The Lost: Pure Blood - book III (Trials ofLilliana)

By J. Montana

Haunted by terrible dreams of demons and strange beings, Lillie is a runaway living on streets. Orphaned and hiding from over zealous guardians, she is forced to use her wits and resources for survival. An organization called The Network has safe houses in every major city, that gives shelter and aid to young runaways. However, many chose life on the streets earning money anyway they can, illegally or with legitimate businesses that assist in the cause, like Jack's diner. Jack plays both sides, providing jobs for some runaways or donors for the mansion. Yes, the mansion is run by an old world society called the vampyre and in changing times, they have adapted in their pursuit of obtaining food. While working at the diner Lillie finds herself marked as prey by an unwanted admirer. In a small town strangers pass through like the wind and on one occasion it brings a drifter named Kyle Thunderhorse. Life on the streets teaches the dangers of staying in one place too long and Lillie moves on to the next town. Akela and Scarlett have been on the streets together a long time, they seem more like brother and sister. They know everyone in town so they pay attention to the newbie working in the diner. They will befriend Lillie, introducing her to the local underworld and telling her wild tales of vampyres and werewolves living among them. In the wake of every town she passes through the Power leaves remnants of her presence. As a new warrior takes up the charge, soul possession of a powerful Old One draws interest from immortals and the Hierarchy. There's only one problem in finding the soulless one, no one knows what the she looks like.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. Montana
• Release date: Jun 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476164823

J. Montana

J. Montana is the artist and pen name of Jeanine Wright . She is a self taught artist, receiving an AAS in Art & Advertising Design at a New York City college. Her interest in writing started at a young age, encouraged by a single mother who emphasized the importance of reading. She read everything from the Bible to classical mythology, from Harlequin romance to S. E. Hinton and Hemingway to Lovecraft. The majority of Jeanine's life was focused on art, as writing to a back seat. While pursuing art she also took an interest in literature classes and creative writing, spending hours producing poetry. It would take a college professor that would start her on the path to penning her 1st novel. It took Jeanine 10 years to compete a finish manuscript because again writing would be pushed aside for her art and single-parenting. However, it would be the art an her love of creating that would join the two. The Pure Blood series came about in the 90's from a painting titled, 'The Guardian'. Jeanine is a huge fan of authors like, Stephen King, Harold Robbins, Sydney Sheldon and Jackie Collins who fueled an imagination already creative from being an artist. It is said, “To be a good writer, you must be a good reader.” To this day, Jeanine is still addicted to the written word She is the single parent of to adult children and two granddaughter. She currently resides in NYC.

Book preview

Chapter 1

It always started out the same, surrounded by the darkness and feeling her way around in a tunnel or was it a shaft of some kind. She could hear a voice reciting phrases, of free will possessed by all and the importance of Origin. There were unfamiliar names whispered in the dark like Angelica, Colin, Azazel, Morgan, Michael and Elizabeth. The last name Elizabeth seemed to stir a profound sadness within her and she did not know why. In fact she felt a strange connection to all the names being repeated in her dreams. Then the darkness sparked some light at the end of the tunnel and she was drawn towards it. The closer she got to the light, the more brilliant and this blinded her. She awoke from her nightmare in a cold sweat like previously. Lillie screamed out in the dark as she woke from her strange dream. She scanned the room in the dark, making sure she did not arouse any of her homeless companions sharing the dorm room of the shelter. Lillie sat up in the bed waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dark. She surveyed the room of occupants once more before getting out of the bed to use the facility washroom. As always, Lillie needed a shower after her nightly bouts in her sleep.

Lillie started having the strange dreams since the sudden death of her parents two years ago. She even dreamt of her mother as she lay dying in an embankment. Her parents were heading home from a company party of her father’s, when they were hit broad side by a tracker trailer truck. The driver of the truck fell asleep at the wheel, swerving into the oncoming traffic lane. He never saw her parents’ car headlights coming towards him. By the time the driver heard the car horn screaming it was too late. The truck side swiped her parent’s car, knocking the vehicle off the road, through the guardrail and over the side. The car flipped over several times before it stopped, landing upside down in an embankment. Lillie’s mother was tossed against the front passenger door and when the vehicle stopped tumbling it landed pinning her mother underneath. Her father was thrown mid-way through the windshield, it nearly severed his body in half from the car tumbling. By the time the paramedics and the police arrived, her father had lost a large amount of blood and was pronounced dead at the scene. Unfortunately, her mother lay in the embankment staring at her dead husband until they removed him from her sight and then another hour and a half waiting for emergency units to lift the vehicle off her crushed body. The police told Lillie her mother just kept crying out her name as they lifted the car to pull her free. She died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Lillie lost her parents a week short of her fourteenth birthday and she had no other relatives to go to.

