The Quarter Moon (Afterlife saga) (78 page)

Like now, I was wearing a pair of grey skinny jeans that I could only wear under something that covered my bum or they would be cla
ssed as indecent, given the extra pounds my chocolate habit had managed to put on. I matched this with a tight long sleeved dress in cherry red that was just like an overly long t-shirt with a bit of flare round the bottom, which kicked out like a skirt. My sister had bought it for me because it had a black lace back in the shape of a massive skull that showed off most of my skin underneath. We both agreed it would be perfect for Afterlife should I ever have the guts to go there again…which brought me to my outfit choice.

“You look different
honey, what is it?” He asked, holding me back at arm’s length to take me in.

“I
dunno, maybe ‘cause I left my hair down.” I prompted as this was something I still rarely did, but even more so after that night.

“That’s it, so this is a special occasion then?” He asked giving me that look. Alex didn’t think it healthy that I was still in such tight contact with my Ex’s family
, but other than a few snide comments, ones I ignored, it hadn’t caused too many problems…until now.

“They’
re my friends Alex, I want to look nice for them.” I said keeping my voice low. I saw that little tensing of his jaw that told me he wanted to say more, but then just like that he was back to smiling and kissing me on the forehead,

“Of course you do and you look lovely
.” I smiled back up at him before taking his hand.

“Well, we might as well get going
.” I said knowing that I couldn’t prolong it any longer. So, with my hand in his, we snaked our way through the crowd until coming to the left side of the double staircase. The guard at the end nodded to me, no doubt remembering me and moved aside to let us up. If I thought my heart was pounding in the bathroom, then now it was jack-hammering itself against my chest cavity, trying to break free. Maybe it was scared about what going up these steps again would do to the remainder of it, as the last time didn’t go so well.

As we got up to the VIP floor, the sight took my breath away and Alex had heard it.

“You’re sure on this, we could go back?” I felt his hand at the small of my back and the feeling gave me comfort enough to do this. I shook my head as my answer and continued to walk through until I saw the top table coming into view, as for some reason, everyone seemed to be up out of their seats standing.

When I saw Vincent and Sophia I couldn’t help the massive beaming grin from forming. I pulled Alex a little quicker, trying to ge
t through the unusual crowd who looked as though they were all waiting for something.

“Sophia!” I shouted making her turn her head and find me. I saw her lean over to Vincent and
whisper something, making him turn my way, but what surprised me the most was the expressions on their faces…worry.

“Hey
, sorry we’re…late…” I stopped dead in my sentence as I came to the front of the top table just as another was coming to the head of it. Everyone around us sat down at once with just a nod from the man now in front of me. I wanted to cry, I wanted to shout and I wanted to throw something!

But I didn’t do any of these things…all I could do was let my mouth drop for a few seconds before letting out a breathy name, one not said in far too long…

“Draven”      

Acknowledgements

To my
Dravenites,

As always you guys are the first I wish to thank and feel blessed that you are all still taking this amazing journey with me as you have done with Keira in The Quarter Moon. It has been an emotional rollercoaster writing this book but I know I could not have done it without all the love, support and understanding each and every one of you gift me with each time I write. I would like to also like to thank you for your faith in me for leading you on this epic journey of love and can only wish you keep your trust in me until the saga’s end…

I strive not to let you down.

My next thanks go to the people that not only believe in me but make it their mission to push me to into believing in myself. As much hard work as I have put into this book there are also others behind the scenes that do so as well, so that you all can enjoy this story the way I always hoped.
Belisha Husband (and of course her husband Mark) for letting me invade your lives with snorts, giggles and madness but forever working hard in getting Afterlife known to the world! It truly is a friendship of the likes I have never known but one I utterly cherish and will for all my days. 

To my Mum who devotes her time to seeing that each and every one of you never discovers just how bad (and sometimes funny) my spelling really is. As let’s face it, no one really wants to read about Draven’s Demon battling with his ‘Angle’ side :o)

We all Love you for it Mum!

