Equilibrium II: Rebirth

By Catharina Shields

It’s always darkest before dawn...

Samantha returns as the powerful Slayer Maiden, but she’s undergone a few important changes. She’s reborn as a stronger, faster, and more durable Slayer yet she awakens after her rebirth disorientated and depressed.

She feels betrayed by those who she trusted and loved the most, and she’s angrier than she’s ever been in her entire life. All she can think about is . . . revenge.
But vengeance is not the way of the Slayer.

She returns to her hometown, wishing she could go back in time to when things were so much simpler for her. She wallows in sorrow, allowing her powers to fade, weakening herself as she awaits an inescapable death should her enemies find her.

But Julien finds her first.

He gives her a choice: to take up the mantle and her newly gained powers and fight as she was born to fight, or to give up, turn away from her destiny and surrender to her enemies.

This second book follows her journey from disillusioned, hurt, and angry Slayer Maiden to the greatest Slayer ever born, ringing in the new era of Slayer Maidens for herself . . . and for her unborn daughter.

But first she has to deal with her past because he’s come back as her sworn enemy and he’s determined to convince her she belongs with him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Catharina Shields
• Release date: Dec 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466187115

Catharina Shields

{PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LIST OF MY AVAILABLE E-BOOKS} I've always enjoyed storytelling, ever since I was a child. My love for storytelling has evolved from hand-drawn comic strips, to creating hand-puppets - "Meemies and Fluffies" - for my younger brother and sisters' morning puppet show, to writing stories in longhand in spirals armed with only a Penmate pen while battling a stiff hand and dreaming of a day when I'd finally own a typewriter. Today, in my peaceful Southern California home near the mountains, I can't go a day without my computer and I now enjoy storytelling via my e-books, specializing in mystery, drama, Young Adult and paranormal romance. If you've read one of my books and like them, please leave a review, good or bad, and add me as a favorite author {a single click on a button to your left is all it takes}. Remember . . . reviews are tips for Authors.

Book preview

It’s always darkest before dawn . . .

Samantha returns as the powerful Slayer Maiden, but she’s undergone a few important changes. She’s reborn as a stronger, faster, and more durable Slayer yet she awakens after her rebirth disorientated and depressed. She feels betrayed by those who she trusted and loved the most, and she’s angrier than she’s ever been in her entire life.

All she can think about is . . . revenge. But vengeance is not the way of the Slayer.

She wasn’t born to hate or to be vindictive. She was born with a brave but gentle, compassionate heart. That’s why she’s the Chosen One—in more ways than she could have ever imagined. Instead of meting out punishment to those who have wronged her, she flees and decides to quit being the Slayer.

She returns to her hometown, wishing she could go back in time to when things were so much simpler for her. She wallows in sorrow, allowing her powers to fade, weakening herself as she awaits an inescapable death should her enemies find her.

But Julien finds her first.

He gives her a choice: to take up the mantle and her newly gained powers and fight as she was born to fight, or to give up, turn away from her destiny and surrender to her enemies. He leaves that choice to her, but no matter what choice she makes, he refuses to leave her side.

This second book follows her journey from disillusioned, hurt, and angry Slayer Maiden to the greatest Slayer ever born, ringing in the new era of Slayer Maidens for herself . . . and for her unborn daughter.

But first she has to deal with her past because he’s come back as her sworn enemy and he’s determined to convince her she belongs with him . . .

**~~**

Equilibrium II

Rebirth

Published by

Catharina Shields at Smashwords.com

Copyright 2011 by Catharina Shields

Cover Design by Catharina Shields

Edited by C.Shields

All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition

Author’s Note:

This is an original work of fiction and the second book in the Equilibrium series.

All characters depicted are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental. All characters are 18 years of age or older.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

**~~**

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Phoenix Rising

Chapter Two: Bittersweet Reunion

Chapter Three: T.M.I. for Samantha

Chapter Four: Slayer’s Heart Revisited

Chapter Five: Mending Her Broken Heart

Chapter Six: The Power of Cashush

Chapter Seven: Second Chances

Chapter Eight: Mirrorless Revealed

Chapter Nine: Repo

Chapter Ten: Battle of the Beasts

Chapter Eleven: Unkept Promises

Chapter Twelve: The Rise of Conflict

Chapter Thirteen: Burgeoning Conflict

Chapter Fourteen: Ominous Predictions

Chapter Fifteen: The Transition

Chapter Sixteen: A Melding of Hearts

Bonus Excerpt: Equilibrium III: Conflict

Links to Other Titles from Catharina Shields

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About the Author

Chapter One

Phoenix Rising

The Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery . . .

Who would’ve guessed she had a weak heart? Agent Miller said quietly to his partner as they rose from their uncomfortable fold-out chairs. The funeral services were over and people were quietly moving around now, speaking in hushed tones.

She was too young to have an acute heart attack. Guess she wasn’t as strong as she made everyone believe, Agent Border said calmly. Was she an organ donor, Jim?

Yes. They remove those things during preparation anyhow, so there’s no way she could survive this. I would’ve preferred cremation to be sure, but apparently her family was against it, Agent James Miller said, shrugging shoulders.

Well, either way, I guess this ends it for us, doesn’t it, Jim?

It sure does.

The cemetery was full of uniformed cops and other department personnel. It was a dreary, rainy day when rookie officer Samantha Kensington was laid to rest. Her casket was perched on unseen braces, surrounded by green tarp, and ready to be lowered into her final resting place. Her family had been notified, but none were present.

Alan Briggs stood pale by his fold-out chair. Just like the other cops there, he was donned in full dress uniform for special occasions such as this. Unlike his cold-faced partner, Alan Briggs looked sad and precariously close to tears. He felt guilty; convinced he had something to do with her premature death.

He was certain both he and Ken had pushed her too far. He never knew she had a heart condition. No one ever said a thing, and she wouldn’t have passed her physical if that were the case. No. He didn’t believe the coroner’s report. It was just a cover-up, an excuse. The department was lying. The coroner was lying. They were the ones who did this to her. They fucked up. The department, the doctors, the nurses, and I.A . . . him.

He felt eyes on him. He looked up, and through his tears he saw Detective Chateau looking at him. He was standing with the chief and the other detectives on the other side, and he was watching him with an unreadable look. Alan felt his face fall in shame, and he looked down, unable to look at the one man with the Seattle P.D. who hadn’t acted like an asshole toward Sam.

This was all too much. He was going nuts. He had to be. But the threat of insanity gave birth to sanity, and he felt he was having an epiphany. He was beginning to see clearly now, and he felt all the more . . . miserable for it.

Alan looked over at his partner’s face, but then his jaw turned to stone. He saw the callous asshole winking at a pretty commissary woman who smiled back. He was shocked. Horrified. Appalled. He couldn’t believe that fucking S.O.B.! A fellow cop, a colleague of theirs now cold in the casket—how could Ken be so disrespectful? How could he sit there, flirting with another woman while one of their own . . .?

Ken really never gave a shit about anything or anyone. Fucking jerk.

Asshole, Alan ground out.

Hearing it, the dark haired cop snapped his head around, but his partner already marched away. What’s eatin’ you, Al? Ken snarled after him, wishing he could go after him and knock some sense into him. But Al didn’t even look back. Idiot, he muttered, disgruntled.

When the ceremonies were over, the guests left as quickly as they possibly could without appearing rude. The weather had been threatening a violent rain storm since the morning, and it was only a matter of time before it would all come down on their heads.

Soon, the cemetery was devoid of people. The casket stood all alone over its plot, exposed to natural elements as it awaited the arrival of the mortuary personnel to finally lower it into the ground. Evening was falling fast, and the damp air was cold and thick.

Oh, it was going to rain all right. With a vengeance.

It began with an innocent enough drizzle, but that was short lived. Soon, it was pouring from the black, thundering skies. The breeze whipped up into gusty winds making trees sway and sending droplets of rain every which way. A few floral pieces and wreaths blew down. Fat drops of rain began hitting the lid of the casket. Rat-tat-tat, it clattered. Louder, faster, and harder.

Thunder rolled in, growling behind black, stormy clouds before it cracked. Lightning flashed, splitting the black canopy apart, signaling the arrival of the promised, vicious storm. Soon, rain came down in sheets, transforming the manicured cemetery into a muddy mess.

The top of the casket suddenly bumped. Once. Twice. Then all was quiet again.

In the next instant, the thick wood and padding squeaked and groaned when the casket appeared to grow pregnant just before it gave way under the pressure coming from within. An explosion of splintering wood and ripping cloth tore through the air at the same time as thunder roared in the skies, and the casket’s lid burst open, punched to pieces by a single blow from a single fist.

