Welcome back to week 2 of Indie Author of the Month! In case you have forgotten this month...this entire awesome month is dedicated to Devyn Dawson! Devyn has published a pretty awesome collection of tales. Let me share a bit about them. :)
First off, we have the
Legacy Series! If you like werewolves (and really who doesn't like them)
you should check out this series!
And The Seduction is a
novelette from the series as well...it includes vampires. ;)
Now, I love The Legacy
series but I LIVE for Devyn's latest series, The Light Tamer! Devyn really
shines in this world filled with Tamers and it is such a fun read!
Devyn, being the lovely
person she is, has so graciously provided the ENTIRE first chapter from her
latest Light Tamer Release, Enlightened:The Light Tamer Trilogy Book 2!!!!!
*clapping wildly*
BUT before we get into that
get yourself ready with this....
Jessie Lucente, a Light Tamer, has started her junior year at
Parca Academy in New Bern, NC. She has a new boyfriend, Caleb Baldwin. He is
beyond good looking, he is her mate for life. They've been bound by the light
and will rule and heal with it too. Her new classes aren't what she expected.
Finding out the school is filled with 'gifted' kids is almost too much to
comprehend. She finds out what it really means to be a Light Tamer. Some of the
assumptions she had are debunked and now everything is crystal clear...well, clear
as mud. Now that she is enlightened with the facts, she struggles with the
truth. Thorne Woodson has all of the girls swooning. His Doc Martens and hoodie
stand out against his school uniform. He might be the guy to heal Amber's
broken, grieving heart. What's his story, and why does he appear everywhere
Jessie is? He has a secret that will change the game for everyone. Who is he in
cahoots with? Amber starts her junior year with a bang and a huge crush. She
has a point to prove on the first day of school. She refuses to let everyone
believe she went soft over summer break. Her shenanigans end with detention on
the first day. The anniversary of her brother's death has her making dumb
decisions but her friends have her back. Jessie will struggle to help Amber deal with the grief.
The secrets that have been revealed by Fate will leave Jessie in a new role. It
will all come down to bloodline versus logic. She must step up and embrace her
new title, and life on the other side of the shimmer. With her small army together,
they promise to vanquish Nyx back to the Underworld and seal the portal she
came through. The second book in The Light Tamer trilogy will answer the
questions that are burning in your head. A beautiful tale of first love and
friendship. Be prepared to be amazed at the twist in this story. You didn't see
it coming, but you'll be glad it did!
Sounds pretty awesome,
right? Well, here you go sweethearts the entire first chapter of Enlightened!
Chapter 1.
First Day - Alchemy
“The
sooner everyone takes their seat, the sooner I can start our morning. You’ll notice your name is on the desk, and
yes, that means it’s an assigned seat.”
The Hispanic woman says as everyone looks around to find their
desk. I double-check my class schedule
to figure out her name. Sonya Raine
Alvarez, oh, I bet she is grandma’s friend Raine.
“Looks
like you’re stuck with me kid, no escaping the Amber.” Amber says from the chair directly behind
me. Let
the fun begin. I think to myself.
From
outside, the school is plain as vanilla, red bricks, one story in a U
surrounding a courtyard. There is a
smaller version of the school next door.
It houses the kids from preschool through sixth grade. All classrooms start to look the same after
ten years of school, regardless where you live.
There were many fluorescent lights and tacky inspirational posters taped
to the walls. Twenty four chairs, divided by four rows, twenty-three
occupied. The empty seat is right next
to me. I lean over to read the name on
the paper, Thorne Woodson. The second
bell rings and like magic, everyone sits quietly, not moving a muscle. What are they growing here, Stepford
Students? Private school is much
different from the public schools I’ve been to.
“I
am Miss Raine and welcome to Alchemy 1. With
a show of hands, who has been taught the intricate arts of alchemy by their
family?” Miss Raine’s tan makes her eyes freakishly bright. One of my friends back in New York has waist
length wavy black hair like hers, the guys loved it.
