Forest of the Forbidden Read online

  “You’re awake,” said a nurse, peeking her head into the room. She was tall, with short curly red hair, and green glasses.

  “Yes,” I replied in a raspy voice.

  She walked inside and began examining me. “How do you feel?” she asked, checking my pulse.

  “My head hurts. A lot,” I replied, wincing as I moved it.

  Her smile was sympathetic. “I’ll get the doctor and I’m sure he’ll order something for the pain.”

  “Is my mom here?” I asked. My head was a little fuzzy and I couldn’t exactly remember why I was even in the hospital.

  “Uh, no. Let me get the doctor,” she said, walking away. “We’ll return shortly.”

  I closed my eyes and tried to remember what happened. After a few seconds, the memory of Susan being carried away by the monster came back to me and my breath caught in my throat.

  Was she okay? Had I been dreaming?

  Someone knocked on the door as I tried getting out of bed to search for my phone.

  “Yes?” I answered.

  “Hey, sleepyhead,” said a man wearing a white lab coat.

  I slumped back against the pillows. “Hi.”

  The nurse walked in behind him and they both approached the bed.

  “How are you feeling, Chelsey?” he asked, looking at a clipboard.

  I sighed. “My head hurts.”

  “I’m sure it does,” he replied. “You have quite the lump back there.”

  “Can you tell me if there was a girl named Susan Fields who may have either visited me or was admitted here?”

  The doctor removed his reading glasses. “No, not that I’m aware of. Is she a friend of yours?”

  “Yes. She was with me before I blacked out. Where are my mom and dad? Hasn’t anyone contacted them?”

  He sighed. “I’m not sure where they are. We found your home phone number and tried contacting them, but they haven’t returned any of our calls.”

  My eyes widened. “How long have I been here?”

  “Since last night,” he replied. “I’m rather surprised myself that they haven’t called us back.”

  “You left a message?”

  “Of course we have.”

  “What about my cousin, Melody Fairfax? Did she bring me in? Maybe she spoke with them?”

  “No, actually a young man brought you here, along with your purse and cell phone. Then, he pretty much vanished,” said the doctor. He tapped his pen against the metal on the clipboard. “I wish I had more information to give you. But, right now, that’s all I have.”

  “You really don’t know who brought me here?”

  “Guess not,” he replied. “Look, Chelsey, the sheriff will be in to see you sometime this evening. He has some questions for you. Maybe he can help you get to the bottom of all this and figure out where your parents are.”

  “I hope so,” I replied. “Do you know where my things are? I need my phone.”

  “They’re in here,” said the nurse, opening the closet door. She pulled out my purse and walked it over to me.

  “Thanks,” I replied, taking it from her. I unzipped the top, pulled out my cell phone, and then quickly dialed my mom’s cell phone.

  “We’ll be back in a minute,” murmured the doctor, his smile reassuring.

  “Thanks,” I replied as mom’s phone continued to ring. When she didn’t answer, I left her a message and then dialed my dad.

  “Dad, it’s me. I’m in the hospital, the one in Shore Lake, I believe,” I said, staring outside into the darkness. It was after eight, and I couldn’t imagine why they hadn’t been to the hospital yet. It had been over twenty-four hours since I’d last spoken to them. It made no sense that they hadn’t at least tried to call me. “I can’t get ahold of mom, either, and... I’m scared. Please... call me.”

  Next, I tried calling both Melody and Susan, but neither of them answered. Upset, I sent them both texts.

  Maybe they were still with Aunt Jody?

  I searched for her name in my contact list and dialed her as well, but got the same results. My eyes filled with tears as I tried my mom again. “Mom, please call me,” I begged. “I need to hear from you.”

  As I hung up, there was another knock at the door.

  “Yes,” I said, wiping the wetness from my cheeks. “Come in.”

  A man with dark hair poked his head in the door and smiled. “Excuse me? Chelsey Fairfax?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Caleb Smith, the sheriff here in Shore Lake. Do you have a few minutes?”

