D Day Coming...

Hello All!
 
Sorry for the delay. I’ve been working hard making sure the next book in my series is the best thing since slice bread … or at least stale wheat bread … or just better than the first book. I think with the help of my editor (Calee Allen) I’ve achieved my goal.
 
Quick note – The Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) was awesome this year! Walmart and Geena Davis brought in some hot stars and some hot new films to view. Good time had by all.
 
Anyhoo, I plan on dropping book 2 later on this month, but as promised, I wanted to offer a taste of what’s to come. If you do give it a read feel free to tell me what you think. With that said, here’s chapter one of Perfect: The Revolt.


1.

                                                                 ELISABETH

I CAN’T LET THEM catch me! I won’t let them win! Our Perfect lives depend
upon their complete failure.

My heart punched my insides as if it needed to break free from my chest in order
to survive, like a fierce alien organism deathly allergic to my DNA. My arms pumped
back and forth, slicing the air, and my uneven breaths failed to lasso the sick wails of
hyperventilation trying to disrupt my pace. The dizziness attacked my senses, strangling
my lungs like a battered lioness on a fierce rampage.

My skin tightened, but I kept moving—dodging Fearians and their laser-tipped
projectiles. One flew so close to my ear, I swore I heard it whisper ‘die now,’ yet each
one missed its mark and exploded on the ground beside me. Stem cells taken from
Nolum’s rage bubbled from the chilled vapors like acid, melting tree limbs and cobalt
leaves, and my eyes watered from the piercing smell.

My panting propelled me forward with what felt like supernatural speed. Lethal
droplets of Fearian essence sprinkled down on my shirtsleeve, burning through the plush
fabric and searing my skin. I grimaced in pain as the drops tattooed my flesh, but never
once did I think of surrendering to the enemy, who chased after me with green eyes of
vengeance lighting their hot pursuit. The explosions transformed the wooded sanctuary
into a smoking battlefield reminiscent of the savage war currently covering our realm.

Damn it! Go away!

The Shadow dagger clutched in my hand made my palm moist, and the spine of
the gothic handle pricked my rigid fingers. I ducked under broken trees that were one
gust of wind from collapsing to the ground, while low-hanging limbs swayed sapphire
leaves in my face. Sharp twigs scraped against my skin, the scratches stinging from my
brackish sweat.

Jagged beams of bright light flashed overhead, and I found myself cornered, surrounded by trees and thick undergrowth. Seconds from panic, a narrow exit unfolded before my eyes, and I swerved toward it.

Thank the Gods!

I jumped over a Bayon shrub, clearing its starburst of thorns and colorful, venomous flowers. My bare feet landed on the soft dirt beyond without slowing pace, and my calves burned like lava. My head ached, my mind frazzled. There was no doubt I was going to pay for this later, but first I would have to survive the fray. My daring escape remained a trapped stallion, bucking wildly and refusing to be tamed. The ireful Fearians giving chase were hell-bent on punishing me for my audacity, and I felt their fury slithering up my spine, striking my skull like an irritated rattlesnake being force to strike.
An explosion rocked to my left, then another erupted on my right, while fiery
flare-ups and blasts filled my eardrums with a deafening noise. Stinging sweat and blood
from a cut over my eyebrow streamed into my eyes, but there was no time to wipe it free.
Trying to clear my mind and distract myself from the pain, I thought back to the act of
heartlessness that not even a lifetime of repentance could help me find peace with ...

“How did I not see you were a Mother Perfect?” Kaiden’s disgruntled voice
skipped through my subconscious.

“How could I’ve been betrayed by such filth?”

“I had no choice but to trick you,” my memory answered, as if my words were
justifiable. “The mothers needed the dagger, and I needed to stop your Counsel from
exterminating my kind. This is not your realm alone to possess.”

The anger on his face was so bitter it sent a frosted nip down my backbone. “I’m
going to kill you and every other Perfect before I’m done! You will pay, Elisabeth! You
will pay for making me fall in love with such a vile monstrosity!”

