Sara Curran-Ross's Blog, page 3

The Hanged Man Chapter One Cont'd

The Hanged Man

Chapter One Cont'd

Marcus joined Richard in trying to prise my hands away from the rail.

'Come, Juliet. Danger approaches. We must see you safe or Nathan will never forgive me,' he fiercely urged.

'There is danger for us all,' I told them, gripping the rail tighter. 'A great evil approaches us. I must stop it. I can stop the ship colliding with us. I know I can,' I insisted with firmness.

'No, Juliet. You must come away. I will not be dissuaded,' Marcus declared with fervour, succeeding in pulling one of my hands from the rail. 'No one can stop this collision. The ship comes too fast . . . The Adeline won't be able to manoeuvre in time to escape it. We must find somewhere safe and pray we survive the collision unscathed.'

'What is the use of being Queen of Talus with immense power if I cannot use it to save the people around me,' I declared in an angry tone.

'Juliet, we do not have time for your stubbornness . . .' Richard snapped.

Still they pulled at my hands and body to remove me from the rail. My words were falling upon deaf ears but I had to make them listen. This was my chance to prove my worthiness as Queen of Talus and I would not be stopped by anyone when the lives of so many were at risk and I could save them.

I felt the change in my eyes from green to black as the hardness of my anger pierced my soul. I gave vent to it. My mind sent a strong blast of energy at both Lycans, propelling them backwards. They fell down onto the deck and slid along it towards the wall. Shocked they both rushed to recover and stand. But as they did I took aim with another burst of energy and pinned them against the wall. I ignored their shouts for me to stop. They would not cause me any further trouble as I turned back to the rail to tackle the problem at hand. I turned the remainder of concentration and energy upon the approaching ship and fancied I saw it begin to slow it's pace.

The Adeline's bells were ringing in alarm and two of the officers were racing down the promenade deck to lean over the rail and view the other ship on its collision course. At the same time I felt the boat begin to take evasive manoeuvres to move away from the ship's path. The movement was slow and cumbersome as the ship ploughed the rough sea and wind in a vain attempt to turn away in time.

Laughter entered my mind. An intruder from the ship heading for The Adeline. It's Captain, no less.

'Bravo, my beautiful Queen. You are everything they said,' a soft deep male voice informed me. 'Your beauty is Angelic, your power is so potent and your bravery stronger than any of my men who serve me. I must possess you. Your knight will not have you. Now let me come to you. You will not be allowed to stop the collision. It is your destiny to be with me.'

'I belong to no one but my Knight. Do not make the mistake of daring to question my loyalty to him,' I hissed.

I increased the strength of my power and summoned it to obey my will as the on the ship began to fight my hold. His power was equally strong and for a moment the ship's speed increased. But I had strong hopes that I could outwit his arrogance - a common failing, particular to the male sex. Once more the approaching ship slowed its speed and I felt hope dwell inside me once again. I was determined to stop the ship dead in the water but the Devil that commanded it's metallic soul would not give up.
I attacked his mind directly with pain and I became encouraged when I heard him growl with anger.

'I admire you, Queen of Talus but you must be tamed.'

For a brief moment I appeared to gain ground. It seemed I could not stop the ship but I began to force it to turn and sabotage the Devil's plan to collide with the Adeline head on and take as many lives as possible. Another growl of anger startled my mind. Then a sharp piercing pain gripped my mind, my body forcing me to cry out with anguish. I struggled to maintain my concentration on forcing the ship to turn. It was so close. The great hulk of dark grey steel loomed ominously like a giant. it was an effort to look at it without terrible crippling fear.

Marcus and Richard called out to me, desperate for me to let them go. So many people had spilled out onto the deck to ascertain the commotion. There were many cries of fear as people began to scatter in a panic. An officer began shouting at me to move away as he made every attempt to prise my hands from the rail. The rail was my anchor, my grounding. I could not let go. One of the officers made to pick me up and carry me to safety as I fought to turn the ship away from us.

'Let me come to you,' the voice persisted. 'Then the pain will stop, little one.'

'I can endure pain better than anyone. You will not break my ship in two and sink it.'

The officers would not stop their annoying pulling and attempts to lift me in the air. I could not afford to redirect anymore of my energy away from the ship. I let go of my hold on Marcus and Richard and pleaded with them to help me.

By now Marcus was more amenable to my wishes. I had briefly felt him in my mind attempting to ascertain my plan and he was now eager to assist despite his previous concerns that I was a danger to myself in this situation. Why was it that the men around me refused to acknowledge or accept that I held power as a female? Why did I continually have to seek to prove myself to them before they would lower themselves to accept it? It was a most wretched state of affairs for a woman to find herself in. Both men succeeded in making short work of removing the officers' hold on my person and I was left to tackle the problem with my full attention.

'You bear pain well but can you bear the pain of mourning the death of those you seek to protect,' the male voice was amused again.

'No, please . . .'

I turned my head quickly towards the passengers running around me. One, two, three fell to the ground dead. The body count continued amidst terrified screaming and my angry sobbing protest within my mind.

'Stop it, please don't hurt them.'

'Then let me come to you. They mean nothing to me but I will spare them if you will but take your place by my side.'

'You lie. You mean to sink my ship. Leave them alone.'

Several more of the passengers died on their feet. There was no precision, no pattern, no gender nor any other apparent influence as to who was chosen to meet death. The Adeline was filled with blind panic as the passengers ran trampling over the fallen bodies and the weak and frail caught underfoot. The bodies kept falling.

I stared suddenly at Marcus and Richard who had placed themselves either side of me. My fear that either one of them or Marcus's two children would be chosen was acute. I turned to face the oncoming ship once more and screamed out loud at the Devil in a rage.

'Very well. Come to me.'

There was humour in his voice.

'As you command, my Queen.'

With a hiss I threw my energy into turning the ship as much as I could so that the impact might not prove as devastating as the demon intended. I would not allow the demon to sink my ship. Another angry snarl echoed in my mind but it was too late for him to take further action. The ship made heavy contact with The Adeline.

Richard and Marcus moved me backwards as the ship rolled heavily to one side with the impact. We fell back against the promenade deck floor and landed hard against the wall of the ship. Richard and Marcus fought to keep hold of me as our ears were assaulted by a terrible grating sound of metal on metal. A high array of sparks flew across the deck towards us as the ship made to capsize. I diverted the fullness of my power to The Adeline and mentally fought the physical forces that were determined to see the stricken ship fall onto its side in the water.

Eventually the terrible grating noise stopped and the ship ceased to loll violently to one side. I cast my mind out across the ship and viewed the large rip in the hull.

'The ship is taking on water,' I told Marcus and Richard. 'I will keep the water at bay and keep it afloat. We must get everyone off the ship. This Devil and his men mean to board it. No one will be spared. We must hurry. Marcus, you need to find your children. I will stay here and face this man who calls himself Galen and gives himself the title of Devil.'

However, I was quickly informed that I would not be allowed to take any such action. A stern promise had been made to my Knight of Swords that I would be kept safe at all costs and it was a promise Marcus's intended to keep both as a gentleman and as a Lycan. He would also not seek to cause a war between the Lycans and Taleian's, Hybrid or pure. We were to retrieve Marcus's children and gather the other Lycans in the hopes of finding a way off the ship. We began to move hurriedly when a mass of black winged creatures began to rise into the air from the phantom ship to land upon The Adeline and scoop up the terrified passengers like prey.

Seriously Good News!

Knight of Swords, the first book in my Victorian Vampire Romance Trilogy, The Swords Series will be available in print on Amazon from the 30th September through Hellfire Publishing. Woohoo! I hope you will check it out. In the meantime here is the blurb and an excerpt to wet your appetite!


Blurb

Nathan Valancourt is young, stinking rich, a darling of London's social set in 1893 and a notorious womaniser. He had never believed in the supernatural but when a vampire killer masquerading as a clergyman begins haunting his dreams and forcing him to endure visions of the murder of his previous female conquests, Nathan determines to amend his frivolous ways.

When the killer turns his attention to Nathan's beautiful ward, Juliet, Nathan is anxious to protect her. As they battle the monster, Nathan and Juliet gradually realise that they share a psychic connection. This close bond triggers the discovery of their true heritage as descendents of human-vampire unions and leads to the gradual revealing of powers beyond their imagination that offer them hope of victory.



Knight Of Swords Excerpt


Our horses thundered along in the blue and grey tinged haze that haunted the beach's flat white surface as night began to close in. As we neared the middle of the beach we emerged from the veil of mist like dark ethereal phantoms. I felt sand spray against my face as my horse kicked up the fine grains between its hooves. My exhilaration was at its height. I felt sure of glory.

The tide was out a fair distance away and did not prove a hindrance. Up ahead I saw a hearse descend a wooden ramp that led on to the beach from a small gulley between the dunes. The coachman wore funeral garb and served as a frightening spectacle, cracking his whip high with brutal force at the sleek black horses that led the carriage as it raced along the beach towards the caves. It was being driven at a dangerous pace, nearly tipping to one side. There was a coffin inside. Juliet. I prayed it was her but my sensitive hearing picked up a frantic heartbeat.

I reached out to the mind of the individual trapped in the coffin. It was a terrified young woman. She was bound, gagged and semi-naked. She was to be part of the ritual, offered as a human sacrifice to the gods for the joining of Sebastian and Juliet. Disappointment threatened to crush me.

The Ghost Writer

Here is the next chapter of the Ghost Writer. Hope you enjoy it.

