Fiction Friday, {Writing Prompt} Fire Trials

Well, Fiction Friday is here. Today I wrote something from the Monday writing prompt. Did anyone else try it out? I would love to see what you got from the prompt!  Don't forget to come on Monday and see the new prompt for next week.

Here is what I wrote, let me know what you think!

Writing Prompt, Fire Trials

//Image source//

The blade screamed down through the air flames licking at the hilt, Darren desperately shoved his sword in the path of the burning blade. Steal clashed, screeching as he stumbled to standing, holding the opponents sword up he could feel the heat wave coming from the blazing blade. The musty taste of sand and dust was still lingering after he had finally pulled himself off the ground. The opponent ripped his sword away from Darren, taking a few steps back he began to circle again.

Darren exchanged a glance with his uncle a few yards off. He stood with his hands folded in front of him, stoic as he watched the fight. A quick thrust threw him off as he jumped back, he felt the heat of the blade barely miss his torso as he shoved it aside. His opponent's shielded face looked over him as he began to circle. Darren tried not to bite his lip, his uncle chastised him about it perpetually. Holding his sword up he tried staying strong, not showing the weariness that was overcoming his muscles. The flaming sword fell down upon him aimed for his neck, he blocked hastily hold the blade just above him. The heat was penetrating coming from the blade inches from his face. He ripped it away with a scream and flew at the opponent with a new thrust.

He threw the opponent off doing strike after strike against the flaming sword. the opponent took a step back. One step back, and you win the fight. His uncle had trained him as much. The man was slacking. He pushed harder, slicing his blade through the air, shoving the man back another three steps. He let his blade fly back down over the man's head, but the thrust was to exposing for him. His opponent got in quickly thrusting his blazing sword against Darren's right leg. Before he could collect himself he felt himself being flipped as the burning blade cut at his leg. In one motion he was on his back, his sword flung from his fingers, as he stared up at his opponent. The man placed his blade inches from Darren's face.

Pulling  the helmet from his head, his best friend flashed a smile."What did I tell you?" he chuckled, "I knew I would beat you one day."

~

What did you think? 

Share what you wrote for the prompt in the comments! 

-Melody

Fiction Friday, The Ransom Note

Fiction Friday is here once again! Today I wrote a little something from a writing prompt that read: Tell a story that begins with a ransom note. 
So, here it is. Just a little clip of something to peek your interest!

The Ransom Note

It all started with a ransom note. I read the words as though the sender was standing before me. Try Me. I knew what it meant, I knew what I must do.

That breezy autumn afternoon, I stood before my mailbox, reading the return address, with dread growing in my heart. I didn't want to try him, and he knew it. Which was exactly why he stole her in the first place, and why he would send the note. I bit my lip as he crumpled the paper in my fist. I had little bravery, I always believed it was one thing I lacked since birth. Perhaps a little whit, but what strength does whit have against him?

I hung my head as I trudged back inside, kicking leaves from my path as I moved up the side walk. I pulled on the brass knob of the front door, swinging the door open. The autumn breeze tried pulling it away. I yanked harder to hold it in my grip as I shuffled inside. As I tugged on the door to pull it closed against the wind, my heart dropped as the note slipped from my fingers. I dropped the door knob allowing the door to slam against the house, as I tried desperately to catch it before it left the yard. All I could see was a flurry of leaves in the sky, fluttery by with the wind. All hope was gone. It had disappeared. 

~

What did you think? What would you write with the same prompt involving a ransom note? Have an awesome weekend!

-Melody

Fiction Friday, Distant Dreams

So, Friday is here again. So sorry for my neglect, the holiday's can be such time vacuums. Anyway, I have dedicated my 2015 over to editing. My writing time is now put to going over those frightening rough drafts and reading through old work. Yes, editing, that frightening thing I have put off far to long. So, I have chosen my first book in my trilogy for my first edit. I am reunited with these old friends and completely enjoying it!

I chose the first paragraph from the story as my Fiction Friday today! Hope you enjoy it!

