Lachelle Redd's Blog, page 2

From Hot Cauldron I

The bodies were then burned and all the boards, except for the broken window, were taken down. The next day brought a huge sigh of relief. Raven’s place was now a real community, the monsters were gone and the nightmare over. 

Death's Love Affair from Hot Cauldron II

Janice Cotton had no words for her daughter's actions.
Another five days of detention with possible expulsion.
Frustrated, the woman tossed the Korrs in search of a
cigarette.
"You know those things cause cancer?" Heather’s tone
cared less.
"Right about now, raising you is gonna kill me first so
while I have a choice in how I die, I'm going with a ciggy
in my hand." Janice hissed at the teen while rummaging
at the stop light for salvation.
Hands shaking, the woman seized the pack and lit up
like a seasoned professional. Taking a long drag off the
white cylinder, she knew the call from the ex would stress
her even more. The two did nothing but shout and push

each other’s buttons since the breakup. Janice, often
amazed at her own virility, usually found a way to have
the last word.
Then, there were moments when memories of the early
days and the reason for the split compounded the
agitation. Pulling onto Main Blvd, Janice tried not to
think of the horrible night in question. It always seemed
to haunt her memories and rule their problems with the
out of control teen.
Turning off Main, Janice headed towards their turn off
and approached iron gates that lead to their division. As
the SUV approached the electronic gate, Janice tugged on
cigarette number two as her cell phone began to buzz.
Grabbing it in disgust, she knew it was Troy. Clicking the
black box to life, his angered voice filled the cabin of the
expensive family car.
"I just got a call from the provost, about Heather’s
suspension. I knew this wasn't going to work, I'll be there
in the morning first thing!" The phone silenced.

Troy, hot headed as usual, didn’t want to hear excuses
or explanations. In his mind, Janice was unfit to raise the
young girl and only he knew what she truly needed.
Releasing her tension, Janice threw her phone to the floor
and screamed a host of obscenities. The ex had a way of
bringing out her worst tantrums and biggest regrets in
the woman. In addition, he hung up, not giving her a
chance to shout back.
Janice approached the garage and once docked, raced
inside. Heather sat in solitude for a moment knowing the
two would continue their individual tirades without the
other being involved. The melancholy teen would retreat
to the comfort of her gothic room and reappear when her
father arrived the next day.
Heather knew that living with her father was an even
worse idea than staying with her chain-smoking mother.
The problem was she had no choice. There were no other
relatives willing to accept her and no matter what, Troy
was on his way.

The teen squeezed her pillow tightly while securing her
ear buds in place. The mumbling and thumping of her
mother fumbling for dinner or a drink from the cabinet
fell into the back of the girl’s mind. Heather drifted off to
sleep and soon the dream would return. The screeching of
the wheels, the steady pour of rain, and the slick road
were all she could see. Before she knew it, morning
awakened her as her mother knocked on the door.
“Your father is here. I don’t know if you packed, but he
will probably toss anything I bought you anyway.” Janice
disappeared to another room as Troy stood in the living
room downstairs. Taking only her comforts, the teen said
her goodbyes through a closed bedroom door. Heather
could hear her mother sobbing on the other side.
“I do love you. I think things are gonna be okay.”
Janice’s tone was one of a woman struggling to be a better
mom. There had been a number of tough decisions that
she and Troy had made. Ever since that night, they had
not been able to recover.

“I love you too, mom. I’m sorry.” Heather shuffled
downstairs and out the door.
An hour after she left, Janice reappeared from her
tomb. Her mind filled with scenarios that only she had
witnessed and soon Troy would learn as well. Well, she
didn’t want this. He’ll learn soon enough. Janice thought
as she chuckled to herself and poured a glass of bourbon.
For the next few weeks, the gothic teen settled into yet
another sprawling home in a neighborhood complete with
snobby, unlikeable inhabitants. Troy, a busy account
executive, catered to her every whim. He enrolled the shy
girl into a prestigious prep school and refilled her
wardrobe to fit the stringent requirements. Troy called in
the best make up and make over people that money could
buy. The teen, revamped to fit in with the rest of the
world, would be a symbol of what he felt was good
parenting. Happy with the accomplishment, Troy’s final
act of being the good parent consisted of a brand new
Mercedes E class equipped to the hilt. Heather, still

brooding over her makeover, forgot her doldrums and took
the sleek machine for a test drive. Smooth as silk on the
road, the machine was perfection, just like daddy wanted.
The first few days of school went about with no
setbacks. Heather seemed to settle in quite well and even
started to make a few friends. However, Troy would soon
notice his daughter’s strange behavior as she began to
withdraw. Heather often stayed up late, music blaring in
the background. Sounds of laughter and conversation
with what seemed to be a good friend echoed from her
room. Having her private cell, she had no restrictions.
Then one night, voices. Troy heard another voice coming
from the room and since it was past curfew, he burst
through the door but found no one there.
"Honey, who were you talking to?" His voice stuttered
slightly.
"Death." She said with a firm tone.
Surprised and disgusted, he whipped out his cell and
called Janice.

