Empyreal: Awaken - Book One Read Online Free PDF

no turning back
... we won't be able to undo this...” Kate took a deep breath. Cal
continued, “It'll be the start of more than you or I, or anyone for
that matter, could ever dream of...” Kate sighed heavily, not
knowing which scared her more – revealing the truth or the truth
itself.

Chapter 5
     
    Coralie could feel her weight being lifted from
where she lay. She tried to open her eyes, what seemed an almost
impossible task. She finally managed to crack her eyelids open just
enough to see a silhouette of what looked like a young man. The man
was holding her close to his body. He felt familiar. He carried her
tired, limp body … holding her close … holding her
tight.
    She tried to shift her eyes into
focus, but they would not allow it. She could feel the warmth of
his body and the strength of his arms surrounding her, carrying her
as if she were weightless.
    Where am I? Coralie thought to
herself, unable to remember. Had she hit her head? Where was she?
Trying to remember only made her head ache worse.
    She tried to open her eyes once more.
There were beams of light shining all around him. There was
a brilliant halo of light around his head, blinding her weakened
sight from seeing his face. An angel? She thought,
questioning the safety that wrapped around her. Was she dead? Could
this really be happening ? S he couldn’t explain it, but
somehow she felt a sense of safety.
    She made another attempt to open her
eyes. The slits in her eyes barely allowed light to peak through
them. Where had she been? Where was she now?
    Wait, light ... sunlight ...
outside ... woods ... What had she seen? Had she passed out in
the woods? What was she doing there? And who had found
her?
    She started to try to sit up in his
arms, but her effort was a failing one. Realizing how painful of a
blow she must have taken to her head when she lost passed out in
the woods, Coralie relaxed back into the security of his arms and started to float back into a state of
unconsciousness.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Coralie awoke to the sound of her
mother's voice. “Coralie,” her mother called out, from the
staircase. Coralie could hear her mother's footsteps nearing her
door.
    Coralie started to stir – mind first,
then body.
    “Coralie,” her mother called
again.
    Coralie rubbed her eyes and blinked a
few times, trying to focus on the image pacing around her
room.
    “Coralie, Hon, it's time to get up...”
Katelyn walked over to her daughter’s bedroom window, moving the
curtains aside, as she spoke, allowing light to peek in.
    “Mom? What time is it?” Coralie asked,
groggily.
    “Three o'clock, dear...”
    “Three? Morning or
afternoon?”
    “Afternoon ... honey, you've been
asleep all day...”
    “Sleeping ... all day...” speaking
sleepily, then Coralie sat up suddenly. She recalled events passing
through her mind like a movie on fast forward. She saw moments
flicker scene after scene.
    “Mom ... asleep ... I've been asleep
... are you absolutely sure that I've been asleep?” Coralie asked
in desperation.
    “Yes, dear ... asleep ... and you need
to get up and start getting ready ... it's getting late. Do you
know what you are wearing tonight?”
    “The library. Mom ... I went –”
Coralie started but was cut off.
    “Oh, the library ... right ... you
mentioned that you needed to get some book on hold for your Lit
class ... What was it again?” she paused, looking down at something
in her hand. “Oh, yes ... Austen.” She said, reading the author's
name. Katelyn laid the book down on Coralie's bedside table, then
she began to cross Coralie’s bedroom again.
    “Wait, yes ... but how did you
–”
    Cutting her daughter off again before
she could ask a too in-depth question, “Honey, you mentioned it
this morning ... in the kitchen ... I know that the library closes
early on Saturday, so I thought while I was out running errands,
I'd pick it up.” She stopped just long enough to look at her
daughter's confused stare.