by Thawer, Tish
The rustle of the crowd caused her eyes to drop back to the floor. She then noticed a blood red carpet runner that split the large crowd in half. Gazing to the left, she immediately found her Witches gathered at the front of the crowd, all grinning wildly in her direction. Her vision then moved across the room and locked onto a group of massive warrior type men standing on the opposite side. The connection she felt after one look told Aryiah that these were her wolves. In unison, they nodded in her direction; Aryiah kindly tilted her head in response. They all smiled at her acknowledgement, and suddenly she couldn't wait to get to know each and every one of them.
Before Aryiah could scan the rest of the crowd, Diana stood, commanding everyone's attention with her presence alone. She wore a purple gown made of the same silk as Aryiah's wedding dress. It crisscrossed in front, as most of the Goddess' garments did, and her trademark silver belt hung from her hips.
"Thank you for joining me on this joyous occasion." Her voice radiated power and carried throughout the room as if magnified by an unseen microphone.
"Today, I have glorious news. Aradia has returned! My daughter has been reincarnated in Aryiah and has reclaimed her place as the Queen of The Witches."
The crowd let out a hesitant cheer that made Aryiah want to sink down in her chair until she was no longer the target of hundreds of doubting eyes.
"Behold! Aradia has awakened and returned to save us once more. She has defeated the vampire assassin that has been plaguing our realm," the Goddess grandly declared. "Please welcome Aryiah to our world as she accepts her rightful place by my side."
As Diana handed her the Book of Shadows, all Aryiah could think was making her escape. Her thoughts focused on her favorite dessert as she tried to calm herself enough to face this judgmental crowd. Her nerves spiked again as she looked around and thought, Maybe I'm not ready to take my rightful place. How is this even possible?
The desire to shade out of here overwhelmed her. The idea of returning earth-side and leaving all this behind sounded like a great plan. But no, instead, she now sat in the throne room holding the book that announced to all of Ovialell who she truly was.
As she gazed at the hordes of unfamiliar faces her stomach tighten and her entire body started to shake. But suddenly, she felt a strong hand settle on her shoulder. Damarius' touch alone was enough to calm her nerves. The only problem was, his nearness also stirred the wolf she was now able to become.
"My love, I am barely in control right now."
He chuckled quietly, then sent his thoughts into her mind. I'm sorry to have rustled your wolf, but listening to your musings about chocolate crème pie and the thought of you licking it from my chest has left me ravenous. I think I'll be reminding you of the idea later.
A smile spread across Aryiah's face. With this sexy man beside her, she knew she was ready to accept her destiny.
Aryiah stood and lifted the now glowing book above her head and the crowd went wild.
* * * * *
EPILOGUE
Devin watched as Aryiah held a glowing book above her head, and listened as the crowd began to cheer.
When she heard the Goddess announce that her precious Aradia had returned and eliminated the vampire assassin, it had taken every ounce of her willpower not to fly out from behind the stone pillar and start ripping out throats until she was soaked in blood and holding Aryiah's heart in her hand.
The only thing that held her back was the humor she found in the fact that they all truly believed this was over. Little did they know that when Aryiah destroyed Gage with Aradia's magick, she inadvertently made Devin practically unstoppable.
The Darkling had been right. The bond she and Gage shared had indeed been special. The loss she felt as Aryiah destroyed her one true love had threatened to overwhelm her in the moment, but when she realized that Gage's dark magick was now hers and that they'd always be connected through it, she steeled her resolve.
While Aryiah had stood there demanding she leave and never return, the shock she had felt wasn't from her previous friend's words, but from the surge of magick that had flowed into her at the moment of Gage's death.
So, let them have their party and celebrate, because soon enough...she would have her revenge.
Glossary
Places and Settings:
Ovialell – Pronounced (Oh-Vee-uh-lell) The "Otherworld" ruled by the Goddess Diana and protected by her Witches.
Shadowlands – The alternate realm in which those with the ability to shade use to travel from place to place.
Dalestri – Pronounced (Da-les-tri) Home of the Goddess Diana, the Werewolves, and The Witches on the Upper World of Ovialell.
Themiscyra – Pronounced (Them-is-cyra) Home of the Amazons. An island off the northern shore of Dalestri on the Upper World of Ovialell.
Inlavey – Home of the Seelie Fae in the Middle World of Ovialell.
Karistan – Home of the Unseelie Fae in the Middle World of Ovialell.
Obsidian – Home of the vampires in the Lower World of Ovialell.
Hel – Home of the demons in the Lower World of Ovialell.
Races and Organizations:
The Witches – A coven of powerful witches who run with the Goddess Diana during the Wild Hunt, and are charged with protecting the citizens of Ovialell with their magick and healing abilities.
Werewolves – A race created for the specific purpose of protecting the Goddess, and who run with her during the Wild Hunt. Led by Damarius.
Darklings – A humanoid race of creatures with extensive magickal powers and a thirst for destruction. Responsible for starting the war referred to as the Great Rift.
