Lost Souls: Imperfection – Episode 2 (11 page)

“A double agent?” Christian questioned.

“Someone working with the Souls and the Changed?” Ben added.

“What else could it be?  I’m telling you that is exactly the same machine Daniel used.”

Ben shook his head.  “This just gets worse and worse.”

Sam watched from the hood of her car as they lowered Claire’s coffin into the ground.  The gray day accented the feelings of the mourners dressed in black.  She recognized some of the funeral attendees.  Missy’s blonde hair stood out amidst all the muted colors.  And Brad was right beside her, his arm around her shoulders.

I guess he really does like you, Sam thought.

And then her gaze came to rest on Doug and Madeline, Claire’s parents.  Ryan’s Mom and Dad.  They stood over the open hole, Madeline dabbing her eyes with a crumbled tissue.  Their family destroyed.  Their children gone.

Sam thought of her own parents.  Their children had been killed in a fire.  Ben, Cora and her.  Their family had been destroyed, much the same way that Ryan’s family was.  Her parents had never had more children, and Sam doubted Doug and Madeline would.

“Sam,” Ben called from behind her.  “We’re ready to go.”

Sam slid from the hood of her car and turned to Ben.  He was looking at her with that expectant, dissatisfied look.  “What?”

“Eugene is really hurt.  You wouldn’t even use his regen bed.”

Sam shrugged.  “There’s a trust issue, you know?”

“Damien is a Changed,” Ben said gently.  “Eugene knew that.  He was trying to protect you.”

“I’m a big girl.  I can take care of myself.”  She began to open the door.

Ben fazed and closed it.

“It should have been my decision.  And that was taken away from me.  Both times.  And both times by Eugene.”

“It seems to some like you’re picking Damien over Eugene.”

Sam rolled her eyes.  “I’m not picking one over the other.  I don’t trust either one of them.”  She smiled.

“Sam.”

“I can’t, Ben.  I just can’t forgive him.  Not now.  Maybe some day.”  She shook her head.  “But not right now.”

Ben nodded in understanding.  He stepped out of Sam’s way and headed around to the other side of the car.  “He’s got a lead on Cora.”

Sam froze.  “Where?”

“There was an encounter in Orange County.”

“California?”

Ben nodded.

“I’ve always wanted to see the OC.”

Christian suddenly appeared at the front of the car.  “We out of here?”

Sam nodded and opened the door.

Christian walked around to Ben’s side of the car.  “Eugene said he’ll look into where that machine came from.  He said he’ll get back to us.”

Sam paused before sliding in.  “Hey, kid.”

Christian looked at her over the top of the silver Spyder.

“You did good.”

“Really?”

Sam cocked a grin and nodded.

“Can I drive?”

Ben groaned as he slid in the car.

Sam grit her teeth.  “No.”

~ ~ ~

Damien watched the silver Audi Spyder as it drove away.  He looked up into the gray sky.  The rain began as a light mist.  Damien managed to see the small electrical current swirling around in the sky as the mist coated it.  He watched its form for a moment.  The shape itself was not new.  He had seen a similar phenomenon when Sam and the others had blasted the last Changed.

What was different was the whisperings.  He couldn’t make out words, but it was like tiny buzzing in his ears.  Humming.  He doubted anyone, including Souls, could see or hear it.  But he could.

And he needed more.  More energy.  Something was happening.  And he needed to be prepared.

Something big was coming.

###

Coming Soon:

Lost Souls: “Deception” – Episode 3

Laurel O’Donnell
has always been interested in the supernatural.  It has intrigued her enough to write a vampire paranormal romance novel,
Immortal Death
, which won Indiana’s Golden Opportunity contest.  Her love of the medieval period has generated many medieval romance novels, most of which are currently available at eBookstores everywhere.  Her medieval romance novels have also won several awards, such as the Holt Medallion for
A Knight of Honor
, and the Happily Ever After contest for
The Angel’s Assassin
.  Her epic medieval romance
The Angel and the Prince
was nominated by the Romance Writers of America for their prestigious Golden Heart award.  She came back to the paranormal for her urban fantasy series:
Lost Souls
.  
 In 2012, Laurel and her husband Jack formed their own publishing company ODONNELL BOOKS.  Laurel is currently working on more stories in the world of the Lost Souls, as well as a brand new medieval romance novel.

You can read sample chapters, reviews, watch book trailers, get the latest news and more at:
www.laurel-odonnell.com
 

Urban Fantasy

Lost Souls: Resurrection - Episode 1

- The first episode in the new paranormal ghost series: Lost Souls.

Christian Thompson is killed but refuses to pass into the afterlife because of his need to shelter his daughter from her cruel mother.  He soon discovers there are others like him, other spirits trapped between the world of the living and the dead.  He joins the Lost Souls in their struggle against a dark evil that threatens them all.

Lost Souls: Imperfection – Episode 2

Sam and her brother Ben, along with their new friend Christian, have just defied the leader of the Lost Souls. Outcast from their former group, the three of them battle the dark forces of the Changed on their own.  As the investigation deepens, they come to the chilling realization that their nemesis, Scala, has escaped his centuries-old prison with revenge on his twisted mind. A demonic possession leads to grave consequences and the Lost Souls must make a difficult choice between life and death for an innocent victim.

Look for more
Lost Souls
episodes coming soon!

Paranormal Romance Novels

Immortal Death

Jade Smith’s supernaturally fast ability to heal has made her a freak.  After years of fearful reactions from others, she stays hidden in the shadows of life.  The one thing that keeps her sane is her writing -- and her wonderful Demetrius, an imaginary vampire fighter character she created in her online stories.  But when Demetrius suddenly appears in her apartment demanding answers, her life changes forever…

- Winner of the Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest

Medieval Romance Novels

The Angel and the Prince

In this exciting medieval romance, the French lady knight known as the Angel of Death wages a battle of wills and desires against her dreaded enemy --- the English warrior known as the Prince of Darkness.  An epic medieval romance.

