My mind might not be fully awake yet, but my body picked up Mom’s not-so-subtle clues. And I’d probably need all the fortification I could get today. “Is everything all right with James?”
“No, honey. I’m afraid it’s not.” Dad took my hand, led me to a dinette chair, and sat me down.
Butterflies emerged from their cocoons, buzzing like crazy inside me. “Oh, no, my dream. Is James okay?”
“Your dream?” Mom’s forehead furrowed up. She always told me I looked like a worried bulldog when I did that. I guess everyone had to be right sometime.
“Not now.” Dad waved Mom away as if she were an annoying fly. “Listen, sweetie. I did find James, packing. He’s leaving for Europe.”
“Ohmigosh!” I screeched, unable to control the volume of my voice. “You can’t be serious. That’s crazy. When is he coming back?”
“Here’s the thing. Your father—” Mom sat beside me, pointing her finger at Dad, “—put your brother on a plane to Europe. This morning, in fact.”
“No, way. That can’t be right.” My bottom lip wobbled. “What about our summer together? And Yale?” Air clogged in my throat. “Surely he’s coming back for Yale.” A lone tear trickled down my cheek.
“I’ve never seen him more upset in my life. He didn’t even want your mom to see him like that.” Dad glanced away from Mom.
“Tom, I thought we weren’t going to discuss this in front of—” Mom said, standing up.
“What?” My jaw dropped. Somehow I was on my feet, too. “What can’t you tell me? Is it that you don’t think he’s coming home?” I morphed into a fire-breathing dragon, glaring a death stare at her before turning on Dad.
“Honey, I don’t know. I just don’t know.” He rose to his feet, wringing his hands. “I only did what James wanted. Apparently, he’s not sure what he wants to do with his life or if he even wants to go to college. Maybe he’ll come to his senses soon.”
“Yesterday he was fine, excited to graduate. And then he suddenly decides to go off to Europe the next day?” I took a giant swig of coffee, scalding the roof of my mouth. The pain barely registered. “It doesn’t make any sense.” My heartbeat ramped up as I started pacing. I was only getting started. “Why would he leave without saying goodbye to the rest of us?”
“Lucy, I’m sorry. I can’t answer that for you.” Dad shrugged and shook his head. “All I know is that he’s not thinking straight. When he is, I’m sure he’ll make things right with us. All of us.”
No matter what Dad said, I couldn’t make all the jigsaw pieces fit.
First, James wanted to meet me alone, but he didn’t show. Then, his strange warning about Montrose and an unprovoked, “I love you.” Now he suddenly had to flee the country?
“There’s something you’re not telling me,” I said with a huff, the anger rising in my belly. “If you’re not going to tell me, then I’ll just figure it out for myself in August.”
Dad leveled his gaze at me. “You’re not going to Montrose next semester.”
“Tom, you don’t mean that,” Mom gasped, a hand over her mouth. “What about her destiny?”
“Destiny?” I asked, rolling my eyes at Mom. “That’s a bit of a stretch, isn’t it?”
“Lucy, sweetie, you have no idea how special you are,” she said, reaching out to smooth down my crazy hair, no doubt.
I shrank back. “Special? You mean special enough for you to keep me in the dark. What did James tell you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Dad’s face clouded over. He never was a good liar.
“Fine, pretend you don’t know anything,” I said, one hand flying to my hip. “But I know what I saw. James was scared and wanted to tell me about it, and now he’s running off to Europe. Sounds fishy to me.”
“Don’t be silly,” Mom said, batting away imaginary flies again. “Your brother isn’t scared of anything. He’s got his whole life ahead of him and a great standing in the Nexis Society. He’s only going to Europe to blow off steam, that’s all.”
“Sure he is, Mom,” I said, shaking my head at her. Even I wasn’t that clueless. “And I’m going to Montrose this fall.”
“I’m afraid that’s out of the question.” Dad’s voice had lowered a full octave. “That’s final.”
“You can’t be serious.” The tears pooled in my eyes. I couldn’t think anymore. I ran back into my little bedroom and slammed the door.
