Chasing Daylight

By Lee Larsen

Chasing Daylight is book two of the Falling Night Series and the sequel to Falling Night. It is a young adult, urban fantasy/paranormal romance novel.

Elizabeth Scott and her family’s lives have changed. For better or for worse they were different now. The evil Leuken and his family have been trying to avoid for decades has found its way into their small town. What remains to be seen, is if they will make it through the storm that is headed their way.

Elizabeth’s bond with Leuken is stronger than ever, yet her bond with her father will be tried if he turns into the monster she fears becoming. As she struggles to understand what is happening to all of them, others plot their certain death. Will any of them survive the onslaught of the Verdorben?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lee Larsen
• Release date: Jul 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301133895

Lee Larsen

Lee Larsen currently possesses a B.A. from the University of Nevada, and lives in Las Vegas, NV with his wife and four children.

Book preview

CHASING DAYLIGHT

BOOK II OF THE FALLING NIGHT SERIES

Lee Larsen

Published by Lee Larsen at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Lee Larsen

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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of this author.

PROLOGUE

I couldn’t believe what was happening… The fact that my father had been turned seemed so wrong that it just couldn’t be real. It made logical sense. After all he was the closest human when that monster had been killed, but for some reason I didn’t want to believe it. He might not have been my favorite person in the world, especially since my mom had died, but he was still my father. Even if I didn’t like him all the time, he was the only parent I had left, and as much as it pained me to admit it… I still loved him.

Dad Stop! I shouted as I struggled to hold my father’s arm in place. If it wasn’t for Luke and Isaac we would all be dead right now. Can you please just calm down and let me explain everything?

I think you’ve explained enough Liz. My father grunted as he tried to break free. His jaw was clenched tight, his dark hair matted with sweat.

He wasn’t going anywhere. I had his left arm in both my hands, while Luke held the other. Isaac and Benjamin were holding his legs as he writhed back and forth trying to break free. Thunder rattled the house through the shattered front door, and small splinters of wood littered the floor around us. Marble sized hail pelted the ground outside, and some of the white pieces of ice were bouncing just inside the door.

My father had been awake for less than a minute, and in that time his demeanor had quickly changed from confused to violent. He seemed to be calming down a little now, but I couldn’t tell if it was just a ruse so that he could strike at one of the Bennetts again. When he first woke up I had tried to explain what happened, but once I got to the part about us both being possessed by some kind of demon, he had punched Luke square in the jaw. Of course the bruise had already healed, but I wasn’t about to let my father hurt him again.

Let go of me! My father snapped through gritted teeth.

We will as soon as you calm down and promise to stop being violent. I can understand that you are upset about what has happened to us, but it isn’t their fault. All they have done from the moment they moved to town is protect us. Will you please just relax dad, so we can let you go? I pleaded.

He struggled one last time before finally relaxing. They’ve sure done a fine job of protecting us huh? He said sarcastically. Okay kid. He eventually looked up at me. I’ll be cool for now, but you’ve got some serious explaining to do.

It took almost an hour of explaining before my father stopped asking questions. Other than the initial outburst, he took it quite calmly. There were a few times when Luke and I were explaining that he looked at us skeptically, or started shaking his head, but then he would glance at the tainted one’s corpse lying in the middle of the living room floor. It looked as though it had been decaying for hundreds of years, and seemed to lend credibility to what we said.

Isaac appeared apprehensive when I mentioned the Terralium weapons and how they affected us, but he didn’t interject. I assumed he was simply nervous about the effect the taint would have on my father, or if he could even be trusted. As far as I could tell though my father was as much in control of himself as he had always been. Nothing he had done indicated he was any kind of serious threat. A ridiculously overprotective father, yes, but a threat… I didn’t think so.

Jazmine was standing over the body of the Verdorben corpse, and appeared to be studying something. The lower portion of its body had already been swept up by Ben and Luke, but they had stopped when my father woke up, so the upper half of the corpse was still intact. Bending down, Jazmine pulled a silver chain necklace off of the body and examined it. There were two keys on the necklace, but nothing else. I walked over to stand next to Jazmine and looked down at the corpse.

Is that the same guy that I shot? My father asked as he joined us. He wrinkled his nose and wore a disgusted expression while looking over the body.

It was really more of a skeleton then a corpse. The small amount of flesh still covering the bone was almost nonexistent, and looked like it would crumble apart if the body was moved. I had to admit I was unimpressed by the creature. Alive it had appeared massive, ruthless, and intimidating, but as a bald skeleton who couldn’t halfway fill in its clothes, it was… pathetic.

