tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492793053757038062024-03-05T09:34:46.428-06:00Home of Urban Fantasy Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-1773623685435163562023-04-14T12:41:00.002-05:002023-04-14T12:41:56.040-05:00While I have not totally abandoned my resin projects, I have temporarily hung up my mask and resin gloves for now and placed it on the backburner. I am so excited and thrilled to finally return to my first love... #writing ! I am also happy to announce that I am working to finish Chronicle 2 of H.U.M.A.N.S, working on Incendiaries Book 1, starting a book of supernatural short stories AND... a surprise DIVINITY Saga book 5! Yes, book 5 because we all want to know what became of our heroine and hero after it all came down. More<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUkdEpUZQAcKClO2ArfVL9HSnF7KpZD1j6GR8bA_R85bsnmmYeccM4z-ofHJr0M25mqjjrWcCVZWyDjjsauQrounI23RK6Jc-CLvNLKPpainC3upEGH-sCsuHmins00TB5vRXG8zLcD9mYMdRwNS1sR7Jl9gwOtfh9p0xCgW4dGlE2iYHBri0OrNBxA/s2048/CYMERA_20230414_114758.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUkdEpUZQAcKClO2ArfVL9HSnF7KpZD1j6GR8bA_R85bsnmmYeccM4z-ofHJr0M25mqjjrWcCVZWyDjjsauQrounI23RK6Jc-CLvNLKPpainC3upEGH-sCsuHmins00TB5vRXG8zLcD9mYMdRwNS1sR7Jl9gwOtfh9p0xCgW4dGlE2iYHBri0OrNBxA/s400/CYMERA_20230414_114758.jpg"/></a></div> teasers and previews to come! 🥰#author #workinprogress #writer #supernatural #urbanfantasy #books #reading #novelsAuthor Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-70066140161453777342021-01-23T21:56:00.001-06:002021-01-23T21:56:31.005-06:00Second Upload to my Youtube Channel! Watch Me Make a Pair of Resin Earrings!<p><br /></p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/is6DruBdXC0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-45350893860911356322020-12-21T07:43:00.002-06:002020-12-21T07:43:21.713-06:00Smashwords End of Year SALE! You can get 3 of my books for #FREE for a Limited Time only!! Happy Reading!! <h1 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9375px; white-space: pre-wrap;">#</span><span data-offset-key="5ciif-1-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9375px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Smashwords end of year sale! I have 3 books that are FREE for a limited time!!!</span></h1><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8lr2k" data-offset-key="95kv4-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.9375px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="95kv4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="95kv4-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8lr2k" data-offset-key="d4oeu-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.9375px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d4oeu-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="d4oeu-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Divinity The Gathering Book 1</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8lr2k" data-offset-key="4fp08-0-0" style="background-color: white;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4fp08-0-0" style="color: #050505; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9375px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="py34i1dx" style="color: var(--blue-link); font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/432740">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/432740</a></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4fp08-0-0" style="color: #050505; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9375px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4fp08-0-0" style="color: #050505; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9375px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">Divinity Transcendence Book 2</div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4fp08-0-0" style="color: #050505; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9375px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">75% discount!</div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4fp08-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Segoe UI Historic, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.9375px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/437032">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/437032</a></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4fp08-0-0" style="color: #050505; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9375px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4fp08-0-0" style="color: #050505; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9375px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">Divinity Immolation Book 3</div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4fp08-0-0" style="color: #050505; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9375px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">75% discount!</div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4fp08-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-size: 15.9375px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/437032" target="_blank">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/437032</a></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8lr2k" data-offset-key="5b2r0-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.9375px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5b2r0-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5b2r0-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8lr2k" data-offset-key="8s7cs-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.9375px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8s7cs-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8s7cs-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Divinity Realm of Annihilation Book 4</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8lr2k" data-offset-key="dogr1-0-0" style="background-color: white;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dogr1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Segoe UI Historic, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.9375px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/637402" target="_blank">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/637402 </a></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8lr2k" data-offset-key="11f4b-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.9375px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="11f4b-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="11f4b-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8lr2k" data-offset-key="1pn85-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.9375px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1pn85-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1pn85-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">HUMANS The Veiled World Chronicle 1</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8lr2k" data-offset-key="j385-0-0" style="background-color: white;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="j385-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Segoe UI Historic, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.9375px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/528038" target="_blank">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/528038</a></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="j385-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Segoe UI Historic, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div>Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-57421491192498443452020-05-29T16:10:00.002-05:002020-12-21T07:47:58.490-06:00Check Out my Sparkly Resin Jewelry and Trinkets Here!<div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/SparkleByNewt" target="_blank">https://www.etsy.com/shop/SparkleByNewt</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Instagram: @SparkleByNewt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Twitter: @BabyNewt38</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<br /></div>Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-40666298468755392672020-05-24T09:27:00.000-05:002020-05-24T09:27:03.758-05:00SPARKLEBYNEWT on InstagramFollow Sparklebynewt on instagram! A chance to preview creations before they go up for sale! 😃 https://www.instagram.com/p/CAg7Nefg3at/?igshid=gar6mmlgzea0Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-27842764428354256192020-05-22T22:37:00.001-05:002020-05-22T22:37:18.884-05:00Just Opened my Etsy Store!!So thrilled to finally share the new hobby that I have taken on and decided to share with others. This time I have been creating resin jewelry! I am still writing but I have been dabbling in many other mediums to keep my creative flow going! I have started making resin earrings and have just opened up my own ETSY store!! I plan to add more items such as bookmarks, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and other trinkets but for now it will just be earrings! Please take a moment to have a look and please feel free to share the link! Thanks so much and hopefully you find something that catches your eye!<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/SparkleByNewt">https://www.etsy.com/shop/SparkleByNewt</a>Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-3542504970550330952020-03-21T19:03:00.001-05:002020-03-21T19:03:27.151-05:00A rainstorm, hot tea, and incense...the perfect recipe for a burst of creativity this evening (which is exactly what I'm doing right now) ☺️✒️🖊💻⌨️📕... <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/amwriting?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/humanschronicle2?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#HUMANSCHRONICLE2</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/writing?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#writing</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/author?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#author</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/novels?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#novels</a><br />
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<br />Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-18110116204287231732020-03-21T12:23:00.001-05:002020-04-16T20:25:28.494-05:00Authors Give Back SMASHWORDS Sale Dates Extended until May 31st!!! <br />
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<br />
Browse Books on Sale<br />
Sale Dates Extended: March 20 - May 31st!<br />
<br />
READING, make the best of your gracious <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/self?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#self</a>-isolation time and learn something or just be entertained.<br />
Corona Virus Sale! Providing pages on pages on pages of your guilty pleasures of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/urbanfantasy?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#urbanfantasy</a>, hot <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/angels?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#Angels</a> , and sexy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/demons?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#Demons</a>, mixed up with a ribbon of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/romance?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#romance</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/paranormal?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#paranormal</a>. The Divinity Saga books I-V are all on sale for a ridiculously low price and some are <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/free?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#FREE</a> !! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/writersgivingback?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#Writersgivingback</a><br />
Get all the books and ebooks in my series for these prices by using the links below for next to nothing!<br />
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Divinity the Gathering Book I- FREE<br />
<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smashwords.com%2Fbooks%2Fview%2F432740%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3avTwZYED4rx4MZN3MNvP56VayKOLgjccbNROffDVQjWZxnE20K0VToao&h=AT3z816nOy6GcXMeIPtNA9e3jXu_BLQMGwxWLxHqH3n4EkBBxMlMWrTYcp8yZGbbQQjplSL6rl0Nds8aSHFRYAlDhOhkKdUVPSyg9qVFka4cSXEcsZlIHltTtUDBUfH8To873LOx2NZwseQ97LhZnoB8KgPeDSRnP6AsQiwl1cP7jWjOhg">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/432740</a><br />
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Divinity Transcedence Book II- FREE<br />
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/437032?fbclid=IwAR1BmNjfpFRmWyr_8q_uYnu-udZ6tdGct6qQQxcX8TBtqg6qzHnHRluHJvU">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/437032</a><br />
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Divinity Immolation Book III- $1.39 USD <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/472595?fbclid=IwAR2aUiEyLnb6fG_2kFYCDN5t28N_pHkXtBnevSpz1dLqxks-DFYcpbcmzWw">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/472595</a><br />
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Divinity Realm of Annihilation Book III $1.00 USD<br />
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/637402?fbclid=IwAR3eEmMUDgb5sTAkSXftP9EDblsjDDkfPLQuwoWqOYuHofL0KzwXOP8hrL8">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/637402</a><br />
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HUMANS the Veiled World- FREE <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/528038?fbclid=IwAR1lVwwobPwEDhBqCxYFzHqo3i3xDb1J8K_x23TRnZx_BWOp43WFFUe0l00">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/528038</a><br />
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<b><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">How can you pay it forward to help Authors like myself out in return? By leaving a review or rating and making a recommendation to friends and family who enjoy the same genre or making it part of a book club reading and encouraging others to leave a review or rating!</span></b></div>
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Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-85295330311519215422020-03-21T12:19:00.001-05:002020-03-21T12:19:49.003-05:00KETO CHEESECAKE!!<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsusan.reid.739%2Fposts%2F2778188425584147&width=500" width="500" height="561" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe>Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-40326684096906335622019-07-03T08:23:00.001-05:002019-07-03T08:23:53.368-05:00Smashwords Summer Sale...Going on right now!<br />
<br />
#smashwords<br />
Get the first book in the HUMANS series FOR #FREE until July 31st!! Divinity the Gathering Book One is always FREE<br />
#happyreading #ebooks #urbanfantasy #books #smashwords #summer sale going on right now! Get the first book in the HUMANS series FOR #FREE until July 31st!! Divinity the Gathering Book One is always FREE #happyreading #ebooks #urbanfantasy #books <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/528038">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/528038</a><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/432740" target="_blank"> https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/432740</a><br />
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<br />Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-32780663983552723832019-05-19T10:22:00.004-05:002019-05-19T10:22:34.919-05:00New Page!I've created a new page here that will display all of my creative projects. Right now, it's painting but I do hope to expand that to crafts, DIY's, and many other things....stay tuned and enjoy the really amateur paintings I've done that are there now. (I was slightly inebriated on many of these, but you can probably tell that anyway) Enjoy!Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-45032030873029015162019-05-19T10:12:00.001-05:002019-05-19T10:12:29.476-05:00Bought a new house...Hello All!<br />
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It's been a while yet again, and again, life has gotten in the way of so much that I would much rather be doing. One of those included moving. Yes, I bought a new home and have been slowly settling in since March. Hopefully soon I can get back to what I love to do best....WRITING! In the meantime, here is a peek at my home! <br />
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Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-55013941199309522992019-02-10T22:43:00.001-06:002019-02-10T22:43:21.951-06:00Long time no post.....but....So it's been a while since my last post...a very long while actually. Life happens, and while I've been busy, I am still writing. I'm having to reset new deadlines for myself on my latest new books but I've also gotten several other started. In the meantime, I've picked up painting as a new hobby and I find it extremely relaxing. What started out as mostly paintingwithatwist nights has turned into something I've begun doing on my own. Mostly acrylics though I'd like to start working with oil paints as well. I'm definitely a beginner and have so much to learn in the manner of technique and rules. I like to paint, I didn't say I am a painter. Anyhow, these are my first two PRACTICE paintings so far. Again, I am not a painter nor am I aspiring to be professionally. I admire and am a fan of all those that are and make it seem so effortless!<br />
