TUESDAY TALES – Each week a group of authors bands together to share snippets of our works in progress. Visit the other fabulous authors here.
My snippet comes from Kestrel, a WIP I’m revisiting from 2011 NaNoWriMo. This week’s word prompt is SUMMER.
Kestrel steeled herself as the guard ushered in the next prisoner, a narrow faced man of about thirty. Gray streaks peppered his dark hair, and the sallow cast of his skin told her he didn’t get three squares a day. Well, who did since the Change? She studied his clothing. Hell, how’d this sow’s ear make a silk purse? In contrast to his gaunt appearance, his suit was well pressed and of high quality. Only a reddish brown dab on his collar marred the effect. Blood?
Kestrel blinked as a rosy cheeked, dimpled little girl skipped in, holding the hand of a female nurse. The child’s golden curls bounced, and her eyes were the calm pristine blue of a summer sky. She looked like an angel or a cherub.
With a hand clamped on the man’s shoulder, the guard planted him in front of Kestrel. “Seeress, witnesses place this man and his daughter at the site of yesterday’s slaughter.” He waved his hand, and the nurse brought the child to stand beside her father.
Kestrel pressed her fingernails into her palms and set her gaze straight upon the man. “Prisoner, did you murder those people?”
In slow motion, he shook his head.
Kestrel stilled her mind, unfocused her eyes, and prepared to seek the truth of him. She sent out a questing ribbon of golden light. It darted outward, slowed, and then twirled around his neck like a lasso. A transparent visage formed to overlay his face. The features morphed, became sharp and fierce. The teeth elongated, and blood seeped from the corner of his lips. The metallic scent of it almost gagged her.
Just as the word vampire tickled the tip of Kestrel’s tongue, a hard body slammed into hers, overturning the chair and knocking her to the floor. The harsh movement whacked the breath from her. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to clear her altered vision and discern what was happening. A snarling breath vibrated against her cheek.
She opened her eyes, expecting to see the gaunt man on top of her.
Instead, her heart froze at the savage face of the little girl.
Visit the other fabulous authors here.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Holy Hannah! That is not how I thought that scene would end! Well done, Flossie.
Excellent. I enjoyed this a lot.
Shocker! I had a feeling the girl was far too innocent for her own good…but the attack shocked me! Great excerpt!
It shocked me too, Sarah. I didn’t know about her until the scene started.
The previous tale was nice and creepy and this one follows up nicely. I didn’t excpect the girl to be a monster. You got me there.
Thank you, Stefan.