I noticed that two of the fingers on its right hand were missing part of the bones. It appeared that the bones had been sliced in the middle of the second joint. The ring finger on that same hand had a silver ring on it, with engravings that were similar to the ones on the bracelet the tainted one had used to control me. For some reason I felt a draw towards the ring. I reached down to remove it from the bones and was startled when Isaac suddenly snapped at me.

Don’t touch it Liz! he barked as he rushed over and removed the ring himself. With the effect the other artifact had on you, I don’t think you should risk touching this one just yet.

Yeah, you’re probably right. While slightly annoyed by his admonishment, I had to admit that his logic was sound. The last thing I wanted was to be affected by another artifact, especially after the last one had resulted in me almost killing the man I loved.

Isaac also grabbed the necklace from Jazmine, examining the two keys that were attached to the silver chain. One was silver and looked like any normal house key. The second was longer with a four sided tip. It looked modern, but still unlike any other key I had ever seen.

What do you make of it? Jazmine asked curiously.

To be honest I’m not entirely sure. I would suppose it goes to some sort of safe, but it’s difficult to say for certain. Isaac looked up as he spoke, obviously contemplating something. Unfortunately… my guess is that we will likely never know.

Before I had time to ask what Isaac was thinking, Jazmine spoke up. What do you think Isaac? Should we start packing up the house? She asked quizzically.

Isaac stood quietly, pondering her question. All eyes were on him, and it seemed like minutes before he finally spoke, breaking the silence. Let’s pack up just in case, but I think we should stay put for now. Everyone was openly surprised by his response, so he explained further. Every time we have encountered this tainted one he has been alone or with one other. Obviously we killed his apprentice the other day, so there is a good chance that no one else will be coming. We’ll take it day to day for now.

Luke smiled openly at me upon hearing the good news, so I returned the favor. Jazmine and Ben both seemed happy as well. They must have been relieved that they would not have to move again. I couldn’t blame them. After all, they had only been in Harrisburg for a few weeks.

There is one thing that might help us. I said turning back to Isaac. He raised one eyebrow expectantly. I know how to sense the tainted ones.

What do you mean? He asked.

When that tainted one was coming here, I began, nodding my head at the rotted corpse. I could feel him getting closer. Just like I can now feel my father’s proximity because of the taint.

You mean you knew that creature was coming and still neglected to warn us? His expression was calm, but I could see the anger in his eyes as he spoke.

I didn’t know it was coming at the time. I explained defensively. All I could feel was darkness getting closer, and I wasn’t sure if it was the taint trying to take control of me or what. It wasn’t until that thing broke down my front door that I realized what I had been sensing. Believe me if I had known that creature was coming, I would have told you the second I knew. The frustration seemed to fade from Isaac as I expounded. He was thinking deeply about something

Well Ms. Bennett…it appears some good may come from your transformation after all. A small smile crept onto Isaac’s lips as he spoke. Now we just need to make sure we keep you away from the other tainted ones. I can only imagine the frenzy that would ensue if they knew that two of the Verdorben were working with the bloodline.

***

Tobias closed the newspaper he had been reading and set it on the small quartz table beside his lounge chair. The snowcapped peaks of the Selkirk Mountains to the north were visible through the large pane windows that covered most of the exterior walls. Tobias could see a winter storm brewing just over the mountains. With autumn nearly over, he knew that storm would likely bring the first snow of the season to his residence.

He wished that he could relax and enjoy the scenery, but other matters were consuming his thoughts. It had been twice now in the last three days that he had felt the taint pass. While it occurred so far to the south that it didn’t cause him alarm, he was nonetheless intrigued. Tobias had assumed that the first Auserwalt killed was Jareth’s apprentice. Not surprising considering this was becoming an almost annual occurrence in recent years. What disturbed him was that after the second Auserwalt had been killed, the two had not moved.

One consistent expectation of Tobias was that Jareth, after killing an unsuitable apprentice, would always take the new apprentice with him to Alaska for training. This was done almost immediately after transformation, and Tobias had become accustomed to Jareth’s predictable behavior. The fact that the two Auserwalt had not moved could only mean one thing. There was the possibility that Jareth had randomly decided to change his approach to training new apprentices… but Jareth changing his ways was about as likely as the sun vanishing into thin air. That possibility being ruled out, the only logical, albeit unlikely explanation was that Jareth was dead.

