"No. I know you're powerful, but I also know my twin. You're not a match for him... yet."
"Is this wise?" Saira asked.
"Wise, Traveler?" Dis thought about it for a few moments. "Perhaps not, but wisdom and truth can follow different paths. You, better than anyone, know this."
"I know that you're playing a dangerous game. One that may have bigger consequences than even you can imagine."
The Underlord shrugged. "You know me. I never plan for the future, only for the moment. It's today that matters, and today isn't the right time for the Child to test her powers."
"You talk about me as if I didn't exist," Caelene said. "I will not be treated like a child by you either."
"Then don't act like one," Dis said sternly. "I'm your father, but more important, I'm your master. You will do as I say, or I'll send you back to the Netherworld. Do you understand, Caelene?"
The use of her real name by Dis surprised her and reinforced the seriousness of his words. But more convincing than the words was the look in his chocolate brown eyes. The fires of hell burned brightly, making it difficult for even her to meet and challenge his gaze. Before her stood the real Underlord: high demon of the Underworld, lord and master of his domain. Only once before had she aroused his wrath, and she had paid dearly for it. Now wasn't the time to challenge him. She bowed her head. "As you command... sire."
The words left a bitter taste in her mouth, something of which Dis was well aware.
"Good." He nodded his approval. "You know your place. There's hope for you yet."
Turning his back toward the Child, he winked at Saira and then once again assumed the serious, stoic face of supreme ruler.
"Now, I have more important matters to attend to. If you two will excuse me, my guests are waiting." He strolled to the door and looked once more toward Caelene. "You may be of my blood, but don't make the mistake of thinking it gives you any advantages. I'm aware of your powers, Child, just as you are aware of mine. Disobey me on this matter, and I'll destroy you. Even my fondness for your mother won't stop me. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly." Caelene's eyes flashed rebelliously.
The Underlord stepped through the door and left.
"Arrogant bastard," Caelene said.
The booming laughter from beyond the room made it clear he had heard her.
Saira watched in amusement while the demoness angrily paced back and forth. As a child, Caelene had experienced the unforgiving wrath of the Underlord. As an adult, he had made sure she remembered the lesson.
"This isn't over," she said.
"I don't imagine it is."
Glancing at Saira, Caelene frowned. "Have you ever met the Twin?"
"No. His is a path I've been unable to follow."
"And yet you found Father."
"The Underlord has never been reclusive. He enjoys life too much. Many threads lead to him."
"Surely his threads must connect to his brother."
"They do, up to a point, but they stop at the gateway to the Overworld."
"How can that be? Time has no barriers. There's no physicality to it. Besides, Father doesn't have any problems crossing the gateway."
"I suspect it has to do with having the same blood. Whatever the reason, it has nothing to do with the threads."
"Well, there has to be another way through the gateway, and I'll find it."
"I believe you," Saira said, and she did. She also knew she would be there when the Child broke that barrier. Interesting times were ahead. "When that moment comes, I'll be watching."
"I'm beginning to understand Father's frustrations," Caelene said. "Having you drop in uninvit —"
Before she could finish her sentence, Saira was gone.
"Hell! I'm beginning to appreciate humans more and more. At least they have an excuse for their rudeness."
Caelene walked to a small red cabinet near the fireplace, opened its door, and peered inside. Several shelves held shiny red cans covered with a thin layer of frost. She grabbed one, closed the door, and sat down in her favorite chair. After popping the top, she took a few sips and leaned back, staring at the Coke label.
"Like father like daughter," she said and then giggled. Contrary to how it seemed, the Child looked forward to an interesting and exciting future.
* * *
Saira touched the familiar thread and smiled, knowing a new story definitely was brewing. It was only a matter of time before she returned to see how it ended. Until then, the present awaited her return, for already the past called to her with a compelling tug.
The End
About The Author
FRAN HECKROTTE lives in sunny South Carolina with her husband. Some of her interests include motorcycling, boogie boarding, scuba diving, gardening, and water gardening. She spent three years in Alaska enjoying hiking, camping, gold panning and working part time at a local ranch. After moving to the South to become a policewoman for five years, she left law enforcement to become a carpenter. Now she owns a property management company. As time permits, she likes to travel to Montreal, Canada, and South Beach, Miami with her gal pals to enjoy the nightlife.
Other Titles by This Author
The Illusionist (First in the Illusionist Series)
Summary
DAKOTA DEVEREAUX, an investigative journalist, is on a mission to uncover the secrets of Yemaya, the Illusionist. However, in her quest for an expose on this mysterious woman, she uncovers more than she bargained for. Dakota is targeted by a power hungry CEO, determined to learn the Illusionist's secret at all costs and a madman intent on fulfilling his perverted fantasies.
