 Welcome to the Once Upon A Fairytle Blog Event! The event will run throughout the month of April and will feature interviews, guest posts and story excerpts from some top indie authors. If you love fairytale retellings, then this is the event for you! Dark retelllings, twists on the original stories and more await you. Check out our calendar of events below and be sure to share the event with friends. 
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  Out of the Blue
Black and Blues Book One Stephanie Rose Bird Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Publisher: One Odd Bird Press Date of Publication: March 22, 2020 ASIN: B084SNJ8K2 Word Count: 58,500 words Formats available: E-Book and Paperback Cover Artist: Najla Qamber Designs and Qamber Kids Tagline: Out of the Blue is a young-adult, coming-of-age novel that seamlessly bridges elements of African American folklore and spirituality with Greek mythology. Book Description: When two worlds collide, only one girl can unravel the mythical threads and save her father’s life. . . Mobile, Alabama, 1947 Bobby “The Shrimp Man” Daniels, a blues singer and shrimper from Mobile, lies unconscious in a hospital bed, suffering from a mysterious illness. His daughter Tina, a sheltered sixteen year old, torn between her love for her father, and her disappointment in his relationship with Kyane, his much younger mistress, is determined to heal her father, no matter the cost. Kyane isn’t just a mistress, she’s a Siren, obsessed with her overwhelming desire to become human and merge her otherworldly singing voice with Bobby’s incredible music. She’ll do anything to get what she wants, annihilating anything, and anyone who stands in her way. In order to save her father, Tina will have to travel to the Kyane’s world, a world of strange and magical creatures, and figure out how to wrestle his soul from the Siren’s control. As Tina’s magical journey twists and turns, she’ll learn what it means to be a woman and what it means to save not only her father, but herself. Out of the Blue is a young-adult, coming-of-age novel that seamlessly bridges elements of African American folklore and spirituality and Greek mythology. Amazon One Odd Bird Press About the Author: Stephanie Rose Bird is the author of the critically acclaimed and award-winning, “Sticks, Stones, Roots and Bones: Hoodoo Mojo and Conjuring with Herbs.” Her other books include: “365 Days of Hoodoo,” and “Four Seasons of Mojo,” all three were published by Llewellyn Worldwide. Bird also contributes to Llewellyn Spell-a-Day,” “Llewellyn Herbal Almanac” and “Llewellyn Magical Almanac.” She is the author of: “Earth Mama Spiritual Guide to Weight-loss” (Green Magic Publishing), “A Healing Grove” (Lawrence Hill Books), “The Big Book of Soul,” (Red Wheel Weiser/Hampton Roads Publishers) and “Light, Bright and Damned Near White: Biracial and Triracial Culture in America and Beyond.” (ABC-Clio). She is a novelist, published by One Odd Bird Press, in the Young Adult Fantasy and Magical Realism genres. “Out of the Blue” is her debut novel in the Black and Blues Series. One Odd Bird Press will also publish “Pine Barren Blues.” She writes and paints where she lives (Chicagoland) with her husband, near her children, and along with some very busy animal friends. Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephanierosebirdauthor/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/s.r.bird Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephanierosebi Website: www.stephanierosebird.com Blog: http://stephanierosebirdstudio.blogspot.com  It was supposed to be a vacation, the trip to a newly discovered tomb of Jesus… When Sabina Ferrara was driving to Bingerbruck, Germany, she was hoping to put a painful marriage behind her. Certain unforeseen events turned against her and during a visit to Christ’s tomb, she is meeting Thomas von Essen – a dangerous thief, who is hiding behind the name of a decent family, pretending that he is a famous archaeologist. Against her will, Sabina is dragged into the middle of the stealing of biblical artefacts, killings and shootings. She ended up attracting the attention of an unknown enemy from Jerusalem, a wicked man called Papa Zen. A powerful mogul who knows too much about Sabina and her mysterious birthmark. She is the one he was looking for so long… 12 lost pages from the Bible Car chasing, guns, and fights Yakuza and Ndrangheta families Palermo, Istanbul, Jerusalem Deaths, tears, broken hearts Sophia von X is a story of violence and obsession, secrets and tragedy, lies, religious hate, and love.  Victoria Ray grew up in Orša, one of the oldest towns in Belarus. Although interested in writing fiction from a young age, it wasn't until 2018 that she decided to pursue it as a career. Victoria lives in Sweden with her family and two dogs: Daisy and Sky. She hold Phd in Classic Russian Literature.