"Death, really" He screamed into the phone as if that
would help.
"Welcome to my world." The phone silenced in her
favor.
Hearing voices once more, he turned to find a young,
handsome boy standing in the room. With short, moussed
hair in soft peaks, black jeans and a t-shirt, he seemed a
bit pale but his pink lips and large brown eyes gave way
to an all too devilish and familiar smile.
"You again." The father announced with fear. "We
performed an exorcism for Christ's sake. Stay away from
my daughter." His roar shook the room as he advanced
towards the lad.
The boy smiled. "You had no right to bring her back.
She belongs with me."
Stopping in place, the father sobbed heavily and sunk
to his knees. Flashes of the accident played in his head
like an old movie. Crumpled up metal and slick, cold rain
pelted Troy as he approached the scene. Heather had not

survived. Twisted in the front seat, her father pulled her
lifeless body from the crash. The distraught parents not
wanting this to be the end, made a deal to bring her back.
However, Death had fallen in love with the teen and
decided he would not exist without her.
"Father, I do not belong here. You can’t keep me.” The
sound of a soft footstep and the opening of a window
alerted him from his dreamlike state. Once again, he
would not get to her in time as Heather jumped from the
second floor and landed on the iron light post below.

The Hot Cauldron II - Give

Tired of the holiday specials and kiddy cartoons that you've watched since you were 4? If so, pick up a copy of the second installment in the Hot Cauldron short story series.

With a fresh approach on horror, Lachelle continues to grow and manipulate the written word into stories designed to ensnare you into the many worlds she creates.

In this edition, you are introduced to a woman who is serving up more than sweet potatoes for her holiday dinner, a pair of parents who are quite put out with their daughter's seemingly unruly behavior, an author who wants more recognition for his work and gets more than he bargains, a twist on a classic fairy tale, a mythical beast with a taste for young couples and anyone who gets in her way and a woman faced with a hard decision of letting her only daughter return to her roots.

These stories and more await you in the cauldron's second edition.

For a chance to win an ebook copy of Cauldron II, simply leave a comment below and you're all set.

Links to the author:

Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/thehotcauldron

Goodreads  Lachelle Redd

Twitter  @lachelleredd


Also check out this author and others during the 24 Days of Christmas author showcase: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/604381133020927/

The Hot Cauldron II - Coming October 10, 2014

The author’s job is to keep you glued to the page with anticipation and hopes that your character can survive the circumstances placed upon them.
In this, the second entry into the Hot Cauldron series, Lachelle paints vivid worlds where success is not always what it seems, monsters protect the just, and innocence carries a harsh sentence. In this book, the killer is next door and the victim just a breath away. With stories ranging from mythical beasts to ghost tales and even a dark rendition of a beloved fairy tale, Lachelle stretches her wings like never before and draws you in and keeps you wanting more.

Characters include a disgruntled spouse with holiday plans that include an appetizer for murder. Then there is the young teen shuffled between two dysfunctional parents and the tragic end that brings their past sin to life.  In addition, the tale of an ancient evil that claims the lives of two young lovers sends a small town into a panic. However, when a group of local hunters ban together to eradicate the evil, they find they are ill-equipped to deal with the demon that hunts from within the Eden Tree.   
Get Your Copy:
Order on Amazon
Follow the Author:
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Goodreads
Twitter - @lachelleredd

Death Takes a Wife A Short Story Anthology

What would you do for your child? How far would you go to heal them if they were hurt? What kind of deal would you make? Sarai, a loving mother of a child struggling with a disability, makes a deal that is sure to hurt the ones she loves, but brings her closer to a love that she never knew could exist.
What about a young man wanting to prove himself by joining a local fraternity? Filled with courage and hope, Dustin and his fellow pledges must spend the night in an old dusty mansion. The only problem is the curse that lives within the crumbling walls.
Friday night and the local bar, what a scene. Aiden chooses his victims well, but tonight will be very different for the predator becomes the prey

Four short stories each designed with a tale that is sure to grab the reader's attention and take you on a journey into the mind of this creative author. Death Takes a Wife is a must read. In addition, Lachelle invites you to explore her latest venture, erotica. Two bonus reads, quickies, are included with this anthology. 
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
http://www.amazon.com/Death-Takes-Sho...

