A Chat with Karilyn Bentley Author of Devil Forget Me
Give a warm welcome to my sister author, Karilyn Bentley author of Devil Forget Me, Book Five of the Demon Huntress Series released today! Happy Book BIrthday! Not an April Fool’s joke. I can’t wait to get my hands on this one. I’ve read and loved all the previous books in the Demon Huntress Series!
Now, pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Karilyn and Devil Forget Me.
Hi Tena! Thank you for having me back on Author’s Secrets! It’s always fun to chat with you and your followers. Today I’m excited to talk about my newest release, Devil Forget Me, the 5th and final book in the Demon Huntress series. This time Gin Crawford must discover the identity of the demon haunting her esteemed employer, The Agency, before all hell breaks loose. Which is a little hard to do since the demon cast a forget-me spell. Although, if you’re the demon, that’s a pretty nifty trick to hide from those annoying humans. Pick up your copy and find out how Gin solves the mystery!
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: Star Wars
Favorite book: Harry Potter
Last book read: Dead as a Door Knocker by Diane Kelly
Favorite color: Green
Stilettos or flipflops: Stilettos
Coffee or tea: tea
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: ebook
Pencil or pen: pen
Favorite song: Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
Streak or not: NOT!
Favorite dessert: almost anything chocolate
Favorite junk food: Hot Tamales candy
Favorite thing to do to relax: read
Champagne or gin: champagne
Paranormal or Historical: paranormal
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Wonder Woman
Favorite TV show: God Friended Me
Hot or cold: Cold
POV: first
I’d die if I don’t have: my toothbrush
Review or Not: review
See I told you, impossible for an author to give one word answers. LOL But this is one way to see into the soul and inter-workings of an author.
Second Speed Round <Only two words allowed> I Love these!
1.What is your favorite book of all time? Harry Potter
- Where do you relax to read? On the couch
- What sound drives you right up a wall? Fingernails on a chalkboard
- What sound relaxes you? Buddhist chants
- Favorite drink? tea
- Walking in the sand, shoes or barefoot? barefoot
- Favorite pet: Dogs
- Snow? Love or hate? Love!
- Doing ________ is like nailing jello to the wall. Dusting (it always comes back)
- Rock and Roll, Country, Jazz or Classical? Rock
- What can’t you leave the house without? My phone
- Calender or not; Paper or electronic? Yes, both paper and electronic
- Favorite place to write: kitchen
- What is your decadent indulgent? Cornbread and maple syrup
- You’ve just won $1,000.00, you have only 24 hours to spend it, so what will you buy? Clothes, books, and one of those Shark mops (my floors are really dirty)!
- Plotter or panster? pantser
- Introvert or extrovert? introvert
- Flight or fight? flight
- Favorite Monster? Mike Wazowski
- Magic or Not? magic
Tell us a little about your new release Devil Forget Me.
What appears to be a simple crime, unmasks a chilling deception…
Gin Crawford, the world’s newest demon huntress, kills two minions who are breaking into a financial adviser’s office. But what she thinks of as another night in the life of a demon huntress leads to a cover-up of epic proportions. A demon haunts her employer, the Agency, and only she can stop it.
Aidan Smythe, her guardian mage and lover, along with her brother T, and the healer Eloise, join her search in discovering the demon’s identity. A search thwarted by a powerful spell.
Breaking the spell requires her to join forces with Zagan, the demon of deceit, the demon who marked her as his. But working together comes with a price. One Gin is not sure she can pay.
Excerpt: (Insert an except other that the official one – if possible – readers like something different.)
Local weather report for today: sunny with a chance of scattered minion parts.
I spin, my sword slicing off the minion’s arm. His eyes flare, round saucers in a shocked face. What did he expect? Me to roll over and stop fighting?
Fat chance, buster. Shouldn’t have hosted the demon’s essence.
Minions might be super-charged on a demon’s essence, but they still feel pain. And whacking off an arm causes pain.
While the minion grabs his bleeding stump and whimpers like a kicked dog, I pull back my sword for a fatal blow. One I should have administered instead of one-arming the minion.