Happy Reading! :)


Chapter Three

From the blinding white light a large figure of a man emerged. He was tall with the lightest blonde hair I had ever seen touching his shoulders in waves. It had to be real, there was no way I had ever seen such a stunning blonde colour come out of a bottle and believe me I have searched high and low for such a mystical colour. I stared at him wide eyed unable to take my eyes from his beautiful pale features. He was so tall . . . what the hell was it with me being surrounded by tall men??? Maybe it was because I was only 5"3 and I thought everyone was tall???

The light began to diminish behind the figure revealing large grey white wings stretched out, so wide and long that they almost touched both sides of the long room. My jaw nearly hit the floor. Was he really what I thought he was? An Angel? The others didn't seem as surprised as me. Nathan appeared relieved but Marcus was fuming with anger. I felt his grip on me tighten making me struggle.

The Angelic man walked towards us and as he did the large wings began to fold in behind him and disappear into his back. The whole scene before me was unreal and once again I began to question if I was dreaming. He was wearing a beige suit with a white shirt and tie. He moved his shoulders as the wings disappeared and grimaced.

'I will never get used to appearing in these modern suits,' he announced in a soft but firm melodic voice that seemed to bounce on the air. 'They are so restrictive but I must say, quite smart,' he smiled readjusting his tie.

Marcus spoke first.

'You shouldn't be here . . .'

'It is not for you to say where I should and should not be,' he answered sternly. 'Let her go.'

'No, I won't. It's my right to . . .'

The Angel's vivid aquamarine eyes blazed hot.

'I will give you one more chance to obey, Marcus. Take your men and leave. You will get your chance to face Nathan but not at this time. You are premature in your haste to win your battle. Patience is necessary.'

'You heard him, Marcus let her go or so help me . . .' Nathan struggled with the two men once more.

Marcus vehemently shook his head and began dragging me to the wall again, determined to have his way.

Nathan shouted to the Angel.

'Michael . . . I can't do this alone.'

The Angel turned to him and smiled.

'At last you are willing to accept my assistance, soldier.'

The Angel gave a sigh and turned back to my pathetic struggling, squealing form as Marcus dragged me to the blue light pulsing from the wall.

'I am relieved you have asked, Nathan. I cannot assist anyone who does not ask for my help.'

With one quick movement, the Angel raised a pale elegant hand and waved it firmly through the air. The two men next to Nathan backed away with a cry, their bodies shimmering and shrinking until all that remained of them were two small scarlet lights. They danced around the room at dazzling speed and then raced across the bed past Marcus and myself to disappear into the wall lit with blue light.

I had seen lights like that before many a time. I had thought it was something to do with my eyes. They were more than often blue lights but sometimes I saw red, black, green and white ones hovering over me at night, brightly illuminating the darkness. Now I began to wonder if they were actually people hovering over me. I once heard a medium talking about spirit lights. Is that what they were? Were Nathan, Marcus, those men, spirits?

Now free of obstacles in his way, Nathan ran towards the bed and jumped up on it to wrestle Marcus away from me but the Angel was to act once more. The colour of his eyes intensified as he stared deeply at Marcus. The man shook his head.

'No, no you can't do this to me, you know it is my right to . . .'

'Hush, go back to where you came from. You will be patient.'

Marcus's body began to shrink and shift into different colours and then he became a small green light with a ball of orange not dissimilar to the shape of a flame burning within its centre. I felt myself falling backwards towards the bed but Nathan wound his arm around my middle and pulled me up into his arms.

My heart was beating like an express train as he held me tight against his chest. There was nothing ethereal about Nathan's form. He was a comforting wall of solid muscle. I snuggled against him still wondering how he could be so real to me. Slowly my shaking began to recede as he smoothed his fingers gently through my hair, making me lament the obvious bed hair I had from getting up so abruptly in the night. I could feel it sticking up all over the place. Oh man! I must have looked awful. Still I didn't want to move. I closed my eyes for a moment and took in Nathan's wonderful scent of fresh pine. He always smelt of the outdoors, of crisp snowy mornings and crackling warm camp fires.

As though in fury the light raced around the room and across the ceiling darting behind curtains until the Angel voiced his annoyance.

'I said be gone,' he ordered. He gave another wave of his hand and I felt a breeze fill the room. It knocked the small light sideways across the room towards the blue wall and into it.

This Angel certainly didn't take any prisoners. but then I recognised his name. Michael, wasn't that the name of the Angel who threw Satan out of heaven?

Michael addressed Nathan.

'Please take her from here and start your mission. I won't be able to hold him back for long. This karma you both hold must be faced and dealt with.'
Nathan nodded and kissed the top of my head. He began leading me off the bed and lifted me down. Both the Angel and Nathan ignored my frantic questions about where we were going.

'I will take her now. The sooner this is over the better. Then she will be safe,' Nathan told Michael holding my hand tight.

Perhaps he was afraid I was going to make a break for it. Not bloody likely. I wanted to know what was going on.

'Good luck, both of you,' Michael called after us.

I looked back at him just in time to see the Angel smile and then walk into a huge ball of white light and disappear. Nathan pulled me on when I stopped and stared. As we rushed down the stairs he picked my coat up off the banister and instructed me to put it on. He still wouldn't tell me where we were going despite all of my annoyed protestations.

We moved outside into the cold night air. It was so quiet and so very dark. I didn't like it. I automatically hurried to my car but Nathan had other ideas. He shook his head and pointed to his black horse tethered to one of the trees outside of my house.

'You've got to be kidding?' I whispered crossly. 'I've told you before I am not good on horses. Why can't we be like normal people and take the car?' I groaned.

'You can't take a car. They don't know what cars are where we are going. It will look very out of place,' he informed me with slight impatience.'

'What are you talking about? This is all too weird, ghosts and . . . What do you mean they don't know what cars are where we are going?' I gave a nervous laugh. 'Anyone would think we were going back in time?'
Nathan grinned.

'Very perceptive,' he announced moving towards my body as I backed away from him shaking my head in disbelief.

'Oh no. I don't want to go back in time. I'm not up for this . . . Who am I? Marty McFly?'

'I'm sorry, there is no other choice. I have to take you, my love. I wish I didn't,' he said softly catching my arm to gather me into his arms again.
I began to feel afraid.

'You have to face your past and learn from it. You and I must face Marcus and what he did to you, to us so we can be together again in the future,' he urged passionately.

'But I don't understand any of this . . .'

'I know you don't but you will very shortly.'

Before I could utter another word, Nathan had slipped his arms up under my legs and lifted me up on to the horse. He quickly mounted the animal behind me and held me tight against him. A large white light suddenly appeared in front of us.

I gripped Nathan's coat tightly in an effort to hang on as he guided the horse into a trot then gallop and headed straight for the light. I closed my eyes tight and buried my head against his chest knowing that there was no way out.

'Hang on. This will be a bumpy ride,' Nathan urged.

The moment we moved into the light I felt myself thrown away from the horse. I could see nothing but light all around me yet I felt as though I were travelling forwards at speed. I couldn't see Nathan or the horse and I feared that I would be lost in this light forever. Then my surroundings suddenly turned black and I was falling fast. I gave a squeal as my body heavily hit ground and I blacked out.

When I came to Nathan was standing over me holding out his hand. He was dressed very differently, oddly. He wore a fancy light blue and white uniform, high riding boots and a small jacket of the same appearance that was worn over his right shoulder. I sat up on my elbows and stared at his dashing uniform with starry eyes instantly forgetting my predicament.

'Where are we?' I asked taking the offer of his hand to help me up and glancing at the snow that had cushioned my landing. 'Or should I say, when are we?' I questioned further, viewing the clearing in the forest in which we stood.

He smiled, clearly flattered by my appraisal of his clothes.

'France, 1804. The first day and lifetime we met,' he grinned.

'You look rather handsome,' I smiled with a blush.

'I was a French Hussar in Napoleon's Grand Army. You don't look too bad yourself.'

I looked down at my clothes and shrieked. I was in full early eighteenth century dress. I looked as though I had just walked out a Jane Austen novel.

'Though I do feel you will catch your death of cold if we don't get you out of the snow.'

'Are you going to tell me what this is all about?' I demanded starting to shiver like crazy.

Nathan swept his arms around me and rubbed my own trying to generate warmth.
'Yes I am. It's time you knew everything. It won't be easy to listen to.' He started to walk me towards his horse a small distance away. 'Let me explain.'

'I'm all ears,' I told him.

Cover Art For Sleeping Love

Here is my new book cover for my first romance novel, Sleeping Love. It's set in a Chateau in the Loire Valley, France and the beautiful city of Paris. The book will be available in November as an e-book through Hellfire Publishing. To wet your appetite I have included the blurb below and the first chapter. Enjoy and remember I would love for you to comment.

Happy Reading!


Sleeping Love

Historian Sabrina Michaels lost her memory ten years ago after waking up in a London hospital badly beaten. When she travels to a French chateau owned by handsome wealthy businessman Raoul Valoire to research his famous ancestor, he lays claim to her as his wife.

Afraid of confronting her past, Sabrina attempts to leave the chateau but finds that her husband is more than determined to have his wife back in his arms and in his bed. He is prepared to hold her prisoner until she uncovers her true identity and remembers her love for him.

Sabrina embarks on a journey into her own past in the hopes of uncovering what caused her to disappear from the chateau without a trace the night of her birthday party and the man who was responsible for her attack. She only hopes it is not the husband she is falling in love with all over again.




Chapter One

Sabrina glanced out of the window watching the moon cast her silvery shadow over the pretty French countryside. The black Mercedes glided over a hill following a narrow ribbon of road towards the illuminated Chateau Valois, suddenly dominating her view. A majestic building set in vast grounds, its tall cream fairytale turrets capped with smooth grey strained to their fullest height. It only served to show that the house was not just a home but also an impenetrable fortress like its owner. She'd expected something grand, after all her host was a wealthy businessman but this was beautiful. It could have been stolen out of a fairytale.

