Fenridge (The Ethereal Crossings, 2)

By D.L. Miles

Liv has been tormented for the past five weeks with fevers, mood swings, and a crushing disappointment. After the killings were solved she thought she would return to her old self, and go back to work not caring about much; but her fever won’t go away, and she’s actually started to black out from it. Not only that, Jared hasn’t contacted her, and Luke seems to be keeping a strange distance as well.
Everything goes from bad to worse when Dr. Wineman shows up on her doorstep and tells her that her fever is a symptom of her Change, and she’s going through the process of becoming Eidolon. What Eidolon though is a mystery, and nobody seems to recognize what she’s turning into.
There have also been a recent string of animal attacks, and a government agency that nobody has heard of has stepped in to help. They begin to look into the deaths, and are led straight to Liv. She shrugs them off, but now when she blacks out she’s started to see visions of people dying, real people. And she’s started to be overcome with an inexplicable urge to follow, and help, the killer no matter the cost.

• Language: English
• Publisher: D.L. Miles
• Release date: Oct 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301829804

D.L. Miles

Miles is a Sun Scorpio with the heart of a Moon Pisces. She began her publishing journey in 2012, admittedly maybe a little too soon. Her eclectic taste comes through in each book she writes, ranging from soft fantasy romances to dark brooding poetry to serial killers that hold a grudge.For special offers and updates check out her Patreon! www.patreon.com/dlmilesbooks

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Fenridge

D.L. Miles

Copyright 2012 by Devin Miles

Smashwords Edition – Revised 2022

Smashwords Edition, License notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. Though the digital copy can be downloaded in different formats, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Cover design by D.L. Miles

Books by D.L. Miles

The Ethereal Crossings

Shadeland

Fenridge

Northcliffe

Glenbrook

The Dark Origins

Shimmering

Phasing

Igniting

The Monarchy

The Argent Star

The Howling Jade

Goderich Girl Novellas

Violet 24

Rouge 52

Poetry

Love Notes to Nightmares

Love Notes to Nightmares II

Astral Bodies

The Gifts of Hannah Best (18+)

Threads of Chaos

With Cross & Charm

Prologue

The bounty hunter raced back to Ellengale as fast as his car would take him, but it just wasn’t fast enough.  The text message made his heart stop.  It might already be too late, and the message was too cryptic to figure anything else out.  But he wasn’t about to risk stopping to make a call; he needed to be in Ellengale now.

He swore as he reread the text message, only taking his eyes off the highway for a few seconds.

She might not survive? he questioned.  What does that even mean?

The Charger flew past a slow-moving minivan, two kids in the backseat watching something on an iPad.  The hunter's hands gripped the steering wheel, his teeth grinding together as his foot pressed harder on the gas pedal.  An old habit surfaced, and he brushed a hand through his hair.

This wasn’t something he was used to.  He had been worried, sure, but terrified of something he knew nothing about?  That was new. 

As he pictured her face in his mind, he wondered why she’d affected him so much.  She hadn’t done anything special or anything he hadn’t seen before.  Well, that wasn’t true; she had stared at him, and his gun, without even blinking.  Not only that, she demanded he let her help him, and travel with him.  One hand smashed against the wheel as he remembered how quickly he had left her.  I should have stayed, he thought, made sure everything was okay.

Ensure she was okay.

He had thought she would move on after her friend went free, and he would become an old memory.  The fact that she hadn’t contacted him made him think she had.  But then again, he hadn’t contacted her either, and look at him now; breaking all the limits to try and find her, all because of one little text message.

Thinking of the message made him want to read it again, as if there would somehow be new information he had missed the first hundred times he read it.

But it didn’t have anything new on it, just the same twelve words.

Liv needs help.  Something’s wrong with her, and she might not survive. – Luke

The bounty hunter pressed his foot hard on the gas as he passed a sign reading Welcome to Ellengale.

Chapter 1

Two days earlier…

The footsteps in the lecture hall created an echo all around me, only making my headache worse.  Everyone spoke too loudly as they trailed down the stairs while Luke and I stood at the very top, as we had for every other lesson of New History. At the bottom Dr. Wineman, aka Luke’s new best friend Richard, rifled through some papers, seemingly busy as students said their goodbye’s.