Here is some of my work to gawk at while you await the next book in the HUMANS series as well as four new novels...<br />
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<br />Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-16264150222860042712018-06-16T13:21:00.003-05:002018-06-16T13:21:59.109-05:00Cover Reveals for my 2 newest books coming.... YES!! During the first part of my social media Hiatus, I have completed not 1 but 2 book covers!! The first for H.U.M.A.N.S 2 Bloodless Black Sheep - AND the second for my newest series, INCENDIARY Taste of Fire Book 1 ... things are coming together... FINALLY! Cover reveals will be posted right here as I get closer to release dates for both books! Unfortunately, I don't currently have set release dates yet for both books, other than to say it will be soon. Damned real life gets in the way often.<div>
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Be sure to check back and be one of the first to see them! #accomplishments #bookcovers #ebooks #creativeflow #makingprogress #iamwriting #lifeofanauthor</div>
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Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-24530938883303385982018-06-10T10:40:00.002-05:002018-06-10T10:40:58.120-05:00Social Media Hiatus...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Though not completely off the grid.... </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/amwriting?source=feed_text" style="font-size: x-large;">#amwriting</a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/lifeofanauthor?source=feed_text" style="font-size: x-large;">#lifeofanauthor</a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/newnovels?source=feed_text" style="font-size: x-large;">#newnovels</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/creativityflow?source=feed_text" style="font-size: x-large;">#creativityflow</a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/urbanfantasynovels?source=feed_text" style="font-size: x-large;">#urbanfantasynovels</a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/writerslife?source=feed_text" style="font-size: x-large;">#writerslife</a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Actually, I was hoping they could at least start or edit themselves BUT alas they do not.....</span></b></div>
Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-30371792056357949142018-04-07T09:05:00.000-05:002018-04-07T09:05:49.314-05:00<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />Me: I don't know if its more nerdy or pathetic looking forward to the "word of the day" from my dictionary app and getting excited about ways I can use the new word in a sentence...<br /><br /></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Me answering self: Definitely both...<img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/fb3/1/16/1f913.png" />🤓<img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f6f/1/16/1f612.png" />😒 </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">But I'd much rather be a known nerd than a known dumbass #readabook #writeabook #vocabularyiscool #nerdsrule #literacyissexy</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-73960223881881737362018-03-26T18:11:00.001-05:002018-03-27T22:09:29.262-05:00INCENDIARY: Taste of Fire- First peek is HERE!!! <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A 3 chapter excerpt of my newest work. It is still considered a rough draft, but I do hope that you all enjoy this excerpt that took me forever to finally share!! Please be sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments. This will help me out a great deal in finishing the first book!</span></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "ar berkley"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">INCENDIARY: TASTE OF FIRE</span></span></u></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "ar berkley"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Susan Reid</span></span></u></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "ar berkley"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Prologue:
<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "ar berkley"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nerios </span></span><span style="font-family: "ar berkley"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Island,
Tranquil:</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The sun was high as the
mid-day tide rolled towards the shore and crashed in a bubbly froth and spray of
cool moisture. The water was clean and crystalline. The light of the brilliant sun
star created sparkling ripples that resembled strewn diamonds across the
surface. This land was new when his ancestors and family first arrived and settled
here a long time ago. He was schooled on all the tales and history many times
over. Having been born here, this island was home and all that he’s known. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Their kingdom was surrounded
entirely by water for the purposes of protection and enhancing their natural affinities
and powers. His mother explained their lineage to him once he was old enough to
communicate although he was not yet quite able to understand what it meant completely.
What he knew was that his entire family was venerated by brethren of other races
and revered widely as the ruling peacekeepers of the water bearing regions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">As a toddler, his
favorite thing was to be outdoors, gazing up endlessly into the vast and
infinite skies, and marveling at all the Dragons gliding in arcing, circular,
and serpentine formations. Their white, gray, and blue scales glimmered like
armor plates against the light of the sun star. They were so magnificent and
exciting to watch. He couldn’t wait to find out what his Dragon form would look
like when he was able to morph and take flight too. No one, as he understood
it, ever did until on or after their 18<sup>th</sup> birthday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once he got a little older and was used to seeing
all the elder Dragons and soldiers doing their duties, all he truly cared about
was adventuring over the element dense landscape with all its natural and
hidden wonders. There was always something new to discover each time he managed
to stealthily elude the magnifying eyes of his bodyguards to go exploring. Building
things and creating magic tricks was exciting, but then it began to become lonesome
with no one to share in the discoveries or to show his creations and skills to.
Neither of his two older brothers shared his interests because they were more
interested in studies, fighting, and the females. His bodyguards, trainers, and
stewards couldn’t care less about what he was doing if he wasn’t hurt, and his
parents were always preoccupied with other important matters. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He didn’t really care to
hang around his brothers much anyway because they often teased him, especially
the eldest, Dayvid. At sixteen, Dayvid was six years older than he was and a often
cruel to him when his parents weren’t looking. He would constantly tell him
things like; he had been crapped out of the sky by a wandering archaic homeless
Dragon; found naked and dirty and floating in a box on the sea; or that he was regurgitated
from the pit of a dormant volcano because the earth Dragons didn’t want him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">While all the members of
his family possessed fine ash blonde hair and turquoise blue eyes, he was the
only one with slightly curly midnight black hair and mismatch-colored eyes. His
left eye was a bright cobalt and his right eye was a metallic silver. Had he
been adopted? Was it a genetic defect? He often wondered about that many times
but his parents and extended family all assured him that he wasn’t. To their
jubilance, he had inherited a unique chimeric trait that had not been seen in
their generations for a long time, and they wanted to ensure and preserve his
bloodline by attempting to find the perfect, compatible match for his mate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His loneliness soon became short-lived once
she arrived on the island along with her family. Their origins were unknown to
him, coming from a far off land that he had never heard of and that intrigued
him. She never had a chance to warm up to any of the other children here
because she was schooled at home and alongside her parents when they were
working. It only made him more determined to get to know and break her from her
shell of isolation whenever he saw her doing chores in her yard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">It was evident that she
and her parents were different and not of the same lineage as everyone else on
the island. Perhaps that was why the people in town either avoided or gossiped
about them frequently. Though their ignorance upset him, it also fueled his own
desire to befriend her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Once her parents began to
work for his parents, he was able to see her nearly every day and he quickly
became enamored with her beauty, her quiet yet kind nature, and her spunky
curiosity. They were poor yet brave refugees, his father explained to him. He
told him what being a refugee meant and reminded him of what their duties as the
ruling Dragon race of this kingdom entailed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">At first, he assumed that
she was shy or maybe just afraid of associating with him because of his status
and being monitored by his armed bodyguards, who were always never far behind
him. But after about a month of simply saying hello to her every day with a
smile and sharing lunches and sweet treats with her whenever he could, he had
finally succeeded in winning her trust.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Both he and she connected
in a way that he had never been able to connect with anyone outside of his
family, even with his own brothers. He often thought of her as his girlfriend,
especially when he held her hand . . . in a friendship meaning way, to help her
across a stream or to climb.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">His questions about her
roots and family lineage was met with sincere naivete. She didn’t know, which
was strange, but he didn’t care. They had quickly become inseparable, though
mostly in secret. It wasn’t long before she quickly became his favorite playmate
. . . and not long after, his unexpected crush.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He often wondered if she
felt the same way about him because he really liked her. Maybe one day he would
marry her if they stayed friends when they were older. That would make his
parents furious because of tradition and their plans for being the ones to find
and approve his mate. He imagined the chaotic scene and the expressions of horror
on the faces of his family when he suddenly introduced her as his wife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">That brought a satisfactory
smile to his lips. He instantly thought of her while meticulously working at
perfecting the ninety-degree angle of the beginning base of a grand sand fort. Whatever
this creation would become, he hoped it held up long enough for her to see. It
had been over a week since his best friend and he last hung out together and it
depressed him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Suddenly, feeling as if
he were no longer alone, the boy stood up and turned to face the sound of rapid
thumping approaching his location. Still holding a fistful of sand, he grinned
from ear to ear seeing her long, dark, locks flying wildly in the wind behind
her as she ran at full speed towards him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“There you are! I finally
found you!” She called out to him while waving her arms in a cheerful greeting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He beamed excitedly, “Hey!”
He waved back as his heart automatically started to beat faster. Seeing her
always gave him a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She was ecstatic, loving
the feel of the wind on her skin and the warmth of the sun bathing her face.
Even more so, to see and play with her super cute best friend in one of their
most favorite hidden coves along the shore of the ocean. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The pressing thick weight
of a mysterious heat arrived just before she did, and it seemed to be emanating
from her. Holy Gods! Standing in front of her was like standing in front of a
kiln! He thought in comparison and it puzzled him while he gave her a once
over. She seemed fine. Was that heat coming from her? Her skin didn’t look
flushed or red. It appeared to be the normal and flawless honey color he was
used to seeing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The sand was unnaturally
soft here but easily pliable when mixed with water, so they could easily build
sturdy bases for their structures. She immediately kicked off her sandals and
dug her bare feet deep beneath the sand. She wriggled and spread her toes,
feeling the fine granules sliding in between each of them. She wasn’t afraid of
insects or getting herself dirty, even in a dress, and he loved that about her.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He contemplated giving
her a hug, wanting to badly but wondering how she would take it and how her
skin would feel to his touch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“You’re all better.” He commented
with concern instead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Better?” Doe-eyed, her
brows knitted together in sincere confusion when she looked at him. She was so
cute when she did that. He thought to himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He couldn’t help but
stare at her now though. Something else was very different aside from the heat
surrounding her. Her eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">It was her eyes. They
were no longer a copper orange anymore. Now, they were like dark red rubies and
that captivated him. Why had they changed colors like that? Not that it would
be unusual or bad because his own eyes were two distinct colors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Yeah, your mom said you
were sick.” He reminded her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She didn’t answer right
away, appearing to be thinking at first, “Oh, yeah. I was sick.” She replied
carefully as if her answer had been rehearsed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He gave her a questioning
look while fully releasing the sand that had begun to slowly sift through his
fingers. Clapping and rubbing his hands together to shake off the residual
granules he then asked, “What did you have?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Um — I’m not sure. It was just a bug.” She
shrugged. Her uninterested response made it clear that she wasn’t going into
detail past that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He looked her over for
any marks, scars or bandages but saw none. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Were you throwing up?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She shook her head, “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Sleeping a lot?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Again, she shook her head
no.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Did you break out in
bumps or spots?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She giggled, “No spots.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Then what was wrong with
you?” He honestly wanted to know, concerned that her obvious physical changes
and the weird heat coming from her had something to do with her illness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The girl shrugged again, “I
was just hot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She brushed away a wisp
of hair from across her eyes. Her eyes were almost holographic in the light of
the sun and he was mesmerized.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">So that explains the wave
of heat surrounding her, he supposed. He licked his lips, still confused and
not quite sure why that vague answer bothered him so much. By nature, he was
very observant with an acute attention to details, and he was extremely
inquisitive more so than any other normal boy of ten should be. He had always
been told that by his elders. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Accepting her
explanation, he nodded, “Oh, so you had a fever. Well, at least you’re feeling
better again. You look different though.” He then noted, studying her sweet face
and her way too thin body. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She peered over at him, loving
the adorable way his wavy bangs cascaded messily over his pretty silver eye.