The car travelled over a drawbridge that lay over the moat surrounding the chateau. It drove through an arch nestled between two towers, and Sabrina heard the car's wheels softly crunch over the gravel of the inner courtyard opening out in front of them.

He was there striding out of the house as the car came to a halt. His tall intimidating frame sent a curious mixture of excitement and fear tingling the length of her spine. It was a feeling that had seized her the first time they met and continued to intrigue her curiosity. He opened the door before the chauffeur alighted and offered his hand giving her no choice but to accept his assistance. She felt his hand linger, smoothing the pad of his thumb over her knuckles. It was an intimate caress, one of lovers that startled her senses and made her pull her hand away in embarrassment.

He gave her a hooded smile as though he fully expected the reaction and remarked on the coldness of the weather. Expressing his concern that she would be feeling the chill, his arm hung loosely around her waist bringing a healthy flush to her cheeks as he guided her into the house.

The housekeeper was waiting for them. She gave Sabrina a cordial but guarded greeting making her believe that the woman was unsure about her presence in the house. She led them both up the snaking stone staircase blanketed by a luxurious red carpet to Sabrina's room.

'I put you in this room Sabrina because it has a good view of the grounds,' her enigmatic host told her as they entered one of the guest rooms. 'Do you like it?' he asked moving away towards the white marble fireplace at the side.

He appeared eager for her approval but it was hard to look at her surroundings when Raoul Valoire was around. His very being dominated the pretty blue room with its mahogany four-poster dressed in sensual blue and white satin bedding. Somehow he made it's luxurious splendour insignificant.

'Yes, of course I do. It's beautiful. Being here makes me feel as if I have stepped into the past,' she gushed nervously.

Raoul was on his hunches stoking the fire to make it blaze higher. He stopped for a moment and she was sure she could see his mouth curve into a knowing mocking smile. She prickled. Why did she get the unsettling feeling Raoul Valoire knew more about herself than she did and was enjoying it?

She began removing her gloves, loosening the buttons on her coat, her mind echoing with abuse, arrogant, pompous… She stopped as he stood and turned to advance towards her. He dwarfed her small curved form and she found herself straightening her back to rise to her full petite height.

'You haven't taken your coat off yet,' he said with a frown. 'Is there something wrong? Are you cold, Sabrina?'

It was the way he said her name, the way it rolled off his tongue with that sexy melodic French lilt, like an intimate caress that made her soften.

'No, thank you. I'm fine. I was just about to.'

But he was there before she could raise her hands to begin the task, slowly slipping the cashmere coat from her shoulders and depositing it on the bed behind her. Why stop there she mused with irritation at the liberty he was taking. Cold? How could she be? Every time he was near her she quietly burned with the warmth of a blazing furnace ever since their first meeting. And he knew it. It was disturbing. It wasn't like her to allow any man to have this effect on her. Yet here she was allowing Raoul Valoire to exert his power and reel her in like a fish. Damn it, Sabrina. Get some control.

The man was a virtual stranger. She knew nothing about him but her body spoke to her in fleeting images of them of past encounters entwined together in unbridled passion. It was crazy. They were so vivid they felt like memories. She looked up at him wondering if somehow he'd seen it too.
Raoul's eyes were dark and fathomless. They were dangerous eyes, the type that swallowed you whole and didn't allow you up for air. She heard herself give a small inward gasp as they drew her in and held her prisoner.
Nervous at the curious effect he was having upon her, and feeling a sudden chill she pulled away to admire the roaring fire, rubbing her arms. A part of her knew this man intimately and he her. She didn't know how. Maybe it was that past life nonsense her friend Lorna kept on about. No it was ridiculous. Yet she'd experienced the same strange feeling when Raoul had first been introduced to her at that drinks party only two weeks ago. There seemed no logical answer for it.

'Are you feeling all right, Sabrina? Is there anything I can get you?' he asked.

She turned around. There it was again, that knowing smile, as if he knew exactly what she was feeling and it amused him. She studied his face looking for some clue as to the game he was playing but he was giving nothing away.

Sabrina watched him smile innocently clearly aware of the purpose of her scrutiny. Every time she looked at him he took her breath away. That was what made him so deadly, she decided. He possessed the type of looks that would seduce a woman from a mile away. An English mother and French father provided a light Latin warmth to his skin and an aristocratic smoothness to his face. His smooth mid length hair was an enticing mixture of dark brown flecked intermittently with a lighter version of the colour. It begged for her to run her fingers through its rich texture.

Sabrina began stepping backwards both alarmed when he strode towards her but there was no safe retreat. Her back was just about hitting the fireplace and the heat of the fire was about to scorch and melt the leather of her boots if she got any closer.

Her blue eyes searched his face looking for some explanation when his eyes narrowed at her. More than a little nervous she made an attempt to move away to the side. But she found her chin being lifted and her head tilted sideways.

Raoul trailed the warm tips of his fingers along her neck, gently probing the aching stiffness that tormented her so often. She closed her eyes feeling surprised pleasure at his touch and allowed him to turn her around to face the fire. Too mesmerised by his gentle healing massage to object.

'You are always tensing, Sabrina. When will you ever learn to relax?'

It wasn't even his words that shocked her, it was the gentle familiarity with which he spoke them. Her mind was screaming caution but her body had a will of its own paralysing any movement she made to escape. The aching muscle softened, melted against his fingers. He knew exactly where to touch, to soothe and to deepen the massage to ease her pain. She would swear to it. What was happening? More to the point, what was she doing allowing him to touch her like that?

'Dinner will be ready in half an hour,' the housekeeper stopped her speech abruptly, her eyes resting anxiously on her employer. They hadn't even heard her knock.

Raoul lowered his hands and Sabrina edged away afraid to meet his eyes or the housekeeper's for the sake of embarrassment. She thanked the woman and announced that she would dress and be downstairs as soon as possible. It was the cue for both of them to leave and the housekeeper took it at once but Raoul lingered.

Sabrina felt afraid and for a moment considered making some excuse to leave the chateau. But her common sense made light of the situation. She was imagining it. He obviously liked her and she was complimented. Perhaps it was simply wishful thinking that she'd known him before. But she had come to do a job and she wasn't leaving until it was done. She would conduct herself professionally from now on and stop acting like a school girl.

Yet the strangeness of the whole occurrence kept intruding on her thoughts and try as she might she could not put it aside. There was something about this house and the people who inhabited its walls, a familiarity she couldn't quite explain. It was just like déjà vu.

Raoul interrupted her ruminations. His hands were firmly in trouser pockets as if to keep them from further mischief, his speech formal and distant once more.

'I will see you later. Please call myself or my staff if you require anything.'

Smiling he headed for the door and took his leave. Sabrina was left wondering what other excitement the evening would bring and what part Raoul would play in it.

Sabrina changed into a short off the shoulder black dress. It was the only dress she possessed. She preferred trousers. They never let her down. They hid the petite legs she always unjustifiably condemned herself for owning but defined her small waist to perfection along with the feminine curve of her hips. She looked at herself in the full length mirror and groaned, trying to pull the dress down a little further to her knees.

Her attention turned to her breasts and produced another groan. They were generous and voluptuously round. She had no wish to over amplify their size but the dress wasn't giving her a choice. About to decide to rebel and pull on her jeans she became distracted by a new torment. Her hair. Half an hour later she finally gave up the ghost on trying to soften and straighten her defiant bob of black curls. A quick glance at her watch had her cursing her lateness and heading for the door.

Her host was about to knock on her door when she left, making her think he'd been prowling around outside waiting for her to come out all of that time. But he had changed. He was in a black suit and casual white designer shirt open at the neck. Those dark eyes scanned her dress and came to rest on her breasts. She was treated to an approving smile. Triumph that he found her attractive in the dress warred with her indignation at his intimate assessment.

'You look beautiful, Sabrina but you should have worn something warmer. The chateau is full of drafts,' he teased.

'I will be fine, Monsieur Valoire,' she insisted, irritation audible in her tone. She edged away to maintain some distance between them. But his hand rested firmly against the smooth satin skin of her bare arm when her distracted mind tried to lead her in the wrong direction and brought her back to heel.

They walked through a string of rooms until they finally reached the dining room. It was decorated in a deep earthy gothic red, garnished with Flemish tapestries and portraits of the chateau's previous ancestral owners. The long oak table was dressed with elaborate candelabra dripping lightly with molten wax. The flames of the candles flickering shadows around the room as they entered. It was just the way she liked to have dinner, romantic by candlelight, and in this chateau it was a dream come true. How did this man know all of her secrets?

Maybe he'd had her followed, checked out. She wouldn't put it past a rich man like Raoul. He pulled out a high back chair covered in Spanish leather for her to sit next to him at the head of the table.

'So Monsieur Valoire, when can I expect to view the historic documentation you possess on your ancestor Christophe Valoire so I can begin my research?' she asked as they were served a light started or goat's cheese and salad dressed in aromatic oil.

He caught her eyes as the butler poured ruby wine into the crystal glasses.

'You are a work alcoholic, Dr Michaels. I thought you could take a few days to relax and enjoy your stay and allow me to show you around the Loire Valley.'


He was looking at her so intently she felt her eyes lower and her cheeks flush in response.

'I would have liked that very much but I have to give a lecture in Paris in a couple of days and I need to prepare.'

He was undeterred.

'Well, we will just have to see what we can achieve in the time we have together.'

Sabrina managed a nervous smile. He was making it no secret that he wanted her and he wasn't about to let her go. He continued their conversation, his deep velvety tone playing havoc with her every attempt not to melt and fall at his feet like some love struck teenager. Damn it, he knew, knew the effect he was having. She could see it playfully dancing with humour in his eyes, and she was helplessly playing along to his piped tune. She didn't like being manipulated.