Books: 1. Sophia von X (grotesque thriller and suspense; religious thriller; humorous fiction) 2. SO ABSURD IT MUST BE TRUE #1, Unique and Absurd Series (surreal humor and satire) 3. DULCINEA and THE DEATH CODE #1, Child of Illusion Series (young adult, absurdist urban fantasy) 4. 42 DEGREES OF TRUTH #1, Unicorn (satirical poetry/adult humor) 5. 42 DEGREES OF TRUTH #2, Blue Giraffe (satirical poetry/18+) She is working in genres: - surreal humor and absurdist comedy, - adult humor and satire, - Ero Guro (erotica + grotesque), - bizarro sci-fi/fantasy, - humorous thriller, - satirical poetry. Writing style - satirical, dark and 'quixotic'!  Thank you for joining us! We hope you enjoyed the event and that you have a few more reading recommendations from it.
Join us in April when we will have another month long event featuring fairytale retellings.  1) Why did you choose to write horror? I didn't exactly choose it, more fell into by accident. I started out writing fantasy (which I still do), but after writing a nice, sweet story for an informal competition, my muse deserted me (apparently she is allergic to nice and sweet). To wash away the writer’s block, I penned a horror story about Jack the Ripper. This unlocked my dark side (both my muse and I adore killing characters it seems) and I stumbled into the horror genre. It also seeped over into my fantasy writing, as I specialize in the dark stuff in that genre too. 2) What is your fav thing about the genre? Did I mention killing off characters in satisfyingly gruesome ways? I did? Well, the psychological aspects of horror also fascinate me, the underlying motivations and emotional issues that drive people to extreme actions. Plus, I love dark myths and folklore. 3) Tell us about your latest book My latest book, Visions and Nightmares, isn’t out quite yet, but will be released in March. It’s a collection of ten horror fantasy stories with female protagonists. It’s all about revenge, loss, secrets, survival and inner darkness. I have stories based on the Wendigo folklore, Alice in Wonderland, a nod to eldritch gods, some dark faerie magic, plus a few more goodies. Here’s the tagline: Tragedy spares no gender... and takes no prisoners. 4) If you had one piece of advice about writing horror, what would it be? Don’t be afraid of going into the dark places. I’ve seen writers new to horror hesitate to explore more disturbing topics, thinking they’ll be rejected by readers. And while I think you need to mindful of readers and potentially sensitive topics, horror has the capacity and leeway to explore far more shocking things than any other genre. 5) Who are your fav women in horror? A lot of my favourites are indie authors, writers such as Angela Yuriko Smith, Kindra Sowder, Emerian Rich, Carmilla Voiez, Nina D'Arcangela and Naching T. Kassa. I’m also a big fan of artist Jeanette Andromeda, who runs horrormade.com and has done illustrations for The Wicked Library.  Excerpt from the story, Family Trait, from the book, Killers and Demons II: They Return
Sarah sat in a coffee shop, staring out a window. She didn’t want to think about what happened with Jason, about why she was single again, or why he was gone. Sarah thought she found her home with him, that they belonged together, but it fell apart so badly. She wanted to act as if it were just another breakup, except this time things were different. “God, I acted like a crazy freak. I bet Jason thought so too before…” Sarah closed her eyes, blocking the memory of that night. That’s why she sat here drinking a latte instead of going home. She didn’t have to face her troubles here, just stare out the window and pretend. In her apartment, the reminders lingered. “I know I’m going crazy.” She whispered her fears into her half-empty coffee cup. “I’m turning out like Mom.” Sarah could still hear that phrase in her head. The strong don’t break; they snap. That’s how her mother’s problem was explained to a five-year-old Sarah by her Aunt Rachel. And here I am at twenty, wondering if I’ve snapped too. She didn’t know how else to explain the things she wanted, the thoughts in her brain, her behaviour for the last few weeks. She drained the last of her coffee and sighed. Hiding isn’t going to help me though. I need to find answers. I just wish I knew where. I wish I had someone to talk to. I wish I didn’t feel so alone. She certainly couldn’t count on her mess of a family. Her father moved out of the city last year, but even before, they had never been close, never connected after her mother went away. And her Aunt Rachel drifted out of her life after high school. She was on her own, the same old pattern. Sarah sighed again. She knew she couldn’t put it off anymore. She trashed her disposable coffee cup, left the shop, and drove home. Inside her apartment, Sarah gazed over the stylish space that used to be her sanctuary, her refuge. She walked across the tile to the kitchen, trying not to look at the pale, scrubbed spot with its still-visible bloodstain. She opened the refrigerator and took out some of the raw meat that used to be her boyfriend Jason. She preheated a frying pan, added a little olive oil and seasoning, and fried part of his arm for supper. After that, she watched some TV and went to bed, dreading the next day. Sarah woke late the following morning. The sun streamed in her bedroom window, illuminating the whole bed. The warmth felt nice on her face and her toes that poked out from under the covers. I should just stay here, spend all Sunday in bed. She considered the idea, smiling at the thought until she turned and saw Jason’s empty pillow. She shifted her gaze to the window and stared miserably at the beautiful day. He loved to sleep in on Sundays. Author Bio: A steadfast and proud sci-fi and fantasy geek, A. F. Stewart was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada and still calls it home. The youngest in a family of seven children, she always had an overly creative mind and an active imagination. She favours the dark and deadly when writing—her genres of choice being fantasy and horror—but she has been known to venture into the light on occasion. As an indie author she has published novels, novellas and story collections, with a few side trips into poetry.  It appears that the future of horror movies - lies in the past. With remakes, updates and sequels becoming ever more popular, it seems like audiences want more of what they are used to.
