The Childe (The Childe Series, #1)

  “The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?”

  -Edgar Allan Poe-

  For our family and friends.

  Your love, encouragement, and faith in us have helped make our dreams a reality.

  Words alone cannot express the thanks we owe you.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  © Copyright 2011 by Carol Kunz and Adam Kunz (C.A. Kunz). All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Published 2011. Manufactured in the United States.

  Second Printing

  ISBN-13: 978-0615435749 (pbk)

  ISBN-10: 0615435742 (pbk)

  E-Book ISBN: 978-1-61397-069-0

  C.A. Kunz, LLC

  Orlando, Florida

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Prologue: A Vision in Black

  1 - Red Freak

  2 - First Day

  3 - Miss Amaya, BFFs, Etc.

  4 - The Carnival

  5 - The Big Game

  6 - The Purple Door

  7 - Homecoming Dance

  8 - The Tutor

  9 - Masquerade

  10 - All Hallows Eve

  11 - Swim Meet

  12 - Winter Solstice

  13 - Sweet Sixteen

  14 - Hard To Swallow

  15 - Troubled Waters

  16 - Spring Fling

  17 - Movie Premiere

  18 - Something’s Wrong

  Epilogue: What Can’t Be Undone

  About the Authors

  Paranormal Plumes

  ------------ Acknowledgements ------------

  First and foremost, we would like to thank Amanda Lynch and Charlie Steffy for being terrific friends, faithful readers, and much-needed critics. We are truly grateful for all of your assistance and for loving this book from the start.

  Very special thanks to Robert Kunz and Stephanie Kunz for providing the wonderful illustrations for this book. You are both very talented and we are proud and honored to display your art within our art. Also, thank you both for your creative advice, support, and un-biased opinions regarding our story.

  Thanks should also go to Lisa Surphlis for designing a brilliant cover for our book, you’re simply amazing!

  Thanks to you for reading our book. By performing this simple act you are helping us make a lifelong dream come true and you have no idea how much you mean to us (or Cat). Finally, we cannot forget all of our wonderful friends-you know who you are. All of your support and wonderful words of encouragement have kept us always moving forward, and for this we are eternally grateful.

  Prologue

  A Vision in Black

  “Enough!” Lisbeth shrieked, and then slammed her hands down on the heavy oak table. Twelve sets of startled eyes stared as she rose from her seat. Rage was marring her usually pale and beautiful face.

  “I shall not stand by and listen to you discuss this matter, pretending this is even an option! You shall not have my vote on this,” she said crossly while glaring at everyone in attendance.

  Lisbeth violently pushed back her chair, stormed over to the two large wooden doors at the other end of the room, and shut them angrily behind her as she left.

  The arched white marble corridor, just outside the main hall echoed with Lisbeth’s footsteps as she hastily made her way to the castle’s observatory, the only place she could find solace. The sheer curtains, which framed the windows lining one side of the corridor, were billowing in the wind. As lightning flashed, it cast an eerie glow on the somber portraits that hung on the walls. The eyes of past and present Parliament members seemed to follow Lisbeth as she passed by. She stopped abruptly and glared at the portrait of her brother.

  “You brought this on yourself, Lucien. Damn you for turning your back on the Parliament and abandoning me!” Lisbeth yelled while clenching her fists and digging her nails into her palms. Through her anger she felt a hint of sadness, but it was quickly dismissed.

  A sliver of light down the hall drew Lisbeth’s attention. She noticed the doors to the observatory were opened slightly. Lisbeth burst through them and spied a servant shuffling around the room.

  “What are you doing in here?” she demanded.

  “Oh, sorry mistress, I swear I did not suspect anyone would be coming in for the remainder of the night,” the servant pleaded.

  “Please leave before I unleash my temper on you! And if you still wish to be turned, I suggest you listen!” she bellowed while pointing at the door.

  “Sorry mistress, very well,” he stuttered, rushing past her out of the room, closing the door gently behind him.

