Dream Wakers: The Veiled Prophecy (Book One)

Chapter 1

 Emmy slid out of the truck and her legs buckled. Inhaling through her teeth, she grabbed her bags and headed to check herself into a room.

The man behind the desk smiled at her.

"Morning, ma'am."

"Morning," she repeated, self conscious of the bruise on the side of her face.

"I'd like to stay until tomorrow evening."

He nodded and handed her a key.

"You're number seven. My name's Charlie if you should need something. You need help with that suitcase?"

"Oh no, sir," Emmy said, shrugging off the kind gesture. "I just need to rest, I've been driving all night."

"Honey, call me Charlie."

Emmy only nodded. She picked up her things and headed toward her bungalow.

Flower pots hung from red trimmed window sills, and she opened the door, setting her bags on the floor, too tired to unpack whatever she had thrown in there. She tenderly pulled off her jeans, and placed them over the foot board before unhooking her bra and sliding a hand over the bruises along her sides. She sank into bed and tugged the sheets to her chin. She'd have a plan before she left tomorrow, but for now she just needed to rest where she was hidden; where she was safe. She closed her eyes and curled into a ball.

Years of buried trauma exploded into view as she tossed in her sleep, sweating.

His dark hair swung in front of his colorless eyes and the sound of his laughter rung in her ears before he pinned her underneath his fists. She scrambled to free herself. Her body started to fade and her golden brown hair was turning black. Veins of light were weaving themselves into her bones. She could feel her flesh tearing from her body. This couldn't happen now, she was too tired. Emmy tried forcing herself awake, but the game had already taken hold.

"You will lay underneath me like you always have, and enjoy it, as my goddamn wife!" he snarled.

His breath was hot against her cheek and Emmy sobbed as her body deteriorated from the pressure of light pushing from within. She screamed against the ringing in her ears.

Emmy sat up and gasped. She hadn't been touched by the light like that in years. Not since Henry had warned her about the power she possessed and the people she was choosing to hang around. Her arms hung limp at her sides, her legs frozen under the sheets. His games had always taken a toll on her physically. No matter how hard she tried to run, it always found her. Blood rushed back through her body and she slowly slid a hand against her tender thighs. She glanced at the clock and cursed, she'd wasted too much time with her eyes closed. Henry's influence had gotten her into this mess, and now, the second she didn't have to hide it, it seemed to be overtaking her. She was controlled because of it, or controlled by it.

A diesel rumbled and died outside her room. Emmy held her breath, not moving, not thinking. He couldn't have found her this quickly. A large body moved across the window frame; the silhouette was indisputable. Ethan had come for her. Death crawled up the back of her neck. Heavy feet crushed the gravel outside. Fear started to collect at her temples. It was impossible, she had given herself so much time to get away. Emmy screamed at herself to do something, to remember the courage she had only a day ago, when she had finally taken a stand, before he...she pushed it out of her memory. No. The creak of her car door drifted through the walls and she clamped her moistening eyes together. Most of her money was in between a book shoved in her glovebox.

He felt entitled to everything. He invaded all that was hers. He did what he wanted without permission. She had sat back for years and allowed him to dictate what cruelty she'd have to endure next. Emmy leapt to her feet and grabbed the letter opener on the desk. Her eyes darted after his footsteps, waiting as he moved closer and closer towards the door to her room. She watched the knob twist soundlessly against the lock, its brass gleaming in the late morning. She blinked once. Ethan would not be touching her again.