The Balance: The Return

by Morgan Shores

Overview

The Balance series continues. Set in modern-day Galveston, Texas, the Goddesses and their families discover the Ancient family secrets that will challenge their faith and change their futures. They once again must unite to maintain the balance between light and dark.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781504328821
Publisher:	Balboa Press
Publication date:	10/15/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
File size:	1 MB

Read an Excerpt

The Balance

The Return Second Book of The Balance Series

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By Morgan Shores

Balboa Press

Copyright © 2015 Morgan Shores
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5043-2881-4

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CHAPTER 1

Lilith saw Manuel as he walked over to Sarah's grave, were she and Ashanti stood in silence.

"Are you ready sweetheart?" he asked.

Tears filled her eyes as she turned and nodded. Ashanti was holding on to her.

"Thank you Ashanti for coming," Lilith said.

Ashanti smiled, "My Lady were else would I be."

Lilith smiled a weak smile then asked, "Where is Serena?"

Manuel answered, "Sophia and Ceron took her home with them." As he and Ashanti walked with Lilith to the car.

As they were leaving the cemetery Lilith commented, "It was nice of Sophia to have the fellowship at her home."

"Yes," Manuel replied. "We all felt it would be easier on you and your mother to have it away from the cottage."

The trip to Sophia's was a quiet one. As they drove Lilith's mind filled with the memories of her grandmother. She was remembering a conversation they had had when she was nine-years-old. Ah wee one and what you have is called clairvoyance. You can see through your third eye. Then why couldn't I see you were leaving? Lilith thought.

Suddenly Lilith heard her Maimeo's voice, she was mind weaving, having a conversation in your head with spiritual beings.

"You were not supposed to know this Garini'on; this is always in God's time. You do know this conversation we are having is your clairaudience, don't you?" Sarah said.

Yes, Maimeo, I remember Lilith thought.

"Garini'on you must start using your clairs again. They are very important for what is coming," Sarah said.

What do you mean? What is coming? Lilith asked.

"It is not my place to tell you. I was only given a few minutes to remind you of your gifts. Use them Garini'on. I have to go now," Sarah said. "I will come again once I have completed my transformation."

Sarah's words echoed in Lilith's mind, and then there was silence..... she glanced in the visor mirror at Ashanti.

* * *

The afternoon rapidly went by as if time had no meaning. Lilith had said goodbye to her parents as they headed off to the airport. She looked at Serena and prayed that the two of them never had the estranged relationship that her mother and grandmother had.

It was an hour later when Manuel loaded a sleepy Serena into the car and drove them home.

He pulled in the drive of their modest Victorian home and purposely parked in the front of the house where the cottage was out of view. A year after Lilith and Manuel married Lilith's father was elected to the Texas State Senate and her parents moved to Austin. Lilith and Manuel bought her childhood home. Maimeo continued to live in the cottage out back and helped them raise Serena.

Manuel carried Serena up the porch as Lilith opened the door; he headed down the long foyer to the staircase. She quietly walked down the long foyer, noting how she loved the cream walls and the white bead board against the distressed hardwood floors. Lilith's parents had bought this home in 1976, before she was born and had remodeled it and updated it over the years. She sometime wondered if purchasing it was a mistake.

The three-bedroom home with the small cottage for her grandmother held so many memories. She reached the living area and looked around. It was full of some of her mother's beautiful antiques, decorated in rich accent shades of red, green and gold that complimented the walls and floors, giving the home the Victorian flair with a modern feel.

She glanced over to the rocking chair in the corner, and she could still see her Maimeo sitting there. Lilith moved over to the rocker, picked up the afghan, sat down, and held it to her nose. Maimeo, she thought as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

And that's where Manuel found her.

* * *

That evening rain had swelled in on Galveston Island, and the sound of the thunder shook the windows. Lilith and Manuel had tucked Serena in and all were fast asleep. A little past midnight the thunder rumbled and the wind blew; Lilith sat straight up in bed when she heard Serena scream. Manuel jumped out of bed and ran down the hall with Lilith two steps behind him.

"Mom! Mom!" nine-year-old Serena cried out from her dream.

When Manuel opened the door he found Serena was thrashing around the bed. Manuel sat down on the bed, and he gently woke her. "Serena, Serena, its Daddy honey. It was just a dream."

Serena opened her eyes and leaped into Manuel's arms. Lilith bent over and brushed little Serena's dark hair from her face.

"It was a dream sweetheart. You are safe her with Mommy and Daddy," Lilith said.

"I was in that dark place again, and there was fire. I saw the man coming for me. When he flew down, he laughed and laughed. I was so scared," Serena said.

Manuel looked at Lilith, as she paled. "It was just a bad dream Serena.

There's no man here but me," he said as he kissed her forehead.

Serena lay back down as Lilith tucked her in and said, "He's not here. Honey, it was a dream. He can't hurt you. Do you want me to lay with you?" Lilith asked.

Serena shook her head yes.

Lilith climbed into bed next to Serena and wrapped her in her arms.

