Amelia (Ami) Jane Gray: The Sleeping Mountain

By Darla A Stone

Ami, Sloane, Jackie, and Drew are back in this next installment of the Amelia (Ami) Jane Gray series. Ami has found love within Pack Lingwir as the now mate of the pack's Alpha Brevan. Trouble continues to plague Ami and her friends as they attempt to discover the secrets that lie within the Sleeping Mountains.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Darla Stone
• Release date: Oct 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781735518428

Darla A Stone

Darla A. Stone is the author of the Amelia Jane Gray series. Writing in the genre of Paranormal Romance has been a long time dream of hers. The first novella that she ever wrote was a single copy release and was specially written as a gift for a family member. With the support of her loving family and the help of her friends, she took the plunge to become a published author. She is very excited to bring to you the worlds in which she has created.

Book preview

1

Prologue

Amelia (Ami) Jane Gray

Since I'd arrived on the island with my friends Jackie, Drew, and Sloane, my world has been turned upside-down. Granted, our start here on the island, in the city of Tenebris, was a rocky one. Our first introduction to the leaders of this realm was one where the four of us were on trial. Thankfully, we'd settled that nasty business in reasonably short order by providing the evidence needed to clear us of any wrongdoing.

The four of us just began to settle into our new lives on this magical island. Jackie found a home within Lady Nova's coven of vampyr.  Drew found love in Lord Oren's coven. Sloane moved from Lord Cedrik and Lady Astraea's home to the pack-house, and I'd fallen in love with the Alpha of Pack Lingwir, Lord Brevan.

A surprise to Sloane and me was that Sloane turned out to be my brother. The two of us were the Dragon and Phoenix Mystics, and as infants, we were hidden to protect us until we were old enough to claim our concealed powers.

After I realized my feelings for Brevan, I'd decided to join the pack as an official member, which meant that I was turned into a Lycanthrope, a.k.a. a werewolf.  One would possibly think this would've been enough for a single lifetime, but wait; there was more.

Brevan and I, in what was a spontaneous move on our parts, decided to have our binding among the people of Tenebris. We'd just begun celebrating with the people of the city, and that was when the world exploded.

2

From Out of Chaos

Amelia (Ami) Jane Gray:

Lord Oren pushed my body to the ground, and laid on top of me, protecting me from the fallout of the explosion. Someone placed incendiary devices in and around the market where Brevan and I were just married. We’d barely began celebrating with the people of Tenebris when the explosion happened. I’d been dancing with Oren only moments before the world shook beneath our feet. Smoke, fire, stone dust, and debris were all around us. They all filled the air and the people who were previously celebrating were now panicking. As the dust began to settle, Oren stood and helped me to my feet. I took in the sight around me and it reminded me of the news stories that covered parts of the Middle East, where the fighting was the worst. Bodies laid motionless, buried under rubble, people everywhere around us were injured and bleeding. There were fires inside buildings still burning and creating black smoke.

As I coughed through the dust and the smoke, I looked around for my mate with Oren at my side. Oren was looking for his own coven members, including Drew. We all were in separate areas when the explosion happened and now, it was a matter of finding everyone to make sure they were alright. Brevan and I spotted each other nearly at the same time. Amelia, are you hurt? I shook my head no as I coughed.

No, but we need to find the others. I said to Oren. Shortly thereafter, Oren caught sight of Drew. Drew looked panicked, as he tried to remove rubble off someone and the three of us made our way over to him as quickly as we could. It’s Stephen, he is buried under here. Stephen laid motionless half-buried under some of the rubble.

Oren took hold of Drew’s arm and stopped him from his frantic rubble removal. Andrew, we will get him out. Oren’s simple touch and calm words appeared to ease Drew’s panicked state.