A swing later and the whimpering stops, courtesy of the minion’s head rolling across the ground. Score!
“Good job.” Aidan Smythe, my guardian mage, mentor extraordinaire, and current lover, nods at the dead minion.
I draw in a deep breath, standing a little straighter. When I first became the world’s newest Justitian—or demon huntress as I like to call me and my twelve fellow sword-sisters—I sucked at killing demons. Now, I’m Gin Crawford, super-awesome demon huntress. A feat continuing to impress me.
If only my demon-killing employer was as impressed. Then again, in my book the Agency isn’t exactly known for its intelligence.
You can pickup or download your copy at: Amazon Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo:
About the author:
Currently working on a secret project, Karilyn Bentley blends magic, dark fantasy and romance mixed with a touch of funny that her readers expect and love. When she’s not busy writing, Karilyn enjoys reading and recently learned she loves sledding down hills into snowbanks. Stop by her website at www.karilynbentley.com and discover your next paranormal read!
Where to find Karilyn:
Website: www.karilynbentley.com
Newsletter: https://eepurl.com/ba_0Rf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarilynBentleyAuthor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/karilynbentley1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4051943.Karilyn_Bentley
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karilynbentley
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karilyn-bentley
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Demon Forget Me!
Views: 625
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Dark Fantasy, Demon Forget Me, Demon Huntress Series, Karilyn Bentley, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 16 comments.
Interview Nikki Lee Taylor Author of The Descendants
Give a warm welcome to Nikki Lee Taylor author of The Descendants – Rise of the Reaper Army.
What inspired the Heart Collector?
As a reader, I love urban fantasy. Vampires, werewolves, demons all living among us – it’s my favourite. So, when I set out to write my first novel, I knew it had to have paranormal elements to it.
I think the paranormal gives our imagination the opportunity to expand and open up, to see in our minds-eye the things we dream of but don’t necessarily believe in. I also knew I wanted my book to convey an important message, something I do believe in – which is ensuring the future of our planet and all the species of life it harbours.
So that’s how the theme and overall plot of The Descendants – Rise of the Reaper Army was created. Its genesis, so to speak.
By linking the Reaper Army to the rising rate of carbon dioxide in our planet’s atmosphere, and as a result making it a liveable environment for the demon army, my goal was to convey the inevitable global crisis we all face if we do not take drastic measures to protect our world.
Likewise, I wanted to include factual aspects like The Giaour, the first poem ever printed in the English language about a vampire and written by Lord Byron in 1813, and the battle between the Serbian and the Turkish armies as part of my main character Aurora’s back story.
I felt it was important to include factual elements so that you, as a reader, would really engage with the message that despite the story being fiction, how we got to this point is very, very real.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
I think all authors give a little of themselves to their character, they are born inside our minds after all. I’d like to think I try and live my life with the same strength and determination as my main character Aurora, but at times when I find myself at a loose end or not keeping up my end of the bargain in life, I think about what she might do and try to be more like her.
What do you do when you aren’t writing?
I love all forms of storytelling and when I’m not writing I watch a lot of movies and Netflix series. Aside from that I also love photography, live music and spending time with my two golden retrievers at the beach.
What advice would you give new writers?
Don’t give up. It’s tough out there and unless you are very lucky, or crazy talented, you are going to get rejections. It’s just a fact. Don’t take it personally and don’t think you’re a bad writer. Timing is everything and always consider going it alone as an indie author. There are so many opportunities now to get your work out there and just because you self-publish to start with, doesn’t mean a traditional publishing house will not represent you later in your career.
Tell us something most people don’t know about you
I actually started writing The Descendants as a Mills & Boon book after a friend of mine started publishing with them. But about half way through I decided I wanted the book to have multi-layers and include themes about climate change, conservation and other non-romantic elements. I thought that perhaps my overall vision for the book had grown so much that it would no longer fit into the traditional romantic format for M & B, so I decided to take a different path.
