Kiera's Cassiel

By Amy Alice

Kieras mother is accused of murdering her husband, leaving Kiera to leave college and come home to take care of her younger brother. Once shes home, the man across the street, Kas, introduces himself, and her life will never be the same again. Many things she thought impossible, like vampires, turn out to be true. Kiera finds herself caught in the middle of a war between brothers. Which side is the right side? Will love triumph?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 6, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503591363

Amy Alice

Amy Alice is a pen name for Amy Hoffman-Gustin. Amy lives in the beautiful countryside of Pennsylvania, on a farm with her husband, Jim. She is the mother of two children and one granddaughter. Writing is something she has done for quite a few years; it’s not just a pastime but a passion of hers to entertain those who read.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Introductions

I was twenty three in college for pharmacology when mother went to jail. She had murdered her second husband, my step dad, Clark. She of course she claimed it wasn’t her, that she had been knocked unconscious somehow, and had no recollection of what happened. The jury obviously didn’t believe her story. They had found her guilty as charged. She had been sentenced to thirty years without chance of parole. Thank goodness my half-brother Jeremy was out that night.

I was on my way back to the town where I grew up. I had to come back to take care Jeremy. He was in his junior year at the local high school. I knew he couldn’t leave his friends and life to come live with me. Besides I was living in the college dorm room with nowhere for him to stay. Without my mother there to take care of him, I had leave college life behind, and go home.

I pulled into the housing development where we lived. For the most part the houses all looked a like they were all two stories with a one car garage just different colors. Our house was white with green shudders and trim. I parked in the driveway in front of the garage noticing Jeremy’s black VW Jetta was gone. I figured he was probably out hanging with his friends. He needed them a lot right now, especially since his dad was Clark, the man my mother killed.

Pulling a suitcase out of the car I noticed a tall handsome face, strong jaw, and jet black hair. He had the most stunning ice blue eyes, attached to a scrumptious body staring in my direction from across the street. When I saw him he looked away taking a few steps back towards the house. Turning around again he headed my way. As he continued toward me, making my legs feel weak. Never had I seen such a gorgeous man.

Can I help you with anything? he asked in a deep sexy baritone voice.

Oh, no thanks, I got it. I’m actually just moving in to help take care of my brother, I left campus yesterday, I answered my voice shaking nervously, giving out way to much information to this intriguing stranger.

I stood there with straight, long, dark blonde hair half way down my back, with blue eyes. I was a petite girl at five foot three, and one hundred seven pounds. I was the girl a lot of guys fantasized about, but I was saving myself for the right man. This hunk I could find myself dreaming about, but there would be no time for a relationship. He was probably married anyway. I’m Kassius, he started to say, I live across the street in the yellow house with brown trim, I mean of course I do, I just came from there, but if you need anything, just give me a shout. He sounded as nervous as I did.

I gave him a smile, Thanks Kassius I appreciate it, but I don’t think I’ll need any help. It would probably be better right now to stick with dreams, things were complicated. It was best to stay to myself, besides I was going to be busy enough with Jeremy, school, and the house.

Jeremy pulled up as Kassius walked away, Hey sis, you made it. He looked in Kassius’ direction, "So what did he want?"

Wow, hater much? He just wanted to say hi, and offer his help. You know just being neighborly I guess. I defended Kassius, he seemed really nice. I couldn’t understand why Jeremy was upset.

Yeah well, Jeremy was pissed off, Just stay away from him, he’s trouble.

I frowned at him, I think I can handle it Jer, after all I am the big sister, I said punching him in the arm.

Jeremy chuckled, "I go to school with his brother, and sister, and I’ve heard things. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, BIG sister."

We got all of my bags in the house, and I settled into my old room. It was just as I left it pink ruffled curtains, same pink comforter on my twin bed, and the same blue shaggy carpet. All the furniture was white the bed the two dressers and the desk. Everything perfectly intact including the soda stain on the floor by the desk where I fell asleep studying one night and knocked the half full can off.

Deciding we were too tired to cook I had Jeremy order pizza. As I opened the front door in the living room to pay the delivery guy I glanced across the street as Kassius was leaving, I gave him a wave as he drove away down to the stop sign.

Placing the hot pizza on the counter I asked Jeremy, What does he do for a living?

Who? He asked trying to seem clueless.

I gave a huff, Kassius, you dork.

He’s an ER doctor, he said unimpressed. He fixed up a cut on my head once last year, after some guys jumped me at a football game, he pointed to the scar.

I looked at him confused, Why don’t you like him then? What makes him trouble?