I knew my actions had been an abomination in their wicked eyes, and equally the
same in my own—but it was a horrid act that had to be done. I was the one who had used
perfection to manipulate a Fearian’s blackened heart, to treat it like a worthless piece of
nothing. And I had done it. Perfectly.

A Fury Beast let out a loud roar, slamming my daydream back into reality. I heard
hooves slap the ground, and I picked up my tempo, knowing the herd was locked in on
my scent. I jumped onto a rotten tree trunk tilted a foot off the dirt and sprung into the air
before landing in full stride. My eyes narrowed in determination once I saw my escape,
and I let out a sigh of relief.

A crowd of family and friends stood protected on the other side of the force field,
rooting their champion to victory. The transparent shield reached to the sky and was as
wide in both directions, successfully separating the land of Perfects from the territory
possessed by our mortal enemies.

I peered at the contraption lifting the bottom of the force field a foot off the
ground. I’m almost there! I’m almost free! I had seconds before my window closed and

my life belonged to the Fearians. My eyes stopped on my sister, and the love radiating
from her eyes heated my spirit—but I was too engaged with the Fearians to savor its
sweet support.

KABOOM!

A missile collided with the force field, forcing Geneve and the others to cringe.
The pinpoint accuracy made me shuffle to a pause, as flames and debris rained down on
top of me like a hailstorm.

I’m not going to make it!

I used my arms to shield my head and backtracked as the force from the blast
made the foliage sway. The Fearians gained ground, and I saw Kaiden headed right for
me, with the rest of his kind close behind. I watched my one exit vanish within the fiery
rubbish.

I’m too late. I now belong to my enemies, and they will dissect my soul slowly.

“Run, Elisabeth!” Victoria and Harlen shouted from the other side of the force
field. Their voices were muffled, but the tone of their cries was loud and clear. “Run!”

But I stood frozen, with nowhere to run. I was caught, and my foes would have
their dagger back. And after my death they would use The Seal to unleash hell.

I cannot allow it, I just can’t!

Geneve slapped the force field with her hands. “Wake up, girl! Wake up!”

“I want your soul, Izzy!” Kaiden yelled as he closed in.

I glanced to the dagger still held tight in my grip.

Isabelle pointed. “There’s a Basket Tree!” She hopped excitedly as she spotted it
unearth within the brush.

“You can make it, sis! Hurry!” Geneve shouted.

Their words hit me in the face like a cold shower, and I spotted my escape
partially hidden within the shrubbery. I darted for the tree, which had a thick trunk and a
basket-shaped bottom. Dim holes dotted the basket portion of the tree, just as had been
described by the elders.

I tightened my grip on the dagger. Kaiden and the others were just a few steps
behind. The Counsel stood on top of a nearby hill, the glare of the sun making them a
vision of beauty, but no less lethal.

“Do not let her make off with the dagger!” Serene ordered.

Oplous snarled. “Stop her from getting to that tree!”

“Destroy her now!” Nolum shouted.

I narrowed my eyes as a ball of fire soared near, moments from destroying the
Basket Tree and me, and dove headfirst into a dark hole inside the shadowy bottom. The
tree trunk rocked with the blast, and a surge of heat flashed against the bottom of my feet,
destroying the tree with me inside of it. Yet, instead of dying a scorching death, I was
surrounded by a star-filled darkness and I felt my body being pulled toward a dim light in
the distance. It was true; the Basket Tree was a portal into another realm.

WOOSH!

Suddenly, I was spit out of a hole at the base of a tree. The light of day caused my
eyes to tear, but as I stared at the sky above me, I knew instantly something was off.
There were no sounds of war, no stench of destruction—just peacefulness and strange,
small flying animals with the power to chirp melodies. Nothing was like I’d ever
witnessed before. The sky was a majestic, soothing blue, and the equivalent of our
heavenly orb was a strangely bright orange. The trees were smaller versions of what I
was accustomed to, and in a less vibrant shade.