Approximately
half the class raises their hand, including my partner in crime Amber. Of course, she has, she’s sneaky. The door opens and in walks the Uni-bomber’s
son. He strolled across the room, his
black polo barely tucked into his pants,
and barely making dress-code. I’m
not so sure about the black leather belt with spikes and a giant metal skull
buckle though. His Doc Martens are so
loosely tied; he has to shuffle as he walks to keep them on his feet. It’s seventeen thousand degrees outside, and
he wears a jacket, what a wacko.
Everyone watches as he pulls the hood down and Miss Raine motions for
the ear buds to be pulled out of his ears.
His auburn hair, thick and unruly, gives him the urban skater kid edge.
“Thorne?”
Miss Raine asks.
He
lifts his head in a reverse nod like an arrogant too-cool-for-school thug. He pulls the ear buds out, walks over to the
only empty seat…the one next to me, and sits down. His chair makes an obnoxious sound as he
shifts it around and leans over to rummage through his backpack.
Amber
takes in a breath and mutters to me “ooo la la”. She would think he’s hot. “Shhhh,” I reply.
“In
the future Mr Woodson, you’re to be in your seat when the second bell
rings. Being it’s the first day of
class, and you are new to the school, I’ll let it slide….today. Don’t test my generosity, you’ll lose. Understand?” Miss Raine says with annoyance
in her voice. Thorne gives another reverse nod, in agreement. She leans over her desk and picks up a
folder. “The following students need to
come to the front of the class. Amber
Edwards, Derrick Douglas, Cecelia Judiarti, Carmen Rodriguez, Damian Shock,
Thorne Woodson and Jessie Lucente. Pack
up your things, as you will not be returning to this classroom today.”
We
all gather our things and line up by the door.
The other people in class are whispering to each other. My heart is pounding, and my brain is
thinking a thousand and one thoughts at the same time. I turn to Amber and say softly, “Do you know
what’s going on?”
She
shrugs her shoulders at me and stares at the back of Thorne’s hoodie. Fabulous,
a distracted Amber.
“Students,
I’ll be back in five minutes…try to control yourselves. The rest of you; follow
me.” She turns on her heel and goes to
the back of the room and leads us into a storage closet.
They
must expect to have an overflow of stuff, for a closet this size. All of us look around curiously, waiting for
her to explain why we’re in here. The stench of dirty bleach water and moth
balls are starting to make me light-headed.
Shelves are lining the walls to the ceiling, all glass jars of colorful
elixirs. Most are bright, while others
look as if they were filled with human organs.
I’m not even going to guess what they are.
“What
the hell? Between the musty smell and
Jessie’s Victoria’s Secret perfume, I’m going to barf,” Amber announces.
“My
body spray makes you want to barf? Wow,
things you can learn from your friends when you’re in a closet,” I say and grin
at Amber.
Miss
Raine taps her toe on the ground.
“Ladies, are you finished complaining?”
She takes her hand and sweeps it through her hair, exposing a little
tattoo on her wrist. “Thorne, turn off
the overhead light. There is a string
directly above you.”
“Hey,
it will be dark, he can’t do that,” the guy I think is Damien says.
“You
trying to off some Tamers or something?” Thorne’s voice is husky with a slight
raspy quality. It made me think of the
guys on the cover of bodice ripper books
(my grandma secretly reads them). His
rebel side showing for the second time in five minutes.
Miss
Raine sighs in exasperation. “You Light
Tamers are all the same. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve
explained this? Trust me; you won’t be
disturbed by any Dark Ones in here. This room is enchanted, and if they’d tell
you at a younger age, you’d know better.
But no, you think the
alchemist is an idiot. Now, Mr Woodson, please turn out the light.”
Amber
takes her fingers in the shape of a gun and fake shoots Miss Raine in the
back. We stifle giggles only to be shot
right back…with Miss Raine’s stink eye.
Thorne reaches up and pulls the string.
Amber and I are armed with our fancy pink flashlights Caleb insisted we
carry with us. The teacher shakes her
head in disbelief at us. Looking up, we
gasp at the never ending supply of potions.
Many of the jars are glowing as if filled with a thousand lightning
bugs.
“What’s
up with the jars?” I ask.
“Why
are we still standing in a closet, is what I want to know,” Amber says as she
gnaws on her cuticle.
“We
are about to leave the closet Miss Edwards.”