Manuel saw the concern in Lilith's eyes. As he turned for the door, he softly said, "You two try to go back to sleep."

"Okay Daddy," Serena said.

"Do you want me to leave the light on?" He asked.

"Yes, please," Serena answered.

When he pulled the door closed, he heard Serena say. "Mom, the dream was different this time. The man changed into a beautiful lady. She had your eyes. I thought she was going to save me. But she didn't. She was chasing me, screeching and growling in a language I didn't understand." Serena's dream had started after her ninth birthday, and with her cousin Opal's clairvoyance she always knew when Serena had the dream.

Of course, being the lineage of the goddesses neither thought it odd.

Lilith was taught that dream states are pure thoughts of past, present or future. Through her own experience of dreaming she knew they had a message. She did not take Serena's dreams lightly when she discussed them with Maimeo. Maimeo advised that she felt Serena was learning to face her fears, and Lilith would need to console her until the dreams passed. Which Maimeo assured her would pass with time.

Lilith wrapped her arms around her daughter, "It's okay sweetheart; it was just a dream. Let's call in Archangel Michael. He will clear the bad dreams away."

She stroked Serena's hair Oh Maimeo, how I love this beautiful child, with her dark auburn hair, and big dark eyes which are so much like her father's, Lilith thought.

As Lilith began to hum she thought of Maimeo's words, Remember your four clairs. That's what Maimeo reminded me. But why?

Quietly Lilith began to meditate as Serena slept in her arms. However, Lilith could not seem to pass the realm of Gaia to her higher self. The harder she tried, the more blocked she felt. Hours passed before she eased out of Serena's bed and wandered through the house. There was a knowing in her every being.

Samuel is coming again I can feel it, she thought.

CHAPTER 2

Two weeks later, thirty-six-year old Detective Lilith Nolan Ramos drove slowly as thunder rang through the midnight sky. The full moon was now covered by the heavy clouds. The island was wrapped in a heavy, dark mist. Lilith turned the wipers on to a faster speed.

Where did this storm come from? There was nothing on radar, no prediction of bad weather. The storm rolled in and hovered over the island; as if it were ushering in some type of darkness.

A bolt of lightning hit right in front of her. She was jolted back into reality.

Out of nowhere there was a hooded figure standing in the middle of the road in front of her. Lilith hit her brakes as she braced for the impact. The figure looked right at her. She couldn't believe what she saw; the eyes looking back at her were her own.

Regaining consciousness a half-hour later, Lilith managed to get out of her car only to find no one was there. Looking around, Lilith felt as if someone was watching her.

Suddenly, the rain stopped as calm came over the island. As quickly as it came, it was gone, leaving in its aftermath a darkness undetected by the islanders.

The clap of thunder woke Manuel up. Disoriented as he looked around the room; he thought he saw a shadow disappear into the floor. His logical mind told him it was a shadow from the lightning.

He got up and went to check on Serena as he thought. Why isn't Lilith home? She should have been here by now.

He picked up his cell phone before heading down the hall and swiped her number.

"Hello," Lilith answered. "I'm on my way. I had a little accident." "What do you mean 'little accident?'" Manuel asked as he stopped in front of Serena's door.

"I'm fine. I couldn't see through the heavy rain. I thought I hit something in the road, but there was nothing there," Lilith said. "I'm okay. I should be home within five minutes. Hot coffee sounds good."

"Okay, I'll start a pot," Manuel answered. "See you in a few minutes, he said, and then swiped the end call button.

Manuel gently opened Serena's door, where he found her sleeping peacefully under her lilac canopy in her four-poster bed. She was surrounded by a royal-purple aura. Manuel smiled as he whispered, "Thank you Michael."

Manuel went to the kitchen and started the latte he knew Lilith would welcome on this cold, damp night. Within minutes she came in the back door.

"Hi honey," Manuel said as he embraced her, noticing the knot on her forehead. "Are you okay?" he asked.

Lilith touched her head, then answered, "Yes, I'm fine."

"You're soaked. Go get out of those wet clothes. I'm making you a mocha caramel latte."

"Just a little wet. The storm came out of nowhere." Lilith said as she continued down the hall to their master suite. She yelled back over her shoulder. "Lots of whip cream, please."

Manuel smiled as he continued preparing the latte. Wondering, what happened, he also got the ice pack out of the cabinet and sat it on the counter.

As Manuel was adding the whip cream to the latte Lilith came up from behind, and kissed his neck, and wrapping her arms around him then whispered, "A little more whip cream please."

Manuel got a mischievous grin on his face, turned around with the can and sprayed whip cream on her lips. "I don't think you'll be able to finish that," he said as he kissed her tenderly.

He noticed Lilith had pulled out her old tethered robe; she must be missing her Maimeo he thought.

"I thought you threw that robe out years ago," Manuel commented.

"I tried, I couldn't part with it at the time, and now," Lilith's voice faded, as the tears pooled in her eyes, "Well, now I'm glad I kept it," she said.

"It's okay you look, well, kind of sexy in a shabby chic sort of way," Manuel grinned.

