Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Happy Cover Reveal Day!!!!

I have been eagerly waiting to share Dismantling Evan's cover and blurb with you for weeks now! Today is the day and I have a few giveaways to celebrate with you!
In this post, I am sharing not only the cover and blurb for Dismantling Evan, but the musical playlist I have spend the last five months building, listening to, being inspired by while I have written a story that has taken me through so many emotions, so much research, and so much heartache, anger,  and joy  (sometimes simultaneously).

by Author Venessa Kimball



The thing about Dismantling Evan is that it is not a typical teen contemporary novel. This is not a genre driven piece of fiction.  It is most definitely a literary driven piece of fiction because of the social issues addressed in the novel and how they reflect on our society, which is far from what I have written in the past. (For those of you who have read my paranormal sci-fi series will agree when you read D.E.)

Okay, okay! I have made you wait long enough....here is Dismantling Evan's breath-taking cover (SK Whiteside- you are amazing!) and the much awaited back cover blurb.


Are you intrigued? 
Anyone that is a teenager, has a teenager, or was a teenager long ago will find themselves in the the pages of D.E. at some point and that is why I fell in love with Evan's snapshot of a not-so-average teen living with baggage in a very typical and sometimes intolerant society. 
January 13th can't come fast enough for me! squeeeeee! 


For those of you that LOVE book trailers for novels, I have one for Dismantling Evan to share. 







Still intrigued (Oh, and curious about THE GIVEAWAY in the title of this post? ;) 
ME TOO!
CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN
1 OF 2 $20.00 VISA GIFT CARDS
&
1 OF 3 VENESSA KIMBALL BOOKS SWAG PACK (INCLUDING D.E. SWAG)  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you have trouble accessing it there, here is the link to my Facebook fan page Giveaway tab :)
https://www.facebook.com/VenessaKimballAuthor?sk=app_228910107186452



Want to put D.E. on your To Be Read list on Goodreads?

Here is the link!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23008767-dismantling-evan

Want to connect via Twitter and Facebook?
Twitter: 

Facebook Fan Page :  


Make sure to check out www.VenessaKimball.net as well for updates, book signings, new projects, and more in addition to the information on my blog. 

Saturday, August 30, 2014

**NEW RELEASE*BLOODY SEXY*ONLY .99**



On the 29th August a new book is launched. Writers of horror and erotica come together to explore dark erotica in this sexy volume. Those of us who like a little fear with our fun can take a trip to the shadows beyond the rainbow where we'll find vampires and demons and murder, oh my! The book is for 18+ readers only and delves into many aspects of human (and demonic) sexuality. It is not for the sheepish or easily offended. Demons, zombies, vampires, werewolves, ghosts and murder are just some of the characters and plots you will find within these pages and the erotica is full on – hot, hot, hot! The anthology will be released for sale at only 99c or 77p. This is an introductory price so hurry, don't wait. Why would you want to wait?
Excerpt - From Sex Magic, by Carmilla Voiez - I knew I was in trouble when she strode across the room towards me, her hair pulled back into a ponytail so tight that it seemed to stretch her almond-shaped eyes even wider. I tried to look busy, picked up the phone and put it back down again with a grimace as she landed heavily in the chair on the other side of the desk and pouted. As her legs crossed one way then the other I saw a flash of stocking-tops. Keep calm, I told myself, don't get flustered again. You're a professional. “Lily.” Her voice was like a warm sunset, as the purple sky above and the crimson light below met and melted into each other. I nodded, swallowing hard. “I need you.” My flesh tingled and I couldn't believe my ears. “You...” “Bloody Hera has fucked off sick again and two important clients are coming at eight.” My stomach crashed to the floor, of course, she needed me to work late, that was all. I was a fool to think she needed anything else. She would be able to get everything she needed and more. Her clothes screamed wealth while her polished fingernails, glossy mouth and impossibly high stiletto heels promised a wild hunger that could not be tamed; this was a woman who was never left unsatisfied. I blushed. “I don't...” “You're just meeting and greeting. Bring them into the executive suite then wait outside. You can do that, can't you?” I gulped and my eyelids felt heavy. I nodded mechanically. I could do that, yes, but I could do so much more if she let me. “Get yourself something to eat and come back at seven.” “What should I wear?” She glared at me and I felt my body tighten under the weight of her stare. She shook her head. “That, nothing, who gives a shit? You'll be wearing a robe over the top of it anyway and they aren't here for you...” They would be here for her. I understood. I had known since a week after I started how Robin earned her living. If the furtive voices at the other end of the telephone line hadn't been evidence enough I had peeked into the executive suite once before. She had left the door ajar, probably thinking she was alone in the office and I couldn't resist. What I had seen still made me shiver. It wasn't simply terrifying, it was the promise of something greater, something so potent that it would raise a person out of their humdrum life and transform them, although into what I wasn't quite sure. “Seven,” I repeated, nodding. “Well hurry up then,” she growled. I grabbed my handbag and scurried away. Pamela Osmond is a writer in her mid-forties from Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. She has been writing Horror, Erotica, Erotic Horror, and SciFi since she was 14. Pamela has a vast array of interests. Besides writing, they include singing, reading, architecture, European Geography/studying atlas, animal welfare, and ghost hunting.

