Daylight's Release- May 20, 2013

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Daylight's release date is May 20, 2013!!!!

Daylight Chapter 3 - A Treat for being so patient

And the moment you've all been waiting for... A special treat just for you! 

Chapter 3 

That familiar feeling rustled within me and I sat up, gasping. A fierce chill ran over me and my breaths grew heavy. I pulled my legs to my chest wrapping my arms around them.

“Hey, it’s all right, Cheyenne,” Daniel croaked as he appeared at my side. “You fell asleep on the couch.”

I was still in the living room. Footsteps approached from the hall and I turned. Callon paused, glancing at Daniel. Callon gave a slow nod and moved closer.

“Did you have a bad dream?” he asked.

I looked away. What had happened? Last I remembered I was sitting with Callon and Daniel and then began having memories of Colt…somehow I fell asleep with no dreams till now. But wait, it wasn’t a dream, it was a feeling. It was that unknown something inside me wanting to wake again.

“Sweetheart, you have to tell me so I can help,” Callon cooed softly. His hand rested on my forearm.

Tell him what? I didn’t know how to explain it. This wild presence inside me wanted its release again like on the mountainside.

“Cheyenne, look at me.” He lifted my chin and forced my eyes to meet his. “It’s okay. But I can’t help unless you speak.”

Daniel shifted uncomfortably.

“I’m fine,” I whispered.

“You’re shaking, Cheyenne,” Daniel said, his voice quivering. “I—I just want to help.”

“I know.”

“Time will heal all wounds, Cheyenne, you just need time,” Callon said.

I shook my head. Time would never heal this wound; it would only make it bearable.

I looked beyond Callon’s shoulder and watched the morning light stream through the terrace doors. Sunlight was what I needed. “I want to go outside.”

“Let’s go.” Callon stood, extending his arm.

I followed him and quickly made it to the terrace. The morning air was crisp and clean and I inhaled deeply.

“Over here,” Daniel chirped and I went to the chaise he’d moved closer.

As the red and coppery lights began to grow, I stared out at the lake, watching the mist retreat from the dark surface, dancing its way back into the forest. It would stay in the background waiting for night again, not unlike what was inside me. Always lurking, waiting…

The sun lingered across the treetops and the streaks of light now glistened off the water. Warmth finally touched my cheeks and I closed my eyes. A peace began to flow over me and I realized Daniel had moved closer as well.

I was back—here if only for the moment—if only for the day.

“I’m going to be all right,” I murmured.

Callon squeezed my hand as I continued to soak in my light.

“You want to tour the place?” Daniel piped up. “You only saw a small bit yesterday.” There was still that uncertainty as he brushed the hair from his eyes.

“I just don’t want to overwhelm you.” He pushed his hands into his pockets.

I smiled.

“I’d love to.”

The playful grin that I loved about Daniel emerged if only for a moment allowing me to glimpse a small bit of happiness. Quickly he pushed it back down and replaced it with worry.

“How about we start from the beginning?” Callon asked.

I nodded and headed after them into the house. We passed through the main sitting room, connecting to the long gallery, and then out the enormous entry doors. I didn’t bother to look back as we strolled down the large stone porch with a fountain circling it. We stopped, but the long gravel drive continued on, disappearing into the lush trees.

“Turn around,” Daniel said.

I did as he asked and was shocked at the sheer size of the home.

“Welcome to the O’Shea Estate,” Callon said.

“It’s a bit overwhelming,” I muttered. I couldn’t remove my gaze from the gray stone. It wasn’t anything I could have imagined. Acres of green fields flanked both sides, before they disappeared into the forest beyond. “So it belongs to all of you?”

“It belongs to me,” Callon replied. “To you and me now.”

I looked down at the gravel beneath my feet…you and me. Not Colt, Daniel and himself, but he and I. I swallowed, and pushed back the tears that wanted to flow. There would never be anything belonging to Colt again.

“Cheyenne?” Daniel jumped closer.

I faintly smiled, trying to give them some optimism. I should focus on the estate. I needed a distraction and this would serve well.

The stone terrace we’d passed over earlier ran around the entire front of the house. Small seating areas and stone benches littered it. To the left were large windows that opened up to the main sitting area inside; to my right lay a second story.