Excerpt from, Realm of Graphice book one,

Distant Dreams

The glare of the stars shone through the bed room chamber. The young child slept curled in a fetal position on the muddy floor. The dingy rug beneath her seamed to be her only comfort as she clawed at it with her thin fingers. The blond hair that curled about her draped peacefully across the rug serving as a warm blanket amid the damp and cursed old room. Her eye lids turned to sorrow occasionally as she dreamed on the floor. Her lashes would begin to quiver as tears slipped down and her thin lips drooped as she shuttered. 

A shadow fell over the small figure. A silhouette of dark fingers seamed to curl around the girl as the shadow came closer. The figures jagged clawed hand reached out with scale covered hands. With a quick dash it clutched the girls long hair.

Luna screamed in horror as she bolted upright on her mat. Her eyes blinked but could see nothing in the pitch black room of the attic. The straw and thin fabric under her seamed soaked from sweat as she hugged her shaking form in the loose night gown that now hung on her wet body. 

~

Have you edited a novel before? What was your favorite part of the process? What did

you find as the hardest?

Be back soon with more info on the editing process! 

-Melody

Fiction Friday, Character Interview with Nelson

A new story has finally been flowing through my head. As always, it start with just a few characters. A year ago, I debated whether I was character or plot driven. Since then I have written seven books, I am pretty sure I am character driven. So, for this Fiction Friday, I thought I would share some character interviews I have been concocting with these new friends of mine. Nearly all of my characters start this way. I just sit and let them talk. Some times I find out the weirdest things about them, some times a whole new plot twist forms. Hope you enjoy!

This character is my main character for the story. Nelson Parker. He is sixteen years old, INFP, grew up in a Christian home, well, before I explain more I will let him share himself: 

My sister Hannah's rendition of Nelson

Nelson Parker, here. I am here to confess, I am a little odd. The rustic sound of raw cords being tuned, the scratchy feeling of beat up polish rubbing against your arm, the rough edges of thick strings against your blistered fingers. I know all the feelings well, the true sign of a dorky guitar player. Yes, that is who I am. I play guitar. Nothing that special. But I am going to be special, but not he type of special you are thinking. The type of special that you call the weird kid, the dorky one with taped glasses and braces they have worn since it has felt at birth. Yeah, hate to break it to you, but I am that kid. Yeah, braces, seriously painful and ugly. Not to mention they have limited my chance of playing a woodwind instrument. Few people really know the amount you suffer with these blasted thing stuck to your teeth. I can barely sing, making my guitar my only voice for music. I love music with such a passion, that it kills me that I can not fully express how I feel with it. Some day people will look at me and hear me out. One day my appearance will not have anything to do with who I really am and how people treat me. 

Getting the feel for who he is? It is fun being able to relate with his braces struggle. I had one set of braces at nine, then I got them off at eleven, then I got my second phase of them at thirteen, finally getting them off at fifteen. To top it off, I had mouth surgery for them as well. Not a fun experience. But definitely writing material! ;-)

Anyhow, what do you think of Nelson? Fun guy, right? Kinda weird, but relatable even in his weirdness. Do you have any weird or just awkward characters in your novels? What type of best friend do you think someone like Nelson would have?

-Melody

Fiction Friday, Realm of Graphice Book One

So Nanowrimo came and went. This year I summed up and finished my first trilogy. Sorry I have delayed in posting on Fiction Friday over the past few weeks. Hopefully you all understand the amount of craziness that happens during Thanksgiving. My cousins from Indiana were able to visit, so that was awesome!Anyway, back to the blog post. 

For this Fiction Friday, I thought it would be fun to share something from the first book. In this excerpt I have a pair of friends named Ember and Samuel. Ember had been wounded previously when he was taken prisoner by the antagonist, Vashawn. After Samuel was taken as well, they developed a plan to escape. This is part of the escape scene, hope you enjoy!

Excerpt from, Realm of Graphice book one

Escape Attempt

“Alright, hang in there, Ember.” Samuel begged in a whisper as he wrapped the boys arm around his shoulder. He slipped his dagger in his belt and carefully, then gently he slipped his arms behind Ember's legs and lift him off the ground.

“Sam, is Luna going to be alright?” Ember whispered in a rasp up to Samuel.

