——
That night, Mona dreamed ... Henry Burr hid in the shadows, as she stood trapped. Once McIntyre was dead, he’d watched Mona run to house. He’d crept behind her, careful not to be seen, peered inside the window, and saw them— saw Junebug holding the child’s hand.
Isis is safe!
A voice screamed inside his mind, Kill them! Kill them all!
No!
You dare to defy us? You will spend your last days as a beast!
He raced, with preternatural speed, back to his own house, the hectoring voice still shouting in his head. He took a musket from his study. Only after he’d stepped through the doorway into Topaz did the voice fall silent.
It spoke only once more, Kill the Others. Then you’ll be free.
He crept to Karla’s brownstone holding the weapon. Waiting for her. After twenty minutes, the tall dark woman opened the door of her building and walked down the steps. Dropping the musket, Henry rushed from the shadows—startling Karla. She growled, baring her fangs, her own transformation into wolf begun.
Henry fell on his knees before her, tears streaming down his cheeks. “Help me! Please help me!”
A figure appeared behind the prostrate Henry, and Karla’s eyes widened … a tall dark man wearing a tuxedo jacket and top hat with a golden band. A man with a young face, and timeless coal-black eyes. In his right hand he held a smoldering cigar.
Papa Twilight spoke, his voice a rich baritone, “Bonsaw cherie; don’t be afraid.” His full lips curled in a tiny smile, and Karla felt her body warm as if he’d touched her. “He wants saving, n-est ce pas? I can help with that.”
To be continued ...
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Haitian Creole Translations
Cherie Sweetheart, love
Bonswa Good afternoon; Good evening
Dakò Okay
Di ou mèsi ti bebe Thank you baby
Eskize m Excuse me
Fout monchè! Damn it! Crap!
Goumen Fight, dispute
Ki bagay si What the fuck
Legim Beef or crab stew that usually includes eggplant, cabbage, spinach, and watercress, but can include many more vegetables
Manman Mama
Mayi Moulen ak Sòs Pwa, Poul an Sòs Cornmeal with beans and stewed chicken
Mèsi Thank you
Merci bebe Thank you baby
Modi! Damn!
Mwen fin mennen batay ou pa ka imajine I have fought battles you cannot imagine
Mwen renmen w I love you
Mezanmi Wow
N’est-ce pas Is it not so?
Orage Storm
Ou kòrèk You are correct
Poul Ak Nwa a dish is made with chicken and cashews
Sa ki lanfè a? What the hell?
Sa w genyen? What’s wrong?
Se pa pal Unquestionably, for sure
Son bon Sounds good
Wi Yes
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Swahili Translations
Kuja kwangu mpendwa wangu kwa maana ni kisasi mimi
kutafuta. Come to me my beloved, for it is vengeance I seek
Mimi kuja kutoka kupendwa; huwezi kunidhuru. I come from love; you cannot harm me.
Kisasi ni yetu watu wangu. Vengence is mine, my people
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French Translations
Ma voix est puissante My voice is powerful
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Author’s Biography
Valjeanne Jeffers is a speculative fiction author, screenwriter, a Spelman College graduate, a member of the Carolina African American Writers’ Collective (CAAWC) and the Horror Writers Association (HWA). She is the author of ten books, including her Immortal series and her most recent Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective series. She also co-edited the erotic speculative fiction anthologies, Scierogenous: An Anthology of Erotic Science Fiction and Fantasy Volumes I and II (with Quinton Veal), and she was chosen as a Seer (2016) by the Horror Writers Association (HWA). Her writing has been published in numerous anthologies including: The City: A Cyberfunk Anthology; Steamfunk!; Genesis Science Fiction Magazine; The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South (as Valjeanne Jeffers-Thompson); Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology; Liberated Muse I: How I Freed My Soul; PurpleMag; Drumvoices Revue; Griots II: Sisters of the Spear; Possibilities; Say it Loud, and Black Gold.
Most recently she was published in: Luminescent Threads: Connections to Octavia E. Butler (winner of the Locus Award, nominated for the Hugo award); Fitting In; Sycorax’s Daughters (nominated for the Bram Stoker Award); 100 Black Women in Horror; Black Magic Women; The Bright Empire; Black Celebration, All The Songs We Sing; Blerdrotica Volume I, and Slay. Valjeanne is also one of the executive producers of the film The Switch II: Clockwork (in production). Preview or purchase her work at: www.vjeffersandqveal.com
https://tehotep.wixsite.com/scierogenous
https://tehotep.wixsite.com/immortaliiiaudiobook
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Acknowledgements
All praises to God: He who loves and blesses me each day. I wish to thank my CAAWC family, especially Lenard D. Moore and Teresa Church for their wonderful, constructive criticism and continued support which has helped me to evolve as a writer.
I must acknowledge my beautiful children, Toussaint, Gabrielle, Mikail and little Valjeanne: they are my best friends and most loyal fans. A special thank you also, to my fabulous cover artist, Quinton Veal. Moreover, I’m very grateful for the support and love of my other extended science fiction family especially: Linda Addison, B. Sharise Moore, Sheree Renée Thomas, Cranston Burney, Sumiko Saulson, Tonia Ransom, Alicia McCalla, Becky Kyle, Penelope Flynn, Ruth de Jauregui, Kenesha Williams, George Lopez, Charles Saunders, Edward Uzzle, Ronald Jones, Balogun Ojetade, Joe Bonadonna, Ted Rypel, Derrick Ferguson, Gene Peterson, Keith Gaston and Milton Davis. Finally, I must thank Carla who befriended a lonely, little girl and who was the inspiration for the Immortal and Mona Livelong series. Carla, wherever you are, I love you.
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