The Rise of Chaos

By AnnMarie Stone

All Anastasia has ever wanted was to start a new life, a normal life, a life without her parents. As soon as Anastasia gets that chance however, she discovers quickly that a normal life was never a possibility for someone like her.

Anastasia has always known that she was different, but she has never understood why. Two mysterious strangers, identical twins, offer answers that she desperately seeks, but can she trust what they tell her? One is evil and a creature of Chaos, the other is Light and a being filled with a Pure soul. Unfortunately for Anastasia, it’s no longer clear which is which.

Chaos had already separated Anastasia from her soul mate, weakening her own purity. With her defenses down, she is a perfect target for Chaos to seep in and take control. Chaos has already corrupted her father, could she be next? Or will her determination to save her true love from the same fate be enough to protect her from corruption?

When Chaos threatens to extinguish Light once and for all, Anastasia will have to decide which side to fight on. The unique abilities that have always made Anastasia different from everyone else are the very same abilities that may save or condemn her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AnnMarie Stone
• Release date: Jun 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310545245

AnnMarie Stone

I was born and raised in Arizona and currently live in Phoenix. The heat can be difficult during the summer, but I try my best to spend most of my time during the hottest months indoors writing. I would love to travel someday and I hope that my writing will take me many places, and hopefully not just in my head. My favorite vacation spot right now is San Diego California, but my dream places to visit are all overseas. Although, since I have only seen a fraction of the United States, I would love to travel the nation someday as well. First on my bucket list however is to explore the historical landmarks in Greece and Italy, and the castles all over Europe. Up until recently, I have spent most of my adult life in college and working in sales and customer service type positions, while also raising my two incredible kids and serving three years in the Army National Guard. In September of 2013 I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a published author and I have begun to work on my writing full time. I am currently working on my first book in an eight book series which I have titled Reborn. Writing for me has always seemed like an unattainable dream, but now I realize that some dreams are only unattainable if we do not attempt to reach them. ​I completed my Master of Science in Psychology in the spring of 2013 and I have also taken some graduate courses in Ancient and Classical history. I am currently working on my doctorate in Psychology (PsyD) which I began in August 2014. I believe that the knowledge I have gathered from my life experiences as well as my education have assisted me in creating some interesting and complex characters. I hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as I have.

Book preview

Dedication

In the twelve months after I came up with the idea to write this book series, Heaven received many new Angels.

In my life, I have had many heroes, but sadly I didn’t know they were heroes until they died.

The idea for this book series is to honor the heroes that never learned they were heroes, until they were called to Heaven and given their orders as Angels.

This is the first book in the series, and I dedicate it to all the heroes turned Angels from my life. Each book moving forward will include a character based on them and a personal dedication. For now, I dedicate this one for all of you.

My Angels

Grandfather ~ Angel since July 8, 1989

Darcy ~ Angel since February 19, 1992

Odie ~ Angel since March 28, 1996

T.J. ~ Angel since October 3, 1998

Jason ~ Angel since June 7, 2000

Papa ~ Angel since December 23, 2001

Grandma ~ Angel since January 15, 2004

James ~ Angel since December 27, 2011

Coach Tom ~ Angel since December 4, 2012

Hayden ~ Angel since June 20, 2013

Jesse ~ Angel since June 30, 2013

Mike ~ Angel since August 16, 2013

Denny ~ Angel since February 25, 2014

Acknowledgements

First, I want to say thank you to everyone who has believed in me and supported me over the years. I want to give a special thank you to my husband for his support in the pursuit of my dreams, and also to my children for encouraging me and guiding me through this process every step of the way. To my friends and family that have all given me the courage to keep moving forward, I could never thank you enough.

I also want to thank my editor Kathy at Riehl Faith Productions, thank you for your support throughout this entire process. Thank you for being so understanding and bearing with me when I need extra time or support, you are amazing! I also want to thank Alan at Riehl Faith Productions for answering all of my many questions and guiding me to the best resources, you are awesome! The two of you are a blessing and I am so thankful that I found you.

I would also like to send a thank you to my cover designer, Rachel at No Sweat Graphics. As a new Indie author it can be overwhelming to know what works and what doesn’t. Thank you for being able to capture the essence of my book with your artistic eye and giving it a design that I could not have even dreamed possible. Making a change can be a scary transition, but you made it much easier and more exciting.