Samuel held his friend closer as he neared the stair case, “She will be, Em. She will be. Just rest.”

He came to the first step and inched his way down, carefully pulling Ember's head in to keep him safe as they walked down into the darkness. He had gone down three steps and froze. A screech of metal against metal sounded above him. He slowly turned his head to look up in search of the noise. A knock to his head greeted him and he was thrown across the wall, falling to the ground where Ember rolled down a few stairs form his grasp. Samuel frantically searched for Ember but was knocked down once more from a dark form above him. He turned himself over quickly and flipped the dagger from his belt. He held it up at the oppressing figures above him and soon made out the features of four guards blocking off his exit up the stairs.

A torch came flickering up carried by another guard, Darren. He looked enraged and seethed at Samuel as he stared down on him.

“Quickly, tell the others to block them off at the tunnel.” he muttered to a guard close to him.

The guard bowed and turned to run, “No!” Samuel yelled desperately.

Darren pushed his way to the front of the group and stood in front of Samuel, “You fool.” he growled, “Your idiotic sister should be cursed.” he snarled. He unsheathed his sword with one hand while handing the torch to a guard behind him.

Samuel raised his dagger in defense. Darren chuckled with a sneer, while waiving his sword towards it, “Drop it, Sammy.” he muttered.

Samuel tightened his grip on the dagger and slid himself against the wall trying to stand. “When did my father elect a stable hand to be a guard of the Realm?” Samuel scoffed.

Darren's eyes were steal, “Drop it.”

Samuel lunged for Darren's chest but was blocked quickly. He gripped the blade of Darren's sword as it came flying for his stomach, he turned it to the side and twisted it struggling to free it from Darren's hands. Darren twisted himself and flipped under Samuel's arms causing Samuel to fall back. He turned and sliced the sword towards Samuel's knife hand but missed it causing it to only slice into the surface of his hand. Blood seeped through cracks in Samuel's fingers and hand as he clutched the dagger tighter.

“Not bad for a farmer boy.” Darren panted with a snarl.

Samuel breathed heavily standing in a ready stance, “Not bad for a begging stable hand.”

~

So what did you all think? I wrote this section this past May. Oh! I have a new story idea swirling through my head. I am so excited by it! Be sure to check back here for some posts on characters, I am hoping to share some info about them! 

-Melody

Fiction Friday, Realm of Graphice Book Three

Hi all! Here to let you all have an excerpt from my current work in progress! I have been writing my
third book in the Realm of Graphice series, this November. So I thought it would be fun to share a piece from it. Let me know what you all think, and any tips on how I can love my characters more would be awesome. At present I am having a hard time because I killed my favorite one.

 Yeah, so  guess you could say I put it on myself by killing him, but the story brought me no other options. I may need to do some flashback scenes with him in them.

Ok, anyway, here is an excerpt involving Luna and Samuel's son, Shiloh. He is training under Ulrica, who also trained Ember (missing you Ember!) and Samuel. Hope you like it!

Excerpt from, Realm of Graphice Three (name in the works)

Study Time with Ulrica

Ink stains and stacks of scrolls. That seemed to sum up Shiloh’s life. He groaned as he slumped his head over the scroll in front of him, the words morphed together as his mind took over once more. He dreamed of the days when he trained with his grandfather, secretly longing to one day join the guard of the Realm. His father would have none of that. He knew that was for sure, but he couldn’t help longing for it. His parents took care of the Realm as King and Queen, was it wrong for him to long to help care for the people they loved? Shiloh tried adjusting her collar as it seemed to cut off all air flow. He resulted to a frustrated tug at it, then slouched in his hard seat over the scroll once more. 

“Prince Shiloh, please do sit up straight.” Sir Ulrica’s old gravely voice called across the study. 

Shiloh straightened his back on command, holding back an eye roll that threatened to come. He could sense Sir Ulrica’s searching eyes all over him as he critiqued his every action. Shiloh tried refocusing on the words in front of him, truly look interested and as though he was reading it. Sir Ulrica had a keen sense of being aware when he seemed to dawdle. 