Aurora and the Council as possible, but his head was spinning. It was too much
information, too much deceit and too much betrayal. His body ached and his
brain hurt. Unable to continue, he found an old log and threw himself down with
his head in his hands. How could she have done this? How could she have been
the thread that caused his entire life to unravel?
kill him, Gabriel had given himself to her. He had followed her and believed in
her. How could she have betrayed him this way? Everything had changed.
Everything was different. He wished he had never met her. He wished it could
take it all back. He wished he could just go home, but it was a long trip and
storming off into the forest half-cocked was a recipe for disaster. He had
learned that lesson a long time ago. No, he needed to calm his mind. He needed
to find a way to look at things differently. He needed a way to breathe.
was she just a victim of the Council’s plan like he was? After all, she wasn’t
the one who approached him. He was the one who had gone to the farmhouse and
killed her brother. But he never would have been there if he hadn’t been
attacked in the first place.
this was their destiny, but what if she hadn’t been so obsessed with those
things? He wondered, could their destiny have been different? He dared to
imagine how it might have played out. What if he had never been changed and
instead, they met out walking in the forest? What if he could have been himself
with her? What if…?
voice. He hated her. Worse than that he loved her. He was completely screwed.
pressed into the earth like a question mark. How would she make it all the way
home without him? But how could he wait for her knowing this was her fault?
Damn it. He was in his own personal hell. He wandered at a snail’s pace and it
wasn’t long before he heard her calling his name.
was calling out. “I know about the Reapers.”
down he knew she would catch up and he hated himself for wanting her to.
not follow me!”
Gabriel…”
still be a part of his family’s lives. He would still be an Army Captain. Hell,
he would still be alive. Had it not been for her, he would never have fallen in
love.
listen.”
a damn thing.”
killed her brother and the guilt in turn was killing him.
but to stop.
can’t let these things destroy our world. You can’t just walk away!”
anyway Aurora, not like this. I’ve had enough.”
talk like that, do you hear me? Not ever Gabriel, you’re too important!”
do but anger was crippling him. It twisted inside, wrapping around his ribs and
squeezing accusations up into his throat. He wanted his life back. He also
wanted her.
with you I thought you understood?”
and it was a life that I loved. It was a life that I made, that I worked for.
Damn it, don’t you see? I had a family. I followed in my father’s footsteps and
my grandfather’s before him. Did I love fighting? No, but I was proud to serve
my country. I had respect and I had honour. Now I have nothing.”
step closer. “Nothing you could have done as an Army Captain would ever come
close to what we need to do now. Gabriel, everyone will die. Not a town, not a
city, not a country… Everyone, including your family.”
thousands of mothers and fathers. Every animal and plant will be decimated.
Rivers and oceans will dry up. Forests will disappear. If the Reapers are
allowed to rise and stay here, nothing will be left but a barren wasteland.
I’ve seen it. You want to know what happened here in the forest on the way to
the Council? That’s what I was shown. I saw the end. Is that really the legacy
you want to leave behind?”
knew of the Reapers were some paintings on a wall and a vision shown to him by
a vampire, probably the same one that ended his life. How could he trust that?
How could he just believe? His heart ached and sorrow descended like nightfall.
He shivered and wrapped his arms around himself, suddenly so cold that he
wondered if he was coming down with something. But strigoi couldn’t get sick,
could they?
doing this?”
He nodded and looked away, hating that she could read him so well.
the darkness that lives inside them. Try to imagine a world without sunshine,
without love, without hope. If they rise nothing will survive.”
soul.” She stepped away and opened her arms. “For everything that exists there
needs to be balance. That is the essence of the universe. Think about it. Black
and white, light and dark, hot and cold, male and female, even Heaven and Hell.
God created humans and Satan created demons. That is the balance, but their
darkness is beginning to seep into our world. That is what you’re feeling.”
wind blew in off the mountains and moisture hung heavy in the air. Despite his
dizziness he could smell the scent of rain coming in, fresh and clean.
them?”
“No, but he told me that you are the only one capable of destroying the army.”
and laughed out loud. “Well that will do me Aurora. You have got to be joking!