Tobias had only interacted with Jareth a few times, and it had been centuries since they last spoke in person. Imagining that goliath of a man being killed was unsettling. Jareth had been hunting the nearly extinct bloodline members for centuries. Throughout that time he had certainly killed dozens, if not hundreds of stragglers, all the while managing to stay alive. The fact that he may now be dead meant he had finally chased down someone with terralium. Considering Jareth’s skill in combat, it was likely more than one somebody he had encountered.

You look troubled my lord. Would you like some more wine? Tessa asked with hypnotic concern.

I suppose. Tobias sighed before responding.

He studied the pretty blonde as she refilled his goblet on the table. Her long straight hair nearly reached the small belt on the waistline of the blue dress she was wearing. She was smiling at him while pouring, exposing small dimples on her nearly perfect face.

Her ridiculously overwhelming desire to please him was one unpleasant side effect of the compulsion she was under. He preferred more natural emotions, but that was a luxury he simply could not afford. Without the compulsion, there was no assurance that she wouldn’t leave, and the process of finding a new serving girl was too time consuming. Besides, this one was the closest in resemblance to Elayne that he had seen in centuries, and he wasn’t about to let her leave him prematurely. There were few girls throughout history that could hold a candle to the beauty of his first love.

Tessa would probably last another year or two before her mind succumbed to the other side effects of compulsion, and then, if the side effects didn’t kill her, he would have to put her down. Until then he enjoyed having such an attractive girl. She was a touch younger than he preferred at only twenty two, but he had found that the minds of the younger girls held up better to the compulsion over time. The last few girls he had picked up in their thirties had each lasted only a few months to a year, so the three to four years the younger ones survived made them a more worthwhile investment.

Tessa had been a great addition because he felt no guilt for taking her in. After seeing her for the first time, he had followed her for only a day, and in that time had seen the way her pimp abused her. It had been more than mere physical and emotional abuse, and he had actually enjoyed killing the pathetic man. Of course Tessa was more to him than just a serving girl. Here she had food, shelter, and with him… intimacy. She had a good life.

His mind turned back to the Auserwalt to the south. While he wanted to see for himself if Jareth still lived, he wasn’t sure he wanted to risk encountering the same bloodlines that may have killed the man. So for now… he would wait.

CHAPTER I

Only traces of moonlight passed through the canopy of clouds that covered the sky from the eastern horizon to the west. The cloud cover provided the perfect environment for hunting, and Luke wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to spend such a night outdoors. It was almost eleven, so with school the next morning, he was planning on heading back home in a few more minutes. The drive back to Harrisburg was less than half an hour, but it was a five minute run back to where they had parked the car. He hadn’t dared park it anywhere near the slummy neighborhood in Northern Eugene he was currently patrolling. Elizabeth calling it ghetto hardly did justice to the broken down community.

The shingles on the rooftop where Luke was sitting were tattered and half missing. What had once been grass occupying the space between buildings was now dirt with sporadic weeds poking out. The siding on the apartments displayed more faded wood than paint, and the little remaining tan paint was peeling and dirt-stained. Everything about this neighborhood was deteriorated. The few people he had seen walk by earlier had all appeared high, hopeless or both.

Luke heard the sound of clicking heels on the cracked concrete walkway before he saw them. The girls came into view from around the corner of a building, halfway across the complex. There were two of them, walking towards him with unfeigned haste. Neither was dressed appropriately for the cold weather. One was a fair skinned black girl, with bleached hair in short ringlets that hung almost to her shoulders. Her black shirt had slits across the stomach, and her jean shorts were cut much closer to her hips than her knees. The other girl was pale, and as she drew closer Luke couldn’t tell if it was the caked on make-up or her natural complexion that made her skin look ghost white. The black fishnet stockings covering her arms and legs didn’t help, and her black halter-top and skirt were probably a few sizes too small for her chubby frame.

Both girls appeared frightened as they hurriedly walked towards an apartment across the courtyard from Luke. A man wearing a baggy gray hooded sweatshirt and matching pants stepped out into the courtyard. He stood waiting as the girls approached.

I thought I told you be back by ten! the man said loudly. How am I supposed to protect you, when you ain’t doin what I been sayin?

Listen Jonny, It’s not her fault. The darker skinned girl began pleading. We were on our way back empty handed and somebody flagged us down. We didn’t want you She was abruptly cut off as the man lunged and struck her across the face with an open palm.

What did I tell you? The man shouted as the girl looked up at him, wiping fresh blood from her mouth. You call me daddy you little whore. And don’t you stick up for that slut. He pointed at the paler girl as he finished speaking.