Shiloh couldn’t wrap his mind around why his parents would give him such a task as training with Ulrica. Just because his father had once done the same to become a prophet, didn’t mean Shiloh had to do the same and become one as well. He had heard many stories of Prophets in the Realm, they had grown rare during the dry time when none ruled in the Hall of Kings. His father, King Samuel, was only a boy when he started training along side another young boy called Ember. Shiloh had known little of him. He had met him only once. The memory scent painful waves through him as he recalled the events. He shut his eyes as his hand went to his damaged ribs, the scar was jagged across them, permanently damaging the bone which caused him dull pain often. Ember had been the one to save his life only two years ago, although Shiloh didn’t know it at the time. It appeared as though a friend of Ember’s was the one who had intended on killing him. If Ember had not come he surely would have been dead. Shiloh was never allowed to be told the truth behind it all, his parents always said he was to young. That was always how it was, to young to know the truth to so many things, they said.

~

What do you think? Interested in reading past excerpts to know what had happened with Ember and Shiloh before? if so, leave I comment and let me know that it should be one of the next Fiction Friday posts!

Happy Nanowrimo writing! 

-Melody

Fiction Friday, Worlds Collide Novel Excerpt

Today I decided to include a little blast form the past, for Fiction Friday. I wrote this novel called, Worlds Collide, exactly a year ago. I thought it would be fun to read over it, so I also included a little excerpt here for you all to read. This was my first family to create in a novel. While writing the father character, he reminded me a lot of the father in the Cooper Kid's Series, by Frank Peretti. Those books were a great inspiration to my writing, Escape from the Island of Aquarius being my favorite. Alright, read the excerpt and tell me what you think. Enjoy!

Excerpt from, Worlds Collide

Plane Crash

Victor struggled to contain the panic that rose in his chest. Water began to pour into the plane. Through the windows he could see them sinking quickly into the ocean. He still had a sobbing Linus strapped to him, and a parachute. His eldest son, Nathan, lay on the plane's floor, blood covering his face. Jenny shook him screaming, his wife Elaine held his head in her hands, struggling to pull him back to consciousness. 

“Elaine!” Victor screamed across the noise.

She looked up, horror in her eyes.

“Take Linus,” He unstrapped the screaming boy, “I will take Nathan. Jenny, grab all the life vests you can find, you will need them!”

Elaine took Linus in her arms, as she threw the parachute off her back. Jenny had an arm full of life jackets before Victor had time to think. He stooped over Nathan's still form. He didn't have time to check if he was alive or not, they had to get them all out. Victor grasped Nathan's parachute and stripped it off him.

“Elaine! Get Jenny and Linus out now!” He called, as water began to completely fill the plane.

The water covered Nathan quickly, Victor struggled to drag the boy out. He glanced behind him to see his wife and children gone, the exit door torn open. He prayed they were safer than he was. He dragged Nathan through the water now, trying to keep both of their heads above water. He threw Nathan's arms over his shoulder, and began to swim out of the opened door, that was now fully submerged in water. He searched for the surface, trying to keep Nathan in his grasp. Cool air struck him in the face as he came to the surface. He gasped in precious oxygen, and pulled Nathan up. He looked around the wrecked plane and the ocean for signs of his wife. None. 

He saw in the distance, something different. It took his brain a few seconds to finally register what it was. Land, of some sort. Perhaps it was close enough to swim to. He thanked God for the life vests, as he pulled Nathan behind him holding his head up as he swam. He looked back at the wrecked plane. It was almost completely covered by the crashing waves. A thought struck him, the pilots had not gotten out. He looked frantically around the wreck. Then he looked at his son's bloodied face. He would come back and find the pilots. He had to.

The land was very close, in fact it took little time for Victor to make it to the sandy beach. He dragged Nathan up onto it and laid him down on the wet sand. He heard a yell and looked up to see Elaine and Jenny come running, Linus ran behind. Elaine collapsed at Nathan's side.

“Take care of him. I need to go back for the pilots!” Victor said, as he ran back into the the water.

~

Hoep you all enjoyed it!  Rereading this makes me relieved to realize I have improved. No mater how terrible you first couple novels may have been, remember that the more you write you are sure to improve, even if you can't see it.