Miss Raine replies and slides a piece of paper in her white linen pants
pocket. Amber shifts to face me and
smiles with her teeth gritted and eyes bugging out. “Any time you’re at school, everyone is
protected from the Dark Ones. By the
time this class is over, you’ll know how to create the same enchantment for
protection.”
“You
realize working with chemicals is hazardous to my nails. This is bunk.” Carmen says as she tucks her short curly hair
behind her ear. Her perfect French
manicure is highlighted by her dark tan.
I
watch as Amber watches Thorne watching Carmen and feel the dread of a love
triangle brewing.
“She
looks like a tan version of Selena Gomez without extensions, doesn’t she?” I
whisper to Amber.
She
rolls her eyes so far back in her head, and for a split second, she looked like
a zombie. “I guess maybe a little,
except for the blue eyes. How much do
you want to bet she wears colored contacts?”
“You
always think everyone has colored contacts on.”
“How
many Hispanics do you know that have light-colored eyes? I mean, please…give
me a break.”
“Ladies,
as compelling of a conversation you’re having, we need to get going. Derrick, pull the handle on the mop
bucket.” Miss Raine reaches in her
pocket and pulls out a small vial and tosses it at the bucket as he pulls the
handle.
Instantly
the wall with all the jars rotates around, exposing an entry to a secret
passage. Where’s Scooby Doo? All we need now is a ghost and some Scooby
Snacks. Jinkies! Zoinks, how creepy is
that!
“Come
on kids, I need to get back to my classroom.”
We
all walk into a stairwell, down a flight of stairs, through a hallway, and past
two doors on either side of the hall. We
approach the end, it splits into a T.
Turning right, we take the first door on the left. The classroom is an exact duplicate of Miss
Raine’s room. Taking it in, I see two
kids sitting at their desk and a rather peculiar looking man in a monk’s robe
standing at a podium.
The
round bald headed man announces we can take a seat wherever we want. His accent sounds British mixed with a
Southern drawl, an interesting combination.
Miss Raine leaves, not before telling she’ll be back in exactly one hour
and thirty minutes.
“Chop,
chop, we won’t learn anything if everyone is too busy gawking at me in my
habit.” He says and wipes his forehead
with a handkerchief. He clears his
throat, which sounds like a cat coughing up a hairball. “I’m Mr Jesse James and
no, I am not related to your American outlaw or to a biker.” His head tilts to the side as he talks. “This is Enhanced Alchemy. What is it, you might ask yourself? This is an intense methodical form of the art
in alchemy. Yes, art. Although your young brain might be thinking
science, and I agree; however, it’s an
art of precision. I’m not going to bore
you to death over the details, you’ll understand as the school year
progresses. In your desk, you’ll find a
journal and a textbook. Please pull them
out and personalize them. They are yours
to keep.”
The
sound of books slapping the desk fills the room. “Excuse me Mr James, I thought all of our
books are electronic textbooks for our I-pads.
We have to lug around this giant book?”
I ask while clicking the end of my ink-pen over and over nervously.
He
gives me an annoyed look. “Yes, Miss Lucente, you have to carry a school book, just like the old days,” he says sharply. “Everyone, open your book, and I want you to
read the first chapter. You have five
minutes to read it and then you’ll take a test.” We all make a sound of
aggravation.
“Can
you believe this guy? What a douchebag,
that was totally rude of him,” Amber says.
She picked the seat behind me so I can hear her commentary about the
class.
“Less
talking and more reading Miss Edwards.”
“Like
I said, douche,” she whispers to the back of my head. I mentally pray he didn’t hear her. I hunch over my book trying to let my hair
fall into a curtain so Mr James won’t talk to me again.
Alchemy
(al-kuh-mee)
Noun,
plural alchemies
A form of
chemistry practiced in Renaissance time.
The art of transmuting baser metals into gold.
The use of
chemicals for magical elements. The art
of mixing compounds into potions for healing.
The
chapter is four pages long, but promises by the end of the book, we’d be able
to identify and create potions. I’ll be
lucky not to cause an explosion by the end of the book. I look over and note Thorne never opened his
book. I wonder if Mr James will say
anything.