  Entering the glass enclosed balcony located at the back of the observatory, Lisbeth sighed as she looked down upon the tiny Romanian village below. Rain trickled down the panes of glass. A vicious bolt of lightning streaked through the dark clouds that loomed overhead. Another bolt of lightning struck a tree, causing it to burst into flames. She smiled, delighted by the display before her. Her joy was short-lived as the sudden torrential downpour quickly extinguished the fiery scene. Thunder rumbled through the balcony. It sounded like a train entering a station. Lisbeth laughed wickedly. “Yes, Mother Nature is at her best tonight, isn’t she?” she whispered, watching as another bolt of lightning struck close by.

  A sharp pain suddenly shot through her head, causing her to clutch it tightly, trying to ease the pressure building up. Tears filled her eyes. Lisbeth hissed through razor-sharp fangs as the pain intensified. An agonized scream erupted from deep within her, shattering the balcony’s panes of glass into thousands of pieces. The shower of glass shards ripped holes through her long black gown, slicing little cuts all over her body as they penetrated the fabric.

  “Is all that noise really necessary? Why am I always the one sent to retrieve you when you throw your little fits?” A deathly pale yet handsome man asked, as he opened what was left of the destroyed glass doors that led to the balcony. “Oh my, Lisbeth, whatever could be the matter?” he inquired dryly with a grin, unconcerned that she was sprawled on the floor.

  “Andrei, what is going on in here? I told you to bring her back to the meeting immediately,” another pale man voiced as he stood in the doorway, observing the debris.

  “Well Valdir, it would seem as though our Lisbeth is having another one of her tantrums,” he sneered while sweeping his right hand through his thick dirty blond hair.

  “No, I am not!” Lisbeth growled. Her tiny cuts began to heal and disappear. “Help me up you imbecile! Can you not see I am in pain?” she roared, glaring at Andrei through her wiry black hair. He ignored her. Valdir rushed past him, the glass crunching beneath his boots, and effortlessly pulled Lisbeth to her feet.

  “Why are you in pain dear Lisbeth? Did you have a vision?” he asked, not liking the wild look in her eyes.

  “Something is not right,” she replied as she tried to keep her balance while focusing on him.

  Andrei smirked. “You think? I feel that something is you. In fact, I believe you have not been right for the past couple of centuries.”

  “Bite your tongue, or I shall gladly do it for you!” she hissed back, baring her fangs at him.

  “Andrei, silence! Now Lisbeth, what happened?” Valdir interjected as he stepped between them.

  “I have not felt this way since the Cleansing. I feel a tremendou
s amount of energy.”

  “The storm maybe?” Andrei quipped sarcastically.

  “Enough, Andrei!” Valdir growled through clenched fangs. “Now what of this energy?” he asked, staring intently into her eyes.

  “I sense…I sense the presence of…a Childe,” she murmured weakly, drained from the infliction and recession of the pain.

  “That cannot be possible! No one would dare disobey the laws set forth by the Parliament!” Andrei argued.

  “Well, apparently someone has,” she sneered and then regained her composure.

  “Did you see it, did you see the Childe? What did it look like?” Valdir asked with a sense of urgency in his voice.

  “It was a girl. She had long black hair. I could not see her face, it was covered. She was dressed in a royal gown…I think. And she was surrounded by Corinthian columns. It all happened so fast. I just caught a glimpse,” she replied with frustration.

  “It would seem you are losing your touch old girl,” Andrei commented.

  Lisbeth growled and propelled herself at him. Andrei prepared for her impact. He bared his fangs and outstretched his arms. Valdir grabbed Lisbeth by the waist and pulled her from the air just before she landed on Andrei.

  “We have no time for these games! We must make haste and find this Childe!” he barked while holding a struggling Lisbeth who was shaking with rage.

