Welcome to Snippet Sunday on Darkling Dreams!
Where writers come together to share a few sentences (8-10) of their current project — whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Intended to hook readers, gather feedback and build an author’s fan base, Snippet Sunday is the FB group that does all three.
I’ve been gone for quite a few weeks but a new month is a new beginning, so here I am! For those that were following and looking forward to another snippet from Clockwork Heart… Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m holding off on sharing from that WiP this month, even though I missed the final shares for it in February. The (tentative) plan right now is to come back to it in April during Camp NaNo, because I believe that is the story I will be working on for Camp. Providing I do in fact manage to finish Fated to Darkness this month, and providing another WiP doesn’t scream at me to work on it instead. There’s quite a few trying to grab my next immediate attention…
So while I madly write away at the FINAL five chapters of Fated to Darkness, I’m once more going to share snippets from that novel for motivation. Hopefully ya’ll aren’t getting tired of seeing this novel.
If you remember all the way back to the last week of January for the last snippet of FtD, I left off at the end of Chapter 8: Shifting Fear, in which Ciara was dragging off a kicking and screaming Heather for her first real act of defiance in refusing to harm someone. Now she’s had time to cower in a cell, but that time is almost up.
And now for the first peek at Chapter 9: The Gift…
(I may be jumping around a lot in this chapter, or skipping further ahead, to avoid spoilers.)
~*~*~*~
Despair and loneliness was quickly settling deep in Heather the longer she was stuck in there drowning in her fears and thoughts. The seconds ticked by maddeningly, turning to minutes, then hours. She was unsure how much time had actually passed before she finally picked up on the sound of boots clicking down the stone corridor.
Heather froze when she heard them, snapping her head toward the door. She backed up when the sound came closer and closer until her back hit the damp wall at the back of the cell. Her feet scuffed against the chains on the ground in her frantic scramble, making them clatter loudly in the deafening silence. She whimpered to hear the footsteps stop just outside the door, cowering against the wall as a huddled ball. The shadow of torchlight flitted through the small barred window in the door.
The bolt rolled back with a heavy thud and the door swung open on creaky hinges, sending chills and renewed fear racing down Heather’s spine. Firelight leaked into the room as the person walked inside, leaving the door open behind them. They were no more than a silhouette in the dim light, but Heather was sure she knew who it was.
The shadow lifted a hand and a fireball ignited in their palm, then it was thrown onto the torch set in the wall beside the door. Just like the other girl, Heather was suddenly blinded by the light that filled the enclosed space. Somehow, though she knew not how, the torches insides the cells were always brighter than any of the others down here. She shielded her eyes against the welcomed assault of life, whimpering. When she finally adjusted to the light again, blinking rapidly, she dropped her hands slowly to see who it was standing in the doorway.
Just as she suspected, her mentor stood stone-faced. She involuntarily cringed to see the look on her face, expecting to be punished at any second once more.
“Have we learned?” Ciara’s dark voice floated over to Heather like death’s cold fingers.
She wasn’t sure how to answer that. Learn what exactly? What was she supposed to learn by being thrown in here? Not to defy or back talk? She had already learned that from the multitude of curses in previous lessons. Not to say no to hurting someone? She had learned that too now despite how wrong she knew it was. Though she still wondered if she had the audacity to commit such an act. Unfortunately, her gut was telling her she would cave next Ciara pushed her toward that feat. The thought terrified and haunted her.
Four years old… Four years old and she might be a killer.
That had to set a new record.
A record she had no desire to beat and hold the title for.
~*~*~*~
I certainly wouldn’t like to hold that title either. Then again, I wouldn’t wish to hold Ciara’s title for her either, but… They kind of come hand in hand when it comes to the Dark One.
Blurb:
Three year old Heather Fraeis is like every other normal toddler. With a loving family, a family dog, and a little bit spoiled.
But fate can be a twisted and cruel friend.
Kidnapped on the night of her fourth birthday by a woman clad in black, Heather is whisked away to a realm that has never been known to exist. Forced into a life she doesn’t want as her kidnapper’s Heir, she comes to find that monsters do in fact exist, nightmares are more than bad dreams, and magic is more than just the thing of fairy tales.
Lies, fear, secrets, and pain await her around every corner. Swallowed whole by the dark path laid out before her, she is forced to fall with no light at the end of the tunnel to give her hope. Until she meets a young boy that may change everything once more for her…
Can Heather defy all the odds and overcome who is she forced to become? Or will it be too late for her to rise above the fate laid before her?
This story is not yet on Wattpad because it is my baby that I hope to publish one day, and if no one will publish me, I am self publishing. But it’s also not on Wattpad because it’s in first draft phases yet. So there will be no “if you wish to read more…”
However! If you wish to read anything else that I have out for free, you can hop on over to my profile on Wattpad and check out what I have to offer. Or if you wish to read my debut release, Embermyst, you can find out more about that in the tabs above. (I’m working on the tabs, bare with me.) I love to hear any and all feedback on my work as well. Comments are greatly appreciated, as are the reads. You can also find me on my Facebook author page to keep up to date with all that’s going on in my writing.
And if you’re looking for some other great snippets of fellow authors,
hop on over to Facebook and check out Snippet Sunday!
Darkling Dreams 