Fractured Truth
(Fractured Light #3)
Llona is determined to end the fight with the Vykens once and for all. All she needs is to find and destroy the Shadow-the ultimate source of dark power. But when she makes a startling discovery about someone she loves, Llona has to fight the toughest battle yet in this exciting conclusion to the Fractured Light series.
Chapter One
"You have four minutes, Llona," Liam said through a microphone in my ear. His voice, like the ringing of a great bell, pounded my already aching head.
The small plane's engine shrieked, a high-pitched sound different from the steady hum of the last twenty minutes. Everyone had boarded a while ago. It was a silent crowd, not one likely to converse with each other.
I shifted my weight in the plane's cramped closet. I could've come out as I'd just turned invisible, but I wanted to wait until the speed of the plane increased, covering any sounds the closet door might make when opened.
It was shortly after Cyrus kidnapped my aunt Sophie from Lucent academy that I taught myself to turn invisible. I'd practiced every day, sometimes for hours, until I could do it without the accompanying paralyzing weakness. And although the pain hadn't gotten any better, I was able to increase the time I could maintain invisibility to several minutes. I'd accomplished all this in just the few short months since Christian's death.
Just then the plane lurched forward, picking up speed on the runway. I opened the door and peered into the plane's small kitchen. Empty. Perfect. I quietly slipped out and closed the door behind me.
The front wheels of the plane bounced. The cabin, as I suspected, was full of Vykens sitting in their seats, their backs to me, as if they were regular passengers. Most of them looked like normal humans, which meant they'd fed on Auran blood recently, but a few were in their purest form- facial features deformed and gray with moldy skin peeling back from their faces.
There was only one different from the rest. Jackson. He sat three rows up to the right of the center aisle.
With the Deific's help, Liam had finally received a tip on Jackson's whereabouts. It was the closest we'd come to finding out where Cyrus was keeping Sophie. I glanced to my left, to the emergency exit. By the way the plane was vibrating, it was close to taking off.
A Vyken stood and slid into the aisle. I pressed myself against a seat to keep him from bumping into me. I had yet to learn how to let matter pass through me. That may be a trick only my mother knew.
After the Vyken passed by, I went to Jackson. He was looking down at his bloodied knuckles. How did that happen? Jackson used to be a guardian. He (and a bunch of others who had followed him) had joined the Vykens against the Auras months ago. I'd been training harder than ever to stop them all and restore the Auras to their former strength. The strength only a few knew about.
The plane lifted. Still plenty of time to make my move.
I reached down, careful to avoid touching Jackson, and undid his seat belt. He glanced to his lap, brow twisted together. I smacked the back of his head, hard. He turned around and stared at the Vyken behind him.
"What's your problem?" Jackson asked.
The Vyken ignored him.
Jackson stood and confronted the Vyken again. "Hey, I'm talking to you!"
The Vyken lifted his gaze from the sports magazine in his hand. "I know Cyrus said we can't kill you, but he didn't say we couldn't hurt you. Sit down, guardian."
Liam's voice spoke again in my ear. "Hurry up."
Several Vykens looked around. His voice, this close to so many of them, must have drawn attention.
Time to pay for your crimes, Jackson.
I drew my fist back and punched Jackson in the face. His hand came up to his bloodied nose. "What the . . . ?"
A few Vykens stood up.
I punched him again. He stumbled back toward the exit, arms outstretched as though to steady himself. Blood ran onto his chin.
"What's going on?" he yelled.
?I answered with a swift kick to his chest. It took just a second for him to recover before he started blindly throwing punches. "Someone help me!"
Vykens looked around as if they didn't know what to do.
I dodged Jackson's fist and punched him again. He was in position. I took hold of the emergency latch and pulled it as hard as I could. The door flew open, sucking air from the cabin.
Papers and all kinds of debris flew past me. Jackson scrambled backward, his eyes darting around until he was pressed against the wall separating the kitchen from the cabin.
The others stood alert, some in a fight-ready stance. But who were they going to fight? They couldn't see me. No one could.
Grabbing Jackson, I spun him around until he was facing the open door; his clothes and hair whipped around violently. He stuttered.
His fear excited me, sending a wave of adrenaline through my blood stream.
I was about to reveal myself to him, just so I could see the surprise in his eyes, but Liam's voice sounded in my ear. "Get out of there-now!"
Jerking into action, I wrapped my arms around Jackson's chest and jumped from the plane, spiraling into a black abyss.
Chapter Two
I fell through the darkness, slicing through it like a knife in water. Cold air burned my face, and the force of it made it difficult to breathe.
