Ebony Slumbers: The Envy of All

By Nova Blake

 

Ebony knows two things. Her guardians will protect her with their lives. She must escape from this house or she'll go crazy.

She might be going crazy anyway.

The nightmares are getting worse, and the walls are closing in - not just the walls of the house, but the walls created by the holes in her memory. Ebony knows there is more at stake than just her life. If she could only remember… remember why someone wants to kill her. Why she had to go into hiding in the first place.

She trusts her guardians with her life, but she doesn't trust them to let her live it. Ebony knows she should be grateful, but there is an itch in her bones, a call in the night, luring her outside the safety of their home.

Ebony knows one thing: she can't resist it for much longer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nova Blake
• Release date: Jul 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781393031055

Book preview

Ebony Slumbers

Nova Blake

Copyright

Ebony Slumbers © 2018 Nova Blake

Cover by Jacqueline Sweet Design

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without express written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This one is dedicated to Kim Faulks, because I never would have had the courage to write this without you – thank you for being so awesome!

Contents

1. CHAPTER ONE

2. CHAPTER TWO

3. CHAPTER THREE

4. CHAPTER FOUR

5. CHAPTER FIVE

6. CHAPTER SIX

7. CHAPTER SEVEN

8. CHAPTER EIGHT

9. CHAPTER NINE

10. CHAPTER TEN

11. CHAPTER ELEVEN

12. CHAPTER TWELVE

13. CHAPTER THIRTEEN

14. CHAPTER FOURTEEN

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER ONE

Ifolded another tee and stacked it on the pile. With eight of us in the house the washing was a never ending chore, and I was the dumb-ass in charge of it. At least it got me out of cooking. Rafe was so much better at that than me anyway.

I looked into the kitchen where he was stirring the pasta sauce, his focus purely on the food. He had bread baking in the oven and the yeasty smell made my mouth water. Rafe wasn't so bad himself either, he had an apron on over his shirt and jeans, and his blond hair slicked back. I could see his arm muscles twitch as he stirred and stirred.

I loved watching him cook - which was why I folded the washing at the dining table. He wasn't much for conversation but the view helped me get through the mundane task.

Sheehan was next door watching the news with the sound turned off.

It was an unspoken rule. Don't let Ebony watch the news. Don't expose Ebony to things that might trigger flashbacks.

Except that I didn't really know what the trauma was. Didn't know what to expect if something was triggered. There was a cone of silence around me, a bubble that kept out the real world, and it was built of men.

Hot, kind, loving men. But it was still a bubble and all bubbles had to pop eventually, right?

And if they didn't pop it soon, I was going to. I couldn't stand the not knowing. I looked out the window longingly to the world I couldn't remember, the world I'd never know until this was all over.

Earth to Ebony… Rafe said.

Huh? I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to him. What's up?

Can you go and pick some parsley from the garden? You know which one that is right? He gave me a mock serious look, but I could see the grin beneath it.

I finished folding the towel and put it on the right pile, then poked my tongue out at him as I headed to the kitchen door. He flicked the tea towel in my direction, catching me on the hip, my squeal forcing a laugh out of him.

That man…

Actually, all of those men.

I pushed through the door, wondering how I got so lucky. Whoever was after me almost killed me once before, and these guys were doing everything in their power to make sure that didn't happen again.

I just wished they'd tell me more, or catch the bastard so I could have some semblance of a normal life.

The sun was going down over the trees in the distance, and the crickets chirped their evening song. It was so peaceful outside that I stood there for a few minutes, basking in the radiant sunset. Reds and oranges reflecting on the back of the clouds that dotted the sky. A light wind swept through the garden making me shiver. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms to make them warmer and then turned my gaze to the ground, searching for the parsley before it got too dark to tell the difference.

I picked a sprig, lifting it to inhale, closing my eyes as the sharp tang hit my nostrils. It tickled my senses, trying to call back some memory that was behind the wall in my mind. One day I'd breach it. I had to.

The mournful call of an owl made me snap my eyes open and look out to the treetops again. We were close to the edge of town and the woods weren't far away. I walked towards the edge of the yard, placing one hand on the fence and peering through the gaps at the wilds. Oh how I longed to step through the gate, to go out there and explore the woods, to hear the birds singing in the tree canopy - who knew what other animals I might find?

Ebony!

Rafe…

Coming, I called as I bent to pick some more parsley and headed back inside. I washed it off in the sink then left it on the chopping board for him to work his magic.

I leaned against the bench, watching him until the door burst open and Felix swanned into the room, a big smile on his handsome face, green eyes sparkling. He plonked a bottle in a brown paper bag down on the bench and started pulling his coat off.

Have I got a story for you, Princess! he declared.

I grinned and leaned over it to grab the bottle. You talk, I'll pour. And stop calling me Princess.

Felix always had a story for me. It was like he went out for the day looking for something that he knew would tickle my fancy, and I loved him for it.