While the three men worked to get Stephen out, I began to look around for any of our other friends that might need help. I spotted Declan, Lady Nova, and Jackie through the dust and smoke doing the same as I was. They were trying to find us in the din of this mass confusion. I didn’t want to move from my spot, so I called over to them. When they got to me, I hugged all three. Thank god you’re all alright. I felt instant relief at being able to hug my friends and know they were in one piece. Declan went over to help the men dig out Stephen. Jackie, I realize this is the worst possible question, but do you still have my pants? There was so much that needed to happen, because I was still wearing my wedding dress it wasn’t exactly going to be conducive to helping in this situation.

Crazy as it sounds, I do. She pulled the bag off her shoulder and inside were my leather pants. We were going to need my hunting shirt to use as makeshift bandages for the wounded, so I left the shirt in the bag and pulled out my pants. My real secret was about to be revealed. Wearing this wedding dress with its skirt to the floor allowed me to do one thing, leave on my black leather boots. This way my feet remained comfortable. No pointy-toed shoes for me, thank you very much.

I redressed as quickly as possible taking the bottom half of my dress off and putting the pants on, and all of it was done in the pandemonium that was happening around us. When I glanced over at Nova, she looked to be in shock, possibly having some sort of flashback or post-traumatic stress disorder moment. Either way, we needed her to focus and come back to the present. The people needed their leaders.

It is all happening again. They are all dead. Nova was having a bad spell at the moment any way you sliced it.

I looked at Jackie who was going to slip off the deep end of the pool, and it was imperative that I keep her in the here and now. Jackie, no reaction. JACKIE, look at me. That got her attention, See if you can get Nova to focus and come back to reality. Once she does, we need to start finding able-bodied people to help dig people out and to extinguish those fires that are burning.

Jackie cried out Ami, how are just the three of us going to do that?

My brain went into some sort of compartmentalization mode, which was to focus on what I could do not what I couldn’t. I found a pile of rubble that looked like no one was underneath. Stay here, I told Jackie and she began to focus on Nova doing as I asked.

I ascended to the top of the rubble, which to say was very unstable, so from my perch on top it gave me a pretty good view of the chaotic scene from there. I spotted Sloane and Cash, Riley, Mathias, Liam, and then Lord Cedrik who happened to be crouched by Lady Astraea. It looked like her leg was trapped under a huge stone. I jumped down and ran over to Sloane and Cash, they were the closest. Lady Astraea is trapped we need to get her out, and motioned for them to follow me.

When we reached Lord Cedrik, I saw that he was suffering from a head wound that was bleeding pretty badly. Lord Cedrik was not going to be much help. He couldn’t stay upright on his feet too long before becoming dizzy. I surmised that he was suffering from a possible concussion. You two need to get that off Lady Astraea, and then get her, along with her husband out of here. Whatever happens, do not let Lord Cedrik fall asleep. He has a head wound. I left them to it and climbed up onto my viewpoint again. People were still panicking and it seemed as though it was getting worse as the dust settled. Someone needed to take control of this situation before the pandemonium got worse and more people were injured or killed. I thought to myself here goes nothing , then began to yell out over the commotion, EVERYONE LISTEN…. HEY, I SAID LISTEN! and a temporary calm took over.

They were looking for someone to step up with some sort of direction, guess that was me for now. I continued to yell as I gave out directions, IF YOU CAN WALK AND ARE NOT INJURED REPORT OVER HERE NEAR ME. WE NEED STRONG ABLE-BODIED MEN AND WOMEN. IF YOU HAVE TRAINING AS A HEALER, REPORT OVER HERE, AS WELL. IF YOU ARE INJURED BUT CAN STILL WALK, MAKE YOUR WAY OUTSIDE NEXT TO THE CARRIAGES AND STAY PUT. SOMEONE WILL BE WITH YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOU. IF YOU ARE INJURED AND CANNOT MOVE STAY WHERE YOU ARE. WE WILL GET SOMEONE TO YOU AS SOON AS WE CAN.

Everyone was looking at me with blank looks on their faces. That’s when Brevan ran over to where I was and yelled MOVE, YOU HEARD MY MATE, as he pushed his alpha power over the crowd. Brevan kissed my temple and whispered, Thank the gods Oren was there to protect you.