His family all had blonde hair except for him. What made him stand apart from
his brothers is what made her like him so much, plus he was the cutest of all
of them too. She trusted him because he was kind and funny. He understood and
accepted her as she was regardless of what everyone else thought, and he always
defended and stuck up for her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She wished she shared the
same status and lineage as his or like the other females that attended his
school. At least then she would have more of a chance of having him as a
boyfriend one day and their relationship would be blessed and accepted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She squinted, wondering
why he was so persistent instead of just wanting to play. “Different? You’re
being weird.” She chuckled with a shake of her head and then plopped down
beside him. She began to scoop some sand into a pile in front of her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“I was just worried about
you, that’s all.” He wanted her to know and he couldn’t help but blush when he
said it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She smiled at him and
cocked her head to the side. “I thought you’d be mad at me for not coming.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Well, at first I thought
I made you angry or something. No one told me anything about you when I asked.”
He explained.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She didn’t think anyone
would. Her mother and her father were both stern about keeping her ailment a
secret.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“My mom wouldn’t let me leave
the house.” Her petal soft pink lower lip stuck out in a pout.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“That’s understandable if
you were sick. She wanted to make sure you were better first.” He explained.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She didn’t reply or even
nod in agreement, occupied with staring down at the sand as if she were thinking
of something. He watched as she lazily drew circles in it with her big toe during
the momentary silence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Suddenly, her voice was
soft and wistful when her eyes returned to meet his, “You’ll always be my best
friend because you make me happy.” She beamed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Then, she paused with a
slight frown. The shimmer of excitement in her new red eyes temporarily waned when
she looked directly into his and said, “But you would make me really sad if you
found a new best friend and forgot all about me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He shook his head with
conviction, “I would never forget you. Don’t worry about that . . . especially
now.” He smiled with assurance and blushed once again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">His reply returned the sparkle
in her eyes and her smile radiated even more brighter this time. He was glad to
see it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Now? Why now?” She
cocked her head and inquired with wonder.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He scratched his cheek
and laughed a bit, “Nothing,” he shook his head. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He kneeled back down
beside her, continuing to study her features and wondering exactly what else
about her had changed and made her seem even more strange to him. When she
pushed a stray hair behind her ear, he caught a glimpse of the dark birthmark
behind her earlobe near her hairline. It resembled the shape of a candle flame
and the blue-violet mark was more pronounced now than it had been before. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Seeing she was no longer
interested in talking about her illness, the boy began to watch her work to
scoop, pat smooth, and form the sand into a rising mound. As her delicate hands
slid down the sides of the growing conical shape, the surface instantly became sleek,
turning into solid glass in their wake.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He gaped, eyes bugging in
amazement. Had she learned that trick from her father, the court Alchemist?
That was so cool! He wished he could sit with them and learn magic like that too.
It was a lot better than the magic he was accustomed to seeing and being taught
to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Whoa! How do you do
that?” He asked excitedly as he leaned over and ran a finger over the slick surface
of what used to be plain light brown sand. It was still hot to the touch and he
immediately drew his hand away. Why was it still so hot? He wondered in
fascination. His fingers became wet and cool and he quickly wiped them dry on
the side of his pant leg, but it was no use. They’d stay wet for a few minutes longer
until his skin had completely cooled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“I don’t know.” She
shrugged, not in the least impressed with or excited about her own unique
talent. He didn’t know much on alchemy, but he did know that it took an
extremely intense amount of heat and pressure to turn sand into glass,
especially that fast.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Did your father teach
you? Turning sand into glass?” He asked in excitement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She shook her head no,
wispy bangs swishing wildly back and forth across her forehead, “It’s not a
trick.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He was confused and disappointed
by her secrecy, figuring that she’d tell him anything as his best friend, but
he didn’t press it. He absently wiped his wet hand against his pant leg again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Did you get the flowers
I brought you?” He decided to ask shyly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She looked over at him and
smiled, “Yes, Thank you! They were so pretty!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He grinned big, proud of
himself. “You’re welcome.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She was severely
contagious, and her parents would not let him inside their house when he
brought her the flowers he had picked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">As far as she knew, the
truth was that she hadn’t been sick at all. Her entire body suddenly ignited
with heat and she became a walking furnace, hotter than the blazing coals in
their firepit. There were some moments when she became dizzy and nauseous
because of the sudden changes, but it wasn’t anything that she couldn’t stand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Regardless, her mother
wouldn’t let her leave the house even though she felt perfectly fine. She was
dead-set against her hanging out with her best friend, but she never told her
why. It made her mad that she never told her a lot of things, like why they had
to leave their homeland and cozy house to come here in the first place. She
hated it here at first but when she met the boy, that all changed for her. He was
so cute, and he made her laugh. She never understood why his parents seemed so
nice at first, and then they seemed like they didn’t want him to play with her
at all. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">His oldest brother was
mean to her and she didn’t like him. He often made fun of and teased her,
purposefully hurting her feelings in front of the other little girls in the
town so they would hate her too. Then they would all laugh at her, some trying
to pick physical fights with her because they said she had no business playing
with her best friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when no one else was around the eldest
brother’s treatment of her would change drastically. He would watch her in a way
that made her very uncomfortable. He tried to touch her on a few occasions, and
once even convinced her to climb the ladder to what he called, his secret treehouse,
while he held it steady when she was wearing a dress. He had gotten so angry
when Maxwell showed up unexpectedly and wanted to play too. She didn’t understand
why he didn’t want his own brother to play with them, too. Using her own
limited instincts, she took the opportunity to flee while they fought. To her,
Dayvid couldn’t be related to her best friend. He was far too creepy and mean.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She never said anything
to anyone about it, not even her best friend because she didn’t want him to
hate his own brother. Her mother already knew without her having to tell her
anything. After that incident, her mother watched him with a fiery gaze that
could instill fear in anyone, making sure that she no longer wore dresses and
skirts, and that she was never left alone with him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Her family worked for her
his family and the difference in their statuses was always reminded of both her
and the boy whenever his older brothers and stewards caught him playing with her.
It was why they had to play in secret, choosing to steal away on this side of
the island for privacy. They always chose a different play spot to keep his
spying brothers and bodyguards confused and guessing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Hey, come on. I found
this great place with many colorful rocks we can use for our castle.” He
suddenly piped up with excitement. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">At the mention of colorful
rocks, she suddenly remembered the gift she made for him in the pocket of her overalls.
“Oh, wait! Here, I made something for you.” She said as she fished it out of
her skirt pocket and held it up between her thumb and forefinger out towards
him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">It sparkled. About the
size of a small walnut, the jagged facets on the face of the stone twinkled with
intense clarity. The bluish tint inside caught the sun and cast brilliant
winking prisms of light dancing across his face. The longer he studied it the
more he realized the shape could have resembled somewhat of a heart. Then
again, maybe it only appeared to be heart-shaped to him out of hope, and that
thought made him blush once again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Wow, thanks!” His face
lit up with genuine awe as she placed it in his hand. It sizzled, immediately
causing cool water to well up into his cupped palm and completely immersing the
sparkling gemstone. Steam hissed and rose from the tiny pool in his hand as he
peered at the gem in admiration. The stone had been hot too? What was going on
with her? She absently rubbed her fingers together and fisted both of her small
hands. Even she seemed to be perplexed at what was happening to her, but she
didn’t know how to explain it or what to say.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“How did you make this?”
He wanted to know as he rolled it around in the water. No longer hot, he picked
it up and shook the cool water away. He held it up to the sun to admire its raw
brilliance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“From a coal in the
fireplace,” She grinned as if it was a secret she just couldn’t wait to share
with him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“I just pressed it in my
hands like this,” She demonstrated by bringing her hands together in front of
her in a prayer-like pose. “It got real hot inside. And after a few minutes and
some smoke the coal turned into a pretty rock,” She opened her hands again as
if to say, ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Voila!</i>’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She was so proud of
herself and pleased to see that he liked her gift.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">What an amazing skill! He
wished he could do this kind of magic too. His mother would love something like
this, he knew.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Can I watch you do
another one?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Only if you show me your
magic.” She replied with a challenging smirk.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He wasn’t sure how he made
water appear. It just happened. He had no idea how to trigger or control it.
Maybe that was the case for her too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“I don’t really know how
to do much, not like your magic, so maybe later. Anyway, let’s go gather some
of those fancy rocks.” Thrilled, he closed his fist around the shiny stone and jumped
to his feet while grabbing a hold of her small wrist.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Ow!” He shrieked and
swiftly jerked his hand away. A hiss of smoke curled from his fingers upon
contact with her skin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Her flesh was as hot as heated
ceramic. Biting his lip to keep from crying in front of her, he cradled his
painfully throbbing hand and observed the tender flesh of his palm through
watery eyes. It was blistered and red. The mysterious healing water from within
his body immediately began to surface and coat his freshly scalded skin with nearly
freezing water.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Fearful, she reached for
his hand to see what was wrong. “What’s wrong? What happened?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Was this why her mother didn’t want her to
play with him while she was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sick</i>? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He backed away from her before she could
make contact, “It’s nothing.” He quickly assured not wanting to make her worry
or feel bad for hurting him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Out of his periphery, the
space around her warped like ripples in water. His body automatically
counteracted, cooling him with cold moisture all over. His dampening clothes
began to stick to his skin like papier Mache. He hated that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">In no time, his natural
water affinity had both cooled and completely healed the heat blisters that
touching her had caused. He was astonished. He hadn’t experienced anything like
this with her before in all the times they played together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“I’m sorry.” She frowned.
