Golden Healer, Dark Enchantress Blog Tour and Giveaway
Golden Healer, Dark Enchantress: Excerpt IV, from Chapter 7, “Living
Nightmare”
Our room proved very
cozy, having two beds--one for the boys, though they wouldn't be sleeping a
wink, and one for me. The dumpy woman popped in to see if everything was to our
liking. We told her it was, and I inquired about where the restroom might be.
She stared at me inquisitively until Aaryn prompted, "The water
closet?"
She smiled and gave me
directions downstairs, and I thanked her, though gazing at her curiously as she
exited.
"Water
closet?" I asked, turning back to Aaryn.

Grateful that there
was a bathroom at all--the thought of outhouses always disturbed me--I
announced that I should be back in a few minutes' time and headed downstairs.
I'd just located the
bathroom and walked in that direction when I stopped short.
He stood only a snatch
away, the tall figure, leaning over the counter, resting his arms casually on
top, staring at me with that smile which unnerved yet drew me to him.
"Hello, young
lady," he said, voice smooth as butter.
"Hello," I
said shyly, then hurried past him to the restroom, muttering, "Please
excuse me..."
His gaze followed me
as I walked past, shuddering. Something lingered in that bright blue gaze,
something both familiar and foreboding. I dreaded the walk back to my room, but
I plucked up my courage and headed back out.
I scurried past the
counter, avoiding the strong pull of those blue eyes which followed my every
step. As I placed my hand on the banister in preparation to head upstairs, a
soft voice reached me. And, though it was gentle, barely audible, I understood
the command for what it was.
"Chrystine."
I froze.
"Chrystine..."
he beckoned, and half against my will, half agreeing with it, I turned.
"How do you know
my name?" I asked quietly.
He ignored the
question. "I hope you're enjoying your stay at my inn." His voice
filled me with the urge to draw nearer to him.
"Your inn? So,
you got us the room?" I muttered, aware that I was moving toward him and
unable to stop myself. Warning flashed in my mind, but just as back in my
house, I seemed to possess no will to heed that warning. In fact, his pull on
me was much stronger than the vampire's at my house had been.
"Yes. Upon seeing
such a pretty thing as you, well, I decided it was worth it to give up my own
room."
"Oh, well...
thank you, Mr..."
Wait. When did I reach
the counter? How did I stand here now, my face inches away from his as he
leaned towards me. A thousand warnings darted through my head, yet those bright
blue eyes held me captive as I asked, "What is your name?"
"Oric, my lady.
Tis a pleasure to meet you again."

His grip was
impossibly strong. Something was terribly wrong. Oric...I tried to recall the
meaning of the name from the depths of my memory, but there was something in
his touch that clouded my senses, distorted my thinking. And suddenly, he
released his hold on me, his look one of triumph.
"Good night,
Chrysty." He glided noiselessly behind the curtain and out of sight.
I stood staring at the
spot, transfixed for a few moments, then turned and started back up the stairs,
only to come to a sudden halt.
My vision fogged, then
blackened. My head hit something--I knew I must've fallen--but felt no pain. A
cloudy vision played before me, gradually growing clearer.
It was Aaryn, and he
was fighting against someone with a golden sword. The person speared his heart
with the sword, Aaryn stumbled back, I found myself screaming--
The person holding the
blade was Oric himself, and suddenly it struck me--Oric, my crazed ex-boyfriend
whom Aaryn had rescued me from on several occasions--
Chrysty had been his
special name for me --had just touched me and cast who knew what kind of curse
that now plagued my mind with horrible nightmares--
I tried to stand, only
to stumble helplessly. I scrambled up the steps, crawling.
Again the terrible
vision flashed through my mind, making me weaker with each movement, as though
my very life was being slowly sucked out of me. Then, Aaryn and Lund suddenly stood at the
top of the stairs. A moment later, Aaryn knelt beside me.
I closed my eyes,
letting darkness enshroud me once more, but I could still hear their voices.
"She's been
attacked by an Incubus!" Aaryn snarled. "Being seen is no longer an
issue. Speed is what we need now. Only the Stregoni Benefici can help us now. I
must fly to them. She'll never make it in time otherwise."
"Then go," Lund said. "I'll take
care of the Incubus and catch up with you later."
Aaryn swooped me up,
grasping me gently but securely. The cool night air brushed my cheek as we
stepped outdoors. Suddenly the wind rushed past us at an impossibly fast rate.
My eyes fluttered open just long enough to see the hard, determined look etched
on his face. Then I slipped into unconsciousness.
Available for purchase @ Amazon
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Christine
E. Schulze has been creating books since she was too young to even write them
in words. Her collection of YA fantasy books, The Amielian Legacy, is
comprised of series and stand-alone books which can all be read separately but
which weave together to create an amazing fantasy. Her fanatsies also
incorporate many other genres, such as Christian fantasy, romance, and even a
spark of horror at times. She hopes to inspire readers throughout the world
with these books by publishing in both traditional and electronic formats to
make them available to all readers.
Christine
has published several stories with Calliope and Kalkion magazines and is an
active member of the WEbook online writing community. She has also published
several Christian/fantasy books which are available at various online
retailers, as well as publishing several eBooks via Writers-Exchange.
Her
latest and most exciting venture includes her publications with Old Line
Publishing: Bloodmaiden and Tears of a Vampire Prince: the First
Krystine. She also anticipates her upcoming publication with Old Line, Lily
in the Snow, as well as releasing The Chronicles of the Mira with
Writers-Exchange in both paperback and electronic forms.
Christine
currently lives in Belleville, Illinois in her first and most thrilling
apartment.
Be sure to follow the blog tour for your chance to win a print copy of Golden Healer, Dark Enchantress and Tears of a Vampire Prince. The next stop is:
Sept 15 – Aobibliophile http://aobibliosphere.blogspot.com/
and
you can enter for a chance to win an ecopy of Golden Healer, Dark Enchantress right here! All you need to do is fill out the form below. This giveaway is open internationally. Giveaway ends Sept. 21, 2011.
you can enter for a chance to win an ecopy of Golden Healer, Dark Enchantress right here! All you need to do is fill out the form below. This giveaway is open internationally. Giveaway ends Sept. 21, 2011.
Interesting...not sure if this is a book that would keep my attention but it was a neat excerpt...:D
ReplyDeleteIt sounds very interesting, Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for having me; best to all those entering the give away!
ReplyDelete