“Miss
Lucente, take one and pass them on,” I grab the stack and give it to
Amber. I see Thorne is smirking in my
direction. I shift quickly and stare
down at my test. I miss the announcement
to start.
Five
minutes later I get up to hand my work to the teacher. As I turn to go back to my desk, I run smack
into Thorne. Good going grace. “Sorry, I
have a clumsy gene.”
“No
sweat,” he replies and winks at me. Did he just wink? No, it’s my imagination. Maybe I know him through my grandma. I’d remember him…wouldn’t I? His rugged look works for him. Amber’s going to have a field day with his
eyes once she sees they’re gray. Deep
and crystal clear with long black eyelashes.
Why do guys always have great
eyelashes and girls get stuck with wimpy flimsy ones? He is staring back at me, and for a
moment, I forget what I’m doing. I bet he’s a terrific kisser with his perfect
lips. Oops, why did I say that…think
that?
Derrick
is the last to turn in his test. I hate
being last; I always feel everyone thinks I’m stupid. Mom would say, someone has to be last. True, but it doesn’t make me feel better.
“I
am pleased to inform everyone that all of you passed the test with a 100. For a reward, I’m going give you four
chapters to read tonight instead of two.”
“What
the hell?” Amber mutters.
“Oh
no Miss Edwards, hell is college,” says Mr James. “I’m going to teach you how to make a
protection potion. It won’t be hard, and
I’ll give you the ingredients to take home.
You will be given a pop quiz later week.
I’ll grade you on both finesse and speed. Mr Woodson, it will behoove you to practice
and actually read the chapters. Form a single file line by the back door.
We’re going to the lab.”
“Hey, I need your help,” Amber says.
This
can’t be good. “With what?”
“I’m
going to make out with Thorne today.”
Breathe in. “Wow, that’s
ambitious.”
“I’m
freakin’ serious. Look at him, he’s all
sexified in his hoodie and I think it’ll make a statement.”
“Statement?”
“I’ve
never talked to anyone at this school other than Caleb. Now you’re here, I don’t want people to think
I went soft over the summer. You know,
hanging out with the gorgeous new girl takes away my edge. He’ll prove to everyone that I’m still
bad-ass.”
“You
think I’m gorgeous, ah that’s sweet? I
don’t believe the bad-ass for one minute Miss Edwards. Are you planning on kissing him at
school?” I study her face and see she is
intent on her quest.
Amber
shrugs her shoulders and pops her gum.
“I don’t have a plan, but it will
happen,” she whispers to me. “You only
live once right?”
This ought to be good.
Mr
James opens the door to the science lab.
The difference between this lab and the lab at my school in the Bronx,
everything is new and fancy looking.
“Thorne,
you want to sit with me?” Amber and I
turn in time to see Carmen. She is
slithering around him like a snake to its prey.
Oh crap! Amber is going flip out. I glance over at her, she is seething with
venom from every pore in her body.
“She
better learn her protection spell, because she’s going to need it,” Amber says
through gritted teeth.
“Do
you have A lunch or B lunch?” Carmen asks Thorne. “If you have B lunch you can sit with me,
I’ll introduce you to everyone…if you want.”
I
nudge Amber with my knee as we sit side by side at our lab table. She is drawing little stick people and what
looks like torture devices on her paper.
“I’m
in A lunch, I’m already sitting with someone, but thanks.”
I
look down and see Amber drawing a bubble over one of the stick people and a
giant ‘Yay!’ written inside.
“If
everyone has figured out their lunch schedule, we can start on our protection
spell.” Mr James says. “I’m going to give all of you something else
to carry around, just for you Miss Lucente.”
I
close my eyes and mentally breathe in to keep my face from turning crimson. He holds up a cardboard box with a girl
holding an umbrella on it. Oh yay, my
favorite condiment…salt.
“What
you might consider ordinary table salt, is simply untrue. It’s used in many spells and potions. At one time, salt was once believed to open the
entrance to heaven. I haven’t any proof
either way.” His quirky accent makes
everything he says sound exotic. “Miss Edwards, your brother was in my class
two years ago, did he share his wisdom of salt with you.”
Amber
goes rigid at the mention of her brother; I brace myself for the verbal lashing
I’m sure will commence.