'I have read your book and recent articles Sabrina. I am especially interested in your research concerning gender issues in popular culture in Europe. You are a hopeless feminist, aren't you?'

It was her turn to smile.

'Does that threaten you, Monsieur Valoire?'

'Please call me Raoul. Why would I feel threatened? I admire it. Well, to a certain extent,' he grinned. 'As long as it suits me. I just wonder whether or not you have considered how a man would have felt about the way he was forced to live in those times?'

'I can assure you, Monsieur . . . Raoul that I make adequate recompense to the issues of masculinity, that is why I intend to write a biography of your famous ancestor…' she told him firmly feeling her temper rise at his questioning of her professional work ethic as a gender historian.
But when she heard him laugh and realised with embarrassment that he was merely teasing she halted her passionate speech and bent to eat her food feeling foolish. An awkward silence ensued and Sabrina began to feel more uncomfortable. Ribbons of light from the candles danced across Raoul's handsome face giving him a dark and mysterious air when he finally broke the oppressive silence.

'I'm sorry, Sabrina. I was only playing with you,' he smiled warmly. 'I enjoyed reading your academic work. It raises some interesting questions.'

She nodded accepting the apology but felt reluctant engaging in any further conversation, suddenly feeling very tired and on edge. The more she looked around the room, the more convinced she was that she had been in it before. She couldn't explain it. Maybe she'd visited the place as a child. But the explanation didn't seem adequate. Even the tapestries and the scenes they depicted were more than familiar.

'Are you ill, Sabrina? You look a little pale,' he asked.

'No, no I'm fine. I just have this weird déjà vu feeling that I've been here before. It's silly really,' she joked. She raised her eyes to the ceiling and shook her head. 'Maybe in my last lifetime.'

He said nothing taking another sip of wine. For a moment his eyes avoided her. She found it odd that he would not make some remark or even a joke.

'I look forward to reading your work on my rogue ancestor but for now I want to hear all about you,' he insisted putting down his glass, quickly changing the subject.

Raoul's eyes never left her face as she took a hurried sip of her own wine.

'There isn't much to tell I'm afraid,' she said nervously. 'Maybe we should talk about something more interesting.'

She smiled sweetly, expertly covering the pain that slashed at her insides with a knife. But he was to remain annoyingly inquisitive.

'No. I'm intrigued. Tell me about yourself.'

She didn't miss the command in his tone. There was no escape. He was not about to allow her to bow out gracefully. There was nothing to tell. Nothing she could remember beyond seven years ago when she'd woken up in a London hospital badly beaten without her memory. She didn't want to talk about it. Sometimes when people pressed her for details of a past and family she made up stories. They were better termed fantasies. She didn't want to do that tonight. Besides she had the feeling Raoul would see right through them. Her voice stalled in her throat and another awkward silence fell upon the dining room. Sabrina looked away desperately searching her mind for a way of excusing her behaviour.

'Well, I don't see you wearing a wedding ring, so I take it that you aren't married?' he quizzed.

His voice was soft but Sabrina could hear some malice lingering in his tone. What was his problem? She'd had enough of his games. Maybe she should really leave.

She jumped when he suddenly picked up her hand that rested on the table, and began to gently examine her fingers. He stroked each one sensually, circling the pad of his thumb in the middle of her palm. She watched entranced, completely under the spell created by the rhythmic stroking.
It was a normal thing to ask, to see if there was any competition. He wasn't hiding his interest. But there was a curious firmness in his tone that appeared to challenge her answer, dared her to say no.

'No I'm not married,' she told him truthfully.

She felt herself begin to tremble when his eyes directly stared into her own, narrowing with a dark primitive anger.

'I think you are lying.' the words were spoken coldly, a streak of menace lining every one. 'Where is your wedding ring, Sabrina?'

Sabrina's heart pounded in her chest. Confused and terrified she attempted to pull her hand away. His response was to hold it tighter making her cry out with the strength of his grip. Once more he demanded angrily, 'Where is your wedding ring? Did you throw it away? Why did you forget? Answer me, Sabrina or so help me. . .'

Almost as if on eerie cue the wind that had been building outside swirled around the chateau with a deathly cry from an open window extinguishing the burning flames of the candles. The lamps at intervals on the walls also went out as if a fuse had been blown. Sabrina felt suffocated as the wall of darkness imprisoned her sight and pressed down upon her. She was terrified of the dark and had never known the reason. She struggled violently in Raoul's hold unable to stand it anymore.

'Hush, Sabrina. I know you have been frightened of the dark since you were a child. It will only last for a few moments. The lights are always going out. It happens in old buildings,' he told her with impatience.

She heard him stand and felt him pull her struggling form into his arms. His fingers stroked soothingly through her hair but she was not to be placated.

'What is going on? You've been acting strange with me since I arrived? Why are you asking me about a wedding ring? Let me go. I want to go home,' Sabrina insisted.

'You're not going anywhere, Sabrina,' he told her firmly transferring his hold to her wrists in an effort to stop her moving. 'You belong here. This is your home and I am never letting you leave again.'

'What are you saying? Who are you? How do you know so much about me? She stopped struggling, more from shock than anything else.

'You really don't remember do you?' he sounded disbelieving, dismayed, barely able to contain his frustrated anger. 'You are my wife.'

REVIEW OF ACID JAZZ SINGER BY DIANE NELSON

Blurb

Her name was RayLee. They called her the Acid Jazz Singer, her sultry voice mesmerizing human and demon alike. She'd been running for three years from her maker and only Travis McKenzie stood between her and the darkness that had become her life.

Travis hunted the hit squads of demons and paid lip service to the Sheriff of the city. The half-blood had gifts, of the magic, shifting kind—and something more. It made him a stone cold killer and the only thing that mattered in his life was safeguarding the woman he was falling in love with.

Vladimira was the oldest of her kind, an enforcer—a gun for hire to the highest bidder. Vamp, human, demon. It didn't matter. It was all about the job … until the stakes changed and she found a reason to care.

The singer and the protector had a history. But that history changed when a southern bigot vamp turned Travis' friend into a travesty—neither man, nor woman … but both. Travis fell hard for the trannie known as RayLee. He was having a harder time dealing with his best friend, Ray.

Then the game changes, and Travis and Ray have to rely on an assassin with a secret agenda and uncertain loyalties.

When the demon comes to claim Ray, Travis must walk through the bowels of hell to save the only being on earth he cares about.

The problem is … who is going to save Travis from himself?


My Review

I don't think I have ever read a book quite like Acid Jazz Singer. An action romance between a transvestite vampire and a half blood Demon Hunter is an unusual combination for my mainstream tastes so I approached it with some intrepidation wondering what I would find.

I have to say that what I found was fresh and original. It was a brave move to take on such a romantic combination but Diane Nelson pulled it off with style. It was a pleasure to read a book that deconstructed the normal urban fantasy novel, putting an intriguing and beguiling spin on the vampire romance. Raylee teetering on his/her heels in his spandex and all man Travis doing his utmost to protect his vampire lover from her evil maker Slattern, provoke your sympathies immediately. This is particularly the case when Travis's feelings towards desiring and loving RayLee as a woman whilst attempting to maintain his close friendship with the Transvestite as a man become strongly conflicted. The characters are loveable in their own unique ways and quirks. They are brave in their traumatic journey throughout the book making you want to root for them all the way.

Diane Nelson's scene setting is almost HD and her description vivid giving you no problems in losing yourself in the story. The action scenes are plentiful if not a little lengthy at times. However, they balance out the romance element making it an easy read for either a man or a woman. My only real criticism of the novel would be that as a person from the UK some of the language that was used to give a grounded, earthy appeal went over the top of my head. I spent time trying to work out the meaning of the words I didn't understand which spoiled the flow of my reading.

Anyone who loves the tv vampire series True Blood or is looking for a new slant on the vampire story or indeed a love story would be hard pressed to find any better than Acid Jazz Singer. This is a must have read.

RATING: FOUR STARS


Purchase Links:
Kindle: http://amzn.to/oT1SDd
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/qSrr3S
OmniLit: http://bit.ly/qSrr3S

You can find Diane at her Website : www.romancingwords.com

The Ghost Writer

HI Everyone,

Here is the next instalment of my own surreal adventure with the vampire characters from my Victorian Vampire novel, Knight of Swords, The Ghost Writer. Hope you enjoy it.

Sara :)


Chapter Two (cont'd)

The good looking refined fair features of Nathan's deadly rival for Juliet's hand in my series of novels, Gabriel Masters came into view. He was clothed in full Victorian morning dress. Very businesslike and as fastidious in his dress as Nathan. Just the way I wrote him. His two scary looking friends were similar but more sloppily attired. The first words that came into my mind were confusingly and insanely not ones of fear but, 'Didn't I kill you off in book Two?' I gave him a perplexed look as he stopped in front of us and a slow smile began to curve his sensuous lips giving his features a mocking grace.

'How long did you think you could hide her from me?' Gabriel challenged Nathan in a menacing tone.

'Forever. You have no business being here. She doesn't belong to you. She never did and she never will. It is not my fault you can't take a simple hint, Marcus. Then you were never too bright, were you?' Nathan's voice was heavy with sarcasm. ' You still don't understand that your advances are unwanted even after two lifetimes. It's incredible how dumb some people can be.'

Gabriel turned to look at both of his men on either side of him and laughed. He shook his head.

'Always so defensive, Nathaniel,' there was no mistaking the jealous malice behind his words. Still guarding her possessively like buried treasure. I see you aren't in this life with her. That must have been hard, having to give her up like that and to another man.'

