Quell - Book 3

By Rebecca Bradford

Emma senses a build-up of power, and after receiving several strange messages, is forced to choose between allegiance with vampires or witches. With the threat of looming dark forces, the family decides to take matters into their own hands. Ashleigh conducts research into these dark forces and discovers information that takes her and Emma on a global journey to put the pieces together. As in any war, there are personal losses on both sides, which will change the family dynamic forever. Who will win and at what cost?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781528912303

Rebecca Bradford

Recently ranked No. 1 Author, and listed in the Top 10 Authors, on the international authors' database: Authorsdb. Rebecca is a married mother of two young boys. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Museum Studies, majoring in Ancient History, and a Certificates II and IV in Business Administration. In 2009, her first son was born, and when he was three months old, Rebecca saw an interview with Stephenie Meyer. In that interview, Stephenie spoke of how, when writing Twilight, she had children around her feet and school runs to complete. Rebecca thought that if Stephenie could do it, then so could she. The story of Verge began to flourish from that moment. In 2011, her second son was born and in 2015, she ceased working as a Project Assistant/Executive Assistant to stay home and look after her two young sons. It was during this time that the writing of Verge began. The Verge trilogy is a pleasant blend between Harry Potter, Twilight and Vampire Diaries. Rebecca was born, raised and resides in Australia. Along with writing, Rebecca has been singing and playing the piano since she was 6 years old and loves spending time with her family. In 2007, Rebecca took her first overseas trip to Egypt with her husband.

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Emma

About the Author

Recently ranked No. 1 Author, and listed in the Top 10 Authors, on the international authors’ database: Authorsdb.

Rebecca is a married mother of two young boys. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Museum Studies, majoring in Ancient History, and a Certificates II and IV in Business Administration. In 2009, her first son was born, and when he was three months old, Rebecca saw an interview with Stephenie Meyer. In that interview, Stephenie spoke of how, when writing Twilight, she had children around her feet and school runs to complete. Rebecca thought that if Stephenie could do it, then so could she. The story of Verge began to flourish from that moment. In 2011, her second son was born and in 2015, she ceased working as a Project Assistant/Executive Assistant to stay home and look after her two young sons. It was during this time that the writing of Verge began. The Verge trilogy is a pleasant blend between Harry Potter, Twilight and Vampire Diaries.

Rebecca was born, raised and resides in Australia. Along with writing, Rebecca has been singing and playing the piano since she was 6 years old and loves spending time with her family. In 2007, Rebecca took her first overseas trip to Egypt with her husband.

Copyright Information ©

Rebecca Bradford (2018)

The right of Rebecca Bradford to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528902687 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781528902694 (E-Book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2018)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd™

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Joanne Bradford for always believing that I could be an author. Your constant encouragement and kind words were my saviour when I needed it. Thank you.

Thank you to my parents, Terry and Rowena Giles, for being proud of my work and being my sounding board when I needed it.

To my two beautiful children, thank you for thinking that Mummy is the best author in the world.

Lastly, to my beautiful and amazing friend, Kylie Egan. You read all of my raw manuscripts and gave me your honest feedback, which is invaluable. Thank you.

Previously…

The moment we hit the hall and are out of sight, Emma casts the spell to track Marcus’ steps. I see a white glowing trail appear. We look at each other, smile, and vampire-run with the white trail guiding us. The instant we hit the cells, we are met with the smell of decay and mould. There are no guards down here, as they are all upstairs fighting. I can hear moaning from several different voices, and they sound so lost like they’re in pain. It is then I catch William’s scent.

Emma, I have William’s scent, let’s go, I say as I lead her along.

We reach the cell that is the fourth on the right. The cell is just a bare brick floor with floor to ceiling bars. I can see my William, he is slumped in the back corner of the cell, sitting on the hard brick floor.

My love! I gasp when I see his condition.

He lifts his head up at the sound of my voice.

Ashleigh, my darling. He looks so weak and fragile.

I immediately turn to Emma.

Em, get these bloody magical locks open now, honey, I say through gritted teeth.

Emma says an incantation and the lock opens in an instant.

Em, go and find Konrad, here take these, I say as I give her three bags of blood.

She immediately runs off and leaves me to William. I walk into the cell and sit down beside him. I place his head in my lap and slowly feed him the first bag of blood. After the first bag, I can see a remarkable difference in him. He sits up on his own and drinks the second one unaided. The third one he gulps greedily.

How are you feeling? I ask concerned.

Almost back to my old self, especially after seeing you, gorgeous. I was literally aching without you. Please don’t ever be apart from me again. And with that he grabs me firmly and kisses me passionately as if we were never going to kiss again.

When we are done, I stand up and dust myself off.