Nicola Jayne Taylor An horror erotica writer with a passion for the fire of imagination, and inspiration. Using a vast knowledge of mythology, horror fiction and erotica this is a featured short story. The writer of The Curse of Mary brings you some foreplay to the up and coming release that will have you riveted till the end. She gives you a story about overcoming obstacles. The story has realism and dialogue so natural that you could place yourself in the story. Nicolajayne Taylor is an author from the northwest of England who has travelled and this lends a hand to her earthy stories. At 32 she has embarked on a journey to give people a glimpse of reality obscured by pour fantasy and drama that reflects her real life in a great use of metaphorical wording. She dedicates her writing to her late mother who always encouraged her to do something with her writing and stories. Her mother Toni Gaynor was a lover of horror and fantasy, her dream would have been to see her daughter write and share with others. https://www.facebook.com/NicolaJayneButterflyAngel, https://www.facebook.com/ExpressButterfly, https://www.facebook.com/groups/eroticahorrorlit/

Deborah Noel has been writing since she was twelve. Residing in Southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband, Ms. Noel has published the first novel in her vampire series, "Tangled Blood Lines", along with the first companion book, "Collective Souls - Remmie". She is working on several more books in the series as well as a few other projects. When she isn't writing, Ms. Noel can be found working with her husband at their demolition business or at the beach "people watching" and enjoying the sun. You can follow Ms. Noel on Facebook or visit her website at



Wednesday, July 30, 2014

***NEW RELEASE&GIVEAWAY*** ***TASTE by CAMBRIA HEBERT***





Synopsis
One taste is never enough…

Spencer Waller’s main purpose in life is to protect and serve. After spending years in the military, he gets a coveted spot on the Secret Service detail protecting the president. Spence doesn’t have time for women or all the work having a relationship with one requires. But just because he isn’t looking for a lady doesn’t mean he can’t appreciate a beautiful one when he sees her. 

And he makes it a point to see one in particular every single day.

Elle Bond has literally chopped and fried her way to the top of the food chain. Earning a coveted position in the White House as the president’s personal chef, she figures her professional life can only get better. Her personal life, on the other hand, could use a little bit of an overhaul, and because of that, she tries to ignore the charm-dripping cookie thief every time he comes into her kitchen. After all, she knows better than anyone that just one taste of something good is never enough.

One night after work, Elle is assaulted, threatened, and given an ultimatum. She can’t go to the police, and she sure as hell can’t do what she was ordered. 

But she has to. Or else.