“No,
he didn’t,” Amber replied softer than usual.
“I’m
always impressed when former students abide by the rules. Everything we discuss in this classroom is
confidential. Don’t forget,” Mr James
taps his finger on his chin before continuing with his lecture. “Salt alone can protect you from many elements…but
our main concern is the Dark Ones.”
Carmen
raises her hand to ask a question. “Mr
James,” she purrs. “Why are they called
Dark Ones, it isn’t creative? Honestly,
it sounds stupid.”
“Au
contraire, ma petite chou. Your
Historiography teacher will explain the history behind the name. What an exciting year you’re embarking on,”
he says and rubs his chunky hands together.
“With Miss Lucente in our midst, it’s sure to be a galvanizing
year. Even though, you may disagree with
the chosen slang for the former Light
Tamers, the simplicity of the name fits. I must continue to show you how to
make a protection spell. I’d like
everyone to open up your silver spout on top of the salt and pour some in your
hand.”
I
clinch my teeth as the spout squeals against the cardboard. Salt reminds me of my visits to North
Carolina as a child. No one warned me
not to drink the ocean water the first time I went swimming. A towering wave
knocked me backwards, and I ended up with a mouth full of water. After choking and gagging I threw-up until I
had nothing else in me. I shudder at the
memory.
“B,
oh for cripes sake, you can’t go one class without thinking of him? Caleb, oh I miss you…I can not make it without
you by my side. Caleb, my love, my
heart, my everything, I will die if I can’t shove my tongue down your throat in
the next five minutes,” Amber said dramatically.
I
prod her with my finger. “Shut-up, for
your information, I wasn’t thinking about him.
I was thinking about the ocean.
So….there!”
“Yeah,
whatever.”
Mr
James clears his throat loudly as he holds his salt up in the air. “Salt is a mineral, from the earth and
sea. It’s freely available and
affordable. I want you to stand up next
to your table and arm length away from your lab partner.” We all stood up and spread out our arms. “Good, before you do anything, I want you to
pour a circle of salt all around you and chant this spell. Salt of
the earth, protect me in this sacred circle.”
“Do
we say the words out loud?” I ask. After a minute, of clarification from Mr
James, I hold my arm out and spin in place, pouring salt. I whisper the incantation and cross my
fingers. I don’t feel any different.
“Mr
Woodson, I want you to stand perfectly still.
No matter what you do, and this goes for all of you…don’t step out of
the circle.” Mr James holds up a small
amber bottle, we all turn to face Thorne standing perfectly still in his circle. In the next moment, the bottle whizzed
through the air directly at him. Before
I have a chance to think about what I’m doing, I fling my hands into the air.
Everything
blurred as the vile halted inches from Thorne’s circle. Oh
crap! I chazzled, what on earth do I do?
My danger vibe kicked-in, and now I’m going to be busted. Shit…shit…shit. Let it go, don’t do anything… let it
fly. No, take the vial and put it back
in Mr James’ hand. I’m so going to
die. I jump up and put the vial back in his hand,
then scamper back back into my spot. Time caught up and as if it never
happened, Mr James looked at the vial in his hand curiously and then over to
me. Don’t
call me out. I cross my fingers
praying he didn’t notice the hiccup in time.
Mr
James pulled back as if he’s about to pitch a fastball at Thorne. Before I have time to think, he flings the vial
at me. I hear a blood curdling scream,
and realize I’m the screaming maniac. I cower down on the floor in a squat, my
arms are shielding my face. I look
around when nothing happens, suddenly realizing I’d successfully made my
invisible shield. I didn’t actually see
that part, but Amber and the rest of the class were yelling things like wicked awesome.
“Miss
Lucente, are you okay?”
“You
sure have a lot of faith in us. What if
I hadn’t done my shield properly? You
could have put my eye out with that pitch.”
His
robe rustled as he walks over to me. “I
believe in everything you kids do. I’d
like a minute with you in the classroom.
Everyone else, I want you to practice your speed in making a
circle. Dust Busters are up in front of
the room, they are for salt only. Suck
up the salt and pour it in the tub on my table, we recycle salt. Miss Raine will be here in about ten minutes
and don’t leave a mess. She does not
like dilly dallying.”
