Growing Hope (The New Era Saga Book 2) Read online

  The New Era Saga

  Growing Hope

  Copyright – 2015 by Kathleen Webb. This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, folklore, mythology, people, or places are used fictitiously. All other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any similarities to actual events, locations, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.

  All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any way without the express written consent of the author.

  ISBN-13: 978-1503155862

  ISBN-10: 1503155862

  BISAC: Fiction / Fantasy / Contemporary

  Thank You

  To Ryan: You are the love of my life. Thank you for focusing so much energy on helping me promote my books. Without you, my life would be incomplete.

  To Madee, Heather and Kyndal: You are three of the best friends I could ever ask for. You’ve encouraged and supported me, laughed and joked with me and shown me that family doesn’t mean blood.

  To my parents: Thank you for always encouraging my creativity and being there when I need to walk through my crazy ideas.

  To the fans: It means so much to me to have you read my work. Thank you for reading, sharing and leaving reviews!

  Prologue

  Dorian took a deep breath and rubbed his hands together. The Creator had given him a job. He had called for the Council of Immortals to come to the Great Hall in order to ask for their help. The creation of man was successful, and it seemed to be bringing the results the Creator had hoped. The first men he placed in each area of the world were flourishing in their environments. Now was the time to create women.

  He waited patiently for the others of his kind to arrive so they could begin their task. He heard them coming up the stairs to the great hall, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls around him. They entered the great hall and took their places around the large marble table.

  “Thank you for arriving so quickly,” Dorian said, nodding at each of them in turn.

  “You called for us. We took an oath to come when you called,” Lucien told him.

  “The Creator has asked us to give of ourselves. He has asked us to help him create life,” Dorian told them.

  A sharp intake of breath came from the few closest to him. This was the first time the Creator had asked them to help with one of his creations. Perhaps he felt they would be able to offer insight into the female version of mankind.

  “What can we do?” Asked Lida as she leaned forward eagerly.

  Dorian explained the plan. The Creator had asked that they imbue woman with a piece of each of them. When man came into existence, he was created for survival. Man was strong, brave, and resilient. But man needed a companion to bring balance to the world. The Creator made the Council of Immortals before he decided to create man. The Council of Immortals had become his confidants. Dorian knew that they were only the first of many great creations.

  In the beginning, they only existed as beings within the mind of the Creator. As the universe began to take shape, the Creator decided to give physical substance to the Council of Immortals. He was pleased and surprised to find them all so different. Their physical appearances varied greatly, and there were a few among their number who were of a softer form. These were the first females of any race, and it was the first time the Creator decided there needed to be two forms in order to multiply.

  “She should be kind,” Charis said softly.

  “She should be curious,” Lida said with excitement.

  “She must be loving,” Caprice shared, smiling at Silas.

  And so the discussion continued as the Council of Immortals decided on the characteristics best suited for a woman of the human race. Dorian smiled at the others of his race as they sat in their high-backed chairs. The air changed, and he closed his eyes waiting for the smell to hit him. He had learned that the experience was different for each of them, but for him, it was always filled with the crisp, salty scent of the ocean. Taking a deep breath through his nose, he smiled to himself as he heard his brothers and sisters doing the same. He opened his eyes and found himself staring at the Creator.

  He was a non-descript man. He had the kind of face and build that would lead anyone to believe they had seen him somewhere before. They gave up trying to describe how he appeared to each other, because each of them saw him differently. The Creator smiled at them in greeting.

  “Are you ready to see the woman come into being?” he asked serenely.

  “We are,” they said together.

  The Creator waved his right hand, and a man appeared before them. It was Epimetheus. Dorian strode toward the man and pulled him into a firm hug. Dorian had been present when the Creator breathed life into Epimetheus, so it was only fitting that he should receive the first female companion.

  “How are you, Dorian?” Epimetheus asked in his native tongue.

  “I am well. Welcome to the Great Hall,” Dorian said, gesturing to the temple around them.

  Epimetheus looked around him in awe. “It is beautiful.”

  The Creator led them back to the table and motioned for everyone to take their seats.

  “Epimetheus, please come forward,” the Creator instructed.

  Dorian watched the man walk toward his Creator with confidence and trust. Once Epimetheus stood in front of him, the Creator placed his hands on his shoulders and smiled broadly at him. Dorian saw the Creator whisper to his creation, then place his forehead against the man’s. Epimetheus turned and lowered himself to the ground, where he lay on his back with his eyes closed.

  The Council of Immortals watched curiously as the Creator placed his hand on the man’s head.

  “Sleep now, my son,” he said gently with a small smile on his face.

  With one hand on Epimetheus’ dark hair, he held the other hand over the man’s abdomen. A beautiful light began to emanate from beneath his hand, and continued to grow brighter until the Creator stood, holding a bone in his hand.

  The Council of Immortals followed the Creators every move as he laid the curved bone in the center of the table. Dorian recognized the bone as a section of Epimetheus’ rib cage. He glanced over at Epimetheus, sure that a removal of this sort would have caused the man great physical pain, but Epimetheus appeared to be sleeping peacefully.