Okay, babe, now we have to get you out of here without being seen. There is a full-scale battle going on upstairs, so it will provide a great distraction for us. Emma is getting Konrad now. Xavier is in the midst of the battle as we speak, I say as we walk out of the cell.

I look around to see where Emma is and I see her coming towards us with Konrad who looks almost back to his old self. I run to him and throw my arms around him.

There was no way in hell I was going to let you starve for eternity, Father, I gasp at what I just said.

Konrad smiles the biggest smile I have ever seen him produce.

I like you calling me that, Ash, He says as he kisses my forehead. Hang on, what is all that noise? It sounds like a battle, Konrad asks.

It is a battle. We have two dark witch covens attacking right now. Vampires from all over Russia were summoned to come and fight. So, while The Father and his court are distracted with the battle, we took the opportunity to come and rescue you both. Now, can we all please hold hands so that I can teleport you all back to the mansion, and then Ash and I can come back here and get Xavier, says Emma.

No, Emma, if there’s a battle going on between our kind and dark witches, William and I need to be there fighting too, says Konrad sternly.

No, Father. You will be seen and thrown back in the cells again, and this time, Emma and I will be thrown in too, I say desperately.

No, Ashleigh. A battle is going on that has been building up for centuries. I was a part of it from the very beginning back then. This battle needs William and me. Now, are you both coming to fight too or are you going to stand there and sulk? he says to Emma and me with a raised eyebrow.

I know that Konrad is right, this is his fight and he was there from the very beginning of the witch persecutions all those centuries ago.

Okay, fine. Let’s go, but I don’t know how I’m going to get us out of this one if The Father decides to lock us up, I say.

Emma leads the way out and we come back to the throne room. It is chaos with bodies and weapons flying everywhere. Instantly, Konrad and William are in the midst of it. Emma and I look at each other, shrug our shoulders and join in. One by one, I can hear Emma binding the dark witches. I am standing beside her, fighting off any witches that are trying to stop her. Xavier is immediately on her other side. Once Emma has bound the dark witches and they realise they are no longer a witch, they are powerless to fight. They run out of the throne room and try to leave the castle. Their numbers are diminishing and it looks as though we have conquered this round. Xavier and I keep fighting to protect Emma, when we suddenly hear an almighty roar.

Nooooooo, Konrad roars as he runs into The Father and knocks him to the ground. Just as they hit the ground a crossbow arrow laced with holy water hits Konrad’s arm. He screams out in agony as he rips the arrow from his arm. William immediately beheads the witch that shot the offending bow.

The Father sits up and looks at Konrad, and He is not quite sure what to do in this situation. After a few seconds’ pause, The Father stands up and offers Konrad his hand and helps him stand. The Father looks around the room and sees that the dark witches have been defeated.

All of you remaining dark witches stop and listen to your Father. If you move a muscle while I continue to speak, I will have my prodigy bind your powers permanently. Now, I want all of you to leave my castle immediately and do not ever have the audacity to think that you could pull off something like this again. NOW GET OUT! He roars, and then puts his arms out straight in front of him and uses a spell to send them skidding out the wooden doors and into the hall. Before they leave, I hear one of the dark witches scream This isn’t over Ashleigh. Two light witches quickly shut the wooden doors and stand in front of them inside the throne room. The Father takes a seat upon his throne and speaks directly to Konrad.

I assume your daughter let you out of your cell, Konrad? No need to answer, I already know. I must say I am grateful, because you saved me from having that crossbow go through my skull. Considering it was drenched in holy water, it may have destroyed me. In light of this, I will overturn your punishment, and you and William are free to go, The Father says sounding annoyed as He looks around his throne room. However, remember The Rules are there for a reason.

Emma looks around the room and then at Konrad and me.

Sir, sometimes rules are broken unintentionally or out of pure love or emotion. Such as with Ashleigh’s mother and Konrad, Emma explains.

Sir, my father did not realise he could create a biological child, otherwise he would not have been so foolish to do so knowingly. It was a pure accident that my mother fell pregnant, I explain calmly. As for me contacting Emma, I did so out of sheer desperation and loneliness. Emma would never tell anyone about our kind, even if she wasn’t a witch. I wouldn’t have risked any harm to my family in Australia, my family here or our kind, if there was any doubt in my mind that Emma would tell another soul, I plead with him.

The Father places his chin in his hands and thinks for a moment.

Due to the rare and unusual circumstances surrounding your misdemeanours, I will overlook them this once. I will return your skin back to normal, Ashleigh, so that you can go back out in the daylight, The Father says with finality.

He then says the incantation to return my skin to normal, and I feel the same tingles as before.

Thank you, Sir, I say.

We hear a beep and realise that The Father has received a text message.

"I have just received word that the other vampire communities in Russia did not fare too