The Dark Shroud(Book 1)

from me. "I have been instructed to take special care of you." the man walks the line with me in toe. He stops in front of a black a

with cattails and water lilies. I can hear frogs and crickets in the distance and I can smell fresh cut grass and rain. Behind the pond I see a large grass lawn with paved road down the middle. And then I look and see the castle-lik

ng my money. If it wasn't for me knowing about them being part of the mob, my suspicion would be right on th

stand and smooth out my dark purple ball gown before taking the man's hand. He helps me to the ground and

t's skip the party for now and go u

om his voice that this is Ren holding me. I

ld no," he says that l

leans forward. "

hatred. He looks around before pulling me into the nearest closet. A

ou locking

go anywhere," he says

cked door can stop

urns into tears and he starts to cry.

death, and this involves death. I step closer to Ren and place my hand on

ave to face it on way or another." He wraps his arms a

my shoulder. "My father is dead and I

ngs not even I

g I have never seen in anyone before. He lets

utiful," he says

et me go. His eyes are now deep blue green with the fire

u do." He leans forward and runs his nose across my

doing th

"Or we could go to my room now, a

to him. I do know I want him, but I do k

e and don

now," I

answ

y head f

he orders thro

th resentment. "

he says dis

Wait, you would understa

action sends shivers down my spine. He then runs his lips up my ne

nd death." I look at his ear and I don't know what cam

at me with shock. "

stop kissing

want me too

arts to have celebrations of la

ted, I slip by him

ching over me to lock the door

rting my shoulder in the process. I run out only to have my dress caught in the door,

, "and if you don't want to rip it, I would

steps closer to me to enclose my face in his hands. My shoulder starts to pulse and throb from the pain. You think being what I am that I would be impervious to pain and being hurt, b

ered my questio

ain s

all, but he holds me up and steady. After a moment of fighting the kiss, I give in and close my eyes and let him kiss me as long as he wanted to. He lets me go a

ck out of his arms and start walking in a random direction l

urn a corner when I hear Re

the ballroom but there are cameras everywhere and I can't risk being seen. I bask in the silence of bein

r button. I reach up with my free hand

? We were told that you have arrived ten

ion right now," I

corted to the bal

dark hallway in some empty section

ened to yo

entirely too friendly," I sa

someone to find you after we locate you in the se

ka

ection. I smile at the camera and it keeps focus on me. I stand there until I hear several f

ays gesturing down th

he ballroom and try to pass Re

n the way of the guard

o the ballroom and onto the dance floor.

g my hand. I shiver from the pai

m fi

g me. "Where did you learn to

smiles. "I figured I needed to learn to dance t

es start to get glassy and a single tear flows down his

him a lot,

osed to mean?" he

head. "Noth

" He looks at me as if I know something,

e. It wasn't until I get carried away and I rest my

r head on m

there was a big car accident that killed 20 people on the interstate. I should have gone to sl

you up a

interstate that killed 20 people,

to work," he says wi

doctor and yes,

says with conviction. "At

am. And right now, I can feel being up all night the previous night hit m

o," I say almost fa

an order, "you are i

I ask drowsily. "Are you going

night, you wouldn't be sleeping. I wi

home, i

says with hum

..." I say before pa

nd hear a crack and sizzle and the smells of sausage. I sit up in bed and rub my still sore shoulder, I then walk out of my room with Brina on my heels. I sneak dow

ng, "Kind of took me by surprise when I opened the d

ng him to think he i

your dog will not leave your side while you sleep and every time you flip or move, she gro

remain

hing? I feel awkward talk

e stove to look

ngr

at his question, h

ve and cracks another egg into the pan. "It woul

tions and my makeup is all over my face in the wrong places. I run out to grab my robe from my room and back into the bath

bull terrier looks at Ren and runs up to him and bounds at him to lick him on the arm, he smiles at

my hair I walk into the kitchen to find Ren sitting at the table with his plate of food. He must have given Brina some

get human food," I sa

says handing me

od on the table. "Babe Really?" I

" he say

I sneer. "How d

" he starts, "which I think it is

ar?" I ask

swers. "It handles very well; its previous owner h

wner that car has ever had. "It is a family heirloom; my father gave it me." I am pretty p

d, "must have loved you not to g

ave any sisters and my parents are de

e asks sipping orange

" I look down and realized that I wasn't wearing the ball go

at look for

at I never bought and not my ball gown this

And I will say that corset was hard to get off.

our car, but you need

t was made for me. In my life it was me who was taking care of the living and now

osses his arms, and stares at

stay as long

smi

w cold. I drop my fork and cross my arms. I can fee

ok like you w

the door," I say looking at

nd start to rub my shoulder again, he

hurt yourse

e were in last night. Its been sore ever since.

says with worry. "I see som

laugh, "tha

hat suppos

from under the table and into a corner with a shadow, to hid

what is

wing he doesn't

l about that word,"

ive feet from him; I turn to him an

get a vision of a life I have to take and I have to leave

ain solemn. "What? T

my side for the past 50 years." I look at Brina, "Brina fade." The dog looks at me and whines. "It's okay

sn't explain that you are a grim reaper. It j

s my arms, and sigh.

his face in his hands. I too fall to my knees and place my hand on his shoulder to

n he died?" he aske

he died," I answer, "

u know

gging him. "And no, I

't you t

s involved," I answer him looking into his now

w he died? The doctors say that he had a re

n't fail. It was t

ab a glass of water from the table and give it to

he says. I fre

ld you s

u told me no, I have never been told no or I was a

need

ng anywhere," he sa

in the future while you are dead. Ren, there are things you m

with a big smile. "I will be an

whisper to myself. "Now h

with his free hand. I try to pull away again but he lifts me up and carries me over hi

it is you are doing I will n

and into the bedroom. He walks to the

else," I say

s pants, revealing himself to me. I

into the room; she jumps onto the bed and stands aware and growling

a step forward and Brina lowers her head to focus on Ren better

, "she is already dead. S

way while putting his pants on befo

Being what I am I learned that being alone was part of the job, but now I feel more alone that I have ever felt in my whole 2 centuries of living.

want to go to

want to go anywhere today, but I figure I nee

n I like, we can go there. I'll have a

I say with a coy smile and roll

" she

s with black shoes with a 2 inch heal. The jewelry to match is just a par of silver chain earrings with white diamonds accenting each chain. For my hair, I decide with a single

azer is see that he has missed a button on his dress shirt and he reeks of marijuana. I am so glad Tiffany cares for my safety that sh

Ren for me and bring him hear?" the d

an shooting the other, I couldn't see their faces. Upon leaving the restaurant I tell Tiffany that it is

t coming here, but I have a job to do that needs to be done. I find myself in a room full of books with a man sitting at a de

ather was

lding a piece of paper to

the paper on the table and stands to his

He walks from the desk and to a small bar and g

't you a

this because I now realized who is going to be reaped and it is not Galv

he desk and sits down. "So, to answer your question, I killed our father and I am about to kill you." he pulls a gun from the top drawer and aims at Ren. He pulls the hammer back

st enough time to make me love him with all my heart in his final dying moments. I was going to lose a part of me now, a part I never knew I had and I will fight to get it back,