Pale, shaken, and scared to death, Elle confides in Spence, and his protective instincts take over. Together, Elle and Spencer have to uncover a sinister plot and stop it before someone ends up dead.
Buy Now


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Excerpt
Excerpt 1:
From this close I could see the scruff growing in on his jaw area, it was dark blond too and made him look totally delicious.
Holding my shirt up with one hand he reached out with the other, gliding his fingers across my stomach, just below my ribcage. “Here?” he whispered, staring at the area.
I nodded, not bothering to glance down. The skin stung lightly as he caressed it. I didn’t care. Frankly, it could hurt like hell and I still would have let him touch it. Desire suffused my limbs, making them heavy. I felt goose bumps break out over my bare skin, and maybe I should have been embarrassed at my reaction because really there wasn’t anything sexual to what he was doing but my body sure as well acted like there was.
He frowned a little when my muscled trembled beneath him and glanced up. “Does it hurt?”
I shook my head, unable to speak.
“It’s just red. No blisters,” he answered, not looking back down at the “burn” but not pulling his fingers away either. Spencer watched me as he dragged the tops of his knuckles down the curve of my waist and moved across my navel.
“You burned anywhere else?” he rumbled in a low, throaty tone.
Man, I wish I was. I wished I could point out a thousand injuries just to give him a reason to not lift his hand.
“No,” I whispered.
He glided his hand over my hip and curved his palm around the dip in my waist, tugging me just a little bit closer. Just one step… that’s all I needed to take to bring my bare waist up against his body.
I tilted my head back when he bent, lowering his face toward mine. I anticipated his kiss, I craved it… part of me thought I might need it.
He stopped just inches away, his heavy lidded eyes spearing mine. “Nice drawers,” he whispered.
It took me a second to realize what he said, I was too far under his spell.
But when his lips turned up in an onery smirk his words penetrated my lust laden brain I gasped and leaped back, pulling my shirt from his hand and yanking it down over my “drawers”.
“Oh my God!” I burst out. “You are such a pig!”
He laughed. “What? I was paying you a compliment.”
I groaned, still yanking at the hem of my shirt. “You’re making fun of me!” I challenged.
He laid a hand over his heart and looked at me solemnly. “I do swear that no one wears polka dots like you do.”
I. Was. Going. To. Die. Of embarrassment.

Excerpt 2:
The room was completely silent except for the light scrawling of my pen across paper. Maybe that’s why I heard the sound.
It was a low scraping sound, like wood rubbing against wood. I tilted my head, confused. It was an odd sound to hear in the middle of the night, something I might not even think twice about if it were daylight.
But it wasn’t.
A muffled thump overhead caused my entire body to tighten like a shoelace with a double knot. My head snapped back to stare up at the ceiling.
I was being crazy.
I was being paranoid.
Thump.
There was someone in the apartment!
A surge of adrenaline so powerful it blurred my vision for a few seconds rocketed through me. My brain tried to think as my body went into overdrive. That first sound, someone had opened a window upstairs. The thump was when that someone dropped their up-to-no-good ass into my house.
Still clutching the pen, I raced for the stairs, out of my mind with fear. All the times my mother told me I needed to get a landline phone installed haunted me in that moment. My only means of calling for help was upstairs, beside my bed, in the form of my smart phone.
She was never going to let me hear the end of this.
If I survive. The thought floated through my head like a vicious taunt. Another light scuffling sound upstairs had my heart thumping even harder.
My God, it might not be me they hurt!
I wasn’t quiet on my way up the old wooden steps. In fact, I sounded like a herd of elephants that needed to lose about twenty pounds.
Good.
It would draw all the attention of the no good dirty rotten bastards in here.
Come get me, assholes.
It was dark upstairs except for the nightlight that lit up the hallway. Against the long wall across from that light, I saw a dark, lurking shadow pass. I gasped and my blood pressure skyrocketed so high that my scalp likely should have blown off the top of my head.
Holy shit, this was scary.
But I had to be strong. I had to be a fighter. I was a fighter.
The intruder appeared at the top of the stairs, slipping out of my bedroom just as I cleared the top step. His body tensed when he saw me, and then he rushed me without warning.