After the funeral, lawyers for her parents advised Lillie the neighbors down the street were named as guardians for her. Lillie remembered seeing the young couple at her house many times visiting with her parents. She knew little about them except they didn’t have children of the own. At first, it was an ideal arrangement; they were comforting and accommodating, giving Lillie the space she needed. The couple had an open house sale, selling off all the furnishing and other items left in her house they didn’t want or need. Then they put the house up for sale while Lillie moved into the couple’s house. Once it was sold and her parents’ estate settled, the couple became money grubbers. The courts placed the money made from the sale of the house in an escrow account and advised the young couple taking care of Lillie to provide receipts for everything. The first thing they did was purchase a new house. They explained to the court appointed lawyer for the estate, they needed more room for a teenage girl. Then they purchase a second car, had a pool installed and hired a house cleaner. All this they convinced the courts were needed to maintain the lifestyle as Lillie’s parents. The couple set themselves up as Lillie’s legal guardians and that is when she noticed a change in their attitude towards her. It was during this time the dreams started. The young couple became very strict with Lillie, wanting to know her whereabouts at all times. One afternoon, Lillie came home to find them talking with a priest. They introduced the priest as Father Mathew. The couple explained to the priest, that Lillie’s parents were atheist. Lillie tried to convince them her parents were not atheist, the just did not believe in conformed religion.

Were you baptized, my child? Father Mathew asked Lillie.

Baptized, Lillie replied. No.

The priest turned to the couple and advised them to bring Lillie to church for baptismal classes. The following Sunday the couple did exactly what the priest advise, they had Lillie attend Sunday school classes. Lillie never set foot inside a church before then and found the art and architecture fascinating. It was after the first class at the church, when Lillie started having the first of her dreams. They were drams of wolves and creatures with fangs. The dreams always followed with her waking in a cold sweat and screaming out in the dark. As time went on the dreams persisted and the couple started thinking Lillie was possessed, when her screaming out became a nightly occurrence. The couple confided in Father Mathew and asked if he could talk to Lillie. He agreed. The following Sunday the priest took Lillie for a private talk in the church office.

What’s been troubling you Lillie? Father Mathew questioned. I hear you are screaming out in the night.

There is nothing wrong Father, Lillie replied. I’ve just been having a few strange dreams, that’s all.

Strange dreams can mean you are troubled, Father Mathew replied. Your mother has been worried about you.

She is not my mother, Lillie affirmed. My parents are dead.

Do you resent the couple that has opened their heart and home to you? Father Mathew asked. You sound very angry just now.

I don’t understand what you mean, Lillie replied. Besides, all that they have right now is because of me.

But that doesn’t mean they don’t worry about you, the priest explained. Whatever, troubles you worries them and that is why they came to me, Father Mathew stated. How about you tell me about these dreams you’re having?

They are more like nightmares, really, Lillie replied.

What are they about? Father Mathew asked. Are they about your parent’s death? the Priest queried.

No, Lillie said quietly. They are of Vampyres and Werewolves, she paused. There is always so much blood, she pondered a moment. I am always being chase by them and they know me by name, Lillie explained.

Sounds to me these dreams are nothing more than your fears, Father Mathew said.

You think so, Lillie quipped.

My child, Vampyres and Werewolves, Father Mathew replied but he knew of several runaways telling stories of mansion all over the country hosting such creatures. You have an overactive imagination.

It just seems so real, Lillie answered. They seem so real.

We all make up creatures in our mind to help deal with loss, Father Mathew advised. However, I think after you are baptized your dreams will stop, he added.

I sure hope you are right, Lillie said.