Do you have any of those first novels you wrote that make you cringe to read?

Fiction Friday, Excerpt from, Garden Fairy Tales

Super excited about sharing this excerpt! I took up writing for children this time. My Mommy had recommended it for awhile, I finally decided to try it after I finished my recent first draft. I have been doing Biology for science this year of school, while studying Kingdom Fungi I got this totally weird burst of inspiration to write a story around the mushroom fairy rings. Not many people get story ideas while reading science, but I do, yes I know... weird. Anyway, here is an excerpt from my first draft at the moment. If you have not guessed yet, it is about fairies.  

My little siblings over heard me talking about the fairy story apparently, they all decided to take up the task of illustrating it. 

Fairies: by, James and Abigail

Excerpt from, Garden Fairy Tales

Beauty Sleep

The golden light of the sunrise crept up the clover’s stalk. Scarlet brushed a delicate hand over her eyes, wiping the sleepiness away. She lay among the freshly turned earth under the clover’s blooming top, her wings draped over her shoulders as a soft blanket, protecting her from the cold dew. She sat up slowly, looking around for a friend in sight. The garden forest seemed empty. The large stalks of grass towering over her, sending shadows striped across the earth. The sun's light splashed through the green, lighting up her brilliant red dress. She stood clumsily, her wings setting her off balance at first as they tried to straighten. 

  “Well,” she squeaked with a sigh, spinning around hastily as she awoke her sleepy wings. “I wonder, where could Ivy be?” she questioned herself, placing a small finger to her lips in thought. 

She unfurled her wings with a shake of her small shoulders, she spread her hands outward as she pulled herself off the ground with her wings. She came above the clovers pluming top. The suns dew covered the grass stalks and clover heads, the flowers were closed still, nearly ready to blossom. She fluttered over a few of the flowers, inspecting to be sure they were preparing to bud. The birds had begun their song above, their notes fluttering through the garden, awakening the fairies still at rest under their blossoms. 

Ivy’s purple curly head popped up above the bud Scarlet inspected. Her upturned nose freckled from the sun scrunched up as she yawned, she pulled her tiny legs up onto the bud as though it was a stool, “Morning, Scarlet.” She squeaked with much chipper, as she fluttered up from the bud with her thin wings to glide by Scarlet’s side.

“Good morning, dear Ivy.” Scarlet replied, smiling at her friend, “Sleep well? I woke before you, meaning you must have slept pretty well.” She chuckled. 

Ivy yawned, stretching her thin arms up while giving her wings a little shake. “Oh, I slept beautifully.” She sighed out as she pulled her arms back down, “Am I anymore beautiful, Scarlet?” she pressed, buzzing around in front of Scarlet, the flower between the two.

Scarlet laughed a little waving a hand at Ivy’s head, “Now you can’t believe every myth you hear. Sleep does not really make you more beautiful, you do know?” 

Ivy slouched, “Oh, but, Scarlet, Autumn and Mayberry are so very beautiful and pretty, they sleep in everyday. The say that’s why they are so beautiful.” She crossed her arms while shaking her curly head.

“Ivy, both Autumn and Mayberry help with the leaf sewing, which takes place in the afternoon, they have no need to rise early.” Scarlet objected, while reaching out a hand towards her friend. 

Ivy uncrossed her arms slowly and reached to hold Scarlet’s hand. “Come,” Scarlet explained, “Rowan was going to show me something this morning. Once we have finished our assignments, we can both go see. Would you like that, Ivy?” she looked to her friends pouting face to see her full lips turn up slightly as she nodded.

Scarlet smiled as she pulled them up into the air away from the bud she had been inspecting. “I’ll care for the yellow ones.” Ivy explained, breaking from Scarlet’s grip. “You take the pink.” She called up, as she soared down towards the group of yellow buds just reaching the sun.

Scarlet twirled up a few yards in the air, letting out a bubbling laugh as she changed directions and fluttered down from the sky, her wings steadily causing her to float down to a patch of baby pink buds reaching out of the folds of bright green leaves.

~

Hope you all enjoyed it! Have any little sisters? Let them read it, or read it to them. I really want some kid's opinions on it. 

