Finding Sanity

On the surface, Lark Conners appears to be your average college freshman. She likes hanging out with her friends, going to clubs, working out, and exploring her new life on her own. Her two best friends, Trent and Arryn, are textbook examples of intelligent, handsome, and popular college boys. Life for Lark was just what you'd expect-but it turned out to be nothing she could have ever imagined. When an unexpected event turns her life upside down, nothing even her vivid imagination could have devised happens. Her old life is whisked away, and her new life as Sanity Shadowhouse begins. Now, she is the master of a group of preternatural beings, consisting of vampires, lycans, pixies, and other creatures of immense power. She soon discovers that not only was her picture-perfect life too good to be true, it was also actually a complicated ruse, carefully constructed to keep her hidden from her family's ancient enemies. Once Sanity is introduced to a world of magick and unusual creatures she once dreamed about, she learns that she has abilities people would die-or kill-for.

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Finding SanityVolume 1 The New LifeBy Mindy BakeriUniverse, Inc.Copyright © 2011 Mindy BakerAll right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4620-5989-8Chapter One I woke up in a cold sweat for the third night in a row, clenching my jaw and pursing my lips so I wouldn't scream and wake up my roommate Arryn, or his lame-brained girlfriend Starr in the other room. So, I lay there for several minutes, controlling my breathing and slowly unclenching my jaw, waiting for the residue of the nightmare to subside. Before I explain my nightmare to you, let me tell you who I am, so I don't confuse anyone who may be reading this. My name is Lark Conners, I'm currently a freshman at a college in Southern Florida, and just started my second semester. I'm five foot, eleven inches tall, athletically built, basically curve-less, with light brown hair and hazel eyes. Originally I come from Virginia, where I live with my parents on a horse ranch. I had an older brother who went away to college when I was eight, but two weeks after he left, we got the news that he and a friend were killed in a car accident. I was devastated of course, my brother, who's name was Justin, was my best friend. I'm actually attending the same college he started at. I know that may seem a little morbid, but I felt like it would help me remember him, especially since my memories of him have been fading fast lately. I also chose this college because I've been bored, and have a strong desire for adventure. My life up until now has been dull. I've lived my life reading, being a major bookworm and a straight A student. Also in high school I joined the swim team and was on the soccer team and worked for a bookstore as well, taking full advantage of the employee discount as often as I could to get my fix of literature of course. I've lived in a small town all my life, where nothing all that interesting happens, so I decided to cut loose and rebel a little. This school is in an area of Florida well known for its night clubs and parties. I even broke up with my boyfriend of a year shortly before leaving for college, part of me still loves him, but another part of me knows that we aren't right for each other. Two of my best friends joined me here, enrolling at the college as well. I'm majoring in Literature of course, my gay best friend Trent is majoring in Art, and our best friend Arryn, my roommate, is majoring in physical education, yes he wants to be a gym teacher. They're both very handsome and physically fit. Arryn works out constantly, lifting weights and jogs every day, and Trent is big into yoga, jogs with Arryn every morning, and then swims laps with me each night before we all go out to the clubs. My ex-boyfriend Shane is still back in Virginia, he's a senior this year. Arryn, Trent and I all graduated a year early; the three of us were in accelerated classes. Shane is a reluctant jock; his father was a quarterback all through high school and college, and has pushed all three of his sons into sports, especially football. He's an arrogant, controlling, and prejudiced, son-of-a-bitch, if anything goes wrong in his family; he treats them all like shit. He isn't physically abusive like Arryn's father was to him, his twin brother and his mother, but he's emotionally abusive, which is just as bad. One of Shane's brothers is gay, and he is completely terrified to come out to his father. Their mother on the other hand is an angel, I can't figure out what she sees in that man. Shane is gorgeous, he keeps his hair shaved close to his head, it's black and he has amazing blue eyes that make any girl melt when he looks at them. I still can't figure out what he saw in me the first time he asked me out and why he did. Like I said, we were going out for a year before I broke up with him to go to college. I know the way I just described him makes it sound like I'm still head over heals for him, who knows, maybe I am, but I haven't seen him since the day I said good-bye. He was my first though, no, not my first boyfriend, actually that was Arryn, no, Shane was the first and last guy I had sex with, shortly before we broke up. That might be what provoked me, I just didn't feel anything with him, and even our kisses began to feel dead. It's really sad to say, but I was beginning to feel bored with him. So, here I am in Southern Florida, my third week of my second semester of my freshman year, holding a B average in all of my classes, despite going out every night to the clubs with Arryn and Trent. They're both doing well also. Trent lives in an apartment next door, we were lucky to get these apartments actually, there just happened to be last minute drop outs this semester