  Andrei glared at her as he smoothed down and dusted off his black brocade tailcoat. “This will not please Cain in the slightest! He will not be in the best of moods if we wake him from his slumber. If in fact, this is the truth.”

  “We shall find out first. Then the Parliament will decide if Cain should be disturbed,” Valdir’s cold voice echoed through the room.

  “I shall go to my brother Lucien and see if he has felt the same as I,” Lisbeth announced, struggling to gain her composure once more.

  “No. Andrei will go. You are too valuable as our only seer. He shall find out from Lucien the information we need.”

  “But-”

  “We shall have no further discussion of this matter, Lisbeth! And no mentioning this to the Parliament until we are certain it is true,” he said sternly as he turned and stormed out of the room.

  1

  Red Freak

  “Marsha, just go! Something’s wrong with me…I feel strange!”

  ”Johnny, what’s wrong? Johnny, what’s happening? Your hair is growing and your fingernails…oh Johnny, I’m so scared!”

  “Marsha! Run! I’m changing! OW OW OWOOOOO!”

  “No! Johnny! AHHHHHHH!”

  As the credits began to roll on the film Werewolves from Outer Space, the laughter from Cat and her three childhood friends filled her quaint attic bedroom. Her room looked like a typical girl’s room except for the curling horror movie posters that were plastered across the light orange walls.

  Amanda hit the power button on the TV remote and sprang into a sitting position on Cat’s bed. “Trust you to find the worst movie in the entire store, Matthew!” she exclaimed. She grabbed the nearest pillow and chucked it at the tall and slender male of their group.

  “Hey! Watch it!” Matt groaned while smoothing down his sandy blond hair after being hit full force by the pillow. “The movie wasn’t that bad, we’ve seen worse,” he continued, tossing the pillow back at her.

  “Yeah right! Those werewolves looked like German shepherds! One even looked like he was licking that girl to death!” she argued.

  “Alright guys, I’ll settle this. Who here thinks this is the worst film we’ve ever seen?” Cat asked, facing the group. “Show of hands! No, not two hands, only one,” she said, chuckling as she looked at Amanda. Three hands rose in the air.

  Defeated three to one, Matt thought, rolling his eyes. “I guess there’s no accounting for taste in this room,” he stated as he put the DVD back in its case.

  “So Cat, aren’t you like totally psyched about tomorrow? You finally get to go slumming with us public school kids!” Amanda asked sarcastically while playfully pushing her.

  Cat groaned, “I was beginning to think the parentals were never going to say yes. I don’t think I could’ve handled snobsville Madison Prep much longer. I’m just glad that Julie is tagging along too. Although, lately I’m not so sure she’s happy about it. She just seems more distant and quiet. Have you guys noticed anything different about her?” she asked, looking around at the group.

  “Julie’s always quiet. Why are you girls always so dramatic?” Matt replied and then ducked as another pillow flew at him.

  “I don’t want to go to high school!” Elle moaned as she hid her face behind her long brown hair, shielding her metal-clad mouth as she talked. “How am I going to remember seven classes? I wish I could just skip high school altogether!”

  Matt sighed dramatically, “Me too! Just the thought of more school is bad enough. But now, here we are, bottom feeders again. Puny fish in a big pond full of sharks!”

  “It’ll be okay, Elle.” Cat reassured her shy friend, ignoring Matt’s ramblings.

  “No it won’t! Why couldn’t I’ve gotten braces when I was two, not fifteen? I mean, seriously! If I wasn’t already considered enough of a freak, now let’s add mouth metal. Eeeek! I’ve got to pee!” Elle squeaked, jumped to her feet, and then ran to the bathroom.

  Poor Elle, she needs a boost in the confidence department pronto, Cat thought.

  “I swear that girl pees more than anyone I know. I hope there’s a bathroom every five feet at school, otherwise she’ll be screwed.” A buzzing sound came from Amanda’s pocket as she spoke. She groaned and rolled her eyes as she looked at her cell phone. “It’s my mom, texting again!”