Any tips on writing children's fiction?

-Melody

Fiction Friday, New Excerpt from, My Own Enemy Novel

Todays Fiction Friday is a second excerpt from My Own Enemy. This one was so fun to write, I was able to bring my past characters back and go back to my beloved fantasy world, Graphice. I also introduce I new character. He is the son of my Queen Luna and King Samuel. Now his name is Stephen in the excerpt, it is a debatable name and I'm still deciding if it will stick or if I can come up with a better one.

Anyway, here you are with one of my first scenes back in the beautiful land of Graphice.

Excerpt from, My Own Enemy

(Sequel to Realm of Graphice)

Trouble Maker

“You must learn to control yourself!” Ulrica’s aged voice corrected with much agitation, as Samuel rounded the corner to enter the large study. 

He came in to find Ulrica slouched in one of the leather backed chairs, a book lay open on his lap but his head rest in his left hand as the other held his eye glass. Stephen stood before him a few feet away, a mess of wood and colored beads at his feet, his hands folded behind his back. Stephen turned to see who had entered and lowered his head more in shame at the sight of his father. Samuel came to Ulrica’s side as the man sat up more in his chair, letting out a sigh. 

“What is it this time?” Samuel muttered with a groan as he lowered himself into the opposite chair next to Ulrica’s. 

The old man seemed irritated and tired as he waved at the wooden mess. “It seems frustration with arithmetic is manifested in the destruction of tools.” 

Stephen’s pale cheeks burned red against his golden curly locks as he glanced up at his father, “I am truly sorry.” He stammered out.

Ulrica exchanged a glance with Samuel then allowed an odd smile to creep up his face, “But it remind some of someone I used to know.” 

Samuel stood, sending Ulrica a knowing smile as he came closer to Stephen. He lowered himself to his son’s level and looked up into the deep blue eyes, “Stephen, you must understand, anger does not bring any resolve to anything. It does not fix our issues, it does not help our issues, and it does not even assist in us relieving our stress from the issues.” 

Stephen glanced up at his father and smirked slightly as he glanced at the pile, “I may have to disagree with it not helping relieving the stress, for father it helped in the tiniest bit on that part.” 

Samuel laid a hand on his son’s shoulder, “Oh, Stephen, you understand what I am speaking of.” He turned to the crumbled pile of wood and beads, “Stephen, look at this mess.” The boys eyes turned to it in a gloomy way. “Rather then this pile assisting you, it merely makes your arithmetic more challenging for you to accomplish your assignment, and you now must put this at expense for the arithmetic tiles and beads are more costly then you may believe.” 

~

Let me know what you think! 

Any name suggestions for Stephen?

-Melody

Fiction Friday, Excerpt from, My Own Enemy Novel

Hello all! Glad you came over for more Fiction Friday! This is a interesting excerpt to my current The Realm of Graphice. Not the official name, but the current projects name. In this one I am incorporating the real world with my fictional world Graphice.
work in progress. I finished the first book in this series about a month ago. This is the sequel to

In this excerpt my main character, Ember, is learning how to survive and live in the real world after growing up in Graphice. He is also discovering strange ability he has developed. You will get a good look at his new power in this excerpt. It's still in the making so there is a lot to work on. Let me know what you think of the whole ability/power thing!

Excerpt from, My Own Enemy
(Sequel to Realm of Graphice)
Seeing into Graphice

  “Ember, what are you doing!?” Alex hollered back at him as they ran through the street. 

Ember had come to a stop suddenly and was clutching his fists to his chest. He could only faintly hear Alex continuously yelling at him as he doubled over feeling the radiating pain coming from his hands and wrists. A continued rhythmic pulsing of pain. The light was fierce, forcing him to shut his eyes tight as he fell to his knees holding his wrists against his chest still. 

“Em! Come on, what’s wrong?” Alex’s voice yelled louder above him. Ember forced his eyes open, he stared at the pavement before slowly bringing his eyes up to face Alex who stood over him. “We have to get out of here.” He hissed as he stopped, pulling Ember’s right arm up. 

“No!” Ember managed to gasp out as he fought to pull his arm away from Alex, holding the burning flame against his chest. 