Her response seemed filled with shame. He wasn’t sure if she understood what
just happened or maybe she did. She didn’t need to be sorry about it though.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“For what? I told you,
it’s nothing.” He laughed off, “See?” He held his wet hand up to prove it. Her
expression went from uncertain shame, to relief, and then inquisitiveness. “How
come you sweat so much?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“It’s not sweat.” He
defended, wiping his hands against his damp shirt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“It’s not?” She was
confused. She had always thought he sweat so much more than she did because he
was a boy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Why do you feel like
fire? Do you still have a fever?” He asked her in return.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She pouted as she placed
a hand over her own forehead, “I feel fine.” She took a step towards him with
her palm out, “Feel.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He hopped to the side
away from her, nearly tripping over his own feet and shook his head, careful
not to allow her to touch or graze him, “I — I believe you.” He stammered with
a nervous chuckle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She frowned again, hurt
by his sudden avoidance of her. He felt bad knowing that she and her family
often got the same reaction and hateful looks from the other townspeople
sometimes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Right now, he wanted
nothing more than to hug and maybe kiss her on the cheek to comfort her if
she’d let him. Maybe the strange heat coming from her was just a temporary
thing. They both stood silent for the next few seconds, unsure if they should
still play together or not. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Possessing a natural and
harmonious affinity to water, everyone in his family had the ability to both produce
and draw it from themselves or other living sources.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="color: white;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">‘We
are beings unlike those of man and this world. Water gives and sustains life,
which is why we rule with responsibility. You and your brothers will continue
to rule long after I am gone because we are the defenders of diplomacy and of
the weak.’</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Was something that his father, the King, reminded him
of daily as part of his schooling.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean
to make it seem like you have germs or something. Even if you did, I don’t care
if I catch them from you.” He wanted her to know and he meant it even though it
sounded weird.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She slowly smiled, her
red eyes sparkling like rubies and this time . . . she blushed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">After another brief
awkward silence, he cleared his throat. “Uh- well, come on, let me show you where
the rocks are.” He waved her on this time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Okay!” She chirped with
excitement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He loved seeing her happy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“JAIDE!” a female voice
abruptly called out from a distance and it made them both jump. It sounded like
her mother.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Her attention snapped to
the direction that she had initially come from. The boy’s heart hammered, prepared
to stand with and stick up for her in case she got in trouble for playing with
him. He didn’t understand why she would though. Her parents were nicer and more
accepting about their friendship. They didn’t seem to have a problem with the
two of them playing together as much as his parents did. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Jaide! Where are you?” She called out again,
the sound of her voice getting closer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“You didn’t run away from
your mom again, did you?” He asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Her crooked smile was
sheepish. Though she was quiet and shy, she had a rebellious nature that he
admired. That never worked for him though. His sass and opposition always got
him grounded or made to do extra difficult exercises during trainings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“I don’t want you to get
into trouble.” His plea was serious.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She giggled, “I won’t.
Don’t worry.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Are you sure?” He
worried for her sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She nodded an affirmative
and he finally accepted her assurance with a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Glancing in the direction
of her mother’s voice while she quickly slipped on her sandals Then, she turned
back to face him, “I don’t want her to know our spot. You’ll have to show me
the rocks next time.” She whispered as she turned to run off in the opposite
direction she had come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Wait, Jaide . . .” The
boy impulsively whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She stopped and turned to
face him. This time, he didn’t care if she blistered his skin again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He carefully leaned down
to kiss her molten hot cheek and drew away just before the searing heat of her
petal soft skin began to blister the tender flesh of his lips.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Thank you for the gift.”
He told her as he carefully and gently flipped an unruly tendril away from her face.
He gripped the precious gemstone in his hand to show her that he would never
lose it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The image of her
beautiful smile and the ecstatic glow in her eyes after his lips barely brushed
her cheek would be forever emblazoned in his memory. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Neither the boy nor the
girl realized that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">next time</i> would
never come for them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 150%; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "ar berkley"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">Chapter
1: </span></u><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 150%; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "ar berkley"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Present day, 16 years later: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .1in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .1in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The SUV slowed to a crawl
and eased alongside the curb on the other side of the street across from a
club. It was still dark at pre-dawn, about a quarter till six a.m. and in this
district, everything was dedicated to the night life so there was hardly any
foot traffic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .1in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Both traffic and flashing
neon lights were still active, lighting up enough of the front doors to offer
them a lit glimpse of it every few seconds. They were made of sleek black glass
with sparkling glow-in-the-dark trim surrounding the entrance. Pretty sheik for
nothing more than a rave warehouse. Nothing looked out of place, but he did catch
sight of a something small and white stuck to the front of the door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“This it?” The passenger
inquired, shifting in his seat to lean forward and give the venue a once over.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“It’s the address I was
given.” The driver replied while checking his cell phone again to be sure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The passenger nodded. “It
looks new. Is there a reason they chose this place? Do they own the club?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“How would I know?
Probably. Stop asking so many questions and just get the damned case.” The
driver snipped in reply with a huff of exasperation as he killed the engine, opened
the door, and stepped out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Donning expensive
business suits for cover, both men casually crossed the street. Hidden in a small
circular alcove beneath the awning, the front doors were tucked in shadow
several steps from the sidewalk. The passenger took off his sunglasses to read
the sign:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DELIVERIES
GO AROUND TO THE ALLEY ENTRANCE’</b> was neatly printed in the center of a
white sheet of paper.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“It’s says to go to the
alleyway.” He told the driver.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“The alleyway? We didn’t
agree on anything like that and we aren’t making any damned deliveries either.”
Agitated, the driver pulled out his cell phone to review the last call he
received on his phone. The number came up as private on his display earlier, but
he took the chance anyway and punched in the code sequence to call back the
last number.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“What?” The voice on the
other end was snappish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“I’m here at the agreed
time. Is anyone here or what?” He replied with impatience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Motha’ fucka,’ did you
read the damned sign? Take yo’ dumb illiterate ass to the back! Shit!” She
shouted tersely and clicked off to end the call before he could say anything
else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He immediately grew livid
over the brief insulting reprimand. No female had ever disrespected and talked
to him like that! Wait until he saw her face to face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His partner, who couldn’t help but overhear
the girl even though the phone was not on speaker, chuckled out loud.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">With clenched teeth, the
driver released a pissed exhale through his nose, “You think that shit was
funny?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Very.” The passenger
nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Good, then you get to go
in first. I may need a shield. You got your piece locked and loaded?” The
passenger pursed his lips in annoyance with a firm pat to show that he was
indeed armed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Their choice of weapons was
an alternative on the slim chance that these underground dealers were human. They
themselves would be able to defend easily against any other supernatural
threat. However, the last thing they needed was any attention drawn to their
choice of ‘business dealings’ from the SIU, let alone the human police.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both the stocky and the lean businessmen made
their way around the side of the club towards the alleyway. After a moment of
hesitation, they cautiously proceeded onward to the plain square metal door
next to a set of four dumpsters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">No potent smell of days
old neglected trash was odd, but they were grateful. However, it was almost
pitch black back here and it made him realize just why they told them to go
around back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">As if triggered by motion
once they stood in front of it, the door slowly began to open almost ominously on
its own. Had they been watched? Were they being watched now?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Taking the time to look
above and towards both ends of the alleyway in hopes of seeing a camera
somewhere but finding none, the driver finally focused his attention inside the
doorway. It was super dark inside the club, but they could still make out some
shapes and the start of a clear walkway leading into the darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Foo, come on in here and
hurry up!” a random female voice demanded from out of nowhere and it startled
them both. The voice was amplified as if she were talking into a microphone or
PA system. It sounded like the same girl that had answered the phone a moment
ago. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">With the briefcase tucked
securely under one arm, the passenger placed his free hand on his gun and
slowly entered first, attempting to adjust his vision before venturing further.
The driver was right behind him with a hand also ready on his gun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Why is it so fucking
dark in here?” the driver snapped.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Keep walkin’ forward. I’ll
tell you when to stop.” The female ordered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">They were being watched. Both
men grew even more wary about the unusual situation, remembering plenty of
horror stories that ended up badly for the trusting victims who knew better. Their
paranoia was confirmed when the door slammed shut and startled them both.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“You think this is a sting?”
The passenger whispered to the driver.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“I wouldn’t rule out
anything. Pay attention to any moving shadows.” The driver replied.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">If it was a set-up, they
were prepared. They were armed if needed, and were more than ready to fight to
the death otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Hey! Let’s see some
faces here!” The driver called out into the darkness of the club.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“You will. Keep moving.”
The response was curt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Sweating, and after a
brief hesitation, he urged the passenger on. “Keep your hand on the handle.” He
whispered as they continued to walk forward a few more feet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The disconnected voice
spoke again. “Set the case down and slide it forward.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“No way, I better see
someone with the item I’m buying first. The money is all here, you can count it
first if you turn on some fucking lights!” The driver demanded impatiently.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The loud pop of a spotlight
suddenly illuminated a conical beam over a shiny onyx floor. In the center of
the spotlight sat a twelve-inch high statue of a bearded Dragon curled in a
figure eight around a sword. Aqua blue gemstones completely encrusted the scales
of the Dragon and two emeralds were inset for its eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of their eyes bulged, gleaming with
fascination and greed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The statuette was indeed even
more glorious in person. The photos did it no justice, but was it real? Even if
it weren’t, the entire statue was completely encrusted in what appeared to be
very real precious sparkling jewels. It was clearly worth far more than their
asking price. This led the driver to believe that it must have obviously been
stolen, which didn’t matter to them so long as it was genuine. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">This mysterious charade
had gone on for long enough and it was pissing the driver off. This piece would
do them no good if they got killed in the process of obtaining it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“We’ll need to examine it
first. The money is all there, fifty-grand. We can make the exchange at the
same time . . . pending its authenticity.” The driver propositioned cautiously while
scoping out any movement beyond the darkness. A sudden plan of divergence to
the original deal began to weave its way to the forefront of his confident
criminal mind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Authenticity? Are you
questioning my sources?” A different, more softer tone admonished into the PA.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“You’re shittin’ me,
right?” He snapped back with an inconspicuous nod towards the passenger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">There was more than one
female here. Actually, there was more than five in all, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and for all they knew, they probably had specialized
weapons trained on them, ready to kill at her command. Though hidden, the
slightest of movements, scents, and heat signatures could be detected by the
two men and it made them edgy. They were currently at a severe disadvantage.
Their guns would be useless tools after all. He wiped his forehead and casually
slipped out of his suit jacket as to not make it seem purposeful. Removing any
or all valued clothing was customary practice when one was about to morph.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The slow but steady and
sharp clicking of high heels against the onyx floor began to approach them. Whirling
to face the direction of the footsteps, they were met with a massively powerful
and scorching force. It obliterated them both with precision on impact before
either one could even register what it had been. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Underneath the conical
light, the fireball quickly dissipated into nothing more than a wink, along
with the briefcase filled with counterfeit bills. The statuette managed to
withstand the intense heat of the fire, fully protected by the encrusted
diamonds. It shimmered and sparkled amid the growing pile of raining bits of
clothing and ashes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“How did you know for
sure?” the first girl asked their leader.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She kicked at a warped
and melted chunk of smoking black metal that used to be a gun buried beneath
the ashes with the toe of her boot. “They were willing to buy what they knew
was probably stolen, and a little too prepared for some kind of a fight.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">They all immediately
agreed with her sentiment and accurate assessment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Standing at the head of
the semi-circle that now surrounded the statuette and growing mound of
disintegrated flesh she said, “Ladies, this is definitely going to require an
industrial-sized vacuum cleaner.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "ar berkley"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><u><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "ar berkley"; line-height: 150%;"><u><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chapter 2: </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .1in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The cutesy chime of the
bell over the barred glass door resonated throughout the quaint jewelry store. It
was loud enough to gain attention but not enough to startle. The store had just
opened twenty minutes ago, but she didn’t expect for anyone to show up this
early on a weekday. Working carefully on perfecting the personalized engravings
inside the engagement ring diamond, she didn’t even bother to look up to greet
the unknown customer. Judging by the scents that immediately overwhelmed her,
she was already certain of two things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He was male . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and he wasn’t human. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">His hesitation in the
doorway was enough to garner her attention and she flicked her eyes up to assess
the new customer. He was young, maybe a little older than her twenty four
years, typical clean-cut, blonde-haired, blue-eyed— and all Dragon. A water
Dragon. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The store alarm was modified
to specifically identify supernatural beings. His entry triggered it and he was
keenly aware of its electronic scan. Her eyes traveled down to the bulge and
shape of a firearm beneath his blazer, and the ‘special’ police badge on his
hip as he scoped the boutique with curiosity and admiration.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">With already two strikes
against him as part of the police force and a water Dragon, she couldn’t care
less if he was an actual paying customer. The sooner he got the hell out of her
store the better.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Good morning.” His acknowledgment was
pleasant, and he flashed a non-hostile smile in her direction as he approached
the display counter. She remained perched on a stool behind the counter, her
workspace draped in soft cloth with her work tools scattered on both sides of
her main piece. Keeping mindful of his every move, she didn’t bother to remove
the magnifying lenses or her goggles when she glanced up at him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“You’ve got some really
unique pieces in here. This is a very nice establishment.” He complimented with
a nod. It was obvious he already knew the she was a of the Dragon species too,
which was probably why he was checking her out, attempting to search for a name
tag, and trying to focus past her lenses and goggles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Are you the owner?” He
then inquired.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Is there something you
need help with?” Her answer was less than courteous and laced with impatience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He was clearly taken
aback by her lack of customer service skills.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“I’m Detective Adrian Lorza,
head of the SIU here in the city. You are?” He held his hand out for her to
shake. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“The owner.” She flatly
replied, refusing his friendly gesture.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He slowly withdrew his
hand, wondering if she were telling the truth or trying to give him a hard-time
on purpose because of who he was or why she thought he was here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">When she failed to attach
a name to her response, he smiled and pressed his lips. “I see.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She was cute but full of
shit, cocky, and lacking manners. She was way too young to own a high-end
jewelry store like this. If anything, she was probably the owner’s daughter or
grand-daughter. Her millennial attitude was irritating, but he maintained his
cool so that he could successfully establish some sort of rapport with this new
Dragon run business.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How long have you guys been at this
location?” He then inquired.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“If you’re not here to
buy anything, I really need to concentrate and finish this. I don’t have time
for small talk or twenty useless questions.” She pointed down at the princess
cut pink diamond set in a vise clamp with the tip of her engraving laser pen.