That night Lillie had a vivid dream of something stalking her sleep, which seemed all too real. She couldn’t see what was chasing her but she could smell it. There was a foul smell in the air and it seemed to be following Lillie. The further away she tried to get from the smell the closer it got to her. Her screams pierced the night, waking even some of the neighbors from her chilling cries. The couple called the Priest to come to the house immediately. When he arrived, the couple advised the Priest that Lillie was up in her room sitting on her bed crying;afraid to close her eyes. They all headed upstairs to her room but only the Priest was going into the bedroom. The couple was afraid and stayed at the end of the hall. Father Mathew knocked on the door before entering. It’s Father Mathew, the priest announced. May I come in child?

P, p, please Father… Lillie invited him in a shaken voice.

The Priest hesitated and peered into the room before entering as if he expected to be confronted by something else. Father Mathew walked into the dark bedroom and found Lillie just as the couple said, sitting on her bed with her knees to her chin, crying and shaking.

Lillie, Lillie, the priest repeated to draw her attention to him. Lillie are you alright?

Please don’t let him get me, Lillie stated holding her knees tightly to he chin. She sat on the bed rocking back and forth with her eyes transfixed on something.

Who are you talking about? the priest demanded. Was there a man in your room? he asked. Your parents heard you scream out.

Yes, my parents, Lillie repeated. That’s it… she looked at the priest finally. Maybe this is my punishment, like they teach in Sunday school, she paused. The dreams are because I refuse to call them my parents.

God would not punish you for that, the priest stated.

Then why am I having theses horrible dreams, Lillie stated. "I am frightened.

Your parents are frightened for you, Father Mathew stated. You woke half the neighborhood, the priest added. Is there anything you can tell me about the dream?

His, his eyes… Lillie said trance like. His eyes were like fire, she said trembling.

Whose eyes are you talking about? Father Mathew asked. Who is this man that scares you so much?

I thought he was an angel at first, Lillie stated. The light was so brilliant and he seemed so beautiful at first, she explained. Then he turned around, he knew I was there.

Who knew you were there, Lillie? Father Mathew asked walking over towards the bed. You need to tell me everything.

I don’t know who he is but when he turned in my direction, he was grotesque looking, Lillie said crying. His eyes were of fire and he was huge, she stated.

Lillie, what happened? Father Mathew asked. Did he see you! the Priest demanded shaking her alert.

No, no he didn’t see me, Lillie affirmed. I backed up and started tumbling downward until I woke.

The Priest left the room disturbed at what Lillie told him. He went to talk to the couple still waiting in the hallway. Lillie crept out of the bed to listen at the door of their conversation. She could hear the Priest telling them he wanted Lillie committed to a convent before she harms herself. She heard reluctance from the couple but they soon agreed to the Priest request. Lillie also heard him mentioned soul possession. Whatever else the priest was telling the couple, she didn’t want to stick around. Lillie decided at that moment to runaway because she was not about to be committed anywhere at least of all a convent. She changed out of her pajamas, grab what she could of clothes, and shove them into her school bag. Lillie was about to climb out the bedroom window when she stopped to grab a photo of her parents on the night table. She heard the priest and the couple coming down the hall towards her room. She exited out the window into the night and never looked back.

Chapter 2

For two years, Lillie was on the run, being careful to stay under the radar of the authorities. She had to leave the state after the couple filed her as a missing person by direction of the Priest. Something about Father Mathew bothered Lillie; he knew more than he let on. Lillie contacted the couple once she put enough distance between them to assure them she was safe. When they heard her voice they begged her to come home but, Lillie refused and told them to stop looking for her. Now here she was again, sleeping in a shelter. She finished her shower, dried off and dressed before heading back to her bunk for the night. Lillie did not like the shelters because she always had to worry about her belongings. This was life on the street for runaways or worse. When she was able to make money, she got a room somewhere or stayed with a friend. That is when she knew someone long enough to call them friend. Lillie did whatever she had to, to survive from drug mule, to stealing or even begging. She knew living on the streets was unsafe but she could not go back home. One time Lillie got caught on a drug run and was busted by the police on a raid. The officer ran her name through the computer and it came back she was a missing person. She tried everything to convince the officer not to take her back, but nothing worked. The officer drove her back across state lines to return her right to her adoptive parent’s front door. He was about to call the couple when Lillie decided, in a quick maneuver to perform fellatio on the officer. What are you doing? the officer scolded abruptly dropping his cell phone as she unzipped his pants.

I’ll do anything, Lillie pleaded. Please don’t make me go back there.

