Inception Read online

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Dedication

  Prologue

  The Matter of the Book

  Chapter One

  Gabrielle ~ The Reaper

  Chapter Two

  Gabrielle ~ Battle Won

  Chapter Three

  Gabrielle ~ Incarnation

  Chapter Four

  Gabrielle ~ First Impressions

  Chapter Five

  Gabrielle ~ Fast Friends

  Chapter Six

  Gabrielle ~ A Human Date

  Chapter Seven

  Gabrielle ~ That Other Side

  Chapter Eight

  Javan ~ An Angel

  Chapter Nine

  Gabrielle ~ Second Impressions

  Chapter Ten

  Lucas ~ Misstep

  Chapter Eleven

  Gabrielle ~ Demons Among Us

  Chapter Twelve

  Lucas ~ Lover

  Chapter Thirteen

  Gabrielle ~ Love Lost

  Chapter Fourteen

  Gabrielle ~ An Edgy Angel

  Chapter Fifteen

  Gabrielle ~ New Bonds

  Chapter Sixteen

  Gabrielle ~ An adventure

  Chapter Seventeen

  Gabrielle ~ The Shifter’s Realm

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lucas ~ Strange Ways

  Chapter Nineteen

  Gabrielle ~ Hear Hear

  Chapter Twenty

  Gabrielle ~ Persistence Pays

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Lucas ~ Chances

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Gabrielle ~ Sisters and Demons

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Gabrielle ~ Changes

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Lucas ~ Dark Family

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Gabrielle ~ Human Emotions

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Gabrielle ~ Watchers

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Gabrielle ~ Reality Check

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Gabrielle ~ More Surprises

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Gabrielle ~ Old Flame

  Chapter Thirty

  Gabrielle ~ The Nephilim

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Mara ~ Temper, Temper

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Javan ~ The Destroyer

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Gabrielle ~ Family Secrets

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Gabrielle ~ Moving Forward

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Lucas ~ New Secrets

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Javan ~ Unexpected Company

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Gabrielle ~ Puzzle Pieces

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Javan ~ A Seer

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Gabrielle ~ Differences

  Chapter Forty

  Gabrielle ~ A Vision

  Chapter Forty-one

  Gabrielle ~ The Fantastical World

  Chapter Forty-two

  Lucas ~ Dark Thoughts

  Chapter Forty-three

  Gabrielle ~ Three Words

  Chapter Forty-four

  Gabrielle ~ Children Are the Best

  Chapter Forty-five

  Lucas ~ Infuriating

  Chapter Forty-six

  Gabrielle ~ About the Qalal

  Chapter Forty-seven

  Javan ~ The Devil’s Own Self

  Chapter Forty-eight

  Lucas ~ No Escape

  Chapter Forty-nine

  Javan ~ An Obstacle

  Chapter Fifty

  Lucas ~ New Truths

  Chapter Fifty-one

  Lucas ~ Anything That Helps

  Chapter Fifty-two

  Gabrielle ~ Apologies

  Chapter Fifty-three

  Lucas ~ The Reality of Nightmares

  Chapter Fifty-four

  Gabrielle ~ Damage Control

  Chapter Fifty-five

  Javan ~ People Haters

  Chapter Fifty-six

  Gabrielle ~ A Bruised Ego

  Chapter Fifty-seven

  Javan ~ An Unexpected Partner

  Chapter Fifty-eight

  Gabrielle ~ A Personal Hell

  Chapter Fifty-nine

  Javan ~ The Kicker

  Chapter Sixty

  Gabrielle ~ Simple Pleasures

  Chapter Sixty-one

  Lucas ~ Didn’t Hear Much

  Chapter Sixty-two

  Javan ~ Epiphanies

  Chapter Sixty-three

  Gabrielle ~ Safety in Numbers

  Chapter Sixty-four

  Gabrielle ~ Seeing is Believing

  Chapter Sixty-five

  Gabrielle ~ The Gentry

  Chapter Sixty-six

  Gabrielle ~ Something to Consider

  Chapter Sixty-seven

  Gabrielle ~ An Uprising

  Chapter Sixty-eight

  Gabrielle ~ Unseen Dangers

  Chapter Sixty-nine

  Javan ~ An Opportunity

  Chapter Seventy

  Gabrielle and Lucas ~ Doubts

  Chapter Seventy-one

  Javan ~ Romeo

  Chapter Seventy-two

  Gabrielle ~ Dark Vision

  Chapter Seventy-three

  Javan ~ The Human

  Chapter Seventy-four

  Lucas ~ Win-Win

  Chapter Seventy-five

  Gabrielle ~ The Coven

  Chapter Seventy-six

  Lucas ~ The Book of Barabbadon

  Chapter Seventy-seven

  Gabrielle ~ Into the Underworld

  Chapter Seventy-eight

  Gabrielle ~ The Battle Begins

  Chapter Seventy-nine

  Gabrielle ~ Awakenings

  Chapter Eighty

  Gabrielle ~ Bittersweet

  Acknowledgements

  Author Note

  Abouth The Author

  THE REAPING CHRONICLES

  BOOK ONE

  INCEPTION

  by

  Teal Haviland

  Nashville, TN

  www.emboldenpress.com

  [email protected]

  [email protected]

  www.tealhaviland.com

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

  Copyright © 2013 by Teal Haviland

  All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from this book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of the Publisher. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights. Printed in the United States of America by Embolden Press, 2013. For information address Embolden Press at [email protected].

