Fated, A Timeless Series Novella (A Timeless Series Companion Novel) Read online

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used factiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, my not be reproduced in any form without permission from the author. The scanning uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law.

  Copyright © 2012 by Lisa L. Wiedmeier

  Editor: Sam Dogra

  Cover design by: Indie Book Covers

  For more information on the Timeless Series visit: http://www.lisawiedmeier.com/ timelessseriesnovels.com www.facebook.comTimelessSeriesNovels http:/lisawiedmeier.blogspot.com/

  Edition-I

  ISBN: 978-0-9839052-6-4

  For Julia, and Sandra, thank you for believing in me.

  And for all my fans…

  May you have C.A.T.T.S. forever!

  (Chronic Addiction To Timeless Series)

  Fated

  A Timeless Series Novella

  A Timeless Series Companion Novel

  Lisa L. Wiedmeier

  &

  Sam Dogra

  Part One: Cheyenne

  Edition One

  Chapter One-Callon

  Chapter Two-Colt

  Chapter Three-Daniel

  Chapter Four – Callon

  Chapter Five – Daniel

  Chapter Six – Colt

  Part Two: Promises

  Edition Two

  Coming Summer 2013

  Part Three: Daylight

  Edition Three

  Coming Winter 2014

  Part Four: Awakening

  Edition Four

  Coming Summer 2014

  Chapter 1

  “It’s not a question of can or can’t. You just do.” ~Callon

  It was raining again, and the constant pattering on the windows made me sigh. I’d had a late night talking with Daniel back home, but today all my enthusiasm seemed to have stayed in bed. I could hardly concentrate on the reports, and I was so restless. One minute I’d be in the study, the next I’d be pacing the main room, before circling through to the kitchen.

  Yet my agitation wasn’t totally random. I was waiting for an important letter, it was the only safe method right now. I’d not heard from her in weeks, and it was somewhat nerve-wracking, knowing she’d had such a close call only a few months back. I knew, even as acting clan regent, I couldn’t show favoritism to my friends, but sometimes I wished I could. Though she’d never let me hear the end of it if I took her from the front lines…

  The distant hum of an engine caught my ear, and I glanced through the front room window. A mail truck was speeding away, and I swallowed. Perhaps I’d finally have the news I wanted.

  Snatching an umbrella from the hall, I hurried into the downpour and retrieved the envelopes. As I walked back, I flicked through them. Some water and electricity bills, an offer for free pizza, something about a book signing for a new author…and a letter from an address in Idaho I didn’t recognize.

  Hmm.

  Back in the house, I dumped the umbrella and tossed the bills onto the kitchen counter, then began to open the unknown letter. Who would want to write to me?

  ‘To whom it may concern,

  We write to you for your timeless counsel on a matter of destiny. The light of hope threatens to wane as her sunrise approaches, and though we have guarded the flame since its birth, the winds of change are drawing near. Help us protect it, else all will fall to the dark fangs. The record-keeper and his aide will meet us at the pearly gates near their home. Come visit with them, and we can discuss things further.’

  I blinked, flipping the page over. There was no signature or name, other than what was written on the envelope: a ‘G.A. Wilson’. One thing was for sure, though. The letter was important.

  After grabbing a water from the fridge, I perched on the kitchen table and read through the message again. It shouldn’t be too hard to figure out.

  The first thing that stood out was the reference to the ‘timeless’, and I frowned. The writer was a bit careless to drop that hint if they’d gone to the trouble of creating a riddle. But it also got straight to the point. This was from one of the clans, and they had to be desperate if they’d written to me directly.

  The style was also pretty stilted, and I guessed the author was probably a little older than I was. That ruled out some options, but I couldn’t think of anyone I knew who lived in Idaho. It was possible they’d only moved there recently, as our kind couldn’t stay in one place for too long, but Dex usually kept track for me, and he hadn’t been in touch in the last couple of months.