  “Yes, of course,” I replied, sitting up straighter. “I’m so glad you’re here. You have no idea...”

  He chuckled. “Now that’s not something I hear every day.”

  Smiling grimly, I pulled the blanket in tightly. “I’m scared, Sheriff. I don’t know what’s going on, I don’t know where my parents are, and I think my best friend might be dead.”

  His eyes widened. “Whoa,” he said, reaching into the pocket of his brown uniform. He pulled out a pen and a small notepad. “Now you’re scaring me. Chelsey, I think we’d better start from the top. Tell me how you ended up with that bruise on your head. What do you remember?”

  “Uh, okay. Have you spoken to my parents?”

  He sat down in a chair next to me. “I’m trying to locate them. Have they been traveling lately?”

  “No,” I said, and then proceeded to tell him about my cousin Melody.

  “You say she’s missing?” he asked.

  “Well, she was and then I found her. But... now she is again. I think.”

  He frowned. “I’m confused.”

  Sighing, I started from the very beginning and told him everything. When I got to the part of how we used the fake I.D.s to get into Club Nightshade, his eyes narrowed. “Obviously, you know that’s against the law.”

  “I know,” I replied. “And... I realize that it was stupid. Very stupid. But, we did find Melody.” I proceeded to tell him the rest of my story, but when I got to the fight involving the band Venom, he stopped me.

  “Chelsey, were you taking any drugs last night? Any hallucinogens?”

  I shook my head vehemently. “No,” I replied. “Absolutely not! It was all real, Sheriff, I swear to God. I’m not making any of this up.”

  From the expression on his face, he obviously did not believe me. He scratched the side of his cheek. “Hmm... Well, why don’t you just continue?”

  I did, but when I got to the part of Susan being swept away by the gargoyle, he smirked. “Come on, Chelsey... you can’t expect me to believe that, now can you? Honestly, a gargoyle?”

  “You have to believe me,” I said, gritting my teeth. “It really happened.”

  “You’re talking about vampires, Chelsey.”

  “Yes, and werewolves!”

  He closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

  “Look, did anyone find my car?” I asked, getting desperate. “The gargoyle ripped the door right off of it. A human couldn’t do that!”

  Sheriff Caleb raised his pen again. “We did not find your car. I wasn’t even aware that it was missing,” he replied, jotting on his notepad. “But we’ll search for it.”

  “We were attacked about a quarter of a mile east from Ruth’s Diner,” I said. “It has to be there. Unless, Melody drove off with it. Have you spoken to her?”

  “No, I’m sorry.”

  My head began to pound even harder. Frustrated, I blinked back more tears. “What is happening? My family is missing and so is my best friend.”

  “We’ll find them,” he replied. “I’m sure they’re all fine. Confused, but fine. Hell, maybe they’re out driving around, trying to find you.”

  “They thought I was seeing a movie last night.”

  “Obviously they were wrong.” The sheriff stood up. “Let me make some phone calls and see if I can send someone out to your aunt’s place.”

  I grabbed a tissue and blew my nose. “Thank you, Sheriff.”

  “We�
��ll keep trying to get ahold of your parents, too,” he said, walking toward the doorway.

  “When can I go home?”

  “I’ll check with the doctor, and if you can leave, I’ll drive you home myself,” he said, putting the notepad in his pocket. “Maybe we’ll run into your parents.”

  “I hope so. Thanks.”

  He gave me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, honey, we’ll reunite you with your parents soon enough. Let me speak to the doctor and we’ll get the ball rolling.”

  “Okay.”

  After he left, I got out of bed and pulled my clothing out of the closet. I then went into the bathroom, washed my face and changed back into my sweater and jeans. A few minutes later, there was another knock on the door.

  “Yes?” I said.

  The door opened and the nurse from earlier appeared. “Here, I brought you something to ease the pain,” she said, holding two white pills and a small cup of water.

  “Thanks,” I said, talking them from her.