As we moved over the gravel drive, I took into account the details of the landscape. Every bush had been hand-trimmed and the grasses were manicured with the most precise detail. Even the flowerbeds were spectacular. How many workers oversaw these?

“I’m very particular,” Callon added, as if he knew what I was thinking.

I lifted a brow. “I’d have never known.”

A small smile emerged as he reached for my hand.

“You have no idea,” Daniel said.

“Come on,” Callon said.

We headed back to the main entrance and I couldn’t help but wonder how or where the black entry doors came from. I felt so slight and small standing before them. They had to be at least ten feet tall.

I followed Callon inside, and my gaze fell upon the hallway. It was filled with beautiful tiles that I’d not seen earlier.

“They’re from a local quarry,” Callon explained. “It’s called Connemara marble.”

“It’s stunning.” I said. The lighter and darker shades of brown blended together seamlessly. If was if an artist had meticulously perfected each one with a fine brush.

My eyes took in the stairs. The handrails, spindles, and stairs were made of the same material with a red oriental carpet runner trailing down the center.

Daniel suddenly appeared to my right and I caught sight of another room with glass doors and bookcases. A library.

He pointed to the top of the stairs and I followed Callon up. A small bench sat below a scenic oil painting. I paused, studying it. Somehow it was oddly familiar.

“It’s the lake you can see off the terrace,” Callon said. “We used to swim in it in our younger days.” He remained still, as if lost in some far off memory. I watched as his jaw tightened and brow furrowed before he looked away and faintly smiled. “It was always cold, but we didn’t seem to mind.”

Guilty I’d brought up a painful memory, I pointed down the hall. It was my turn to distract him. “How many rooms?”

“Fifteen bedrooms.”

My eyes widened. I’d never been in a home with fifteen bedrooms; never been in one with more than four. But this was a manor, not a home. And it was ours now.

“How big was your family again?” He’d told me at one time, but I just couldn’t remember clearly.

“Big.” Another smile perched on his lips, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“And how many wives did your father have?”

“Too many,” Daniel chimed in.

I hesitated for a moment. “He wasn’t married to them all at once, was he?”

“No,” Callon replied.

“So what happened to them?”

“Some died by accident, childbirth or acts of war.”

“Childbirth and accidents?” I was about to add more, but thought better as the too fresh memory of Colt’s death rose to the surface. It was a fact, Timeless could die.

Sympathy crossed over Callon’s face and he squeezed my hand.

I sighed, dreading my next question.

“How many wives do you have, Callon?”

Daniel fiddled with his hands and looked down the hall. Callon was staring at the painting when he finally answered.

“None.”

I swallowed. Once again he was hiding the truth from me, but why? If I were to marry him, why did he continue to keep secrets? Didn’t he know this built a barrier between us?

“Do you know which room you’re in?” Daniel jumped to my side acting as a mediator.

I glanced back down the hall and realized I hadn’t a clue. I could get lost in this place. “No.”

“This way.” Daniel pointed and I followed.

I counted the doors so I’d know in the future. They all looked the same to me. We stopped and I watched as Daniel slipped a pink tassel on the crystal handle. He smiled.

“There. This way you won’t forget.”

My chest tightened. This was my Daniel, always looking out for me. I leaned forward and drew him into a hug.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

“I’d do anything for you, Chey. All you need do is ask.”

“Hmph, how pathetic.” A low French accent growled in the hall.

Maes.

“What’s it to you?” I stared down the jade-eyed monster before me.

Moments passed with no reply, but I noted that Callon exchanged a dark glance with Maes.

“So you’ve seen the estate,” Maes stated. “It’s about time you came out of that room.”

My entire body began to tighten. Irritation flaring and that thing splayed too near the surface. It was if I was ready to do battle, my anger suddenly growing at the hand that I’d been dealt. My fingers balled into fists, but before I could act, the hall vanished and I was back downstairs.

“You don’t need to deal with him right now,” Daniel said softly. He whisked me into the kitchen and pulled out a stool for me. “Here, have a seat and I’ll make you a sandwich since you didn’t eat last night.”

He opened the fridge door and began gathering his supplies. I watched, letting the rage fade away and taking deep breaths. As much as Daniel sympathized, he couldn’t understand what I was dealing with. None of them could.

