This is going to be a bit of a long post. It will include the prologue and the first part of the first chapter. I was initially going to put up the whole first chapter, but it is a little too long, I think for a blog post. Also, here is the cover and title for the second book! Other than that, enjoy!
Gertrude never desired magic. Wanting a quiet life, she hid away in the woods trying to forget her past and her magic. All that changes one fateful night, when she awakes in front of a lone manor, unaware of the circumstances that drew her there. Cold and lost, she seeks help hoping to not be discovered as a magic user.
Damarcus Volkenheim despises people; but, after being alone for four thousand years, he finally reconnects with his family and isn't about to let anything tear them apart. Not even one who hates magic but happens to be his soul mate.
Now, Damarcus and Gertrude must work together to solve the puzzle of his vision before their lives are torn apart.
Prologue
It was all going up in flames. Gertrude was trapped. The smoke was building around her, choking her as she gasped for breath. The flames were close. She could feel the heat singeing the ends of her hair.
This can’t happen again! Not again. She thought collapsing to her knees.
Her eyes watered from the smoke clogged air mixing with her own desire to cry uncontrollably. Gertrude thought she’d finally gotten away from this. There had to be a way. A way to get away without using that magic. She hated using magic. She was gifted but she hated using it. It was her accursed gift that forced her to flee her family.
She took another look around through blurry vision. There was no other way. From the material she managed to read before fleeing her family, people do die in their dreams and that was not the way she wanted to go. As much as she hated to rely on her magic, it had saved her countless times. Her dreams were death traps! After another coughing fit, Gertrude prepared herself to speak the command. The scene changed.
She blinked a few times, eyes still stinging from the smoke. Feeling around with her hands, she felt cool grass, then, something wet. It was sticky, but warm. Gertrude brought her hand up eye-level. A mangled cry escaped her lips. Blood covered her hand.
Using her other hand, she wiped her eyes looking around. Bodies were laying everywhere. The flickering from the roaring fire around her and the full moon illuminated a massive graveyard. She choked on bile rising in her throat.
CRASH! BANG!
A scream tore from her throat. Something was coming.
She began to shake her head, body trembling.
No! No more. I can’t take it. She thought helplessly.
“inrita!” Gertrude cried.
Her magic kicked in and she sucked in a breath of moist, fresh forest air. She stood on the edge of a forest.
Odd. I must’ve slept walked again. She thought, stars beginning to pop into her vision.
Gertrude tried to keep herself awake, but the magic drained her faster than she’d ever felt it do before. Wherever she had walked herself to while sleeping had lot’s of powerful magic. The last thing she saw before blacking out was a tall iron gate in the flash of lightening that lit the sky. She collapsed onto the ground just as rain began to fall.
Chapter 1
Damarcus bolted up, breathing heavily. It was pitch black. The thunder rumbled outside. Flashes of lightening briefly shone through the half-closed curtains. Throwing off his covers, he swung his legs over the side of the bed dropping his head into his hands. This had been the one. That groundbreaking vision he needed to pay close attention to.
It just had to happen again. He thought bitterly. I thought I was finally rid of that annoying tick, but now it erased the whole damn thing!
Being a Seer was hard. When this happened, it only made it worse. All of humanity could be doomed now.
I need to calm down. Review what I do remember. Damarcus thought. My night orb is out which is strange. Thank the Gods for menial magic, right?
He snapped his fingers. Nothing happened. He tried again. Nothing. This was a basic fire magic yet he couldn’t produce a spark!
Damarcus sighed again. His visions had been hitting nightly for almost three months. Most of them went without discord, some had that black piece that randomly decided to occur or decided to black out the whole vision.
At least those hadn’t been the ground breaker! The rest were insignificant. At least to the world. He thought bitterly.
All visions took a toll on Damarcus, including a loss of vast amounts of sleep (he was basically an insomniac). He was constantly on edge and broke contact with everybody. Summed up in a word, livid.
Damarcus rubbed his hands over his face, again, feeling the short hairs of his two-day stubble. There was literally nothing he could do. He’d have to wait until morning. Since he kept his room so dark, even with the curtain half open, it would be a miracle if he found his way to where he’d stashed his candles and matches.
He laughed. Damarcus enjoyed the use of non-magical ways, such as candles, but had given in when the visions started picking up. That was three months ago. Now, he’d given in and started using other magical works his brothers utilized.
A knock at his door startled him. Sighing heavily, he told whoever it was to enter. Light erupted into the darkness of his room. Through its illumination, Damarcus saw it was his brother, Dante, holding a lit lantern.
“Hey.” Dante said.
“What?” Damarcus snapped. He was in a sour mood.
Dante let out a little sigh. “Look, I’m sure you noticed magic isn’t working, which is a problem. I’ve put everyone in my room. I always have a fire going so there is plenty of light. We could use your help sorting this.”
A growl of frustration answered Dante. Damarcus hopped off his bed, swiping his sweats off the floor. Standing up, he slipped into them. Walking over to Dante he paused waiting for him to move.
“No shirt?”
“Can we just go please? I’m already irritated enough. I don’t care about my appearance.” Damarcus snapped.
Dante held up a hand in surrender as he turned to walk toward his wing of the manor. Damarcus stepped out of his room, closing the door, before following.
Once in Dante’s room, Damarcus shielded his eyes. It was immensely bright. He rubbed his eyes again then, dragging his bare feet, plopped down into one of the burgundy chairs by the fire.
“Aren’t you in a chipper mood.” Said Dartanian who occupied the other chair, a small bundle cradled in his arms.
Damarcus shot him a glare but said nothing.
“Since we are all here, anyone have any ideas?” Damon asked, the voice of reason.
“Obviously not!” Damarcus snapped. “Lest we wouldn’t be here pondering over our inability to live without magic!”
Damon sighed shaking his head, as did Dartanian hoping his sleeping son wouldn’t wake.
“I know you get temperamental, but if you have nothing useful to say shut up.” Dante snapped back in a hushed tone. “We’re all wondering what’s going on. This has never happened before. I’ve never heard of it happening. It could pose a serious problem if issues arise, we’re needed, yet unable to take care of it.”
“Yes, aren’t we all the heroes.” Damarcus said ignoring Dante. “Look, I’ve no idea what the hell is going on. My vision was ruined! I’m positive it was a ground breaker, which means humanity could be doomed. So, forgive me for not be in a chipper mood.”
“Lower your voice!” Dartanian snapped before making soothing sounds at his son patting him gently on the back.
Damarcus rolled his eyes. His nephew was cute, but he made Dartanian a wuss. He snorted.
“What’s so funny?” Dartanian whispered.
Damarcus looked at him arching his eyebrows. “Just that, you’re supposed to be this tough elemental, yet you are a wuss when it comes to your baby, and you have two!”
Damarcus broke into snorting laughter, trying to hide it behind his hand. Dartanian rolled his eyes but said nothing. The brothers knew Damarcus was incorrigible when the visions became intense or went on for weeks. Presently, it’d been months. They had all agreed to stay together as a family. Not only did they have the room, but families that stuck together, especially magical ones, were stronger. It was also a huge comfort to Amelia, Dartanian, and their twin boys.
DONG!
The echoing of the doorbell sounded throughout the manor. After a few moments, it echoed again.
“Okay. I’ll get that.” Damon said picking up the lantern.
“Be careful.” Naomi said briefly touching his arm.
Damon nodded before walking out, closing the door softly behind him. Damarcus scratched his head, then leaned back against the soft lining of the chair. This was going to be a long night.
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