  “You might feel a little sleepy,” she said, staring at me as I swallowed them down. “But at least the pain will subside.”

  “What did the doctor say about my head? I forgot to ask.”

  “I believe you just have a slight concussion, nothing too serious. He’ll talk to you before you’re released.”

  “Okay. Does that mean I can leave soon?”

  “Yes, the sheriff is talking to the doctor now. I’m sure you’ll be checking out before nine.”

  It was almost eight-thirty. “Cool.”

  “Let me know if you need anything else.”

  “Thanks, nurse.” I squinted to look at her name tag. “Jennifer Gardener.”

  “You’re welcome, Chelsey.”

  After she left, I grabbed my cell phone. When I noticed that there was a message from Melody, I sighed in relief. I quickly dialed my voicemail and listened.

  “Chelsey, it’s Melody. Listen, you’ve got to get out of the hospital, now! And whatever you do, don’t go anywhere with Sheriff Caleb, he’s one of them, Chelsey. A vampire! I’m serious... don’t say anything to him about what you saw last night, either. If he finds out that you know what took place at Club Nightshade, you’re as good as dead. Now, hurry and meet me in the parking ramp. Fourth floor. I’ll be watching for you.” She began to cry. “They’ve already gotten to our parents, Chels. They’re all dead! Please, hurry and get your ass out to the parking lot!”

  Caleb was a vampire?!

  Our parents were dead?!

  Choking back a sob, I grabbed my purse and rushed to the door. Just when I was about to open it, someone knocked from the other side.

  Crap, crap, crap!

  Trying to remain calm, I pulled the door open, and stood face-to-face with Sheriff Caleb.

  “Oh good,” he said, beaming a bright, white smile at me. “You’re ready. Perfect timing because I’ve been told that you can leave as long as you’re under my protection.” He nodded toward the lobby. “I’ve already signed you out, so we can just go. I take it you’re all set?”

  I swallowed hard. “Uh, actually, I’m almost ready, but my stomach hurts. I think I have to go to the bathroom. Can I just meet you in the lobby?”

  His smile fell. “Uh, sure. I can wait for you there.”

  “Good. I won’t be long, Sheriff. Thanks so much for doing this.”

  “No problem. You know,” he looked at his watch, “I need to call my daughter anyway. Tell her I’m running late. I’m supposed to be dropping off a late dinner for her.”

  “Good idea.”

  After he left, I waited a few minutes and then snuck out of my room and down the hallway. I then followed the signs until I found an exit that led to the parking ramp and then took the stairs. When I reached the fourth floor, my eyes scanned the cars, but I didn’t recognize any of them. I pulled out my cell phone to call Melody, when an old black Firebird with tinted windows turned the corner of the lot and sped toward me, its engine rumbling loudly. I held my breath as the passenger window rolled down and a hand waved at me.

  “Melody,” I said, sighing in relief as the car stopped next to me.

  She opened the door quickly, got out, and pulled the seat back. “Hurry, get in before someone sees you.”

  When I noticed who was driving, I stared back at her in horror. “What are you doing with him?”

  Slade looked up at me from inside of the car. “Get in, Chelsey.”

  “No way,” I said, taking a step backwards. “You’re one of them. A vampire.”

  Slade smiled grimly. “Yeah, I’m a vampire, but I’m also your only hope. So, get in if you want to make it out of here alive.”

  Melody grabbed my wrist. “He’s right,” she said, her eyes haunted. “We’re both dead without him.”

  ~~~~~~

  End of Book One

  Excerpt From Slade

  ~~~~

  “I hate you,” I said, frantic for him to leave.

  “Hate? That’s a pretty strong statement. I don’t believe you,” he whispered, his emerald eyes searching mine.

  I took a few steps back and fortunately, he didn’t notice that I’d grabbed the dagger from the dresser. I held it behind my back. “It’s the truth.”

  He smirked. “You make a terrible liar.”