I just hear things, and well, you’re all I have left I need you, and I need you out of whatever drama his family has going on, his selfish, angry tone made me think Jeremy knew more than he was saying.

Really what have you heard? My curiosity was spiked now and I wanted to know.

Just stuff, rumors, they’re weird, he thought, like they stay out of the sun, they don’t eat in front of anyone, and they don’t have any friends, they mainly only hang with each other. They’re scary smart too. he said matter of factly.

Jeremy that’s crazy talk, maybe their sensitive to sunlight, besides Kassius came to talk to me in the middle of the afternoon. Just cause you haven’t seen them eat doesn’t mean they don’t, could be they hate cafeteria food. I said trying to settle the argument.

They just act strange, please just stay away from them. Come on grab your pizza, I got a movie for ya, Jeremy said heading to the living room.

Be right there. I grabbed a glass of soda, popping my meds in my mouth. I had seizures from epilepsy sense I was a child. They were very much under control, mainly because of the medication. I hadn’t had an episode for a year and a half now.

Jeremy picked a werewolf movie, no wonder he was having delusions about the neighbors. Watching horror movies would make anybody paranoid. When it ended I headed to bed.

I dreamt about the gorgeous doctor Kassius from across the street. He was kissing me, caressing me with his soft hands, doing things that would make anybody blush. Waking up from the dream I was left wet, and unsatisfied in a sweat.

Feeling I might as well get up, I got showered, dressed, and then went down to make coffee. Jeremy had already made some, before he took off to school. I must have just missed him. What a good, thoughtful brother he is, I said to myself. I laughed. No, more like he needed the caffeine before class started.

I grabbed a cup and poured the sweet nectar. Letting the smell drift into my nostrils, I sat on the front porch drinking my coffee and waving to the neighbors. Some of which didn’t wave back, I guessed a murder in the neighborhood makes people a little shy. Suddenly Kassius came out in a pair of athletic pants and no shirt to grab his paper.

He was built like an Adonis, muscles everywhere. As he strolled down the driveway I noticed his tattoos, they were large ones on his shoulders, traveling down his chest and around each breast. They traveled down his arms to his elbows. They were of an intricate and delicate tribal design that started big and got smaller as they swirled further down. It reminded me of the beautiful, delicate gold armor the Greeks would wear into war.

So Kassius was a little bit of a bad boy, yummy. I felt my face blush thinking about him, my cheeks feeling like they were on fire, my downstairs feeling achy as I was thinking of my dream. Waving, he took his paper, and went in the house, as he turned around I saw his tattoos ran around onto his back becoming a full set of angels wings. It was very elegant and detailed taking up his whole back. They were absolutely beautiful to look at.

Finishing up with my coffee I got dressed. I got in the car to go into town. I had lots of errands to do, the bank, the drycleaner, Jeremy’s school, and the grocery store. The store would have to wait till last, the bank would be first.

Good morning, I said to the woman at the tellers counter, I’m looking for a Sara Phillips. Do you know where I can find her?

Sure, I’ll get her for you, can I give her your name? she sounded so polite, and helpful.

Oh yes certainly, I’m sorry. My name is Kiera Sloan, I have an appointment. I answered.

She walked away. A couple minutes later a middle aged woman wearing glasses, dressed in a suit walked up to me. Hello Kiera, I’m Sara, I received a call from your lawyer, a Mr. Hutchins. If you want to follow me to my office, I have papers for you to sign.

I followed, sitting in the chair she pointed to. She was quiet for a few moments while she got things together, finally sitting down at her desk.

Ok, she started, your stepfather’s car business sold for $4.3 million. This amount goes to you considering the details of your mother’s incarceration, and your brother being underage.

I shook my head in understanding. I was in shock at how much money was involved. I had an idea, but that was more than I thought. Two thirds of the money is to be set up in trust for my brother Jeremy, the other third is to be used for his upbringing. That amount you can put in my new checking account.

Yes, she said politely, that is exactly how I set this up for you after receiving Mr. Hutchins’s call. Just sign here, and here. Place your initials here, here, and here.

Thank you very much Ms. Phillips I appreciate all you’ve done to help us. I shook her hand.

Before you leave you might need these, she handed me my new checkbook, and some papers for filing, also a savings account book.

Thanks again, I said as I walked out.

The dry cleaners only took a minute. Just a few things of mine I dropped off on the way into town yesterday. Then off to Jeremy’s school which was quite fast and easy enough. I just needed to show that I was his appointed guardian. I signed some papers here as well before I