and we were able to move in. Our first semester we were living in the dorms, and that was not a pleasant experience at all, I was hardly there. I don't really get along very well with other girls, I have always had more guy friends than girls, and actually, I don't think I've had any female friends really. Sorry, I digress, the nightmare, it's been the same one for the past three nights. I'm falling, in pain, it's weird, I don't know why I'm in pain, because the dream begins with my falling, then I finally hit the ground, and hear loud crunching noises, like every bone in my body is breaking. Of course there is more pain, and then there are faces above me, one of them in particular I recognize, he's a guy I met at one of my favorite clubs, his name is Cosmo. He's kneeling beside me with a woman and another very beautiful man, they looked worried, and the men are shredding Cosmo's t-shirt, wrapping my body with the strips they've torn. I can see their mouths moving, but I can't hear what they are saying, because I hear a woman screaming, however, I don't think it's me. I turn my head, and I see that there is a woman laying near me, her arm looks like it's been torn right off, she's the one that's screaming, but nobody is near her, nobody will help her. I don't understand this. Why Cosmo and these other two people are helping me, but nobody will go near her? I can see other people standing around the room, or what look like people, when I look closer, I realize, that they aren't really people, they're half human half animal, that's when I begin screaming, and when I wake up. Well, it's almost five am; I've been sitting here thinking and writing for the past hour. Weird stuff has been happening to me for the past few days, not just the dreams. Cosmo for instance, I haven't officially met him, but I've heard his name called out by other women at the club, beautiful women, and shorter, curvy, vivacious women. Yeah, they're my complete opposites. I first noticed him towards the end of last semester, at a different club. Then Arryn, Trent and I started going to this club called Shadow House, and I was thrilled when I saw him there. He's so beautiful; purple eyes, long black hair with blonde streaks, a lean, muscular, tanned (no tan lines), hairless body, and he stands at 5'11". He normally keeps his hair pulled back in a tight French braid that falls to the middle of his back and his hair looks like silk. Can you tell I have a crush on this guy? Ooops, digressing again, can't help it; I can't get him out of my mind. So, that's the dream in a nutshell, the same thing for the past three nights. It always ends with the people that are half human half animal surrounding me. I can't understand it, actually there is a lot I haven't been able to understand for the past few months, things that I've been feeling that I've never felt before. I mean, I feel different, kind of strange especially when I go to Shadow House, or actually, I feel normal when I go there and strange when I'm away. I just wish I could understand it all, and for some reason, and for the first time in our lives, I can't seem to talk to Trent about this, or even Arryn who I've confided in for years. Yeah they know about my crush on Cosmo, it's obvious every time we go to the club and I see him, I act like a blubbering fool, but the rest of it, I just can't tell them. Well, it's almost 6am now, Trent will be here any minute now to go jogging with Arryn, I think I'll go with them maybe that will help clear my head. I can use their company too; I love both of them very much, and don't know what I would ever do without them. Since my brother died, Trent has been a big part of my life, he's been like a surrogate brother, and when he lost his parents last year, he moved in with me and my family, becoming a permanent part of ours. Arryn and I became even closer when we broke up then we were when we were going out, and I'm very close to his brother Jax, whom I miss very much as well, he decided to go to a different college than us wanting his freedom, needing to discover himself. Ok, that's it for now, let's see if some exercise clears my cluttered brain, cause this journaling thing sure isn't. Chapter Two I went to the club last night; on my own for the first time. I'm not sure why I went by myself, but both Arryn and Trent had dates so I was left to fend for myself and find my own amusements. So, of course, I couldn't stay away from Shadow House, the place just calls to me, or maybe it's the people. Once I got there, my eyes fell on Cosmo as soon as I found him, and to my surprise, he started to walk towards me. When he finally reached me, I was extremely disappointed when he told me to follow him, someone wanted to meet me. I thought to myself, who could want to meet me, and how could they be so mean sending Cosmo to bring me to them. They made me think he was coming over to me because he was interested in me. Sure he wasn't smiling like he usually was when he went up to other girls, but I still thought ... maybe. As I followed him through the room, I noticed we were heading for the stairs. I wondered who we were going to meet, knowing that the upper floors of the club were private. I rarely saw people leave the main floor and go upstairs; however Cosmo was always coming and going from the upper floors. So, I still couldn't imagine who was up there that would want to meet me. I didn't think anyone ever really noticed me before tonight. It was really weird, and the weirdest part, was the fact that this was the first night I went out without my friends. I was on my own. I must have hesitated or stopped, because suddenly Cosmo stopped and turned towards me. He was standing about five steps up. I just stood there looking up at him not sure if I should keep following or decline and leave. He was so irresistible