Teaser



MeetTheAuthor


Cambria Hebert is the author of the young adult paranormal Heven and Hell series, the new adult Death Escorts series, and the new adult Take it Off series. She loves a caramel latte, hates math and is afraid of chickens (yes, chickens). She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and children (both human and furry) where she is plotting her next book. You can find out more about Cambria and her work by visiting http://www.cambriahebert.com







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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

***FALLEN by LAURY FALTER***





Title: Fallen
Author: Laury Falter
Series: Guardian Trilogy
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Publisher:  Audeamus LLC
Release Date: April 1 2009
Editions/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
Fallen - the first book in the bestselling Guardian Trilogy...
Maggie is unaware of the terrifying fate that awaits her. It isn't until she lands in New Orleans for a full year at a private high school and her unknown enemies find her does she realize that her life is in danger.
As a mystifying stranger repeatedly intervenes and blocks the attempts on her life, she begins to learn that there is more to him than his need to protect her and that he may be the key to understanding why her enemies have just now arrived.

Book Links
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords

Author Information



Laury Falter is a bestselling author of young adult romantic suspense and urban fantasy. She has three series out: the Guardian Trilogy, the Residue Series, and the Apocalypse Chronicles.

Author Links
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter
Website

EXCERPT 

“You appear and then vanish like a ghost. You aren’t injured from venomous snake bites. You aren’t killed by wayward, incredibly sharp arrows.” Then, I reiterated, “I am the only one who can see you…how is any of this possible?”
“You do pay attention,” he said, sounding almost regretful, though I didn’t understand why.
“Yes, now will you tell me how you are capable of all that?”
He paused, still looking at me, as he collected his thoughts. The muscles throughout his body visibly flexed, tensing as he prepared his answer. “I have certain…gifts…that not many others can claim…gifts of speed, healing, and regeneration, to name a few.”
He paused, waiting for my reaction.
“Don’t worry so much,” I said, teasingly. “I’m not going to run screaming for the door.”
We quietly laughed together for a brief moment.  When I felt like he was comfortable again, I asked my next question. 
“So, where did you get these gifts? Did your parents take some sort of special drug?”
“Not exactly. I can’t answer that, as much as I know you’d like me to. Just suffice, Magdalene, to know that without these gifts, you wouldn’t be here right now.” 

Saturday, July 19, 2014

*WHEN NIGHT FALLS*NEW RELEASE* ***by AIRICKA PHOENIX***



Book Title: When Night Falls
Author: Airicka Phoenix
Publisher: Fire & Ash Publishing
Release date: July 7, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Sci-Fi, Thriller with strong elements of Romance
Warnings: Language and zombies
Formats: eBook & Paperback
Other Novels: http://www.amazon.com/Airicka-Phoenix/e/B00906AGHM

Social Networks:
Author Website: http://airickaphoenix.com
Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/.../252135634831614...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AirickaPhoenix
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/AirickaPhoenix
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/airicka-phoenix/40/432/74
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/airickaphoenix/

Buying Locations:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/When-Night-Falls-Regeneration-Book-ebook/dp/B00LKWZ4UI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405799452&sr=8-1&keywords=airicka+phoenix
Barns & Nobles:
Scribd
iTunes:


SYNOPSIS

Earth as we know it no longer exists. Humanity has destroyed itself and with it any chance we may have had of returning. 

What had started as a six month voyage through the stars becomes a nightmare when the passengers are stranded in space without hope. With Earth gone, the crew and passengers of The Dawn Light are left wandering the galaxy in search of a new planet. After years of searching, one is found, but no one is prepared for the terror that takes claim of the Galaxy Cruiser when one by one the people begin to turn, mutating into flesh eating monsters.

For Scarlett, Hunter and Rolf, this means being trapped in a sardine can full of piranhas. Their only hope... to get the hell out before they’re next, but someone on the ship wants to be the only survivor to reach the new planet and will do anything to stop them. But just how far are they willing to go?

Death no longer has a limit.