Are you alright? Luke questioned, watching as I rubbed at my temples.

Yeah, I lied, just a headache.

But it wasn’t just a headache, was it?  Before I could try and change the subject Luke did it for me and motioned to the front of the beige room; everyone was gone, and we were free to talk to the doctor.  Or he was at least.  We made our way down the stairs, my head throbbing with every step.

It’s hard to believe it’s already been six weeks, Luke started as we approached Richard.  But we’re still going to be seeing each other, right?

Of course.  Dr. Wineman gave us a small smile.  They agreed to see each other often so Luke could learn of his heritage, and his heritage did not involve me.  Six weeks ago he dragged me to this stupid course on the true history of the world so that I could learn about the Eidolon, the not-so-newly declared supernatural citizens of Earth, but I still wasn’t allowed to learn about Luke; he was a fae pureblood.  No humans allowed, especially when it involved Shadeland, their home dimension.

Dr. Wineman turned to me after a few more words with Luke and asked, How are you feeling, Liv?  Do you still have a fever?

Not today, I shrugged.  A few weeks ago I had gotten suddenly sick, and at the worst possible time too.  Luke was an accused killer, women in town were being murdered and I was in bed with a fever.  But when everything was done I had gotten better; and then worse.  And then better.  And worse again.

I didn’t know what to do about it; I was taking more vitamins, trying to eat more vegetables but whatever I did I would get a fever every few days and be stuck unconscious at home.  

Well you really should see a doctor, Richard scolded as if he were my own father, it could merely be a symptom of something worse.

I guess.  I eyed his sharp features and graying hair, wondering if he was telling me to talk to him.  I still didn’t even know what kind of Eidolon he was, and he refused to tell me.  It bothered me, that secret.  

You must be tired.  Dr. Wineman patted me on the shoulder, something he often did to both me and Luke.  It took me a few times to realize it was because he wasn’t comfortable with human contact; and it really was just human contact.  He had no trouble being near other Eidolon.

Can you drive Luke? I asked, picking the keys out of my jean jacket pocket.

Of course.  

We said our goodbyes to the doctor quickly, thankfully.

Walking through the wooden doors to the lobby of B Hall made me feel nauseous, and not because of the fever.  I’d witnessed a murder here.  This was where I had seen the third victim, Heather, die.  Well, it was in the bathroom, but the lobby gave me the same dread.

Luke pushed open the glass panes to the outside, letting the sticky warm air hit my face.  I grimaced and pulled a bottle of water from my the black bag that hung from my shoulder.  It was one of four bottles I carried with me constantly.  With the fevers came an annoying thirst, and my throat was always burning.

Every time I left a lecture I was hoping to see a certain car parked nearby, but there never was.  A dark ‘69 Charger with a surly man behind the wheel never showed up as I kept hoping.

Luke opened the passenger side door for me and I climbed in, exhausted.  Tomorrow I would definitely have to call in sick to work.  Again.  I was surprised I hadn’t been fired.  It was only a simple data entry job, and easily covered by someone else, but still.  I didn’t like how small my recent paychecks had become.

When Luke finished adjusting the mirrors and seat he drove off, at a daring five kilometers below the speed limit.  Noticing he wasn’t playing with the radio like usual I pulled my phone out of my bag and began to scroll through old text messages.  I would never admit it to anyone, but whenever I felt lonely I would look at a certain text message and feel just slightly better.  But as time went on, its effects weakened.

Still hasn’t called, huh? Luke asked, giving me a quick sideways glance.  His fingers drummed against the steering wheel, beating along with each throb at my temples.

Nope, I said and shoved my phone back into the front pocket.

He must be busy, Luke offered, shifting his hands around on the leather, I mean, he is a bounty hunter.

If Jared wanted to contact me, he would have by now.

Liv, he began but I cut him off.

It’s fine. 

Because it was.  I was always fine when people didn’t call when they said they would, and I was always fine when people ditched me at the last second to hang out with doctors.  I was fine.  That’s it.

I really didn’t like taking the elevator to get upstairs anymore, but since Luke was there I thought I would live.  We had just gotten a new neighbour next to us; he had taken over the apartment Charlie once occupied.  And he was really irritating.