'It's what she needed to do. To work out what you did to her, to help her move on and I will be damned if I am going to let you interfere with her journey.'

Gabriel or Marcus, I wasn't sure what to call him tensed for a brief moment and a flicker of regret and longing crossed his hazel eyes. Then they turned hard, determined again. That's when I noticed how much I was shivering with anxiety. I desperately wanted to know what they were talking about. I was in the dark about all of this weirdness.

'You are not going to win. I want her for my soul mate and I always get what I want . . .' Marcus firmly told Nathan with conviction.

'Always the spoilt child, Marcus. I want , never gets . . .'Nathan sneered.
'You stole her from me, remember? She was meant for me.'

'She was never meant for you. You just couldn't accept it. Now leave and go and look for your own soul mate before I do you some damage, Marcus,' Nathan finished his sentence with a hiss from his teeth.

Marcus's reaction was immediate. He bared his incisors and hissed back, his companions followed suit and my heart leapt into my mouth. In a rather brave, bold and daring move or a rather stupid, idiotic move, depending on how you chose to look at it, I decided to take control and stop the fight that was about to erupt in my bedroom. I held up my hand and opened my mouth.

'Right this is all very wonderful and Dr Who, two gorgeous men fighting over me, vampire characters from a book I wrote no less. It's the ultimate author's fantasy. I must have a whopper of an imagination or I am completely nuts. So I either need to wake up from this dream before it turns nasty or someone needs to tell me what the hell is going on here?' I demanded trying to muster some courage.

I was after all a woman of the 21st century and we didn't just get pushed around by men, especially nineteenth century ones, I sharply reminded myself.

Both Marcus and his men turned to look at me in wide eyed surprise. I made an effort to move away from Nathan to face Marcus Wainwright down myself. Boy was that a mistake. Nathan's arm wound tight around my waist as Marcus made a move to seize his opportunity and for want of better words grab me like a brass ring. I slammed backwards into the wardrobe door feeling Nathan's arm pin me there. I couldn't move. I dared not move again.

Marcus growled and then recovered his composure, another mocking smile lighting his face.

'She doesn't remember anything does she, Nathan?' he almost laughed when he ended his sentence.

Nathan was slow to answer. 'No she doesn't. I am here to remind her. Her recovery must begin and you must leave her in peace.'

Marcus tilted his head to one side and gave me a sympathetic look.

'No memory of anything. Helpless as a babe,' he said softly. He studied me with curiosity then I watched his eyes moisten for a brief moment and fill with love. I was overwhelmed, confused, distressed. There was no mistaking his feelings for me. My blank staring and lack of emotion seemed to suddenly test his patience and the moisture in his eyes dried quickly.

'It must be a cold existence without the memories of the past to warm your heart on these winter nights, my love. But we will use the experience as a fresh start. A new life and a fresh start for us together,' Marcus reached out to touch my face over Nathan's shoulder.

I jumped when Nathan caught Marcus by the throat and prevented him from completing the action.

'Don't touch her. Everything you touch, you poison and kill,' Nathan hissed.

Marcus began to struggle with Nathan and the other two men came at me. Nathan did his best to fend all of the men off and I did my best to keep them at bay. I aimed my pathetic small fist at one of them, naively hoping to land him one in the jaw. Imagine the surprise on my face when my fist went straight through the guy's face and only made contact with air.

There was nothing solid about him. His appearance was deceptive. I gave a loud frightened gasp. The man was a ghost, there was no other logical explanation. He might not have a solid form but the grip he placed on my arm to drag me away from behind Nathan was real and painful. Nathan tugged on my other arm to pull me back as he took a swing at Marcus but I was being dragged away. Nathan looked at me with concern and fear before ducking another blow. The man pushed me at Marcus and took his place in fighting Nathan.

I struggled violently but Marcus was wasting no time. He wound his arm tight around my waist and lifted me up on to my bed in one easy fluid motion. I heard Nathan call out to him to stop in fierce anger but Marcus paid him no attention. He began pulling me to the wall behind my bed that was a blaze with cobalt blue light again. I stared at it terrified. It must be some kind of door, a portal or something. This was madness. I couldn't have written it. Maybe it led to death . . . But before we reached it a bright blinding white light filled the whole of the room stopping us all in our tracks as we struggled to shield our eyes.

The Hanged Man

Hi Everyone,

Here is the Prologue and the first chapter of The Hanged Man, the third and final book in my Victorian vampire trilogy The swords Series. Follow postings of chapters on Wednesdays. Hope you enjoy it.

Sara :)


The Hanged Man

Prologue

Southampton Docks, March, 1893, Early Evening

Nathan

Chapter One

I was cold and alone without her. There was no life for me without Juliet. Her betrayal cut deep into my soul and I feared I would never recover. The physical ache in my temples intensified as she put more distance between us and I watched the ship depart the docks. My mind called out to her in desperation but she was to shut me out and leave me to rot in this dark cold barren world alone. She would not hear me. She would not hear her mate, her counsel, her Knight of Swords. I was banished from her mind like a common criminal. Was I nothing to her now? Did she really prefer the comfort she took with her Lycan suitors?

The demon I allowed free reign of my temperament cursed my beautiful Queen. He threatened her with the promise of violent punishment when he retrieved her. But my human soul that lay trapped beneath his fierce control could only feel despair as I watched the ship edge further and further away.

Could she not understand that if I allowed my true human nature to control my person I would fail her again. The demon could more safely protect her than I ever could from the Taleian knights and the evil that stalked her. I could not lose her or bear to see her hurt again. Why did she refuse to listen to good sense?

The demon wanted to follow her to Venice on the next ship but it was not to leave for two days. He was frantic and destructive in his rage. I lifted the collar on my long black woollen coat to shield my face from the icy air and walked from the docks to make my way to the nearest drinking establishment.

I sat alone in the deserted public house as the night rolled in over the seedier part of Southampton. I had cleared the place with my fighting and my irresolute temper that could find no rest or sympathy. The barman viewed me with fear and kept pouring the gin so that I should not want but it was insufficient to quell the tempest within my soul.

I closed my eyes remembering when the demon part of my soul approached her on the train. The way she looked at him with painful need, despite all that he had done. Every fibre of her being reached out to him calling for their joining. The demon's own need was potent, stronger than I as a mere human had ever allowed myself to feel for anything or anyone. It's strength and limitless boundaries made me fearful. Whenever I indulged in such careless liberty with my feelings I would lose the person to whom they were attached to death itself.

In truth my point had already been proved, my parents, my uncle were dead and my younger brother Xavier was all but headed in the same direction. But Juliet was more precious to me than any other being and as a result she had suffered the worst. I felt my stomach tighten with anger as I remembered her rape at Sebastian's hands and her near death at my own when I was under the witch's power. No, the demon employed a far better technique in ensuring the Queen of Talus's protection even if sometimes his treatment of her was harsh. I desired Juliet more than life itself and if that was the sacrifice I was forced to pay to possess her love then I would endure it. Yet now she rejected the demon out of hand. Why such cruelty? What else could I give her?

With a concurring growl of raging dissatisfaction the demon picked up his empty glass and threw it hard at the bottles of liquor lined up on shelves behind the barman. The man ducked in adequate time to avoid the splinters of glass that burst forth from the explosion as three bottles broke with a loud crash.

'Please, sir,' the barman begged. 'You will do me out of business . . .'

But I was insolent to his pleading. I cared for nothing or anyone at that moment only the rejection and loss that weighed down my soul. I reached over the bar and caught hold of his shirt and brought him to face me. His whiskers were damp with the sweat of anxiety as I held him there.

'Stop your complaining and pour me another one and maybe I will let you live another day,' I demanded.

I knew not why I drank the gin. It had little effect on my body but there was some comfort in old human habits. The man nodded furiously and I let go of him with abruptness so much so that he fell backwards to the floor. I sat back on the stool and watched him scrabble to his feet to pour me another glass with his shaking hands as my finger tapped impatiently on the bar. I glared at him and moved from the stool to sit at one of the wooden chairs. I leant back in it and put my feet up on the table and downed the liquor in one before calling for him to attend me again.

The door opened and a young gentleman of birth carrying a black and silver cane entered. He took off his top hat and shook the rain from it. He ran his fingers through his short light brown hair and turned towards me as he began to undo his winter coat. I was treated to a courteous nod and polite smile of acknowledgement. There was a flamboyant confident air to his frame as he strode towards me He seemed quite undeterred by the ferocious glare I gave him. I did not want visitors and I had no mood for polite small talk. I downed another drink watching him with suspicion as he began to approach me.

He came to sit down across from me depositing his hat and cane on the table. I straightened ready to throw the fool from the table but he put up his hand and spoke before I could make any movement.

'Lord Valancourt, I presume,' he smiled. 'Or perhaps you would prefer to be addressed by your new royal title, Knight of Swords,' he finished in a low voice diverting his somewhat strangely vivid topaz eyes cautiously at the terrified barman standing shaking behind the counter.

'And who is it that asks for me?' I demanded gruffly scrutinising his light countenance and fine chiselled features that gave him an almost angelic appearance.

There was an otherworldly air to this man. He was not human in the strictest sense of the word. Instinct made me reach to breach his mind and confirm my suspicions but I was to be met with darkness and a strong fortified barrier to his thoughts. My suspicions grew stronger. But he was to keep nothing from me.

'My name is Cadell and yes, Knight of Swords I am what you believe me to be.' He gave a wide grin and leaned over to whisper. 'I am indeed an Angelic being and I am here to bring you a message.'