Also to my sister who gives all Afterlife books beautiful life with every front cover she designs, so complaints why we never get Draven naked on the front cover go to….only joking…we love you too! You make Afterlife shine and now thanks to you hundreds of people are saying,

“We Crave the Drave”

To all of my family and friends for not only following me down this mad road but also making it the craziest trip of a lifetime! Also
to my wonderful husband Rob who not only takes care of his family of two crazy dogs and  baby Ava (that I kid you not actually, who squawks like a bird) but for also showing his support by even dying his Mohawk purple in the name of all Afterlife fans…

I love you my hairy bearded bear!

A big shout has to go to all those mentioned in the list below and also every single one of you that find yourselves fans of the Saga. I wish I could name you all but these are just a few to show my love to those that make it their mission in spreading the Afterlife word…first rounds on me!

I have to do a special shout out to Sam Grey who is my very own Pip! And also to my youngest fan Connor who would love to be Lucius when he grows up…you are the dude!

Now to you all my new and wonderful friends: 

Lisa Ayres, Alison
Hucker, Lauren Brooks, Liessa Laureys, Nikki Martin Faulkner, Sam Jones, Vicki Tyrrell Scholtka, Kelly Findlay, Stacy Needham, Zara Duggan à , Hayley Barnes, Emmajane Stratton, Melissa Jenkins, Cara-Pip Durrant, Allison Martin, Scarlett Martin, Marie Saville, Alison MacPherson, Kirsty Bolton, Esme Louise Matthews, Jenny Trowler, Vicki Mattox, Moe Murphy, Nicola Nichol, Rani Marwaha, Rebecca Stephenson, Sue Wright, Mel Broom, Evie Williams –Jones, Lisa Barnard, Torhild Borg, Victoria Tierney, Gayle McFeely, Stephanie Pederson, Tina Awock, Claire Pearson, Hannah Gamble, Hazel Pescatore, Rebecca Caper, Kelly Roscoe, Lindsay Crone, Sammi Gash, Stacey Marie Adams, Aimi Murray, Kim Brown, Lilly Perez, Toni Flounders, Jacklyn Flynn, Jo Timms, Kym Cruddas, Ruth Wood, Carol Krascheneske, Leaza Barnett, Lesley McCarthy, Carrie Partridge, Tanya Watson, Lisa Ingham, Meagan Tice, Ingrid Clarke, Nicole Murphy, Tracy Moody, Lyndsey Critchley, Donna Murray, Andrea Crook, Karen Springett, Justin Darwent, Caroline Edge, Kay Isabel Saxton, Clare Porter Carey, Linzi Slack, Carla Mullins, Kelly Barton, Angela Seddon, Julie Montijo, Kayleigh Gibson, Samantha Taylor, Abbie Robertson, Alexandra Green, Angela Stuthridge, Angela Burton, Carol Grant, Colette Kennedy, Dani Cleverley, Dawn Vickers, Deborah Cox, Laura Watson, Lauren Rabbitts

And all
Dravenites!

My thanks also go to the staff at The Cheshire Cheese Pub London, Somerset House London, The Savoy Hotel London and the Hellfire Caves at West Wycombe for all their help with my research.

My interpretation of the events and characters held in the Hellfire club are totally fictional for the purposes of the story and in no way portray the historical background of the club.

The historical events are recorded as follows:-

‘In its heyday, the Hell-Fire Club had certainly indulged in mock religious ceremonies at the annual election of the Abbot for the ensuing year and also at the initiation of new members. But the main purpose of the Club was, as Wilkes aptly put it, that 'a set of worthy, jolly fellows, happy disciples of Venus and Bacchus, got occasionally together to celebrate woman in wine and to give more zest to the festive meeting, they plucked every luxurious idea from the ancients and enriched their own modern pleasures with the tradition of classic luxury.'

I would also recommend a visit to any of the above as these are some of the England’s hidden treasures and I can only hope with my writing to have done them justice. 

I hope you have all enjoyed this part of the story and look forward to my next instalment as much as I am looking forward to writing it. So until next time, much love and as always…

Happy Reading ;o)

Check out my website for more of Afterlife at…

afterlifesaga.co.uk
or  afterlifesaga.com

And join my mailing list to receive sneaky chapters.

Follow Afterlife saga on Twitter : @
afterlifesaga

Facebook: Afterlife saga.

Or join:  Crave the Drave on Facebook to interact with other fans.

Or feel free to email me with any questions or comments you may have about the Afterlife saga on

[email protected]