No one can defeat an army alone, demonic or any other kind. It just can’t be
done.”
“Not alone Gabriel, with me.”
yourself Aurora. I don’t know who your mother was, but you are no match for an
army of demons. Like I said, you couldn’t even take me down.”
carry the strongest bloodline of the entire strigoi race. You are the closest
thing on Earth to a demon. And besides, I wasn’t really trying to kill you,
obviously.”
Did Lucius tell you that?”
meant to hurt him, it had just come out somehow. “I’m sorry Gabriel. I didn’t
mean to – ”
When she didn’t reply, he stormed over and grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Answer me damn it! Am I a demon? Is that what he said?”
like that. Gabriel…”
determined to get as far away from her and everyone else as he could. As he
ran, he told himself that Aurora would be fine, that the forest would keep her
safe. That she didn’t need him. Undeterred by the storm, he pushed forward not
caring as wet tree branches slapped against his face and wind whipped through
his hair. If what Aurora said was true, then he had no reason to be careful. If
he was a demon, then he didn’t want to exist anyway.
most, frustration itched and bit at his skin. He loved her but he hated
himself. She wanted everything and he had nothing. How could he save anything
when he couldn’t even stand to be inside his own skin?
Aurora crying out for him. His heart leapt. He ached to turn back, but
quickly shook it off. He couldn’t go back, she was better off without him.
across the sky. Beneath his feet the ground shook and just for a moment he
hesitated. The lightning cast an eerie glow across the wet cliff face and
he peered through the darkness. Was he imagining it, or was somebody there? He
drew in closer and saw camping gear littered across the rock face. A backpack
and a sleeping bag, a broken tent, its framework poking out through the canvas
like pieces of broken bone.
and looked over.
both terrified.
across her face and tears had made her eyes as red as Aurora’s. The man was
trying to hold it together but one look at his face told Gabriel just how
scared he really was.
so he closed his eyes and said a prayer that he could disappear before they
asked any questions. “Just hold tight. I’ll help you.”
pull them up. All around him the wind howled, an ominous sound that chilled him
to the bone.
his arms in frustration. There was nothing he could use that would bear the
weight of an adult man and out of options, he threw his head back and cursed at
the sky. He was damned. No matter what he tried nothing worked. Everything was
falling apart. And then she appeared, wet and weather beaten and yet somehow
still beautiful.
longer caring about their fight. “We need something to pull them up.”
campers, he thought. His life might be over but perhaps theirs didn’t have to
be.
haul the people up from the ledge. Finding one, she walked over and closed her
eyes. She whispered to the tree and it responded, quickly offering up metres of
vine.
both to be out here Aurora.”
need me again.”
ledge needed him more than she did. Turning away from her, he ducked his head
over the ledge and peered down at them. “When I pass this vine down, I want you
to take hold of it. But only one of you at a time, okay?”
“Take my wife first,” the man shouted. “I need to make sure my wife is safe.”
someone so much that you would immediately put their life ahead of your own? It
was an emotion he would probably never feel and yet he ached to love another
with such devotion. He thought he had fallen in love with Aurora, but at the
first sign of trouble he had abandoned her. He wondered if that meant he wasn’t
capable of loving another, if perhaps the world really would be better off
without him.
forehead and wrapped her hands around it tightly. “Don’t you let go Laura.
Promise me you won’t let go no matter what.”
Gabriel towing her to safety was easy, but when she reached the top, he noticed
the palms of her hands were bleeding. Before he could move away, she threw her
arms around his neck and pulled him close. “You saved my life. How can I ever
thank you?”
need you to stay over there,” he ordered the woman. “As far back as you can get
so I have room to pull up your husband. In fact, see that tree over there? I
need you to go and stand by it and do not come over here again. Not under any
circumstances. Do you understand me?”
wind and the scent of her blood would be carried away by the storm. When
she moved away, he sighed with relief. Aurora had taught him well.
hold of the vine and do not let go. That ledge will not bare the weight of your
body falling onto it from a height. Do you understand me?”
weight on the end, Gabriel began to pull. He was a lot heavier than his wife
but within minutes Gabriel managed to lever him up and over the edge. When it
was safe to let go the man immediately ran into the arms of his waiting wife.
team.”