Luke said he just liked me, since he was nineteen and new in town.  Katsutoshi Koga, or Kat for short, had just moved here from Japan and was trying to make friends, apparently.  I found him tiring, always talking to me, or trying to find out where I worked, or asking how I was feeling.  He was a stranger, why did he need to know these things?

Not only that, he was Eidolon.  He never actually told me he was, but he wore an Eidolon Pride pin with blue, pink, and red stripes on his backpack.  I wondered why he wouldn’t wear it on his shirt or jacket.  Not too proud, it seemed.

The elevator chimed and the doors slid open revealing an empty hallway.  I hurried down under the yellow lights with Luke, hoping that Kat wouldn’t be getting in or going out; that seemed to happen a lot whenever I tried to open my front door.  But today I made it inside without any grief, and sighed as I closed the door behind us.

Home was nice and cold.  The apartment I had finally moved all of my stuff into with Luke was small, but it was my official home now; on my driver’s license and everything.

My dad had been worried about me and offered to have both me and Luke stay with him after we had both nearly died and/or been wrongfully incarcerated, but I refused.  There was no way I could live with him when I could pass out every other week.

Take some medicine! Luke called as I scurried to my room.  When I shut the door I inhaled deeply, finally able to have a bit of silence.  I closed my eyes, letting the quiet seep into my skin until my newest roommate brushed against my foot..

Hi Azazel.  I sighed and leaned over to pick up the ancient demon.  He had grown quite a bit in the past few weeks, but still managed to look so fragile.  He nuzzled under my chin and made me smile, his soft fur comforting.  How was it that an Eidolon as old as the world could do that?  

Well, he did like humans.

That was why he had been trying to help us, or help me I should say.  He was always there when I had needed him; he led me through the crime scene at Alice’s, he had stopped me from drowning myself while hunting a mermaid, and he had even helped us find the real killer.  And what did it get him?  Banished into the body of a cat and given to a human by his leaders.

I flinched, thinking of how the Circle had come into my room without a sound and vanished just as easily.  After one more stroke I set Azazel down onto the bed next to my phone and walked behind my wooden room divider.  Since I’d gotten Azazel I found I couldn’t change in the room with him there.  So, Luke picked up a lightweight foldable divider for a bit of privacy.

Once I was in a tank top and silk shorts I came back around the divider to find Azazel nosing at my phone.

What are you doing?  I gave him a pat and picked up the phone.  It buzzed in my hand, a call coming in as the screen displayed Unknown Number.  My heart skipped a beat and I answered, Hello?

Hey Livy! my older brother’s voice came onto the phone.  Did I wake you?

Oh…hi Neeson, I said, falling back onto my bed and making Azazel scurry away to his cat tower in the corner.

Is that any way to greet your favourite brother? he mocked.

Yes.  What did you need?  My tone had a hard edge to it.  I didn’t mean it, but lately it happened more and more.  Everything gave me a jolt of irritation across my chest–everyone got on my nerves.

Okay, okay, Neeson said, I just wanted to ask what you were getting Joshua for his birthday this Sunday.

Do you mean you want to ask me to get you something to give him, or are you actually wondering what I got him?

Ah…  My brother feigned innocence.  Both?

I sighed, rubbing at my temples.  Fine, I’ll pick you something up and wrap it.  Like every other year.

I love you, Neeson sang and I rolled my eyes.

Whatever, I said, goodbye.

See you Sunday, kid.

I hung up the phone and set it back on the bed, flopping an arm over my eyes.

I should have expected Neeson to call and ask what I would get for him to give to Joshua, but I had completely forgotten.  My own gift for my younger brother’s fifteenth birthday was already wrapped and ready to go over a month ago.  Was it really August already?

Had he really not contacted me in over a month?

A knock at my door pulled me out of my thoughts and Luke poked his head inside.  I moved my arm to peer at him with one eye as he asked, Hey, are you going to be okay for Sunday?

Yes, I mumbled, covering up my eyes again, I’ll be fine.  I have to get a gift for Neeson tomorrow though.