Amazons – A race of magically enhanced women who live on the Island of Themiscyra. They are fierce warriors and support the Goddess Diana. Led by Kylie.
The Seelie Fae – A race of light Fae, known for their playful ways, white magick, intricate carvings, and magickal land. Led by Queen Shay.
The Unseelie Fae – A race of dark Fae, known for their twisted land and dark magic. Led by Queen Fayln.
Vampires – Simple creatures of death that feed on human blood, enjoy the kill, and lurk in the night.
Demons – Considered the worst creatures of Ovialell for their infighting and scavenger-like destruction; Demons are humanoid creatures with transparent flesh stretched over emaciated skeletons, giving them the appearance of being see-through, with their longs arms ending in pointed claws instead of fingers.
Phrases and Terms:
Shading – The ability to travel through the Shadowlands from one place to another while remaining shaded and hidden from the rest of the world.
The Great Rift – A war started by the Darklings which divided Ovialell between good and evil, ending in a horrible loss of life and destruction.
Shamanic Journey – A series of meditative journeys that a Witch is led through by her guide. The shamanic journeys start in Lower World, then up to Middle World, and finally to Upper World, where they meet the Goddess. During these journeys they not only face trials, but are given instructions on what they should be studying in the real world in order to prepare them for the release of their magick.
A Rite of Passage, a Dangerous Trial,
a Destiny to be Claimed.
Please turn this page for a preview.
Shay and the Box of Nye
~An Ovialell Companion ~
Available December 24, 2012
* * * * *
CHAPTER ONE
Shay jumped from her bed and ran to the calendar that hung on the wall of her room. December twenty-fourth. She stared at the date, double checking to make sure it wasn't just wishful thinking.
"Yes!"
She ran from her bedroom, her gauzy blue nightgown billowing behind her as she made her way down the small spiral staircase that led to the kitchen.
"Mama, my trial starts today. I'm so nervous." She sat down at the table and scooped herself a portion of berry and cinnamon oatmeal from the large pot in front
of her, then continued. "Can you give me some hints or tell me what yours was like?"
"Don't be nervous, Shay. The fairy trial is something every mature fairy has to go through. I can't tell you anything about my trial though, because if you're successful in retrieving the Box of Nye, part of the process is that the memories of what you faced during your trial are completely erased. This happens as you receive your wings and complete the transformation into a full-fledge fairy."
"Really? You don't remember anything at all about your trial?"
"No, honey. I sure don't." Narine turned off the stove and took a seat next to her oldest daughter. "Just follow the rules, and prepare for the unexpected." She kissed Shay on the forehead and moved to exit the room. "I'll leave you alone to get ready. The fairy council will be here shortly to go over everything. Good luck, honey. I know you'll do great."
* * * * *
CHAPTER TWO
Shay finished her oatmeal as she pondered her mother's words, "Prepare for the unexpected"
"How the heck are you supposed to do that?" The whole point of something being unexpected is that you can't prepare for it. This definitely didn't help put her mind at ease, but she knew dwelling on the what if's wasn't an option. She placed her wooden bowl in the sink and headed back upstairs to get ready for the councils arrival.
As she entered her bedroom a feeling of peace settled over her. She was so grateful she finally had a space to herself––one that she didn't have to share with her younger sisters any more. When Shay reached maturity at the age of eighteen, her mom and dad had used their fairy magick to expand their treetop home, creating a beautiful bedroom and bathroom just for her. The ceiling was lined with vines and fairy lights, and crystals of all colors shined from their facets in the walls.
Shay stared at her reflection in the mirror as the tub began to fill, she noticed her skin was shimmering a little brighter than usual, and her long platinum hair was starting to develop streaks of blue and silver throughout. Looking into her own sapphire eyes, she smiled. The process of becoming a full-fledge fairy had already begun.
Each fairy develops a specific set of magick during their transformation, and as Shay stared at the blue and silver steaks weaving their way through her hair, she couldn't have been happier. Blue meant that she'd be able to control water and emotions, and silver was a link to their Queen and the divine fairy spirits. Silver was rare magick within their clan, and meant someday she would have the potential of becoming Queen, as only those with silver magick had the necessary link to the fairy spirits required to take a royal position.
Shay slipped off her nightgown and stepped into the steaming bath, allowing herself to appreciate the relaxing lavender aroma that was a constant in any bathroom across the land. If you ran water in a kitchen it always smelled like citrus. If you ran water outside it smelled like fresh cut grass even if it was the dead of winter. But here in the bathroom it was always lavender laced.
Taking the time to let her muscles relax, Shay started to make a mental list of all the things she'd planned to take with her on the trial. Her leather vest, riding pants, and tall boots would be her chosen outfit, which was traditional. However, she planned to include a few extra things into the belt and pockets she'd added to her ensemble. Things like her favorite knife which was made from tampered steel that displayed a polished finish of rainbow colors. And the spell bottle she carried like a canteen which was a beautiful mix of blue, green, and purple glass. It was now filled to the brim with the potion she recently brewed for this specific day. For reasons beyond her understanding, she'd been guided in its creation and knew it was going to be something she'd need.