I don’t want you in my life. Nothing is going to change that.”
drops were tears.
was changed because of your fixation with these Reapers or whatever the hell
they are. I’m not – ”
struck a tree just metres away.
going to try and find higher ground. Come with us, please.”
cut through the dark. It struck the earth between their feet sending sparks
flying high enough to sting their legs. Before they had time to react, the
ground moaned like a waking giant.
slipped in the loose rubble.
toward me, you can still make it!”
side. He made it across the growing divide but landed hard, his fingers clawing
in the loose rock on the other side. His eyes met Aurora’s and for a moment
they simply stared at each other. Her lips whispered his name and then he fell.
he landed with a heavy thud on the rock ledge below. Unable to take the weight
of his fall, it quickly gave way and he fell further and further until the
sound of Aurora’s screams were swallowed up by the wind. His body smashed
against rock and earth. Protruding branches cut his face and then his body hit
the ground and everything went black.
their words were muffled by the storm. She stared down into the darkness
calling Gabriel’s name over and over until eventually the man edged closer and
took her arm.
down there. The fall was too great.”
trying.”
understand. We have to try.”
saved your life. Are you really going to turn your back on him?”
with the woman I love. He’s gone. Now please, come with us.”
hurt. “I can’t. He needs me.”
help.” The man turned and ran up the hill to where his wife was waiting. “We’ll
send help,” he shouted back. “You have my word.”
at the sky. “Gabriel will fulfil his legacy. He will sacrifice himself to give
the people a second chance. It has already begun.”
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with The Descendants!
Views: 533
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Nikki Lee Taylor, Paranormal Romance, The Descendants, Urban Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
Release Day Blitz Unhuman Light by Chris Stoneheart
Welcome Chris Stoneheart author of Unhuman Light for a release day blitz!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Chris and Unhuman Light! Pssst…. Make sure you read all the way to the end and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.
What inspired this particular story?
So many things came together to create this universe. Shared mythologies in cultures across the world has to mean there’s something to the myths – right? So, my muse tried to figure out how those not-so-mythological beings might have adapted to live in our modern world, where a huge percentage of humans have a camera phone ready to document anything unnatural. Not that I believe werewolves and vampires are real, but if they were, pretending to be human would be more important than ever in our modern world. Vampires, werewolves, and the members of the various pantheons — what might their lives look like today?
And what about dragons? How were they never real? And what if there were shapeshifter dragons who survived after all of the real ones were killed? How would they survive when their species doesn’t exist anymore?
What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
I want them to question their reality a little, to think a little deeper about society and its rules — and why we have them.
Is it possible to pull from the theories of Einstein and Joseph Campbell in a single book/series, without making it so heavy it’s no longer entertainment? My readers will have to be the judge of whether I pulled it off.
Mostly, I want to entertain them. I want them to come away from my novels thinking about the characters and plot, and what might happen in future books.
Why do you write what you write? Ie. Contemporary, paranormal, suspense, etc.
It’s all Tolkien’s fault. He’s the one who made me question whether the trees are sentient, and if so, whether some might be jealous of the mobile life forms. Also, elves and dwarves and giant spiders, not to mention wizards who can work magic. We got to know Gandalf the grandfatherly-type before we saw the scary side of him, and that made an impact on me in elementary school, when I first read The Hobbitt. Then, when I read The Lord of the Rings in middle school, I was officially a fan of fantasy. I’ve had this series and these characters in my head for decades, and I’m thrilled I can finally share them.
Thanks so much for having me on the blog today! If readers want to find Unhuman Light, they can go to: https://books2read.com/unhumanlight
Views: 294
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Chris Stoneheart, Chronicles of the Light, Unhuman Light, Urban Fantasy by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Interview Jim Stein Author of Strange Omens
Give a warm welcome to Jim Stein author of Strange Omens.