Oh.  Luke laughed and came into the room, falling onto the bed beside me.  The mattress bounced me up and down, dizzying my already swirling thoughts.  He said, Every year, huh?

Yup, I drew out.

Do you want me to go with you?  That way I can drive if you feel like passing out, or I could just go for you.  You should probably rest anyway.

I heard Azazel jump up onto the bed with unusual strength for a kitten.  His paws pressed into my stomach as he moved towards Luke, but took a sudden turn and began to poke at my hand.  I stroked under his chin with my thumb and considered Luke’s offer.

Could you come?  I have something in mind so it shouldn’t take too long.

Of course.  I felt the smile in his voice.  Get some rest.

Luke left the room and I crawled into bed.  Maybe tomorrow the void in my chest and stomach would finally go away.

Chapter 2

The mall was not the place I wanted to be.  Honestly, I just wanted to go back to bed, or play on my Switch while Luke switched channels on the TV.  I wasn’t sure why I didn’t just buy a second gift when I went out the first time, but I was lucky to even remember Joshua’s birthday was coming up.  I sighed and peered into the sports store window, taking note of the sleek black workout gear the mannequins wore.

Are you sure you want to be here? Luke asked as he reached for me.  I pulled away and rounded the corner into the store.  He followed closely behind.

It won’t take too long.  I shrugged and ignored a store associate as they greeted me.  Luke waved at them instead and they moved on to the next customer.  I searched the walls for something but  couldn’t find what I was looking for.  I wasn’t even sure what I was looking for really.  Yesterday I had something in mind, but actually walking into the leather scented store I completely forgot what that was.  The throngs of people pushing to get in every direction was jostling me as well, and the longer I wandered around, the more upset I felt.

I circled the store twice before leaving in a huff.  Luke followed in silence.

The Ellengale Mall wasn’t big, but it was annoyingly crowded on a Saturday.  I pushed through a mob of mothers with their toddlers and strollers and found a plush white leather bench to sit on.  It smelled like people here, the stench of body odor and perfume overwhelming me.  That had never happened before.

Do you want to try Nevermore? Luke suggested beside me.  

I was leaning forward onto my knees, cupping my face in my hands.  I really hated shopping at malls.  I really hated shopping in person and not online.  I hated the fact that I could spot when people eyed Luke with that spark of recognition.  Even though he had been proved innocent, there were a few unsure humans that would avoid him on the street.

Nevermore?  What’s that again? I asked.

It’s the antique store they just put in, he explained, it’s just down by the food court.

Antique store? I questioned.  What on Earth would Joshua want from an antique store?

They usually have old Nintendo posters there, never know, we might find one he doesn’t have.  Luke answered my unvoiced question.  He did that a lot, and lately it had been hard to tell if it was because he was fae, or because he knew me well.  I always told myself that he knew me, we had grown up together, but after I discovered I could no longer feel his powers on me I wondered.

Might as well.  I let out a heavy sigh and stood.  Luke led me to Nevermore, a small store filled with shiny baubles, vintage cameras, and supposedly ancient artifacts behind glass.  Nothing looked too ancient to me…but maybe I was biased with a cat that was thousands of years old.

I’ll talk with the guy, just take it easy, Luke instructed.  He walked off to speak with someone behind the counter while I browsed.

The store was nice but smelled like dust, the only indication that the items were past their prime.  I moved around antique pieces of furniture when a cabinet of jeweled rings caught my eye.  Normally I wasn’t one to wear anything but the pieces here were so alluring.  I stepped over to them, watching as their gems reflected coloured light onto the black velvet holder.

I kept my gaze down, hoping another store associate wouldn’t feel the need to talk to me.  Thankfully Luke held the attention of the sole employee.

We’ve got some over here, he said from beyond a shelf of vintage dolls.  Based on their footfalls I would say he was led to the back of the store.  What kind did you say you were looking for?

I glanced away from the jewels for a moment as if I could follow them with my eyes.  I listened for a moment as they discussed the differences between two games.  When I turned back to the various sparkling rings I took a sharp inhale noticing something else; a box.

