A Moment of Darkness (The Chronicles of Elizabeth Fairbairn Book 3) Read online

  A Moment of Darkness

  The Chronicles of Elizabeth Fairbairn,

  Book Three

  Cheryllynn Dyess

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, by photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher of the book.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or by any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized printed or electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.

  If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property.

  Cover: Designs by Stella

  Copyright © 2018 Cheryllynn Dyess

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-13:978-1726880626

  DEDICATION

  To my girls...know that anything is possible if you want it bad enough and work hard enough for it. Discover your dreams and never give up on them. I'll be in the shadows watching you shine.

  CONTENTS

  Acknowledgments

  i

  1

  Chapter

  Pg #1

  2

  Chapter

  Pg #7

  3

  Chapter

  Pg #14

  4

  Chapter

  Pg #20

  5

  Chapter

  Pg #26

  6

  Chapter

  Pg #33

  7

  Chapter

  Pg #40

  8

  Chapter

  Pg #45

  9

  Chapter

  Pg #51

  10

  Chapter

  Pg #58

  11

  Chapter

  Pg #65

  12

  Chapter

  Pg #74

  13

  Chapter

  Pg #81

  14

  Chapter

  Pg #88

  15

  Chapter

  Pg #96

  16

  Chapter

  Pg #103

  17

  Chapter

  Pg #112

  18

  Chapter

  Pg #120

  19

  Chapter

  Pg #127

  20

  Chapter

  Pg #134

  21

  Chapter

  Pg #142

  22

  Chapter

  Pg #150

  23

  Chapter

  Pg #157

  About The Author

  Pg #164

  Join Cheryllynn on Social Media. You can discover her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram as @CheryllynnDyess.

  Please visit her website for appearances, newsletter subscriptions and other updates.

  www.cheryllynndyess.com

  Happy Reading!

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I have to first acknowledge my readers, thank you for the inspiration to keep writing Elizabeth's story.

  Must give my husband a huge shout out as he is my biggest supporter, I'd not be writing without him, THANK YOU.

  A huge thanks to my friends who let me bounce ideas off them and then are still willing to read my book and give feedback.

  To my beta readers, whose feedback really does make the biggest impact on the end product.

  .

  CHAPTER 1

  …Wesley…

  The college was quiet, the weather had cooled, and winter was nipping at the heels of everyone around. Usually, the beginning of December is much colder, but I was not complaining after just returning from southern Europe. I walked quietly into the library. It’s where I felt her, now to find her. I could sense her but barely. It was like she was hiding from not only me but the whole world. Only, she couldn’t hide completely from me, I had been in her mind, and that gave me a link no one else would share. A nice elven trick I cared to share with no-one.

  Her back was to me as I walked up the third story stairs. Her hair was laying calmly over her shoulders as she leaned forward. The curls were gone, her hair straight. She had changed so much. Her wild appearance was no longer visible, but it still showed in her aura. Her aura told a whole new story about the young woman I fell in love with. The young woman I may never get to love again.

  Softly walking up behind her I could smell the jasmine before I reached her, I inhaled deeply closing my eyes to enjoy the peace before the rage brewing inside struck out at me. Her mind was chaotic. Thoughts of college along with the coven, The Veil, Devlon, and myself wrangled inside her with a maddening that was not likely to settle anytime soon. She was a storm brewing, waiting to explode, it wouldn’t take much.

  I stepped back. Maybe I shouldn’t be here. Maybe I should stay gone. Her head lifted slowly. She laid her pen down. Sat still. Did she already know I was here? Could she feel me as I felt her?

  “Yes, I knew when you walked in the building, Wesley.” Her monotone voice put me on edge immediately.

  “May I sit?”

  “Might as well, then maybe your thoughts won’t be so damn distracting.” She slammed a book closed causing those around her to look up, and pushed it away from her while pulling another closer and opened it.

  I walked around the table and stood there, she barely looked up, she barely looked at me. I pulled the chair out directly opposite her and sat down. I had been told how she used her power to win the battle against the coven without hurting anyone. I thought to her, I’m impressed.

  She sighed. Putting a paper in the open book to mark her place, Elizabeth slowly closed the book. Both hands running over the cover of the book, she slowly looked up at me. “It would’ve been more impressive if you were actually there.” Anger and sarcasm poured from her. Her aura reddened and flared.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “Elizabeth, com’on that’s not fair!”

  “Not fair. You want to know what’s not fair! Not fair is having your boyfriend bail on you when you needed him most. Not fair is having to pretend you’re okay when you’re really not.”

  I couldn’t do a thing. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe. I don’t know what I expected if anything. I could tell she wasn’t in my thoughts, with her own thoughts were raging, the fire flickered in her eyes. Swallowing slowly, I looked into those fiery eyes, “I. Am. Sorry. What do you want me to do to fix it?”