  1st trade edition: May 2013

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

  Library of Congress has catalogued the hardcover edition of this book as follows:

  Haviland, Teal.

  Inception/by Teal Haviland — 1st ed.

  p. cm. — (The Reaping Chronicles ; 1)

  Summary: One of the most powerful angels ever created. A war spanning thousands of years approaching its end. A past love who has fallen, a new one who i
s forbidden. And an ancient book that could cause creation’s ruin.

  A story of love—past and present—fantastical beings, hidden realms, magic, fate, loss, and the fight of good versus evil.

  ISBN: 978-0-9881716-0-2 (Hardback)

  ISBN: 978-0-9881716-1-9 (Paperback)

  LCCN: 2013937499

  DEDICATION

  To my amazing mother, Dixie, for always believing in me and encouraging me no matter what I was trying at the moment. You are truly a blessing from God. He not only gave me a wonderful person to look up to and aspire to be like, He gave me a best friend.

  To my beautiful, awesomesauce daughter, Piper, if you only listen to one thing I tell you in your entire life, let it be this—do with your life what your heart begs you to do. It knows the way . . . trust it.

  And for dreamers everywhere . . . never, never give up.

  “Time. It can shadow what needs to be concealed—forgotten—or cast light on what needs to be revealed. And only as it passes, will we know what we’ve reaped from those things we’ve sown.”

  ~ Teal Haviland

  PROLOGUE

  THE MATTER OF THE BOOK

  Elijah stood in front of the fallen angel he only knew as Lek. He hadn’t seen him for two days, not since the demon had given him the Book.

  That day, Elijah’s heart had skipped when he realized what was wrapped in the crimson cloth in Lek’s hands—the Book of Barabbadon. Adrenaline had surged through him, knowing that, at any moment, Lek could realize he was being deceived, disappear with the Book forever, and put an end to Elijah’s revenge.

  Today was already a day past when Elijah had told Lek he would keep his part of the deal and help him return to Heaven. Elijah had considered the torture Lek would inflict when he understood the betrayal, though the physical pain would be nothing compared to the mental anguish Elijah had been trying to keep at bay for months—ever since Ramai had slaughtered his wife and children in front of him. He still woke several times a night from nightmares full of the blood and screams of those he loved, reliving the mental and emotional torture as the light of life faded slowly from their eyes …

  Until there was nothing left except blank stares.

  That was three months ago. Now, with the Book safely hidden and trusted family told of its location, Elijah looked forward to the moment his life would be brought to an end by this demon’s hands.

  “I have had a difficult time finding you, Elijah. Why is that?”

  Elijah could tell by the demon’s accusatory tone and tightly clenched fists that he already knew the answer.

  A sense of calm came over Elijah, and he pushed aside regret. He knew if he had just said no to Ramai, this would have ended then, and he wouldn’t have to feel guilt for recreating the Book. He and his family would have died either way, but at least the Book would have never existed again. He wouldn’t have felt the loss of his loved ones for more than the few moments before his own life faded. Nevertheless, he foolishly thought Ramai would keep his word that he would spare his and his family’s lives. Now, Elijah couldn’t destroy what he created—he had no way of saving the human world from its power—but he had been able to hide it from Ramai in a place he thought would be safe for a long time.

  Hopefully, those I told can keep the secret.

  Lek moved slowly toward Elijah who focused on the bulk of the demon, particularly on his arms and his now unclenched hands that seemed to be abnormally muscled—abnormally strong. He wondered how Lek was going to kill him. Would it be with those hands?

  Will he rip my limbs from me? First my legs and then my arms so I cannot run—with no defense—as he does whatever else he wants before I die? Is there some other, even more painful or mentally agonizing, way he can kill me?

  Elijah was surprised that he remained calm. Even while he imagined such horrible ways he would enter into death, his pulse was steady and smooth, breath slow and deep. As Lek took the last two steps to bring them face to face, Elijah had to look almost straight up to meet his gaze.

  Lek’s eyes stared into his. Although now that he was so close, they seemed less soulless, more consumed by hatred and darkness. The breath of the demon was as foul as Elijah remembered, even overtaking the stench of his body.

  “You knew I would kill you if you did not hold up your end of the bargain, human. Yet, you did it anyway. Not smart.”

  The smell and heat that accompanied Lek’s words made Elijah blink rapidly at first, but then he stared back just as hard. He was ready to see his wife and children again, ready to have the sorrow that had been all he had known for far too long leave him, ready for whatever this fallen angel was about to do.