1. What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?
Sprints and dog walks. Aside from simple procrastination, writer’s block tends to hit me in two forms, not knowing how to write and not knowing what to write. Sprints work wonders when I fundamentally know where the story needs to go, but can’t quite commit to putting something on “paper.” It’s a strange feeling to stare at that blank screen, have a vision, but find that no opening phrase or scene feels right. When I don’t know how to jump into the writing, I set a stopwatch for 15-30 minutes and force myself to commit. The pressure of time disables my inner critic and lets the words flow without censure. A successful 15-20 minute sprint hits 300 words, but can yield up to six or seven hundred if I’m really in the flow for a half hour.
My other form of block comes when I’ve lost the thread of the story, drifted too far from my planned outline, or simply run into an interesting dead end. When I or my characters have these issues, I’d rather regroup than write through a complex problem off the top of my head. So when I don’t know what to write, I put my legs in gear, grab my voice recorder, and head to the trail with Marley our great dane. Dictating ideas and possibilities helps me work out the path forward and generally brings surprising clarity. I do a lot of verbal brainstorming, then circle back to flush out the promising ideas. I’m honestly surprised every time at how productive and energized that hour makes me when I get back to the keys. I’ve come up with everything from the rules of my magic system to scene outlines while walking the old railroad trail and talking it out. Marley’s a great listener, though I do ask her entirely too many questions when she’d rather just enjoy the cows or interesting smells along the river.
2. Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why?
Oddly enough, Pina, a three-foot tall forest sprite has been the most fun. I think it’s because she’s such a departure from my own persona that I get to sort of let loose. Pina’s a fun-loving little creature who everyone adores. She has a kind of wide-eyed innocence despite being powerful and centuries old. She’s not a slave to fashion or human concepts, but does love exploring and learning. I just wrote a 12k word short called “Pina’s Holiday Adventure” as a bit of a reader gift. I find I just like writing about her, especially when she’s playing with Max, the half-mastiff, half-rhinoceros mutt that Ed rescues in book 1. Max of course was inspired by Marley my muse. It’s hard to have a bad day when you’re in Pina’s head.
3. How long have you been writing?
I started writing full-time in 2015 after retiring from the Navy. I’ve always been fascinated with Science Fiction and Fantasy novels, read voraciously, and tried my hand at a few high-school and college classes that taught fiction and poetry. I also drafted my first novel and wrote a dozen short stories between 2003 and 2014. The shorts are very Twilight Zone-ish and the novel is a fantasy/Scifi cross-over that I’ve revised a dozen times. I’m not certain it will ever see the light of day, but it proved I could string 100k words together and work with an outline. Since 2015, I’ve completed the first two books in my legends Walk series, am about five months from publishing the final book, and have drafted a light Science Fiction novel, which will be next in the hopper to revise and edit after Strange Medicine (Legends Walk book 3) goes out.
4. Do you see yourself in your characters?
I do, which can be a challenge. As a new author, cultivating a unique voice while getting each of your characters to have their own voice is a bit of a conundrum. I consider myself fairly level-headed. Decades of running professional projects taught me the value of striving to see things from different viewpoints and taking everyone’s recommendations into consideration. I often find myself shying away from having characters take what might be considered stupid (or at least uninformed) actions because it isn’t something I’d do. If that tendency gets out of control, the story can quickly turn vanilla, with all characters acting the same and “being reasonable,” which leads to dullness. I’m not a fan of conflict for conflict’s sake, stereo-types, or tropes, but sometimes have to segment my characters’ view-points so they don’t all turn into animal-loving, video-game-playing, open-minded people who have a deep interest in geeky science and engineering.
A sneak peek between the pages of Strange Omens!
“What now, Ed?” Trinity asked from my left.
We crouched behind a rotting car covered in vines and watched the Grims. Bald Jim looked to be in charge. Shawn sat on the ground at Dan’s feet, head hung low. The bruise around his eye and dried blood on his lip testified to the fact he had gone down fighting. Dan probably wore the Hawaiian shirt and posed as a victim.