She had completely ignored his question.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Stunned by her rudeness,
he gave her a once-over. Her long, thick dark hair with subtle red highlights
was neatly pulled back into a pony tail, and she was petite from what he could
see. She had delicate soft hands and full naturally pink lips with a light
glaze of gloss. She wasn’t wearing much make-up, but she had an amazingly
smooth and even-toned honey complexion. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The goggles and lighted
magnifying lenses clipped to the front of them made her eyes appear distorted
and huge, like they would appear behind thick bifocals or like an anime
character. It was hard to tell what they truly looked like. At this rate, it
didn’t seem like she was going to be polite and remove them at all either.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">When he didn’t specify
his reason for stopping by, she continued working as if he weren’t even there.
He studied the pieces that she handled with great care. A hand-carved infinity
symbol had been perfectly etched onto the face of the diamond. He watched in
awe as she carefully squeezed a tiny drop of epoxy onto that piece and then gently
aligned and placed the top portion of the polished pink diamond back onto the
main piece with fine point tweezers. The final creation was a charming and
meaningful engagement ring. It bore an infinity symbol with two sets of perfect
cursive initials inside each of the ovals, and it appeared to be floating inside
the diamond.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He figured this was a
task more than likely done by a laser machine or something, so he was
fascinated and beyond impressed by her technique and crafting precision. Young
or not, her hands were amazingly steady and gentle, and she was skilled. It was
a huge tinted diamond, and he estimated the stone to be at the very least,
possibly four to five carats. Way out of his salary range, that was for sure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“The reason I stopped by
is because there’s been some unsavory criminal activity a few blocks over
unrelated to humans if you get my drift.” He suddenly spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She paused and then
slowly looked up at him, waiting for him to go on. That seemed to get her
attention. He reached into the pocket of his blazer and pulled out a few cards.
One being his business card and the others being passes for the grand opening
of a Museum dedicated to the supernatural, which was owned by one of his cousins.
It was a statement of their known presence in the city among adoring humans.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He thumbed back towards
the door. “That’s a very sophisticated alarm system you have there. Who’s the
manufacturer?” He queried next.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“It isn’t an alarm,” She
stated without looking at him, “It’s my own personal database.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He gaped. “Personal
database? What kind of information are you collecting?” He demanded to know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“You might have missed it
when I said, personal.” She casually reiterated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">No respect for his authority
or being an elder, not that he was that much older than she appeared to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking a deep mental breath, he veered towards
another approach. “It sounds impressive. Mind if I have a look at your set up?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She met the intensity of
his gaze with an offended glower. “Not unless you have a warrant.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“I could get one if I
need to.” He challenged.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She sighed and
straightened in her seat, clearly more agitated than afraid of his threat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Then you’d better get
one . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and good luck with it.” Her
reply sounded imperious. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Was that an underlying
threat? He frowned and studied her indecisively. Remain proactive and calm, Adrian,
he coached himself. She’d better be thankful he was opting to disregard it and not
cite or arrest her on the spot for it. Perhaps he needed to remind her of that.
Surely, she couldn’t be that naive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Though neither one of
them raised their voices the entire time, the direction of this conversation
was going to gradually get there real soon at this rate. As a law enforcement
official, he had to maintain his composure and set the example though.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Without even knowing her,
he could already tell she was going to be a major pain in his ass. She managed
to irk him, and her low-brow threat was logged into his own mental database. He
grunted in annoyance. He didn’t come in here to make enemies, not initially
anyway. Unless she was bullshitting him, he would eventually gain permission to
check out this so-called, ‘database’ she referenced. For now, he decided to
keep the peace and maintain a friendly and non-intimidating back and forth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He remembered the promise
that he made to his cousin earlier in the week. That he would spread the word
and give a few tickets out before Friday. Sweet. A peace offering.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Given the value of all the merchandise you
have here, you can never be too careful, so here’s my card,” He set his
business card down on the counter in front of her first, “Have the owner give
me a call if you guys ever run into any kind of trouble.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She scowled at him, barely
peering down at his formal official title on the card.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“I appreciate the concern,
but I won’t ever need to call you guys.” She calmly assured him with
confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Not only blatantly
disrespectful but bold, however, her response was interesting. He noted how
slyly she insisted once again that she was indeed the owner of this boutique.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Remaining professional,
he smiled, “You never know. In addition, here are two free VIP tickets to the
grand opening of a new museum this Saturday. It isn’t far from here, directions
are on the back.” He explained as he placed the printed tickets next to his
business card.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“What kind of museum?”
She asked to indifferently, not even bothering to look at them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Run of the mill beings, you
know, like us.” He smiled down at her flirtatiously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She stared up at him
through the goggles for several seconds before finally setting her tools down, licking
her luscious lips with a sigh, and then carefully removing the magnifying lens
and goggles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Once they were removed he
straightened his posture and his breath caught. She was stunningly gorgeous,
and he was mesmerized by her intense ruby red eyes fringed underneath long,
thick ebony lashes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Caution immediately
gripped him the longer he gazed into her alluring eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Oh shit. She’s a
full-fledged fire Dragon. A fucking Incendiary? How the hell could he have not
picked up on that immediately when he first walked in while she was able to
sense him? Incendiaries were wild, unpredictable, and extremely deadly by their
very nature. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">In short, they are considered
to be quick-tempered and crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Her bold threat and statement
of not needing the police for any assistance made perfect sense now. They
didn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Remembering the death and
destruction that only one had inflicted on their island hometown sixteen years
ago verified that fact. From what he’s heard and studied, the fire of an
Incendiary was excruciating, target specific, and swift. Once you were a
target, you were as good as dead and there was no escaping your fate. Incendiaries
can ignite heat and fires both from the outside and within and are very
difficult to douse if at all. They have a notorious reputation and history of
being paid assassins, because they could efficiently kill from afar without
leaving any trace evidence or bodies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">His instincts made him
very uneasy and worried that fire Dragons have set up shop and put roots down
here. It spoke volumes. This was a big city with a huge population of all sorts
of supernatural beings and mainly water and earth Dragons. All supernatural
beings either visiting or living here permanently were required to register
their lineage and identity with the city and the police department. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">As far as he knew, there
was no record of any fire Dragons since he’s been a part of the Supernatural
Investigation Unit. It was a good thing he did finally stop by to take
inventory today. He’d have to do some fast research of the owners if that
pulled up anything. Then, he’ll need to inform everyone in the SIU unit as well
as Maxwell and the others to be aware and on their guard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“There are a handful of desperate
Pixie prostitutes on the other side of town that would love the business if
they were invited.” She flat out declined.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Ouch. Hot or not, she
certainly was a contemptuous bitch. Maintaining his stance and air of
authority, he leaned onto the glass display case as if divulging a juicy tidbit
to her, careful not to disturb any of her work tools. “You know, simply just
telling me to shove them up my ass would’ve been more direct and a lot less
offensive.” Adrian finally returned her bitter sarcasm. To his surprise, his
response managed to get a very subtle smile to lift the corner of her mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Well, maybe some of your
customers would be interested then,” He offered, stacking a few more cards on
top of the first two. “At any rate, you can never be too careful, so keep us in
mind anyway. We should all be looking out for one another always. You have a
wonderful day.” He winked with a nod as he turned to head towards the door. He
glanced back at her once with a smile as he let himself out. She watched him
walk down the sidewalk past the panoramic glass window and out of sight to the
right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Adrian immediately phoned
in a favor to get a urgent background business check on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eye of the Beholder</i> jewelry boutique,
and then called Maxwell.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">He seemed awfully tense suddenly,
she noted. Once he was gone, she reluctantly picked up one of the museum passes
and skimmed over it: ‘VALID FOR 1 VIP ENTRY INTO THE MUSEUM OF SUPERNATURAL LEGENDS
AND LORE.’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">How pointless and tacky,
she thought to herself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">The address was followed by
the name of the host and owner printed along the bottom of the card. Maxwell
Nerios. Nerios? That surname instantly slashed open an old wound that had been overstuffed
with both rage and sadness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">She managed to keep those
emotions in check for a long time now, but a sudden deluge of memories nearly
made her wince out loud at the bitter ache. Out of mechanical reflex, a bright
red flash fire popped and incinerated the pass held between her fingers into
barely a few flakes of black ash.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Miki soon entered the boutique
with coffee and breakfast in hand and Denise followed quickly in her wake,
breaking her from her momentary thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Hey Boss, sorry. The
line was ridiculously long this morning, but I managed to get you the last two of
those fruit and walnut Danishes you wanted.” Miki announced as she set the bag
and drink tray on the draped display case.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Morning, Boss. Why was
that cop here?” Denise wondered with a nod in the direction he had gone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">When she didn’t answer
her, both girls looked at each other with caution. They were unsure of what to
make about her current mood past possibly having something to do with an unannounced
visit from law enforcement. The stool screeched abruptly as she stood up and
the sharp sound made them both jump.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Is something wrong?”
