7Summary for Banished [Book One in the Cursed Soul series]:
Violet Gates has loved one man all her life; but has never met him outside of her dreams. They've grown up together, but he's not apart of her reality. Just when she's standing at the alter to marry the man she was betrothed to, the man of her dreams appears amidst the crowd. Her family is depending upon her marriage to the wealthy groom, but her heart is depending on the man she had given her heart to long ago.
Summary for the Cursed Soul series: Josie Emmetts is a cursed soul. After her death as Violet Gates in 1890('s), she is put into purgatory, where while she waits, she can see the span of her last life - and the others before it. She sees the window to heaven, but is doomed to not step foot there. Josie is sent down to Earth again and again with new identities each time, first in 1930's, again in 1950's, and so on. Josie needs to figure out why she's being expelled, but in each life the memory of the purgatory and previous lives are erased.
To add to the quest, in 1890 Josie found a man she fell in love with and promised her heart to be with him forever. Each time she is put into purgatory, she looks through heaven's window and dreams of reaching him. What she doesn't know though is that he's not there, but a self cursed soul himself, drifting through life to life to find her again. Somehow, Josie must find him in life as she once did from dreams to reality. But first, she must be capable of remembering her past lives during her current one, and be capable of finding her love, lost somewhere in the world.
Introduction:
"You are so blessed! We have such good news for you!" Allegra Gates said as she kissed her daughter's cheeks. "Good fortune has come our way at last!"
Instead of sharing in her mother's excitement, Violet looked at her father to explain. "What fortune is this?" she asked, trying to keep the skeptism out of her voice.
Her father gave her a soft smile, then took her hand gently. "Your hand has been requested in marriage. Richard Laurance has been here. He's a good man, Violet. I gave him my blessing. I believe you'll be very happy."
"Of course she will," her mother stepped in again, bustling about. "He's rich! Can you imagine, our daughter catching the eye of such a wealthy fellow? How wonderful, my dear girl!"
Victoria gave them a shakey smile. "It does sound wonderful, and he's always been very nice to me. When will I be seeing him again?"
"Church tomorrow. You'll be sitting in his pew."
Her heart skipped a beat from nervousness. "That sounds fine. May I retire to my room, now? I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, I'm afraid."
Her father patted her cheek. "Of course."
Grateful, Violet hurried off to her room, skirting past her sisters who were eager to ask questions. Shutting the door, she fell onto her bed and laid face down into her feather pillows. Her thoughts were racing in her head. She was fine with getting married, and to Mr. Laurance, who was a very good man. She had known him for years, seeing him at church and sometimes visiting his mill. There was no reason to give an objection to him; nothing real outside of her own head.
She prayed for sleep, for wishing to be carried away to her dreams that lift her heart and give her hope. She wanted to see him again. She wanted to know what all of this meant. Would he still be there, just beyond the realm of reality waiting for her, a betrothed woman?
The sounds from the house began to fade as her thoughts calmed. She knew she was being carried away, and soon, much to her heart's relief, she saw him again. He stood before her, perfect and beautiful and loving, with his hand outstretched.
"I've been waiting for you," he said.
"I have news," Violet said as she grabbed his hand tightly and held it to her bosum. She looked around to see that they were in a large garden, standing inside a gazebo. She knew this place. It was Richard Laurance's back yard, decorated in wedding themes.
Her beloved, Liam Tenant, nodded sadly. "I already know. This hand I hold has been asked for by another."
She held on tighter. "I must accept. I have no choice. With no brothers to secure a fortune after my father passes away, my mother and sisters are depending on me. I can't refuse for..."
"For a man who isn't real," he said. His mouth was chiseled in a grim line, his grip becoming weak.
"You're very real," Violet assured. "You're more real to me than anyone else. But my family won't understand. You've not come to me but in my dreams. That isn't enough."
"I'm in no position to beg you to say no. I understand it would be unfair to your family so I won't. But...if you could have just waited a little longer. If only you didn't attract another man's eye so steadily. I will find you. Outside of this realm, I'll come to you and I'll find you. I just wish I wasn't too late to claim you as my own."
A tear fell as she looked upon the only man that she had ever called by their first name; the only man she had touched so eagerly, who she had told her every thought to without fear or reserve. Liam was the man she had given her heart to years ago, when he came to her as a child. He was so young back then, just like she was. But they had grown together, through the years. Each night she would see him and her heart would be at peace. He had taken good care of it, but now she was obligated to take it back and try to give it to a new man. It was more than she could bear to think of.
She looked up at his clear blue eyes that burned into her memory. "I must go. Will I see you soon?"
He held her hand against his straight jaw that worked to hold back his emotions. "I'm afraid not, my beloved."
"What?" she exclaimed, alarmed. "Liam, why not?"
"It wouldn't be right to visit a woman's dreams who is set to be married. You do plan on accepting him in the morning, do you not?"
She nodded. "I do."
"Then I shall have to wait to see your beauty until I find you outside of our own minds." He kissed the palm of her hand and it sent the most wonderful shivers through her body. "I love you, Miss Gates. Never forget that," he whispered against where he kissed.
"I'll never forget," she promised.
Slowly, he let go of her hand and she watched the sight that tortured her always. He became pale and translusent. His lovely, pressed suit and dark, wavy hair faded. His stricking eyes held her own until he was completely gone. The gazebo and the garden faded, her dream collapsing upon itself, until she was left in the dark. Her eyes opened to her own room. She looked at her hand that still felt the warmth of Liam's. She swore that she could still feel his kiss upon her skin, the tingling still going through the nerves in her body. She felt more alone in this moment than she ever had in her life.