Jamie Lee Curtis has made a trio of new Halloween movies, despite being killed off in Halloween Resurrection. Trying to recapture the magic of the 1978 original, while bringing the story up to date for new audiences is not an easy task. Movies such as the Conjuring feature stories from the 70's and some real life characters. Remakes can be hit or miss, but it does help promote the movies to modern day audiences who may not have been born when the originals came out. The wave of nostalgia looks set to continue in the near future, but it makes you wonder, where will they go next? There are plenty of excellent books out there, waiting to be developed into movies. Hopefully we can see some of them soon.  1) Why did you choose to write horror? I have loved horror since I was a child. My mother would always have horror movies on and we would watch them. I love the whole good defeating evil storyline. 2) What is your fav thing about the genre? With horror, you can have most other genres thrown in too. You can have romance, action, and more. Horror is about exploring your fears in a safe environment and telling a great story along the way. 3) Tell us about your latest book My latest horror book is called Hotel Hell: The Penthouse. I was inspired by the tales from the Cecil Hotel and I thought it would be interesting to see what it would be like for an employee working in the hotel. I chose Georgina, a woman desperate for a job who comes to work as a maid at the hotel. Weird things start to happen and they get worse when a guest stays in the Penthouse. A very dangerous guest. 4) If you had one piece of advice about writing horror, what would it be? Use your own fears to help craft your story. Always think - how can things go wrong, then ramp up the tension. I also like slow build, when small things happen that seem inconsequential on their own, but when you put them together it gets bad. 5) Who are your fav women in horror? Oh sooo many! All the women who took part in this event! I also love Laurell K. Hamilton and Anne Rice. My overall favorite though is Wynonna Earp. I adore the show to the point I am considering getting a tattoo!  Excerpt from Hotel Hell: The Penthouse Book 1
Prologue 1912 William Jones stepped off the hansom cab and took in the sight of the Harrington-Smyth hotel. Standing five stories tall, and holding over two hundred rooms, it was a magnificent sight. He had heard his father talk about it, but this was the first time he had laid eyes on it. William was away at school when his father took over as manager of the hotel. The job took him far from home, but with William away at school and his wife long gone, he felt ready to commit to the job. Last month, his father passed away. William wasn’t expecting the letter he received from the owner, Mr. Smyth, asking him to come to the hotel about a potential job offer. William was quite happy with his job at the bank and had no intention of taking the job but considering how much the hotel meant to his father, he felt that it was better to meet Mr. Smyth in person, to tell him face to face. After tipping the driver, he retrieved his bag and went inside. The foyer was almost empty, which surprised him. He heard that this was one of the most successful hotels in the city. Or at least that is what his father always said. Perhaps he exaggerated the truth, in order to make things sound better. He approached the check-in desk, where a man, dressed smartly in a suit, was waiting. “Can I help you, sir?” he asked William. “Yes, I’m here to see Mr. Smyth. He sent me a letter,” William said, removing the letter from his pocket. “Ah, you must be Mr. Jones. Mr. Smyth is waiting for you,” he said. He led William to a small office, close to the check-in desk. Mr. Smyth was seated behind the desk. He rose when William entered the room and offered his hand. “Thank you for coming,” Mr. Smyth said, shaking his hand. William was struck by how different he looked from the photograph his father had showed him a few years ago. He was thinner and seemed to have aged a great deal in a short space of time. Considering the unfortunate events that had befallen him in the last few years, it was understandable. Shortly before his hotel opened to the public, his stepdaughter had died suddenly. His wife passed two years after that. It seemed that no matter how much success a man had, some things in life were irreplaceable. “Mr. Smyth, I was flattered to receive your letter, I know how much this place meant to my father, but I am already employed so I am afraid I will have to decline your kind offer.” Mr. Smyth studied William for a few seconds. “Did your father ever tell you about this place? I mean the real truth about the hotel?” “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.” Real truth? Mr. Smyth sighed. “I was afraid of that. Your father held a very important position here at the hotel. He was a caretaker, of sorts, and without him I’m afraid the hotel cannot function.” “I thought my father was the manager?” William said, confused. A caretaker implied an altogether different kind of job. Had his father lied to him? “He was the manager, yes. But his job here was so much more than that. This hotel is…unusual. Your father was able to keep everyone in line and ensure that it ran smoothly, with a limited number of fatalities.” William was sure he had misheard