Dawn of Ebony: ...Sensually Frightening...

By Victoria Lemus

Amid the middle of fall, seven best friends set out to start their college career. Excitement runs high as they began to enjoy the freedom of adulthood when they move in to live together. But little do they know that the happiness they so foolishly desired would not come easy. Facing the afflictions of rape, murderous revenge, dangerous love affairs, and the discovery of mystical beautiful worlds hidden from man, these best friends will have to survive many obstacles before they truly have a chance at happiness. But will their struggle to endure the hardships weaken their friendship? Or will their sisterly bonds be strong enough to bring these best friends closer than ever?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Feb 22, 2011
• ISBN: 9781450284912

Victoria Lemus

Victoria Lemus grew up in McAllen, Texas. She is a reporter for multiple newspapers and enjoys experimenting with various techniques in both print and writing. Although she wrote her first book in high school at 17, she is working to obtain a double bachelors in Public Relations and Liberal Studies at the University of Texas-Pan American.

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Copyright © 2011 by Victoria Lemus

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4502-8490-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4502-8491-2 (ebook)

Printed in the United States of America

iUniverse rev. date: 2/14/2011

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

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

Book 2

Black Sunrise

Acknowledgements

About the Author

For the most beloved family and best friends anyone could ever have…

What people are ashamed of usually makes a good story.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Preface

Poetry shivered as a frigid gust of wind disturbed her knotted hair. She had absolutely no idea why Donovan had asked her to meet him at such late hours in the middle of an arbitrary street. Hardly any cars disturbed the silence so late, but the ones that did happen to drive by, startled her.

She pushed the stroller down the empty, misty pavement. Up in the sky, ominous clouds gathered blocking the warmth of the summer sunlight, leaving her utterly cold.

In the black carriage she pushed, her baby cried frantically. Its shrieks drew the piercing eyes of devilish owls and fearsome ravens that glared at it with ferocious hunger.

She halted the stroller and pinned up her hair as her fragile child wailed nonstop. The sky grew black. Shadows of dark clouds crawled on the cold ground when she realized she something followed her.

Scornful pairs of yellow eyes glowered at her from every corner. From the frightful shadows, birds black as night advanced on her. She glanced around frantically searching for Donovan. Her heart’s frantic beating disturbed the obstructing silence of the night.

She turned at the sound of the crunching of gravel. Her blood ran cold in her veins as three figures approached from the shadows of the trees.

Donovan, trailed by a man and a woman whose faces stood concealed by black veiled hats walked to her. Their skins, in the profound darkness, glowed with a bizarre color. The couple scrutinized the child in the stroller with buyer’s eyes. Their elongated fingers and jagged fingernails reached out to engulf the wailing baby as its mother froze in place.

The woman’s piercing eyes stared her child with such frightening desire that raised goose bumps on Poetry’s flesh. Her robust face centered amid intricate curly hair under the shrouding hat shone with dark yearning. A silver suitcase dangled in the hand of the man hovering protectively besides her who also scrutinized her child.

Who are they? Poetry thought uneasy.

Donovan moved behind her. She grew anxious when his constricting arms intertwined around hers. The action felt wrong somehow because Donovan disliked showing affection in front of strangers.

Her instincts warned her of a lurking threat but she failed to understand their warning in time for his arms suddenly gripped her fiercely. She tried to squirm from his hold but he wrapped his arms around her, as an evil serpent would do to swallow its defenseless prey.

Donovan what are you doing? she exclaimed as he jerked her away from the stroller. Let go of me!

Take it, she heard Donovan spoke fervently as his arms constricted her. The man handed him the silver suitcase as the daunting woman approached the stroller with glazing eyes.

What? Poetry snarled shoving against Donovan’s choking hold. What are you doing?

The woman bent over the stroller to pick up her baby with her jagged claws.

Don’t you touch her? Let her go! She’s mine! Poetry struggled helplessly as her daughter’s eyes watched her from the stranger’s arms. Donovan what is she doing with her? She yelled feeling his sharp fingernails dig into her flesh.