Jackson's body was torn from my grip, and he was twisting and writhing as if he could somehow climb his way back into the airplane. He was probably screaming too, but I couldn't hear over the deafening sound of the wind rushing over me.
I glanced around, my eyes wet from the air. What appeared to be streetlights were growing closer. I'd never done this before, jumped from an airplane, but I wasn't nervous, although I should be. I wasn't wearing a parachute.
I squinted my eyes to try to see Jackson, but he wasn't spread eagle like me so was probably falling faster. The tree line of the forest came into view against the night sky. I was really close now. Maybe fifteen seconds before impact. I began to count.
At twelve, my body jerked as if I had been sucked into a tornado, and I had a difficult time controlling which way my body was twisting. It was like no other sensation I'd ever experienced before, and my lungs tightened and pressure built up in my ear- drums until I thought they might burst. But in no time at all, I was on the ground, my legs unsteady from the whirlwind.
Liam appeared next to me, having shifted back to his human form. It still amazed me whenever he did that.
"You okay?" he asked.
I inhaled deeply. "I think so. What a rush."?
"Sorry it took me longer than usual to catch you, but Jackson was fighting against me so I had to knock him out. I hope you weren't scared."
Jackson was nearby, lying on the ground, his brown hair drenched in sweat. "I wasn't worried at all."
"You weren't?"
"I knew you would catch me." I went to Jackson and nudged him. "Let's get him back before he wakes up."
When Liam didn't answer, I looked back at him. He was staring at me, his green eyes illuminated by the moonlight. For just a moment I was reminded of his age, over two centuries old. I often forgot this because on the outside he didn't look much older than me, but in the right light his eyes would betray him, revealing years of inner torment.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"You shouldn't put so much trust in me."
"Why? You've never let me down."
He walked over to Jackson, picked him up, and threw him over his shoulder. "Because one day I may not be there for you."
Fractured Light (Book #1)
Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can't take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.
As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she's caught in something even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can't wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger.
Fractured Soul (Book #2)
Llona will do whatever it takes to protect her new found friends and home, but the dark plot threatening Lucent Academy, a school that's supposed to be a safe place for Auras, may be too powerful for even Llona to defeat.
This fast-paced tale of love, loyalty, and overcoming the darkness will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page!
What inspired you to write Fractured Truth?
I wasn't sure I wanted to write a series, but after completing Fractured Light, the first book in the series, I knew there were two more books. Fractured Truth had to be written to complete Llona's journey. In this novel, she learns the truth about those around her, and discovers her true power as an Aura.
When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I've always written stories, but never believed I could be an author until I traveled to Ireland and stood on the Cliffs of Moher over 7 years ago. Something there gave me the confidence I needed to finally believe in myself and my ability to write.
What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?
I have the crappiest memory. I think the first book I remember reading was A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman about some bear that gets lost in the laundry mat, but in the end he gets a new pocket. It really didn't make any sense.
What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
Most fiction, although I do favor books with a supernatural element.
What is your favorite book?
This question is hard because there are so many good ones. However, I really enjoy the Odd Thomas Series.
You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?
I'll read anything of Dean Koontz. He has a good sense of humor and a dark and twisted mind. For me, that is a great combination.
If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?
I would visit the time of Queen Elizabeth's reign. I think she must've been an incredible woman to rule for so long in a male dominated world. I'd like to know her secret.
When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task? Most of the time it comes easy for me. If I ever do get stuck, I just go for a drive with my special writing music cranked, and write the next scene in my head. It's worked for me every time. Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets? I used to up until I had to move recently, although I wouldn't call them all fuzzy. We had a boa constrictor and a tarantula. And we had a German Shepherd. What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?
Easy. Ranch dressing, the homemade kind. There are so many foods made better by the yummy sauce: chicken strips, roasted potatoes and carrots, French fries, Ritz crackers, mandarin oranges (add on salad), pot roast….the list goes on forever! Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author? Read and study a lot. Read books on writing, especially Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Mass, Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, and On Writing by Stephen King. There are a bunch of others…just read as much as you can about the writing craft. Also join local writing groups or online groups. You need feedback from people, who aren't family members or friends, whom will give you an honest opinion and good advice about how to strengthen your writing.
Rachel McClellan was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she's not in her writing lair, she's partying with her husband and four crazy, yet lovable, children. Rachel's love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was…
Giveaway:
GRAND PRIZE:
$25 Amazon Gift Card and a printed copy of Fractured TruthRunner-up 1: Printed copy of Fractured Truth
Runner-up 2: Ebook copy of Fractured Truth