  Who was G.A. Wilson?

  Scowling, I picked apart the other sentences. ‘The light of hope threatens to wane as her sunrise approaches’ could’ve been about someone near their twentieth birthday, soon to transform into a Timeless, though the ‘hope’ thing threw me. The ‘dark fangs’ must have meant the Tresez, the wolf-like beasts who murdered Timeless while they were still human.

  Next came ‘the record-keeper and his aide’. That had to be Dex and Lilly. Dex was currently the eldest Timeless clan leader, and while I was clan regent, my job focused on the war against the Sarac. He, on the other hand, was in charge of our historical records, amongst other things, and many clans valued his wisdom more than mine. Finally, the ‘pearly gates’—I knew that was a reference Dex used for our safest meeting place, the old cemetery.

  I sighed, dropping the letter to the table. Well, that had been easy enough. It seemed this ‘Wilson’ character had someone—a son or daughter, maybe—who was about to turn Timeless, and they wanted help, most likely to protect them from the Tresez. Still, why had they got Dex and Lilly involved? And why had they approached me?

  It could only mean they were guarding someone special.

  But who?

  The water lashed into my helmet visor as I rode down the narrow country road. I hadn’t wanted to take the motorbike, but the truck was still in for repairs, and wouldn’t be ready until next week. If Colt was around, I knew he’d have been able to fix it, but he’d gone off on a world trip a few months back, so I was stuck.

  I’d called Dex earlier—by some miracle managing to find a decent signal—and he confirmed that someone had asked to meet with them. In fact, he was the one who’d suggested they get in touch with me. He didn’t tell me much else, other than what time to expect them. It was annoying, but he and Lilly lived in such an isolated area, and power outages weren’t uncommon, so telephone conversations were something of a luxury.

  Guess I’d find out what all this was about soon enough.

  The cemetery was a little way from the road in the middle of a cornfield. Surrounded by the beautiful mountains and lakes of Montana, it wasn’t surprising that anyone would want to be buried here. It was a little more open than I liked, but I wasn’t afraid. If the Tresez sniffed us out and decided to make an unwelcome appearance, I could deal with them.

  I parked next to the cemetery gate, and removed my helmet. The rain was pleasantly cool, and I ran my hand through my hair as I stepped into the rows of gravestones. The tombs were overgrown with ivy and weeds, and there was a stone shelter at the back. I made my way there, scanning the area. The place was deserted.

  A quick glance at my watch told me I was a little early, so I leant against a pillar and closed my eyes. It was peaceful here. In fact
, it reminded me of home. I always loved the rainy days, which made the whole estate so lush and green. Yet no matter how many times Daniel begged me to come back, I wouldn’t. After Dad passed away, I vowed never to set foot in that mansion again. Not when it was my fault…

  “Callon?”

  My eyes snapped open, and I caught sight of a man entering the gates. His brown hair had more gray in it than I recalled, and he smiled. Behind him shuffled a short lady with long black hair, and she waved at me.

  “Hello Dex, Lilly,” I said, walking up to meet them. Dex gripped my hand, and Lilly kissed my cheek. “It’s been a while. You both look well.”

  “As do you, Callon,” Dex said. “I’m glad you made it at such short notice.”

  “I hope your journey was alright,” Lilly added. She held me at arm’s length. “You’re skinnier than I remember.”

  “My weight hasn’t changed, Lilly,” I said, laughing. “It’s good to see you.” She was always so motherly.

  We were interrupted as a car drew up the road. It stopped by the gate, and a couple got out. One was a dark haired man with broad shoulders, while the other was a slender woman with blonde hair.

  “Ah, they’ve come right on time,” Dex said. He strode out to greet them, and then led them into the cemetery. “Callon, I’d like you to meet the two who wrote you the letter. These are Gene and Alexis Wilson. Gene, Alexis, this is Callon O’Shea, the leader of the Consilador clan, and acting regent of the Timeless.”