I was adrift in a dark stormy sea with nothing to cling to. My light, my hope had all been crushed. Everything I’d ever loved had been dragged away from me and pushed below the raging waters never to be seen again.

“Ham and cheese?”

Briefly broken from my thoughts, I nodded.

The only resolution in sight was Marcus’s death. That would mean this dark force inside me would have to be freed, but how could I even think of such a thing? I’d almost killed everyone by allowing it out the first time. I pressed my shaking hand to my forehead, brushing my hair aside.

A plate slid before me. My hands curled in my lap as I stared at it.

“I promise I didn’t poison it,” Daniel forced out a chuckle.

“I know.” I picked up the sandwich and ate half before I couldn’t stomach anymore.

He packed up the sandwich and placed it in the fridge. “I’ll save it for you in case you get hungry later.” Hopeful eyes met mine. “I know I sound like Callon, but you’ve really lost too much weight, Chey.”

I stared down at my hands. I knew I’d lost weight, but I really didn’t care. Food had no taste anymore, nothing had flavor.

“I’ll try and eat more,” I said.

Daniel remained quiet for a few moments.

“We have a surprise for you.” He waved me towards the door. “Come on, you’ll like this.”

I remained still. What was he up to?

He turned back, waiting for me.

I sighed and followed him out the kitchen and out onto the terrace. Irritated voices instantly rose, one French and another more familiar that I hadn’t heard for a long time.

“Cheyenne!” Lilly cried out. She hurried up the terrace stairs and wrapped me in her arms. “Sweetheart, we’re here now, it’s all going to be better now.”

My heart pounded against my chest. Dex and Lilly were here! But what had Callon told them?

Lilly’s black hair pressed against my cheek. “We’re so sorry.”

I began to shake, trembling from head to toe. The feelings I’d pushed away all came flooding back at once. Memories of Colt flashed before my eyes. Our last day together in the cave where he showed me the stones, before I found out I was betrothed to Callon.

I fought to inhale, but the air wouldn’t fill my lungs.

“Shh,” Dex whispered as his arms encased us further. “We’re here to help, Cheyenne.”

“He’s gone,” I muttered. “Colt’s gone.”

“We know,” Dex replied.

“We’re here now,” Lilly repeated, her tears mingling with mine. “I wish I could change things for you. I wish you didn’t have to suffer as much as you have.” Her voice shook. “It’s going to be okay. You’re not alone, Cheyenne, you’ve never been alone.”

We remained in a silent embrace for what seemed like an eternity before Dex and Lilly drew apart. I kept my head lowered as Callon pulled me beside him, his hand rubbing my back.

“It’s been a bit rough around here,” Callon said softly. “But Cheyenne’s strong, she’ll pull through.”

“Suffer?” Maes muttered under his breath, “She knows nothing of suffering.”

“Maes!” Callon jerked away from me. “Enough!”

Jade-rimmed eyes met mine, cold, dark and unemotional. The dog had no heart after all.

“Come on.” Lilly locked her arm around and pulled me towards the field. “Let’s go for a walk.”

Lilly led us down a grass path, leaving the rumbling voices behind. The sound of horses whinnying in the distance caught my attention.

“I’ve missed you greatly, Cheyenne,” Lilly said. “I—I wish Dex and I could have been the ones to raise you…”

My throat grew tight and I kept my eyes forward. “If you’d been my guardians then chances are you wouldn’t be here right now,” I replied.

She sighed. “It’s just that you would have known us, we would have told you the truth, and you wouldn’t have closed yourself off so much.”

I didn’t reply. Chances are they would’ve hidden things from me as well, especially if it had been my parent’s wishes. There was also a reason why I’d closed myself off. No connection, then no pain when they departed. Colt had been the only one to break down that barrier and now he was gone too. Proving I’d been right all along.

Lilly stopped and turned towards me.

“Don’t lock us out, Cheyenne. Callon told us what’s been going on.” Her shaking hand brushed her black locks behind her ear and our eyes met. “I wanted to come the moment we found out, but Callon held us back. He didn’t want to push you farther over the edge than you already were.” Her blue eyes softened. “I want to help, I want to be the one you confide in. I want to love and nurture you…”

“You want to take the place of my mother,” I finished her sentence.