the man. “Fatalities?” “Mr. Jones, when I built this hotel, I made additions that you would not normally find in other buildings. Your father discovered what I had done and vowed to keep the evil in this hotel at bay. He made a pact in blood, and I’m afraid as his heir, it is up to you to take his place.” I opened my mouth, to call the man mad, when a scream echoed through the hotel. Rising from my seat, I looked to Mr. Smyth for an explanation. “It’s getting worse. I’m afraid you don’t have a choice, Mr. Jones.” There was real fear on his face. “This is madness. You sir, have taken leave of your senses.” William stormed out of the office and straight into chaos. A woman lay on the ground of the foyer, convulsing wildly. Two men were attending to her, but she lashed out, striking them both. “Someone should fetch a doctor,” William said. The woman suddenly arched back, bending at an unnatural angle. William could swear he heard bones crack. The woman’s head twisted around to look at William. Her eyes were open, but they were devoid of color. Two white orbs stared at him, sending a chill down his spine. Her mouth twisted into wide grin, revealing a row of yellowed teeth. “William,” she said in a deep, masculine voice, “I haven’t seen you since you were a child. We killed your father. If you stay, we’ll do the same to you.” Her body dropped to the floor and she lay still. William was struggling to draw a breath. The woman was surely possessed. “Is this some kind of witchcraft?” he asked Mr. Smyth. Mr. Smyth regarded him with a level stare. “There is evil here. Evil that will spill out into the world if you do not help me keep it contained.” “No,” William said, hoarsely. “I won’t be a part of this.” He hurried toward the door, eager to escape this house of horrors. As he attempted to cross the threshold, back into the street, he was thrown back onto the floor. Stunned, he got to his feet, shaken by the fall. “I’m sorry, Mr. Jones,” Mr. Smyth said, taking a few steps toward him, “but I’m afraid you can no longer leave. You are a part of this hotel now. You are the new caretaker.”  1. Why did you choose to write horror? I've always personally been into horror. My dad used to sit me down and we'd watch those B movies where everyone makes the dumbest mistakes and suddenly there's now an octopus shark hybrid and Oh, no! Not another one that no one knew about! lol. My preference tends to lean more towards the graphic and weird rather than the stuff that keeps me up at night (Don't you dare bring a Ouija board near me, demon-child!) but I thoroughly enjoy horror, so when I started writing books, it was only natural to incorporate my love in. 2. What is your favorite thing about the genre? For me, it's the variety. Everyone has a fear and sometimes we don't even realize it until we watch it or read it in a movie. I mean, Chrinstine by Stephen King. Who would have thought to have a murderous car? And why am I suddenly talking to my own car like it's sentient? lol. The fact that there are so many options, so many fears to play off of, that really makes horror my favorite. 3. Tell us about your latest book. My Horror-infused books are actually fairytale retellings. My latest one is called Vicious as a Darling which is book one in the Daughters of Neverland. It's a continued spin-off series from my first series, Sons of Wonderland. I call it Horror Romance because Romance plays a heavy hand in the books but the world around them has all the Horror. In VAAD, Wendy Darling is a pirate of her own ship and dancing around Captain Hook but the true villian is someone entirely different. You'll find grotesque creatures, the Lost Boys who grow horns based on power and drink blood when their able, a very dark Peter Pan. Tink is the Queen of the pixies and as wicked as can be. Tiger Lily will rip out your throat is wears a headdress of a giant bat-like creature. The world is dark and terrifying but amidst all that, there's some happy thoughts that'll be sure to get everyone killed. 4. If you had one piece of advice about writing horror, what would it be? Don't stick to just the normal fears. We're all scared of spiders and snakes and various other creatures, but it takes some real talent to make me afraid of my car. Create fears that stick with people, and then flick on a candle and remind them it's fiction. It won't help them sleep any better but hey, you tried and you succeeded. lol 5. Who are your favorite women in horror? I really like Madeleine Roux (asylums have always interested me). She's really great. A lot of what I read tends to fall closer to the dark fantasy vibe but she's the first that comes to mind with more of the horror.  