Arielle Immortal Quickening
by Lilian Roberts
Copyright © 2013 by Lilian Roberts
Kindle Edition
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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All rights reserved. Cover Art by Tracy Stewart
Website:
www.lilianroberts.com
There are a few people I would like to thank for their help with the fourth book in the Arielle Immortal Rapture series.
My so-incredible husband, for encouraging me to continue on, and who has never complained about the long hours I have spent in front of the computer, working on this series.
Christy, my beautiful daughter, for her overall support, as well as the great suggestions she made, which that improved the story.
Jiolanda, my lovely niece, who has never stopped believing in me, and in my ideas.
Many thanks to Jacy Mackin, an amazing editor, for guiding me through the difficult parts of the manuscript.
Sarka-Jonae Miller for her ongoing, tireless support.
Tracy Stewart, for her beautiful cover design.
Kat Sheridan, for taking a manuscript of more than 75,000 words, and crafting a brief synopsis that would give readers a vivid peek into the story.
And finally, sincere thanks to all the friends who enthusiastically supported me, motivating me to get the next volume ready for publication.
Chapter 1A
rielle stood frozen. The hotel room lost its brightness, and the air thickened. When she tried to inhale, her lungs refused to expand. Her heartbeat pounded painfully in her chest, leaving her faint. The fear was so deeply rooted it held her like a vise. With her eyes squeezed tightly shut and her lips pressed together, she listened to the stony silence that had fallen as Sebastian gave her time to gather her thoughts. The feelings of helplessness and loss draped over her like a heavy curtain while she tried to absorb his last words…
His soft voice had been composed, tainted with a hint of wretchedness. She wasn’t ready to accept bad news about any person she loved. Her head throbbed, her self-awareness was in full alert, and she literally felt sick from fear and uneasiness. Her knees buckled underneath her, and she practically collapsed on the floor, drowning in a huge range of intensity and emotional instability. Falling back on the bed, she rolled over and buried her face in the pillow. This wasn’t going to be good. Sebastian’s expression spoke volumes.
He sat beside her on the bed and ran his hand up and down her back with tenderness and understanding. He was quiet, waiting for her to say something.
She remained unmoved, wordless, her mind wandering aimlessly.
Is the bad news about someone I love?
she wondered anxiously. Finally she pulled herself up and sat on the bed, hugging her knees to her chest as her thoughts turned dark. She took a shuddering breath and gazed into Sebastian’s eyes. An unsettled glimmer spread across his eyes, and he pinched the tip of his nose.
Arielle’s mouth went dry, and her chest rose and fell anxiously as she stifled a gulp. Unless her mind was deceiving her, Sebastian only pinched the tip of his nose when he was extremely uncomfortable or worried about something or someone. She noticed a flash of anguish crossing his eyes. She was afraid to hear what he was about to tell her; she was sure that her facial expression read with dread and despair. She was trembling. Her misery didn’t escape Sebastian.
He reached for her and gathered her to him as close as possible. She laid her head on his chest, looking for reassurance. His voice was soft, but she could hear a hint of distress.
“Arielle, did you hear me baby?” he asked. She looked up to meet his gaze, unable to speak. She was afraid to ask any questions, knowing any negative information would be painful.
“Arielle, please, I don’t like to see you this way. You need to hear what I have to say,” Sebastian’s voice was velvety soft.
She tried to analyze each and every word in his sentence but was unable to accept the thoughts that invaded her head. The news could not be about her parents, because she had just finished talking to her mum on the phone.
Mother said everything at home was fine.
It wasn’t about their friends either, because her mother would have phoned her. Who was all this about? Could it be one of their immortal friends? She knew that eight of their friends had been hunting down Annabel ever since they’d tried to kill her and Eva at St. Jean de Luz. But if this were about their immortal friends, why would Sebastian be so reluctant to discuss it openly with her? Nothing really made sense. Why was Sebastian so upset? Sucking in a deep breath she went for it.
“Who was involved in the accident?” she asked in a hollow whisper.
“Our best friends,” he replied in a guarded tone.
Her shock was evident as fright took her over and weighed down every one of her limbs. She realized that the worst feelings that had invaded her mind earlier were right now becoming a reality. Her first thought was denial, but she had to push that in the back of her mind, because she needed to find out the details. Suddenly she was conscious of the tears streaming down her face and her uncontrolled trembling.