  “Six months! It’s been six months since I’ve heard from you! What did you expect?” Elizabeth threw a book at me with such surprising accuracy I had to duck. I guess asking how to fix this wasn’t my best choice of words. I tried not to laugh, but she had already seen my smile. Two more books hurled towards me at once, she had to be using magic as I was forced to block them with my hands.

  Raising my hands, I tried to calm her down, “Whoa there book launcher. We are in a library!”

  Only then had she noticed the stares and the librarian headed her way. The
college library was immense, and I had found Elizabeth tucked away in the Romanian history section. I guess she wanted to learn more about her family. “Young lady! We. Do. Not. Treat books this way.” The librarian scoffed.

  Elizabeth dropped her head, she knew the librarian couldn’t stop her, but her fight wasn’t with the bookkeeper, it was with me. “I’m sorry Mrs. Tolloth. Won’t happen again.” Elizabeth pointed at me, “This young man, he shouldn’t be here. He’s not a student.”

  This made the librarians brows raise as she looked over at me. I couldn’t do anything but smile. I knew Elizabeth could see the hurt in my eyes, but I really couldn’t blame her. My family and I had abandoned the battle, therefore abandoning her. My mother told me it was best to let them work things out amongst themselves and for elves to be as far away from that danger as possible. I had no choice. “My apologies, ma’am. I came to see my…” I looked at Elizabeth for any sign she was still my girl, there was none. My heart broke, “my friend. Maybe even sign up for a program.”

  “Well, no matter. You two quiet down or get out!” She turned on her heels, holding her head high with pride.

  “Oh yes, you did!” Elizabeth stood glaring at me. “You made the choice to ignore me once you found safety half a world away. Now leave and never come near me again!”

  I stood with a broken heart. She stood as well, hope began to well up inside of me. She started to put her books in her bag and shoved her papers in behind them. I tried to reach out for her but each time I stepped toward her she would step back, away from me. “Stop listening in on my thoughts. Actually, no… listen carefully.” I played the memories from the last six months in my mind. I showed her everything.

  Staring at me in disgust, I was ashamed. I had read every message and email she sent. I had chosen to ignore them as I was under orders to have no contact with anyone from back home. Then, I also showed her my love for her, how much I missed her. Would it be enough?

  “No. It is not enough.” Her words tore through me. “I see what you are hiding from me.” Her stare intent on seeing deeper into my mind that I desired. “Tiffany. Ah yes, a pretty elf from across the world had captured your attention. You didn’t think I’d be here when you got back.” Each sentence spoken slowly and methodically. How did she do that? How had she gotten so powerful that the things hidden were so easily unlocked?

  “Tiffany was only a friend. Nothing more. Nothing! I swear.” I pleaded with her. Tiffany really was nothing more and I could do nothing now.

  “Hmm, your mom sure thought she was more than nothing.”

  I hung my head in defeat. This was not a battle that would be won easily. I have to prove to her I was faithful even when I abandoned her.

  “Let me tell you.” Her words oozed from her. “You see, while you were gone playing around the world I was here honing my skills.” She rubbed a amulet that hung from her neck as she spoke, her aura darkened. “I learned a great many things.”

  “I understand you met Celeste.” I tried to change the topic, to lighten her mood.

  She smiled, dropping her hand from the pendant, “I did. I like her, but I don’t think she managed to do her job so good…” Her eyes turned wild. “Want to know who was here for me?”

  I nodded slightly, I had an idea, but I needed her to confirm it for me.

  Her eyes bore into my soul. The room became hot, then cooled as quickly. A smile so sweet and innocent crept over her, her words were like a whisper, but they hit me with a force of a hurricane. “It was, Devlon.”

  I said nothing. I turned and walked away. I had work to do, to fix this mess and save my mate. I would not lose her, not him. My mother insisted I follow tradition and now it may cost me the woman I love. That’s not going to happen.

  CHAPTER 2

  Four months earlier…

  She took Devlon’s hand in her dream. This same dream had repeated itself on an endless loop, night after night since the battle. She didn’t remember much of the rest of the dream, but she always woke up covered in sweat. Tonight, was no different, panting from the adrenaline rushing through her body. Elizabeth blindly patted around on her nightstand for her phone. Picking it up, the phone lights up revealing its only 3:33 am, sighing deeply as she realizes it’s been another night of not enough sleep and still no responses from Wesley. Her anger and heartbreak confirm to her that his family are cowards, running when they could have used their presence to show a sign of unity. Dropping the phone on the nightstand, Elizabeth hears it fall and bounce under the bed. Huffing, she rolls over hoping to catch a little more sleep.

