AWAKENED
(book #5 of the Vampire Legends)
emma knight
Also by Emma Knight
SWORN (Book #1 of the Vampire Legends)
TAKEN (Book #2 of the Vampire Legends)
BITTEN (Book #3 of the Vampire Legends)
CHOSEN (Book #4 of the Vampire Legends)
Copyright © 2013 by Emma Knight
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
CONTENTS
“Doubt that the stars are fire,
Doubt that the sun doth move his aides,
Doubt truth to be a liar,
But never doubt I love.”
--William Shakespeare
CHAPTER 1
Rachel’s eyes opened in a foggy haze as she gazed up at the morning sky. She lay there, on the cold, damp ground, and the cool crisp air breezing past her face made her lips chatter. She couldn’t understand why she was laying on the ground. Why was she even outside?
She felt a cold hand touch hers, felt fingers caressing her face. She blinked again as the morning rays of the sun hit her face and then saw a guy, staring down at her, gazing into her eyes. She blinked again, wondering if she were seeing things. But he still remained, staring and smiling at her.
She took her hand and pinched her leg, hoping to wake from this dream, but it didn’t help. She was awake, laying on the ground, in the cold, crisp air with a complete stranger.
She tried to remember what had happened the night before. She thought she must be hungover; thought maybe she made a terrible mistake at a dance club and ended up with this random guy. Then again, she didn’t recall going to a dance club. She was completely lost, not a clue as to why she lay there and who this guy was.
She started to lift her head off the ground feeling the weight on her neck as she arose. She had a terrible headache that radiated through her spine and neck. She wasn’t feeling right, either. Her whole body felt weak and exhausted, she didn’t know what happened to her. It was almost as if someone gave her a roofie or something. It was the strangest feeling, one she’d never had before. She didn’t recognize her body, something was off, but she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.
She sat up slowly and waited a few minutes for the world to stop spinning around her. She was dizzy and felt nauseous, but above all her physical ailments, she felt scared. Why was she alone in some random field with a guy? What had she done? This was unforgivable, and she was sure something she’d regret once she remembered what had happened.
“Rachel, thank God you’re ok. I was so worried about you!” Benji said.
“Huh?” Rachel said, in a fog.
“I’ve been sitting here all night watching you, I’m so glad you’re OK and that nothing happened to you. I can’t thank you enough for what you did for me,” Benji said.
She looked at him, confused, and said, “I’m sorry, but who are you?”
Benji looked back at her with a stunned expression on his face, “What do you mean who am I?”
“I mean, who are you?” Rachel said, getting defensive. “What’s going on?”
“You’re joking, Rach! Stop kidding around!” Benji said.
“I’m not joking,” Rachel said in a serious tone.
“Seriously?” Benji said. “What happened to you?”
“I don’t know. I was hoping you’d be able to tell me what’s going on here,” Rachel asked.
“You saved my life. Remember?” Benji said. “Remember, the Red Amulet?”
“The Red what?” Rachel asked. “I don’t even know you.”
“Stop saying that, my love. I love you and you love me,” Benji said.
“Um, excuse me? I don’t love you. I don’t KNOW you!” Rachel said, suddenly feeling like this guy was crazy.
“C’mon Rach. Stop acting like this. It’s me Benji. Don’t you remember?”
Rachel stopped and looked him up and down, trying to place him. She had no idea where she’d met this guy or who he was. She couldn’t believe that he’d said she loved him. That was insanity. Was he a crazy person?
“Listen, I’ve gotta get outta here. I need to get home. My parents are probably worried about me,” Rachel said.
“No, they’re not. Trust me,” Benji said. “They disowned you.”
“Oh, stop it!” Rachel said.