by Ilana Waters
You could at least have tried to tell me! I thought, almost in a silent scream. But I couldn’t help agreeing with my parents a tiny bit. I had always been the skeptical sort. If someone had tried to convince me I was the goddess of the moon, I likely would have laughed at them, no matter how trustworthy or sincere they were. It was the reason Dym didn’t tell me; he said so himself. But there was more to the letter.
“You seem to have this difficulty in every lifetime, not understanding your heritage or your powers. Please believe us when we say we gave a great deal of thought to helping you come to terms with them. We hope you understand, and perhaps can even forgive us. And yes, we always come down to Earth as a family. Oddly enough, Helios and Aurora never seem to have any trouble accepting who they are.”
Nice to know I’m exasperatingly special. At least now, it made sense why Mother and Father had been worried about me. Though I didn’t know that sending me to Silver Hill was the best way to resolve my identity crisis.
“But don’t think just because you now know the truth that things will be easy. Quite the contrary. Your fortitude will be tested in ways you could never have imagined. You may find that, with the knowledge of your divine nature, living as a mortal is more challenging than ever.”
I groaned. Why didn’t they tell me that before I fell in love with a mer? Though I supposed it wouldn’t have changed anything.
“When you are ready, please send for your brother and sister. They will explain more about your mission, and how you three can work together. Your father and I will remain at home for now, so that you, Helios, and Aurora can reacquaint yourselves fully in your new incarnation.
“We are both so proud of you, Seluna. We cannot wait for you to show the world all you were meant to be.
“With everlasting love,
“Your parents, Theia and Hyperion”
I sat on the steps of Silver Hill for a very long time, staring into the sunset. There were so many conflicting thoughts and feelings running through me. Confusion. Anger. Love. More confusion. I couldn’t even begin to sort them out. I’d definitely have to give it some time.
There’s no need to send for Helios and Aurora immediately. My parents did say “when I was ready.” I’ll have to decide when that is. I was curious to find out if Aurora really married a cricket. If so, I could easily invite him as well. Silver Hill was certainly spacious enough to accommodate any number of guests. And of course, I thought with a little smile, you can’t beat the garden.
But what about the “others” Catron spoke of? The letter didn’t say anything about them. Does my family even know? Maybe they’re part of the challenges the letter mentioned. I’d have to ask about it at some point. But despite Dym’s concern for my safety, I was intrigued to meet these new villains. I wanted to know who they were, what they wanted with me. And whether or not I could kick their asses like I did Catron’s.
It would be interesting to explain this “Protector of Light” thing to Dym. I wasn’t even sure I understood it myself. What is his part in it? What is mine? I hoped the future would bring us both some answers.
I heaved a loud sigh and put the letter in my pocket. Then I stood up, retrieved the broom, and headed back into Silver Hill. At least repairing the place would take my mind off things for a while. Plus, I could get ready for these “others,” if and when they decided to show up.
As I moved the broom rhythmically over the stone floor, I thought about what Catron had said. How he would know the goddess because she would be power hungry. But he’d been wrong. I just wanted power over myself and what happened to me. I wasn’t different from most girls in that respect.
The broom hit something hard, but it didn’t sound like the glass or stone I’d been clearing away. I looked down to find myself staring at the wooden horse Laura’s brother had given her. She must have dropped it when the nurse wheeled her out of the asylum for the last time.
I picked up the toy and ran my thumb over it. I knew I wasn’t to blame for what took place here. That guilt lay with Catron and his band of evildoers. But I still felt a sense of responsibility to the other patients. What happened to those girls happened because of me. It was my duty to make it up to them, to bring peace to all our spirits. I vowed to make Silver Hill worthy of them, as it always should have been.
Although I hadn’t given Dym much detail regarding my plans, I’d decided to make the asylum a safe haven for those who’d been driven out by their families. A place where girls could use their talents, start a business, or refuse to marry. A place they could go even if they just saw things differently than those around them.
I would turn Silver Hill into a refuge, make it truly live up to the name “asylum.” I only hoped my so-called mission wouldn’t interfere. But surely it was possible to accomplish more than one thing in a lifetime. I tucked the wooden horse into my trouser pocket and gave it a few pats.
It was dawn when I finished sweeping and removing the majority of the rubble from the main entrance. I was exhausted; the time when my magic was strongest was at its end. But before I slept, I found a crowbar and began removing the bars from all the windows. I admired the dazzling colors of the sunrise as they shone through the glass.
