One Thousand Years to Forever

By Mary Moriarty

Colum O'Heachthanna is a warrior prince from Ireland and a Vampire. He has been around for most of the time that there has been humans on this earth and most of that time he has been without his mate.
One September day Katherine MacNamara goes to work like any other day but this is not just any day, it just so happens to be the day of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center Towers and she is there for a meeting. She doesn't know but today is going to change her life forever and she is going to meet the creature who has loved her for one thousand years. She just doesn't know that yet.
On that fateful day she loses her husband, is rescued by Colum and starts a chain of events that will ultimately bring her death... but will Colum be there this time to really save her forever?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary Moriarty
• Release date: Aug 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301930500

Mary Moriarty

I grew up in New England surrounded by a lot of history and story telling by my father who was from the Mid-Coast of Maine. What I remember of my mother was her love of fairy tales, the wee people and poetry. So it’s no wonder I would one day write.I actually started writing at a very young age, mostly poetry but I loved playing with words. I also loved books and before I even learned to read I would sit and pour over the books that had belonged to my mother. Works by writers such as Dante and Shakespeare filled the shelves. When I was about 6, I remember trying to read a first edition copy of Ivanhoe that belonged to her.So what does this author do when she isn't writing? Well I write 7 days a week, early in the morning but when not writing I love to read, knit (so I don't kill people... except in my books), chase around all my animals, there are way too many. I drink a lot of tea to keep me going, some people call me a tea snob. I love great tea like some people like great coffee, beer or wine.I love great tequila but reserve drinking that with one friend of mine.If you enjoy my books, tell your friends and family. Say hi over at my Facebook author page or my website.

Book preview

One Thousand Years to Forever

The Making of a Queen

By Mary Moriarty

Copyright © 2013, Mary Moriarty

Smashwords Edition

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, emailing, blogging, recording, or by any digital information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

* * * * * * *

I would like to take time to thank a few people…

First, to my husband Bob Stiehler, for being so supportive of my love of writing. I would like to thank my children and how they have been super supportive and for being some of my best advertising. I love you all, Megan, MaryKate, Patrick, Joseph, Ian, Daniel and Brendan.

For three of my best friends and readers: Karen, Diane and Monica. The encouragement and input has been invaluable to me.

To my beta reader and editor, Robin Hanks LaRosa. I appreciate all you have done and love you!!!

To my editor extraordinaire, Linda Robbs Gren. You are awesome and have helped me so much in this whole process. I love having you as my editor and love calling you my friend!!

For a dear friend, Tom Proctor, who put me in contact with Monica Hall and his sister, Linda. Through him, I now have a twin (Monica) who is as dear to me as any sister and my friend and his real sister who again is a dear friend and another sister from another mother and my editor. Thank you Tom!!

This book and any of the books to follow are in memory to my sweet dear friend and little Bro, Robert McClelland Smith. You were taken from us way too early and for me I have days that I want to share something with you but I know you are watching. You were such an inspiration to me, Rob, and you were always telling people about your ‘sis’ writing. I miss you beyond anything that can be put into words or I can express, BUT, I know you are up there somewhere smiling down with your Cheeky grin, and fishing. So, Rob, this book is for you, Mum and Jo: my ‘Other’ family. I love you!!!

To all my readers since the publication of my first book The Kings of Angkor: Army of a Thousand Elephants I write for you!

* * * * * * *

With writing the prologue I tried to keep it as close to the facts and the time line as possible. Since I was not living in the United States, but in Cambodia and was asleep, I didn’t even know till the next morning what had happened. It was the night of September 11th, in the USA, when I learned what had taken place. My current husband has been a Fire Fighter since he was 15, down in Long Island, and is also a 3rd generation Fire Fighter, lost boyhood friends that day. Being a Fire Fighter myself, I tried to treat that awful day with upmost respect for the fallen. I wrote that prologue in memory of the fallen brothers and sisters who died that day and for all the victims.

May we never forget.

Prologue

Sir, I think there is something you should see...

Colum O’Heachthanna looked up to the sound of his butler’s voice, he was looking out at the view that lay in front of him. As Colum stood, the door to his office crashed open and in walked his father. His steps, matched the size of his body: Long, large and strong.

Cormac O’Heachthanna barely looked at his son as he moved silently to the window next to their family butler.

Colum came to stand next to the two men, all three silent sentinels to the tragedy that was quickly unfolding. All three were quiet as each man was lost in his own thoughts. Then Colum spoke.

Does anyone know what happened?

The butler barely turned from the scene that was unfolding in front of them to the huge flat screen on the wall to their right, it blinked on.

As the three men watched the drama unfold the voice of the newscaster rose and fell with emotion and then, Oh My God, A second plane…it’s…it’s hit, it’s hit the South Tower...

Colum started to pace. I can’t let this happen again... she’s in the North Tower...

His father looked over at him calmly. Katherine?

Colum stared at his father, incredulous. Of course Katherine! He passed his father then brought his hand slamming down on the nearest table, a priceless antique within his reach. The table looked like it would withstand the blow but then gave way.

Cormac looked at his son and then at the table. Do what you need to do to get her out safely.

Colum threw on his leather coat and went for the door of the balcony. Thank you, father. I don’t think I could go through another lifetime waiting for her to grow up.

Try to get as many out with her as you can. His words were swallowed by the wind that came into the penthouse suite of their office from the balcony.