The demon narrowed his eyes. He was interested in what the Angel Cadell wanted to tell him yet he did not fully trust him. He believed he may be being tricked by a harpy or other creature but the human side of me was in awe. Cadell called to the barman.

'Be gone and leave us alone,' he told the man in a commanding voice. 'You will not come to any harm.'

The man did not question him. With wide fearful eyes he fled to his rooms behind the bar in an instant.

'Now, Nathan we can talk freely. It seems you are splintered in your personality. You allow the demon vampiric part of yourself to rule while you condemn the finer wiser human side to your nature in darkness. All, I may add in the name of love and protection,' he said softly.

He leant his elbow on the table and placed his fingers to his lips as though trying to fathom the complexities of my sacrifice.

'You are a worthy being Nathan. Your actions are honourable. but sadly, I have to say, very misguided.'

He gave a small laugh.

'It is not your concern what I decide,' the demon snapped at him.

Cadell gave another small sarcastic laugh of disbelief and sat back in his chair smoothing down his black cravat.

'Oh but I am afraid it is most definitely my concern. Your Queen, Juliet is very important. Her birth was no accident, Nathan and neither was yours. She was born to unite your people and help to assist them to live in harmony with the humans. Your role is to assist and protect her as she does that. You are equally important to us Nathan as are all humans. We make no exceptions.'

'Then you are all fools. Not everyone is worthy of love. Juliet has taught me that well,' the demon sneered with contempt.

The Angel's eyes seemed to glow brighter as he watched me.

'Is that self pity, I detect, Demon?' he asked lightly.

I remained silent with guilt.

'It does not serve you well.'

'That is what Juliet always says but she is naive and idealistic in her pursuits for a better nature. I prefer to face the truth. We are all selfish, self piteous creatures who want whatever we can take. It is the way of the world.'

The demon turned to throw his glass behind the counter and smashed another two bottles in his rage.

The angel shook his head and tutted.

'So jaded for such a young person,' he remarked with amusement. He leaned across the table towards me. 'But I know you feel hope that she will still have you. There is nothing you want more in this life. If you do not sacrifice your beliefs and make yourself whole again you will never possess your beautiful Queen. She will be ripped apart by those seeking to use her to meet their own ends in power and glory and you will be left living an endless life in limbo between one consciousness and the other.. You must make the sacrifice and become whole in your being once more. Your queen is in grave danger . . .'

'Then the demon will serve her better . . .' I informed him suddenly afraid of the danger Juliet was in.

His raised his hand to halt my speech once more.

'She needs all of your soul to help her. The enemy she faces alone is devious and cunning. A reckless demon will not be able to outwit him but a human of strong mind and valour coupled with a Taleian Knight of Sword's ruthless power and strength would help her defeat him.'

'Who is it that stalks Juliet?' I demanded, a storm brewing in my voice yet again.

But I was to be ignored.

'I cannot compel you to become whole again. It is your choice. Your will is always your own but know this, if you do not and fail to protect and assist your Queen, the world as you know it will be in more peril than you realise.'

The Demon rose to his feet and grabbed Cadell by the lapels of his coat to pull him up.

'Who dares to take my Queen for himself?' he shouted.

Cadell nodded. He appeared relieved.

'Good, Nathan. Your anger spurs you to action instead of self-pity,' he said with approval, unafraid or distressed by the Demon's behaviour. 'I can help you change if you follow my guidance. I will show you how you cannot function without both sides of your nature operating as one whole being. Let me help you, Nathan.'

'Who, is it? I won't let him live. Tell me or so help me I will . . .'

The Demon shook him. More relief flooded Cadell's features and at last he would answer.

'Juliet's power is so potent the Devil himself intends to take your Queen for a wife and the mother of his child so that he may scorch the world in fire clearing everything in his path and own it for himself and his demons. He must be stopped. Juliet is the only one who can stop him and you must stand by her side and protect her from him.'

I stared at him in disbelief and horror, unable to speak as I considered the implications of his words.

'You must assemble your army, Knight of Swords and sail tonight,' he instructed with urgency, his eyes gleaming with triumph. 'But first we must make you whole again.'

I let him go, feeling resignation weigh heavily upon my human soul and anger burn in the demon's heart. The demon would not give up the reins on my human soul so easily. The battle would be fierce, to the death but it was one I had to win or Juliet would be lost to me forever.

A sudden sharp pain pierced my temples. My hands flew to my head as its intensity grew. The Angel watched me without emotion as I moved about the room scattering chairs trying to contain the sharp overwhelming pain threatening to consume me.

A sharp pulling sensation overtook my body as though something was trying to tear me apart. The Angel clasped his hands in front of him calmly as he stood and watched me writhe in agony. The pulling became unbearable and I roared with my torment. I felt something move from inside my body and begin to leave it from the side. My world became an excruciating pain ridden hell that I believed had no end. A part of me was being removed and I felt empty as it departed.

The pain came to an abrupt stop. I looked up from my crumpled position on the floor to find an identical image of myself, a twin no less standing above me. It was the demon. He stood marvelling at his own body, holding out his hands, staring at them with amusement. He let out a loud laugh as I forced myself to rise unable to take my eyes from the curious mirror image that stood next to the Angel.

As I came to stand the demon's eyes narrowed darkly with nothing less than murder in his eyes. he was his own free spirit without my weak human soul to temper his impulse to kill. We both knew that one of us had to win and consume the other to make us whole again. The battle was for control of my soul and the prize was Juliet. Neither of us intended to lose. The demon's hands were around my throat before I could think anymore and our fight to the death had begun.


Chapter One

JULIET

The Adeline, Bay of Biscay, Midnight

The devil himself pursued my tormented soul across the ship. It seemed there was to be no refuge from him. The Devil was determined to take me from the arms of my rightful mate and have me for his own. Not even death itself would free me from the chain he sought to place around my neck to tether me to his side. But he would not take me without a fight. I would not become his as easily as he wished. I had too much to lose. I belonged to my Knight of Swords. No one would be allowed to break the bond between Nathan and I. Not even if I were damned in hell for an eternity.

'Oh, Juliet, my love, why do you run from me? I want to offer you the world,' I heard him call for me in a light hearted amused tone , his laughter echoing all around me even though we could not see him.

I continued to ignore him as I ran with my Lycan companions, holding the hands of Marcus's two young children as we fled towards the stern of the ship.

But he would continue, 'How much longer are we going to play this game? Remember if you give yourself to me freely I won't kill anymore of those pathetic humans you care so much about.'

I faltered, slowing my pace, taking time to consider the unfortunate humans who had met their death at the ball not an hour ago. They had all died because of my stubborn belief that I could somehow outwit the Devil's power. I shuddered as fragmented images of the night's horrific events spiralled inside my mind.

Many of the passengers had been dancing and there was much merriment. I had been nothing short of a miserable wretch, pining for Nathan and refusing to dance with any of my kind and thoughtful Lycan companions who were more than eager to rouse me from my low spirits. Liza had kindly allowed me to borrow one of her ball gowns for the evening until I could procure some more clothes for myself in Venice.

It was a pretty, elegant gown of sky blue damask brocaded with delicate pink chrysanthemum petals. It was trimmed in French lace and decorated with garlands of pearls and crystal with a heavy train. It was cut away to reveal my ample cleavage. There was only a modicum of sleeve resting gently on my shoulders and my arms were bare apart from my long white gloves. I had never worn anything quite like it.

I was usually plain in my dress, shunning any pretty garments for practicality and prudence but I confess I was rather excited to wear it. Liza's maid threaded pearls through my red gold curls, piling my hair high on my head in a coil and drawing it back with a middle parting. Pearl earrings and a simple pearl necklace completed the picture. When I looked at myself in the mirror I was shocked. Instead of the young practical girl who hid in the corner at family gatherings and dinners I was a grown up young woman of eighteen going to her first ball. I wish Nathan had been there to see my beautiful dress. I felt sure he would have greatly admired it, I reflected with sadness. I should love to have danced with him that night and only him.

I decided I should like to wear more dresses in future. I spent most of the evening sitting alone at our table, shunning the attention of several admirers, waiting for the prudent moment when it would be acceptable to retire to my room. My first ball was a most wretched affair without Nathan.

A little after eleven o'clock I decided to venture outside to the promenade deck for some air. It was a cool evening but I did not feel any discomfort from it. The sea was calm and flat, only gentle ripples moved across it's grey surface. I stood leaning against the rail consumed in silent tears remembering how I had left Nathan standing alone on the dock as the ship departed. His heartbreak weighed heavily on my mind and my conscience even though I knew in my heart the course of action I had taken had been the right one. I could not be bound to a man who would share only part of his soul with me.

The wind suddenly swept up onto the deck in a gust carrying a spray of water almost threatening to knock me from my feet. The brightly lit gas lamps on the deck blew out. The moon disappeared behind sudden gathering dark clouds and the sky was lit with a large fork of white light. The wind became stronger as the ladies on deck pulled their evening shawls closed across their bare arms and were drawn back inside the ship under the protective arm of their male escorts, determined to shelter them from the ill weather. I had no such escort.

I dipped my head and cast my eyes out over the water thinking of Nathan. I had closed my mind to him as much as I were able to but his feelings would filter through my consciousness adding a heavy weight to my own. I had sensed a restlessness and a torment in him that made me fear. When I detected severe pain from him I was prepared to open my mind and allow our connection to flourish again desperate to know what ailed him so. Then I considered the possibility that it might be a ruse. The demon still possessed the reins to his soul and I would not have put the will to deceive me beyond him. It was with great difficulty that I held myself back from giving in.