  “Before you is the beginning of woman. Man must be able to recognize a piece of himself within his mate. Man must also be able to accept woman as his partner, someone to stand beside him,” the Creator began his explanation. “He must be able to wrap his arm around her to show her affection, as well as to offer her protection.”

  “Have you discussed what you would like to share with woman as she comes into being?” the Creator asked the Council of Immortals.

  “We have,” they replied as one.

  “Charis, come forward. Your giving spirit will be perfect to begin our project,” the Creator beckoned.

  Charis stepped up to the Creator and bowed her head slightly. She smiled up at him, and then went to place her hand on the bone in the middle of the table.

  “Woman will be kind. She will be warm and comforting to her family and friends. She will be hospitable. Her soul will be soft and welcoming. Woman will be the ultimate nurturer,” Charis said confidently in her soft voice. She smiled at the Creator and returned to her seat.

  Caprice came forward next and placed her hand on the bone. “Woman will be capable of great love. She will be passionate. She will offer man a life filled with affection and become his life-long lover.”

  Once Caprice had taken her seat, Lida stepped forward and placed her hand on the bone.

  “Woman will
be curious. She will have a sense of humor and be able to laugh with her mate. She will be in constant pursuit of knowledge. She will be creative and inventive. Her smile will light up the room,” Lida said with a grin.

  “Do any of the men have something to share with our new creation before she becomes flesh and blood?” the Creator asked.

  Absalom stepped forward. “Woman will be a good judge of character.”

  Romulus touched the rib. “Woman will be strong in mind and body.”

  Marcellus took his turn next. “Woman will be vulnerable where man is strong, and strong where man is vulnerable.”

  Rance came forward. “Woman will be intellectual.”

  Silas reached for the bone, his eyes on Caprice. “Woman will have great beauty.”

  Lucien closed his eyes and touched the rib. “Woman will be led by her heart.”

  Finally, Dorian leaned across the table and took his turn. “Woman will be fruitful.”

  The Creator held his arms open wide and took a deep breath. Light poured out of him and surrounded the rib bone. It began to levitate and a body took shape. Dorian watched in awe as woman took form within the light. As she came back to the table, she lay covered in a white, gauzy material.

  “She is beautiful,” Epimetheus said, breaking the silence. He came forward and took her hand in his as her eyes fluttered open. She looked up at him with confusion before she relaxed and smiled.

  “Pandora,” the Creator called. “Rise and receive your gift.”

  The woman slowly stood, with help from Epimetheus. She smiled at him as he helped her off the table, his hands resting on her waist.

  The Creator revealed a golden sphere. It caught the light and sent sparkles around the Great Hall.

  “It is breathtaking,” she said in a melodic voice. “What is it?”

  “This sphere was created by Absalom. I sent him to retrieve all the beings that may threaten my prefect world. I cannot allow my creations to procreate in a world where these creatures are free. I am giving this to you for safekeeping. You must never let it fall or break, you must never try to see the beings within,” the Creator warned as he handed the sphere to Pandora.

  “I will do as you ask, my lord,” Pandora said, still staring wide-eyed at the sphere.

  The Creator nodded at both of his creations and took their hands in his. “Go into the world together and build your lives.”

  With a wave of his hand, the humans were gone and he faded away. The Council of Immortals were left in their Great Hall with the realization that they had just helped create the future.

  Chapter One:

  Tahlia

  2015

  She ran through the trees with her blond hair bouncing in its ponytail behind her. Her heart was beating so hard she thought it might burst from her chest. She glanced over her shoulder to see if they were following her and discovered they were. They would soon catch her and try to destroy her.

  Ever since the day they destroyed Absalom, she had been chased by these monsters. They never got this close to her. The creatures that had been released by Pandora now ran amok through the world. For years, Tahlia had been the only one who stood between them and their devious plans.

  Tahlia made a sharp turn and broke through the trees. The moonlight shone down, casting a pale glow around her. Now that she was in the open, she turned to face her attackers. Pain broke through the trees first, followed closely by Panic and Malice.

  Pain resembled his name. Just looking at the little urchin hurt; he had twisted limbs and scarred flesh coving his hunched body. Panic always reminded her of a junkie; he was always flitting around. Malice was cold and dark. She had straight black hair and pale white skin. Her black eyes were always filled with hatred.

  Tahlia knew they just needed to touch her in order to infect her with their maladies. She kept her force field firmly in place.

  “All alone. Helpless and alone,” Panic sang in a taunting voice.

  “Alone, but never helpless,” Tahlia replied evenly.

  “You don’t know where you are. How will you get home? How will your family know where to look for your body?” Panic asked sardonically.

  Tahlia heard the truth in his words and closed her eyes, trying to push down the panic rising in her chest. She was distracted by breaking twigs as two more figures loped out of the woods.