This realm is strange to me. Even the smell is off. Not bad. Not better, but
different. Still, it seems I’m safe for the moment.

“I command thee as your new god!” a young male ordered as he stepped into
view with a skinny stick in his hand. “Come to me now!”

His demand made my heart drop and I turned antsy, not knowing what to expect.
My first inclination was to destroy him, but then I noticed his expression was nonaggressive.
I allowed my alert to simmer. It appeared he was playing a childish game, and
I was just an unexpected intrusion.

It was said Mother Perfects have always known of human beings, from back in
the days when Basket Trees were bountiful, but our paths had never crossed. Curiosity
caused some elders to watch the humans from a distance for a time, but the simplicity of
their species led them to believe the value of their realm was insignificant.

Still, I couldn’t help myself from becoming intrigued as the human slapped the
tree trunk with his stick, wielding it like a Loafer King and his Tolomon saber, before the
Fearians had all but wiped them out. The human finally noticed me lying on the ground at
the base of the tree, and our eyes connected. He turned silent, and I heard voices speaking
in the distance. Then he grinned at me, and the sincerity on his face caught me off guard.

“Glenn, where are you?” a female’s voice called out in the distance.

He didn’t take his eyes off me, and although I was lost in confusion myself, I
knew what I did next would either give me the advantage or get me killed. I was trapped
in a new realm with no allies to speak of and no way known of getting home, so it was a

chance I had to take. I morphed my body into a younger version of myself, near to his
age. The magical transformation caused his face to turn blank, and his mouth dropped
open and his eyes widened.

Finally, his expression loosened. “Wow! Mom, you got to see this, she …”

I covered my lips with a finger, and it brought him to silence. Then, with no signs
of fear, he reached out his hand and offered it to me. His actions calmed my rattled
nerves some, and set my mind at ease. I lay the palm of my hand onto his, and the
warmth of our touch was heartwarming, causing my eyes to turn glossy.

“Thank you,” I said, standing to my feet with his help. I hid the dagger underneath
my shirt without him noticing.

My stance became steadier as I felt my injuries heal themselves, but the dark
smudges of battle stayed painted on my forehead, cheekbones and lip.
“Where did you come from?” he asked me.

The curiosity in his voice made me think of Geneve. It was consoling, but I didn’t
have an answer that wouldn’t lead to more questions, so I just shrugged.

“Will you be my friend? I don’t have any,” I said with every bit of charm I could
conjure. “I beg of you.”

He firmed his grip on my hand and squeezed. “What is your name?”

“You may address me as Elisabeth.”

“Hi, Elisabeth. We’re having a picnic. Are you hungry?”

“I am if you are,” I said.

“My dad always makes extra hamburgers. My mom can make you a plate.”

His kindness rushed my heart and my eyes flickered pink. I stopped breathing, not
sure if I had unconsciously revealed too much of my Perfect world.

Glenn’s eyes sparkled, and I sensed he was enamored by what he had witnessed.
“Whoa. I’m going to marry you someday, Elisabeth.”

The honesty of his words made me blush. “Okay,” slipped from my lips.

He walked me toward his family, sitting together at a table at the edge of the
thicket. Another young male sat at the end of the table, tinkering with a handheld device,
while his father flipped meat circles over a box of flames. His beautiful mother had long
red hair and pale skin, with ruby red gloss covering her lips. She noticed us nearing, her
son’s hand holding mine, and stopped what she was doing.

Her eyes looked amused. “Glenn, who is your cute girlfriend?”

“You may address her as Elisabeth, mom. She’s going to eat with us, okay?” he
politely asked.

His mother’s expression stayed baffled. “That’s fine, but maybe we should ask
her parents first, to make sure it’s okay with them.”

“Your mother’s right, son.” His father scanned the area and his brow lowered.

“Um. Where are her parents?”

“I don’t think she has parents,” Glenn said. “I found her sticking out of that tree
trunk over—”

I cleared my throat. Glenn paused his explanation long enough to glance my way,
and the silent words hidden in my eyes caused him to change his course.