Their butler, Travis, looked at Cormac. He had been with them for almost one thousand years and he knew both men like they were his own family. They were in fact his family, since it was Colum who had created him after he lay dying on the battlefield at Clontarf. He had been Mael Morda, enemy to King Brian Boru but also the King’s brother-in-law. Cormac and Colum, father and son, had fought along with the High King but had respected Mael as a leader.

If I know young Colum, he will do his upmost to get as many out as he is able to. Sir...

Cormac turned tired eyes on Travis. How many times do I have to remind you that you don’t have to call me Sir? You are, in fact, my equal.

Begging your pardon, S- Sir, but if you don’t mind I will always be calling you Sir, as I am no longer in charge.

Cormac needed something to break. Not only was the world, his world, under attack but his son was going into harm’s way. However, he had complete confidence that he would succeed. He had been on tougher missions and he was, after all, not human, though he appeared to be. He was, in fact, half Fallen Angel and half vampire.

Don’t worry, Sir, he will be fine. He is after all, destined to be your successor. And, if I may say so, I think he will make a very good King.

Cormac looked out at the scene in front of them, to the smoke that shot to the sky from both towers, along with fireballs and debris that fell from both the buildings. He, Cormac O’Heachthanna, had seen too much hate, war, and destruction in his time especially as King. It would be good to step down in favor of his son.

Yes, he will make a very good King, actually, a great King but he needs his Queen.

* * * * * * *

John MacNamara knew he was in a dream. He felt like he was just floating along but he knew from the speed that he must be running. Smoke and debris fell as he ran. He looked around his beloved city and he knew something bigger than he had ever seen was happening. He tried to look up but he wasn’t able to or allowed. He was moving with a purpose and as he looked down he saw he had his turnout gear on. In his hands he was holding a box flashlight and an ax. As he was moving forward, he saw others moving out of the building that he approached.

He knew from instinct what was expected of him. He knew the chances that he was going to get out were slim. It was a gut feeling, but it was his job to get as many out as possible or die trying. He entered the building as people pushed past him. He could almost smell the smoke as he started to climb stairs, heard his breathing as he ran up the flight of stairs in the stairwell. As he climbed, floor after floor, there was a reason for his coming in here. The people around him were not panicking but moving with a purpose, trying as they may to get down and out while he continued on and upward.

He reached the twelfth floor and there she stood. She was framed by dust and smoke that was filtering down and she looked wild. Her red hair was a mess and her green eyes framed by black from her makeup but she was beautiful and she sighed a sigh of relief as she saw his face. She knew him, knowing him in his gear. He knew she would be thinking that together they would get out now. He was right behind her, but he wouldn’t be going with her not today, not ever. He had to get her out, but how to get his wife, his Irish witch, out of this hell that was soon going to descend upon them? Then he saw the man behind her, the biggest, tallest man he had ever seen but, where had he seen him before? Probably on the streets and he happened to be in this building. Looking him in his eyes they communicated silently to each other. Somehow John knew this man was meant to be here. That this man was meant for Katherine, his Katherine. He heard him say, I will take care of her and your children, don’t worry. Your memory will be honored.

He saw the look in his girl’s face, knew she would fight. She was, after all, a fighter and hadn’t they fought this morning over this very same thing? It had been a while since they had had such a fight but they had and now he knew he wouldn’t be coming home to talk, to make up, to make love, like they always did. There would be no going out on his bike for a long ride and finding a spot for just the two of them. No, he wouldn’t be going home now or ever. But this man would take Katherine out of here, out of harm’s way.

He reached up and touched her face one last time. Saw the tears pool in her beautiful eyes and then start to spill down her cheeks. Saw people pass by, trying to escape the fate that would not meet them today, but would be his. Then he heard his voice. Get her out!

Heard her scream, heard all the screams as they vibrated off the walls as he walked past and felt her body one last time and then felt her body as it was lifted up and away. She screamed, kicked and tore at the man who now carried her down the stairs as he kept going forward and up the stairs. He felt the shudder of the building and knew something worse had happened. Heard the screams of those around him but he kept going.

But this was just a dream and he would wake up and his little witch, his Irish witch, would be nestled next to him and he would turn her over and kiss her and make love like they always did and he would go to work and everything would be fine, because this was just a dream, after all...

* * * * * * ****

Katherine MacNamara stood, as did others, in the elevator of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. She was late, as she always was. Due, in fact, because of her kids and the fight she’d had with her husband, John. He had left just before her to start his shift at the fire station but not before they had one of their knock down drag out fights. It happened about twice a year and when it did the whole neighborhood knew the MacNamara’s were fighting. The Fighting Irish some called them in their neighborhood. Now, as she rode the elevator to the 106th floor she tried to think just what the fight was about. She looked at the people around her and saw everyone with their suits on, carrying brief cases. She noticed the floor marker read 60th floor, when all of a sudden the building shook with such force she thought earthquake, as did a lot of the others who voiced it in the elevator. She saw the time on her watch was 8:45 am. The lights blinked twice and then they went out. They all stood there quietly and then someone got out a lighter, another asked, Does anyone have a flashlight?

Katherine, being the wife and daughter of fire fighters, said, Yes.

All done calmly... a little too calmly, she would think later. After prying open the roof of the elevator hatch, they saw that they were still near the 60th floor, so one by one they started to climb up and out. What met their calm and quiet as they got out of the elevator shaft, was mass mayhem. Katherine stood there and then raised her voice. "We need to get to the nearest stairwell