- Nominated for the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award

Angel’s Assassin

Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness.  Nothing makes her stray from the path of right, not even the terrible fear and sinister secret of her mother's death that she keeps hidden from the world.  But then a dark and dangerously handsome man saves her life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, threatening to tear her peaceful world apart.

- Winner of the Happily Ever After Contest

Champion of the Heart

Fox Mercer watches in horror as his father’s knighthood, lands and nobility are all torn from him.  Banished into disgrace, Fox waits for the moment to strike to avenge his family’s honor.  And that moment arises when a tournament is announced --- a battle of champions wherein the winner gets to claim a very lovely prize…

A Knight of Honor

Taylor Sullivan is a raven-haired hellion fleeing the flames that destroyed her family.  She arms herself with a quick sword and a sharp tongue, hiring herself out as a mercenary, willing to do whatever it takes to survive.  Slane Donovan is a knight of honor, sworn to uphold his oath and his word.  He seeks the woman who wears the Sullivan ring, determined to bring her back to Castle Donovan.  A fast paced medieval romance filled with action.

- Winner of the Holt Medallion Award for Best Medieval Novel

Midnight Shadow

Disguised as the legendary hero known as the Midnight Shadow, Lady Bria Delaney swears to rid the land of Lord Terran Knowles’ cruel tyranny.  She is stunned to encounter him in her father’s castle --- one of the many suitors vying for her hand.  Captivated by his darkly intent gaze, Bria struggles to suppress her fierce attraction to the very enemy she has secretly promised to destroy.  A Robin-Hood style medieval romance with a twist.

The Lady and the Falconer

A mysterious falconer infiltrates Castle Fulton during a siege, intent on reclaiming what is rightfully his.  When the handsome stranger lays eyes and hands on Lady Solace Farindale, all of his plans of revenge start to crumble around him...

Medieval Romance Novellas

The Bride and the Brute

Jayce Cullen has been fighting her fear of thunder and lightning ever since she was a child, but nothing could have prepared her for the fury of her new husband.  Feeling deceived and betrayed into a loveless marriage, Lord Reese Harrington wants nothing to do with his new wife.  Trapped in a marriage with no escape, the beautiful young bride must battle the demons of her husband's past and hope that she can weather the storm his brutish behavior unleashes.

- Available for FREE at many ebookstores!  See the author’s website at
www.laurel-odonnell.com
for a full list of stores where this free ebook can be found.  This free ebook also contains free previews of many of Laurel’s other medieval romance novels listed above.
 

“Resurrection and Imperfection are short books that pack a major punch!  The Lost Souls series follows seasoned Souls, Sam and Ben, as they navigate the unusual culture that exists when people die and refuse to cross over.  They’ve been around for hundreds of years when they meet Christian – and despite their best efforts, are drawn into the battle for his daughter’s life.  As the story continues, the trio work together to continue testing their theories on eliminating the Changed, while trying to deal with personal and emotional conflicts.  For such short books, this series has fantastic details and worldbuilding that drag the reader in and keep them there until the last page.  I read both in rapid succession, because I simply had to know what was going to happen next, and every time I turned the page, there was something new going on.  I loved it.  This series is a completely new take on death and the afterlife, with plenty of information so the reader isn’t confused, and tons of action to keep you engaged.  Definitely worth checking out, and I can’t wait to see where the rest of the series takes Sam, Ben, and Christian.”

- Cat’s Thoughts Book Reviews on the
Lost Souls
series

“A great Medieval romance! Something I appreciated was the manner of Ms. O’Donnell’s writing. It flows with just enough descriptions, and conversations to keep you easily focused. Another thing that I thoroughly liked was that even though this book focuses on Damien and Aurora, there are other characters mixed into the book- both evil/innocent- that give the plot an edge and make you want to know what exactly is being hidden from everyone! I like a good amount of mystery. It makes me all the more anxious to click on to the next page!!! Angel’s Assassin is a great read. Very well done, Ms. O’Donnell!!”

- The Indie Bookshelf on
Angel’s Assassin
 

“It’s quickly become one of my favorite books and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for romance and action.”

- Sony ReaderStore review on
A Knight of Honor
 

“One of my favorite historical romances of all time.”

- Goodreads review on
The Angel and the Prince
 

“I really enjoyed this exciting medieval love story. Solace and Logan, what a pair of mixed up, brave confused young adults, living in the harsh medieval world, where relatives were vengeful and self-serving, but friends were loyal. I also loved the very light mystical thread throughout the story with the Falcon. In this medieval period some writers have gone for `shock value’ with graphic details on warfare, sex, misery and the cruelty, however I believe Laurel O’Donnell got the balance right, because as I was reading this novel I was `booing’ the bad ones and `cheering’ on the goodies. Justice is always a winner to me. I would reread this book again.”

- Amazon Review on
The Lady and the Falconer
 

“A surprisingly emotional quick-read. Whew! What an attention grabbing, heart-wrenching, sigh-worthy ride of a read! It grips you from the first pages and doesn’t release its hold until it finishes, maybe not even then.”

- Amazon Review for
The Bride and the Brute
 

 “Immortal Death is a unique and passionate tale of destined love with a suspenseful plot that captures your attention from page one and continues to intrigue until the very end.”

- J.E. Hopkins, author of “We Shall Rise” on
Immortal Death
 

“There’s nothing like a wonderfully written romance that includes everything from excitement and intrigue to despair and triumph. Such a novel discourages readers from putting the book down, lest we miss new adventures waiting around the next corner. Laurel O’Donnell has managed to do just that and so much more in the Midnight Shadow.”