Description:
Gabriella and Darron
thought their magickal battle was over when they defeated the evil
warlock, Richard. When her Aunt Donna seeks Gabriella's help in rescuing
her catatonic daughter from the Dark Coven, Gabriella discovers that
her cousin holds a power within her that would be catastrophic in the
hands of the evil witches. Gabriella's coven sets out on a journey that
may be their last. Along the way, they meet new allies, face devastating
treachery, and battle not only the Dark Coven, but the darkness within
themselves. When Gabriella finally comes face to face with the cousin
she never knew existed, her true destiny is unveiled, and the fate of
the mortal world is in her hands.
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Book#1
Description:
Gabriella is a witch.
The problem is, she doesn't remember. She repressed the memories of her
powers years ago when her mother was murdered. Now, the warlock who was
responsible for her mother's death has set his sights on Gabriella. He
is determined to use her fear to turn her to the dark side of
magick…even if it kills her. Her mother's spirit is reaching out to warn
her, but even that she pushes away. Desperate to save her daughter, the
spirit finds a male witch–one that just happens to be in love with
Gabriella. Darron is more than willing to help but the two young witches
will have way more to battle than just an evil warlock. There are
overbearing jocks and petty rich girls who get tempers flaring and often
set Gabrielle and Darron at odds.
There is more to the story than Gabrielle and Darron could even imagine. There are terrible secrets to be revealed, battles to be waged, and lives will be lost. Only after Gabrielle and Darron both come to terms with who they really are, and open themselves up to the true meaning of magick, can they have any hope of fulfilling their destiny.
EXCERPT:
There is more to the story than Gabrielle and Darron could even imagine. There are terrible secrets to be revealed, battles to be waged, and lives will be lost. Only after Gabrielle and Darron both come to terms with who they really are, and open themselves up to the true meaning of magick, can they have any hope of fulfilling their destiny.
EXCERPT:
Excerpts from Destiny Unveiled and Destiny
Destiny Unveiled
Darron was on the roof of a large building, elevated dizzyingly high over the road below. Other skyscrapers bordered it, but it was by far the largest building in the general area, standing several stories higher than it's neighbors. The few cars that dotted the street below looked like insects. Above him, the moon shone full, round, and red in the night sky. It was an autumn moon, a blood moon. By the light of that moon, Darron was able to see the practiced movements of six black-cloaked figures, who swayed to the steady beat of an invisible drum. Their shapes were obscure in the pale light, and it was impossible to determine if they were men or women because the dark, hooded robes they wore hid their features from view.
Darron was on the roof of a large building, elevated dizzyingly high over the road below. Other skyscrapers bordered it, but it was by far the largest building in the general area, standing several stories higher than it's neighbors. The few cars that dotted the street below looked like insects. Above him, the moon shone full, round, and red in the night sky. It was an autumn moon, a blood moon. By the light of that moon, Darron was able to see the practiced movements of six black-cloaked figures, who swayed to the steady beat of an invisible drum. Their shapes were obscure in the pale light, and it was impossible to determine if they were men or women because the dark, hooded robes they wore hid their features from view.
There was an
altar erected in the center of a circle that was outlined in black charcoal. On
that altar sat the normal tools of ritual: a black tipped dagger, a silver
chalice, an incense burner, and multiple black candles. Darron owned similar
items. They weren't frightening in themselves. But the altar, like the people
who lingered around it, was outlined by a shimmering black aura. The vibrations
they relayed were no less than evil. Their presence made Darron shudder. He
watched in horror, as a silent and unwelcome spectator to the forbidden rights.
Four of the
cloaked figures took up the elemental corners, preparing to call the Guardians.
The Guardians answered their call, unable to ignore the summons because magick
can't be divided into good and evil. It's both because nature is both, harsh
and devastating yet beautiful and gentle as the need arises. It was just as
easy for the dark witches to harness the destructive forces of nature as it was
for Darron and his coven to call upon its life giving magick. Good or evil was in
the heart of its master, not in the magick that was wielded.
A fifth cloaked
figure, the apparent leader of the group, stood in the center of the circle
with the dagger raised high above his head. The sixth and final coven member
groveled at the feet of the leader, his head lowered in acquiescence. The hood
of his cloak hid his face though he was no more than a few feet away from
Darron.
"Brother
and sisters," the leader proclaimed, his accented voice heavy with his
foreboding presence. "Tonight in the wake of the blood moon, we come
together to bring a new brother into our fold. He has completed the required
tasks and proven himself worthy to join us in our work."
"So mote it
be!"
The four other
cloaked figures cried out in perfect unison. Their hands were raised to the sky
in honor of the blood moon.