Trinity had enough sense to tail them without trying a rescue. We caught up to her just before the Grims stopped at a massive bronze doorway totally at odds with the architecture of the ruined city. The thing was better suited for a medieval castle, though I had to admit it was effective. Jim and Dan argued over how best to get inside.
“Five of them and four of us,” I said.
“They’re bruisers,” Quinn whispered. “No offense, but we couldn’t take any of them, except maybe scraggly Dan.”
“Where’s it lead?” Trinity asked.
Good question. The out of place obstruction melded into the stone archway across a low entrance to what might be a basement level. The arguing continued as Jim tried an incantation. The door rebuffed his attempt. Oily bits of the magic passphrase dripped to the ground. Though a simple spell, the darkness of it differed from the elements Quinn and I used.
“You’re doing it wrong,” Dan complained to the men gathered at the door.
“He’s such a little shit.” Trinity’s lip curled.
“For once that’s working in our favor,” Quinn said.
Dan stalked over to the others, grabbed something small and metallic out of Jim’s hands, and examined the door. Magic formed around another incantation. Shawn sat unguarded at the entrance to the alcove. We scurried out from behind the car, circled the intersection, and crept along crumbling brickwork. The line of the alley kept us out of sight until I peeked around the corner. The Grims argued on, ignoring their dejected captive. Shawn stared at the pavement.
“Shawn.” No response. “Shawn! Time to go.”
Bleary eyes ringed with bruises met mine. He must have taken a good shot to the nose for double shiners to be rising so quickly. Recognition slowly dawned, followed by half a smile that dropped away. Shawn held up his hands. I’d missed the thin cord that bound wrists to ankles. It was silvery gray, looking more like yarn than rope.
“For crying out…” Quinn whipped out a knife and crept forward.
The moment her blade touched the cord, there was a flash. Quinn yelped and dropped her knife.
“Hey!” Dan looked up from the brass key in his hand.
“Just grab him!” I shouted.
Quinn hauled Shawn up by his armpits and pushed him forward. The cord forced him into an awkward half-crouch. I grabbed his arm to haul him down the street, but he stopped short and fell to the ground. Quinn and I pulled but couldn’t budge him. No one weighed that much. The cord flashed and flared, its strange power anchoring Shawn to the spot. More than that, a tether of power slowly dragged him back toward the doorway as the Grims advanced.
“Leave him. In fact, leave the girl. Two for the price of one!” Dan grinned his stupid parody of a Bright’s smile.
Each man carried a small club, undoubtedly weighted for maximum punch. Quinn worked at the bindings. Her strange watery power flowed along the cord looking for a way to loosen the knots. The Grims strode forward, in no hurry and—I like to think—wary. I could have taken Dan and the freak sporting a Mohawk. But I’d spent all year practicing my spells for a reason.
I reached for Earth to throw up a barrier and buy us time. Just as I was about to cast, flames leapt up between us and the men, effectively sealing them in the alcove. Trinity stood rigid, locked in concentration as she poured on more Fire and drove them back amid squawks of protest.
“Let me try.” I hunkered down to examine the cord.
Earth was ready at my fingertips, but when I tried to manipulate Shawn’s binding—as I would stone or metals—there was no purchase. The men tried end runs around Trinity’s flames, holding the woman’s concentration and forcing her to expend too much power. Another minute and we’d have to carry her out. Quinn saw it too.
“Help her!”
I dredged up a bit of old-school metal, Metallica’s “Seek and Destroy,” forging Fire to bolster Trinity’s spell. I split off a portion to attack the ropes. Fire was an enigma, representing the most restorative and destructive of the elements. I honed the lyrics down to a laser focus, emphasis on the destroy part of the tune to cut and burn. The cord swelled, resisting the heat, but frayed edges soon curled away from the core.
Shawn’s invisible bond contracted, yanking him toward the wall of fire. Quinn grabbed him around the waist but was dragged along. Even if Trinity and I cancelled our spells, they would be pulled across searing concrete into the midst of the waiting Grims.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Jim Stein, Legends Walk - Book Two, Strange Omens, Urban Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