The officer thought about her words, seeing his phallus in her delicate little hands. Who would tell, he asked himself. Who would know? He would know, especially since he had a daughter almost the same age. He drove off before she could start the act and put her up in a motel for a week. He stopped in to check on Lillie and when the week was up, he put her on a bus to anywhere. Lillie will never forget his kindness because he never took advantage of her.

Now as she sits in the dark on her cot, Lillie wonders where she will go next. Even though, she has put much distance between herself and her adoptive parents she contemplates going back to safety. Every new city she passes through, she hears the same thing from other runaways about the safe houses. Lillie didn’t know much about them but they were all described the same. A mansion in an obscure area outside of city limits. Lillie wondered why it was considered a safe house. Or, why anyone with a mansion would invite runaways to come and live for free. Lillie chose to stay clear of them for the time being when a runaway she knew disappeared after accepting an invitation to live in one. However, her current condition needed addressing. She was running out of money and this meant hitting the streets again. Lillie decided to gather her belongings before the other occupants awoke in the shelter and get an early start. She stepped out into the early morning light refreshed, taking a moment to absorb the quietness of the city.

Chapter 3

It has been seventeen earthen years since her disappearance but to Michael, it happened only yesterday. The archangel summoned all the Orders to an emergency meeting when it was felt. The cosmos reacted to her disappearance as quasars exploded, dwarf stars imploded and new universes ceased in their creation. Michael spent much of his time searching in the Halls of Knowing in hopes of coming across a glitch. When the Power disappeared it affected everything everywhere. But, there was nothing, not a hint of who, where and what time frame she ran to. This disturbed the Celestial Hierarchy more than anything because she would be an easy target for all immortals… and humans.

Since time and memorial, the Celestial Hierarchy has been assisting the development of beings across the cosmos. All they had to do is imagine and they could transmute anywhere, to any galaxy. The Milky Way Galaxy as it was named by the humans is one of millions, since galaxies exist on every dimension. The hierarchy even extracted inhabitants from their home planets and placed then elsewhere in the cosmos. In some cases, as with the humans, some ancient societies transmuted themselves to other worlds or dimensions. The early inhabitants still grasped remnants of their celestial counterparts. They were able to elevate their energy out of the human shell of containment. As time continued on the planet the human inhabitants became denser and only a few individuals with knowledge were able to successfully transmute off the planet. Now the human species is caught in a quandary, trying to understand the leftovers of the past from pyramids to crop circles to free standing megaliths. And to further confuse them, the ancients left writings with every culture and each manipulated the texts. Except for one, The Necronomicon, it tells the story of the Old Ones that existed way before the ancient cultures of the planet. It reveals the incantations to resurrect the Old Ones from their deep slumber, they counted on that.

Is there any word on the Power’s whereabouts? Lucifer asked his right hand in command.

All is quiet in the ethereal realm, Azazel replied. They have no idea where to begin looking.

If Lilliana has done what the Hierarchy suspects she’s done, it’s no telling what age or sex we would be looking for, Lucifer declared. He strolled around the throne bringing relief to the torture souls in his presence. The idea of the Power being on the loose in a human shell brought so many wild imagines and for this he allowed a reprieve to his companions. We must put every follower, immortal and demon working with us on this task, he ordered.

What or who are they looking for? Azazel asked.

Everything and anything, Lucifer advised. Rich or poor, male or female it doesn’t matter, he stated walking back towards the throne to sit. Azazel acknowledged dismissing himself from the throne room. He turned to walk out when he was advised of one more thing, She may be using some form of her name if not the actual one, Lucifer informed.

Do you really think she would be that bold, Azazel queried.

She wouldn’t be able to change that aspect of her being, Lucifer assured. It’s a part of her and the only thing she would be able to project to the birth parent upon entry.

This information will be passed along to every faction, Azazel affirmed.

Chapter 4

The Network functioned like any other top level organization; FBI, CIA or DEA with one exception ─ it was managed by runaways. The creation of The Network was brought about by a group of teens on the streets in Phoenix, Arizona. A rise in street gangs across the country made it difficult for runaways, homeless kids and street urchins to be safe. It no longer mattered if they traveled in a pack so did the street gangs. The average street gang roughed up any teen they caught walking through their neighborhoods. It didn’t matter if the youth lived there or was visiting. Now you throw in a runaway not familiar with the area and they are given a choice, to be