“What happened?” she murmured, keeping a blank face as she felt a lump climbing and closing her throat.
For a moment, he didn’t reply, and she looked up into his eyes. His face was pale, and his expression strained. “It’s Gabrielle,” he muttered. Her eyes went wide with horror, and she felt the muscles of her chest tighten. She didn’t really seem to hear his answer. She thought her mind was tripping into a state of shock as bad feelings were now settling inside her very core, taking completely over her senses. She felt his arms pulling her even closer, his fingers lifting her face up, and her eyes piercing hers. She tried to decipher his look, but she found herself unable to do that. Sebastian remained silent, as she looked on bewildered, her face soaked with tears, and her heartbeat hammering her chest uncontrollably. She shook her head in denial and rubbed her temples with her fingertips as she pressed her lips together harder. He took her hands and placed them flat on his chest and covered them with his.
“Please, Arielle, say something,” he pressed on in a soft voice.
Silence stretched and suddenly she looked up at him with horror in her eyes.
“How bloody bad was it? You are freaking me out!” Her voice was louder than she expected, but the desperation held her in a tight grip.
Sebastian visibly started at the tone of her voice. After a brief hesitation, he reached toward her and took her face between his hands. “Gabrielle is in the worst condition. Troy says she’s in intensive care, and they don’t know if she’ll make it. Right now, she is in a coma with a fractured skull, a broken leg, several broken ribs, and fifty stitches in her left thigh.”
Arielle tried desperately to swallow the lump wedged in her throat. “Oh, My God… Oh. My. God!” she whispered, slumping down onto the bed. Distantly, she felt Sebastian pull her up into his arms, holding her tightly against him. Without thought, she buried her face in his shoulder and sobbed.
He didn’t interrupt, allowing her time to grasp the truth. However, her need to know more about the accident finally broke through and calmed her. Worse, a niggling feeling told her that she didn’t know all of it yet. “Did Troy tell you what happened? What did the doctors say?” she asked into his shirt, desperate to hear that Gabby would be all right.
“No one knows yet, but they are hoping that she’ll pull through. The surgeon told her parents that the next few days would be critical. Hopefully, she will regain consciousness without any long-term damage. He assured them that she was healthy and strong before the accident and that her body is still fighting to heal.” He hugged her tighter. “Everyone except Ian and Eva are by her side.
Arielle curled her fingers into the fabric beneath her palms, frantically trying to calm the quick inhalations and exhalations that left black spots and the words “dead dead dead” before her eyes. “What happened to them, Sebastian? Tell me.”
“Both of them escaped with bruises, cuts, and a couple broken limbs. Overall, they are extremely lucky. Troy says they’ll be released sometime tomorrow.”
“Thank God,” she praised. For a moment, she closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing. Once the spots disappeared, she kissed Sebastian’s cheek and continued. “How did it happen?”
Sebastian half-smiled down at her, the strain of everything weighing heavily in his expression. “The vehicle overturned on their way back home from a dinner party at the Polo Club.” Arielle waited for him to continue. “Troy and I purchased six tickets to a fundraiser there before you and I decided to take this trip. Originally, it would have been us, Troy and Gabrielle, and Ian and Eva. Since Italy seemed more important, I suggested Troy invite Paul and Loren to use the tickets.
“What happened to Paul and Lauren?” The panic pushed at her.
“They are fine. They went to the function in their own car, so they left separately,” he assured her.
“Good,” she murmured. “God, what happened?”
“The four of them left the dance quite late with Gabrielle driving and Troy in the passenger seat. The roads were wet from some light showers and slick. Gabrielle insisted on driving, and, as you know, Troy is happy to let her do whatever makes her happy. Gabrielle swerved to avoid hitting something in the middle of the road, and the car flipped several times before smashing against a concrete wall that stretched along the road. They didn’t have seatbelts on. Troy saw everyone being ejected out of the car.” Sebastian’s voice was despondent.
Immediately, Arielle knew that they had to get back to Brighton. Gabby and Eva were her friends, her sisters, her family! Words failed her as her mind raced. Decision made, she exhaled.
“Arielle, what’s going on in there?” Sebastian pointed at her head.
“I want to go home,” she whispered, anxiously.
“I knew you would. I’ll make the arrangements, and we’ll be on the first flight out.” She held on to Sebastian, refusing to let go as she cried silently and prayed for her friends. He took her face in his hands again and kissed her softly.