Samantha sat up with a long, torturous haul of breath. She clutched the sides of the casket until her knuckles were white, gulping huge amounts of precious fresh air as rain poured over her, drenching her in seconds.

"What the hell?? she cried, completely disoriented and in shock. Then she got an even bigger shock when she noticed what she was wearing. What the HELL??" she shouted, seeing she was dressed in a sheer, white burial gown with veil. She looked like a friggin virgin bride.

The rains poured in sheets down over her, rapidly filling the casket she was in. She quickly rose to her feet making it shake on its hidden braces, and she looked down to see her feet were now submerged in rising water.

Thunder cracked far away, and with a sharp gasp, she looked up at the pouring skies just when lightning flashed and split the black canopy, sending electrifying tentacles bolting their way down . . . to her.

Uh oh, she muttered.

She stood in water and those multiple-finger bolts of lightning seemed to be coming straight for her. In the next instant, she cried out when they finally struck. An explosion of bright light followed, but when it vanished, Samantha now stood beside the casket dressed all in black. Her eyes were glowing a beautiful blue-green light from the opening of her black mask, and didn’t really show the confusion in them as she snapped up her head to look around.

Then she spotted something bright orange. It was Chi, and he was sitting in one of the fold-outs under a large, black umbrella. He was looking calmly back at her as rain poured down on his umbrella and poured all around him.

Chi? she said, confused and still disorientated. "What . . . Was that friggin lightning?! Did I just get struck by lightning?? What the hell!"

Welcome back, Mistress, Chi said calmly and rose to his feet. Then he surprised her when he gave his very first, gentle smile. Now come. Your obese pet awaits your return. You have many questions. We have much to do.

We have much to do because I have a lot of questions I need you to answer, Chi! Samantha said as she followed the tiny monk out of the cemetery. And none of that cryptic sh-sh-stuff, Chi! You know how I hate puzzles. I need ‘em nice and straight, okay? You can start by explaining to me what the hell was I doing in a casket!

When they left the cemetery, with Samantha schooling the ever-silent monk, two Chinese men, huddled in yellow plastic ponchos, appeared. They quietly carried their large bags and shovels, and began cleaning up the mess around a grave that would now remain empty.

As they finished lowering the destroyed casket into the ground, they suddenly paused. As the rain poured down over them, they both raised their heads and peered into the distance, seeing the tall silhouette of a man standing in the shadows of some low hanging trees.

Their expressionless faces remained directed his way. They didn’t move, or even blink. They seemed frozen as they stared back. Then they watched as the tall figure turned and silently walked back into the shadows . . .

**~~**

Athenian Seafood & Bar, Seattle WA., 10:36 p.m.

In human form, Julia Protonovich was a sensual, beautiful woman. Her powerful, almost tangible sex appeal stemmed from the werecat inside her, and it was that part of her what drew the attention of men and women alike wherever she went.

That evening was no different.

Despite the rain and cold, she chose a skin-tight, sleeveless green dress. It left very little to the imagination, but it emphasized her animalistic sensuality. She was, obviously, the focal point of many, but she sat alone at the seafood bar enjoying a large platter of oysters and fresh salmon, she seemed completely content to dine alone.

Kenneth Terrance entered the busy seafood bar, letting his dark eyes scan the bustling restaurant. It looked as if he were searching for someone special although he rarely came to that part of town. He wasn’t in uniform since it was his day off, so he was dressed, casually, in a blue shirt, blue denims, and a black leather jacket.

As he walked in, he noticed a pretty woman ogling him, and he winked at her, uncaring she was with someone. Although it was pretty clear the woman appreciated his attention, her table companion was far less enamored. He glared back, but all he got for his effort was a cocky wink as Ken passed their table and headed straight for the seafood bar.

Julia was busy slurping on an oyster, smacking with relish. She was really into her seafood, enjoying the fresh dish the establishment was well-known for. A particularly bold man, in his mid-thirties, having finally gathered up enough nerve to approach her, walked over to the bar stool beside hers. But before he could take his seat, a bold male hand shoved him back.

Hey!

"Hey what, Shithead?" Ken said as he grinned coldly down at the shorter man.