Miki asked with sincerity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Meeting tonight at my
place. Get the girls together. We need to talk.” She stated. She bypassed the
breakfast that she specifically requested and headed towards her office in the
back, closing the door firmly behind her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Miki bit her lip, staring
at the shut office door. As a spirit Dragon and empath, she interpreted the
closed door as symbolic when it came to their Boss. It was typical with her no
matter how hard she tried to establish a deeper connection in the last four
years of their friendship. She was so young, and she could feel that her soul
craved closeness, but at the same time she rejected it. Her Boss was good at maintaining
the space around herself and guarding it well with avid sarcasm and underlying
coldness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“Damn. Didn’t mean to
piss her off this early. I was only two minutes late.” Denise whispered as she
placed her purse in the under counter storage locker and began to straighten a
display stand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Miki stood with a hand
fisted at her hip in thought. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">“That wasn’t anger. She’s
not mad.” She assured.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together no-line-numbers; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">INCENDIARY: TASTE OF FIRE: Release date TBA 2018 </span>© 2018 Author Susan Reid</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE ENJOYED THIS EXCERPT. I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT WHERE I'D LIKE TO TAKE IT, AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANY FEEDBACK!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I STILL DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO MAKE THIS A STANDALONE OR A SERIES, SO IF YOU LIKED WHAT YOU READ SO FAR, PLEASE COMMENT ON YOUR THOUGHTS AND VOTE!! THANKS SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ OR SCROLL UNTIL THE END!</span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "ar berkley"; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-36680082901165131842018-01-25T17:55:00.003-06:002018-01-25T17:55:36.731-06:00Sanctuary of a Night Owl...Newest edition to my writing sanctuary!! :) LOVE IT!!!<br />
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<br />Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-83093459538304373482018-01-10T07:07:00.000-06:002018-01-10T07:19:30.246-06:00FREE e-books on #smashwords still going until Jan 15th...<br />
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So many of you took advantage of the chance to download ALL of my books #FREE via #smashwords!! I certainly do appreciate the support and hope you enjoy the e-books ☺! Please let me and others know how much you liked them too by leaving a rating OR review. It means so much to an author. If you haven't gotten them yet, you still have until the 15th! Use the coupon codes here on my page!<br />
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** I know I am long overdue in releasing new books but trust that those are still coming, and I may be releasing more than 1 with yet the first book in another new series!!** Teaser excerpts coming soon....Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-47088822381974048782017-12-30T09:47:00.000-06:002017-12-30T09:47:15.533-06:00RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR...2018!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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HAPPY NEW YEAR, NEW CHANCES, NEW LOVES, NEW ADVENTURES, NEW RISKS, NEW EXERCISE REGIMENT, NEW YOU..</div>
BE BETTER EVEN BETTER IN 2018!!Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-54428232339827714612017-12-27T13:57:00.001-06:002017-12-27T13:57:52.494-06:00#SMASHWORDS Winter #SALE! ALL loOF MY EBOOKS WILL BE FREE FOR 2 WEEKS!! DON'T MISS OUT!<br /><b><span style="color: cyan;">#SMASHWORDS </span></b>end of the year <span style="color: cyan;"><b>#SALE! </b></span>Even better than that! For the next 2 weeks, you can get <b><span style="color: cyan; text-decoration-line: underline;">ALL,</span> yes,<span style="color: cyan; text-decoration-line: underline;"> ALL</span></b> of my books for <span style="color: cyan;"><b>#FREE!</b></span>! Don’t miss this one time only offer!! <br /><br /><br /><b><u><br />Divinity the Gathering Book 1</u></b><br /><br />Always Free!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/432740">www.smashwords.com/books/view/432740</a> <br /><br /><b><u>Divinity Transcendence Book 2</u></b><br /><br />Promotional price: $0.00<br /> Coupon Code: <b>TN69N</b><br /> Expires: January 15, 2018<br /> Description: <br /> Redemptions (max): N/A<br /> Public: Yes<br /><br /><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/437032" target="_blank">www.smashwords.com/books/view/437032</a> <br /><br /><b><u>Divinity Immolation Book 3</u></b><br />Promotional price: $0.00<br /> Coupon Code: <b>LB27Q</b><br /> Expires: January 15, 2018<br /> Description: <br /> Redemptions (max): N/A<br /> Public: Yes<br /><br /><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/472595" target="_blank">www.smashwords.com/books/view/472595 </a><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><div>
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Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-18947901833710769282017-12-27T13:06:00.002-06:002017-12-27T13:06:28.335-06:00Just dropping a quick FYI that many already know..... :D<div style="text-align: center;">
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Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-36953548260133714102017-11-03T22:05:00.000-05:002017-11-03T22:10:53.165-05:00Author Spotlight...Please welcome Author Tiffany Apan!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am so pleased to have and host a multi-talented Author, Tiffany Apan and her newest book in her Birth Rite Series!! </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway at the bottom after enjoying her teaser excerpt from </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">KINDRED (THE BIRTHRITE SERIES, #2)!</span></b></div>
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<b>Kindred (The Birthrite Series, #2)</b><br />
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<b>by Tiffany Apan<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">SYNOPSIS/BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">It is the summer of 1933 and nearly two years since that fateful Halloween night in Plains, New York.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, eighteen-year-old Cletus Blake spends his days working to help his family through the massive economic recession spreading throughout the United States and many other areas of the world. As society struggles to accept that the economic surge of the 1920s are long gone, Cletus also clings to the memory of his last phone conversation with his cousin Dorothy. Having formed and maintained a relationship with two of her close friends - the recently married Reginald and Gail Carr Johnson - the three find solace in regular communication with one another.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Like Dorothy, Cletus possesses supernatural abilities inherited through his bloodline. His vivid dreams and visions - including ones of a beautiful young Romani woman and twin baby boys - continue to increase in strength. Meanwhile, Reginald and Gail begin falling prey to dark adversaries that have been lying in wait.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Evil surrounds at every turn, old friends race to help, and ancient evil re-emerges. A war between worlds brews beneath the surface, threatening to rip the protective seams that keep the portals sealed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Then in the midst of it all, Cletus happens upon a caravan traveling through his Ohio town. The very familiar Romanichal family's history ties not only to his own past, but to all the kin of the four men that experienced worlds outside of their own on that summer solstice in 1844. All are linked to a future that will reunite the Blakes and the Livingstons, two families that at one time, shared a very unlikely friendship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Kindred is the second full-length novel in The Birthrite Series. Picking up from where Descent and Sacred Atonement: A Novelette left off, the story continues to challenge all that is known about light and dark, good and evil. Passion, intrigue, and secrets abound as history unravels. Revelations uncovered in previous installments are given new perspectives, taking the reader on a thrilling ride into a world where nothing is ever what it appears to be.</span></span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A CHILD’S NIGHTMARE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">October 25, 1831<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The boy stirred, still half asleep as faint whispers drifted close to where he lay. One of voice stood out among the rest, calling to him, drawing nearer until it was as loud as a clap of thunder.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> He awoke with a start, sitting up and staring into the inky black as the voices ceased. Taking in deep breaths, he felt the chill in the still quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When his eyes adjusted, he averted his gaze toward the floor. He knew what was downstairs and who was laid out in the parlor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Slowly, the boy climbed out of bed, his bare feet touching the cold wood floor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shivering, he considered lighting a candle. At least it would add a little cheer. But he recalled his parents saying something about the current shortage on rather expensive wax. Thus, he braved the darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Drawing in a breath, he moved through the second floor of the house, feeling an outside force pulling him toward the stairs. He descended, continuing his steps until reaching the parlor. He approached the chaise on which his older brother was laid out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The boy’s vaporized breath was visible as he leaned over the young man’s corpse. As the child stared down at the dead twenty-one-year-old, the whispering started again. He turned around to see a shadow rise from the floor in a far corner of the room. The boy trembled as the dark mass increased in size.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A rustling from behind broke his stare. Slowly, he turned to see his brother, rising to sit with eyes wide open.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The boy was paralyzed with fright as the young man's head slowly turned to face him. The corpse pointed to the corner in the room from where the shadow was rising. Then the boy’s brother’s jaw dropped, letting out a horrifying, choked scream…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">…The little boy sat bolt upright up in bed, frantically looking about the cold dark room. Letting out a shaking breath, he willed himself to remain calm. His thoughts immediately went to his brother, who was now at seminary. Bewilderment filled him as he wondered of the reasons for having such a terrifying dream. As far as he knew, his brother was not at all ill and was doing well in training for the priesthood. He was about to graduate, among the best in his class.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The young one laid back down, but found it impossible to shake the remaining dread. For as long as the two were able to recall, he and his brother both experienced prophetic dreams. He hoped that this dream was merely symbolic of something other than the horror that it showed. Perhaps by joining the priesthood, his brother’s former self would symbolically “die” before being reborn once he was ordained.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the child tried to focus on keeping this in mind, a noise from behind made him freeze. His breath grew rapid as he tried moving, only to find his limbs stiff. Something was creeping up on him in the dark.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The boy shut his eyes, praying for whatever it was to disappear. In the blackness of his tightly closed eyes, a landscape appeared before him, one engulfed in purple light. He also had a feeling of being pursued.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Finally, the scene disappeared and his eyes opened. His body trembled as he looked around to see who (<i>or what</i>) was in the room with him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: white;">There was no one else.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">CHAPTER 4<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pennsylvania Railroad Station in <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">June 22, 1933<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thursday Evening<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The clock on top of a large, stone pillar just outside of the railroad station stated the time as five 'o' clock as the next train was pulling in. The locomotive came to a slow, grinding halt, waking Cletus from sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His vision was hazy as he glanced out the window, seeing parts of the town called Wilkes-Barre. He closed the thick copy of <i>Les Miserables </i>in his lap before rising to collect his small suitcase.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the other passengers filed off, the young man's attention was once again drawn toward the window. His eyes fell to a corner that was a short distance down from the train. He wrenched slightly, squinting when he saw a tall, dark figure that seemed to be staring at the train.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(<i>staring right at the window that Cletus’s seat was next to)<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus’s blood froze as he could feel eyes boring into him. Disconcerting sensations crept out from his core and the figure seemed to go unnoticed by those passing it by on the sidewalk.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The young man attempted to place the figure’s identity, fearing that perhaps this was Gavril, but his efforts were blocked by another vision of Plains. He had a sudden sensation of floating through the town. A blurred halo framed his vision of the Colonial and Victorian homes lining the street. <i>We could easily drive out there...<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Such thoughts were seeping into every corner of his mind, beckoning, placing him into a more deeply lulled and hypnotized state…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Are you all right?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Like a splash of ice water, awareness hit him. The question that shook him from his trance was spoken by a rather pleasing voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus averted his gaze from the window to find a rather attractive young lady gazing at him. Her eyes reflected concern…and slight flirtatiousness. The remaining sunlight filtering in through the windows gave her light brown hair a lovely sheen, and her deep blue eyes were set off by the blouse she wore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus inhaled. "Yeah...yeah I'm fine. Just a little tired from traveling. Thanks." He motioned for her to go on ahead of him. When she did, he took another glance out the window, jolting slightly upon seeing that the figure was gone. After taking a second to collect himself, he started down the aisle after her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Upon reaching the door, the girl faced him again. "Can I ask where you're coming from?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His heart pounded. "Dayton, Ohio."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Oh, do you have family out here?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Uh, yeah. Friends, actually. And a distant cousin."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"You're visiting."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rather awkward silence passed between the two as they stepped onto the stone walkway. As new passengers boarded the train, he tried ignoring her sideways glances at him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"My name is Christina," she offered. "I'm actually from Delaware, but I'm moving because of a new job. I was recently hired as a hospital receptionist. I'm not too terribly thrilled about leaving my family behind, but I suppose we should all be grateful for any employment these days."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Yeah, definitely.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I do have to stay in town overnight," she continued (obviously not willing to allow them to go their separate ways), "and then I board a train to New York. Plains, to be exact."