She’s no longer ours, he spat in her ear.

What do you mean? Of course, she is ours! Let go of me right now! She shrieked as tears streamed down her angry cheeks.

Her daughter’s wet eyes watched her as she fought against his tight hold to recuperate her from the sinister strangers.

Please give her back to me! She’s mine! Poetry screamed frantically as the figures vanished into the shadows with her baby girl.

Donovan let me go! She broke his hold and ran to chase the shadowed figures, but she was too late; her baby girl was gone. Come back!

Stop crying. We have ten thousand dollars now, Donovan chuckled coldly.

Anger coursed through her mind, incinerating its path. Her fists tightened at her sides. She had to make him pay for all he had done to her, for all her pain and suffering.

The faint throttle of a truck’s engine reached her ears. The dim glow of its looming headlights filled the black background behind a gloating Donovan who watched her, hugging the silver suitcase tightly to his chest.

It was just one baby, his wicked laugh burnt her ears. The way he cradled the silver thing, like if it was a delicate child—a child he had just sold—flamed her incensed anger. Her heart pumped acid blood drenched with a thirst for retribution that demanded to be quenched. Behind him, she watched the headlights grow brighter as the truck approached.

Her hands trembled with an overwhelming desire for revenge. She glared at him with the hate of the world as the vengeful decision settled in her mind.

Yeah, and you’re just one man! she shrieked shoving him into the blazing headlights with the force of her wrath. So strong was the anger in which she struck him that the silver suitcase flew out of his despicable hands and into the black sky.

Her thirst for revenge grew to a simmer as the crunching of tires and the violent crunching of bones infused into a vengeful melody that rang in the ominous night.

Filthy dollar bills rained from the black cold sky when Poetry’s eyes fluttered open and she awoke into a cold reality.

* * * * * *

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Chapter 1

Upbeat music resonated in their ears as they joined together for their best friend’s celebration.

The place stood embellished in intricate floral bouquets on top of elegant table settings. It had been a great party; Ariana, Aglae, and Victoria cried when Itza danced her first dance with her father.

She looked like a princess in her enchantingly beautiful pearl green dress. Brown hair hung in ringlets behind a shimmering tiara. Her neck and arms sparkled with diamond jewelry as she swayed in her father’s arms.

All night they danced like never before the intricate rhythms of Latin music.

With Ivan as their only guy friend, they shared and pulled him along endlessly all night long until he’d danced over a dozen times with each.

The only thing that annoyed them was the obnoxious constant glare of the camera that trailed Itza’s every step.

Ariana sat at their table with Aglae, glorifying Itza’s chamberlain Joey—whom they had watched and drooled over at all the practices at her house.

They loved the way his white tuxedo accentuated the green in his tie and there was no doubt that that night he and Itza complimented each other more than ever.

Look at them dance… Ariana sighed glancing at them dancing their first dance by James Blunt. They make such a cute couple.

Yeah, if only they’d admit they like each other, Aggie giggled drinking from her iced tea.

Come on guys let’s dance! Victoria exclaimed to them, suddenly forgetting how her orange gold dress stood out from all the pales, whites, and blacks. Its color had earned her the nickname Pumpkin for the night.

Beverly, Victoria’s little sister, stared at her from the table stifling a giggle. It entertained her to watch her sister be teased by her own friends.

Ari laughed as she teased her. Tired of waiting for Oscar my Pumpkin?

No. I just want to have fun, she blushed.

Oscar was a boy from choir she had a deep crush on. The problem was that he was not t into her gender. Still, she hoped he would notice her someday because she was determined to wait as long as necessary.

Sure, Ari and Aggie laughed in chorus as they were dragged towards the dance floor. All three danced and soon the Quinceanera joined their revelry.

Man the camera is annoying, Itza whispered as the spotlight illuminated them and everyone stared at their odd group.

It annoyed her beyond words how rudely her relatives scrutinized her friends.