Stanley Breggar was the offended man’s name, and he wanted to defend his right to the bar stool. But as he looked up into the taller, younger man’s cold, dark glinting eyes he suddenly thought better of it. The guy had aggression oozing out of every pore, and as beautiful and sexy as that lady was, she wasn’t worth a bloodied fist fight. He was sure that’s what it would eventually come to because the guy looked as if he were itching for a good brawl.

Being the wise man Stanley has always been, he merely mumbled a profane word, and turned before he walked away, beating a disgruntled retreat.

Of course, Ken couldn’t be happy with that win. His grin widened, watching the man slink off, but he couldn’t help himself as he called after him, Good call, Pal! You’re a smart guy! Then his attention returned to the sexy woman’s delicate profile as she calmly continued sucking on another oyster shell. Hey, Baby, he cooed. You look kinda lonely sittin’ here all by your sexy self. Want some company?

Not particularly, she said without looking at him. She even looked bored.

You sure are enjoying those oysters. Ken let his gaze roam down her body. The way you’re sucking on all that wet, fleshy stuff tells me they’re not doin’ it for you, he said, suggestively. Maybe what you need is something bigger, thicker, and harder to satisfy your hunger.

Julia’s bored expression deepened.

By the way, Sexy, Ken continued, undisturbed, it’s your lucky night. I just happen to have something bigger, thicker, and harder you can slurp on. Why don’t we leave this place so I can show you?

She paused before her lashes swept up. She looked at the bold stranger’s reflection in the mirrored wall across her, seeing him looking back with more confidence than she’s seen in any other men. She calmly set the oyster down, dipped slender fingers in the bowl of lemon juice and water, and took her linen napkin.

Are you always this forward with the ladies? she asked while wiping her fingers dry.

Only the sexy ones, Ken answered with a confident grin.

I see. Julia arched a brow. Well, take care of my bill, and I’ll see what you’ve got.

You bet! he said, his grin stretching wider across his handsome face.

He raised his hand and snapped fingers, and the waiter rushed over to their side of the bar. Ken pulled out his wallet, not missing how the woman’s eyes dropped to see what he had in it, and he smiled. He knew she saw how packed it was, and that’s exactly what he wanted her to see. He aimed to impress.

The bill for this young lady and you can wrap the rest of these up to go, Ken said to the waiter, smiling at the woman’s purring, suddenly sweet, smiling face.

The couple got up, and Julia let her date carry her doggy bag as they made their way to the exit where his arm snaked possessively around her slender waist. The couple was so engrossed in one another that they were oblivious to everything and everyone around them. They didn’t even notice they were being watched, and had been, for some time now.

Even before Ken had entered the Athenian, a tomboyish young woman in a baseball jacket and cap, sat quietly in one corner of the crowded establishment. She’d been watching Julia all this time, and she’d been briefly surprised to see Ken Terrance enter. But Samantha couldn’t be happier to see, that tonight, she was going to swat two flies.

Now, as they left, she watched them like a hawk. She waited a few more minutes as all her senses homed in on them. Her eyes showed a hard glint as she stared at them from under her visor as a swift, blue gleam passed across her irises. When she felt it was time, she tossed some bills on the table, and exited the place . . . and proceeded on the hunt.

**~~**

A small apartment in a not-so-nice part of the Waterfront

The door to Julia’s temporary apartment burst open. The light from the outside hall poured in as she and Ken stumbled in, already hot and heavy at it. He was holding her flexible body to his, already painfully aroused and she giggled when she felt it. His hand shoved the door shut as they hungrily kissed, enveloping them in darkness again.

She breathed heavily as she quickly unzipped herself out of her dress while she let him happily assist her. She stripped down to her underwear and laughed, as he quickly tugged down her dress to a puddle around her feet. She tried to be helpful, already busy with unbuckling and unzipping his jeans, but to her surprise, he revealed how impatient he was when he suddenly grabbed her to him. It was as if he couldn’t bear to be a second away from her body, and it made her all the hotter.

He suddenly shoved her back and she landed on her small, narrow bed. She laughed as he tugged down his loose jeans making his erection spring out and bounce as he came to her. He bent and tugged off her black thong impatiently before tossing it as callously aside as he did her black bra. He nearly jumped her as he dropped over her, but he was welcomed with wide open arms and even wider legs.

Get undressed, Baby, she purred. I wanna feel all of that beautiful body.

"How about you just get wet for me, Beautiful, because