  My body trembled, but not from fear. It was the overwhelming desire for a man I couldn’t trust. A man who had a thirst for blood, and apparently... treachery. My reaction to him was infuriating. “Is that right? And you think that you know me so well?”

  He reached up and gently placed his index finger on the pulse of my neck. “I know what I feel.”

  I pushed his hand away. “Give me a break. You don’t know anything about what I feel.”

  “On the contrary. Your face is flushed and your heart is racing.” He grinned darkly. “You want me as much as I want you. Admit it.”

  I clenched my fist, wanting to slam it into his arrogant face. “What I want... is to kill you. That thought excites the hell out of me.”

  His eyes moved to my nightgown and he took another step toward me. “And you excite the hell out of me, Chelsey.”

  I looked down and cursed myself for allowing him into my chamber. The material was almost transparent in the soft lighting. I gripped the dagger tightly, wondering exactly what I was going to do with the damn thing anyway. “I swear to God, if you don’t step away from me, I’ll scream. I’ll scream so loud that everyone will come running.”

  He touched the top button of my nightgown and smiled. “I’d rather hear you scream in pleasure.”

  I stiffened up. “You’re a real prick. You know that?”

  His smile faded. “So I’ve been told.” He removed his hand, but his fingertips brushed the tip of my breast, making my sex quiver in pleasure.

  I nodded at the doorway. “Get out of my room. I’m not going to ask you again.”

  “Good, because it’s getting annoying.” He pulled me into his arms. “And I have a much better use for your lips,” he whispered, leaning in to show me.

  I touched the end of the blade to his waist. “Do you feel that?”

  His eyes widened and then glittered with amusement. “A knife?”

  “Move away or I swear... I’ll use it on you.”

  He leaned forward and I could feel the heat of his breath caressing my earlobe. “You know what they say – some things are worth dying for.”

  ***

  Chelsey is on the run from Faye and her Night Roamers. Can she trust Slade to keep her safe, or is he a bigger threat than the monsters tracking her?

  63,000 words Contains adult language and sexual content.

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  Other books by author –

  Zombie Games Series

  Origins (Book One)

  Running Wild (Book Two)

  Dead Endz (Book Three)

  Road Kill (Book Four)

  End Zone (Book Five)

  ––––––––

  Night Roame
rs Series

  Blur (Book One)

  Shiver (Book Two)

  Vengeance (Book Three)

  Illusions (Book Four)

  Venom Series

  Venom (Book One)

  Slade (Book Two)

  Witches of Bayport Series

  Enchanted Secrets

  Enchanted Objects

  Contemporary Fiction

  (Under K.L. Middleton)

  Tangled Series

  Tangled Beauty

  Tangled Mess

  Tangled Fury

  Sharp Edges – stand-alone book

  ––––––––

  ––––––––

  Book Trailer

  Danger lurks in the dead of night...

  Seventeen year old Nikki and her twin brother, Nathan, move to the small town of Shore Lake to start over after their mother is brutally attacked. When a missing teenager washes up on shore during their first night at the cabin and there are whispers of vampires in Shore Lake, Nikki begins to realize that there are things roaming in the darkness that are far more sinister than what they left behind in the city.

  Book Trailer

  Seventeen-year-old Cassandra Wild thought that living in the chaos of her mother's home daycare and dealing with new feelings for Bryce, her martial arts instructor, was a struggle until her world turned upside down. When an untested vaccine kills more than just a rampant flu virus, Cassie learns how to survive in a world where the dead walk and the living... run!

  This YA story is a lighthearted adventure filled with zombies, butt-kicking teenaged girls, a man obsessed with video games, an annoying but totally HOT karate instructor, and humor when needed.

  * * *

  BOOK 2

  Seventh Mark

  Hidden Secrets Saga

  Part 1 of

  * * *

  Book I

  By

  W. J. May

  Copyright 2013 by W.J. May

  Hidden Secrets Saga:

  Download Seventh Mark part 1

  Seventh Mark part 2 – now available

  Marked by Destiny – now available

  Compelled – Coming 2015