The leader
picked up the chalice from the altar. He followed the path of the circle to all
of the elemental corners, stopping at each of the robed coven members in turn.
Each offered their willing hands to their leader, palm outward. Each welcomed
the point of the black edged dagger as it dug into their open palms without so
much as a gasp of pain. The high priest cut a clean line down the centers of
the palms of his disciples, and they all squeezed their fingers against the
open wound to allow the blood to drip into the waiting chalice.
After collecting
the offering from his followers, the leader returned to the center of the
circle and the waiting initiate. With one quick motion, he sliced open his own
palm. He held his hand over the cup, letting his blood drip slowly into the
chalice, until the wound miraculously healed before Darron's startled eyes.
When the chalice was full, he carried it to the eager initiate who took the cup
firmly into his hands and tilted it towards his lips.
"As this
blood makes you one with our flesh, so your soul follows to become one with the
darkness," the English voice intoned.
As the initiate
drained the last of the liquid in the chalice, his hood fell away, revealing a
blonde ponytail pulled back over a pale white face, made even paler by the
outline of bright red blood around his lips. Darron watched in stunned,
horrified silence as his own face turned to meet his gaze. Eyes turned as black
as coals stared back at Darron with a grim smile of satisfaction.
"Rise
Darron," the leader commanded. And as he spoke, he lifted the hood from
his head. Rise brother of the Dark Coven."
Excerpt from Destiny (Book 1)
Her eyes scanned
the room, from the pale blue sofa to the bloody dent in the wall. But she
didn’t need her eyes to know Darron was there. Her heart sensed his presence
before her eyes saw him lying in a heap on the ground. His body shuttered with
occasional spasms, and even though he wasn’t fully conscious, his lips were
twisted in a grimace of pain.
Uttering a gasp of surprise, Gabriella
flew to his side. She knelt beside him, and choked back a sob as she took his
hand in her own. She saw his chest rise and fall and was glad to know was
alive, but she felt helpless as she watched his face contort in pain. She
noticed something wet and sticky on her fingertips. She gently titled his head
and saw a large gash that looked like it needed medical attention. The skin around the gash was so deeply
bruised it looked almost black.
“Darron, what happened to you?”
He didn’t move or reply. Gabriella moved
her hand from the cut on his forehead, and her fingers dripped with blood. She
bit her lower lip with fear. She knew enough about head injuries to know that
the wound could be serious. She grabbed a few tissues from a box on the coffee
table, and tried to apply pressure to the wound, but it was useless. The
tissues were soaked through in seconds.
“Darron?” She squeezed his hand, and
fought back tears of fear and frustration.
“Darron, please open your eyes. Please be all right!”
He squirmed and groaned a little in
response. Looking at his contorted features, Gabriella felt incompetent and
useless. She didn’t know what to do to help him. The cut must need stitches.
The blood was gushing through her fingertips, and she was sure his life was
slipping away just as quickly.
More than anything, Gabriella wanted to
help Darron, to end his suffering. Her thoughts, her desperation, caused
something deep inside of her to stir. Something that had long been napping was
awoken. The power she had fought so hard to deny was forcing its way to the
surface. This time she didn’t struggle against that power. Her instinct to hide
from it was finally overcome by the thought of losing someone else she cared
about.
Gabriella was pulling strength and warmth
from the earth, as though her legs were tree roots taking nourishment from the
element. A tingling sensation began in the tips of her toes and spread slowly
though her body as she breathed in the essence of the element of air. Her blood flowed and grew warm, the element
of water, bringing the power to the surface. She was overcome by a vigorous
strength as she envisioned her spirit encircled by the element of fire. She
felt so powerful that she thought she could stop the world from churning if
that was what she wished. Gabriella focused the power, remembering for a moment
her mother’s lessons. She looked down at her battered friend. She willed him to
open his eyes and look at her. She demanded it of him.
Gabriella would have thought it was
impossible, but she felt herself grow warmer. Her face dripped with
perspiration. The power within her reached a climax. Then finally, when she
thought she might burst, she felt the energy release. It seeped through her
fingers, and shined with an illumination that only she could see. She heard
herself chanting unfamiliar words, and scarcely recognized her own voice.
“By the power of earth, water,
fire and air,
Heal this man who’s in my care.
Goddess, hear your daughter’s
plea.
As I will it, so mote it be!”
Gabriella repeated the words three times.
Three was the number of power. Then she watched as the wound on Darron’s
forehead healed before her eyes, becoming smaller and smaller, until finally it
was gone. The blood was still warm and sticky, but beneath the blood, the skin
was smooth and unmarred. Even the horrible bruise had vanished. Gabriella
stared in open astonishment, marveling at the work she had done.
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About the author:
Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years. Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player, and Demon.
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