Clarity: A Young Adult Paranormal Vampire Romance (Blood Haze Book 4) by Tara Shuler Page B
Authors: Tara Shuler
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crystal.
The hum of the crystal still echoed within me, and it mounted now. It became a dull ache – an emptiness that craved filling. I slipped quietly out of bed and padded across the floor, turning the doorknob carefully and leaving the sleeping Alexi behind.
The halls of the compound were eerily s ilent as I headed down to the crystal room. The hum within me deepened as I approached the door. The knob turned easily as the incantation melted away, and I slipped inside the room and approached the crystal.
Something about the crystal had captured me, b ut I didn’t feel that was a bad thing. When I’d practiced dark magic, I could feel the darkness inside me and it was an uncomfortable feeling. I could sense the evil. This was different. This was a feeling of warmth and security.
My palm flattened against the cool surface of the crystal, and my eyes closed instinctively. It was as if I were in the room with my eyes open, although I was not. From within the darkness, I heard the unmistakable hiss of a wraith nearby, and my heart began to pound erratically. A lump formed in my throat. The compound residents were all asleep, and I had no one I could call for help.
Do not be afraid.
It was not a voice or even a whisper. It was a feeling. I could see the words forming within my mind, and yet there was no voice attached.
From within the shadows, a dark formless mass emerged. It approached me and stopped at a safe distance as if to ensure I was not alarmed.
You are Alice.
“Yes,” I answered. “Who are you?”
I have long since forgotten my corporeal form, and my name is irrelevant even if I could remember it. I am naught but a slave to my master’s bidding.
“What do you want?” I asked.
We wish you to know that we mean you no harm. We are under the control of our master, and we wish you to free us. His hold on us is too powerful for us to break on our own.
“Free you? How can I do that?”
When our master is weakened, only then can we be free. We can return to the abyss from whence we came and we will be free of his control.
“How did you get here?”
I know not. I only know that I was summoned here.
“Did I summon you?”
I know not. I only know that I was summoned here.
“How can I weaken Dmitri enough to free you?”
I know not. You must discover the key. Once our master is weakened, his hold over us will be broken and we will be free. I must go. My master beckons.
“Will I see you again?”
Perhaps. Find the key. Release the hold and free us. Goodbye, Alice.
My hand pulled naturally away from the crystal with a sound that reminded me vaguely of the breaking of suction, and I stumbled b ackward into arms.
“Alexi!” I gasped.
“What are you doing in here?” he asked, helping me regain my balance.
“The crystal called me,” I answered.
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s hard to explain. I just felt it. I think it called me here to meet the wraith,” I told him.
“A wraith was here? How did a wraith even get in here?” Alexi demanded.
“I’m not sure if it was really here or if I just connected with it telepathically. But I think I may have summoned it,” I said.
“You did what?” he nearly shouted. “Alice, what were you thinking?”
“Alexi, don’t shout at me!” I suddenly snapped at him. “I’m tired of you treating me like I’m a child! I’m not your daughter, I’m your wife, and you will treat me as such from now on!”
Alexi’s face was taut with distress as he stared at me with his mouth agape for several moments. Then his expression softened and his body relaxed slightly. He nodded.
“You’re right, darling,” he said softly. “I have been treating you like a child. It has only been my desire to protect you, but perhaps you are stronger than I give you credit for. I must apologize.”
“Now, would you like to hear about the wraith?” I asked him.
“Yes, darling, tell us,” Alexi said.
“I spoke with it… well… in a manner of
The hum of the crystal still echoed within me, and it mounted now. It became a dull ache – an emptiness that craved filling. I slipped quietly out of bed and padded across the floor, turning the doorknob carefully and leaving the sleeping Alexi behind.
The halls of the compound were eerily s ilent as I headed down to the crystal room. The hum within me deepened as I approached the door. The knob turned easily as the incantation melted away, and I slipped inside the room and approached the crystal.
Something about the crystal had captured me, b ut I didn’t feel that was a bad thing. When I’d practiced dark magic, I could feel the darkness inside me and it was an uncomfortable feeling. I could sense the evil. This was different. This was a feeling of warmth and security.
My palm flattened against the cool surface of the crystal, and my eyes closed instinctively. It was as if I were in the room with my eyes open, although I was not. From within the darkness, I heard the unmistakable hiss of a wraith nearby, and my heart began to pound erratically. A lump formed in my throat. The compound residents were all asleep, and I had no one I could call for help.
Do not be afraid.
It was not a voice or even a whisper. It was a feeling. I could see the words forming within my mind, and yet there was no voice attached.
From within the shadows, a dark formless mass emerged. It approached me and stopped at a safe distance as if to ensure I was not alarmed.
You are Alice.
“Yes,” I answered. “Who are you?”
I have long since forgotten my corporeal form, and my name is irrelevant even if I could remember it. I am naught but a slave to my master’s bidding.
“What do you want?” I asked.
We wish you to know that we mean you no harm. We are under the control of our master, and we wish you to free us. His hold on us is too powerful for us to break on our own.
“Free you? How can I do that?”
When our master is weakened, only then can we be free. We can return to the abyss from whence we came and we will be free of his control.
“How did you get here?”
I know not. I only know that I was summoned here.
“Did I summon you?”
I know not. I only know that I was summoned here.
“How can I weaken Dmitri enough to free you?”
I know not. You must discover the key. Once our master is weakened, his hold over us will be broken and we will be free. I must go. My master beckons.
“Will I see you again?”
Perhaps. Find the key. Release the hold and free us. Goodbye, Alice.
My hand pulled naturally away from the crystal with a sound that reminded me vaguely of the breaking of suction, and I stumbled b ackward into arms.
“Alexi!” I gasped.
“What are you doing in here?” he asked, helping me regain my balance.
“The crystal called me,” I answered.
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s hard to explain. I just felt it. I think it called me here to meet the wraith,” I told him.
“A wraith was here? How did a wraith even get in here?” Alexi demanded.
“I’m not sure if it was really here or if I just connected with it telepathically. But I think I may have summoned it,” I said.
“You did what?” he nearly shouted. “Alice, what were you thinking?”
“Alexi, don’t shout at me!” I suddenly snapped at him. “I’m tired of you treating me like I’m a child! I’m not your daughter, I’m your wife, and you will treat me as such from now on!”
Alexi’s face was taut with distress as he stared at me with his mouth agape for several moments. Then his expression softened and his body relaxed slightly. He nodded.
“You’re right, darling,” he said softly. “I have been treating you like a child. It has only been my desire to protect you, but perhaps you are stronger than I give you credit for. I must apologize.”
“Now, would you like to hear about the wraith?” I asked him.
“Yes, darling, tell us,” Alexi said.
“I spoke with it… well… in a manner of
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