Alex leaned back, “Not that again.” He grumbled. “Can’t you move?” 

Ember closed his eyes again, “I- I don’t know.” He whispered. 

Shuffling came from behind them. Ember could make out the sound of foot steps. “We have to go now.” Alex whispered as he pulled Ember up by his shirt, “I don’t care how you feel.” Ember let out a groan managing to contain the scream that wished to come out as he kept his fists closed tight, allowing Alex to drag him through the ally. 

Slowly he tried pulling his hands away from his chest as they ran. He gasped as he pulled them out, watching an expanse of blue and silver mixing with the flames dancing about his hands. He kept running, opening and closing his fists slowly, watching it spread like a web. In the glass like web he saw an image. Tall strong and beautiful a woman with delicate blond hair stood draped in a rich blue gown, an artfully created crown rest among her golden strands. She stood before an open window, a man by her side, his broad shoulders and tall manner coming off as powerful and great, he too wore a golden circle on his head. He had a hand around the woman were they stood, silent and still as they stared out the window. 

Ember tripped, he tumbled onto the concrete hands slapping into the harsh gravel. The image blurred and disappeared as it mixed with the rocks. The sparks flashed as his hands began to bleed from the scrapes. “Let’s go!” Alex yelled as he stooped and whipped Ember back to his feet pushing him towards the truck at the end of the road, doors open already. 

Alex practically dragged him to it, shoved him inside and tumbled in after him, slapping the door shut. Elliot was in the drivers seat and quickly threw the gear in reverse and began turning to leave the ally. Alex was panting as he pulled himself off Ember and onto a seat. Ember’s hands still sparked as he stayed on the ground, burying his fists into his coat as he gasped for breath. 

“You know what? You are one of the weirdest guys I have ever met.” Alex huffed.

~

So what did you all think? It is a little different. This is my first Fantasy novel, so this is all a little new for me. Especially the magic power aspect. Any tips on creation powers and forces? 

Come back next week for more Fiction Friday!

Fiction Friday: Excerpt from, Heart Wars Novel

I am so excited about this Fiction Friday! Today I am sharing an excerpt from a novel I was able to write with my friend Lauren, this past July. It was so awesome being able to cowrite with her, it was so much fun being able to share in our characters. I gloated over the fact that I created one guy in it who she absolutely loved. We both had pretty bad crushes on him. We liked to consider him our boyfriend we have never had. It can get pretty hilarious when my mind instantly goes to him if I am asked about a boyfriend, I just have to stay quite and not show just how nerdy I am for having a literary character I made as a boyfriend. But I am still debating whether this character is my favorite guy character I have made so far. Nathan, from my novel World's Collide, was a big favorite. 

Anyway, here is an excerpt I wrote for the book. It involves spiritual warfare and a fight for a soul. This excerpt is from the angel Asher's point of view. He is an angel assigned to a girl named Christina who is struggling with her faith.  Enjoy it and let me hear your thoughts!

Excerpt from,  Heart Wars
First Day of Drama

Asher glanced over the room swiftly getting an idea of his surroundings. A large group of young souls swarmed in a room the size of a class room. Paper flew about as teens stumbled about yelling lines and teasing each other. An older soul yelled around them waiving a clip board in the air trying to get control.

“Alright, alright settle down now!” she screamed at last. The kids quieted and came to look her direction as she continued. “I want to confirm you all know who you are playing.” she began, “Raise your hand if you got a call about who you are playing.”

The whole group let their hands fly in the air. One girl stumbled out of te group and complained at the woman, “I never got called, you gotta tell me who I am.” she whined.

“Kathy, right?” she questioned as she glanced back down at her paper.

“Yes.” The girl replied.

“Alight, go meet up with Mrs. Sears in that corner, she will help you out.” the woman waived her hand towards the corner.