Brevan, I’m fine but many of these people are not. Work now, nervous breakdown later. I will join you, okay? Brevan gave me a brief hug. Can you handle this mob? I shrugged, No idea but I am about to find out.

A crowd began to gather in front of me. Men, women, and teens were all willing to help in the rescue effort. Alright, men to the left, women to the right; if you have not yet reached your twenty-first year get in the middle. Move quickly. I spoke firmly and directly. I divided the men and women half on fire duty and a half on survivor retrieval duty. That left six teens that were standing there, awaiting their orders. The available healers filtered over at this point, with as much of their medical equipment as they could gather in a short amount of time. I took the most experienced healer and placed one of the teens with him. They were going to deal with the most severely injured, while the second healer was going to do triage and assessment with the help of another teen. The third healer I’d sent out was to take care of the injured that had already made their way out and were waiting to have someone help them. I then took the three tallest teens and asked them to climb up to where I’d been standing and act as spotters. If they saw someone that needed help and couldn’t get themselves out, they were to tell the retrieval team immediately and mark the person that needed help. There was now at least a working plan of action in place.

I looked around and noticed that Drew and Oren had uncovered Stephen and were now pulling him out of the rubble. Brevan was over by Declan assessing someone else who was also trapped. Jackie was getting Nova to start to come around and when I glanced at Riley, Liam, and Mathias, they’d just finished removing the rubble off someone. It wasn’t just someone though, it was Emmer and my heart dropped. I ran for them not caring what I was running across. Emmer and his wife Aoife had become good friends of mine and Emmer was not just Brevan’s best friend but also his second in command of the pack. As I looked over at him lying there, injured as badly as he was, my control began to slip and I felt true fear for the first time in a long time. Stop! Riley, Liam, and Mathias were about to move him, and without the proper assistance, they could do more damage than that which had already been done. When I got there, Emmer’s injuries were so much worse than I first imagined. The entire right half of his body, from his hip down to his foot was crushed.

Lady Amelia, what is it. Why did you have us stop?

Oh, dear lord in heaven. Had no one ever heard about spinal injuries? There was no way to know if his lower back was damaged or not. You can’t just move him. There is a potential that his back could already be broken. We need long wide boards joined together, to match the length and width of his body. We will have to roll him to his uninjured side then roll him onto the boards. Again, I was being looked at like a deer in the headlights. I knew I was more dominant than these three and decided to use it. MOVE, OR DO I NEED TO REPEAT MYSELF. They snapped to and were off like a shot.

I knelt by Emmer’s head and stroked his hair. He began to stir, Shh, don’t move you’re safe. I tried to keep him still because if he moved on his own, he would hurt himself further, never mind what we needed to do to get him out of here. In what felt like forever, the three men returned with what I’d instructed them to find. They were carrying two flat wide planks joined together, wide and long enough for us to move Emmer with. I stood and walked over to them. Alright, we need to do this as smoothly as possible. We are going to roll him to his left just enough to slide the boards under him and then gently roll him onto his back, so that he is on top of the planks. When you lift him, you will use the boards to raise him keeping him as still as possible. Understood?

The three of them responded in a show of respect, Yes, M’Lady.

Okay, let us do this. On the count of three. One, two, three, we rolled him and he cried out, then the plank was slid under Emmer and we rolled him back. Get him into a carriage and straight back to the packhouse. When you get there, gather as many men and women as you can and get back here double time. Am I clear? Both Liam and Riley nodded and were off leaving Mathias standing by my side. They were only stopped briefly when Brevan noticed who they were carrying. What should have been a happy and joyous event was now marked with tragedy. I couldn’t help but think as I stood there and glanced around at what was once a beautifully decorated marketplace, what I saw now, was a group of people banding together in the face of adversity, and a path that I now set myself upon. These people that lived here in the southern territory were now my people and we would face this challenge together.