Finally, I want to thank my readers for taking a chance on me, buying my book, and hopefully enjoying it. This is my first novel, and I hope that you enjoy reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. This is just the beginning and I hope that you stick around for the entire series. Book one will leave you with some unanswered questions, but rest assured that they will all be answered as the series continues.

~ AnnMarie Stone

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Epilogue

Prologue

~ Phoenix Arizona, 22 years ago ~

As evening approached, the hot summer air began to cool. The sudden downpour helped to reduce the temperature as well as block out the sun. Darkness seemed to fall a little earlier than normal in Arizona. Tristan always thought it was hot, but it wasn’t the heat that kept him away. He knew that he should stay away and it would have been much easier for him if he had. He also knew that he couldn’t stay away forever. It was only a matter of time before he was inevitably drawn back to this place. This time it would be different. This time he had the chance to stop them before they had a chance to begin.

Tristan stood near the highway, though far enough away to remain unseen. He had been waiting for hours, biding his time. He knew when they would come, but he also enjoyed the wait. It was more satisfying for him somehow. The pouring rain couldn’t have come at a better time, leaving him with less work to do. So much can be explained away with weather. Mortals are so unimaginative. Acts of God they call it. If they only knew the half of it.

It had been so long since Chaos took Tristan that it made things much easier. Once Chaos successfully tricked Tristan into causing the death of his beloved, he no longer cared what happened to his own soul. Chaos doesn’t simply possess a soul, it changes it. The soul becomes a being of Chaos and begins to thrive on evil. Altering the soul of a Pure One was a great achievement for Chaos and could lead to the destruction of many more Pure Ones.

In all his years, Tristan had triumphed. The battle of good versus evil and Light versus Chaos had never been a tale worth telling, as far as he was concerned. Chaos typically wins and Light rarely prevails. They try so hard it’s actually entertaining. He’d watched the Pure Ones return, time and time again, only to fail each and every time. The Pure Ones are no match for Tristan. Wouldn’t they ever learn? It doesn’t matter, he enjoys reminding them.

Closing his eyes, Tristan called on his power to search for them. With his eyes closed, he could focus on their location, determining the exact moment they would pass by. Tristan sent his spirit soaring toward them, spotting them and pinpointing their current location. They were just a few miles away. It’s almost time. He returned to his body and took a few steps closer to the highway.

Tristan can see the colors of their auras now, he knows exactly when to strike. His timing would be perfect. He could sense the presence of all five passengers and confirmed the presence of two Pure Ones. It was just as he expected. Tristan was fueled by his desire to prevent the incarnation this time. He was also thrilled to have the added satisfaction of eliminating the proxy. The proxy was never meant to have her. He will pay for his attempt to claim her.

The vehicle approached. Tristan, stood next to the cement blockade, reached out to his power again and bent the vehicle to his will. He knew they didn’t all need to die, just the males. He decided to spare the females. At his metaphysical command, the vehicle smashed into the cement and began to spiral out of control. The slick, wet road caused the driver to quickly lose control. Between Tristan’s will and the rain, the driver never had a chance to recover.

The vehicle finally stopped after landing upside down. Tristan was there in a heartbeat to ensure his success. Upon his approach he could sense that all three females were unconscious. He could sense their life force and was confident they would recover. Switching his focus to the driver was unsettling. Not only did the driver survive, he was conscious. Tristan was frustrated as he approached the driver’s door. Kneeling to take a closer look he found he was face to face with the proxy who thought he could have her. A wry smile appeared on Tristan’s face. He extended his hand to the man, as if to help him out of the car. Instead, he sent his energy through him, pulsing through his body and encasing his organs with his power. With a jolt, the proxy screamed in agony as Tristan used his power to crush his insides. He sped up the process, but not out of mercy. He was worried that his victims’ screams would awaken the remaining passengers. The proxy stopped screaming. With his last breath, his gaze remained on Tristan’s face.

