State of Unrest (the Chronicles of JJ, Book 1)

By Astrid Cielo

In ancient times, their world lived in harmony with each other. Darkling, Changeling, Witchling and Vampire alike strove for peace amongst all Everlastings.

One little girl’s prophecy changes the course of their world...

In ancient Mesopotamia, a young witch predicted that a hybrid would destroy what was. The implications of that moment have plagued Arwi-a since her utterance of those words.

Hunted. One couple will sacrifice everything for the life of their child...

Cecily’s village had thrived in relative peace, despite the number of hybrids within the village, including Cecily, a Witchling and Changeling hybrid. That all changed when she scents her mate—Nicholas.
Nicolas is a vampire and darkling hybrid on the run from those who wish to eradicate all hybrids. Guilt follows him for surviving the decimation of his village.
Now they must make a choice—Risk their child or sacrifice themselves and ensure her safety?

Now forbidden love will forever change the game...

When vampire Prince Matthew sees Abigail, the alpha Changelings daughter, he is immediately smitten.
Abigail knows that Matthew is her mate, but how can this love work if it is forbidden?

Their world has been unsettled for centuries...

With love as the catalyst, the Everlastings will enter a State of Unrest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Astrid Cielo
• Release date: Aug 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476473598

Astrid Cielo

Astrid Cielo is a Mississippi girl who enjoys a variety of things. By night, she is a nurse in her local ER, and by day, she is spilling her imagination out on paper. Astrid began writing when she was a child her stories featuring a variety of characters. When she was in high school she wrote her first completed story and was published twice in poetry anthologies. Gathering her courage, Astrid self-published her first book, Surrender Serenity, Salin’s Salvation, Book 1 and enjoyed every minute of it. Now she balances her time between being a nurse (which she loves) and writing down the scenes that play out in her mind. She also plays World of Warcraft (which all of her friends think is weird)! Astrid would love to hear from you!

Book preview

State of Unrest

Chronicles of JJ * Book 1

Astrid Cielo

State of Unrest

Astrid Cielo

Copyright © 2012 Astrid Cielo All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

About the Author

More by Astrid Cielo

Surrender Serenity

Embracing Ember

The Witch’s Birthday Brew

A Game of Cat & Mouse

Chapter 1

"I’m not a rule breaker. I always follow the rules and enjoy doing so. It is in my nature to never question those in authority. Oftentimes it is thought that I have no mind of my own. That simply isn’t the case. I have a mind, one that is exercised to its fullest. Of course, they’ll never know, because I crave the simplicity of order, despite how wrong I may believe that order. The way things are, is simply, the way things are. Do I dream of a time when my private thoughts and beliefs are considered important and the given order of things? No, for I simply have no reason to wish these things were so."

Journal of Abigail Belamy

January 5, 1900

***

Summer 1900

Rural area surrounding Memphis, TN

Abigail Belamy was furious. From the moment of her birth to this moment, she had been the perfect princess to her father’s Alpha status. When he said jump, she jumped. When he was going to marry her off to that slimy Wolf Changeling Milo Erickson, she had agreed.

Thankfully, Milo found another specimen to set his sights on. Apparently, straight-laced and meek Abigail posed no challenge for him, so he set his sights on more feral pastures. However, this so-called diplomatic endeavor was an insult. It put her in precarious position to maintain the fragile peace between Changelings and Vampires. Her father did not want peace, and never had. Abigail knew her father’s hatred ran very deep. She never truly understood why he despised Vampires and Darklings so much. Sure, from her birth it had been the way of things not to intermingle within the species. There were no explanations for the reasoning of such a radical law. It may not be in any law book or legislature from any of the species, but it was enforced – swiftly and without mercy.

It was rumored one of the pack females scented a darkling and she instantly became enamored of him. Apparently, he was her destined mate. She could not fight nature, so they became a mated couple. Of course, it was a rumor so the validity of it was beyond Abigail’s reach. However, if it were true, then the given legislature of mixing between species was as cruel as it was unfounded.

Everyone knew that mating was a powerful bond, reaching within each other’s souls and tying them together for their existence. It was considered predestined by those who controlled the universe that these two people should meet and be together. It was a bond so strong that upon the destruction of one of the pair, the other slowly died his or her soul no longer whole. Yet when meeting your fated companion if you were to deny what fate had deemed so then you would slowly become mad, no longer a functioning member of society. Abigail was not especially knowledgeable about mates, having never felt that urge to make someone completely hers, but she had heard rumors of other members of the packs going mad from denying their potential mate. Abigail could only think of one reason why they would deny their mates – it was forbidden.

Abigail threw her dresses in the trunk, her mind a whirl of thoughts, most of which she would never reveal. Abigail took a deep breath and released her tension as she had always done. This technique was probably the reason she was such an obedient daughter. Being exactly what her father decided she should. She walked to the window, overlooking the small village her father preferred to stay rather than the large house allotted the Alpha of all the wolf packs. The new moon bathed the night’s darkness in dim light, creating an eerie setting to the usually lighted hillside. Shadows played on the windowpane from the candles that glowed on her desk. Abigail leaned her forehead against the glass, her breath causing it to fog. Her perfect, ordered existence was ending. Her eyes a bright green color reflecting on the glass was an affirmation that her animal side agreed.

Abigail’s life revolved around her father’s status as Alpha, his power not just for that of the wolf changelings, but his elected status as King of the Changelings. This position ensured that her upbringing was under the watch of all the species. Her brief fifty years spent being the perfect daughter. Attending all the functions and behaving properly. Giving up a normal existence for that of a figurine, something to be looked at, never spoken to, and never befriended.

A tear spilled down her cheek, as she released her pent up breath. It was time to become what her father deemed necessary for the changelings. She knew this move for what it was, despite her father reassuring her that she was the obvious choice. Despite beliefs she held near to her heart, the world saw females as second class, nothing more than slaves in some instances. Her father sending her as the diplomat in this last ditch effort to save the fragile peace was a slap in the face to the other diplomats. She knew it and so did her father who vehemently denied such a tactic.

***

Summer 1900

New York, NY

Matthew was not happy about being the one chosen to represent the Vampire’s royal family, but he understood his father’s decision. He was going to be the Ruler of the Vampires one day, so he had to begin learning sometime. At a young age for a vampire, his 200 years seemed to weigh heavily upon his shoulders. He looked in the mirror, wondering at the youthful face that stared back at him. He had always wondered how the humans dealt with losing their youth, slowly withering away and turning to dust in the blink of an eye. He pitied the mortals that surrounded them, seemingly content with their shortened lives.

Maybe though, they were the ones who had it right. The farmer his father bought food from was married and had several children. He had lived so much in his mere twenty-seven years. What did Matthew have to show for his 200 years?

Nothing.

He was without a mate and still living with his parents. While expected of the royal family, it still did not feel right. Lately he had felt as if something were missing, as if a piece of himself were lost and waiting for him to find it. He laughed aloud at his ridiculousness. His mother walking into the parlor pulled him from his wayward musings.

What has you so upset, my child? her melodic voice echoed in the mostly empty room. He looked into the face, so young and wondered what his mother would look like if she aged. He shook his head, clearing those odd thoughts from his mind.

I am assuming you mean my unnaturally somber mood.

She smiled and nodded. So, he was being noticeably melancholy. He did not know what to tell his mother. He was not sure what was making him melancholy in the first place. "Maybe it is just