“Grams?”
A series of groans escaped the partly gaping mouth.
“Hunter! Get Dr. Ora up here now!” She took her eyes away from her grandmother just long enough to call over her shoulder. She didn’t wait to see if he’d do it. She knew he would. She turned her attention back to the woman on the bed. “It’s okay,” she said, putting a brave smile on her face. “Hunter’s going to get help. Everything will be okay. I promise.”
Grams continued to watch her with emptiness in her eyes. It was a cold sort of blankness. Scarlett had only ever seen it once before, when she’d gone to sickbay right after the riots. She had seen the patients locked behind the sheets of Plexiglass. There had been a sort of vacancy in their expressions as they stared off into space. Some were mumbling to themselves, rocking. Others just stood there, staring, saying nothing. Scarlett shuddered at the memory, at having it forced back on her by her grandmother’s equally jarring stare. 
“Grams?” she whispered quietly, squeezing the frail fingers clutched between both of her hands. “Can you say something?”
A puff of air slipped past her cracked lips. The tiny, barely audible sound squeaked in the thick silence. Her mouth moved in what looked like words, but nothing seemed to be filtering through. 
“What?” Scarlet brought her ear closer, hoping to catch even a syllable of what her grandmother was trying to say.
The arms came seemingly out of nowhere. They wound around Scarlett with strengths that should have been impossible for an old woman on her sickbed. She was dragged forward, landing in a flailing heap across her grandmother’s thin chest, her arms trapped at her sides. The pillow soaked her scream. A high hiss split the air, amplifying the panic running ice cold through her veins. The top of her knees struck the side of the mattress as she kicked, fighting to be free of the sour tang coating the inside of her mouth with every effected breath.
Pain so blinding, so white-hot, she nearly passed out from it, splintered through her shoulder. Something warm and sticky rushed down her arm. The sickening scent of blood perfumed the air. Scarlett shrieked. By some miracle, she was suddenly free, flying backwards and landing in a dazed heap on the floor beneath the bed. Numbing madness sunk cold fingers into her brain, seemingly freezing the world around her to a syrupy speed. She was only loosely aware of the groan above her, even less aware when the mattress squeaked and sheets rustled. The erratic pounding between her ears had only one focus—escape. 
The carpet sliced through the soft tissues of her knees as she crawled to the door. She stumbled through just as another unearthly moan pummeled the chaos drumming within the walls of her skull. She scrambled, half-turning, half-falling onto her back, as she whipped around to see the deformed figure behind her, dressed in her grandmother’s floral nightdress. 



AUTHOR BIO

International Best-Selling author Airicka Phoenix lives in a world where unicorns, fairies and mermaids run amok through her home on a daily basis. When she’s not chasing after pixies and rounding up imps, also known as her four children, she can be found conjuring up evil villains, bad-ass heroines and swoon-worthy heroes to play with. 
Airicka is singlehandedly responsible for her greatly anticipated collections, the Touch Saga, The Lost Girl Duology, The Regeneration Series, Games of Fire, & Betraying Innocence. 

She also writes adult paranormal & contemporary romance under the dark guise of Morgana Phoenix. Be sure to check out her Sons Of Judgment Saga & My Soul For You.

For more about Airicka and the realm she rules with an iron fist—and tons of chocolate—visit her at: www.AirickaPhoenix.com 

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

***THE NIGHT of ELISA***





Title: The Night of Elisa
Author: Isis Sousa
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Gothic/Paranormal
Publisher: Tragic Books
Release Date: May 30 2014
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
.: A Gothic Novella :.

Sometimes, life and love can follow the most obscure paths, just as they did for Elisa.
Her life becomes a dark, cold, lonely cage the day the Devil takes her as his wife. He robs her of almost everything she holds dear: her health, her wealth and what is left of her family.
Trapped between the nuances of life and beyond-life, Elisa finds herself struggling for a better tomorrow. With her health deteriorating, how will she summon the courage and strength to stand her ground? And how far will she go in the pursuit of a dream?
Embark with Elisa on this puzzling Gothic adventure set in the late Victorian era, between the world of the Living and the picturesque, melancholic Duskland.