“I want to love you as your mother, Sahara, would have wanted me to.” Her shoulders sagged forward as her gaze moved to the grasses. “Your mother and I become close in her final years, and yet she never told me about you. I know why now.” Tears began to stream down her cheeks. “It’s because she wanted me here for you now. She knew her life was coming to a close and she was ensuring you were taken care of.”

I stared at the fragile woman before me. She was bearing her heart to me, opening it up if I’d just accept. Was this truly what my mother would have wanted? I just couldn’t accept any more misery in my life if something were to happen to Lilly or anyone else.

“I know,” I whispered. I reached out and touched her hand, squeezing it.

A tear-stained smile rose on her lips.

The fenced pasture ahead caught my eye. Two black stallions were working as a distraction. We stopped at the fence and watched them run and prance until they neared. I stood up on the rail.

They were tall, at least eighteen hands each. Their black coats shimmered in the sunlight giving off a bluish tint. I studied them as they gave wild snorts. They were almost identical. The only distinguishing difference between them was that one had a notch missing in his ear.

I reached out to them with my mind, cooing and calming them until they became still. I stretched my hand out and the notched eared beauty moved closer, nudging my hand across his snout. His black eyes met mine in understanding. The other moved closer, his head hovering near my cheek. A gentle nod caused his snout to brush my cheek and then he moved away. Both, however, remained immobile just a few steps away from me.

“I knew you had this gift, Cheyenne,” Lilly said softly. “I could see it even before your transformation.”

I stepped down and looked around at the vast estate around us.

“You can talk with them, right?” She asked.

I nodded.

“Can they communicate with you?”

“No, it’s just one sided.”

“I used to be able to talk with animals…” Lilly trailed off.

I stopped in my tracks. “Used to?”

She smiled. “Yes.”

“What happened?”

Before she could answer, a voice spoke.

“Enjoying your walk, ladies?” Callon asked. I jumped, releasing a small squeak. Where’d he come from?

Lilly smiled. “Yes, I thought it would be nice for the two of us to have some girl time.”

Callon’s smile brightened and for the first time in a long time it seemed to reach his eyes. “I think that would be the best thing for Cheyenne right now,” he replied.

I turned my attention back to the matter at hand. “Lilly, you said used to.”

She smiled and then glanced at Callon, but no reply came.

I was so over this non-disclosure. I turned on Callon, brows puckering, shoulders tensing when suddenly it all faded away. I stared at the man whose face had softened and weary eyes pleaded. He reached out and took my hands in his as Lilly departed.

“I promise not to hold back on you, Cheyenne, but I’ve just barely gotten you back. I’ll not allow anything or anyone to push you to those dark depths.”

“But I just want to know…”

“And you will, but I need you whole again before the weight of all that you bear comes crashing down on you. I was wrong in holding back earlier, but you have to believe me it was always for your protection.” He moved closer, lifting his hand to tilt my chin up. “First I want to see those bright blue eyes of yours once more. Not the gray clouded haziness that’s been there. I want the Cheyenne that I came to love and adore before all of this started. I want to see you smile, I want to hear your laughter. I want to feel the love I know you still have inside of you.”

Soft, warm, supple lips touched mine. A swarm of butterflies erupted in my stomach and my lids lowered.

“I want you to be surrounded with love and support, the love of your family, of those that care about you more than caring about what you will become.” His sultry breath blew across my cheek. “You told me that you wanted to start over, love, well I’m asking the same for me. I want to start over; I want to hold nothing back. I want to love you with my whole heart, and I want to protect it from ever being broken again.”

A tender caress brushed the corner of my mouth and my breathing hitched.

“I love you, Cheyenne, and I intend on loving you for the rest of my life,” he whispered.

A cool wind swirled around us and I shivered from the chill.

He pulled me into a hug, his strong arms surrounding me. Strength was what I needed right now, I was weak. Too many failures encircled me, too many that I could never take back.

“Come on.” He kissed my forehead. “Let’s get back before your goosebumps get any bigger.”

I nodded and walked beside him.

“You see the lake?” he asked.

My eyes followed the shoreline as it disappeared into the tree-lined hills.

“It looks pretty big.”

He smiled. “It is.” He turned us and pointed out towards the estate. “You see all this land to the left and right of the estate?”

“Yes.”

“That’s all ours.”

