The Hollows: A Midnight Gunn Novel Read online

  “Merry Christmas Sir.”

  “Merry Christmas Miss Carter.”

  “It’s lovely what you done for Polly, you’re a kind soul.”

  “Thank you. She deserves a chance at life, the same as everyone here.”

  “Charlie and me, we’re ever so grateful too. The way you saved us, and then all this!” She waved her hand. “It’s like a dream, I only wish... the others, you know?”

  “I do. I wish we could have saved them all too. We did the best we could, gave them a good send off. Their souls are at peace now.”

  “What you did Sir, it was remarkable, if you don’t mind me saying. I ain’t never known anything like it. Miss Polly says you’re a special angel, sent to protect us all. Happen I think she’s right.”

  “I’m no angel Miss Carter,” he thought back to the demon trap Hemlock had used- I don’t know what I am anymore. “Miss Polly sees the good in everyone, even a wretch like me.” He smiled.

  “You ain’t no wretch Sir!” Laura put her hand on his arm and he was surprised to find it pleased him, having her so close.

  “Maybe not, but what I did was no divine act, souls are curious things; they know where they belong, it didn’t take much to reunite you and Charlie with yours. A little encouragement was all that was needed.”

  “Well, whatever it was you did, thank you.” She looked up at him, her long lashes sweeping her upper lids and his breath caught. He couldn’t fathom the meaning behind her gaze, all he knew was that at this very moment she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes upon. She was mesmerising.

  The doorbell rang startling him from his thoughts. Giles was kneeling on the floor chatting with Polly who was showing off her necklace. He began to rise when he heard the bell.

  “No, stay Giles, I’ll get it.” Midnight put down his sherry glass and strode out of the parlour and down the hallway to the front door, his stride full of merriment and Christmas cheer. He had always kept himself to himself, fear of what he was, of being discovered, had forced him to shun company but he found himself truly happy for the first time since... he couldn’t even remember.

  He reached the front door and opened it, a smile ready to greet whoever waited outside. There was no one, nothing on his doorstep but a package and an envelope. He stepped outside to look for the mystery gift-giver but saw nobody. Scooping it up from the step he made to return to the party, he flipped over the envelope which he saw was addressed to him. It was a Christmas card with a pretty bird on the front, it had blue and red feathers at its throat; a nightingale. Midnight stopped dead in his tracks, his heart beat furiously as he slowly opened the card. The inscription inside read; ‘Season’s Greetings’ but there was no name. He fumbled with the package, ripping the wrapping. In his haste to discover the contents, he was not careful and something tumbled out landing on the tiled floor with a loud rattle. Hemlock Nightingale’s battered goggles.

  The End

  Acknowledgements

  To Ewelina, once again your patience, hard work and friendship has seen me to the end of another book!

  To Lorna- druidy wingman extraordinaire! I literally couldn’t have done it without you. Many late nights laughing about, researching and discussing all things ‘Midnight’, your enthusiasm and encouragement have been invaluable.

  To Nigel, you are one talented guy. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your beautiful illustrations. I look forward to working with you in the future.

  To my beta and ARC readers, thank you for loving my story and characters as much as you do. Your enthusiasm, delight and eagle-eyes are greatly appreciated.

  To all the people who support me and read my books, laugh at my antics, console with me in sad times, answer my questions and help promote my work- thank you.

  To the readers, editors, formatters, designers, PAs, bloggers and critics- the Indie book community is nothing without you.

  To family and old friends. To new friends, absent friends, and friends we have yet to make.

  Media Links

  http://mybook.to/Immaginario

  IMMAGINARIO- the first in a series of books following Naomi's journey into a world where dreams and desires come true. Torn between reality and her fervent imagination, she struggles to maintain control of her own life and its destined path. Then she meets Joe, and everything she ever knew to be real is turned upside down.

  Have you ever fallen in love with a book boyfriend? Naomi Douglas did.

  From the moment Naomi met Joe, she claimed him as her own.

  Depressed and lonely, Naomi’s fascination with Joe quickly turns to obsession.

  When she begins to experience corner of the eye phenomena, those around her start to question her sanity.

  Needing desperately to escape the trappings of her soulless life, Naomi makes a decision that will thrust her into the realms of the supernatural.

  As her life spins out of control she begins to regret her decision.

  What she didn’t bank on was Joe.

  IMMAGINARIO is a modern tale of one woman’s struggle to take control of her own destiny. An emotionally intense story of obsession, desire, and determination, proving that anything is possible if you just believe.

  Just be careful what you wish for…

  www.clmonaghan.com

  https://www.facebook.com/Joesbookbar

  https://twitter.com/ClaireMonagha11

  https://www.amazon.com/author/clmonaghan

  Table of Contents

  A Midnight Gunn Novel

  Upcoming Releases

  Prologue

  London, November 20th, 1835

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twleve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  Media Links