“I mean, standing over by that tree.”

“Uh-huh,” his mother replied. She shot a look to her mate, and I watched the
silent communication going on between the pair before she turned to me. “Hello, sweetie.
My name is Tina.”

“Hello, Tina,” I greeted, then bowed with one leg bent behind the other.

“I see you’ve met our son, Glenn.”

I caressed my heart as if it was my honor. “I have.”

I tried to sound less noble than what was running through my veins, but my
pedigree made it difficult for me to be anything but regal.

“Where are your parents?” she continued. “Do you need to call them?”

“They are no more,” I said, lowering my face in false humility. “As to say, they
are considered ‘deceased’ in your realm.”

Tina’s expression turned somber, but remained oddly shaped. “Oh.”

I sensed certain words I spoke perplexed them, coming from who they believed to
be a child. “Now I’m alone,” I said, sincerely. “Will you be my kin?”

Tina shot another look to her mate. “Honey?”

He pulled out a device from his pants pocket and placed it to his ear. “I’m calling
the authorities now.”

“Why don’t you stay here with us until we can find some help?” Tina suggested,
looking at me.

I gripped Glenn’s forearm. “Will I be harmed? Please do not allow this to occur,
Glenn. I’m scared.”

“No one is going to hurt you, sweetheart. We promise,” the father assured, raising
his hands before him to calm my fears.

“But mom, can’t she come with us?” Glenn pleaded. “She doesn’t have a family
anymore. You said we should always help others.” His eyes filled with tears. “I want us
to help Elisabeth.”

“It wouldn’t be right, son. Plus, someone is probably worried sick and looking for
her right now,” she replied.

“Please!” Glenn begged. “I’m her only friend in this realm!”

His request accompanied by my distraught expression struck a chord with his
parental guardian.

“I have a friend name Margaret who happens to be an excellent social worker.
Why don’t I give her a call and see if this is something she can handle for us, okay?”
Glenn’s face turned long. “But, mom—”

Tina cut off his words. “And of course, your father and I will stay involved so we
can make sure she will be okay.”

“And if she has no place to go, after that then can she live with us?” he persisted.
Tina sighed. “If it comes to that, we will make the decision together as a family.

Fair enough?”

Glenn looked to me with sympathy. “Is that okay with you, Elisabeth?”

I looked into his eyes, and in that moment I knew I had a friend forever. “That is
sufficient,” I said, mesmerized by this species called ‘human beings.’

“Make them both a plate of food?” Tina took the device from her mate and tapped
her fingertip against the shiny surface.

She put the device to her ear and walked off, but I eyed her intently as she spoke
with a low tone into the device. I couldn’t hear her entire conversation, but could make
out the words ‘personal favor’ and ‘grateful,’ and I felt comforted.

“Who wants hamburgers and who likes hot dogs?” Glenn’s father asked.

“Two cheeseburgers please, and make both a double,” Glenn said.

His father nodded while Glenn ushered me to the picnic table and offered a seat
before he sat beside me. I didn’t say a word as he prepared the table, placing napkins,
plastic utensils and two shiny pouch-like containers of liquid before us.

I never knew the kindness of human beings was so great, otherwise this would not
have been our first encounter. Their love matched that of the Loafers, who were famous
for their benevolence, but the humans were far more attractive physically. Glenn’s
affection toward me made me feel special and valuable, and I felt like a Mother Perfect
again, a true princess of my kind. It became easy to release my fears with each passing
breath, and I felt as if I’d found a new home.

And yet, the knowledge of the events going on in my own realm stayed at the
forefront of my thinking. I hoped beyond hope the ones I held dearest were able to
withstand the wrath of the most malevolent species in existence: Fearians.

Anyhoo - I hope it is to your liking. I plan on offering free ebooks on Goodreads, LibararyThings and Amazon, so be on the look out for that. I’m excited, because I really like the finish work. I hope you will too.  Scarlet -