Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: November 1, 2013
Publisher: Self
After the discovery of her ancient Maya bloodlines, eighteen-year-old Ashley Coreandero is faced with a As the winter solstice approaches, it brings an onslaught of unexpected side effects. Ashley must seize control over her supercharged powers, while dealing with the overwhelming suspicion that her boyfriend, Arwan, is hiding a secret so dark it could destroy them both.
With the arrival of a surprise houseguest, Ashley’s deepest fears about Arwan are confirmed. And when middleworld deities intercede, the group of gifted Maya descendants are confronted with hardships they never saw coming—including an enemy more deadly than they have ever faced.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned—but when that woman has no soul and a taste for revenge, they will need the powers of every surviving ancestor simply to stay alive. Buy Lights of Aurora for 99 cents!!
The air continued to chill as they traveled deeper into the caves. A narrow passage they had been following finally opened into a grand cavern. Stalactites hung from the roof of the chamber giving off an eerie amber glow, and the angles of each formation guided droplets of moisture to their points until they slipped to the stone ground, filling the space with soft patters and drips.
In the corner sat a stone altar. Ashley crept toward it with cautious steps over the slick ground. As she drew closer, the light in her chest allowed her to better see the slab. Her heart dropped.
It was a sacrificial altar, a small stack of bones piled on either side.
They could only belong to a child.
Ashley covered her mouth, and in a hushed whisper said, “Arwan.”
He slipped his hand around hers, reassuring her with his touch. “I know.” They paused side by side in a mutual moment of silence for the tiny victims. How anyone could kill children was beyond her.
“You were right,” he said in a low growl. “They were monsters.”
She swallowed and stepped closer to the altar. “What is this?”
Carved markings protruded from the face of the stone. Ashley stooped to see them clearly, as they were dusty and discolored with age. She brushed her fingers over the symbols, which were all generally the same shape. But each carving seemed to represent a word, like the logograms she learned about in ancient history class in the orphanage.
“What does this say?” she asked. “Can you read them?”
Arwan crouched beside her and analyzed the markings. “This is a sacrificial portal.” His gaze rose to the stone bowl fused to the top of the altar. “Child sacrifices were used to gain access to the underworld when those trying to enter didn’t belong.”
“What do you mean, belong?”
He stood and stared down at the stone surface. “Blood analysis isn’t as new as science likes to believe.” He rested his hands on the curved edge of the sacrificial bowl. Ashley rose and watched him drag his fingers over the rim of the bowl before he paused over a sharpened edge.
She hadn’t noticed, but one edge was ground into a blade-like arch, still darkened with the stain of blood from the last sacrifice.
“Those who are at least part underworlder are required to give a blood offering before they are allowed to pass. It’s the only way to cross without a life being given in exchange.”
Bile churned in her stomach. Everything about this was wrong. The feeling of the cave, the weird glowing stalactites hanging from the ceiling, the altar, and the bones. The metallic stink of blood still hung in the air.
“This is too weird.” She stepped back. “We need to keep moving.”
She couldn’t stand being near the remains for another second. Not when the faces of the innocent children rose through the folds of her imagination. Their tiny bodies must have struggled while grown men forced them to lie down, knowing what was about to happen. She read once that being offered as a sacrifice was an honor, and often women and children were given messages to deliver to the gods before they were killed.
A shiver ran down the back of her arms. What a horrible, unnecessary way to die.
She took another step back. “How do we get to the portal?”
“This is the portal.” Arwan said quietly.
Ashley studied him while he stood perfectly still, focused at the bloodstained altar. He turned to face her, his gaze piercing, intense, and unsettling.
“Tell me you’ll always want me.” His words came out in a soft plea.
“What?” She shifted her weight. His grip tightened over the stone bowl.
“Please, just tell me that after this, you’ll still want me.” His eyebrows arched, as did the panic that tore through her.
Before she could reply, Arwan pressed his wrist against the bowl and slid it across the sharpened rim. His skin tore open, and his blood began to flow.