  The two stopped between a set of gravestones, and bowed their heads.

  “It’s an honor to meet you, Callon,” Gene said, extending his hand. “My name is Gene Wilson. This is my wife, Alexis.”

  “A pleasure,” I said, shaking his hand, and then the woman’s. “So, I’m guessing you have something serious to discuss?”

  “That we do,” Gene said. “But let’s talk out of the rain.”

  We went to the stone shelter, and spread out beneath the pillars. The raindrops splattered into the roof, making for a soothing background. Dex sat on the edge of a broken wall, Lilly at his side, while Gene and Alexis sat together on the lone bench. I leant against a marble tomb, and folded my arms.

  “We’re from the Coltooro clan,” Gene began, taking his wife’s hand. “We have never made ourselves known before, and I apologize for this sudden intrusion. But we have had reason to lie low, even amongst our own kind.”

  I nodded.

  “It’s about our daughter,” Alexis broke in. She swallowed, trying to hide the tremor in her voice. “She’s in great danger, and we don’t know what to do or who to turn to or…”

  “Hush,” Gene soothed, stroking her hand. “Calm down, sweetheart. That’s why we’re here, to get her help.”

  Alexis nodded, though I could tell she was close to tears.

  “It’s probably easier if I explain the details,” Gene said, wrapping an arm around Alexis. “Our daughter, Cheyenne, isn’t our biological daughter. We adopted her when she was very young.” He licked his lips. “We’re not sure who her real parents are, but we know they were also Timeless.”

  “How long ago did you adopt her?” I asked.

  Gene sighed.

  “Almost seventeen years ago,” he admitted. “We’ve been very careful, making sure not to stay in one place for too long and keeping her scent hidden, but as she’s become older and more independent this is getting difficult. She wants to go to college and study journalism, but she doesn’t know the truth. And we’re not sure how to break it without frightening her.”

  “I see,” I said. “And you’re absolutely sure she’s Timeless?”

  “Yes,” Gene said. “She has shown a few signs, and I’ve caught glimpses in the shadows that worry me. But we haven’t dared tell her anything. We don’t want to upset her, and we’re not sure she’d believe us, anyway.”

  “She knows she’s adopted,” Alexis said—she seemed to have regained control of her emotions. “And she’s a bright girl. She’s started to notice things about us. Like how we haven’t aged, and how we always seem to be moving and changing jobs.” She let out a breath. “Sooner or later she’s going to start asking questions, and we want to be able to support her when she nears her twentieth birthday.”

  “We called Dex for advice, since he’s our clan leader,” Gene said, “and he suggested we write to you. I’m sorry the message was so cryptic, but I didn’t want to take any chances.”

  “That’s fine,” I said. “So what you’re saying is, you want me to keep an eye on your daughter until she transforms?”

  “Yes,” Gene replied. “We’ve done our best, but things are starting to get on top of us, and she still has four years before she’ll become Timeless.” He hung his head. “Please, I know this seems a lot to ask from you, but we love her so much, and she has so much to live for. I don’t want the Tresez to find her. We just can’t do this on our own anymore.”

  I fell silent, mulling over their words. While I was moved by their story, I sensed there was more to it than they were letting on. Why else would they involve both Dex and me? Why not keep it within their own clan? It just didn’t add up.

  Who was this ‘Cheyenne’, really?

  “It may seem odd that I asked them to contact you,” Dex said, breaking my thoughts, “but you are our closest ally, and I felt you’d be best trained to help them. Lilly and I live too far away to watch over Cheyenne, and as you are closer to her age in appearance, she would be more inclined to trust you.”

  “Perhaps,” I said, “but I feel you’ve not given me the whole story.” I looked Gene in the eye. “Is there anything else I should know?”

  “We’ve told you everything,” Gene said, meeting my gaze. He reached into his pocket and drew out a photograph. “Here, this is what she looks like.”