Surely the words Drama Diva were bedazzled on my forehead right now, but I couldn’t help it. I wanted to punch a wall. Or the bed. Anything. How could James do this to me? How could he just run away?
Lucky for me, Paige was in the shower. I flounced on the bed and started pummeling pillows.
Nothing made sense anymore. Except for one glaringly obvious fact—everyone was keeping secrets from me. Dad, James, Mom. Probably Paige, too, if an eleven-year-old even had secrets.
Once I’d punched everything in sight, I collapsed in a heap. Face down. And cried a river into my pillow-trench.
My brother, who was supposed to love me and be there for me, had just abandoned me for another continent. I had thought watching our dog Ginger die was torture. This hurt even worse than burying our German shepherd in the backyard.
I wiped the tears from my eyes. Steeled my jaw shut.
There was one thing I couldn’t understand. Why would my own brother keep secrets from me and everyone else he loved?
Two days ago, I’d come to New York excited to follow the path my big brother had laid out for me. Now my parents wouldn’t even let me go to Montrose in the fall. And I had no idea what to do next.
* * *
JAMES
Krrrr…krrr. Walkie-talkie static buzzed in Abby’s hip pocket. Grating the insides of my ears like a buzzsaw.
“Go for Bravo Team,” she said into the annoying black box. Yeah, kind of overkill, I know. But Nexis wouldn’t rest till they found me. And I was this close to leaving the country.
Some indistinguishable words crackled back. The sounds dissipated into the din of the eight a.m. crowd at JFK Airport. The terminal was jam-packed with business types in black suits and tourists with neon fanny packs.
My heart ticked in my chest. Time was running out. I couldn’t believe this was it. My last look at America for what might be years.
“Roger, copy that.” She turned to me. “Looks like we’ve got a situation. Apparently, Nexis tipped off the local police. Told them you’re leaving the country from this airport. Since you’re listed as a person of interest in Maria’s death, they’re coming to take you in.”
“Of course they ratted me out.” I rolled my eyes at the entire terminal. “You can always count on Nexis to do the wrong thing. Now there’s probably a warrant out for my arrest. Perfect.”
“We’ve got our own security checkpoint on the other side of the airport.” She motioned to the handful of black-clad Guardian guards surrounding me. “But we have to move. Now.”
“Seriously? You guys have your own TSA?” I raised my eyebrows at her. “Can we hold off a few minutes? My family’s about to board a plane back home and I’d like to see them off.” Even if they can’t see me.
“No can do.” Abby shook her head, blonde hair gleaming in the fluorescent light. “Didn’t you hear me? I said the NYPD is on their way.”
“Abbs, c’mon. Five minutes.” I took her hand, stared deeply into her eyes, and turned on the charm. “That’s all I’m asking.”
“Don’t use my name. Not even my nickname,” she hissed at me. “And stop worrying about your sister. She’s protected. You’re the one being hunted. A Nexis fugitive, now a fugitive from the law. I’m sorry, but we have to go. Right. This. Minute.”
“Thanks for the reminder of who and what I am.” I dropped her hand. Crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m not leaving till they do.” I flicked my thumb at the departure gate for Indianapolis.
Then I saw her. My Lucy standing beside Dad, her dark hair swishing, lips scrunc
hed in a scowl. She looked so cute when she was mad.
Planting my feet, I glued my gaze on my little sister as I said, “Nexis will figure it out soon enough. In the next few years, she’ll be the one in my shoes—the one being hunted. They’ll be sneaky with double agents and mind games. Because she’s the one who can change the world. Not me.”
I watched them line up to board the plane, silently hoping she’d turn and look my way. “So let me say goodbye to my little sister. Give me one last look at what I’m fighting for before I leave the country.”
Beside me, Abby nodded. “Okay. Thirty seconds.”
They I saw Lucy turn her head in my direction. My heart stopped, even though she couldn’t see me in the airport crowd. I lifted my hand and waved. Of course, she didn’t wave back.
“Goodbye,” I mouthed. The next time we saw each other, she’d probably be in the same dire straits I was right now. On the run from Nexis.