I better not get in trouble for
screaming, he tried to kill me with the damn bottle.
“Do
you have a clue how dangerous chazzling is in a room full of Tamers? It was incredibly thoughtless on your
part.” Mr James crosses his arms in a
huff.
Busted. “I’m sorry, it happened
so fast, I didn’t even think about what was happening. I’m sorry.
Please don’t tell anyone. I heard
that if people find out, I’ll be in danger.”
I’ve already screwed up, and it’s only my first day. My ‘this sucks’ list will be updated as soon
as I get home.
“You’re
going to be nothing but trouble for this school and your friends, if you don’t
think before you react.” He looks at my
face and the hard lines begin to soften.
“Jessie, I’m not trying to be mean.”
Swallowing
the lump in my throat and taking a mental breath, I look up to face him. “I understand, but how did you know?”
“Within
the hidden school, there is little we don’t know. That isn’t to say that there aren’t students
with abilities we don’t know about, but they know not to use them. I’ll report the incident, but it’s only
listed as a time breech. We don’t list
the exact ability unless it becomes an ongoing issue.”
What did Mrs.Ward say? ‘The beginning to a smashing school
year.” Something will be smashed; I’m
not sure what. The
door opens; Miss Raine looks at us curiously.
She gives Mr James an intense stare down before she gathers the rest of
the students.
We
follow Miss Raine in a single file line, up the stairs and back to her
class. Amber is suspiciously quiet, and
when it comes to quiet…you don’t think Amber.
“Students
who had alchemy lab today, you’ll go to lab as deemed necessary. Have a brilliant first day. Fate has a way of bringing us all together,
and I for one am grateful to be your teacher.” She tilts her head with a fake
smile plastered on her face.
The
bell rings its melodic tone, not the shrill sounds like we had in my old inner
city school. Amber jumps up, throws her
backpack over her shoulder and hurries to the door.
“Catch
you at lunch B, later tater.” Amber says as she practically knocks everyone
over to get out of the room.
Later tater? Her nickname for me is
B, for Bronx. Only cool people get a
nickname from her, so she says. I navigate to the door,
paying attention not to let anyone touch me.
Without looking up, I sense him…Caleb.
“Hey
beautiful, how was your first class? I
saw Amber charge out with her old chip on her shoulder. I thought we cured her…guess not,” Caleb says
and takes my hand. The now familiar
current runs through my veins.
“It
was enlightening, to say the least. You
have Alchemy next don’t you?” He nods at
me and leads me two doors down from Miss Raine’s room.
“This
is where I drop you off,” he says and gently backs me up against the wall. Leaning down he whispers in my ear, sending
my hormones through the roof. “I’ll be
here after class to walk you to lunch.”
My
heart skips two beats and a chill runs up my spine. “Why can’t I think to
you? I tried, but I could tell it wasn’t
working. Did you hear me?”
“They’re
probably jamming our frequency. You know
they have all of their so-called charms.
After this summer, nothing surprises me.” He leans in and gives me a quick kiss.
“P
D A,” someone who looks no older than twelve shouts out. I feel my face flush with embarrassment. It’s one thing to have Amber tease us
relentlessly, but having a pimply-faced
kid do it, is totally different.
I
shimmy past him and promise to meet after class. Honors English, my best subject.
And just think
that is only the beginning! This book will take you on a wild ride
with some serious twists and turns you do NOT see coming! Make sure you thank
Devyn for sharing! ;)
Now, onto the
giveaways! First off, I wanted to let you know that Devyn is actually doing an Enlightened book tour as we speak.
Here's the info so you can get in on the action!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And finally, the
week 2 Indie Author of the Month giveaway! Up for grabs this week is more
signed swag from Devyn along with a Devyn Dawson e-book of your choice, and
some indie supporter swag! Now, remember each weekly entry earns you an
additional chance at winning the SUPER MEGA AWESOME GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY at the
end of the month which includes tons of cool Devyn Dawson swag, books, AND a $10 Amazon/B&N gift card! So
exciting!!!! Let's kick off this week right and get to entering,
sweethearts! And don't forget to Share the Love!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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