I unscrewed the top on the wine, not even bothering to look at the label. Felix's other hidden talent was buying things I liked to drink. I lifted the bottle to my nose and inhaled notes of plum and pepper.

How many tonight? I asked as I put the bottle down and turned for the glasses shelf.

Colton, Brax, and Arien are all out, and you know Rafe is too uptight to drink, Felix said with a grin.

Rafe threw a scowl over his shoulder, but didn't reply, just focused on the food. He was dishing up now, spaghetti bolognaise, probably one of my favorite dishes - and perfect with a nice red.

I set out four glasses and poured the wine, making sure Felix had more, seeing as he did buy it. A single bottle never went far in this house, but that was the policy… Again, couldn't get drunk in case someone found us and attacked.

It was getting old. I didn't know what my life had consisted of before the attack, but I was positive there was more freedom in it. The occasional drunken night, parties, dancing… I longed to dance somewhere other than the living room, to eat a meal cooked in a restaurant, to see a movie at the theater…

So, I was on my way home, Felix began. He pulled a seat out at the table for me and served my glass of wine with a grin. Then he moved the folded clothes into piles in the washing basket so there was enough room at the table for dinner as he talked. And I saw this guy running down the street with a chicken under his arm. The chicken was squawking something awful, clearly unhappy, and then this old woman comes up in a red mini. She winds down the window and she's leaning out, yelling at him 'Put my chicken down!' I can hardly believe it, so I stop and watch. She just about drives into him and then she leaps out of the car with an umbrella and bashes him over the head with it!

What did he do? I asked, equally astounded. I had no idea what I'd do in that situation.

He drops the chicken and curls up in a ball. The old lady gives him another whack and then she picks up the chicken, hops in her car and drives off.

What the hell kind of story is that, Rafe said. He put a plate in front of me, set one down for Felix. Sheehan, dinners up! he called towards the lounge, then, Where the hell is Zephyr? under his breath.

It's a true story, but you don't have to believe me. Too weird not to be true, right, Princess? Felix sat down next to me, and nudged my elbow.

I believe it, I said. Though it's pretty out there.

That's what they say though, reality is stranger than fiction. Felix winked and then dug into his dinner. He chewed hard, swallowed, and then pointed at the food with his fork. This is epic, man. Thanks.

Yeah, thank you, I added, tucking into my own.

Sheehan slid into his seat and started eating, making sounds of pleasure as he did. He didn't speak - couldn't as far as I knew - but that didn't stop him from communicating loud and clear. He sipped his wine and sighed in appreciation, and we shared a grin.

I liked Sheehan for his quiet. I had a feeling that even if he could speak he wouldn't, not much anyway. He had this calmness about him. His long blond hair was almost always loose and made me think of the pictures of Jesus I’d seen.

Felix and Rafe talked as we ate, and I tuned out, enjoying my food and the companionship around the table. Until I heard the word 'lead'.

You found a lead? I asked, interrupting Rafe, my eyes darting between the men.

Felix swallowed his mouthful. Maybe.

Why didn't you say that the second you walked in the door? I spend all day stuck here and all I want is for things to be over.

I said maybe, Princess. We won't know until we follow up, which we can't do until morning. Colton is keeping tabs on things. He took a sip of wine. Besides, I thought it might be nice to eat my dinner before the interrogation started.

Sheehan rolled his eyes, but I couldn't tell whether it was meant for me or Felix.

I didn't care.

I need to know, I pressed. Then I sighed, forcing myself to relax my shoulders. Please?

Rafe and Felix exchanged a glance and then Rafe shrugged.

The person who tried to kill you is quite high ranking, like, crazy powerful. They have eyes and ears everywhere - you know that's why you have to stay inside. He locked his eyes on mine, making sure I took heed at the extra warning.

As if I didn't hear it every single day…

I know, I know. Hurry it up and get to the new information. He was enjoying this, stringing it out. Making me wait.

I sipped my wine, clutching the glass so hard I thought it might snap. As much as I appreciated how dedicated these guys were, it grated me something awful to be locked inside. Me, the prisoner, when I hadn't done anything wrong.

I think we found someone who might provide evidence of their crimes. We haven't been able to pin anything on her-

Her? My spine stiffened and a wisp of memory flitted through my brain. She had dark hair, I was sure of it, and vibrant green eyes that would bore into me. I shuddered at the memory. A hand grabbed my arm and I flinched, spinning to look at Sheehan who was frowning, his deep brown eyes full of concern. I smiled softly, then turned back to Felix. You're telling me it's a woman who wants me dead?

What? Don't think it's possible? You should see some of the death glares you give, Princess. It's only a miracle you haven't struck one of us dead before now.

I leveled said death glare at him and then punched his arm for good measure. I didn't mean it like that, I just… I didn't know. I looked down at my plate, frowning. There was so much I didn't know. Why won't you tell me? I asked, for possibly the tenth time that week. I looked up, catching and