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus flinched upon hearing the town's name. A vision of the old Blake house on Muholland materialized before him, causing him to pause once more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, again returning him to the present.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Oh, yeah...yeah. Just a bit of lag..."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She smiled. "Well, I 'm famished. Train food isn't exactly what I would call appetizing. Or suitable for human consumption."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He allowed her a slight grin. "You’re right about that."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Her sapphire eyes reflected a sort of coyness. "I was planning on getting something to eat. I hear there are a few good diners in these parts."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus's stomach flipped as he regarded this young woman called Christina. While his ability to read people was not as strong as Dorothy's, he could easily see that this girl had hopes in him offering to come with her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His blood raced as he knew that if his buddies, Patrick, Rob, and Grant, were here, they would be urging him to accept her invitation, calling him crazy if he didn't. And if one thought on it, there was no reason for him not to. This young woman was attractive and seemed to have a good head on her shoulders. <i>I could invite her along with Reg, Gail, and I…or at least get the number to where she’s staying… </i>But as it had been with other girls that briefly entered his life, he knew nothing would ever happen with Christina. Because Christina was not <i>her.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(<i>It's a blessing and a curse</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Finally, Cletus cleared his throat. "Well, good luck with everything. I'm sure you'll do well. My friends are waiting for me here so I gotta run and I have to make sure I phone my girlfriend before it gets too late. But it was nice meeting you, Christina."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He turned away, never looking back as he felt her crestfallen gaze. He also tried shaking away the foolish feeling he had over the excuse of phoning a girlfriend that did not exist.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sure enough, not too far away, Reginald and Gail waited for him. Relief filled Cletus as he smiled and waved to his friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald grinned. "We were starting to wonder if you backed out."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus quickened his pace as he approached the couple and shook hands with Reginald. "Sorry. I dozed off on the train and it took me a little while to wake up."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Yeah, well we actually did see you get off but didn't want to interrupt." Reginald winked. "Looked like you were making a new friend."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus's eyes shifted nervously toward no place in particular. "Oh...that was nothing much. Just small talk." He anticipated telling them of the Gypsy girl at some point during this trip.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Well in that case,” Gail said, “I can see even more family resemblance between you and Dorothy. I think you broke the poor girl's heart. How was the train ride?" She gave her girlfriend's cousin a brief hug.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Long," Cletus replied. He parted from Gail and the three started toward the Johnsons' car. "Nothing but cows and fields as far as the eye could see."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald laughed. "How exciting. No wonder you fell asleep."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Yeah, not even Victor Hugo could keep me awake,” Cletus said grinning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“That’s pretty bad,” Gail said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Upon arriving at the car, Reginald opened the trunk for Cletus to set his suitcase and book in before going to get the passenger door for his wife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As Cletus settled into the back seat, and Reginald and Gail in the front, a brief moment of melancholy crept among the three. It was especially evident when Reginald glanced back at Cletus through the rearview mirror. There was something in the other young man's eyes, and that same energy radiated from Gail.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In an instant, the moment was broken and Reginald started the car, pulling out of the station parking area and onto the road. The silence between the three was broken when the young man in the drivers’ seat asked, "How's life in Ohio?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Well, as I said in my last letter, I'm still working a lot," Cletus replied. "Trying to help mom and dad with expenses and such, along with saving up for my own car and place."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald sighed. "I completely understand. It took me a good year to save up for the vehicle I have now. By the way, we tried making the couch as comfortable as possible. You're absolutely sure you don't want our room? It's still up for grabs."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Oh, I'm positive. Thank you, though," Cletus replied. "The couch will be fine."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Well, if you change your mind, let us know. As of this moment, we can only afford a one-bedroom apartment. Hopefully that will change, but with the economy being the way it is, we can only play it by ear."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"It gets especially interesting when our families come to visit," Gail added. "Someone always ends up on the floor."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Yeah, and that someone is me," Reginald said dryly. "Of course we allow anyone visiting use of our bedroom. Gail gets the couch and I'm on the luxuriously comfortable floor."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"My man is a tough sheik," Gail said, leaning in to kiss her husband's cheek.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"And this tough sheik's back is always screaming at him the next morning," Reginald quipped.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gail's dark eyes regarded Reginald, as if to say, <i>a</i><i>nd you know I always take care of that later.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus watched the couple as images of the young Romany woman from his dreams entered. He thought of Christina back at the station, feeling guilt over dismissing her in such a way. He also nearly laughed out loud over telling her of a girlfriend that didn’t exist (<i>at least not in the physical realm…</i>). <i>But leading her on wouldn't be right either.</i> Somehow, some way soon, he and this Romani girl were supposed to meet. Just how, he was unsure, but eventually it would happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus's thoughts were interrupted when Gail turned around in her seat. "There are a couple more sights we'd like to show you while you're here," she said. "Also, we still attend Mass on Sundays if you would like to join us."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus raised his eyebrows. "We? You mean you're taking the plunge and joining the fold, Reg?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald shrugged. "I'm considering it. Staying in touch with Father Louis has been a huge help, if you know what I mean."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus did know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In that moment, he saw Plains once again in his mind's eye. Visions of the library with the painted portrait of its founder, James Livingston, life-like and staring back at him. The scene shifted, and Cletus was shown his cousin's old, now vacant home before being taken to Gregory the Great Church. He could see Father Louis seated inside his chamber, reading over what appeared to be documents of great importance. Within seconds, the vision dissipated into the air and he could see Gail looking back at him, her brown eyes inquisitive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus nodded as if to reassure her that all was well. Of course, the three knew better, and Cletus found the wistful expression in her eyes rather disconcerting. She seemed to force it away, allowing her old brazen self to return.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"On the way to Tahatan's," she said, "we pass though Elmhurst. There is a beautiful set of Gothic buildings inhabited by an order of monks. Maybe we can stop and have a look tomorrow."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus nodded. "I'd like that."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I do think the architecture would be of great interest to you," Reginald added. "But in the meantime, who wants to grab a bite to eat?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I wouldn't mind," Gail replied.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Me neither, "Cletus said. "I could definitely go for a burger."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald grinned. "It's settled then."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Within a few minutes, the car pulled up beside Mildred's Diner<i> </i>where they had eaten during Cletus's last visit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">During their time inside the restaurant, the group discussed college, jobs, and other aspects of their lives not related to the events experienced two Novembers ago. All three chose to avoid what needed discussed in favor of a few sweet moments of normalcy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Normalcy that they knew would not last.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was close to midnight when Reginald and Gail retreated to their bedroom, once more offering their guest accommodations better than the couch. As before, Cletus politely declined and proceeded to make himself comfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">T</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">his isn't so bad, </span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">he thought, settling back and gazing toward the ceiling, recounting the evening’s events.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a little after seven ‘o’ clock when the three left the diner and arrived at the Johnsons’ apartment. They stayed in the sitting area for about four hours more, conversing into the night, touching briefly on what would be discussed at Tahatan's, though underlying dread over delving back into the devastating events was ever present. Now alone in the dark, Cletus decided to not dwell on such things for at least that time. This included the mysterious figure from the railroad station (which he also refrained from telling his two friends…at least for now, he told himself).<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His eyes started adjusting and looked out to the moon hanging in the sky. He could hear noises on the street below and was reminded of how different this area was from his rural life in Ohio.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His mind started wandering and his eyes grew heavy. Suddenly he was drifting over a large field where two little boys, one with dark hair and the other fair, played. He had seen these two children several times in recent years after falling into sleep. The boys were running around with a ball and oblivious to the hooded figure standing at the edge of a distant forest. Beside the cloaked individual was a young man dressed in the nineteenth century attire of a peasant or slave.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As Cletus drew closer, he could see the young man's dark complexion and wavy black hair that reached the collar of his shirt. He felt a certain kinship, and - after getting close enough to see his features – knew who he was.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Nicolae... </span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Cletus could place some physical resemblance between the Romany slave and Dorothy's friend Jimmy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When he turned back toward the two little boys, they vanished before his eyes and the scene shifted from day into night. The field around him disappeared and Cletus found himself on a dark, deserted road. Up ahead was a sign. He ran toward it, the balmy wind blowing back his clothes and hair. His steps slowed as he felt the cold, rough pavement beneath his feet. The moon illuminated the street sign, seeming to specifically cast its glow for the young man to read the letters etched into the wood:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hunters Highway <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Above that sign, two connected arrows pointed in directions opposing one another. The top one read <i>Stone Creek </i>and the bottom, <i>Pinewoods. </i>Both towns where 25 miles from where he stood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He gasped at the familiarity of the town names and felt a draw toward the latter. But when his eyes snapped open, he was back on the couch in the apartment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He turned back over to face the window, and his insides jolted upon seeing a face appear just outside the glass pane. He sat up, only to have the shape vanish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus tried forming a rational explanation for what he saw, but it was a futile attempt. Chills enveloped his body as he glanced about the dark room. Faint whispers seeped in through the walls. Frozen to where he sat, he tried making out what was being said, but the words proved inaudible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As his body gained mobility, he considered heading to Reginald and Gail's bedroom, but couldn't move quickly enough, as though he were fighting his way through quicksand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eventually, the whispers faded out and the air was overtaken by the distant sounds of a piano playing a familiar piece by the composer DeBussy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The song to the moon...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To his relief, Cletus's movement became more fluid and he was able to rise from the couch. He flinched when his foot touched an icy wood floor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His eyes darted about and breath hitched when he saw the property of the Fleming Orphanage surrounding him. The summer breeze turned into a crisp, autumn chill as the song flowed with the wind that carried it. Leaves fell from their branches, blanketing the ground, seeming to undulate with the notes being played.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He was compelled toward the woods, feeling Dorothy's presence and the grave danger she was in by being here. Confused and disoriented, he looked around, calling out to her, but she was nowhere in sight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His voice was getting lost in the wind stirring up as it carried DeBussy's song. The woods and empty buildings of the former orphanage took on menacing shapes, as if they were alive and mocking him. Every fiber of his being wrenched when he heard a distant howling from somewhere in the woods. His breath grew rapid as his lungs took in the icy air. The song to the moon faded and the sound of someone humming another familiar tune took over.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <i>All the Pretty Little Horses...<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus tried moving in the direction of the hill, knowing that it would take him away from the property, but the wind increased in strength and invisible arms seemed to hold him back. He heard the howling again, only this time, it was much closer, sounding unlike any animal he knew of. A foul stench started crawling out from the buildings as the windows radiated a deep red glow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(Like blood...)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The glow pulsed, spreading throughout the property as the stench of death and decomposition engulfed him. His body stiffened upon hearing a bloodthirsty growl closing in behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He tried to run, but his feet were planted to the earth. He could sense it inching closer, crunching over the cold, drying leaves. The creature's rancid breath assaulted his nostrils before it let out a deafening roar. Then the creature pounced, pummeling the young man forward…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Friday morning<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">June 24<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...Cletus was jarred awake, relieved to find himself back in Reginald and Gail's sitting area as early dawn filtered in through the window. He sat up, glancing about his surroundings and seeing that he was on the floor with the blanket tangled around him. His temples throbbed as he looked back toward the couch. Rising to stand, he untangled the blanket.