  As I took the picture, Lilly crept over, and peered from my elbow. The photo had been taken on a mountain hike, and showed a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was grinning, standing ankle-deep in a fast running stream. Even though I’d never met her, I couldn’t deny she had a striking resemblance to someone I’d seen before…

  Lilly gasped.

  “I don’t believe it,” she breathed. “She looks just like Qaysean!”

  My eyes widened. Her tanned skin, the shape of her nose, the slight dimple on her cheek; they were identical to the late Kvech leader I knew so well. He’d been our strongest ally, until he and his wife Sahara were brutally murdered by Marcus. But that was impossible. They’d never had a child. If they had, Dex would’ve known about it. I would’ve known about it.

  “That can’t be,” Alexis murmured. “We’ve never met Qaysean, or Sahara.”

  “Besides,” Gene cut in, “if they had a child, they wouldn’t have told us. Such a thing would’ve been a closely guarded secret.”

  I briefly closed my eyes.

  “And even if they did have a daughter, Marcus would’ve killed her,” Alexis added. “He wouldn’t let any Kvech heir live, no matter how young.” She touched Lilly’s shoulder. “Lilly, it must just be coincidence they look familiar. Maybe she’s a distant relative.”

  Lilly conceded a nod, though her brow was creased. She wasn’t quite convinced. But I had other things to worry about than conspiracy theories. The Kvech line had been wiped out, and nothing would bring them back.

  “So, Callon,” Gene said, breaking the silence, “will you help us?”

  I stood tall, flicking rainwater off my sleeves.

  “Yes,” I said. “I see no reason not to get involved when you face so much uncertainty. I’ll watch over Cheyenne, and help her adjust when the time comes. You have my sworn vow.”

  “Oh Callon, thank you!” Alexis leapt from the bench and swept me in a hug. I blinked, not expecting such an intimate gesture. “You’ve no idea what this means to us.”

  “Words can’t express our gratitude,” Gene said, stepping forward and shaking my hand. “Callon, we won’t forget this. We’re indebted to you.”

  “Do
n’t worry,” I said, smiling. “We’re all in this together, and Marcus has had his way for too long. I won’t let any harm come to Cheyenne. I promise.”

  “And we’ll do our best, as well,” Dex said. “We might not be able to help Cheyenne directly, but you are always welcome to ask for anything. Perhaps one day you could bring her to meet us?”

  “Yes,” Alexis said. “I’m sure Cheyenne would love to visit, once she learns who she really is.” She glanced over us, and clasped her hands together. “Thank you, all of you. I just know you’ll love her. She is such a caring, kind and thoughtful girl. She’ll touch your hearts as she’s touched ours.”

  “I look forward to meeting her,” I said. “Leave me your contact details. I’ll be in touch once I’ve made further arrangements.”

  Gene handed me a card with his address and cell phone number, before he and Alexis bowed. After speaking our goodbyes, they made their way back to their car, and shortly drove off.

  “Thank you for agreeing,” Dex said, gripping my shoulder. “I know how busy you are with the front lines, but Cheyenne is so dear to them, and I’d trust no-one else.”

  “It’s fine,” I said, though in reality I was wondering if I’d been too hasty to accept. When I had so many things to keep track of—Marcus’s movements, the Sarac’s hideouts, the Tresez’s lairs, as well as the location of my friends—did I really have time to babysit some kid?

  I’d have to rope in some help.

  “You’ve always made wise decisions, Callon,” Lilly said, seeming to catch my hesitation. “When it has become so difficult for Timeless children to thrive, it is worth doing whatever we can to save those still left.”

  “Yes,” Dex nodded. “You said yourself we can’t let Marcus continue this mad slaughter. Even the smallest of steps can lead to something great.”

  I chuckled.

  “You seem to know me too well,” I said. “Don’t worry, I meant what I said. I’ll protect Cheyenne.”