Literary / Fantasy
Date Published: September 11, 2015
A mysterious woman is called on an Exodus to find a relic she isn’t even sure exists. From unexplained dreams to fractured memories, the journey will lead her to uncover the secrets within herself and of the world that was shattered by her hand. Can she fight the SIN that seems to know her better than she knows herself and discover the missing pieces before Astria is lost forever?
Excerpt 1
“I think Zephyrus has become obsessed.” Said Dymona long after he’d gone. “He’s had a vendetta against that serenda girl and now has taken to trying to kill you.”
Alex laughed, holding his side. “Glad I’m that important to someone.” He led her out to the shore, kneeling to dip his hands into the water, to partake of the cool liquid. “So what did he mean by the ‘you will end up just like Ambrose’ bit?” He could feel some of his strength returning.
She narrowed her eyes. “Apparently, our council has deemed a fellow zavi a threat, for some unknown reason, and locked him away in the dungeons.” She folded her arms. “Since he was really the only person I’ve ever confided in, I felt obligated to try and break him out,” she continued, trying to make it sound as if there were no weird feelings surrounding her intentions. “Now I’ve been made just as much a target as he has and been sent on a mission they are hoping I don’t come back from alive.”
Alex sipped more of the ocean water from his hands. “I thought you were already a traitor.”
“I am. But they left me alone until I tried to break him free.” She sighed. “Whatever it is he found out, The Council is really trying to keep it from being exposed.”
Alex thought about this for a while, as he kneeled there, staring far out across the ocean. He thought about his current situation, as well as Dymona’s. He thought about his wife, and how tired he was of being her doormat. He wanted to be free. He wanted to be himself. He no longer wanted to be defined by his ancestors. He felt strange; as his eyes scanned the horizon, he felt a silent urge, like a small, still voice, that wanted him to help her. He weighed his options, but the still voice touched his heart and a warmth filled his body. He wasn’t sure if it was The Exalted One or not, but decided to take a chance. He turned to Dymona and grinned. “How about we really stir things up then?”
“What do you mean?” Dymona raised a brow suspiciously.
Alex disappeared into the shadows and then reappeared right behind Dymona, whispering in her ear “Let’s break him out.”
Dymona screamed, jumping away from him and staring, “What are you doing?! Are you crazy?!”
Alex laughed more. “Crazy? Yes.” He showed his fangs, “Always have been.” He took a few steps closer to her, “Let’s be crazy together. What have you got to lose?”
Dymona still looked at him suspiciously. “Why do you want to help me all of a sudden?” Her hands hugged her hips. “Besides, you are in no condition to do anything.”
Alex shrugged with a maniacal grin. “Didn’t you say one becomes irrational once madness sets in?”
She pointed at him. “That’s only for zavi. Anger and rage tend to do that.”
“As a sentinel, we are taught not to let the wounds of the body prevent us from doing what needs to be done.” He glanced at her.
“What about the wounds in your brain?!” she flailed. “What do you really want?”
Excerpt 2
Red placed the coin in her pocket, before surveying the room again. Glancing down, she noticed some writing in the center of floor, scrawled inside a large crescent moon.
When two or more are gathered, I am in the midst.
The miracle you are seeking will happen from such as simple as this.
Red pondered it a moment, after reading it aloud. “Well…let’s gather together.”
The group formed a circle, holding hands, and for a while nothing happened. But as they closed their eyes, focusing their thoughts on the Exalted One, they started to hear a rumble in the room. Opening their eyes, they noticed a glow emanating off of each of them: Kyani in white, Kyna in cyan, Xurian in magenta and Stevan in yellow. As they glowed, the illura symbols on their skin grew warm and projected its image high above their heads. The symbols, were ancient Asta, the language of the Astrians and when the four were put together a single word emerged:
REDEMPTION
At this, the tower trembled and shook, causing the group to look up, viewing the four tower tips split away from each other and letting the night sky pour in. They felt a downdraft of wind that carried in the stars from the sky as if the night sky itself moved to fill the tower. Out of the star trail a great dragon formed, moving through darkness itself. Its silver tipped fur twinkled like the stars and his eyes had flecks of every color imaginable. He curled around the outside of the tower, his sheer body mass too large to fit inside. His wings were made out of the dark sky and were sprinkled with stars. The same winged symbols found on Red’s shoulders appeared on his, only his were rainbow in hue and were blazing reflections off of his black fur. His iridescent eyes caught sight of Red and as their eyes locked she felt a familiar warm feeling that delved deep into her heart.
“You seem so familiar.” She spoke, moving towards the area where his head was, and feeling surrounded by the dragon’s aura.
The dragon just smiled. “Well, I’ve always been with you.” He folded his massive wings on his back. “You may not have always seen me, and I wasn’t always able to speak, but you have never been alone.” Silent tears formed in Red’s eyes, as she stared into his. “Nor will you ever be alone, as long as I live.”
“But who -”
The dragon shook his head. “That’s not important right now. The important thing is fulfilling what you all have called me to do.” The dragon raised its neck back and the huge rainbow colored chain necklace caught the light of the torches. Its center charm was a black and
greyscale ring, surrounding a red heart with a black cross in it. The charm faced Red and glowed hot and Red felt the heat rise up within her and she glowed.
Amanda S. Reaves is an artist, writer, choreographer and most importantly, a woman of God. She has been actively empowering others through her liturgical dance ministry. She is also active in multiple other ministries in her home church, Victory Outreach. Ms. Reaves has made it her goal to reach lives for God through her Christian novel series, Astria Legends: "the world of Living Breathing Color" which is geared towards teens and adults. Her company of the same name, takes the series to new levels through dance, poetry, music, motivational speaking and much more. She is a native of Louisiana, and an alumnus of Southern University, who now resides in Fort Worth TX.
Contact Information
Website: www.astrialegends.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angelicempyress
Purchase Links
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/exodus-amanda-s-reaves/1122780419?ean=9780692531273
Thank you for posting about my novel!
ReplyDeleteHere is another excerpt:
Around dark eyes bright lights violently crashed into one another, ripping clouds into pieces, shattering what was once so quiet and peaceful. Rainbows spilled colors like blood, giving the skyline mixed signals and the wrong reasons to shine. The SINs had finally corrupted one of the most sacred places in the Astria Galaxy and only emerald eyes were left standing, quiet and solemn, but not defeated.
Just like it was in the beginning.
And now she doesn’t remember me.
As he watched, his head shook slightly, as he never thought he would see the day the sky cried. All he could do was watch, as his eyes shifted one color to the next, mixed emotions creating the same tidal wave inside of him, as the SINs did to this world.
She doesn’t remember anything.
He was sitting on the edge of a tattered cloud when he saw it: One by one, those with the power to see the spiritual world, lost it, and every trace of the colors vanished, now limited to the skies highest depths, awaiting the day to shine again.
Maybe she remembers something.
The extra excerpt has really strong imagery painted with a full palette of colors and the emotions are dark with despair and bleak. This scene would make a great painting.
ReplyDeleteMy color is Yellow
Thank you and you are so right. I've thought about painting it, but then I know it won't turn out the same way as it looks in my head.
DeleteAlso, you said your favorite color is Green, Astrian Green is the epitome of a nature lover and she represents life, growth, health and well-being.
A great read through thank you.
ReplyDeleteGold
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com