My family disappeared down the jetway, one by one. I waved until they disappeared. I’ll miss you. But, next time I see you, I’ll be ready.
I turned to my friend and said, “Okay, now we can go.”
“All right, guys, you heard him. Move. Move. Move,” Abby barked.
Off we went. Sprinting at top speed through the airport.
We made it through the security checkpoint without a pat-down and my new bodyguards whisked us onto the plane. Then we were soaring in the air on our way to…Switzerland, I think. But my heart was on a plane back home, with the little girl I could only protect from a distance now.
Because deep down, I knew exactly who she was. The signs were there. The Awakenings had already started. My little Lucy was the Seer—and there was nothing I could do for her now. Except bring down Nexis.
Every muscle in my body tensed, a tuning fork steeled to that one thought.
Yes, that’s exactly what I’d do. I’d bring down Nexis. First in Europe, then in the rest of the world. When I saw Lucy again, she’d have a way out.
I sat back against the scratchy airplane seat, tilting my face toward the window. Blue sky and white clouds floated by. How could I protect Lucy from three thousand miles away?
It wouldn’t be easy. No, it’d be nearly impossible. But I had to try. It was Lucy’s only shot, and I’d do anything to make sure Nexis didn’t get their hands on her.
Gritting my teeth, I gripped the armrests. Knuckles white.
All I had to do was focus. I had a job to do. No matter what happened, deep down I’d always be loyal to one person.
Because I was no longer a part of Nexis. I was a Guardian now. The Guardian of the Seer.
Dear Reader,
Thanks for reading this first adventure in the Nexis series. I hope you enjoyed this brief perspective into all things Nexis. Let me tell you, I had a blast writing from James’ point of view! If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll pick up Book One, The Nexis Secret, next! If you do, you’ll get to follow Lucy as she discovers her burgeoning powers and struggles to find her place in the world of Nexis vs. the Guardians. Read on to check out the first few chapters in the book that started it all, The Nexis Secret. After that, keep reading for a free sample of Book Two, Crossing Nexis, which releases on November 19, 2019
If you enjoyed this little prequel, please consider leaving a review on your preferred ebook retail site. Your honest reviews help indie authors more than you could ever know.
If you’d like more info or would like to connect, check out my website: www.barbarahartzler.com.
Nexis Secret Sample
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The Nexis Secret
PROLOGUE
A world of white blinded my eyes, but I couldn’t blink. Too much effort. Vague outlines, then silhouettes of color emerged from the whiteness. The ivory outline of a man’s face, his hair glowing like sunshine, his eyes full of light. “It’s going to be okay, Lucy. You’re going to be okay.”
My eyelids sank shut. Too heavy.
The smell of antiseptic singed my nostrils. Faint voices wafted through the background. Mom’s hushed whisper, “I don’t know what to do with her. How can we send her away after this?”
Dad’s low growl, “We don’t have a lot of options.” His muted baritone faded into the darkness.
My eyes fluttered open.
A hospital room—finally something normal. So white, but not blinding any more. The same bright-eyed man stared down with golden cat’s eyes, a smile etched into his perfectly-sculpted face.
“Who are you?” I croaked through parched lips.
“I’m here to help. You’ve been through a lot.” With every syllable, warmth twinkled in his clear eyes, soothing my aching head.
“What happened?” I propped myself up on my elbows. Then the white world tilted on its axis. My head thudded back to the scratchy pillow.
“Easy there. You don’t remember the accident?” His smile faded, but no frown lines creased his face. His hand hovered over my forehead. With a light touch, like the wings of a butterfly, his fingertip grazed my temple.
It all came back to me.
There they were, on the couch. My boyfriend with his arms wrapped around my best friend. His face smushed against hers, lips locked. I winced. How could they? Acid rose in the back of my throat as tears clawed at my eyes. I’d sprinted out of her house, then hopped into Mom’s Mercedes SUV and sped off. The tires hadn’t peeled out like I wanted. Not even a squeal, how humiliating. So I revved the engine and ignored the speedometer. My hands had trembled so hard the steering wheel shook. When I wiped my eyes I veered off the road—straight into a tree. My head hit the dash, and it all went black.