Decorated in shelves and waves, it was silver all over.  If it had colour at one point I couldn’t tell, and when I felt the heavy weight in my hand I realized it was genuine silver.  The little voice in my head that kept track of my spending wasn’t present, and even with my dwindling paydays I risked checking the price.  I tipped the lid back to find a red satin lining, and a small tag reading $400.  My fingers shut the top gently before running them over the curly seashells.  I didn’t know why but I couldn’t put it down.

A shot of pain ran between my temples and I winced.  I carried the box with me to the counter where I found Luke was already paying for something, a large rectangular bag in his hand.  When the transaction finished he turned to me and said, I found something Josh will love.  What did you get?

I looked at the silver in my hand and didn’t answer as I set it on the counter.  Being away from it made me feel almost…sad.

Is that everything? the man asked.  When he narrowed his eyes to me they nearly disappeared beneath bushy white eyebrows.  Round glasses perched on the tip of his thin nose, and the way the light bounced off the black frame hurt my eyes.  I squinted and nodded.

Yes, please, I said, do you take debit here?

Of course.  The man suddenly sniffed the air, and his eyes shifted from blue to white for a fraction of a second.  He smiled sweetly and said, And for you, half price.

I didn’t question why I was getting it at half price.  I didn’t question why he sniffed the air or why his eyes had changed.  Instead I just paid and watched as he placed the silver piece into a small black box, then a plastic bag, and passed it to me.

Thanks, I muttered and quickly left the store.  My head spun over the idea of spending $200.00 on something I couldn’t even use.  But the idea of parting with it made my chest hurt.  I wandered over to a bench on shaky legs, Luke close behind.

What’s wrong? he asked, helping me sit down onto the leather.  Are you okay?  Do you want to go home?

Yeah, I said, pressing down on my forehead, I don’t feel right.

Luke dropped me off at the apartment and went to do his weekly grocery shopping.  Despite my rising fever I no longer wanted to sleep.  I had been sleeping far too often and it only seemed to make me feel worse.

The elevators chimed and released me.  As soon as my foot stepped around the corner to the apartment Kat’s door opened and he came out with a grin on his tanned face.  His hair was spiked forward today and he dressed in all black from the crystal studs in his ears to the shoelaces on his boots.

Liv! he cheered.  How are you feeling today?  Still feverish?

A bit, I admitted, turning my key against the deadbolt.  After a moment I added, How are you?  

I was just trying to be polite; he was my neighbour after all.

I’m good.  He shrugged and leaned against his doorway.  I pursed my lips at him.  Wasn’t he going somewhere?  He noticed the bag in my hand and asked, What did you get?

A jewelry box, I said.  Before I knew I was moving I reached inside the bag to show him like an excited child.  When I lifted the lid of the black box to reveal my treasure his dark brown eyes lit up.

Beautiful! he cried, not reaching for it as I had anticipated.  Instead he remained in his doorframe.  Did you get it at Nevermore?

I did, actually.  I set the box back inside the bag and decided to push my door open, hoping he would take the hint.  Why?

Kat set a hand on his open door as he prepared to shut it.  He smiled and just said, He likes people like us.

A phone rang inside his apartment and he darted in with a rush goodbye.

People like us? I asked the air.  It took me a minute to understand, my fever making me a touch delirious.  He had meant Eidolon, the people that weren’t human.  That was why the sales associate had sniffed the air; he could smell that Luke was fae, and gave me the discount.  I shrugged to myself, happy with the discount and moved into my room.

Azazel was bouncing up and down on the bed at amazing heights, but as soon as I stepped in he stopped and looked at me, ears perked and eyes wide.  He skittered beneath the unmade sheets, embarrassed that he had been caught doing something childish.  I laughed; this wasn’t the first time I had caught him in the act.

He liked watching television too, usually children’s shows.  He absolutely adored the sink, always turning the tap on himself to run underneath it.  I wouldn’t mind him doing it, if he didn’t go to my pillow to dry off.  For an ancient creature, he was quite…amusing.

I’m back, Azazel, I said, even though it was obvious.  Were you having fun?

The creature poked his head out from under the blankets, yellow eyes glowing, before coming over to run between my legs.  I took the silver box out of the bag and kneeled down to show it to him.  I asked, What do you think?  Pretty?

After letting Azazel sniff