A loud clap of thunder vibrated around the promenade deck breaking my thoughts. I was not normally frightened of thunder but on this occasion the noise shook me violently. I gasped as the wind blew harshly in my face and the shipped dipped. I looked out across the water. A strange orange glow lit the horizon. An icy finger stroked my insides leaving a heavy coating of frost, making me shiver. I had experienced that feeling often enough now to note that it was a warning that a malevolent presence was close at hand. The orange glow grew larger and began to move towards the ship at speed. Had I breathed I would have held my breath.

The fiery ball appeared to pulse with energy as it manoeuvred towards us. The storm intensified and whipped up the waves to an alarming height. I held on to the rail tightly to maintain my balance feeling a mixture of rain and snow fall thickly on my bare arms. Whatever approached the ship was evil. I could feel it strongly. Every movement it made towards us seemed to increase the density of its presence. I could not take my eyes from it's strange form. It meant to cause the ship harm of that I had no doubt. We were all in grave danger.

The doors out onto the Promenade Deck burst open and my Lycan companions Richard and Marcus hurried on to the deck filled with worry that I had disappeared from their line of view in the ballroom. They both rushed to my side, Richard remonstrating with me in his harsh badly mannered and condescending tone that I should not have left the ballroom and their care. Sometimes he made me feel like a unwelcome visitor in the Lycan clan as though I contaminated his people with my vampire presence. His cruel unnecessary words had stung me on more than one occasion in the very short time I had taken refuge with the Lycans. Thankfully Marcus, the leader of the clan was more well bred in his manner and treated me with generosity and kindness.

Richard demanded that I let go of the rail and come back inside but I would not heed his words. I had to take care of my ship and the human passengers on board. If I could not muster my mighty power as Queen of Talus to protect the vulnerable what use was I in this world?

Richard started to roughly pull at my arm as Marcus stared out to see what so commanded my attention. He sniffed at the air and his expression changed to one of fear. He joined Richard in trying to prise my hands away from the rail.

'Come, Juliet. Danger approaches. We must see you safe or Nathan will never forgive me,' he urged.

I was about to argue when the orange glow receded and a large object emerged. I gasped out loud as Richard and Marcus stared in horror at the evolving shape from the orange glow. It was a ship, an ocean liner, an exact mirror copy of The Adeline on which we travelled and it was heading straight for us.

The Ghost Writer

Hi Everyone,

Here is the next instalment of My Day Out with my character from my Victorian Vampire romance, Nathan Valancourt, renamed, The Ghost Writer. Hope you enjoy it.

Sara :)



The Ghost Writer

I woke from sleep with a start, sitting bolt upright in bed, my heart thudding. A tall figure loomed in the dark shadows at the bottom of my bed. I opened my mouth to give a startled cry when the Chapter Two
figure stepped out of the shadows and came towards me. His movement was lightening quick and his hand pressed down upon my mouth firmly silencing any protest I wanted to make. I found myself pushed back down in the bed. Terrified I looked up into the face of my attacker now visible in the thin sliver of moonlight shining through a gap in my closed curtains. My eyes widened in surprise.

Nathan brought a finger to his lips and beckoned at me to hush. His piercing blue eyes were full of concern for me. I nodded and slowly he removed his hand. As he moved it away I caught the distinct flash of a gold wedding band. I hadn't noticed it at our last meeting and I had never written him as married in the traditional sense in my book. I couldn't help feeling puzzled. But there were more important questions to ask such as what he was doing waking me up in the middle of the night standing over me, for a start.

I opened my mouth to speak in a whisper but once again he placed his finger to his lips.

'Hurry. Rise and dress quickly,' he instructed in a firm urgent whisper.
Nathan was very used to giving commands without providing reasons. My own fault for writing him like that, I suppose.

Without further ado he pulled away the duvet and offered his hands to help me rise from the bed. The cold air of December hit me sharply and I felt mortified as he looked down at me lying in my red fleecy Pj's covered in white bunny rabbits, one size too big for me. Well, I feel the cold and big equals comfort. My daughter nicknamed them my polar bear outfit because I looked as if I was going to the arctic on an expedition. I had a strong compelling urge to snatch back the duvet and cover myself again as Nathan looked down at me and raised one dark eyebrow.

'Fetching,' he whispered, a wide grin lighting his handsome dark features. 'Now come we must hurry.'

'What for?' I demanded swinging my legs over the bed and taking his hands to allow him to pull me up.

'There is a man breaking into your house as we speak. He has been watching your house from the woods for three days now. He has been waiting for you to be alone. The moment your daughter left to stay with her father and family he has waited for an opportunity to find you alone in your home,' he told me hurriedly watching as I picked up my jeans and jumper.

'What?' I said with fright clutching my clothes tight to my chest.

'Hush. Dress.'

I moved towards the bathroom in a hurry but he stopped me.

'No here. I want you were I can see you.'

'You want to watch me dress,' I exclaimed with angry disbelief.
He flashed that wide wicked smile again and my heart skipped a beat.
'I would rather you took them off then put them on but unfortunately, we haven't got time for that . . .'

He flashed that wide wicked teasing smile again and my heart skipped a beat. I swear I blushed.

'I will be gallant and turn my back,' he said in another whisper.

A noise caught his ear and he moved to my bedroom door to investigate. I watched him move towards the door dressed in his long black coat and scarf just as he had appeared to me last time. I seized my chance and changed as fast as I could. I was just putting my legs into my jeans when I tripped and fell my full length, flat on my face. I cursed at the indignity and found myself being pulled up from the ground in one fast motion. Nathan.

'You never had good balance,' he bemoaned.

'What are you talking about . . . I had never had good balance?' I questioned confused.

He shook his head.

'We haven't got time to talk, he is coming. It is time to correct past mistakes.'

'You talk in riddles, Nathan. You talk of this man as if I know him.'

'You do. Perhaps the name Marcus Allbright may coax your memory,' he said taking my arm in a firm grip to pull me to his side.

I shook my head.

'I have never known anyone called Marcus Allbright . . .'

'He is from your distant past. You must try to remember. He is not to be trusted. He is a dangerous, evil man.'

I felt my blood run cold and a shiver travel the length of my spine. I shuddered suddenly feeling very afraid.

'But I have never known anyone by that name in my past,' I gave a surprise shrug. 'Not in this lifetime anyway,' I reflected with sarcasm.
Nathan stared down at me arching another brow.

'Quite. But in your last lifetime you were both acquainted and he has unfinished business with you. I will not tolerate his advances towards you again,' I was informed in fierce tones.

Part of me wanted to laugh out loud. Past life??? Nonsense. But somewhere deep inside it resonated with me. I was about to question Nathan further when he suddenly pushed me back against my wardrobe door and turned quickly to stand in front of me. He splayed his arms out to the side to shield the whole of my person, pressing me further back against the door.

I managed to lift myself up on to my tiptoes and peep over his shoulder. My mouth fell upon as my whole body froze in fright. The corner of my bedroom was amass of blue light. A dark tall figure emerged from the light and walked towards us. Two other figures followed the man. I felt Nathan press me back even more into the door, determined to protect me at all costs. My mouth fell upon as the figure's face became clear and recognisable in the moonlight.

The Ghost Writer

Hi Everyone,

I am reposting a piece of work I was asked to do for another blog whilst promoting my Victorian Vampire Romance/Fantasy novel, Knight Of Swords. I wrote about what it would be like to meet one of my characters from my book and have a day out with them. I decided to write about my main protagonist and Vampire, the Knight of Swords himself, Lord Nathan Valancourt.

I had great fun writing it. Recently it was published on my publisher's blog, The Hellfire Herald and I received several comments urging me to continue the story.

It was quite a surreal experience writing the story but I have decided to carry it forward. I am posting the first chapter tonight so you can read it for the first time or re-read it before the new chapter comes out on friday night on my blog.

I would love to have your comments.

Sara :)


The Ghost Writer


It was a cold frosty early morning as I walked through the graveyard on the way to meet my friend for coffee in the village. Snow had fallen like a fine powder the night before covering the path and the tops of the gravestones. The air was crisp and fresh and I could see my breath. I folded my arms around my chest in an effort to keep warm and picked up my pace. I was never comfortable walking through the cemetery. It was always deserted and eerie as you would expect but it was too much of a tempting short cut to the village, especially on a cold morning. Today it felt and looked more sinister than usual under the umbrella of heavy grey cloud. There was somebody watching my progress along the path. I was sure of it. I glanced around the tombstones looking for signs of life. At first, there was no indication of anyone around but a second look had me taking a sharp in breath.

I could have sworn I saw the flash of a man in a long black riding coat. No, it couldn't be. It couldn't be him. Whirling around to search him out I found nothing. I shook my head and hurried along the path, deciding that my writer's imagination was getting the better of me. Characters simply did not come to life in physical form. It just didn't happen. If they did, then you were a candidate for the funny farm. But another glimpse of black made me stop. Heart beginning to pound, I began looking across the gravestones. I didn't imagine it. I didn't. There it was again. I turned quickly but instead of finding Nathan Valancourt standing behind me there were two rough looking young men. Before I could utter a cry, one of them grabbed me and the other snatched my bag from my arm.

Instinctively I lashed out at the man, determined to defend myself but my blows were futile against his strength. He pushed me to the ground with a loud laugh and held me there whilst his friend rifled through my bag. He gave a loud groan.

'There's plenty credit cards but no cash. It's not going to get us what we need,' he moaned to his friend. The other man looked down at me. He shook his head.

'Should have carried cash. Maybe we can get something else out of you,' he said grabbing my hair.