EXCERPT - FROM MAD AS A HATTER (SONS OF WONDERLAND BOOK ONE) “You were supposed to be my friend!” Alice shouted. “You were supposed to be there for me! Where were you, Hatter? Where were you when I needed you?” “We didn’t know, Alice,” the Hatter pleaded. He was manacled to the wall, blood dripping down his arms to his bare chest. His hat and his long coat had been stripped from him the moment Alice had ordered him to be thrown in the dungeons. The manacles were covered in odd symbols, the likes Hatter had never seen before. They glowed with the slightest movement and sent needles of pain into his wrists. “Time moves differently here. It isn’t linear. You could have left yesterday, or tomorrow, or a year before. There’s no way to track it.” “I left twenty-five years ago,” she snarled. “As soon as I left Wonderland and started spewing stories of talking flowers and rabbits and Hatters, I was thrown in the asylum. My own parents paid them to take me away for fear of embarrassment. They thought I was crazy! Do you know what they do to mad people in my world?” “Please, Alice,” the Hatter tried again. “We were friends. This isn’t what you want to do.” Alice grinned, stepping closer to him. She ignored his comment, continuing on as if she never heard him speak. “Electroshock treatments. Lobotomies. Did you know they cut into my brain? Said they would fix the part that suffered from insanity. Ask me if it worked. Ask me if I screamed, and screamed, and screamed.” Rage dripped from her voice, coating every word. “You’re not my Alice,” he rasped, his voice already growing weak. Whatever was in the manacles was taking its toll. “This is exactly who I am, who I’m meant to be. The treatments didn’t work. They just made me angry. Angry at the doctor cutting into me. Angry with Wonderland for showing itself to me to begin with. Angry at you for abandoning me. Now, I want to see if you can die, Hatter.” She thrust her hand into his bare chest, her claws wrapping around his still beating heart. The Hatter screamed in agony, blood trickling from the corner of his lips and flowing from where her hand still lay nestled in his chest. “Alice,” the Hatter gurgled, his head slumping to his chest. “Alice.” His voice was barely a whisper, the pain shutting down his body. “No,” she sneered, laughing maniacally as she ripped his heart completely from the cavity. She brought it to her lips and licked the blood, letting it drop down her chin and onto her chest. “Not Alice. Not anymore.” She smiled, a deranged curl, as she crushed the heart in her hand. “I’m the Red Queen.” Bio
Kendra Moreno was born and raised in Texas where, if the locusts don’t drive you mad, the fire ants and sticker burrs will. Iced tea, or aptly called straight sugar, fuels her for battling the forces of evil and washing the never ending dishes her son dirties. She has one husband who listens to her spin tall tales constantly without fail. Although he doesn’t always know what she’s talking about, he supports her like a pair of expensive compression socks. Kendra has one son who will one day read her stories. For now she’s teaching him books are meant to be cherished and not destroyed. Her two Hellhounds keep her company while she writes. If she isn’t writing, you can usually find Kendra elbows deep in anything from paint to cookie dough or obsessing about her newest geeky addiction.  A Final Girl is the main hero in a horror movie, the one who ultimately defeats the bad guy - at least for now. These are our top 5 Final Girls
1) Laurie Strode (Halloween) played by Jamie Lee Curtis 2) Sidney Prescott (Scream) played by Neve Campbell 3) Nancy Thompson (Nightmare on Elm Street) played by Heather Langenkamp 4) Ellen Ripley (Alien) played by Sigourney Weaver 5) Alice Hardy (Friday the 13th) played by Adrienne King  1) Why did you choose to write horror? I wouldn’t say that I chose to wrote horror but rather that horror chose me to be its disciple of evil mwahahahahaha. Seriously though, I started out writing Ensnared as a fantasy adventure story and NOPE my characters were like this has to be a horror. Tried writing another book and NOPE my characters were like, this has to be a horror. It took me about three books to accept it but now I fully accept that while I do write other genres (rarely) I am predominantly a horror writer and it’s what I’m good at. 2) What is your fav thing about the genre? What is there not to like about being a horror author. We have very few limitations because we can go from the creepy supernatural to the insane human psych and absolutely everything in between and while we’re at it we can do it, not only in a main horror genre, but in other genres like science fiction, fantasy or romance. Anything can be turned into an excellent horror with the right amount of skill, and psychosis. 3) Tell us about your latest book The latest book that I have released is a good old fashioned adult haunted house horror that takes the reader into the depths of an underground mansion and the spooky stories of the family of murderers that built and lived in it. It has been my most popular book to date and is still selling quite well. It follows a team of paranormal investigators who are bent on proving ghosts DO NOT exist, when suddenly they are running for their lives from the things they are trying to disprove. 4) If you had one piece of advice about writing horror, what would it be? It isn’t an easy genre to break into so you have to work at it steadily. Horror fans tend to have favourites (especially Stephen King) and you’re competing against a lot of talent. Invest in your craft, work hard at it and you’ll break out in the genre. Don’t give up after the first few books don’t do as well as you hoped. 5) Who are your fav women in horror? This is a tough one because I have so many but definitely the top of my list would be Anne Rice. She writes some amazing horror books, among other genres, and I have even had the honour of chatting to her on Facebook where she gave me some pretty cool writing advice. She is just a great person all around, as an author and a human being, and I admire her a lot because she doesn’t back down from what she firmly believes in.  Chapter Extract