  Elijah smiled at Lek. “Sooner or later … we all reap what we sow.”

  CHAPTER ONE

  GABRIELLE ~ THE REAPER

  Phalen fumbled with her clothing, stumbling in her flip-flops as she did. Gabrielle laughed from seeing someone who is normally so graceful and sure of herself being so awkward and clumsy.

  ‘Phalen, please stop acting so uncomfortable. You’re going to bring more attention on us than we need,’ Gabrielle thought to her friend as they made their way down the busy boardwalk separating the beach from a strip of shops and restaurants.

  ‘I am uncomfortable,’ Phalen retorted. ‘Why, exactly, do I have to wear these things on my feet? There’s hardly anything to hold them on.’

  Gabrielle laughed again but continued to silently converse with Phalen. ‘Because this is what females wear on hot, sunny days at the beach. Now, seriously, stop fidgeting. We have to see how long I can go unnoticed.’

  ‘I still don’t know how I let you talk me into this,’ Phalen continued. ‘Why would you want to stay in one of these bodies, anyway? They are strange … all these extra emotions and thoughts. It’s no wonder they make so many mistakes—all the contradictory thinking battling back and forth in their heads. I can’t tell right now if I need to be concerned about how I look, or if someone doesn’t like my appearance, tell them to mind their own business. And that’s just the start of the things I have going on in my mind in the few minutes I’ve been in human form.’

  ‘That’s precisely why I need to live in one for a while. I want to know how their senses and thoughts drive them to do the things they do. Why is that so difficult for everyone to understand? And you came with me because the only way I was allowed to try this was under the condition that I have a skilled fighter with me. You are one of the most skilled I know.’

  ‘More like the most compliant angel you know. Why do they think you need me for assistance if there’s a confrontation? Everyone knows you can take care of yourself just fine. Compared to you, I’m an amateur.’

  ‘Don’t sell yourself short, Phalen. I’ve seen you in battle, and they have, too. As far as why it’s so important to have a comrade with me, you’ll have to ask them. I think it’s all Amaziah’s doing. He’s over-protective of me. I probably don’t make things easy for him, though.’

  Phalen snickered.

  ‘Oh … Gabrielle … there isn’t an angel around who would say there’s anything easy about you. And, for the record, there’s no way I’m questioning them,’ Phalen raised a finger toward the sky, ‘about me being here.’

  ‘See,’ Gabrielle answered through snickers of her own. ‘A skilled fighter and honest. What more could a girl ask for?’

  ‘Ahh, but, you’re no girl. You’re one of the most—’

  ‘Shh! Don’t say it. We should stop communicating this way. Speak aloud from now on unless the situation calls for other means. The Fallen will find us far easier if we don’t.’ Gabrielle glanced at Phalen to see if she understood, but she looked puzzled. “If they are paying close enough attention, which they hopefully aren’t, communicating the way we were will be a beacon to them, and they will be curious. It makes our energy vibrate on a much higher level than a human’s. Amaziah didn’t allow for me to veil myself, and I don’t need them finding me faster simply because I am not being careful. He is alre
ady sure they will notice me quickly.”

  Phalen shrugged and a playful expression flashed across her face. “Okay. But I am not responsible for what might be thrust out by this human tongue.” Phalen smiled. “Hey, I sound pretty good … for a human.”

  Phalen’s perpetually good mood was refreshing and a nice counter to the struggle that Gabrielle had with her own constantly fluctuating emotions—trying to keep herself happy and not downright bitchy was proving more of an issue every day.

  “You most certainly are responsible. You’ll have just as much control as you do in your Divine form.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I say so.” Gabrielle smiled, hooking her arm around Phalen’s as they made their way onto the beach. Both stopped and took off their flip-flops, quickly finding they didn’t like the way the sand felt as it slid between human skin and shoe, scratching at their feet with every uncomfortable step. Phalen shot Gabrielle a look that said she was happy to get them off her feet without needing to say a word.

  When they resumed their walk, Gabrielle watched as, each time she put her foot down and let her weight rest on it more, the warm, thick sand fell around her foot, covering it slightly. The closer they got to the water’s edge, the more compact and damp the sand became, causing the fine grains to become cooler and squish through her toes instead of blanketing her feet like they were before. Once they reached where the waves grabbed at the shoreline with soaking hands, Gabrielle turned and glanced over her shoulder to see the footprints they had left.

  “That’s something we don’t usually see.”

  Phalen looked behind them as well, smiling in response, and then both faced forward again.

  “So,” Phalen began, “what exactly are you supposed to be doing now?”

  “Nothing. Except seeing how long it takes for me to be noticed by the Fallen. It’s Amaziah’s way of proving his point.”

  “Well, he does have a point. You’re nothing more than a huge target to them, whether you want to face it or not.”

  “It’s not that I’m not facing it. I know the danger I’m in anytime I’m away from Heaven, but I also know the state of things here. We’re losing the war with Darkness. Besides … I can handle myself pretty well.”