standing there looking down on me, waiting. So beautiful, tall, lean, muscular, I saw him shirtless at the club before and knew he has amazing washboard abs, as well as a smooth, hairless chest. His hair is black, with blonde streaks and hangs down to his shoulders. His eyes are purple. He came down a few steps and held his hand out to me. "Are you coming or not?" He asked, in an irritated tone. I could barely move or speak, but finally I raised my arm and accepted his outstretched hand, squeaking out an answer, "Sure." Gee, what a response huh? Yeah, I know, but what else could I do or say when I was practically frozen to the spot. I was finally touching a man I had been watching, craving and fantasizing about for months. Suddenly I didn't care what or who was waiting for me upstairs. Cosmo's hand was so warm almost hot, and his scent was amazing, like fresh rain and apples. He continued to lead me upstairs. I could still hear the music following us, and was surprised when I heard him over the music. Even though the upper floors were off limits, except to those invited, people were lined up on the stairs. Some were talking, some making out, and most of the women who bothered to glance at me, peeling their eyes away from Cosmo, were giving me such angry looks. "Great," I said, finally finding my voice, "you've just helped me make enemies." He didn't even look to see what I meant, he just laughed. Finally we reached the second floor; there was a large, heavy door in front of us. It opened as if on its own, I barely noticed the man holding it for us as we entered a room even darker than the main floor. The music seemed louder in here. The only light came from glo-sticks and jewelry people were wearing. There weren't any black lights, or strobes like downstairs. It made the atmosphere more intense, seductive and full of surprises. A small woman came up to us brushing her bare breasts against our arms. I noticed, in the dim light, a design, which looked like it might be flowers and vines, covered her chest and stomach. She pressed her body close to Cosmo and spoke in a slightly whining voice, "Come play with me Cos." Cosmo surprised me, pulling me closer, and I swear he growled at her. Although it seemed like a really strange response, it worked and she backed off, cringing. I had time to glance at him briefly before he literally dragged me through the tight crowd of bodies towards a second set of stairs. He didn't look at me, yet the look on his face softened. He didn't seem as angry and annoyed. "I've been trying to get rid of that woman for weeks. The only good thing about this errand is that you helped me do just that. Now, maybe she'll leave me alone. She's actually as bad as your friend Starr." He said. "She's not my friend ..." I tried to say, but he pulled so quickly that I bit back the words. As we moved deeper and deeper into the crowd, I began to feel the music, completely forgetting what just transpired. The music didn't just come from the vibrations of the speakers, but from the pulse of the bodies surrounding me, brushing against me. It was such an amazing sensation, full of power. Regretfully, as soon as it started, it quickly stopped; as we ascended the stairs to the roof. I still couldn't believe I was here going up to the roof. I heard so many rumors about the parties up here, and the pleasures that awaited anyone lucky enough to be invited. Cosmo opened the door leading out onto the roof; the light from the moon briefly blinded me after being enclosed in total darkness. It felt good to be out in the night air and the moonlight, but I missed the pulse we left behind; however I wouldn't miss it for long. Cosmo finally stopped dragging me and calmly led me through a much smaller group of people who were standing next to a skylight, which looked down on the room below. He held my hand out towards a man who was the most beautiful man I have ever seen. His features are on the edge of feminine, his hair as white as the moonlight falling on us from above. His skin has a slight blue tinge to it. When his hand touched mine, I felt how soft his flesh was; this surprised me, because for some reason I thought he should feel like cold, hard, marble. I thought I was pale; this man's flesh was so pale, I finally realized where the blue tinge came from; his veins showed through his flesh. I don't mean just the typical large veins you see in the arms of humans, but every vein, artery and capillary flowing with his blue, oxygen-virgin blood. I continued to watch his hand as Cosmo's black painted nails brushed the back of my hand leaving a small scratch, which quickly welled up with blood. I glanced at him, surprised, and saw a smile cross his face before my attention was forced back to the man who took my hand from him and was now kissing, almost sucking it. In that instant, everyone around me disappeared, except for the man whose lips were pressed to the back of my hand covering the scratch. Part of my brain said I should be surprised by this, especially when I felt his tongue flick out, licking the blood away. But another part told me this was normal, it kept telling me I was home. Everything happened so fast, one minute his lips were on my hand and he was sucking on the small wound, licking the blood that welled up. The next minute, I heard a blood-curdling screech and was suddenly falling through the glass of the skylight. My body was torn by the shards of glass as we fell through. I didn't have time to worry about the damage to my body or figure out what was happening, because I hit the floor with horrible cracking and breaking sounds, then everything went black. (Continues...) Excerpted from Finding Sanityby Mindy Baker Copyright © 2011 by Mindy Baker. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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