In the corner sat a stone altar. Ashley crept toward it with cautious steps over the slick ground. As she drew closer, the light in her chest allowed her to better see the slab. Her heart dropped.
It was a sacrificial altar, a small stack of bones piled on either side.
They could only belong to a child.
Ashley covered her mouth, and in a hushed whisper said, “Arwan.”
He slipped his hand around hers, reassuring her with his touch. “I know.” They paused side by side in a mutual moment of silence for the tiny victims. How anyone could kill children was beyond her.
“You were right,” he said in a low growl. “They were monsters.”
She swallowed and stepped closer to the altar. “What is this?”
Carved markings protruded from the face of the stone. Ashley stooped to see them clearly, as they were dusty and discolored with age. She brushed her fingers over the symbols, which were all generally the same shape. But each carving seemed to represent a word, like the logograms she learned about in ancient history class in the orphanage.
“What does this say?” she asked. “Can you read them?”
Arwan crouched beside her and analyzed the markings. “This is a sacrificial portal.” His gaze rose to the stone bowl fused to the top of the altar. “Child sacrifices were used to gain access to the underworld when those trying to enter didn’t belong.”
“What do you mean, belong?”
He stood and stared down at the stone surface. “Blood analysis isn’t as new as science likes to believe.” He rested his hands on the curved edge of the sacrificial bowl. Ashley rose and watched him drag his fingers over the rim of the bowl before he paused over a sharpened edge.
She hadn’t noticed, but one edge was ground into a blade-like arch, still darkened with the stain of blood from the last sacrifice.
“Those who are at least part underworlder are required to give a blood offering before they are allowed to pass. It’s the only way to cross without a life being given in exchange.”
Bile churned in her stomach. Everything about this was wrong. The feeling of the cave, the weird glowing stalactites hanging from the ceiling, the altar, and the bones. The metallic stink of blood still hung in the air.
“This is too weird.” She stepped back. “We need to keep moving.”
She couldn’t stand being near the remains for another second. Not when the faces of the innocent children rose through the folds of her imagination. Their tiny bodies must have struggled while grown men forced them to lie down, knowing what was about to happen. She read once that being offered as a sacrifice was an honor, and often women and children were given messages to deliver to the gods before they were killed.
A shiver ran down the back of her arms. What a horrible, unnecessary way to die.
She took another step back. “How do we get to the portal?”
“This is the portal.” Arwan said quietly.
Ashley studied him while he stood perfectly still, focused at the bloodstained altar. He turned to face her, his gaze piercing, intense, and unsettling.
“Tell me you’ll always want me.” His words came out in a soft plea.
“What?” She shifted her weight. His grip tightened over the stone bowl.
“Please, just tell me that after this, you’ll still want me.” His eyebrows arched, as did the panic that tore through her.
Before she could reply, Arwan pressed his wrist against the bowl and slid it across the sharpened rim. His skin tore open, and his blood began to flow.
Since then, Theresa has gotten married, had three terrific kids, moved to central Ohio, and was repeatedly guilt tripped into adopting a menagerie of animals that are now members of the family. But don’t be fooled by her domesticated appearance. Her greatest love is travel. Having stepped foot on the soil of over a dozen countries, traveled to sixteen U.S. states—including an extended seven-year stay in Kodiak, Alaska—she is anything but settled down. But wherever life brings her, she will continue to weave tales of adventure and love with the hope her stories will bring joy and inspiration to her readers.
To learn more about Theresa McClinton and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Facebook & Twitter.
Its a great story I can tell by what you wrote and will like to read it. Thanks enjoyed stopping by
ReplyDeletelecasa4@aol.com Happy NEW YEAR
Thanks for dropping in, Annie! I'm glad it looks like a good read to you. I've had so much awesome feedback about the series. It's overwhelming sometimes! And as always, I LOVE being on Whats Beyond Forks. Thanks again for having me!
ReplyDeletesounds like an interesting book. love learning about mayans...
ReplyDelete