Read Eternal War Rising to the South: The Beynok Vampire Series for Free Online Page A

of the house and out of this moment, and fast. I threw on my jogging suit and running shoes. If anyone saw me, I thought I might break down, and I didn’t want that. What would I say? How could I explain why I looked like a mad woman? I left my room through the door to the balcony. I was lucky for two reasons: the balcony reached out past the porch below that wrapped around the first floor, and the back yard ran uphill, so the jump wouldn’t be too high for me. I had made jumps higher than this. I had to go and go fast.
    Before I could second-guess what I was about to do, I jumped. I landed on all fours like a cat, sitting upright. We were trained well. Our instincts take over before we can think. I took off running, and I didn’t care about the direction. I ran for a long time. When I felt my body accept the pace and become comfortable, I pushed harder. I didn’t want any room for thought. I wanted freedom from my life and any emotions it held. I closed my mind to everything.
    I knew I had run for a few hours because the sun was straight overhead. Slowing to a trot, I realized I didn’t recognize my surroundings, but I didn’t care. It felt so good to be outside alone with no emotions running through me. I stopped, took in a deep breath, and closed my eyes, exhaling as I opened them. Nothing. I felt nothing. It was late summer, and the temperature had to be around seventy degrees. My body’s core temperature felt like a hundred and fifty degrees. I was sweating and exhausted. I pulled my long-sleeved shirt off and tied it around my waist since I was wearing a tank top underneath. The cool breeze on my bare skin felt refreshing.
    I came out of the woods at the bottom of the mountain where a small creek ran. The sound was peaceful and the temperature was so soothing I took my shoes off, pulled my pant legs up as far as I could, and walked into the water. I cupped my hands and drank. After my thirst was satisfied, I washed my face and arms. I needed to relax and take a break, so I sat by the side of the creek with my feet plunged in the water.
    I knew I should be making my way back, but I didn’t want to. If Vladimir had wanted me back badly enough, he would have sent Yuri out to track me with his sense of smell. However, I didn’t think anyone was coming to look for me. Vladimir wouldn’t want to bring attention to the situation. I was alone, and it felt wonderful. Lying on the round rocks, I could smell the earth below. I listened to the whistle of the wind, as a breeze softly blew over my body, which was taking in all the energy it could from the sun. The water flowing over my feet brought a perfect balance to the temperature. I felt calm, at ease. I closed my eyes.
    Just me, I told myself. It was just me for the first time. I was dreaming of only me and could see myself in Russia where our lords and many elders lived, not near the mansion in the Altay, but somewhere close. I could tell by the landscape and the crisp weather. I had been running again. Sweat covered my face and neck, and I was breathing hard. I looked upset, frustrated, and angry about something. It must have been me during my first rise to the east. We’re not supposed to remember anything about our past risings, but for some reason, I just knew it was me from my first rise.
    The land was nearly flat with trees and snow all around and a few boulders sat here and there. If I looked hard enough between the trees, I could see a frozen lake in the distance. I was pacing in a small open area, almost as if I was waiting for something. The place was totally familiar, so I had most definitely spent time there. I couldn’t tell what I was waiting for or what was truly going on in my crazy head.
    All of a sudden, there was another voice, a man’s voice. “Anya, I knew you would come. I knew one day you would come back to our place.”
    I snapped around to face the voice, and it was the same, dark silhouette again. This is unbelievable! There’s never a