"You are so good to me; what did I ever do to deserve you," Lilith said laughingly as he released her.

"You chose the right side," Manuel said as he smiled and handed her the cup of latte. "So, tell me what happened. How'd you get that bump on the head?"

"Let's go sit in front of the fire," Lilith said. "Would there happen to be any of the brownies left?"

"Coming right up," Manuel said. "Go in by the fire and get comfy.

I'm right behind you."

Manuel plated the brownies, grabbed a few napkins and the ice-pack. When he entered the living room he found Lilith curled up on the sofa staring into the fire.

He sat the plate down on the sofa table then moved in next to her putting his arm around her gently snuggling her up to him; he knew she was in thought so he waited patiently as she picked up a brownie bit into it, and followed with a sip of her latte.

"Lilith, it's been two weeks honey; we need to talk about the Nanny position and the applicant I interviewed today," he said.

Lilith sighed. "Okay, as much as I don't want to talk about this, tell me about this Nanny you found for us."

"I know darling, we'll never be able to replace Maimeo, but I think you'll like this young lady. Serena fell in love with her almost instantly." Manuel said, picking up a brownie and taking a bite.

"She is the first applicant she's taken a liking to. Her name is Darcy McKenna; she's twenty-one, a student at Galveston College. She's also a camp Counselor on the weekends at the new youth camp, Lone Star something. I checked her references, and she checks out okay. She can start next Monday after Thanksgiving." Manuel grinned, "That is, if you approve of her of course."

Lilith saw that grin as she rubbed the back of her neck and the goose egg throbbed on her forehead, not wanting to argue the subject any longer. I know he's a good judge of character and if Serena took to her well isn't that a good sign? she thought.

Lilith knew Manuel was waiting for an answer, "I want to run a background check on her, and if that comes back clean then I'll talk to her."

Manuel interrupted her, "I would expect nothing less," he said. Reaching across to the sofa table he handed her the background report he had run. "She's clean, everything checks out. I set up an interview she'll be here Sunday afternoon at two o'clock."

Lilith took the report from him, scanned through it, and then popped him on the head with the paper.

"Oh alright, I know when I am out numbered. I'll talk to her on Sunday and if it goes okay, I guess we have ourselves a Nanny."

"Great!" Manuel said as he kissed the tip of her nose, again noticing the knot, he reached over and handed her the ice pack. "Now, tell me what happened to you tonight?" he asked.

"I was on Holiday Drive when it started pouring. It was raining so hard I couldn't see the road. There was a clap of thunder, and through the lightning, I thought I saw someone in the road. I jerked the wheel and the car slid.

I hit my head on the steering wheel," Lilith said as she gently touched the goose egg knot on her head. "When I came to it was a half-hour later. I got out and looked around, that's when I got soaked. I didn't find anything, but I...." Lilith stopped for a moment.

"But you, what?" Manuel asked.

Lilith had a very strange look on her face. "What aren't you telling me Lilith?" Manuel asked.

Lilith took a deep breath. "Nothing really, it's just a feeling I have had since Maimeo transitioned. I don't know anything for sure. Maimeo came to me and told me to remember my clairs. I can't seem to find peace in my meditations. I thought it was because of Maimeo." Lilith paused and turned to look at Manuel. "I know Samuel is going to return someday, but lately, I have been feeling this darkness around me."

Manuel finished for her, "Which would explain Archangel Michael watching over Serena tonight."

Lilith looked up and asked, "What do you mean? Did something happen here?"

Manuel answered, "No, but after I spoke with you I checked in on Serena, Michael was watching over her."

As he gazed into the fire, Manuel gently asked, "Do you think his plan is to come for Serena?"

"How would he know? I had Ashanti freeze her powers when she was born so that he could not sense her. Unless ..." Lilith paused.

"Unless what?" Manuel asked.

"Unless he knew as you did that I was expecting a child when we went to battle. He was so sure at the time that I would side with him he had no worry of an heir," Lilith said, as she stood and walked over to stoke the fire. "I do not plan to give up my daughter to him without a fight," Manuel said as he stood and walked over to the fireplace.

He put his arms around Lilith and said, "I'll watch over Serena and you."

"There's one more thing that I thought I saw tonight," Lilith paused, "and if I did then it is even more dangerous than before."

"What?" Manuel asked.

"I thought I was looking in a mirror," Lilith said. "The face I saw in the rain was mine."

Questioningly Manuel said, "Yours? How could that be?"

"Samuel is the only one that has the Power of Reflection. The Devour of Love taught it to him, it can only be achieved by the darkest of the dark ones," Lilith said. "He can use that power to lure Serena to him. She would think it was me."

Manuel understandingly said, "Well, Michael is standing guard tonight; let's try to get some rest. You know as well as I do that this is a game with Samuel. He would get no pleasure out of a quick conquest; he prefers the adrenaline of the battle."

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from The Balance by Morgan Shores. Copyright © 2015 Morgan Shores. Excerpted by permission of Balboa Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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