down with the flu. I was exhausted all the time and had a sour feeling in my stomach. I slept most of the day, not eating and growing weaker.

  Mikel brought me a slice of lightly buttered toast and a glass of water. “Please try to eat something,” he pleaded.

  I sat up in the bed, placing the plate on my lap, the smell rose to my nose and I fought the urge to run to the bathroom. I handed Mikel the plate and laid my head back down on the pillow, starring up at the white netting of the canopy that draped over the bed posts. Mikel’s room reminded me of an era from the 18th century. Elegant soft white bedding with plum trim covered the large four-post bed and thick purple drapes covered the floor to ceiling windows. A dazzling crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling that rose in a sharp point. A roaring fire burned in the large stone fireplace, but I still felt the freezing air on my arms. Mikel had to keep his distance as his cold skin made me freeze with one icy touch. Human blood warmed him, but he hadn’t been out to hunt in days and only hunted animals.

  “Mikel, please take care of your thirst while I get some sleep. You need to keep your strength up too,” I said.

  “I know, but I don’t want to leave your side until your strength returns,” he said brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

  I put my hands on each side of his face. “Please, it would make me feel better if I knew you were taken care of too.” I kissed him briefly on the lips and gently pushed his shoulders. “Go.”

  “Alright, but only if you take at least one bite of toast,” he said handing me the plate.

  I forced myself to eat the bread and took a sip of water. I nestled back under the blankets as Mikel left the room to hunt. I would’ve excused him if he decided to take human blood, but I knew he wouldn’t.

  I relapsed into another bout of fatigue and was asleep before night fall. I awoke during the middle of the night, a ravenous hunger snapping me out of slumber. I saw Mikel’s silhouette on the terrace and slipped out of bed making my way to him. His fair skin glowing in the moonlight, I reached out to touch his hand, shivering as his cold fingers wrapped around mine. Mikel let go of my hand and vanished from my sight. When he returned two seconds later, he wrapped his arms around me, a thick cashmere afghan between us. I missed the feel of his embrace, but he wouldn’t hold me without the blanket. I wanted to feel his cool touch on my skin or the caress of his lips on mine.

  “Your mortal body is growing weaker and the reason for the fatigue that plagues you incessantly,” he whispered.

  “I know.” I was cognizant of how tired I felt and how weak I’d become. I suspected the dhampir side had something to do with my health.

  “If we don’t find the reason and how to resolve it, I fear it may jeopardize your health drastically,” Mikel said.

  “You mean it could kill me,” I replied.

  “Yes, but please don’t worry, Ma Vie. I will find an answer and get you well again,” he promised.

  “It’s because of the venom in my veins, his venom poisoning me.” I pulled the blanket and Mikel’s arms tighter around me.

  “Maybe,” he said then kissed the top of my head.

  I stared out into the velvet black sky as I ruminated on the memories of my life. I felt that death was inevitable, and I was only prolonging its fate. Aloes wanted me dead, but it seemed as if natural causes would beat him to the punch. Maybe dying from this unknown illness would be less traumatic than being killed by a ruthless vampire. I consoled myself with the idea and decided spending my last days beside Mikel was not a bad way to die.

  “Death has been following me since the day I was born, maybe it’s finally catching up to me,” I said.

  “Love, please don’t talk like that,” Mikel said, his voice low and distressed. He turned me to face him, gazing into my eyes. “You have so much to live for and so much more life ahead of you.”

  “I don’t want to give up, but I’m so tired of fighting.” I put my head on his chest and felt his arms tighten around me.

  “I will fight with you and you will beat this too. It’s what you do, you win.” Mikel lifted me and carried me to the bed, placing me under the heavy blanket. “Now gets some more rest and we will figure this out in the morning.”

  Obeying his commands was not difficult as sleep found me as soon as I settled in the bed. Maybe the hunter
was the answer and maybe it wasn’t. I thought as I drifted off to a dreamless slumber.

  I opened my eyes to find Mikel leaning against the doorframe, waiting for me to wake up. His sandy blonde hair hung loose down around his face and his brown eyes lit up as he smiled. I pulled the hair tie out my hair and combed my fingers through it before putting it back into a ponytail.

  “I have a surprise for you,” Mikel said as he brushed his lips over mine.

  “Surprise?” I asked.

  Mikel smiled and gently pulled me out of bed. “I’ll give you a few minutes to freshen up then I will bring in your birthday gift.

  Birthday. I thought as I walked to the bathroom to brush my teeth and splash water on my face. With all the excitement that had been going on, I hadn’t realized it was already January. I changed out of my sweats and into a blue sweater and blue jeans before crawling back under the blankets. I had just settled in when I heard a familiar laugh.

  “Happy Birthday,” Kami sang as she entered the room and ran to me. She leaped onto the bed, wrapping her arms around me. I hugged her back and noticed Kian standing in the room. He glanced over his shoulder at Mikel who was keeping a careful eye on him, before approaching the bed.

  “Happy Birthday,” Kian said, giving me a hug but he didn’t hold on as long as Kami had.

  I gave Mikel a wide smile as I mouthed a silent thank you to him as he left the room. Kami got in the bed next to me while Kian sat on the edge of the bed, his blue eyes locking on mine.

  “How are you?” Kian asked.

  “You look awful?” Kami added.

  I gave them a small smile. “Yes, just a little tired.”

  “I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. We didn’t know what happened to you and were so worried, but Mikel called us and explained everything.” Kian reached for my hand and I held onto it.

  “He did?” I asked.

  “Yeah, he told us how your Aunt had fallen ill with the flu and you caught it while you were taking care of her,” Kami said.