“Looks like a lot of work.”

He chuckled. “It is.”

“Who takes care of it?” I asked. “Since obviously you don’t live here all the time.”

“It’s been in my family for many generations. We have an arrangement with the Campbell family who maintain it for us.”

“So they’re human?”

“Yes.”

“But wouldn’t they know you and your family are different?”

“Yes, but they took an oath.”

“An oath?”

“Yes, an oath to serve and preserve our lands and protect our names.”

I stopped.

“What do they get in return?”

“Protection.”

Okay, but still.

“They’ve never once let out that you were different?”

He faintly smiled. “No. It’s different over here. Families serve for generations upon generations. They knew the oath they were taking, and knew the consequences if it were ever broken.”

I raised a brow. “What would be the consequences?”

Callon looked away. “Death.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes.”

I hesitated. “So—so you’d follow through on this if the oath was broken?”

“Of course.”

Here was another side of Callon I’d not seen before. Somehow I knew it was there, but maybe it was because I’d chosen to ignore it. It made sense. Callon was a leader. He was one to follow all the rules—always.

“Come on.” He pulled me along.

We continued meandering through the field, stopping to pick wildflowers before we made it back to the terrace.

“Here, let me put those in water for you,” Callon said. “I’ll be back soon.”

He disappeared through the doors and I sat on a chaise, staring out into the horizon watching a lone crow fly overhead.

I’d made it another day.

“Cheyenne,” Maes rumbled.

My breath caught and I scrambled back onto the chaise.

“Quit sneaking up on me!” I snapped, glaring at him.

A small smirk rose on his lips. Before I could retort again, the crow cawed. I turned, watching small sparrows chasing it away.

“Did you know,” Maes said, “that in Irish mythology, crows are associated with Morrigan, the goddess of war and death.”

I stared at him blankly for a few moments. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He sat in a chair across from me.

“The Morrigan was the goddess of battle. She’d sometimes appear in the form of a crow and fly above the warriors. Her purpose was not to attack, but to render the warriors helpless at the right moment.”

My eyes narrowed.

“Are you trying to scare or warn me?”

“That is entirely up to you, mon espoir.”

Great, now he was back to calling me his hope.

“Don’t call me that, Maes.”

“More are coming.”

“What?” I grew rigid. “Who’s coming?”

“Koda, Nakari, Clayton and Skylar.”

My stomach began to roll with nausea. Dex and Lilly were here, that was all I needed. Why bring others I didn’t know?

And why Koda…

“Maes!” Callon snapped. “Get in here!”

Maes smirked to himself, before he departed towards the terrace doors. But my anger was now directed at a new target.

    What did Callon think he was doing to me?

A Snippet of Daylight...

I just wanted to give you all proof that I've been working on Daylight, and of course wanted to share with you some of the awesomeness that is to come...and well, I begged Sam and she said I could allow you to read this without giving away too much. *happy dance* 

So, without further ado... Your snippet of Daylight. 

Right, don't scream too loud or pee your pants. 

Daylight Snippet

“Cheyenne,” Callon commanded, “don’t run away from me!”

The crimson-eyed beast roared as I brought my fingers together. I narrowed my eyes, allowing the power to build in my chest.

“Get off me,” I said between clenched teeth.

“No! You need to listen to me…”

The beast burst forth and Callon was thrown to the side. The wind began to howl, building and building around me.

“Cheyenne, stop!” Nakari cried. She jumped to Callon’s side. Go ahead and run to him Nakari—have him! No more! I conjured up more air, watching the trees bend almost to breaking point. She’d provoked this, she could deal with the consequences!

Suddenly something struck me in the side, and the wind escaped my fingertips. I hit the ground, mud splashing into my face, and gasped. I tried to move, but found a massive paw on my chest. Maes had pounced, breaking my concentration. His jade-rimmed eyes were hard. Slowly he backed off, returning to his human form. I stood, shaking, while Nakari helped Callon to his feet.

Tears poured down my cheeks. What had I ever done to be forced to endure such heartache and pain? I’d never asked for any of this! All I’d ever wanted was to live a normal life, and be with the one I loved. Not to constantly be angry and want to destroy. This wasn’t me!