Poetry, which was their age but over fifteen inches shorter than everybody was, joined them in the dance floor.

I can’t wait for the slumber party, my damn heels are killing me! she chuckled falsely as the camera recorded them.

I know, Ari said. I want Joey to stay so Ivan won’t be the only guy there.

He can’t because if he stays his annoying little sister will stay too, and she won’t let him have any fun without tattle telling. Itza had sat in the limo besides Joey on their way there, but the seven-year old girl had put herself in between them and ruined the entire moment.

Well then too bad, because none of us are going to want that girl ruining the dirty fun we’ll be having, Aggie winked at them and they laughed.

The hours transpired and so did the party but at last, Oscar arrived.

His cute bouncing booty caught many staring eyes and every girl in the room scrutinized him as he danced.

Go for your man, Pumpkin fire crotch! Ari playfully pushed Victoria, who observed him with jealousy as he danced in the other girl’s arms.

Feeling red in the face, but hiding it well thanks to the strobe lights, she made her way to him through the crowd.

She walked up to him synchronizing her hips to the rhythm of the music and soon had his full attention.

A devious grin escaped his mouth as she danced her way into his open arms. Her heart flared to life as her pulse blasted louder than the speakers did when he held her waist and she his shoulders as they swayed to the rapid music. His touch felt so warm—so right.

It was as if his arms were meant to fit her in them.

I thought you wouldn’t come? she whispered into his ear letting her mischievous lips caress his satin skin.

Are you kidding me? he chuckled. Hey I didn’t know you could dance?

We’ll you don’t know much about me then, she grinned as he twirled her.

Looks like we have much more things in common than we think, my Yang, he winked at her.

Yin and Yang was what they called themselves, because it was as if they were each other’s half. Both had so many things in common, including their perverted way of thinking. Still, defying their true secrete feelings they remained friends.

Are you staying for the slumber party? she asked him secretly thrilled at the touch of his arms at her back.

No. I’m sorry. I have to do something very early, and I won’t be able to.

I see. She sighed turning to the dance floor to hide her disappointment. The news smote her heart for she greatly hoped that sparks would fly between them that night.

Are you mad? He raised her chin to meet her eyes.

No, just disappointed, she told him.

Cheer up! Come on! Let’s dance some more before I leave! he exclaimed trying to cheer her up.

She could not help but surrender to him because he was just impossible to resist. Her heart sparked with electricity when his arms entangled her as a new song flourished.

* * * * * *

The night blurred by and before long, the casino grew vacant. Only the group of friends remained awaiting the slumber party.

In the end it was only Ariana, Ivan, Aggie, Victoria, her little sister Beverly, Itza, her two brand new puppies; Renesmee and Jacob, Poetry, Esmer, Anna and Angie who stayed.

It was over one thirty in the morning. The sky stood a lucid blue as the girls with heels in hand walked over to the Embassy Suites hotel besides the casino.

Their feet throbbed, but the ache was not enough to kill their thirst for excitement. Adventures lingered no more than a breaths distance.

Exhilaration surged through them as the hotel swimming pool caught their eye.

I am so getting in! Ivan smiled wickedly. That was enough to contaminate them with the tempting idea. They dashed into the suite and changed out of their dress attires.

Soon all were ready except Itza who had to borrow clothes from Anna to get in because hers rested in her mother’s car. Without permission, they hurried outside to the alluring swimming pool.

Aglae lurked in the water with Ivan. Ariana walked around it as Poetry and the rest just sat on the pool chairs. The wind was chilly for the early fall day. No one seemed to be awake except for a couple of hotel guests whose lights were still on.

* * * * * *

Itza hesitated by the edge of the oval pool admiring the moons rippling reflection. She loved the color’s mystery. To her, it bared witness to a thousand love stories she had yet to hear, to live. Besides her, Victoria leaned in to test the waters temperature. Something about her tentative expression made her uneasy.