  Her sleep is restless, and she enters a dream walk. Looking for her grandfather for guidance, hopeful he would be there to comfort her.

  ‘Grandfather?’

  Silence.

  She is in the familiar garden where she first met him in the early spring. Had it only been about four months since this madness started? She strolled the pathway around the garden. Suddenly there is movement, she freezes. Calling out, ‘Grandfather.’

  The bushes rustle, and a familiar form can be seen. Devlon. She sighs. ‘I’m not up for any shenanigans tonight Devlon. Go away.’

  ‘You brought me here. Again.’

  Throwing her hands in the air, ‘Unbelievable. I. Did. No. Such. Thing. I’m here to find my grandfather. How does that equate to you?’

  With a shrug, ‘I just know you disturbed a great dream on an island. One moment I’m standing in the water, the next I’m pulled here. See…’ he pointed to his shorts, ‘they’re still wet.’

  Elizabeth looked him over. He wasn’t in his regular clothes and he was still wet. Her face scrunched as she tried to determine how it was she was calling him if she didn’t know she was. It had to be some kind of trick.

  She wasn’t sure how this was happening, but she didn’t want to believe it was her. Devlon stepped forward, as he moved closer his clothing changed to casual attire. Dark blue jeans, a white button-down shirt, and dockers was what he had conjured up. ‘Want to sit on the bench or take a walk around the garden, since I’m here.’

  ‘I guess a walk would be fine. What is going on Devlon? Why do you keep showing up when I know I’m not calling you?’

  He shook his head, he was as confused as her. ‘Maybe when you took my hand the night after the battle it gave us a connection?’ I instinctively reach for my pendant. It gives hope, makes me feel as if I will be ok. ‘What’s that? Sorina’s pendant?’ He pointed to the amulet.

  I stop rubbing the amulet and look down, then back to him, ‘Yeah, why?’

  He smiled then pulled from under his shirt a similar amulet. ‘This belonged to Petre. They are a match. They call to each other. This would explain a lot. Just before the dream that started all this, I was given this amulet from Edom. He said it was meant for me.’

  Sitting straight up in her bed panting again, Elizabeth looked around with a bit of confusion. She had to clear her head, had to figure this out. What does it mean that Devlon and her have the two amulets that were a part of their beginnings? The amulets that held the powers of those before them. The two that were meant to be together.

  Rolling out of bed, crawling on all fours she recovers the phone from under the bed. Sitting up she leans on the bed; her head drops back against her covers and she closes her eyes. Elizabeth can feel the darkness trying to escape her. Every minute of every day she feels her powers trying to explode and Elizabeth does all she can to control them. In her weak moments, she considers letting her powers loose to go wild. Her thoughts are usually reeled back in by the fear of what she can do and how it feels for her, exhilarating. Were Petre and Sorina so dark that their talismans carried their powers over the centuries to those who hold it now? Or were they that powerful? Maybe because they were the first of their kind, the beginning of all of this? Wesley was her anchor. They had spent so much time working on control and their connection was essential for her, now that was gone.

  Devlon appeared ready and willing even when she doesn�
��t call to him. Her heart begins to race, he can’t be the one to be there for her. She doesn’t want that, does she? Elizabeth jumps up changing into some jeans and a tee and heads downstairs. She needs distractions and sleep isn’t it.

  “Good morning,” her Aunt Reba greets her as she rounds the corner of the kitchen.

  Elizabeth smiles, “I should’ve known you’d be up too.” Heading to the coffee pot, her aunt pulls out a mug, handing it to her. Elizabeth adds sugar and cream and pours a cup of hot, delicious sanity. Seeing the newspaper on the island counter, Elizabeth grabs it and heads to the table. Folding her legs under her as she sits and flips through the paper something catches her attention and she turns back. Local college opens up new wing and library. Reading the article and finding that the new library is three stories high and the new wing is to house twenty new classrooms her mind swirls with ideas and even a few hopes. She continues to read and discovers the library will accommodate many specialty sections of various countries, to include Romanian history.

  “Thinking of going still?” Elizabeth started as she hadn’t even noticed her aunt had joined her at the table.

  “Maybe,” Elizabeth replies casually, “I have to control these dreams first. Seems like they aren’t only bothering me.” She raises a brow towards her and her aunt replies only with a small shrug. “I know you hear them. I think maybe I need some time alone to get control over it again.”

  She swallowed hard, “Elizabeth,” she placed a loving and compassionate hand over the young woman’s, “I know you are struggling. I know you haven’t heard from Wesley, even if you don’t talk about it,” she tapped her temple letting her niece know her thoughts aren’t secure. “Devlon is dangerous, be careful. I just don’t want you to end up like your mom and have a life mate you end up running from.”