* * *

"It is strange... How can I 'go home' when I have no memories of that place at all?"
- Elisa

"Stop it, Elisa. You're bleeding, my darling!"
- Leonhard

"Ah, love, the biggest poison and most dangerous drug there is."
- Dr. Charles

Book Links
Amazon Non Illustrated Edition
Lulu Illustrated Edition
Barnes and Noble Non Illustrated Edition
Smashwords Non Illustrated
Goodreads







“I am not a writer, neither is writing one 
of my passions, on the contrary; I see it as a necessary evil! I like to say I am an illustrator and storyteller.
I was born and raised in Brazil and since 2009, been living in Norway with my best-half. I work as illustrator and graphic designer from my home-office, in slippers and comfy clothes. (Would really prefer PJs, but here and there someone knocks on the door!)
Love Heavy Metal, Fantasy and Dark Fantasy and most forms of art.” 

Author Links
Amazon Author Page
Blog
Goodreads
Pinterest
Tumblr



Excerpt I (Chapter I - The XIIIth Hour at Duskland)
‘Elisa’ calmed and the struggle was over. How dare she speak of me like I’m already dead? I know these faces… Father Johannes was throwing holy water over her bed and chanting in Latin.
“E-l-i-s-a i-s b-a-c-k!” a loud voice echoed in the room for all to hear. Quentin was very surprised. “She is back! Father Johannes, how is it possible?”
Father Johannes’ voice was frail. He was a short, gibbous man with an aquiline nose and big, deep eyes. “God the almighty never betrays us, my son!” He raised the wooden cross with his right hand.  “Whatever evil was holding her from life – from death – is here no more!” He came closer to Quentin, reaching for his ear. “She is strong, my son! Keep pretending until the last moment. We don’t want it to happen, but if she survives we don’t want her to tell anyone about what we did.”
“If she survives it will be for a very short time. I will take care of her once and for all, Father!” Quentin pretended he was seeing a miracle from the seven heavens. His young wife back from the dead! How was it possible? We did everything we could, but you persisted… “Elisa, my dearest, you’re alive! You live! You have come back to us!” Quentin continued, admiring that she had endured so much.
* * * 

Monday, July 14, 2014

**THE TRAVELER*GIVEAWAY**





Title: The Traveler
Author: Melissa Delport
Series: The Traveler Series #1
Genre: SciFi Romance
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 3 2014
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook
Blurb/Synopsis:
Seven years ago, Rachel gave her heart to a dark, intense stranger, who left her broken and alone.
Every day since then Rachel has thought about Dex, her memories refusing to be silenced.
Now, Dex is back, but this time he is not alone. He has brought a formidable army – their sole purpose to conquer. Fate will bring Rachel and Dex back together, but on opposing sides of a war that threatens to obliterate her world.
Pitted against the power of the elements, Rachel and her friends must survive tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes and fire, all the while being hunted by a powerful enemy who will stop at nothing to pillage her planet.
Fleeing for her life amidst the chaos of a raging, burning city, Rachel realizes man’s only chance of survival lies in the hands of the very person who betrayed her all those years ago.
Earth is destined to fall, but Rachel is determined to save mankind, no matter the sacrifice.
Book Links
Amazon
Goodreads



Author Information
of The Legacy Series, Rainfall & The Traveler. She graduated from the University of South Africa with a Bachelor’s Degree in English in 2000. She currently lives with her husband and three children in Hillcrest, South Africa, and is hard at work on the final book in The Legacy Trilogy.
Her first novel, The Legacy, self-published in 2013, is the first in The Legacy Trilogy, and is followed by the sequel The Legion. The main-stream publisher, Tracey McDonald Publishers, is re-releasing The Legacy and The Legion in July 2014. Book 3 of the trilogy, The Legend, is due out in 2015. Melissa has also written an independent novel entitled Rainfall, a psychological romance, and a science-fiction, action-adventure called The Traveler.
An avid reader herself, Melissa finally decided to stop “watching from the sidelines” and to do what is her passion.
“I was driving home from work when inspiration struck, and a storyline started unravelling in my head. For a few days, it was all I could think about and eventually I realized that the only way to get it out of my head, was to put it all down on paper. I started writing, and that was that.”


