Solstice: The Solstice Chronicles, #1

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, duplicated, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Text Copyright © 2011, 2013, 2020 Bryan W. Dull

All rights reserved

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover & Formatting by Brandy Michelle

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AUTHOR’S NOTE

MOTHER

SO, IT BEGINS

DISEASE

HOLDING ON

LITTLE GIRL

TRUTH TIME

THE DEAL

SIDE MISSION

MEETING HIS LOVE

THE PAIN &

THE WOMEN OF

OLD FRIENDS

EVENTS TO COME

ABOUT MYSELF

THE ESCAPE

A PLACE TO HIDE

EPILOGUE

Other Works From

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AUTHOR’S NOTE

I started this project close to six years ago. It was more of a hobby than an actual project. It began as more of a script than it did a proper novel. I had this idea I would be part of show business at a young age. It seemed like I dedicated my life to useless movie knowledge that would put me on some pedestal, then I would be set for life. Then, like most things, life happened. It turned out I was more of a storyteller than the actor I wanted to be.

One of the biggest obstacles I wanted to overcome was the stereotype most first novels were more autobiographical than a work of fiction. That worked out for the most part. While this book is not about me and more about vampires, I integrated some aspects of my life into the story. The biggest was the actual father-daughter dynamic. When the project started, it was more of an action script for HBO than anything else, more action than dialogue. There was no dynamic between Solstice and Gavin when I originally started to write because Solstice was not even a character yet. When my daughter was born, I found there was something more to this story than I had originally thought. I needed something more in a time full of vampires who never graduate high school and always must have werewolves thrown into the mix. There had to be an audience for something different. It bothered me when I walked into the local bookstores, I saw all the vampire books have a black cover (even though I eventually went to black); I am not the kind of guy who likes what everyone else likes. To be honest, I am a bit of a snob in my entertainment. Hopefully, you will like this, though.

To be clear, this story is meant to be a three-part series. The first book was intended to be written in the first person because I didn’t want to overcrowd the book. I want people to get invested in the situation and the characters. When and if the next part comes out, it will be a hell of a ride. Making the first novel shorter opens so much more for the next one.

I’ll shut up now and let you read. This has been a long time coming, and I hope people take to it. If you want more, then drop me a line.

Midnight on August 28th, 2011

It’s been nine years since I wrote the above note, and I decided black covers aren’t so bad. I am now re-releasing them with black covers because I was told it was a good idea. I know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but we do. I just hope my new covers got your attention.

August 6th, 2020

MOTHER

Something was growing inside her, which had no business coming into this world. It started normal enough. She got pregnant with the man she adored, and they went the usual adult route, house, lawn, and jobs. He was a big shot in the pharmaceutical field, bringing home the six-figure salary. Everything was as perfect as it could be, the young couple was happy and in love.

The baby shower was scheduled on the calendar for a Saturday during the evening hours. She decided to throw the shindig at her best friend's house. To be fair, Leonard made her throw it at his apartment after he whined and pleaded for many seconds. Yes, her baby shower was held by her best gay friend. In many ways, her life was very clichéd many of us would kill for as life was like a sitcom on one of the main four sitcom channels. A woman who is very tied down to her work, with no plans of dating or having kids, gets tied up with a group of people, one of whom becomes her husband. Leonard was just the icing on the cake as he had the fashion sense of a woman who spent her life living in the high rise of a New York apartment. That, and she didn't have to worry about her boyfriend sleeping with him.

It's a rule to have friends act obnoxiously and give dirty gifts during these events. Clothes, toys, cribs, and other useful items were delivered, with a side of dirty board games to go along with it. All the quests had fun sipping their alcohol and eating tiny cakes on expensive napkins while laughing and gossiping about those who didn't come to the shower. This crowd of pampered people is where the term clucking like hens came from. Even with the carrying on, and all the vulgar sex talk, there was a feeling like something was off. Her husband started acting strangely lately as the date of his daughter's birth came closer. It was just nerves, she thought. He was a good man. He came home on time, provided, and never had anything snide to say about anyone.

She was beautiful, the perfect blend between the girl next door and the sexy goddess. Her husband knew it, and everyone else thought it even if they wouldn't admit it. But the mother-to-be didn't think of herself in that respect. All she wanted was a good life for herself and the others she cared for. She was the perfect woman to many—an ideal person with her set of morals set by her parents and lived a comfortable life in they never had more than they needed. You don't have to be the best person, just be a decent one, is what they would say to her.

