Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.
~ Walt Whitman ~
The world as we know it is gone.
There are no more countries, states, or cities. No more traditional government...
only survivors who have created a new world made up of small colonies.
It has been thirteen years since the
last World War and the village of Lia Fail sits peacefully above the
Hollywood Reservoir in the Santa Monica Mountains. The settlement is
making ready to host the fall Gathering. A time to remember the past as
well as discover new loves, old friends, family, and fun, but just as the
festivities begin, the people in Lia Fail begin to experience strange goings
on they can't explain. Unseen forces attack several guests and friends
begin to distrust friends. When they receive news of a horrific
massacre, they realize they must face an impending dark evil that
threatens to destroy the tranquil village.
Alia Stark, the queen of Lia Fail, must face this malevolent
force alongside her oldest and dearest friends. The fate of her
people, the lives of her children and freedom itself rests in her hands.
Will she have the courage to do what must be done... and at what price?
This is the beginning of a journey that will change all of their
lives forever.
The Gathering: Book One of the Lia Fail Chronicles is
the first in a new Paranormal, Fantasy, and Adventure Series.
This book contains violence and sexual situations
and is intended for a mature audience.
There are no more countries, states, or cities. No more traditional government...
only survivors who have created a new world made up of small colonies.
It has been thirteen years since the
last World War and the village of Lia Fail sits peacefully above the
Hollywood Reservoir in the Santa Monica Mountains. The settlement is
making ready to host the fall Gathering. A time to remember the past as
well as discover new loves, old friends, family, and fun, but just as the
festivities begin, the people in Lia Fail begin to experience strange goings
on they can't explain. Unseen forces attack several guests and friends
begin to distrust friends. When they receive news of a horrific
massacre, they realize they must face an impending dark evil that
threatens to destroy the tranquil village.
Alia Stark, the queen of Lia Fail, must face this malevolent
force alongside her oldest and dearest friends. The fate of her
people, the lives of her children and freedom itself rests in her hands.
Will she have the courage to do what must be done... and at what price?
This is the beginning of a journey that will change all of their
lives forever.
The Gathering: Book One of the Lia Fail Chronicles is
the first in a new Paranormal, Fantasy, and Adventure Series.
This book contains violence and sexual situations
and is intended for a mature audience.
Excerpt
Alisha stood in the darkness, leaning against the balcony wrapped only in a blanket exposing her head, shoulders and back to a cool autumn breeze, which gently moved her long auburn hair across her skin. She looked out over the vastness of the valley and listened to the wind move through the trees in the forest below. Vance was sitting up in bed, watching her. He eventually got out of bed, pulled on his jeans and walked outside, the cool tile felt smooth against his feet.
He slipped his arms around her waist and she leaned back against him. He kissed the side of her face.
"Can't sleep?"
She shook her head.
"Weird dreams."
"Like what?" He asked.
Alisha shrugged and smiled.
"It's nothing. I'm sure it's just all the stress from planning the hand-fasting and all the strange things that have been going on."
Vance made Alisha turn and look at him.
"Talk to me."
Alisha lowered her head and turned back around and leaned against the balcony railing. She smiled at how well he knew her and then she frowned as she recalled the dreams.
"I keep dreaming of these men. They're an army and they all wear black and one of them has a long scar down his face. He's a leader, but he's not in charge. He rides with another one, who has more power than he does. That one has eyes that make my blood freeze; they're this horrible blue color, like blue ice. Then there's this other one who is really tall, but he doesn't have a face, just a shape, like death. I think he's the real leader. And every time I dream about them, I see falcons… falcons everywhere. And I see… "
Alisha shook her head and Vance lifted her face up towards his.
"What, Baby? What do you see?"
A tear ran down Alisha's face.
"I see them killing people, but not just killing them. They torture them… it’s horrible.” Vance wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
“They're just dreams, Lish. Just dreams."
Alisha wrapped her arms tightly around him. She knew in her heart that the dreams were a warning. She hadn't told him everything she had seen. There was no point. She pulled back and moved her hands to his face. He smiled at her and she pulled his mouth to hers and let her lips close around his. His hands moved to her face and he held her head, letting the blanket fall. Alisha was unsure as to whether her goose bumps were being caused by the cool night air or the touch of Vance's hands against her back and the inside of her thigh.
He reached down the back of her legs, to her knees and lifted her up against his body. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he walked them back into the room and laid her on the bed. Alisha soon forgot about the nightmares, as Vance made her shudder again and again.
Once again they slept, and on the balcony a raven watched the night sky, as if guarding the sleeping couple. It stayed all night.