Author Links
Blog
Facebook Page
Goodreads
Pinterest
The Legacy Trilogy
Twitter
Website

Excerpt #1

I catch Bill up and we walk side by side, our feet echoing dully on the wooden floor. I run my hand along the cast iron expecting it to be cold, like everything else in the city, but to my surprise it is pleasantly warm beneath my touch. The beauty of the ornate banister still takes my breath away – the bridge is a renowned romantic setting for lovers. I can hear Bill’s labored breathing beside me, but I keep my eyes ahead as we make our way up the short incline that marks the halfway point. We are over halfway across the bridge when I finally see him.

Dex.

A myriad of memories flood my senses, more powerful than ever before. Dex is really here. My heart both soars and sinks at the sight of him, so many conflicting emotions overwhelm me that I lose my breath and automatically reach for my inhaler. But then I realize that it wouldn’t work anyway. This has nothing to do with my asthma. It runs far deeper than that.
He is standing on the walkway ahead just beyond the bridge. He has his back to us and is over fifty feet away but it doesn’t matter - I would recognize him anywhere. He is tall and proud, his black hair exactly the same as I remember, and his hands are balled into fists at his sides. He is wearing the same black tunic as the others, the same black pants and black boots. I don’t know why I’m not surprised. I think deep down I knew it was him all along. I knew the moment it had started snowing. Bill sees him too and he drops into a half-crouch but I walk forward now without hesitation. It is still there, that physical pull I feel for him. I reach the edge of the bridge and glance around. He is alone, standing dead still in the center of the storm and suddenly I know that it’s him. That he’s the one controlling it.
I make no sound as I walk, stopping only a few feet behind him, but I know the instant that he senses me there. His shoulders tighten and he cocks his head ever so slightly towards his right shoulder. The storm seems to close in on us, drawing around me like a tightening rubber band and the wind picks up, whipping my hair painfully into my eyes. My jeans are flapping around my ankles so hard that I think they might be ripped off at any moment and I can barely draw breath. The heavens open and the rain immediately starts pelting down. Over the roar of the storm I hear Bill’s bellow of panic and turn to see him sprinting for cover under a nearby tree. He gestures frantically for me to join him but I simply stand there, water coursing down my face and into my mouth.
I turn back to Dex and, as I watch, he draws himself up to his full height, opening his hands suddenly and flexing his fingers. The instant that he does, a bolt of lightning strikes the bridge behind me where Bill had been standing only seconds earlier. With a creak of protest the bridge crumbles almost in slow motion, a whining of tearing iron as chunks of concrete and metal drop into the lake. Dex flexes his fingers again and I watch in horror as the lightning zigzags through the sky overhead and hits the tree under which Bill is standing as though it was hunting him. While most of the energy is mediated by the tree, the current transmits over Bill’s body on its path to the ground and, as he drops to his knees clutching his chest, I understand what has happened - Bill has gone into cardiac arrest. Fierce, brave Bill – the toughest of us all, who has survived war and worse, defeated by a simple flex of the hand. My brain whirrs with the horror of the thought.
I am about to rush towards Bill when out of the corner of my eye I see Dex start to turn and, as he does, his fists open once more, his fingers splaying rigidly. I know instinctively that this bolt of lightning will strike me – I am the next target. I close my eyes, knowing it is too late and spare a last thought for Bill, who I will never be able to help. I can only hope that the others will make it out; that they can find somewhere safe, somewhere far from here.
Slowly, I become aware of the silence. After the pandemonium of the raging storm the silence is deafening. There is not even the boom of distant thunder. My heart is beating wildly in my chest and my breath is coming in short hysterical sobs, tears mingling with the rainwater that is still dripping from my hair. I am too terrified to open my eyes, too panic-stricken even to move. And then I hear him speak, closer than I expected, sounding stunned and angry, “Rachel?”

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