Chapter Seven from Ensnared Amari didn’t sleep at all that night; she also didn’t touch Kiara’s book again. She spent most of the night curled up in the corner of her bed staring at her mirror, petrified that at any time Raven would appear again to finish her off. At some point she dozed off and woke with a start, convinced someone was in her room with her. She tried convincing herself she had gone mad, that this was all a hallucination from hitting her head. At some point she even persuaded herself that she was in fact dead and existing in a purgatory place and that was why this was happening to her. Fact was, she knew she wasn’t mad, or dead, and that thought scared her more than anything. She hadn’t been to church since she was much younger, and wasn’t strictly religious, but she prayed throughout the night. She was sure some of the prayers she said were actually hymns from Sunday school, but she didn’t care, she just begged God to listen to her and keep her safe from whatever was in this house making contact with her. Amari even considered going to church the next day, to speak to a priest about blessing her. For the first time in a long time she also considered moving out, getting a temp job and finding some cheap accommodation. Anything to avoid the horrors that Kiara had told her about and that she had seen here in her room. When she came downstairs for breakfast the next morning, her mother watched her worriedly. The minute she sat down, Sashqua put a bowl of warm porridge in front of her and felt her head. “Did you get any rest, sweetheart?” Amari pulled away. “Mom, I’m not a little girl anymore.” Sashqua tutted and went back to her seat. “You will always be my little girl. You look exhausted, love, what’s wrong?” Amari shook her head, not trusting herself to speak for fear she would tell her parents everything and they would believe she had lost her mind, and possibly send her to an insane asylum. Maybe that was where she belonged. She picked at her breakfast and both her parents watched her. Jono cleared his throat and said, “Well, there’s no point in studying if you don’t feel well. Why don’t you take the day off and relax.” “I could use a little more sleep,” Amari gratefully commented, setting her spoon down in her bowl. “I might go now … in fact, I’m exhausted.” Jono nodded. “You’re excused.” “Thanks, dad.” Sashqua bit her lip. “Do you want me to fix you something else? I can bring it to your room.” She stood up. “I can make you some soup and bring you a bottle of water.” Amari held her hand up. “It’s okay, mom, I’ll come down later to eat. I’m not sick, just tired.” She went upstairs and shut the door, but sleep was the furthest thing from her mind. Looking around her room warily, she pulled her throw blanket off of her bed and tossed it over her mirror. She didn’t want to look up again and see Raven staring at her. She then looked for the book and set it on her table. First thing was, she needed to shower and get dressed. Amari felt as if she had been living in her current clothes for weeks opposed to just over twenty-four hours. She went downstairs and turned on the hot water. She locked the door and stripped away her clothes, her muscles groaning with the effort. The room started to steam up as she stepped into the shower and closed the door, letting the hot water cascade down her back and loosen her muscles. She was coming to terms with the fact that this was really happening to her and she had to find a way to help Kiara get out of that book. The poor girl. Trapped by her evil stepmother. Amari felt a small sense of excitement building up next to the fear she was swallowing. She had to help Kiara. No girl deserved to be trapped like that because of some witch. The excitement inside continued to grow. This was an adventure, a real life adventure. This wasn’t just some book she was reading or a movie she was watching, she got to do something truly daring. She was going to help Kiara out of that book, and help her adjust to a new life in the modern world. It all formed in Amari’s mind while she let the hot water rinse off the last of her fear. Once she was done in the shower, she stepped out and wrapped a towel around her body. The giant smile that had formed on her face quickly disappeared as she looked towards the mirror. It was steamed up and someone had written DO NOT DO IT across with their finger. Amari shivered before whispering, “Kiara?” She kept a close eye on the mirror, hoping it was her new friend trying to give her a message. Nothing else happened so she wiped the mirror and stared into it. Her reflection stared back. Giving herself a mental shake, Amari opened the cabinet to take out her tooth brush. As she closed it she came face to face with Raven, staring at her wide-eyed and angry. Amari dropped her toothbrush and took a step back, slipping on water on the tiled floor. She hit the floor hard and felt her muscles seize up as a result; her lower back took the brunt of the fall. She looked up to the mirror quickly and when she didn’t see anything, she slowly got up. She saw only her own reflection and bent down to get her toothbrush. When she stood up the mirror was steamed up, with the same writing, DO