Before I Sleep (ePub)

If you believe in destiny, Jillian's journey began hundreds of years ago. For her, however, the journey from human to what she has become today (so much more than a vampire) began when she wrote 'the book'; and it became the adventure that is her life only just a moment ago, that day at her grandson's campus... So begins Jillian's extraordinary journey into the perilous world of immortals, and her ultimate unique transformation. A secret world she unwittingly turns on its axis becomes the doorway to her family's legacy - a legacy she didn't know existed until now, and changes her forever.

The meeting of the Governing Council of Immortals comes to order. They have pressing business, and those who sit on the Council, vampires representing the two factions of the vampire community, along with a witch and a sorcerer who represent the remaining immortals, are dreading the pending heated discussion regarding the witch's niece, the author Jillian Demour. There is dissention in the ranks; those who believe this woman is fully aware of and wanting to expose the existence of immortals, vampires in particular, and those who think it dumb luck and mere coincidence that her book so accurately describes the vampire culture. Predictably, the vampires whose diet consists of human blood want her exterminated post haste, while those whose diet is animal blood are a bit more circumspect. Then there is the witch and her companion the sorcerer. They will do whatever it takes to prevent harm from befalling the witch's niece, whom they know is ignorant of their existence, not to mention the heir to her family's legacy of power.

The witch Cassiopeia contends that countless books have been written about vampires, witches, sorcerers and the like for centuries without causing concern among the immortal community, so why now? Why should her niece be singled out and persecuted for her fictitious story? The council members argue bitterly, citing the many ways in which this book alone describes exactly their present day existence, and wonder how she can define precisely what is involved in living an immortal life today; who they are and how they exist. This question, of course, cannot be answered without further investigation; hence their conundrum. The vampire Alex Quinn, an animal drinker and therefore currently an ally of sorts to Cassiopeia, comes forward with the suggestion to secretly observe Ms. Demour in an effort to determine, once and for all, what she knows, if anything. Once her knowledge or lack thereof is confirmed, the council will be in a position to make a definitive ruling regarding her fate.

Cassie argues that observation is unnecessary. Given her ability to enter her niece's slumbering subconscious, it's already confirmed Jillian knows nothing. Unfortunately for Cassie, the council is unwilling to take her at her word since she is obviously biased where her niece is concerned.

Eventually, after considerable debate and despite Cassie's objection noted for the record, the council comes to a unanimous decision. They agree to postpone their decision regarding Jillian's execution pending an investigation. The details of that investigation are 'need to know'. Cassiopeia, she's told, doesn't need to know.

What the Council could not foresee; for that matter what no one could foresee, is the very vampire tasked with observing Ms. Demour, Alex's brother Daniel Quinn, would fall hopelessly in love with her, again, setting in motion the series of events that change everything for both of them.