  “Your mom texts?” Cat asked.

  “Yeah, I taught her how to, but I’m kind of regretting it now. The woman is so technologically challenged,” Amanda replied while turning over on her back and pressing buttons on her cell. “I mean, I love her and all but she’s hopeless. She’s trying to bond with me, but she’s really going overboard.” Everyone laughed, including Elle, who had just reentered the room.

  “Well, I’d love to stay and watch another horror masterpiece,” Amanda announced sarcastically as she closed her phone and looked pointedly at Matt. “But if I deciphered the text correctly, I need to get my butt home ASAP.”

  “Yeah, I’d better get going too. Big day tomorrow you know,” Matt drawled unenthusiastically.

  “I’ve got to go mentally prepare myself. High school. Great, a whole new venue to feel out of place and humiliated,” Elle murmured as she hugged Cat goodbye and then followed the other two out of the room.

  Later that night, Cat stood on the balcony outside her bedroom window and listened to the trees rustling in the cool night breeze. The sound of leaves and twigs skittering across the paved road chasing the wind followed shortly after. The full moon glowed brightly through the gaps in the blanket of clouds that hung overhead, illuminating Nehalem Avenue below. Careful not to slip, Cat ascended the wrought-iron ladder to the roof, her favorite place to be at night.

  As Cat was gazing at the trees surrounding her house, she noticed a golden form dash out from the Sitka spruce that stood towering in her front lawn. It was the stray cat Jewels. The feline’s nightly visits began six years ago and their friendship had been fast and firm. Looking like a miniature lioness, she had arrived at Cat’s bay window, collarless. She had no idea where Jewels went after her visits, but it was obvious to Cat that she was well cared for.

  Jewels stretched and then leapt effortlessly onto her lap. To Cat’s surprise her fur was dry. “Hey Jewels, I see you missed the rain tonight.” Jewels purred, as if to reply. “Well, tomorrow’s the big day.” Cat sighed while running her fingers through the feline’s velvety fur. “Finally I’ll have a normal life. Astoria High, I still can’t believe it. All the pleading and begging with the parentals has paid off. No more teasing from Taylor about going to a private school! You should be glad you don’t have a brother, they’re such pains.
I’m so over being called the Silver Spoon Privileged One.”

  Jewels sprang out of Cat’s lap and began staring intently into the dark woods as if watching and waiting for something. Chin in hand, Cat watched her. “What do you see out there, girl?” she asked, grinning as Jewels turned back to look at her. “You’re such a smart kitty, you understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”

  Jewels’ golden eyes stared into hers. “Meow, meow, meow,” she replied.

  The slam of a car door down below interrupted Cat’s musings. “I’m so worried, Sam. Why can’t Aldon find any answers?” The familiar voice of her mom drifted up to the roof.

  Cat carefully climbed down the ladder and peered over the balcony railing to watch her parents walking up the path.

  “Honey, we have to be patient. He’s trying his best. It’s not like he can ask directly, he doesn’t want to arouse suspicion,” the deep voice of her dad replied.

  “Are you sure we’re not making a mistake by letting Cat go to that school?” A shiver ran down Cat’s spine from the fear she heard in her mom’s voice.

  “Taylor and Cat’s friends will watch over her. She’ll be fine.” The voices faded as her parents entered the house.

  Cat sat down on the bench outside her window and thought about what she just heard. What was that about Great Uncle Aldon? What answers does he need? And who is he afraid will become suspicious? Adults can be so complex sometimes. Cat had no idea that going to Astoria High was causing her mom so much worry, but she would show her that everything would be fine.

  The old stairs leading to Cat’s bedroom creaked, and a knock at the door announced her mom. Cat peered through the balcony bay window into her room. She could see the worried look on her mom’s face.

  “Come in, sweetie, you’re going to catch cold in that paper-thin nightgown. Where’s your robe? Did you guys enjoy your movie tonight?” Rachel Colvin rambled on.