NOT DO IT. Amari brushed her teeth quickly and left the bathroom, not bothering to wipe the mirror. Paused at the stairs going up to her room, she glanced back at the bathroom. She could just see the mirror and it was no longer steamed up. Raven’s latest scare tactic did not deter her; in fact it strengthened her resolve to help Kiara. She quickly made her way upstairs and got dressed. Sitting at her desk, she placed Kiara’s closed book in front of her and placed her hands on it, closing her eyes. Kiara, are you here? Amari opened the book. I’m here. Amari shut the book again and placed her hands on it, clearing her mind and keeping it focused on Kiara and what she planned to do. I think that Raven is after me. Do you know if she is still here? I don’t understand how she is appearing in the mirrors and stuff. Amari let the book drop open. She died in the forest after she buried something there. I sensed her presence here, especially as I grew stronger. I think that her spirit hated me so much that it hung onto the property, wanting to make sure I never go free. Oh, Amari, I am so sorry she is trying to hurt you. You should put my book back and never think of me again, perhaps then she will leave you alone. Amari frowned as she read this; this was the exact opposite of what she wanted to do. She wanted to help Kiara and she wasn’t going to let some dead woman stop her now. She knew it would be hard, but maybe she could get Kiara out the book and maybe they could defeat Raven together. Kiara, is there a way to send Raven’s soul to rest? Or to get you out of the book? This will be very dangerous. A malevolent spirit like Raven’s could hurt you badly. I don’t want you to get hurt. You’re the first person I’ve ever been able to communicate with properly and I don’t want you to get hurt because of me, because Raven wants me gone. Amari was getting frustrated and thought as much. Enough, Kiara! I am doing this! Either you help me or I will try figure it out on my own. Only if you’re sure! Raven had a spell book she would consult. The spell to bind me into this book was in there. If you could find the spell that can be used to free me then I believe I can finally be free. Your ability to communicate with me means you have some magic in you, which also means you will be able to perform the spell. It will be dangerous, and Raven will do whatever to stop you. Amari read the lines repeatedly. Her? Do a spell? That was insane, but then, this was all insane. She nodded and shut the book, pondering what to ask next. Where would a dead witch store her spell book? As far as she knew, the farm had been deserted for a long time before her parents bought it off an auction. Perhaps it was still here. Kiara, do you know where the spell book is? Where it could be hidden? I think so. In fact, that might have been the very thing she was burying. I sense a terrible and dark magic in my beloved woods, and I believe this is her book I am sensing. It is in the spot where I was, when the spell was cast and I was taken from your world. Amari closed the book one last time. Okay, so that’s the plan. I will find the spell book, find the spell and free you from this book no matter what. Please, just be careful! I don’t want you to get hurt. Amari didn’t plan on getting hurt. She tied the book shut and put it in the top drawer of her desk. Taking a deep breath, she gazed out to the forest. For some odd reason it appeared scarier now than ever. She thought she saw shadows moving there, but frowned at herself. She needed to separate fact from fiction. She couldn’t let her imagination run away with her now, because there were shadows and they could hurt her. She watched the woods, trying to figure out from Kiara’s story where she could have been when she was turned into a tree. Amari remembered the clearing - that was about the best place to start. Her father left the house to his chores on the land. She took a deep breath and stood up; it was now or never. Making her way downstairs to the living room, she paused to look at her mother, who was busy knitting. “Mom,” she said. Sashqua looked up. “You feeling better, love?” Amari smiled. “I just wanted to go for a walk in the woods. I think some fresh air would do me some good.” Her mother frowned. “Do you really think that is wise? What if you fall again?” “I’ll be careful, and I won’t go beyond the wall, so it’s not like I can get lost.” Sashqua sighed. “Okay, but not too long.” Amari nodded and went to put her jacket and scarf on. As she stepped out of the house it felt as if the wind instantly picked up and howled around her. Her hair whipped in her face and she pulled it into her jacket and wrapped her scarf around her neck so it couldn’t blow too freely. She strode towards the forest with purpose. She wasn’t going to let any cold weather, violent winds or her own fears stop her from helping Kiara. She paused briefly just on the edge of the forest. She could see through the trees and it seemed like the forest was eternal. Taking a deep breath, Amari headed into the forest. The wind seemed to pick up more speed, whipping branches back and forth. Thankfully the branches were so high up they couldn’t hit her, but still she needed to pull her jacket closer. She kept looking ahead, not daring to look to her sides or behind her in case she gave herself the creeps, or saw something