“Cheyenne!” Maes growled. “What the…”

His words were cut short as I raced past. I couldn’t stay here. Callon was right; I was still out of control. I turned back to see if he was following when a bolt of electricity shot from thin air. It tore through my limbs and I was thrown back. I collided with Maes’s chest, and we tumbled down a small ravine, landing in a creek. My cheek lay in a pile of cold mud and Maes lifted his head. A groan escaped his lips.

“You found the enchantment.”

My head spinning, I looked up. Flickering iridescent lights were gliding across the ridge, like fireflies.

Footsteps neared, and I caught familiar breathing. Callon had come.

“Cheyenne, please, just listen! I can explain…”

I didn’t wait for him to finish. I brushed Maes’s hand, seizing his power. A moment later I shifted, becoming a Tresez. Almost at once my head felt like it was going to explode.

“No!” Maes shouted.

I stumbled to my feet, the forest whirling before me. Patches of gray, black and red drifted past. It looked like another world. I opened my mouth to speak, but only a low whine came forth. Bile rose in my throat and my legs gave out. My head hit the ground and I began panting.

“Shift back, now!” Maes pulled my head up. “You shouldn’t have done that!”

A red aura glowed around his chest, while the rest of his body was shrouded in dark shadows. I turned to see Nakari and Callon had the same aura. Maes had heat vision.

My panting slowed as the dizziness subsided. Power, raw unleashed power trickled through my veins. It was different than what the crimson-eyed beast provided. This was pure animal strength, mightier than even Brogan’s.

I leapt to my feet, releasing a roar, and focused on Callon. He pushed Nakari behind him, and I opened my jaws. There’d be no summoning of the wind, only razor sharp teeth to leave a lasting impression.

Maes stormed in front of Callon. Pure rage radiated as his aura grew brighter.

“If you don’t change back now, I won’t hold back,” he threatened. I blinked. I’d never seen him so mad before, not even when I’d been moping around in the manor. I’d pushed him too far, but no farther than they’d pushed me.

I took a step back, my legs tightening, when I sprang forward. I cleared their heads and sprinted into the dense trees. Running was the safest option right now. If I didn’t leave, I’d do something I’d regret. I needed to control this rage.

My new instincts filled every pore, and I let them lead me back to the estate. Nightfall was coming. I didn’t have to play this stupid game anymore, didn’t have to deal with Callon’s lies. Besides, I’d proven myself worthy. I’d evaded them all, and hadn’t let the beast get the better of me. It had been close, though. I still had a way to go.

Of course there would still be payment for Callon’s actions, but it would come from me, not the beast.

I jerked to a stop. A powerful scent had reached my nostrils. It was familiar. I lowered my head, following the trail. So this is what it was like to be Maes. The slightest change in the air and I could taste the difference on my tongue.

My ears perked up. Rustling in the bush ahead caught my attention. I crept closer, watching for any sign of life. Something prickled across my back; my old Tresez nail wound.

Oh no!

Suddenly a small red glow began to emerge. A tiny drumbeat echoed in my ear. No, not a drumbeat, a heartbeat. I slid closer to investigate, when a rabbit bolted from the brush and took off into the forest. So that’s what rabbit smelt like for a dog…

Be careful you fool!

I snapped my head around. Who said that?

I caught a scent mixed with hers. She’s not alone.

Huh? Who was talking? Where were they? I crouched lower, my eyes searching the forest shadows. My nostrils flared, it was the previous scent again. Not rabbit.

Circle to the right, we have the advantage in the dark. Conall will have our heads if we come back empty handed.

Either way we’re doomed. If we meet up with Maes…

Tresez! I had to warn the others! Wait…I was a Tresez! I had Maes strength, I could dispose of these dogs myself.

If you want me, come and get me! I screamed in my thoughts.

Glowing eyes met mine and I felt the hair rise on the back of my neck. A low rumble grew from within as I began circling the filth in front of me.

Maes?

I leapt, landing on its back and sinking my teeth into its thick fur. A moan rumbled against my lips as the creature began snarling. I shook my head, the smaller Tresez flopping around like a rag dog until I lost my hold and it broke free.

I was hit from the side, causing me to stumble when I caught sight of more glowing eyes moving through the forest. There were more than just two. I began moving back. I could take on one or two, but an army?

Well, what do we have here? Maes out on a patrol? one growled.