The Bloid News | Satire news at its best.

The Bloid News | Satire news at its best.

Firebolt by Adrienne Woods

For the love of blueberries, Elena Watkins was destined for greatness, even though she didn’t know it. Before entering Paegeia Elena was not special, she wasn’t even average until the night her father was killed by a creature she thought only existed in fairy tales – a dragon. With her father’s death leaving her orphaned, Elena is whisked away to her true birthplace, Paegeia. Arriving at Dragonia Academy, the premier school for young Dragonians; a school she was never meant to attend because her father was a dragon. Unbeknownst to Elena danger is lurking behind the enchanted vines concealing the once thriving capital of Paegeia – Etan. Goran, the darkest sorcerer in the realm, has lain dormant for over a century behind the crumbling city. There, in the shadowy ruins he plots his revenge to destroy the only weapon that can kill him – the King of Lion Sword. When the sword is stolen without a trace Elena doesn’t think twice about seeking it; knowing deep down that it is her destiny to save her new home.




AUTHOR BIO
Adrienne Woods is born and raised in South Africa, where she still resides on the East side of Johannesburg with her husband and two little girls. She's been writing for the past four years and in her free time she likes to review books of new and upcomming authors.


AUTHOR BLOG URL:
woodsadrienne.wordpress.com
TWITTER:
erichb3
FACEBOOK:
Fanpage: The Dragonian series
  GOODREADS

Adrienne Woods
 



 
 

Nighthawks at the Mission by Forbes West

Sarah Orange is a smart girl from Orange County, California who has a rich, cheating boyfriend named Tyler. When Tyler’s twin brother Jaime reveals Tyler is cheating on Sarah, Sarah decides that she’s got nothing left for her in So-Cal.

Getting an interview with an exploitative corporation that runs the human colonies, the Off-World Network, Sarah journeys through a massive energy portal discovered in the South Pacific.

Meeting Guy Farson, a young salvager, on the trip to The Oberon, Sarah gets the idea of joining up with the many different co-ops who are doing all the dangerous salvage jobs in the abandoned cities that are crawling with the undead remnants of what is called the Antediluvian civilization. Alone now and in a customer service job at the colony, Sarah falls in with Guy Farson’s co-op (the Page sisters and Tek, a non-human Oberon native or “Ni-Perchta”) which reveals itself to be an illegal operation that does salvaging without a license and in the middle of the night (a term they call “Nighthawking”)

Sarah’s co-op is betrayed by Tek to the Mathias-Petty gang, a group of humans and Ni-Perchta robbers, causing what looks to be the death of Guy Farson and Treena Page. Sarah is confronted by Treena’s sister Winniefreddie who believes that Sarah, being the only other survivor, betrayed the co-op. Forced into a magical duel with Winniefreddie based on Ni-Perchta customs, Sarah kills Winniefreddie and is ruined by guilt.

Having gathered up a good haul of cash from their salvaging, Sarah and the others think about heading to a southern Oberon city in order to get away from the terrors at their own Mission. Sarah, Treena and Guy flee south to Guy’s vacation home on the Quadling Sea. Ambushed by the gang again at an ancient palace turned into a resort, Sarah convinces her friends to hunt the gang down themselves. Ambushing the gang at McRoss Research Station, Guy, Sarah and Treena manage to kill most of the gang members except for the leader, Charles Mathias and his Ni-Perchta girlfriend, nicknamed Jenny Petty. Mathias arrives later with a small army of Ni-Perchta. Sarah and Mathias battle during a “flashstorm”, or energy storm in one of the dead cities. Mathias is defeated by Sarah, who challenges him to a Ni-Perchta ordained duel.  Forbes West
About the Author:

Forbes West was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and graduated with a Master's Degree in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach. He currently lives and works mostly in San Francisco, CA and owns a home in Ojima, Japan- a village five hours south of Tokyo by car that is in the foothills of Mt. Fuji.

Author Links

https://twitter.com/Forbes_West
https://www.facebook.com/forbes.west    Purchase Your Copy  http://www.amazon.com/Nighthawks-at-Mission-Forbes-West/dp/069223621X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405455456&sr=8-1&keywords=nighthawks+at+the+mission  







 
 

Name That Character Contest

How would you like to have a chance for a character YOU named be in a popular new series soon to be published by Dark Feed Press with GMTA Publishing? 

Sounds like a dream come true, right? 

Well here is your chance, read below to find out how you can be a part of this amazing new series soon to be released! 
Like the Dark Moon Series Facebook Page and tell us the story behind why you are choosing that name you're submitting.  
On August 12th, 2014 we will choose a winner at random and the name you've chosen will appear in our next book "Dark Harvest."
  RULES: The name can not be a celebrity name or contain curse words.  We retain the right to use the character as it pertains to the story. This means they could have a short run (two book minimum) or a long story arc. Who knows how that character will develop. 