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As he started toward the couch, he caught a glimpse at his feet, stopping short upon seeing traces of dirt caking his skin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Blood raced in his ears as he tried coming up with an explanation for why this would be. <i>Maybe Gail isn't a very good housekeeper... </i>But a look around the small apartment suggested otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus sat down, leaning back on the couch and running a hand through the dark strands of his hair. He attempted to decipher his dream, trying to hang onto the details, but most of it was fading from memory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Frustrated, he folded up the blanket and placed it neatly over the pillow resting against the arm of the couch. Then with a final glance at the morning sunrise, he forced himself toward the washroom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cold water rained from the shower head, fully waking him from remaining remnants of his troubled slumber. Trying to maintain a sense of calm, Cletus hurried to finish showering, shut off the water, and started drying off. After wrapping the towel around his waist, he stepped over the tub rim and started to dress.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While buttoning his shirt, he heard someone exit Reginald and Gail's bedroom. Intent on allowing the other two access to the washroom as soon as possible, he glanced in the mirror once more to check his appearance. A rather unnatural glint in the glass caused him to take a step backward. In an instant, the small flash disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His heart pounded as he glanced around, trying to identify a possible light source. Chills rose on his arms upon the reminder of the room being windowless.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In a flash, the Fleming Orphanage appeared before him, an image accompanied by a sensation of floating<i>. He found himself moving passed the main building toward another on the property until going through a front entrance. He passed by what looked to be a large dining area before being taken up four sets of dark staircases. Finally, he reached the fourth floor, and continued down the corridor. When he came to a stop, he was in front of a room with a certain set of numbers nailed into the door.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">410...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The sound of knocking wrenched him, and the interior of the orphanage disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Cletus?" Reginald's voice spoke from the other side of the washroom door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Yeah..." Cletus whirled around, struggling to keep his voice steady.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Everything all right in there?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Yeah…yeah, I'm on my way out."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Drawing in a breath and steadying himself, Cletus opened the door to see the other young man standing in the small hallway, wearing a robe over his pajamas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Sorry,” Cletus stammered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The left corner of Reginald's mouth quirked. "It's fine. I just didn't want to barge in. No need to make this visit awkward."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gail emerged from the bedroom, wearing a red satin robe and holding a towel. "Did you guys want me to start coffee before I hop in the shower?" she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald kissed his wife's cheek. "I'll do that. You go ahead and get yourself ready."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Her dark eyes held her husband's light ones for a moment. Cletus could see the love that the two had for one another and while he tried to not stare, he couldn't help noticing something that seemed to be brewing below the surface.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus looked away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Thank you, my love," Gail said, a hint of humor in her voice. She smiled at her friend’s cousin, moving passed him and retreating to the washroom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Once she was inside, Reginald motioned for Cletus to follow him to the small kitchen. The former started making coffee, filling the apartment with the liquid's aroma.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Noticing that conflicted look once again in the light-haired man's eyes, Cletus blurted out, "Something eatin' you?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald's eyes widened, blinking rapidly before his features relaxed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I'm sorry," Cletus stammered. "I shouldn't have said anything."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald held up a hand. "No, no, it's fine."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Well...can I ask what's wrong?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald drew in a breath. "Actually, I probably <i>should</i> talk about it. I haven't discussed it with anyone and it <i>is </i>eating me up. I haven't even brought it up to Gail.” He paused. “Actually...that's not entirely true...we have discussed..."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"What?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald paused, regarding the other young man for a moment before replying, "Having a baby."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Oh..."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald dropped his voice. "I want us to."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Both young men were silent upon hearing the shower shut off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Really?" Cletus’s voice was just above a whisper. "Well that's wonderful."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Reginald sighed and smiled slightly. The two young men remained silent as the washroom door opened. Gail's footsteps hurried toward the bedroom and the door shut.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After being certain that she was out of earshot, Cletus asked, "What's the problem?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald shifted, reflecting a sort of guilt. "Gail wants to wait a couple of years and I understand her reasons. She wants us to be in a better place financially. So far, we've been careful and always take necessary precautions to avoid..." He paused, the inner conflict increasing by the second. "She also wants more time using her aviators license...which, I admit, worries me."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I thought you were happy for her."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Oh I am, don't get me wrong. But that doesn't mean I don't have concerns. I mean, one small mishap and..." He swallowed, his eyes moving downward as his anguish over what could go wrong in a plane visibly heightened.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As Cletus watched the other young man, an image of the Romany girl flashed through every part of his being before fading into one of Jimmy and Linda. Jimmy was still heavily scarred from his time in Hell but continuing to make progress in his long recovery. He was seated beside Linda, just outside of a large, elegant, though rustic, building. Her head rested on his shoulder and his arms embraced her as the couple watched a small, dark-haired little girl toddling around in front of them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the image left, Cletus studied Reginald once more and said, "I'm sure you two will work something out."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald sighed. "I know. Compromise, right? It comes with being married. Besides, if this is the most conflict she and I have had so far, I guess things are pretty good."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus started to respond but stopped when he heard the bedroom door open. Seconds later, Gail entered the kitchen, dressed and made up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She sauntered up behind her husband and playfully smacked his behind. "Your turn, sweetheart."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reginald's troubled expression quickly transformed into a loving smile. "Thanks, baby." After one more sip of his coffee, he gave her temple a kiss. "When I'm done we can go to Mildred'<i>s</i> and grab a bite. I know it ain't Chuck's but it's close enough."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gail reached for the empty cup Reginald had left for her on the counter and poured some coffee. "Hey I'm fine with not having to cook today." She took a sip and grinned. "No offense, Cletus."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus chuckled. "None taken. I like diner food once in a while."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Well, I won’t be long," Reginald said, and headed to the washroom, but not without regarding his wife once more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gail's long lashes blinked rapidly over her dark eyes as she caught her husband's gaze. Once again, the mood seemed to take on a melancholy shift.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cletus watched the couple for another moment. As the washroom door shut behind Reginald, he turned to face the coffee pot, trying to push back the unexplained dread churning within.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> <b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">READ FROM THE BEGINNING:</span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">DESCENT (THE BIRTHRITE SERIES, #1)</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Visions of infant twin boys, clouds, a young woman taking her own life, and a collision of space, time, and realms...<br />
<br />On the eve of Summer Solstice in 1844, four men in different areas of the world share an experience that impacts not only their own lives, but those of the future generations. The first man is Nicolae Ganoush, a young Romany fugitive from a slave village in Wallachia. The second is Jonathan Blake, an eighteen-year-old Irishman in the American Midwest who finds himself falling in love with a young woman from a nearby Sioux village. The third is James Livingston, a prominent figure in colonial America, and the fourth is Hector de Fuentes, a sixteen-year-old from Tuxpan, Mexico with special gifts and visions enhanced by a mysterious and wondrous cave. Each man carries his own inner battle, unbelievable ancient truths deep within their lineages, and demons that are much closer to home than any of them would like.</span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> <b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">SACRED ATONEMENT: A NOVELLA (THE BIRTHRITE SERIES, #1.5)</span></b></span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"He wondered how she would react to seeing him. Not just his physical appearance, but seeing him for the first time since what happened between nearly a year ago. And what would happen once she found out what he really was?"</span></i><span style="color: #181818;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">MADE IN HEAVEN (A BIRTHRITE SERIES SHORT)</span><span style="color: #181818;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It has only been two and a half months since Reginald and Gail returned from that fateful night, a strange set of circumstances, and world they never thought could exist.</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i> <i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></i>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tiffany Apan grew up among the thick forests of the Appalachian Mountains in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It was there she began honing artistic abilities and received much of her creative inspiration. A misfit among her peers (she was the only one in her fifth grade writing class obsessed enough with Vikings and Norwegian mythology to write poems about them), Tiffany was highly active in the artistic community in Wilkes-Barre, PA, involving herself in all music, theater, visual arts, and writing. Eventually, she settled quite comfortably into a role as “that artsy kid in black” who sits in a coffee shop, drinking endless amounts of coffee and tea while writing furiously in a journal or sketchpad.<br />
<br />After graduating high school, she left the Northeastern PA ghosts for the Southeastern PA zombies (Pittsburgh). Upon the move, Tiffany became involved with the indie film scene, landing supporting roles in a couple films. This also gave way to the release of her music with partner in crime, Jason English. Since then, she has gone on to act in several films and theater productions with starring and supporting roles, release music to critical acclaim, and receive accolades for her writing and producing.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Appalachian Mountains serve as a backdrop for many of her stories, including The Cemetery by the Lake and The Birthrite Series. You can check out more of her work (writing, music, film, etc) on her website, blog, Amazon, and other social media.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">AUTHOR & BOOK LINKS:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://tiffanyapan.com/">http://tiffanyapan.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://tiffanyapanwritingproject.blogspot.com/">http://tiffanyapanwritingproject.blogspot.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://facebook.com/tiffanyapanfanpage">http://facebook.com/tiffanyapanfanpage</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://facebook.com/birthriteseries">http://facebook.com/birthriteseries</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/TIFFANYAPAN">http://twitter.com/TIFFANYAPAN</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://amazon.com/author/tiffanyapan">http://amazon.com/author/tiffanyapan</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://goodreads.com/tiffanyapan">http://goodreads.com/tiffanyapan</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tiffanyapan">https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tiffanyapan</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://tiffanyapan.com/">Official Website</a><br /><br /><a href="http://tiffanyapanwritingproject.blogspot.com/">Tiffany's Official Blog</a><br /><br />My music projects are available at <a href="http://cdbaby.com/artist/tiffanyapan">CDBaby</a><br /><br />"The Birthrite Series" and other books at <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tiffanyapan">Smashwords</a> and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Tiffany-Apan?store=ebook&keyword=Tiffany+Apan">Barnes & Noble NOOK</a><br /><br />My books and music are also on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_12?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tiffany+apan&sprefix=Tiffany+Apan%2Caps%2C1997">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/tiffany-apan/id277754233?ign-mpt=uo%3D4">iTunes</a><br /><br />Tiffany on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8079036.Tiffany_Apan">Goodreads</a><br /><br />Support great authors and independent bookstores at <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/?ref=tiffanyapan">Smashwords</a> and <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/?aff=tiffanyapan">Indiebound</a></span>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">**CLICK THE LINK TO ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE!!**</span></div>
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Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-36987230451804070942017-11-01T12:46:00.001-05:002017-11-01T12:46:58.302-05:00My look #Halloween2017, the creepier the better... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549279305375703806.post-42459070451424272742017-10-29T10:38:00.002-05:002017-10-29T10:38:38.526-05:00HAPPY #HALLOWEEN 2017!!<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Halloween2017?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Halloween2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/HdiGjZ8urJ">pic.twitter.com/HdiGjZ8urJ</a></p>— Author Susan Reid (@BabyNewt38) <a href="https://twitter.com/BabyNewt38/status/924659545523281921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Author Susan Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01108718923682372995noreply@blogger.com0