It looks cold you guys! I am not getting in. Plus, we are going to get Itza in trouble! Victoria whined.

Ari tiptoed behind her with a conniving grin. Everyone watched, but nobody warned her.

Beverly was too late to warn her sister from the pool chair she sat on.

Too fast for her to realize, they shoved her headfirst into the frigid pool.

Her vision blurred as she felt her body plunge downwards briskly. The water pierced her skin like the slice of thousand knives. It thrashed violently into her open mouth as her feet hunted for the touch of solid bottom. Her body yearned to succumb to the freezing water. Her life was ready to give in to Death’s clutches. For eternal moments, she had no idea in which direction was the surface. Everything seemed equally profound; no sense of up or down.

Their hearts faltered as they stared horrified into the pool.

None knew if Victoria swam.

Itza’s blood froze over with the crawling of each second. At last, her friend resurfaced, gasping for air.

Victoria! Are you okay?

Ah! It is frigging…cold! she stuttered coughing.

Ari laughed her ass off as she watched Victoria stumble out of the pool.

Itza offered her a towel and hugged her still shaken.

You scared me dummy!

Who pushed me in?

Ariana’s evil chuckle was heard from the water.

Victoria threw her a half-hearted glare.

After making sure her friend was all right Itza walked over to chill by the pools edge. Her leg was a breath from the water when Aglae appeared from beside her and plunged her into the freezing water. Luckily, she bolted upright instantly before the freezing water got the best of her.

You witch! It’s cold! she shrieked trembling.

Uh oh… Beverly exclaimed looking up at the hotel. From the balcony window next to their suite, Itza’s dad glared down at them infuriated.

Crap! Itza exclaimed, jumping out of the cold pool.

Let’s go before he tells my mom!

In seconds, everyone was out of the pool and sneaking back in to the suite quite as a mouse. If caught, they faced a death sentence.

Man that was freaking close! Aggie laughed changing into dry clothes minutes later. Ivan—shy as hell—ran into the closet, to change secrete from all the girls. Once everyone was dry, they rearranged the furniture in the living room and sat in a circle on the floor.

They were wide-awake from the cold water. Wet clothes decorated the floor.

Let’s talk about our craziest dreams! Aggie suggested. Where would you like your first time to be Itza?

At the beach, by the light of the moon, she blushed. That was truly her dream.

That’s so romantic, Poetry giggled.

Mine would be on a waterbed, Victoria joked. She wanted to belt out how much she desired it to be with Oscar. The location did not matter, as long as she was with him.

Why on a waterbed? You’d be all jiggling and struggling? Ariana laughed. Ivan grossed out hid behind the lamp table afraid they would ask him next.

Can we change the subject please? he begged awkwardly.

Let’s play Truth or Dare? Anna suggested aiding him. I dare Angie to flash one booby out the window.

Angie bravely walked over to the window and pulled out her breast. Everyone gasped. The silly game suddenly turned serious. My turn to dare, she smiled evilly. I dare Victoria to flash the window completely.

Victoria’s eyes went wide with horror. She had never crossed such borders of craziness. Her panic showed. What if someone sees me?

Relax they won’t, Aggie urged. Go, don’t be a chicken!

Fine! she walked to the door swallowing her fear and shame and hid behind the curtain as she picked up her nightdress. Embarrassed to death, she noticed a guy in a truck in the parking lot staring up at her, mouth agape. Crab cakes! Someone saw me! As if on laughing gas everybody broke into guffaws. It’s not funny!

Man Victoria, you have such luck! Ivan laughed to tears.

Shut up Ivan, she glared at him playfully. My turn to dare, I dare Ariana to moon the window.

Throwing her a mischievous look, Ariana sprinted to the window and facing them, pulled down her sweat pant pajamas. Again everyone gasped.

See, that was easy.

I don’t like this game, Itza mumbled feeling nauseous. Her turn approached.

You dorks are so scandalous, Esmer laughed from the couch she sat on as she played her Nintendo D.S for the fifth hour in a row. She’d dedicated the entire night to advance a level in her game since she was no fun of revelries.