3

From Adversity Rises Strength

Sloane Ivan Cranston:

The devastation was everywhere around us. Any direction I looked in the market had been demolished. I briefly wondered if I were in some science fiction movie and waited a moment for zombies to attack. Then I remembered the tragic events of 9/11 in New York City and the brave men and women who went in and rescued as many people as they could, placing their own lives in danger. I found a new respect for them and their efforts. Nova’s male companion Declan came up behind me placing his hand on my shoulder. You okay, Sloane?

Yeah, just trying to figure out why someone would do this? It doesn’t make sense. I know it’s still early but I’d think someone would take responsibility for this? Is no one giving their reason, even if it sounds crazy? Back home there were these terrorist cells that did things like this. They always took credit for the destruction and deaths that they caused, spouting this reason, or that reason. Here, there’s nothing and no one. My cousin Jackie always teased me about my inability to leave a puzzle unfinished, and now I was looking at the biggest puzzle I’d ever seen.

Declan looked at me, What are you thinking then?

I hated to say it but I had my suspicions. The problem was I hadn’t any proof and without proof, my suspicions would be little more than pointless accusations. I think while we work our way through all this rubble, we need to look for any remnants of the device or devices that caused the explosion. If we only possessed dogs that could sniff out even the chemicals used, we could track down the pieces of any of the explosives. Then we would be one step closer to finding out who is responsible.

Declan laughed, Sloane, we have something better than dogs. We have wolves.

Declan was right, we did have wolves on site. The chief wolf was here and now happens to be my brother-in-law. Declan, you are a genius. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. I ran over to my new brother-in-law, Brevan. He was concentrating on Ami who looked heartbroken. Brevan, listen, I know you want nothing more than to go over to her and take her away from all of this, however, I have an idea and I need your help.

Brevan refocused himself and looked at me. What is it?

I explained about bomb-sniffing dogs and how they could smell the chemicals used to make explosives. Would wolves be able to do that, as well?

I could almost see the wheels spinning in Brevan’s mind. He was trying to figure out how to accomplish what I’d just relayed to him. Cash is the best tracker we have available. I believe he will be able to help with what you are asking. I must remain, as I am to aid in the rescue efforts. People need to know their leaders stand with them. Come, we will find Cash and get him working on your task.

It didn’t take long to find Cash. He was working with a group of men to get some people out from underneath an overturned cart that were trapped under some rubble. Cash, Sloane has an idea and needs your assistance. Since Emmer is injured, you are the next best tracker available.

Cash looked concerned. Emmer, M’Lord?

Yes. Brevan knew Cash deserved an explanation regarding Emmer’s condition. Riley and Liam took him back to the estate and are returning with help.

Of course, I will do what I can, was Cash’s response, and you could see the determination set in his eyes.

I explained my idea after the two men finished speaking and what he would need to do. Your wolf is looking for the smell of something like sulfur or burnt rotten eggs. Do you think you will be able to do that?

Sloane, just try and have someone stop me. Cash quickly shifted into his wolf form and was immediately off on the hunt with me on his heels.

Cash and I started at one end of the blast area and using a grid pattern, began our search. Each time we found a location, Cash marked it the only way a wolf could. You guessed it, he peed on it. We worked while the rescue and clean-up efforts continued. It took us a couple of hours, but in total, we found eight different locations that all smelled of explosives. Eight locations that went off all at the same time meant one of two things. Either eight assassins were lying in wait to set off each one at a specific time, or they were fused in a daisy chain with one long wick at the end. While I looked for Brevan, I hadn’t realized until that point that other members of Brevan’s pack had arrived. Some of them were helping to rescue people, some were bandaging wounds and others were just simply moving debris out of the general area to make a path for people to get the injured out more safely.

Once I finally found Brevan, I explained my two working theories and pointed out the locations of each explosion site. I was trying to impress upon Brevan that clearing the rubble from these sites needed to not only take priority but also, needed to be done in such a way that any evidence found would not be accidentally damaged or thrown away. Essentially, I was re-inventing the medieval version of the Crime Scene Investigation Unit. I also explained to Brevan how this was not just a physical exercise but a mental one, too. Each piece had to be carefully examined and gone over with exceptional attention to detail. I just hoped Cash’s urine didn’t damage the proof we were looking for. In the end, two females and three males from Brevan’s pack were assigned to evidence duty. The goal was to find what didn’t belong. My logical brain was at work, trying to place all the pieces of the puzzle together, which were different parts of the events of the night. I needed to make some sense out of all of this.