The darker skinned girl’s eyes were angry, but she looked down to appear submissive. The man turned his attention to the paler skinned girl who was visibly shaking as she eyed him apprehensively.

Please… The girl began as tears streamed down her pale face.

The man struck her across the face with an open fist as well, knocking her to the ground.

I didn’t tell you to talk! He shouted from on top of her as he kicked her once in the ribs.

She screamed in pain, and Luke was about to intercede, when two porch lights turned on facing the courtyard. One pale skinned man in his mid twenties looked out a window, but quickly closed the blinds when he saw who was causing the commotion. His porch light went back out a second later. Another door cracked open, and a Hispanic female wearing a white robe poked her head out.

Hey! You leave those girls alone or I’ll call the police! She shouted from her doorway.

The man turned and brandished a knife in his right hand. Mind your business! He yelled back.

The lady quickly went back inside her house, closing the door and latching the deadbolt. A moment later she could be seen peeking through the front window.

Now what’d you bring me girl? The man asked the girl on the ground. He was switching the knife back and forth between his hands as he spoke, waving it over her.

Luke would have already interceded, but he hesitated. The Latino girl was still looking out her window, and the last thing he wanted was to draw attention to himself.

I’m sorry this is all we made. The girl sobbed. She pulled some money out of her halter top and handed it to the man.

This is all you got! He grabbed it with his left hand, still holding the knife in the other. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t cut you girl.

Please… The girl was crying uncontrollably as she spoke.

The man reached down and grabbed the girl’s right arm, raising the knife over his head.

Jonny stop! The other girl shouted as she ran and grabbed the man’s wrist.

Luke jumped down from the roof and ran towards the man. The witness was a risk he would have to take. He wasn’t about to let this scumbag stab anyone. The man had turned and was swinging the knife towards the dark girl’s throat. Luke reached him in the nick of time, grabbing the man’s wrist with one hand as he pushed the man backwards with his other hand. The man screamed as he flew backwards through the air. His body bounced and slid through the dirt as it landed, about thirty feet away.

Luke turned to look at the girls. The one on the ground was staring at him with unmasked anger, which was utterly confusing considering that he had just come to their aid. The one whose life he had just saved took a step back from him with wide eyes, but breathed a sigh of relief as she slid one hand across her neck where the knife had nearly struck her.

Luke look out! A high pitch scream sounded from off to Luke’s left, and he turned to see Liz running towards him. She was pointing behind him to his right as she ran. He turned to see the man sitting with a silver revolver pointed directly at him. He tried to jump out of the way, but the gun went off before he had a chance. Luke felt the sharp pain in his chest before he heard the shot. Shuffling quickly to his left, the next shot just missed him.

After the second round was fired, Liz struck the man from his left side. She hit his outstretched arm first, snapping it with a loud crunch. Luke recognized the all too familiar sound of breaking bone. Liz pivoted and kicked the man’s shin, cracking it backwards as the man fell forwards. He grunted before landing on his face in the dirt.

No sooner had the man hit the ground, than Liz turned and came to Luke. Are you okay? The worry in her voice was unmasked as she put a hand on his shoulder and looked him up and down. Her eyes came to rest on his chest, where dark blood was beginning to stain the front of the forest green thermal he was wearing. I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner, I was on the far side of the complex.

It’s okay, I’ll be fine. Luke assured her as he ripped a small hole in the front of his thermal where the bullet had struck. He grunted a little as he reached into his skin and pulled out a small piece of metal. The lead round must have bounced off one of his rib bones, because it had lodged half an inch under his skin. A moment later the pain subsided as his skin healed over.

Are you sure? Liz asked as she put her hand on his exposed chest, feeling where the wound had been just moments before.

I’m positive. Luke stepped over to the body of the man lying on the ground. He bent down and felt the man’s pulse. His heartbeat seemed normal, and Luke could see the man’s back moving slightly as he breathed. It looks like he’ll live. He added to Liz as he looked back up at the two girls.

That’s too bad. Liz quipped sarcastically.

The pale girl was standing with a look of pure terror on her face, staring at Luke. The other girl was also wide eyed, but took a step towards them and nodded her head.

Thank you. She said graciously as she let out a long breath. Her hands were shaking slightly as she clasped them together in front of her stomach.

Luke was about to reply when he noticed the other girl moving. She had walked behind Liz and was swinging her purse. It struck the side of Liz’s head, and Liz turned in surprise.

You killed him! The girl screamed at the top of her lungs as she cocked her arm back to swing again.