With the proxy eliminated, Tristan shifted his attention to the other male presence. It was the Pure One he came here to destroy. They may as well arrive with beacons, their auras shine so bright, even before they’re born into this world. Tristan evaluated the female in the front seat first. Not a Pure One. She stirred slightly, but nothing more. Tristan was not concerned about her. Two other females were in the back. The child had the unmistakable bright light of a Pure One. The other was within the surrogate. The bright light of a Pure One illuminated from her center, brilliant enough to almost mask her own aura, but not enough to mask her aura from him.

The child was the only incarnated Pure One here. Tristan had no intention of taking her life. Not yet. His plan required that one Pure One survive. It’d be much easier to take the unborn before his incarnation could complete. Placing his hand to the belly of the surrogate, Tristan sent his energy into her womb, causing the Pure One within to thrash and fight. Ahh. So he knows what I am. No way would his implantation have erased that knowledge. Tristan had nearly completed the mission, when suddenly he was smacked on the side of his head. The blow knocked him off balance. Tristan had to release the Pure One momentarily to prevent himself from losing his balance. Tristan was startled, but unharmed. He must have been too focused on his connection to the Pure One to not notice the woman in the front seat had regained consciousness.

What are you doing to her? You have to help us! Frantically, she removed her seat belt and started to reach for the child behind her. Tristan had not intended to cause harm to her, but she had given him no choice. He reached out to her with his power and sent energy shockwaves through her body, throwing her back into the dashboard. Tristan moved at a pace that no human could repeat, instantly appearing on the passenger side of the vehicle just outside her door. With one motion he pulled her out of the vehicle and held her before him. With his hand around her throat, Tristan slammed her against the vehicle. He pressed his body against hers ensuring that she couldn’t move. She was unable to breathe or speak. Tristan held her firmly, forcing her to look into his eyes. Their faces were so close together that his nose slightly brushed against hers. The fear in her eyes and the frantic state of her aura, gave him a satisfaction he hadn’t known he desired. Her twitching and writhing under his body, fighting with all she had to survive, only added to his pleasure. Tristan held his position and closed his eyes to take in the full effect of her terror. He was startled when she suddenly stopped moving. Tristan opened his eyes. Had he gone too far?

Tristan stood back and held her up, loosening his grip. Her body was slack. He knew she wasn’t dead. Not yet. He had stopped himself just in time. Her pulse was weak, but her soul was strong. He knew she was a fighter. A survivor. Worse yet, when she wakes up, she will remember all of this. He knew he had been foolish. Tristan thought hard about what to do next. He sighed and took her into his arms. He gently pressed his lips to hers sending his energy through her body. This time to heal not destroy. He also used the energy he sent through her to erase her terror and fear, replacing it with emptiness. Moments later, she woke startled and stared up at him with adoration. She didn’t remember. She thought he had saved her. Perfect. Before she could speak, Tristan pressed his lips to hers again, lowering her to the ground beside the vehicle, as gently as he could manage. Without breaking their connection, Tristan used his power to send her into a deep sleep. As she fell asleep, he kept kissing her, sending more and more power through her to ensure she would not interfere with the rest of his mission. When she wakes up, she will have had a romantic dream with a face she does not know. A face she will forget.

He watched her for a moment longer and confirmed she was no longer an obstacle. Tristan returned to the vehicle to finish what he had started. He placed his hands on the surrogate once more and snuffed out the tiny life within her. Mission complete.

Chapter 1

~ Present Day ~

My life has led me to this moment, the moment that will guide me to my eternal fate. There are so many stories about what happens when you die and now I know that it’s all true. Even though they are different, somehow they are all true. My name is Anastasia Duke.

Every soul has a design, a plan, and a destination. No two journeys are the same. They all vary in one way or another. Everything we know about death is from what others tell us. We listen to their stories, we read their books, but no one can ever seem to capture exactly what happens.

There is a reason for that. Dying is a miracle. There are no words to describe what happens to the soul in death. Therefore, those that experience death and return to their earthly lives are only able to convey a small portion of the story. Many earthly souls have a natural instinct to be skeptical of these incomplete renditions and seemingly conflicting details.