I needed to look at this from a different point of view, literally. Amelia, Nova, Declan, and Jackie were huddled together and I looked where they were presently standing. I decided that was a good place for me to begin my examination of this puzzle that I was working on. I walked over and greeted them all. Jackie asked what I was doing and I gave her a brief rundown.

Jackie was being true to form, You never could resist a puzzle. I always figured you’d go into detective work instead of law. How about I get you a deerstalker hat, pipe, and woolen trench coat?

I rolled my eyes at my cousin. Only if you want to start carrying a doctors bag filled with morphine.

I still considered Jackie my cousin and family, even though, it turned out that Ami was my sister. I was studying at all eight blast locations again. The blasts were focused in this immediate area. Presumably to cause the most damage and deaths as this was the busiest place in the grand market, but how? Each blast point was in groups of two. Which meant, two explosive devices, then an untouched area, then two explosive devices. In total, four on each side of the open area portion of the market.

What are you thinking, cuz? Jackie asked as I was swinging my head back and forth from one side of the market to the other. Sloane, talk to me. Maybe I can help? Maybe she could help .

Here is the thing, this location in the grand market was specifically targeted. There are two explosion locations there, then this untouched area, then two more there. And as you can see it’s the same on the other side. Yes, this is the busiest place in the entire grand market due to the pubs, cafés, market stands, and so forth. But, why now and how did they get out without being seen or noticed? I was still missing something, something incredibly obvious. Ami and Nova were talking about the buildings, and how it would need to be fixed as soon as possible for the morale of the people. Nova’s coven, by far, possessed some of the best construction people, so she was the obvious choice to discuss that with. I needed to say, I was incredibly proud and impressed with how my sister was handling things. She was compartmentalizing exceptionally well, under the circumstances. As she would say, work now, freak-out later and I was completely on board with that sentiment.

Jackie started doing the same thing I was, we looked like two owls. Our bodies were completely still with our heads on a swivel.

Sloane, did you look in the untouched areas? Just a question, but you have been focused on the blast locations, maybe you overlooked something in them.

My cousin, the absolutely brilliant ball of fire that she was. I smiled down at her the biggest smile I could muster under the circumstances. Jackie, you do know that you are the best cousin ever, don’t you?

I’m glad you finally remembered that. So, I take it by your reaction that the answer is; oops, nope, I didn’t look there.

She was such a spitfire when she wanted to be. How about we split the task? I then pointed across the market as I spoke, You take that one over there and I’ll take this one. Meet back here in ten minutes? I suggested a timeline because if something wasn’t slapping us in the face we would need to dig through the rubble.

Jacqueline, I cannot allow you to go by yourself. Things are still very unstable. Declan was just trying to look out for her and for that I was kind of grateful.

Jackie slapped Declan’s arm, Then I guess you are coming along because I’m going.

Remember you two, ten minutes then back here. Don’t stick around in there any longer than you have to. Declan was right, everything was really unstable and the less time in one area the better.

I reached the room that was my intended target and pushed my way through the doorway. When Cash and I went through the first time, only Cash had entered here because of the size of the opening. In his wolf form, it was easier for him to just go in, rather than the both of us. After I’d scanned the room, I noticed that it was some kind of janitorial closet. I observed a mop, bucket, broom, and smashed bottles of cleaning supplies. The main thing that I noticed about this room was that there was a window in it. The window would’ve made an easy escape route, as it was only what I would describe as the second floor and many of the inhabitants here on the island could make that jump with no issues. The clouds moved away from the moon and the moonlight shone in the window which gave the room a small glow. The glow wasn’t what caught my eye though, it was the glint of something gold lying on the floor just under the window ledge. I gingerly walked over to that area of the room and picked up what turned out to be a golden locket.