Fine, let’s play spin the bottle then! Aggie smiled deviously as she searched around for a bottle.

Let’s use the remote, Poetry suggested.

How do you play? Ivan intercepted feeling out of place.

You guys, but there’s only one guy? Victoria exclaimed confused.

Ariana and Aggie winked at each other.

Exactly it’ll be more fun, Ari smiled. I’m first.

She spun the remote and its ends pointed at Poetry and Aggie.

Their lips came together and rapidly they peck kissed. Everyone seemed to be okay with it, but Itza, Ivan and Victoria who stared petrified. They knew it was too late to get out of it. Not wanting to look like cowards or boring they endured with great personal effort the activities that followed.

It was 4:00 am when at last they hit the hay.

I call the bed. Itza said, jumping onto the only bed and was followed by Ari, Poetry, Ariana, Ivan, and Aggie.

What about me? Victoria whined.

Sleep at our feet! Itza laughed enjoying herself.

No thanks…I prefer the closet, she sighed.

The lights were already out in the entire suite. Fearless, she barged into the closet were Itza’s dress was hanged and hid inside its puffy skirt.

Amid the dark, her ruffling was heard from the inside of the closet.

Victoria? Are you in the dress? Ariana laughed. Oh my, she’s in the dress!

Laughter filled the room, but none bothered to come up and see what the commotion was about except for Anna, who awoke in the living room.

It was not long before Victoria got freaked out of the closet’s darkness.

She untangled herself from the dresses hold and out of the closet. Afraid to trip, she crawled across the carpet to the bed.

* * * * * *

Anna got off the couch where she slept and barged into the room where the others rested without the need of a light.

Her heart halted its thumping for a frightful second. Her body turned frigid with fear.

There amid the floor of the room where everyone slept stood a black malevolent figure staring up at her with glowing eyes. The moonlight rays shadowed its black length floor hair that drooped around her terribly.

Anna was so frightened, so petrified, that she could not even find her voice. She could not scream her warning of the horrible presence to everybody. Her staggering fear froze her in place as she stood a horrible breath away from the ominous creature.

Ah! Anna finally shrieked terrified. It’s the grudge!

Startled by the blood curdling shrill, they jumped off the bed and clicked on the lights. Instantly they became startled by what they saw.

Anna’s frightened face was bone white; her eyes peeled wide with horror. Her breath came in violent raspy gasps that echoed in the resonating silence.

The culprit of Anna’s fright stood crouched in the midst of the floor stifling a giggle.

Everyone stared at Victoria as Anna hyperventilated.

Gosh, I thought you were a monster! Anna gasped.

Pillows suddenly attacked Victoria from all sides.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. She laughed throwing them back as missiles.

She’s already scary enough as it is, imagine her with the lights off, Itza joked sarcastically. Scary.

Ha-ha. Very funny, Victoria chuckled lying on the foot of the bed.

Anna left with Angie to the living room still breathing hard. Her pulse resumed its normal speed lethargically.

I swear I didn’t mean to. Victoria called out to her. She felt terrible for what just happened, but it secretly humored her just to recall Anna’s horrified expression.

Moments later, they regained their drowsiness. All but Victoria—everyone’s feet somehow touched her.

Someone’s feet are at my butt! she finally exclaimed.

Sorry. I think those are mine, Ivan said. Hey who’s playing footsies with me?

Ooops! Victoria chuckled.

Silence fell for a long time, but she still could not fall asleep.

You’re beautiful! she sang to herself.

Shut the freak up Victoria! Itza begged sleepily.

It was 5:30am when Aggies’s toes went into her mouth. She pulled them out totally grossed out and was about to wake them up when heavy moaning distracted her. It was coming from Itza.

Joey! Oh Joey! Yes, oh yes! she moaned in her sleep. Victoria giggled. For the rest of the night she laid awake watching and hearing all of them in their sleep as they made her lose hers. Ivan snored to the rhythm of Itza’s moans as Aggie and Ari groped each other in their sleep, and poor Poetry lied squished by all of them.