Instinctively I reached for my forehead, brushing my fingers against the bandage over the laceration at my temple. “Ouch.” Back to reality.
“Major ouch.” The man eased my hand down. “Better get some rest now.”
“Good idea.” I tried to smile, but my lids drooped again. His golden light drifted away.
Swoosh. I jerked awake.
A woman in scrubs drew back the curtain. “Doctor, she’s waking up.”
The sunshine man was gone and the day had darkened.
A light lasered into my eyes. A white-coated bald man flicked a flashlight at me, then withdrew it. “Pupils normal. Hello there, Miss McAllen.”
“Where am I? Where’s my family?” The words gurgled from the back of my throat, as if I hadn’t spoken in days.
“They’ll be along shortly.” His beady eyes peered at me behind frameless glasses. He pulled out a pen and scribbled something on his clipboard. “Do you remember what happened?”
“Kind of, there was some kind of accident.” I closed my eyes. The memory popped and crackled into focus like TV static. “I was upset, I swerved. Didn’t see the tree until it was too late. How bad is it?”
The doctor flipped through the pages on the clipboard. Then a low whistle pierced my ears. “You were unconscious for several hours and you’ve been sleeping for a few days. There’s a severe cut on your head. You lost some blood. Don’t worry though, we fixed you right up.”
“What do you mean?” I clutched the side of the bed and pulled myself up. A shockwave pounded through my forehead, then the room wobbled and I slumped back down. “Like brain surgery or something?”
“Nothing like that.” He dropped the clipboard at my feet and pointed to the IV bag full of clear liquid. “Just fluids to rehydrate you, and a transfusion. Head wounds can bleed a lot, especially if left untreated too long.”
I raked my fingers through my long hair. Whew, it was all still there. I rubbed the dark ends against my lips. Soft, but greasy. “I need a shower.”
“Your head injury required stitches. Eleven, to be precise.” He handed the clipboard to the nurse and she disappeared down the hall. “You rest now. Nurse Sherry will check on you later.”
“Okay, doctor.” As he padded to the door, a chill crept through the empty room. I called out after the white coat. “What about that n
ice guy who was in here earlier? Is he a nurse?”
“I don’t think you’ve had any male nurses in the three days you’ve been at Cedar Creek. Maybe a tech or something.” He waved and dashed out the door.
Whoever the golden stranger was, his smile made me feel better. Somehow, he was the only one who did. Would anything ever be normal again?
Chapter 1
Rough tree bark bumped against my fingertips, jagged as the scar at the edge of my hairline. The ridges blurred through my memory, then sharpened back into reality. It wasn’t the same tree I’d plowed into to get myself shipped here, after catching my boyfriend frenching my best friend. Excuse me, ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend. This tree bore a different mark, unmarred by my mistakes. It marked the start of something fresh, something I needed so badly. A chance to put the past behind me—the first day of my new life.
I smoothed my fingers once more down the bumpy bark, as if I could simply wipe it all away. Then I turned to face my new reality at Montrose Academy.
So long Indianapolis, Lucy McAllen has moved on to bigger and better things. That’s right, me, a sixteen-year-old, on my own in the Big Apple. The city of possibilities. Okay, just outside the city. More like Riverdale, New York to be precise. But still, what could be better?
The August heat suctioned my long hair to the back of my neck like a wet mop. Too many strangers jammed onto one sidewalk, it reeked like a cow in someone’s smelly old gym sock. I wiped my moist palms on my plum tank top, but the stink hovered above the orientation-day crowd.
A guy squeezed next to me in the crowd. He flashed his piercing gray eyes at me, not to mention an adorable chin cleft, and waved a flyer in my face until I reached for it. “Welcome to Montrose. Hope to see you there.” His cinnamon breath spiced the air.
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Cute guys tended to have that affect on me. He tilted his chin up, like he knew it was his best feature. Or was he just trying to get me to read the flyer in my hands?
The Nexis Awakening: YA Fantasy Romance (The Nexis Angel Series Book 0) Page 6