Never before had the asylum seemed so alive. Never before had I known such light.
Epilogue
The vines were enjoying the peaceful weather, hanging lazily along the trees. No longer sinister and threatening, they wound their way freely down to the lake and dipped their toes in the water. No one tried to hinder them, or destroy their curious ways. And like Seluna until she returned to her heavenly realm, the vines were truly part of the garden now, and home. Home at last.
Casting Shadows
(Book II of Seluna)
Coming in 2016
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Once upon a time, a mer fell in love with the moon. But just because something is meant to be doesn’t mean it’s easy.
In a nineteenth-century otherworld called Hartlandia, Seluna has managed to defeat the evil director of an insane asylum called Silver Hill, transforming it into a safe haven. But even with her newfound knowledge and powers as the moon goddess, the shadow of death still looms large over the asylum. Someone is out to destroy it—or those within.
To find out who and why, Seluna must venture forth with her brother and sister on a dangerous journey. As the Protectors of Light, a triumvirate chosen by the gods, it’s up to them to keep humanity from darkness. But that means leaving behind Endymion, the mer boy destined to be her consort. Which, as it turns out, could have deadly and terrible consequences—not just for the two lovers, but for all of Hartlandia.
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Oh dear. I think I’ve gotten myself into a bit of a fix again.
It’s been a tough couple of months for Joshua, a mage. After battling vampires, despots, and demons, he heads to Chicago for some downtime, maybe even a little romance. Unfortunately, fate has other plans.
Joshua and his would-be lover are kidnapped by two vampires and threatened with death. The vampires agree to spare them, but only if Joshua helps find an ancient statue . . . by dawn. But he and his kidnappers aren’t alone in their search. Three other vampires want the statue as well, and not only do they kill those who get in their way, they enjoy the killing.
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A mage should be able to handle anything, but really, the circumstances are getting quite ridiculous.
Joshua’s witch mother has been missing and presume
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Unfortunately, Joshua and his father aren’t the only ones interested in the crystal. As their search leads them from New York to Las Vegas to Rome, they’re pursued by the Paranormal Investigation Agency, the High Council of Witches, and yet more vampires. In the process, they uncover a plot to wake the deadliest vampire who ever lived.
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Eighteen-year-old Sherry has just begun her newly independent life in Paris when she is kidnapped by a group of vampires. They hold her hostage in the House of Cadamon, their catacomb lair beneath the city, ruled with an iron fist by a leader known as “the Master.”
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Afterword
Thank you so much for reading my book! If you enjoyed it, I’d greatly appreciate a review. Although they only take a minute to do, reviews can mean the difference between a writer who keeps writing and one who doesn’t. Posting about it on social media or your blog would make my day as well!
Feel free to get in touch anytime. You can also sign up for my newsletter and be the first to hear about new releases and other cool stuff. While you’re at it, check out my other books (with excerpts) to see if anything strikes your fancy.
Also, when writing this book, I didn’t wish to give the wrong impression of mental health treatment. Presently, conditions like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and others are recognized as medical illnesses. The events in my story are pure invention and nothing more. Unlike the Victorian era in which Approaching Night takes place, we now have a wide range of therapies for mental illness. Most of these therapies are available on an outpatient basis. What’s more is that they’re usually directed by knowledgeable healthcare professionals—ones who give patients the respect and compassion they deserve.
There is no reason to feel ashamed of—or avoid treatment for—an entirely manageable disease. If you think you may have a mental illness, please seek help. Here’s a good resource to get you started: NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), 1-800-950-NAMI (6264). Call their toll-free number or visit their website for more information and support.
And may your forces of light kick the crap out of your forces of darkness.
About the Author
Ilana Waters writes mostly fantasy for adults, young adults, and middle graders. She once pet-sat an electric eel and crashed her car into a house, though not on the same day. Before she became a writer, she was reprimanded and/or fired for reading in every job she ever held.
She considers this her greatest accomplishment to date.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank the following people for helping with this book:
Marcia Trahan: copy editor and proofreader extraordinaire.
Deranged Doctor Design: cover designers made of sheer awesome.
Diba S., Tonja D., Jessa K., and Mackenzie W.: bodacious beta readers.
Everyone I might have forgotten to add. If I omitted them, there is no one but myself to blame.