Shay had been dreaming of and preparing for this day for most of her teenage years but now that it was upon her, she couldn't help but wonder if she'd done enough.
A Demon Queen, a Blessed Child,
a Battle that begins History.
Please turn this page for an excerpt.
Prophecy's Child
~An Ovialell Companion ~
Available October 9, 2012
* * * * *
CHAPTER ONE
Kylie's throat was on fire. She literally couldn't scream anymore. The moment the demons entered her home, she tried to grab her little sister and flee, but she just wasn't fast enough.
"Don't worry about the little one," one of the demons said. "She's too young to enter the breeding program. But you...you'll do just fine." The menace in his voice had Kylie screaming through the pain of her raw vocal cords.
After dragging her outside, the demons threw her into the back of the transport carriage, which was nothing more than a metal cage on the back of an old wooden wagon. Once she righted herself, she took in the faces of the other sobbing women. There was Trina, the blacksmith's daughter, and her cousin Lucy, along with Avetta, the storekeeper's wife, and Reni, the stablemaster's sister.
Kylie kept a cautious eye on the guards as they made their way to the front of the carriage. Once she was sure they were out of earshot, she turned to the women. "Don't be afraid. I'll do everything within my power to get us out of here." The girls looked at her with hope blooming in their eyes, then immediately dried their tears. They knew that if anyone could save them it would be Kylie.
Kylie was twenty-three and had matured years ago. With her long dark hair and tall slender figure, she was a perfect candidate for the breeding program. She grew up hearing stories of the evil queen and her red-eyed demons from Abrinthill. They roamed the three realms, gathering female prisoners in order to continue their race, but they'd never set foot in her realm...until now.
Luckily for the women, Kylie wasn't the average prisoner. She had powers that no one else in the village had had for over five-hundred years. Her village sat on an ancient vortex of magick, one that the former spirit women utilized to sustain the prosperity of their land.
It was foretold that once every five-hundred years a new spirit woman would be born in order to continue the magickal workings. When Kylie was born, the priests divined that she would be the village's next spirit woman. Once they verified she bore the mark of the prophecy's child–a crescent moon on the inside of her thigh–they waited until her thirteenth birthday to begin her training as was customary.
The priests didn't possess any magick, but were educated in how to prepare the blessed women for their duties. The old texts that guided them in the ancient ways were kept secret in the catacomb library of the abandoned church. The books' location was passed down from generation to generation.
Once Kylie had been properly trained in the ways of her magick, she ventured to the lowest level of the abandoned church where she bathed in the Spring of Spirits. There, she completed the ritual to seal her powers and become the current prophecy's child.
* * * * *
CHAPTER TWO
As Kylie's home was being raided, on the other side of the village, Rezmona entered the church. She expected to hear screams, but instead was met with silence.
"Where's Gregor?" she snapped.
The guards on duty stood at attention. "My Queen. Gregor said to let you know we are in the process of moving the prisoners."
That explained the silence, but not the reason behind it. The deserted church had served as a good base of operations for months now.
"I believe you'll find him in, um...in the office," the other guard stuttered. His eyes found the floor as he shifted nervously on his feet.
Rezmona's stare bore into him for a fraction of a second, then she headed towards the office without giving a response. The guard exhaled a sigh of relief.
The hall, with its moss covered walls and heavy wooden doors, was bathed in flickering candlelight. Rezmona recognized the feelings of homesickness, but quickly shut them down. If they were moving the prisoners, returning home wasn't something that was going to happen anytime soon.
Rezmona was the demon queen of Abrinthill, the largest and most lavish city in all of the realms. She was beautiful, but also the most bru
tal queen that had ever ruled.
She had long black hair, a shapely figure, plump ruby lips, and blood red eyes. But along with her gothic inspired skirts and corsets, her appearance was only an illusion she cast. A demon's true nature was only revealed when they shed their glamour, which they didn't do often. However, on the rare occasion they did, their true form was that of large, red-skinned towering beasts. They wore no clothes, which left them naked and exposed, and each with a set of horns which protruded from their heads.
When Rezmona claimed her natural form, her horns were stunning. Shiny black with gold stripes running through them, resembling a tiger's eye stone. They curved and spiraled into perfect points, which truly made her a sight to behold in either form. As the queen, she was also the only female demon whose eyes still glowed red and who was allowed to travel outside their city of Abrinthill.
Centuries ago, the females of their race suddenly began to lose the color of their eyes. Panic ensued when it was soon discovered they were no longer able to reproduce. The only explanation the elders offered was that their race was being punished by the Gods for constantly reproducing with world domination being their only goal.
At the time, the only blessing was that the queen's eyes had retained their natural hue. With the help of her mentors, she'd perfected the dark magick needed to continue their race, although at a much slower pace. The breeding program was founded, and ever since, the continuation of their existence solely depended upon impregnating the prisoners they collected from across the three realms.