From Moldova, land of the legendary werewolf, to Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains, two souls must battle the dark forces of evil for their lives and their love.
* * *
Bloodlust (Second in the Illusionist Series)
Summary
YEMAYA AND DAKOTA have just returned to the Illusionist's homeland for a well-earned vacation when they are informed that several villagers had been savagely attacked and killed by something or someone. At the same time, a young Carpi woman is found lying unconscious near the outskirts of Teraclia. Comatose, she is unable to tell anyone what has happened and science can provide no answers. Two small wounds on her throat raise the old specter of the vampire, a legend the locals of the Transylvanian community are very familiar with and still believe in to this day.
The Illusionist and her partner search for the truth behind these attacks. Will they fall prey to this murderous bloodlust that surrounds them, or will they succeed in stopping this heinous reign of terror?
* * *
Lilith (Third in the Illusionist Series)
Summary
YEMAYA, the Illusionist, and her journalist partner, Dakota, find themselves embroiled in a search for the person responsible for the rape and torture of a young Carpi woman attending a university in the States. When they decide to visit a local nightclub for “women only”, they find the owner and her employees unusual. Dakota feels mysteriously attracted to one of the clientele while Yemaya recognizes a kindred spirit in Lilith, the club's owner. Spiritual ancestors, missing whores, a sadistic exporter and new acquaintances lead the two lovers into an adventure of biblical proportion.
Lilith! She was a demoness, as old as humanity itself. Now, the owner of a 'women's only' nightclub and part owner of the Sisterhood, a small group of whores who have banned together to create a better life for themselves, it was her job to protect the women who were putting so much trust in her. When a local pimp decides to eliminate his competition Lilith and her two demon partners want revenge and no one knows better how to exact it than demons. This is a revelation of the past, the present and the events that forever changed the course of human history.
* * *
Les Gris (Fourth in the Illusionist Series)
Summary
THEY WERE Les Gris, the Shadow People, and they are as much a part of us as we are them. As children, we talke
d to them, played with them and disclosed our innermost fears, secrets and dreams; and they patiently listened, comforted and encouraged us. In time, though, most humans outgrew their imaginary friends and eventually forgot them. For those few who didn't, humanity's very existence would be determined by the strength of the bond between a small group of women and their life partners, the Les Gris.
* * *
Warrior Demoness (Sixth in the Illusionist Series)
Summary
SHE WAS SABNOCK, a demon, who, like the Phoenix, lived and died many times because she chose to live amongst mortals rather than spend eternity babysitting the legions of the Underlord. There were no longer battles to be fought in the Underworld so the ex-commander left her realm to live with the humans as human. Falling in love, she now had to choose between her vow to live and die as a mortal or love and live as a demon, not knowing if her lover could accept the truth. The wrong decision would condemn her to a life of loneliness — and for a demon life was eternity.
* * *
Solaria (Futuristic Science Fiction)
Summary
THE FIRST awareness of existence was a chaotic flash of colors, meaningless and yet in an odd way logical; why, she wasn't sure. Birth is the most significant event in life, and yet it is never memorable; at least not for the newborn; but then she really wasn't a newborn, even though it was the first day of her life. She was 1A526, the first of her kind, an artificially intelligent blend of technology and bio-mechanics. Created to serve humans, Solaria and her AI programmer, Carley, soon discover the company funding the Hubot Project had more sinister motives. If Solaria were to fulfill the hopes of the woman who had given her existence meaning, she would have to become the human her programmer had dreamed of and take down Future Dynamicon, the company that created her.
Back Cover Summary
Saira
Book V of The Illusionist Series
SAIRA WAS was a Traveler. Even her name meant "traveler." Her entire existence was dedicated to making the journey to seek answers to the questions that plagued her. Sometimes she felt as though she were a pawn in a game she didn't understand but knew her destiny was hers to decide. She chose to let the uncertainty of time make the decisions for her.
Unfortunately, her curiosity not only gets her into trouble but creates a series of events that affects not only the mortal world but the spirit world too. Yemaya, Dakota, Mari, and Maopa will find their lives turned topsy-turvy, and Saira will learn an emotion she had never experienced before... fear.
* * *
Thank You for Purchasing and Reading Saira.
L-Book ePublisher, LLC
http://L-Book.com
Table of Contents
Saira
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
About The Author
Other Titles by This Author
Back Cover Summary
Table of Contents
Saira
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
About The Author
Other Titles by This Author
Back Cover Summary
Saira - TI5 Page 18