she didn’t want to. A shadow crossed her path up ahead, and Amari paused. She hadn’t seen it clearly, but something had definitely dashed between the trees. Pressing on, she ignored the feeling that something, or someone, was watching her. She could see the clearing up ahead and relief washed over her. At least there she would be able to see a bit better. The strangest thing happened as she crossed into the clearing. The wind suddenly ceased. It was as though she had stepped indoors, or into a shelter. She could see the trees swaying around her and she could hear the wind, but it just wasn’t present in the clearing. Amari took another deep breath to steady her nerves. She wasn’t sure where to go from here. She faced the trees and then gradually swivelled, trying to figure out her next move and hoping for a sign. She realised there was someone standing to her left. She turned back that way again, facing the pale woman in the black dress. For some odd reason, seeing Raven did not increase her fear, but rather made her angry. “You don’t scare me!” she yelled at the spectre. “AND YOU CAN’T HURT ME!” The ghost of the witch simply stared, her eyes fully black and her arms to her side. Amari took a step towards her. “You hear me? You do not scare me, Raven!” The name echoed through the trees and Amari stood her ground as the spectre slowly shook her head. Raven opened her mouth and said something, but no sound emerged. She lifted her arm, her hand flat with the palm facing Amari, as she continued to mouth. Amari realised she was trying to cast something, and wondered whether ghosts could cast spells successfully. That was when Amari noticed the shadow running along the side of the trees. Shifting to see what the shadow was, she realised that Raven was not facing her at all, but rather the shadow running amid the trees. The shadow was little; it looked like it was wearing a dress. Kiara! It dawned on Amari that she was witnessing what happened that fateful day. Kiara had to be manipulating the forest to help show her this vision so she knew where to start looking. Amari watched as the little shadow ran straight for her and before she could do anything they collided and everything went black. When Amari opened her eyes she was the one running, the same way she had run the first time she came into the forest. She tried to stop, but it seemed that her body was moving of its own accord, as though she was there in mind but something had taken over her body. Amari’s head turned itself and she looked behind her, seeing Raven standing on the path with her hand raised up. She looked ahead of her again. She was brought to a jerking stop when her dressed snagged on a branch. That was when Amari knew something else was happening, for she hadn’t been wearing a skirt when she left the house. She started to panic, until she saw petite hands trying to wrench the skirt away from the branches. She was experiencing Kiara’s memories - it was Kiara! She was trying to help Amari figure out where the spell book was. As Kiara, she looked back at Raven standing just outside the clearing, the wind whipping her dress and hair about, which just made her look more fearsome. Kiara kept trying to snatch the skirt away from the branch and she started to panic. The branches formed a circle around her, as though trapping her in place. She shrieked, sobbing to herself that she needed to get free. The branches closed in around her until she couldn’t make out anything except the branches. Then the world went dark. Amari blinked a few times as the wind tugged and pulled her hair free from her scarf. She was no longer in the clearing. She was on the path where Kiara’s life had come to an end, and she was trapped in the book. She stared at where the branches had been, the branches she had felt were trapping her, and there was no tree there. It was an empty space. She gazed down the path and could just make out where the clearing was. Where Raven had been, casting the evil spell. Amari clenched her fists and started towards the clearing. Kiara had shown her the way. She knew where to start looking for the book. Author Bio: Born in South Africa, in the heart of Johannesburg, Sian Claven grew up with a vivid imagination. When she wasn't immersing herself in books, she was actively creating her own stories. At 29 years old, left to her own devices after her sister immigrated, Sian, wrote her first horror book Ensnared and dared to publish it under the guidance of indie authors Toni Cox and Ashleigh Giannaccaro. Now she has released more than ten books including a thriller and sci-fi fantasy. In 2019, Sian took up the challenge of publishing 11 books in 11 months. Sian came second place in the First Annual Indie Awards for Favourite African Author. Sian's book, Sylvana, the final book in her Butcher series, made the Amazon top 100 best sellers list in several categories across three countries. In her spare time, Sian is an avid Harry Potter fan, pop collector and Bingo addict. She resides in Johannesburg with her 2 best friends, their daughter, their 6 dogs and 3 cats. |
 
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About the Author:S. K. Gregory is an author, editor and blogger. She currently resides in Northern Ireland. “Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.” 
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