  Malice giggled with maniacal glee as Disease and Vanity made their way into the clearing. Tahlia felt her stomach turn as the smell hit her.

  Disease was tall, skeletal, and covered in oozing pustules; the smell of death and decay floated in the air around him. Vanity kept her distance, clearly disgusted by her companion. It never ceased to amaze Tahlia how these creatures worked together despite their extreme differences.

  They had surrounded her. Pain, Panic, and Disease were standing in front of her. Triumph was written all over their faces, but they should have known Tahlia wasn’t going down without a fight.

  “Vanity, your shoes are dirty,” Tahlia said in mock terror.

  A squeal escaped Vanity as she desperately tried to wipe the mud off her high heels. A disgusted sound came from Malice as she glared at Vanity.

  Tahlia felt a small amount of joy from tormenting Vanity. She reminded her of the stereotypical cheerleader from teen movies. She was a striking beauty, and the complete opposite of Malice with her luscious blond locks and tan skin.

  Tahlia didn’t understand what they were waiting for. They’d been alone in this clearing for long enough. She looked carefully at each of her foes, assessing the risks of an attack. No matter what happened, she couldn’t let them see her fear.

  She felt a shudder run through her body. The energy gathered within her as she prepared for her attack. Tahlia closed her eyes and pushed a wave of energy out around her. As it hit the Maladies around her, they fell to the ground disoriented. She didn’t have time to think, so she turned and ran to the other side of the clearing and didn’t stop.

  Chapter Two:

  Nora

  Nora sat at the kitchen island with her hands wrapped around a coffee mug. She had only just gotten to relax after putting her little girl to bed. There were only a few hours to go until her daughter turned four. She smiled at the memory of the day they met her. She and Kerr looked at her beautiful face and finally knew what real love was. They had decided to name her after Romulus’ son, Keiran. Little Keira brought so much light into their lives in just a few years.

  She watched the seconds tick by on the kitchen clock. The house was filled with a deafening silence that left her feeling small and lonely. Nora was consumed by her thoughts. She was worried about what lay ahead for her family. Thatcher and Romulus were expected home earlier and hadn’t returned. Eric was on the campaign trail; he was up for re-election so they hadn’t seen him in weeks. Dorian was shutting himself in the library trying desperately to work out what the Creator had in store for them next. Hadley was trying to find a way to bring her sister back. It was all Nora could do to keep everyone together and sane.

  She looked at the clock again. It was late, and Tahlia hadn’t returned home from her evening jog. The knot in Nora’s stomach was beginning to nauseate her.

  Tahlia should know better than to be out after dark. Ever since they destroyed Silas and Absalom, Tahlia had been plagued by nightmares about the evils that escaped the sphere before she appeared. Nora closed her eyes and listened, hoping she would hear Tahlia calling for her. Instead of hearing her aunt, she heard the front door bang open, echoing in the front hall.

  Nora stood up so fast she knocked over the bar stool she’d been perched on. She ran around the corner to find herself face to face with a disheveled Tahlia.

  “What the hell happened to you?” Nora asked in disbelief.

  “It wasn’t a dream this time,” Tahlia said as she sank to the floor.

  Nora felt her stomach clench as she realized what her aunt was telling her. They had found her.

  “Why didn’t you call to me?” Nora
demanded.

  Tahlia shook her head as she stared into Nora’s eyes. “I can’t risk you like that. Your family needs you.”

  Nora felt her chest tighten as tears sprang to her eyes. Tahlia would sacrifice herself for any of them, but she would never accept that they would all do the same.

  “I need to go shower. I lost them and just kept running until I made it home. They won’t find me here. Please don’t tell anyone, I wouldn’t want to worry them.”

  “It’s a little late for that, mom,” Hadley said from the stairs.

  Nora turned to find Hadley and Dorian staring at them. Hadley had her arms crossed as she glared at her mother with a mixture of concern and irritation. Dorian descended into the foyer and helped Tahlia up. He didn’t say a word. He just led her to the stairs and assisted her as she climbed them.

  Nora watched Hadley visibly relax once her mother was out of sight. She shrugged apologetically at her best friend.

  “Just be thankful she made it home safely,” Nora told her.

  “Oh, I am. But I wish she would stop being so stubborn,” Hadley replied.

  “Yeah. I don’t know anyone else around here like that,” Nora said with a grin.

  “Who? Me?” Hadley feigned surprise.

  The girls laughed as they made their way upstairs. Nora headed down the hall to the room she shared with Kerr. She opened the door quietly, trying not to wake her sleeping husband.

  “Did Tahlia make it home?” Kerr’s voice startled her as the door latched behind her.

  “Yes. They found her. She barely escaped,” Nora whispered as she climbed into bed and settled next to Kerr.

  “Is she alright? Do I need to heal her?” Kerr asked as his muscles tightened slightly under her head.

  “She’s fine. Just exhausted. She ran the whole way. She could have called me,” Nora said, sounding like a sulking child.

  Kerr laughed silently, wrapping his arms around her. She smiled as he kissed the top of her head.