Welcome to Tuesday Tales, a weekly blog featuring diverse authors who post excerpts from their works in progress based on word and picture prompts. We’re a book hungry troop that enjoys reading as much as you do. This week our word prompt is twig. The excerpt is from a dark fantasy romance, #7 in the Wytchfae series. Make sure to check out the other Tuesday Tales excerpts.
She peered beneath Rhade’s arm just as a gray hued creature swiveled its head their way. It looked like a man from whom all liquid had been siphoned out. Tattered clothes hung off his shrunken body, and his eyes were empty sockets of coal dust. A rusty sword hung at his waist, a sad testament to some past glory. He held a limp woman by the arms but now tossed her to the ground and listed toward the open door.
In an alchemic moment, Rhade’s voice assumed the cold dark tone of a commander. “Stay inside.” His formidable frame made it look as though he could snap the hideous creature in pieces like a twig.
She knew better. The creatures had surprising powers.
Rhade stepped out, closing the door behind him.
Resa sped to the kitchen. Screams pierced the outside, and in her mind she envisioned beach goers scattering like ants. Good, they needed to get the hell away. A human would be no match for a revenant Grim. She gathered a small bundle of knives, thrusting a bulky handle into Georgio’s hand and clutching one in each of hers.
“What are you doing?” Georgio gazed down at the blade as if wondering what it was for. He grabbed her forearm. “Let the big man handle the zombie, little one. Neither of us is trained to fight.”
She huffed. “That’s a revenant out there, straight from the confines of the Underworld. We don’t know what magic brought it here. Rhade is strong, but his Ka has disappeared . We have to help him.”
Georgio gasped in horror. “He is living without etheric energy? I don’t understand. Who is this man Rhade?”
She rushed toward the door, hopping over a stool that had fallen. “You’re with me. I’ll explain later.”
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt twig. Enjoy your week! Return to Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance
Wow. Great description. I want to know who is Rhade and this creature! Great story
I’m glad you like the description, Cathy! Thank you for stopping by.
Wonderful scene. Love the way she takes charge.
Thanks for saying that about the way she takes charge, Susanne! She prides herself on that.
Lots of tension in this one, especially at the end. Great job of depicting her urgency, and–as always–vivid descriptions!
I’m pleased you pick up her urgency from the scene, Mae. Thank you!
Now, I, too, need to know who Rhade is and what the heck is etheric energy? Great snippet. Sucked me right in. Love the zombie description, too.
Good point, Jean! I’ll make sure that “life force” is mentioned somewhere close to this interaction. Thank you for your comments. I’m glad you liked the description of the zombies.
Your writing is always so descriptive!
Thank you, Trisha.
Wow! I love her – she’s amazing! Go save Rhade! Great job!
Thank you, Tricia!