Earthly souls are so unique, so powerful, and so magnificent. They have been designed to forget and to ignore the truth that is wide open to us when we die. Every detail has its purpose and this is no different. In order for a soul to remain in their earthly shell, they must forget. The beauty that awaits us would be too tempting to ignore. That is for the majority of earthbound souls. Only the Pure Ones and Chaos are different. The Pure Ones are the souls that have been sent back for their final cycle. They are selected after completing many successful incarnations. In order for an incarnation to be considered successful, the soul must have endured a great deal of pain and suffering. They must recover from their turmoil and continue to live selflessly for the remainder of their lives. These incarnations are painful, yet extremely rewarding. The growth and experience gained during just one of these incarnations is immeasurable. Once a soul has elevated to the level of a Pure One, they are selected for a final cycle of great importance. Upon death, the Pure Ones are eligible to apply for The Agency. Serving The Agency is considered the highest honor that a soul can achieve.

The Agency is the most important aspect of human life. Light and Chaos are a large part of human existence, but the balance must always be on the side of Light. Evil certainly has its place, but it must be contained. Chaos can never outweigh Light. To do so would be the end of human life and the eternal corruption of every earthbound soul. For centuries now, the balance of Light and Chaos has been weakened. The Agency was in need of more agents. The threat of eternal destruction and damnation has led The Agency to take desperate action. The more agents they have, the greater the need of Pure Ones.

The Agency has been forced to take action. While the Pure Ones are on earth, The Agency must now make an effort to ensure successful integrations in their deaths. With Light as their primary concern, they cannot manipulate any earthly souls. They can only act as guidance and do all that is within their power to keep the earthly souls on their true paths.

After working for The Agency as an earthbound soul for the last two years, I have finally seen what it was all leading me to. My death. But, in order for me to tell you about my death, I must start at the beginning. The end of my journey can only be fully understood if it is told from the beginning. I’ll start with the day my life changed forever. The day that set me on the path to my death.

Chapter 2

~ 2 years ago ~

I walked through the forest for what seemed to be hours enjoying the air, the fresh smell of the oak trees and the subtle sound of a creek nearby. I couldn’t help but wonder where I was headed. Maybe it had just been so long that I’d forgotten my destination. Where was I anyway?

Suddenly, my haze lifted and it was perfectly clear. Not more than a hundred feet in front of me I saw the unmistakable signs of the clearing ahead. Until that point, the path was barely three feet wide, not quite a trail. The trees became increasingly separated, which I hadn’t noticed until then. Up ahead, the trees were at least ten feet apart. I knew exactly what was beyond those trees. I needed to hurry, there was not enough time. There was never enough time!

As I ran to the clearing just ahead, my chest began to tighten. The heat on my skin and my shortness of breath had nothing to do with running. Deep in the pit of my stomach I knew that he was there. I knew that I was too late. The rush of adrenaline that flowed through my veins would not be enough to get me there in time.

Breaking through the trees and into the clearing, my fears were about to become my reality. I saw the unmistakable silhouette of the man that I had been looking for as long as I could remember. I ran with the hope that this time, I would catch him. This time, I would see his face and hear his voice. Finally, after all this time I caught up with him. I was about to touch his shoulder so that he would have to turn and face me, when everything went black. That’s when I heard beep, beep, beep! What was that annoying sound? Beep, beep, beep! Where was it coming from?

Beep, Beep, Beep!

The alarm clock. I hate alarm clocks. It was time to get up. I would rather have finished my dream. For six years the dreams had remained unchanged. I always saw the man, who I knew that I loved, but I could never see his face. How could I love someone that I’ve never met? I could not deny what I felt when I saw him. The intense emotions ignited my need, my desire, and my completeness. If I could have just seen his face, maybe I could understand what I felt for him.

I knew what I felt for this mystery man was love. My heart knew that it was love. My practical mind however, told me that I was crazy for believing my feelings were real. I had absolutely no clue who he was, or even if he existed. These frustrating nightly encounters seemed to be a good omen for me as they were always followed by good luck. I needed to calm myself and embrace this dream for what it was. It was simply an omen of good luck. I walked out the door of my bedroom, grabbed my yoga mat and went straight for the living room.

Since Steven hadn’t come home the night before, I knew I had plenty of time to clear my head and rid myself of the anxiety from my dream. My heart was still racing and my cheeks were hot, but the stretching and breathing through yoga took care of it all. I hoped