Welcome to Tuesday Tales, a weekly blog featuring diverse authors posting excerpts from their works in progress based on word and picture prompts. I’m pleased you stopped by today. This week’s word prompt is door. My snippet is from #7 in the Wytchfae series. It is a paranormal fantasy romance featuring the rebellious half-sister of the three Greek Fates. Enjoy the other authors of Tuesday Tales.
Resa found her in a nearby graveyard. She had won the bet with Rhade on Lachen’s whereabouts. The tiniest gleam of satisfaction tingled in her stomach to have outguessed him. Still, it wasn’t enough to banish the lingering sense of dread she had experienced in finding Lachen gone. She leaned over and touched her palms to her knees, in an effort to slow her heartbeat and calm herself.
Looking up, she took in the scene. The pale silver moonlight cast dancing orbs on the misted headstones and mossy branches floating in the breeze. Lachen sat on a stone bench, head tilted, seemingly lost in thought. Only her pale face was illuminated, creating a perfect gothic portrait.
Without turning her head, Lachen called across the night air, “Come.”
Resa walked the distance between them and took a seat. “Why did you disappear like that? Rhade told you it was dangerous to go out alone.”
A listless smile tugged at Lachen’s lips. “My bodyguard is highly skilled and has the best of intentions, but he is no match for the Ker.”
Her voice rose. “No, not if you are going to wander alone in a graveyard in the freaking dead of night.”
Her sister met her eyes for the first time. There were no flashing garnets. “Do you think the Ker will fail to find me, if I’m what they’re after?”
Resa shook her hands in the air. “Why are they after you?”
“As you know at the beginning of the human world, my sisters and I born of Nyx were involved in the allotment of time. We computed the number of potential souls to arrive versus the lifespans needed to fulfill the destinies.” Long fingers raked ebony locks from her eyes. “It had never been done, not exactly like this.”
Incredulity filled Resa’s tone. “You were experimenting?”
“When we learned our reckoning was off by a fraction, we closed a certain portal to prevent further corruption of souls coming into or leaving this world. We used the singing glyphs now lost in time. We sealed it with primordial power.” A shuddering sigh escaped her lips. “One of the Ker was caught behind the door.”
“Caught in what? What is behind the door?”
“Nothing but desolation.”
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt door. Thanks for stopping by. Read the other winning excerpts at Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance
All rights reserved, copyright @ 2019 Flossie Benton Rogers
Ooh…fantastic imagery! I was creeped out and intrigued st the same time. And I need to know what’s going to happen with the Ker. Great job!
Heh heh, I’m glad you were creeped out and intrigued, Tricia.
What a scene you painted. Wonderful job.
I love painting– thanks, Susanne!
Wow! What a powerful last line! Can’t imagine something being caught behind that door. I shudder to think.
It does seem like a place to make us shudder. Thank you, Jean!
Ooh intriguing! I want to know more
Cathy, I hope we can figure this thing out. Thanks!
What a wonderful and descriptive scene. Excellent!
Thanks, Trisha. I’m glad you liked the scene.