The girl stomped over and Asher directed his attention more to his charge who stood amid the crowd smiling timidly. A sweet girl to be sure. She seemed kind and a but reserved, but he could tell she was enjoying the attention of the moment. For it appeared she had gotten some main role. She glowed despite her reserved demeanor. All seemed to love her, all but one. A snobby girl with nearly white blond hair and fiery blue eyes scowled across the room at the group of kids giggling as the instructor spoke. Asher shuddered as three demons hung on the girls shoulders and neck. He knew their names well. Vanity cackled. Rebellion spit towards him. Depression wrapped it's arms tighter around her neck and hissed.

Asher ached at the sight and turned back to his charge. He spotted another dark shadowed demon's presence approaching. Asher slipped an arrow from his quiver and let it slide onto his bow as he crept closer tot he crowd. He relaxed when he spotted the demons already hanging on a teen. A boy with sandy blond hair hanging loosely over his eyes laughed with the group unaware of the five demons clawing at him. Asher shook his head, unaware physically perhaps, but he knew better. He could only image the torture the soul must have gone through every day. One of the demons pointed towards Asher and began to squeal in hatred. The others joined in as they mixed their laughter with the teen's voices.

“What is one of the Creator's servants doing in this place? Does it not know we own all here?” one cackled wagging it's tongue at him as it spoke.

Asher rose to his full height allowing the light of the Creator to shadow the demons, “There are still those who follow the true Lord of this earth.”

The demon hissed, “Not for long.” it motioned towards Christina.

The boy burdened with the demons was letting his hand run through her dark hair secretly behind her. She turned suddenly and her face split in a smile at his face.

“Aidan.” she stuttered.

The boy chuckled, “Sorry, about that, Christy. I couldn't resist your rich soft hair.”

She turned red quickly as she allowed him to lift his hand to her hair once more.

“Do you mind me calling you Christy?” he asked with a smirk.

“I don't mind it... I like it actually.” she timidly replied a smile playing on her lips.

Asher restrained his bow no longer, he let it loose at the demon called Flirtation that played with Christina's hair. It shrieked a drew back slowly causing the boy to drop his hand back to his side.

“She is not yours yet.” He seethed back at the demon holding an arrow to his bow watching the demon pout. “Her heart is set for Jesus Christ and you know it.”

The demons began to scream, “Not the Son of God! No!” they screeched.

“Leave her!” Asher boomed as he dashed across the room to stand behind Christina.

The boy slowly pulled himself back from her turning to the teacher's call. Asher relaxed as the demons left with him.

“You are so perfect for Lizzy!” a girls shrill voice brought Asher back to Christina.

A large group of girls had started to surround Christina and admired her talking loudly of how perfect she was as their teacher tried organizing the group.

“We don't have all day, lets step aside and clear the stage!” the woman hollered over the teens.

Slowly the kids move off the stage still bubbly over with talking. Asher caught the shadow of a demon approaching as he walked by Christina's side. It scurried around him and clawed at Christina. Asher swiped a dagger towards it guarding Christina from the demon's claws. It hissed at him and pulled a jagged knife from it's belt. It stabbed at him and he deflected the blow quickly suddenly realizing Christina was embracing the demon.

“Arrogance, leave now!” He yelled at the demon as it caressed her hair.

It shook it's head holding its knife out in his direction, “She is asking for me. Shall I leave her when she is asking with her own will?” it hissed.

Asher lowered the dagger, “She belongs to The Creator. You can not keep your hold on her.”

“Let's just see how long I can hold on.” it chuckled as Christina smiled at a girls compliment.

Asher flew at the demon with his dagger raised, “No, Christina, remember who you serve.” he called as he clashed his dagger against the demons. The demon snarled and dug its claws tighter into Christian’s shoulder.

“Feel the power of this moment.” It hissed in her ear, “Look at Alisha, enjoy her anger.” It held Asher off with it's dagger while it wagged a finger towards Alisha pouting in the corner.

“No!” Asher screamed as he knocked the Demon's dagger loose, “Jesus Christ! Remember, Christina. Remember.”

Christina had closed her ears to her guardian's words. She listened intently with a smile on her face as the demon spewed lies into her heart.

~

What did you think? Any advice for writing spiritual warfare scenes? I would love to hear tips! Have any of you read This Present Darkness or Angel Eyes? Both are great examples of spiritual warfare novels. 

Join us next time for more Fiction Friday!

Melody