Onyx news and first chapter teaser

As you can see, Onyx isn't being released today as planned. Life's been a little crazy in my world. Good news is things have been improving for us and I am so grateful for all the prayers and well wishes for my son. And as long as we stay on this drama-free course, the ebook of Onyx should be out in December and physical books in January.

I apologize to all of you who have been waiting so patiently and can't wait to share with you the last installment of the Talisman series.

So, without further ado, here's the first *unedited* chapter of The Onyx Talisman!!



"I need some ore," Phil said with a scrupulous grinbehind his fanned out cards—eyes flirting directly with mine. "Anyone got any?"Three ore cards mocked me within my undisclosed hand, along with a fewothers. If I traded my ore—which Ireally didn't need—he might win again. His smug aura told me he pretty much hadthis game in the bag, it was just a matter of time."I'll trade for a brick?" he asked, his sharp caninesrevealed in his smile. No one budged, though I sensed a few were tempted. "Two bricks?"Katie caved first. "Okay.Here."Within moments of the trade,Phil switched out his city for a settlement, pleasure beaming from himlike a strobe light."Nice," Tyler said with atwisted grin."Pschtt!" I spewed and nudgedKatie in the arm, pretending to be upset. "Why did you do that?" "I need a brick and Phil's sitting on a brick factory over there." She pointedat the board and shrugged.True.Tyler's turn was next. As Iwatched him palm the dice, my competitive side itched for lady luck to grace methis turn. Normally the rolls I needed came up all the time, but not in this particulargame of Settler of Catan. Scarlett sat off to the sideand read her worn Tales by EdgarAllen Poe. The fact she enjoyed the stories as much as she did gave me thecreeps. Her mind reading abilities had ousted her from playing any games withus—not that she'd play anyway.Tyler blew into his partiallyclosed fist. "Come on karma! Papa needs a new set of shoes." He shot us a coysmile then winked at Katie. I withheld my comment asKatie giggled. If she got the karma she deserved, she'd lose every game. Quickas a flash, Katie grabbed his hand and kissed his fingers before he could flingthe white cubes. The interruption discombobulated his throw, causing them toskitter from his hands, across the table, and onto the floor. I peeked overTyler's knee and watched one of the die move of its own accord from a four to afive.Scarlett coughed. Her icy-blueeyes peered at us momentarily over the binding of her book "You so cheat," I accusedPhil, who at the moment looked bewildered."I didn't do it." Phil heldup his hands—truth rolling off him in huge waves. "This is crap anyway.""That was so a four." I pursed my lips and raiseda brow as guilt billowed out of Katie like a hole in a balloon. She snickered and waggled hereyebrows. "What?""Yeah. No fighting." Tylerflipped it back to a four and finished his turn. Katie's turn was next. Icrossed my fingers for something I could use. "Eight," she called out.While she traded out her cards and pieces on the board, I playfully mad-doggedPhil. Our competitive sides quietly bantered with one another through our eyes.My turn was next and I only had one chance to finish him off. Without looking,I kept an eye on Phil and felt for the dice when Katie's shock and suddenelation sliced right through my psyche. Her squeal, followed by her inhumanlyfast flit around the table, upset the board onto the floor. Annoyed, I pushedaway from the table and moved over to the couch opposite Scarlett, away fromKatie's blatant display. Though she rarely won, I wouldn't indulge her poorsportsmanship with any type of congratulations.Phil came over and sat nextto me—a little too close, actually. His wonderful natural scent filled my lungsand tempted me to bury my nose in his neck."Awww, don't pout," hewhispered in his honey golden voice. A huge part of me wanted tolean over and kiss him right then and there, but I knew his powers ofpersuasion were running at a high level. I fought the temptation and pulled outmy iPhone instead, searching for a text from my missing boyfriend Nicholas—anobsession I couldn't kick. "I'm not," I said defiantly."If I would have gotten one more turn, I would have won. Katie was lucky.""I see." He touched the tipof my nose then pointed to my touch-screen. "Anything exciting happening at drama-high?"With a smirk, I put the phoneaway in my pocket. "No. Not today. But that reminds me. My Dad's out of townthis weekend and—""No," Phil said quickly,flipping from sexy to cold in an instant. "Out of the question. We've alreadydiscussed the dangers as a group, not to mention I will not escort you to L.A.without your father's knowledge. Not after what happened."His words sent little pinpricks of pain radiating across my chest. Every day I'd conspired a way to getPhil to take me to L.A to see Nicholas and every time he'd tell me no. Sincethe big showdown four months ago, the only word I'd received to even suggest hewas on the mend was a letter stating he missed me along with some song lyricshe wrote and a reassurance he'd return soon. That was a month ago.The lyrics lay neatly foldedin my pocket next to my phone. I'd continually read and reread them, lookingfor clues to what he was thinking. But all I could decipher was that separatedships never docked at the same pier at the same time. Was that how he saw ourrelationship? Something that could never really be?"I can't keep doing this dayafter day. I have to find out something," I finally said with clenched teeth."I know." Phil looked at metenderly while he massaged my shoulder, infusing me with his stress-releasingcharm. "Patience, my dear sweet Parker. Patience."I sunk into his chest.Whether I liked it or not, Phil did make me feel better. My spirit mended inhis presence and I was beginning to need him—like a drug. I shut down myempathy and closed my eyes so I didn't have to watch Katie and Tyler snuggledup together on the opposite couch as they started a movie. She of all peopledidn't deserve the happiness wafting around us and lately my jealousy wasgetting the better of me. I didn't want to be a love buzz-kill, but theirblatant displays often rubbed raw the longing in my heart.But, for some reason I alwaysreturned to hang with the Fab Five. Sam, my absent BFF, had all her free timesucked up with Todd, her boyfriend. So, I had no choice but to melt into the coven'sregular routine where my melancholy mood was understood, for the most part.Phil and Katie were our sober vampires, Tyler and I were the inducted humans,and Scarlett was the token den mother—a very motley group. After school, Tylerand I would cruise over and hang out at Nicholas' abandoned house where Philand Katie hid during the daylight hours. "Do you have homework?" Philasked while petting my hair."Mostly studying for finals,"I murmured. "I also need to finish my History report."Phil scoffed. "So glad Inever have to finish high school."I nudged him in the side."Brat."After a few minutes and withmuch reluctance, I slid down onto the floor and pulled out my backpack. Myreport wasn't going to write itself. Phil continued to try to distract me byplaying with my hair, but eventually succumbed to the movie.I started to read about BetsyRoss, the subject of my report, but my mind drifted. The group didn't know it,but I'd devised a new plan. Sam and I were going to Disneyland for a few days assoon as school was out for summer. She'd scored tickets from her aunt andduring the trip somehow someway, I'd get to Preston's house and see Nicholas inperson. I had to.  I refocused my attention backto Betsy Ross when I felt it. A storm of rage sped towards Nicholas' house andwhomever the feelings belonged to, they weren't about to let a door stand intheir way from getting inside. I stood up, eyes glued to the sunlight blockingbarrier as I held my breath, hoping that someone was Nicholas."Parker, what's wrong?" Philasked before Scarlett's warning screamed in our minds."Hide!"The sudden movement ofvampires escaping the scene launched my notes into the air like confetti, leavingTyler and I alone to deal with whoever was about the come through the door.
Copyright Brenda Pandos 2011