The sun had already set at around six in the evening when the party was over. It was getting close to winter, and the days had begun getting shorter. She kissed her friend on the cheek and smiled at him while waving goodbye as she walked down the hall to the elevator. She left Leonard's apartment sitting above a quiet antique shop in the downtown area of Spartanburg, South Carolina. The location was in the middle of a transition to make the small city more desirable to live in the metro area, if you can even call it that. Despite the tranquility of coming from her party, she felt uneasy about walking around the neighborhood so late at night with bags of gifts hanging off her arm. I'll just get the bigger things tomorrow. I'm tired.

The moonlight broke through the clouds and beamed upon the one lone skyscraper towering over an array of government buildings. It was the tallest building in Spartanburg and had a southern-based banking institution logo hung high above. Her husband worked in that very building. Little else of significance occupied the district, apart from a few restaurants. A cheap hot-dog stand was known for great food but bad digestive results, a drive-through burger bar built in the 1960s where the rich kids hung out.

There was a certain sense of home for her a while back, ten years ago, but now there was nothing but fear plaguing the streets. Like any person walking the streets downtown, there was a lingering fear in the back of her mind, the fear she may get mugged or worse. However, if she were not an avid listener of the local stations, she would not let the shooting which occurred a block away affect her. She clung to her purse and rapidly walked to her parallel parked car around the corner.

She thought she heard whispering coming from behind her, almost taunting. She swung her head over her right shoulder and looked through the corners of her eyes. There was nothing. She breathed deeply and watched her breath leave her body into the crisp winter night. She was starting to feel uncomfortable. Too much time on my feet today, trying to justify her nervousness.

She wasn't concerned about going into labor since her due date wasn't for another couple of months. She started waddling around the corner as fast as possible, shivering from the cold air. While it may have been part of the reason, it was also because she feared her town at night. Growing up, she could roam freely and not care in the world. Still, youth and ignorance made her feel at ease, and ignorance was always bliss. Those were the good old days, and she hoped that her daughter would feel the same way about her youth.

Finally, she approached her car. The sight of her red Toyota was a remarkable sight. It seemed as if she had been walking forever. She fumbled to reach inside her purse as her hand couldn't reach far enough inside it. Wait. Her other hand aggressively clenched onto the car door's handle as it made it impossible for the other to enter the abyss of make-up, spearmint gum, and a variety of keys. She took a deep breath and exhaled as she looked down into her purse. Her breathing had become frantic as she fumbled for her car keys. Her breath felt great when it came lingering upwards to her nose. She was in the habit of searching for items frantically, but there was a faint smell of fear in the air. It was hers.

She picked out her key fob device for her Toyota and pressed the button causing the funny double beep sound. The woman wasn't sure why she looked down at her purse but saw a little miniature baseball bat given to her by her mother. Use it to help protect you, her mom told her. She never took her mother too seriously in life, which was a mistake, but she kept the bat and the mace next to it. Something was telling her to keep the bat in mind, even ready-ing it. What is the unsubtle feeling? She didn't believe in psychics or premonitions, but tonight may lead to the contrary.

She didn't take out the small bat or the mace. Doing so would be admitting to herself things she never believed in could be real, and she was too damn stubborn to be proven wrong, but sometimes going with your instincts is best.

She opened her door to sit behind the wheel. She threw her bag full of random items onto the passenger seat and plopped herself into her chair. That feels good, she thought as the pressure from her feet began to fade away. She sighed in pleasure and relief before she felt the air change around the back of her neck. It was warm. Warmer than it should have been with the vehicle, not running. It wasn't natural. Someone was breathing down her neck as she felt the tiny hairs on her raise. Fingers began to lightly rub her neck, rubbing strands of her hair away from the right side.

Yes, the stalker said, you will do nicely. His voice was deep, hissing every other word, causing fear. He was not behind her per se but to her right as he hurried himself to the other side of the car. She reached quietly for her purse to find the bat and mace she saw moments ago. The bat she secretly made fun of could be the tool to save her life tonight.

The man was a frail-looking thing, underfed in her eyes. You poor man,