The night crawled by and soon morning took its shift. Embarrassed for everything that had occurred they swore to never divulge of any of it to anyone in Raiders North for Ivan’s sake because he did not want to stain his good boy reputation.

Itza you moaned Joey’s name in your sleep, Victoria giggled, as they were crammed into Itza’s car.

Liar, Itza gasped unbelieving.

Nope, I swear. Victoria grinned.

Oh shush. Let’s just go home. Itza smiled blushing.

* * * * * *

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Chapter 2

Has my Queen finally let herself shown? The Dark King asked into the black dice and threw them into the rippling Calhoun of darkness.

Three wrinkled Goons heaved a foretelling thread from a tub of purple Darkness. Every answer to the Dark Kings questions relied on the prophesy waiting to be read.

With scrawny, twig like fingers the Goons squinted to read its encrypted message.

The Dark King’s vile heart thumped with heavy anticipation. So much of his plans rested on that one thread.

He could stand it no more. Oracles, speak to me! I beg you. Your silence is killing me!

The purplish Goon at the center of the three intertwined the fine filament into her index finger. A long pointy tongue of an acrid color danced over it. Her one black eye widened in awe.

The three Oracles pierced him with their eyes. Never in the past had they reacted so strangely to a thread before.

This could either be good, or very, very bad.

Raguel, ruler of the Night, heavy times are upon you. The one at the center shrieked.

She whom you seek walks among mortals and is coming your way, but what you expect from her is not what she’ll give. She will be a hard one to tame. With her you will meet your match and you will resurface in triumph. Light will shine through your Night once again.

How will I know who she is? The Dark King stood dumbfounded. Is that what the Thread says?

Don’t doubt our powers miscreant. We are simply interpreting its words. Be aware, for she who shall bear your Court upon her shoulders will carry your mark even through mortality. The powers of the ink shall bestow upon her as soon as she comes in contact with he who bears the crown. Then your Court will have powers above all other.

What is her name?

That, Dark Lord, we cannot tell you.

With that the three Oracles dissipated into the purple Darkness.

The Calhoun swallowed them whole.

* * * * * *

Two years transpired before them. Graduation flew by and Prom arrived just as quickly. The Cadillac limo promptly picked them up and now they made their way to the Embassy Suites casino—the same place where they’d celebrated Itza’s party—to dance in their awaited Prom.

Ariana sat beside her boyfriend Seth whom she’d met her junior year at Raiders North. Seth and her had been head over heels for each other ever since and he was ready to move with them to Austin in the fall. She felt him hold her hand thinking of how beautiful the lily corset he’d given her was and how it complimented her eyes.

She wore a chiffon emerald dress that matched the emerald charm bracelet she had gotten from her father in Puerto Rico as a graduation present. Ariana’s defined curls lied pinned up sophisticatedly around her shoulders.

* * * * * *

We’re going to have a blast! Aglae exclaimed.

Damian caressed the hem of her sky blue gown. It curved tightly around her breasts and accentuated them. Her dyed blonde hair lied curled around her shoulders. He was passionately in love with her, but sometimes he felt unsure of her feelings because she was not one to stay loyal for long. Nonetheless, he remained at her side passionately and dangerously in love with her.

I want to play Truth or Dare in or after party, Poetry winked at them deviously.

Her golden gown ruffled like liquid gold around her body. God had finally turned on her side and she no longer stood shorter than her friends but now as an equal.

Donovan, her insanely sexual football player boyfriend—known and feared by most girls for his reputation of being a player and a sex seeker—had been dating her for over three months and she still had managed not to sleep with him.

She allowed herself to believe that he was really with her because he loved her. At least she wanted to believe that.

His fingertips caressed the exposed skin in her back. The touch made her tingle.

She giggled distracted as she saw Itza deeply suck mouth with her boyfriend Joey. His