No, there was no way he was getting that from me. Not without a huge fight. I felt my anger rise and overshadow my fear. It made me feel strong and helped me renew my fight with the man. I was pulled upwards as I kicked and punched out at him. They just kept laughing at me as they dragged me off the path towards the graves. I couldn't escape them and I began fearing the worst. The moment the thought entered my head I heard a strong calm male voice reassure me of my safety and courteously inform me in a quaint old English voice that he would not allow any harm to befall my person. What? Now I was hearing Nathan talk to me in my mind? I really was losing it. I was too close to this book and my characters. But I had more to worry about that moment than my sanity.

I couldn't help but gasp out loud when I saw Nathan Valancourt's tall dark figure appear behind my attackers and take hold of their collars, pulling them backwards. The action appeared to cause him little effort. I fell backwards onto the snowy grass between two graves watching in awe as Nathan lifted the two struggling men he held in each hand into the air. They swore at him but when he bared his incisors and hissed at them they were struck dumb. Obviously terrified, their bodies shook like pneumatic drills. Nathan addressed them in a dark tone with a smooth even velvet voice that commanded their full attention.

'Apologise, gentlemen or I will have no choice but to make you regret your actions,' he demanded.

My mouth fell open in shock.

They remained silent. Nathan didn't appear to approve. He flashed his pearly white incisors again and hissed.

'Sorry, we're sorry. We didn't mean,' they chorused at me in fear. Nathan dropped them to the ground as though they were merely stones. They landed heavily. One of them was clutching his ankle in pain.

'Leave now, gentlemen before you provoke me to violence. If I see you doing this again to anyone, I may be forced to make you pay for your actions with your life blood. Do I make myself clear?' he fiercely shouted making me jump.

They both nodded and rose to their feet to run away as fast as they could. The one with a damaged ankle limping, striking a pathetic figure along the path. Nathan turned and strode towards me. I backed away still on my backside on the grass. He grinned and bent to offer me his hand so that he might help me up. I just stared at him.

There he was in the flesh. Tall, leanly muscled with hair as dark as a raven's plumage worn long at the neck. His vivid blue eyes sparkling with mischief setting off his fine handsome aristocratic features off to perfection. Just the way I had written him in my novel. He was as real as the day itself. How? Was I dreaming?

'Come on take my hand. You will get cold sitting on the ground like that,' he said gesturing for me to move.

Nervously I took his hand and let him help me stand.

'Thank you for helping me but how...?'

'Do I exist?' he finished for me. ' 'I don't think we should worry about that right now. We haven't got long together and I want to talk to you. We have much to discuss.'

He kept tight hold of my hand as he led me back up the path towards a sleek black horse he had tethered around a tree.

'Where are you taking me?' I asked feeling a bit apprehensive, not to mention surreal.

'We are going for a ride.'

'No, no way. I don't do horses. I fell off one when I was seven and broke my elbow. I have never been back on a horse.'

I slowed down and tried to slip my fingers from his grasp. His grip tightened and I found myself pulled along. He laughed.

'I knew you would be like this. Relax, you will be perfectly safe. I assure you.'

'No. No way.'

He gave a sigh and the next thing I knew his arm was under my legs and lifting me up into the air and into his arms. He shook his head at me as he carried me towards the horse. I was annoyed.

'Hey, I am not Juliet, you can't tell me what to do. Put me down.'

'No, I won't. You are more like Juliet than you realise. She is stubborn just like you. I want to take you somewhere in the countryside where you can get some peace from your hectic life. You need to relax and take some rest. Now hush.'

He sat me on top of the horse making me scrabble around to hold on to the reins as he mounted the horse behind me. When he took the reins from me and walked the horse on there was nothing else to hold on to but him. With a small squeal I reached out and caught hold of his coat. He grinned down at me and swept his arm around my waist pulling me closer to him. He kept tight hold of me. A part of me was embarrassed but the other half was relieved.

Nathan walked the horse across the field and headed for the forest away from the houses and village. The snow lay surprisingly thicker and deeper here. I was confused. I knew the forest well yet it had a different feel. I got the impression I wasn't just leaving civilisation but that I was entering a different time.

'This can't be real. I must be dreaming,' I whispered to myself.

He laughed loudly.

'Here, feel my arms. Touch my face. Then tell me whether I am real or not.'

I hesitated but he pressed me. I gently squeezed his arms nodding with approval at the tight muscle I found there. Then very carefully, I briefly touched his pale features. I nodded. Boy he was real all right. It started to snow.

'Come closer and shelter from the weather,' he instructed, gently pressing my head back against his chest and holding me there. It felt warm and snug. He brushed his lips across my hair with a light kiss.

'You see riding isn't as bad as you thought. Maybe you will take time to enjoy yourself.'

We eventually stopped at a clearing in the middle of the forest. A low wooden fence surrounded the large space. Nathan jumped down and lifted me off the horse. Once more he took my hand and guided me towards the fence. He pressed his finger to his lips motioning for me to be silent and then gestured with his eyes beyond the fence. A large herd of deer with a four stags stood grazing in the middle of the field. I couldn't help but marvel at the wonderful sight of nature. It had been so long since I had taken the time to walk in the forest. I missed it.

I leaned against the fence, resting my head on my hands, watching the idyllic scene.

'Peaceful, isn't it?' I heard Nathan ask.

I nodded.

'I can't remember the last time I came here,' I told him.

'No. You don't seem to make much time for yourself these days,' he said gently but I did not miss his tone of disapproval.

'How do you know?' I shot him a quizzical look.

'You should slow down and see what is around you from time to time and make more time for yourself,' he continued, ignoring my question.

He smiled and reached out to cover my hand with his on top of the fence.
'You have been feeling under the weather and tired. Slow down before nature forces you to take a rest,' he told me softly, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. I stared bewildered.

He beckoned with his finger for me to follow him. He led me to a space in the clearing free of deer and jumped the fence, turning to help me over it. A sword was standing in the snow covered ground. He picked it up and handed it to me.

'What?'

'I thought you wanted to learn to sword fight like all those swashbuckling pirates and musketeers in your favourite old films?' he grinned wickedly with humour. He had a habit of doing that. It only made him appear more attractive. With that smile, you would forgive him anything and he knew it.
He took off his coat, lying it on the fence and stood poised ready for a sword fight in his black Victorian waistcoat and shirt sleeves.

'Now is your chance. Come at me with the sword and I will teach you.'
I shook my head. I could hardly hold the thing but he would not give up. In the end I simply decided to give him what he wanted for peace. Our swords clashed loudly disturbing the still air around the forest. I couldn't help feeling thrilled as he instructed my movements. I had wanted to do this since a child.

I don't know how long we were out in the forest, watching the deer, sword fighting, walking and talking about all manner of topics but mostly about my life. He seemed to have many questions about it. He seemed to know more about my existence than even I could have told him. After a while, he remarked on the lateness of the hour and the dimming light. I must be hungry and in need of a drink. We mounted the horse again and set off on our travels once more.

A short walk led us to a quaint small village on the other side of the forest that I had never come across in my visits to the forest before. We stopped outside a small tea room and it was then that I noticed everyone around me was wearing late Victorian dress. I felt strangely self-conscious when Nathan led me into the tea room but that was about to change. The moment I entered the room my clothes transformed themselves and I was suddenly wearing a blue and grey velvet Victorian dress and jacket. Even a pretty hat adorned my head. I touched it, amazed.

'I feel like I am in Doctor Who,' I laughed.

We sat down at one of the small tables and Nathan ordered.
'I thought you would appreciate coming here. I see you drinking tea all day, every day. Probably more than is good for you. You appear to be obsessed with the drink.'

'You watch me?'

'Let's just say, I keep an eye on you and make sure you are safe.'

'But . . .'

'Ahh, here it is. I can't really eat being a vampire but I do hope you enjoy it,' he interrupted.

I tucked into the bread and butter, cakes and berries and devoured the tea with relish. It was then that I remembered my friend had been waiting in the coffee shop. I expressed my worry.

'She is fine. I sent a message to her. She knows you couldn't make it. Now do you recognise anyone here?'

I looked around. The tea room was busy and all of my other characters sat around the tables. One by one they all nodded to me and then returned to their business. It was so strange.

'Now, I think it is time we were going. It is getting dark.'

I remained in my Victorian clothes until we emerged from the forest then they vanished and I was back in my jeans. I was disappointed. Nathan took me straight to my door.

'Thank you,' I said still wondering how my day with Nathan had even been possible.

'Now go inside and get warm,' he insisted. 'Remember, try to slow down and take some rest. I will be around if you need me. And please do not go walking in the cemetery or other dangerous places alone. You shouldn't take so many chances with your safety,' he ordered.

He began to walk away. I didn't want him to go. He suddenly stopped and turned as though he had forgotten something.

'Oh and one more thing.'

To my surprise and shock he walked purposefully towards me and lifted my face in his hands to bestow a kiss on my lips. Then he was gone on his horse disappearing into the darkness like a ghost before I could utter a word. I hope he visits again one day.

Changing Times

Hi Everyone,

I am in the process of making some big changes to my blog as I get back onto my writing schedule after a bit of a summer recess. On Tuesdays I would love to have a guest blogger. If anyone would like to do a guest blog or promote your own novel please contact me at sara@saracurranross.com.

I am also going to do book/film reviews on a Thursday. Monday will be a free blog post day for me and on Saturday I will do updates and a roundup of the week. And finally, on Wednesdays and Fridays I will post new chapters from my latest writing projects.

I have some new work to showcase from historical romance and paranormal romance to thrillers. Hope you will check them out once I get the changes up and running smoothly.

In the meantime, I have been informed by my publisher that Knight Of Swords is going into print sometime this month. My romance Sleeping Love will be published in November by Hellfire Publishing. My regency romance The Kidnapper, formerly known on my blog as The Art of Retaliation will also be published in Spring of 2012 by Hellfire Publishing.

Enjoy your week.

Sara :)