The Cauldron Presents: The Lost Catacomb by Shifra Hochberg

           Beautiful art historian, NICOLA PAGE, flies to Rome to assess a newly discovered catacomb of enigmatic provenance at the invitation of Cardinal MAURO ROSTONI, who has been personally asked by the Pope to claim the catacomb and its contents for the Church.  Assisted by an Italian archaeologist, BRUNO RECANATI, Nicola discovers a buried parchment scroll detailing the shocking murder of a pope centuries earlier, a murder connected to priceless artifacts from the ancient Temple in Jerusalem that have been buried in the Vatican since the time of the early Empire.  
            Nicola and Bruno soon find themselves caught up in a web of intrigue and peril stemming from a sinister bargain between the Holy See and Germany during World War II—for when the Nazis had accidentally learned of the existence of the Temple treasures, coveting them for their intended Museum of Dead Nations, Mauro Rostoni, rising star in the Apostolic Palace, agreed to cooperate in the deportation of the Jews of Rome in exchange for German silence.  
            Rostoni, moreover, has a shocking connection to Nicola's own family.  As Nicola discovers when she is recalled to her grandmother ELENA's sickbed in New York, Rostoni had been spurned by Elena during the German occupation of Rome, and, in revenge, had masterminded the murder of Elena's Jewish lover, NICCOLÒ ROSSI—Nicola's true biological grandfather—as well as the arrest of Elena's family.

            As Nicola looks into the Cardinal's wartime activities to confirm his identity, her determination and strong physical resemblance to Elena arouse Rostoni's suspicions, and he has her followed by his Fascist associates.

            Meanwhile, Nicola receives a tense phone call from Athens, from her friend MATT OSBORNE, an investigative journalist who has discovered records linking Nazi expropriation of Spanish and Greek Jewish artifacts during World War II to an organization called Catholic Charities International.  He asks Nicola to look for corroborating evidence in the Secret Archives of the Vatican and tells her that he believes he is being tailed. 

            Nicola and Bruno locate files on the activities of Catholic Charities International, but, unknown to them, they have been observed by one of Rostoni's operatives.
           
            The next day, Bruno sees a newspaper obituary for Matt, who has died of an apparent heart attack.  Bruno receives a package from Greece, containing papers cataloguing shipments of artwork from Athens to Rome during the War.  One of the documents is initialed "M.R.," and Bruno and Nicola suspect that Rostoni is involved, given his past as a Fascist collaborator. They now believe that Matt was murdered.

            Recalling the puzzling presence of a Spanish object buried in the catacombs, they return there at night and uncover a hidden chamber with carefully catalogued artifacts from Jewish communities that had been exterminated during the War.  Bruno realizes that this is a secret branch of the Museum of Dead Nations that Hitler had planned to commemorate the eradication of the Jews, Gypsies, and others.

            Suddenly they are confronted by one of Rostoni's thugs, and after a fierce struggle, Bruno kills their attacker. Bruno rushes to a news agency to expose the Museum, while Nicola heads for the Vatican to look for incriminating documents in Rostoni's office.  To her shock, the Cardinal is there, waiting for a report from his henchman. 

            When she confronts him about the Museum and his role in fencing stolen art during World War II, he boasts that the greatest treasure of all—from the ancient Temple in Jerusalem—is waiting to be reunited with the rest of the Museum and is concealed in a vault behind his office wall. Only he has the code that will safely deactivate the door.
.
            Determined to verify Rostoni's role in the murder of her relatives, Nicola asks if he had ever known Elena or Niccolò, and he boasts of his role in Niccolò's death and the pact with the Germans.  Suddenly, Rostoni lashes out at Nicola with a poisoned stiletto hidden inside his pectoral cross.  He is scratched during the struggle and dies, defiantly unrepentant.

            Father Benedetto arrives at the Apostolic Palace and shows Nicola a shocking letter unearthed in Church archives, proving that Rostoni was actually born Jewish and unaware of his true origins. Bruno brings reporters to the catacombs, and Rostoni's connection to the Museum is suppressed to save the Church from embarrassment, as is the existence of the Temple treasures, which can no longer be accessed. 

            Rostoni's confederates outside Italy, undeterred by his death, move their art collections to another location, convinced that the Reich will soon be reestablished and the Museum of Dead Nations finally built.

Shifra Hochberg has a Ph.D. in English Literature from New York University and teaches at Ariel University in Israel. She has published 20 academic essays and is currently writing another novel.
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