We are still hard at work on our sequel. And by hard at work, I mean staring at the pages and hoping that it edits itself.
We are also developing a winning kickstarter strategy. Our campaign hinges on our loyal followers and their feedback about book one and hopes for book two. So we have decided to up the ante. Earlier, I said we would increase/improve on a giveaway, here it is: originally the winner of the video review would win 50$, now the first place winner will win 100$. Just say why you loved the Exemeus, why their should be a sequel, and why people should donate to the creation of the Azemeon. That's it. All Video's should be submitted to Fmorris(at)folamiandabenimorrisbooks.com by Dec 9, 2014. On december 1st the rafflecopter will go up for anyone who submitted video to enter a giveaway just for participating. It is truly that simple.
Attached is more of the Azemeon. Enjoy.
Chapter 2
Dephon
tossed and turned in his sleep. His sadness was so heavy it felt like it was
pressing down on his chest, making it impossible to breathe. Images of his
mother assaulted his mind, the memories of her fighting Dubleton, the shocked
expression on her face when she was betrayed. Dephon squeezed his eyes
together, trying to keep the errant thoughts at bay… but he couldn’t. His least
favorite memory of her came unbidden into his mind: beams of white light
uniting and hitting his mother in the heart before she crashed lifeless to the
ground.
Dephon
sprung up into a seated position, nearly colliding with Jacqueline who was
sitting on his bed.
“Uhhh,
must you always do that?”
“I
don’t know what you mean, but whatever I do, I do for a reason.”
“Could’ve
fooled me,” Dephon said, his eyes latching onto a glittering object swinging
from her hand. “What’s that?” he asked, jutting out his chin at her balled up
fist.
“I
noticed you’ve been trying to sleep for the past 12 hours. It’s almost noon and
you don’t look like you’ve slept a wink. What’s wrong?” she asked, ignoring his
question entirely.
“Maybe
I was creeped out by the thought of someone watching me sleep.”
Jacqueline
smiled. “You’re amusing. What’s the real
reason that you can’t sleep? Valentina can’t seem to either. She’s tossing and
turning too.”
“Do
you spy on all of your house guests?”
“Only
the ones whose minds I can’t read.”
Dephon
nestled back against his pillow, his eyes roaming the ceiling. “What do you
think about Valentina?”
“I
can’t get any more of a read on her than I’ve got on you.”
“Then
why did you let us stay here. We could be murderers, or assassins hired to kill
you.”
Jacqueline
burst into laughter, a melodious sound that put Dephon at ease. “I would love to see you two try, but even
with the debilitating fear of you slitting my throat while I sleep, I couldn’t
turn you out onto the streets. And she seems hell bent on assisting you, so I
viewed it as a package deal.”
“We
are not a package. I don’t even know her. And “ Dephon added, leaning forward,
just in case Valentina had magical hearing powers “she’s a little bit weird.”
“So
are you. And you do seem to share a connection. You both suffer from restless
sleep syndrome. What’s the problem? Dreaming about Hyalee?”
“Wait,
you think I’m weird?”
Jacqueline
waved her hand dismissively, the glittering object catching his attention once
more.
“What
is that?” Dephon asked again.
“An
Azemeon.”
“Uh
huh, of course. Never a name I know. What’s it for? It looks like a necklace.”
“It
is more or less, and it’s for you.”
“A
necklace, just what I always wanted. Too bad I forgot to pack anything that
will match.”
“I’m
sure you’ll manage,” she said as she gingerly placed the necklace around his
neck.
“Why
do I have to wear this,” Dephon asked reaching up to grab the sphere shaped
pendant.
“Don’t
touch i-“ Jacqueline’s words were cut off as the world was engulfed with
darkness. Dephon felt his insides split into a million pieces swirling around
until they all reconfigured in a blinding flash of light.
And
then there was no more.
***
“Earth
to Hyalee,” Virginia said waving her hands in my face. “Have you heard a word I
said?”
“No,
I’m so sorry,” I said, looki ng over my shoulder, “but I suddenly get the
feeling we’re being watched.”
“Maybe
the guy I pepper-sprayed is coming back for more,” Virginia said excitedly,
beginning to dig through her purse.
“Stop.
No more mace. I can’t believe you even did that, he was just a boy.”
“A
creepy boy.”
“I
thought he looked sweet.”
“We’ll
have to agree to disagree. So, as I was saying, I was online and I saw an
advertisement for the hobbit and you know who the lead looked like? David!
That’s who he looks like, I couldn’t put my finger on it, but he looks like one
of the trolls from those movies.”
“They’re
not trolls they’re hobbits, hence the name The Hobbit.”
“Whatever,
you know what I mean. Ooooohh fine guy, six o’clock.”
I
rolled my eyes at Virginia’s short attention span, but I played along with her
anyway. “My six or yours?”
“Definitely yours,” a smooth Baritone voice
said behind me. I turned around and stared up into the most arresting hazel
eyes. Dimples winked at me from his cheeks. I’m pretty sure I had stopped
breathing.
“I
seem to be lost,” he said staring at me intently, “can you help me find my way
to English lit; it’s in room,” he glanced at his schedule, “it’s in room 134.
Do you know where that is?”
“She
sure does,” Virginia said, volunteering my services.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt your conversation.
I’d just hate to be the new kid who was always late.”
I
glanced at the clock on my phone, “No, it’s fine. If you hadn’t come by, I
would have been late for class. Again.”
“See,”
Virginia said offering him her most endearing smile, “you just saved her from detention.
Are you trying to be her superman?”
I
gave Virginia a warning look as the boy laughed, an interesting sound that
complimented the sparkle in his eyes. “I’ll do my best.”
“Well,
let’s get going,” I said to him, “I’ll see you later, V,” I called over my
shoulder.
“Call
me later and tell me everything!”
I
wished the floor would swallow me up. “She’s just kidding, really.”
He
nodded indifferently, “Best friends don’t scare me. They normally just want to
make sure I’m not the antichrist and that I keep them knee deep in swoon-worthy
stories. How am I doing so far?”
I
laughed, “Well, I don’t think you’re the antichrist.”
“What
a relief: that was the part I was most worried about,” he said giving me that
100 watt smile. “So what’s your story?”
“My
story?”
“Tell
me about yourself. We can start with your name.”
I
came to a halt in front of room 134. “There’s not much to tell really,” I said
leaning against the wall. Facing me he did the same. He was so close the tips
of our shoes were almost touching. I had to crane my neck to see his handsome
face. I brushed a stray hair out of my face nervously.
“You
don’t have a name? Your mother must have a hard time when she wants to call you
for dinner.”
I
smiled, “I’m Hyalee Smith, a senior here at Lowell High.” I shrugged unsure of
how to proceed.
“Single,
dating, married?”
“Married?”
I laughed, “If I got married now, my mother would kill me before I even left
the church.”
“That
would cut costs if you plan your wedding and your funeral on the same day. The
same preacher can preside over both ceremonies. I should market that.”
“Weddings
and funerals in one, I don’t know if it will catch on.”
“I
can sell anything; Evian to a drowning man.” His eyes roved over my face. “You
never told me if you were single or not.”
“I’m
definitely single,” I said, staring down at the tips of our shoes.
“Maybe
we should change that, what are you doing after class?”
The
bell rang.
Shoot,
I was late again.
“Detention,”
I said glumly. I pushed off the wall. “It was nice to meet you….?” I trailed
off trying to remember his name, but realizing he had never given it to me.
“Dubleton.
Dubleton Johnson.”
“I’ll
see you around, Dubleton” I said, dashing down the hall.
I
faintly heard him say, “You can count on it.”
Sounds interesting . Deb P
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