Candice stop! The darker skinned girl shouted as she ran and tackled her friend. She landed on top of the paler girl, and held the girl’s arms down as the two began arguing. The pale girl was cursing and shouting about her man being killed, and the other girl was trying to get her to calm down.

Luke noticed the same Latino girl from before was looking out her window, only now she was holding a phone in her hand as she watched them. It must have been a camera phone because she was holding it in front of her as she looked at it, with the phone pointed at Liz and Luke.

Come on, we better go. Luke said as he grabbed Liz’s arm, nodding towards the woman who was taking pictures.

Liz quickly grabbed the revolver off the ground that the man had dropped, and they slipped away. The cursing and crying of the distraught girl echoed after them as they ran off through the complex. Luke was glad he had been able to save that girl from her pimp, but her lack of gratitude was surprising. He re-affirmed what Isaac had told him on several occasions. Understanding women is impossible.

***

Running water almost drowned out the sound of crunching gravel as we walked along the path that led from Luke’s house back to mine. The Willamette River was higher than normal, with the water cresting just a few feet from the edge of the path to our left. A cool breeze from the south was at our backs, but the cold weather didn’t bother me. Since my transformation, the elements rarely seemed to affect me anymore. Well… other than the sun anyway. That wretched ball of fire stung like needles in my eyes whenever I stepped outside without my sunglasses on. Even with them on it was barely tolerable.

I was walking with Luke’s hand in mine. He felt remarkably warm considering the cool night air. As we walked and talked my mind kept wandering back to the two girls we had saved less than an hour before. I couldn’t understand why they had reacted the way that they did. Luke and I had stopped that vile man from cutting them with the knife, but their gratitude had been nonexistent. Fathoming their lack of appreciation was beyond me. Luke had even been shot saving them, something that had scared me beyond belief, and still there had not even been a simple thank you from the one girl. I still couldn’t believe she had hit me with that purse. Not that it hurt or anything, but still. A purse… really?

What’s on your mind? Luke asked with concern, pulling my mind back to the present.

Oh nothing. I was just thinking about that girl. I replied

The one who attacked you with the purse or the other one?

Yeah, the chubby one with the purse. I just don’t get her. I shook my head slowly back and forth as I spoke. You literally took a bullet saving her, and she repays us by hitting me in the head. How could anyone be that deranged with their sense of loyalty?

You’ve got me… He replied shaking his head. "But she’s not the first one I’ve seen react like that after being saved. Some people just aren’t right in the head.

I think that what it comes down to is that there are a lot of confused people in this world. Some of them come from such messed up homes or abusive parents, that they end up looking for love or attention in all the wrong places. They think that people who use them actually care about them. Many of them have been victims for so long that they no longer remember what it feels like to be free. They are afraid of true freedom, because they have never lived life without someone beating them down or oppressing them in some fashion.

I nodded as he finished speaking, thinking how sad it was that there were so many other girls out there who were living in such dreadful conditions. I couldn’t imagine going through every day with such fear. I couldn’t imagine feeling like I had to sell my body for money. I couldn’t imagine a world without… Luke.

I stopped for a moment and turned to face him, grabbing both of his hands in mine. The warmth from his fingers felt nice. You know… you really scared me tonight. I said as I looked him in the eyes. It wasn’t fair how attractive those pools of blue were. Like it wasn’t hard enough to control my emotions without looking in them.

I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. He replied.

When that guy shot you I panicked… thinking he might have killed you. I wish I could have gotten to him in time.

Come on Elizabeth Scott. It would take more than a nine millimeter round to get through this thick skull. He smiled slightly as he replied. Remember what I told you, our bones are stronger than yours.

Stronger than mine? I raised one eyebrow.

Okay, maybe not stronger than yours. He emphasized the last word. But stronger than… normal people’s anyway.

A smirk lit up his face, and I couldn’t resist the urge to kiss him… so I didn’t.

A moment later I reluctantly pulled away, and we continued walking. When we got to my back gate I took the key out of my purse and opened it. Benjamin Bennett was sitting on the back patio, reading a book under the light near the door. He looked up as the gate opened, then placed a marker in the book before setting it down.

It’s about time you two showed up. I was getting ready to call Isaac and get a rescue team ready to come look for you. He teased with a smile.

Sorry Ben. I smiled back at him.

It’s all good. He said standing. So… did I miss anything exciting?

Not really. I told him about what had happened, and he laughed when I mentioned the one prostitute hitting me with her purse.

So let me get this straight he said as he finished laughing, "you saved two hookers from a psycho pimp with a knife, Luke gets shot in the chest, and one of the girls smacks you in the head with her purse,