A Cassie
Scott Mini-Story
Last night, I was just about to close up
and go home for the day when an old woman walked into my office with a cat
carrier. Inside the carrier, a black cat hissed and yowled. I suppose I would
have felt that way too, if someone had locked me inside a little cage. I felt
instant sympathy for the cat. Not so much for the old lady.
“Cassandra Scot?” she asked.
“Cassie,” I corrected automatically. Only
my parents called me Cassandra.
“I knew your grandparents.”
I tried not to groan. My grandparents had
been highly respected sorcerers until they died in a lab explosion a few years
back. I never knew what they had been working on, but since that day there has
been a swirling vortex in the lab.
Don't ask – I really have no idea.
“Have we met?” I asked.
“Miranda Cleaver. Mrs. Cleaver.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Cleaver.”
If she heard my sarcastic emphasis on the
honorific, she didn't mention it.
“Your grandparents used to set wards in my
house to keep the demons out,” Mrs. Cleaver said. “Since they've died, the
wards have failed. There are now demons running amuck in my house, and Sylvie –
my poor cat – has been possessed by the devil.”
“I... see.” What was I supposed to say? She
had just walked past a sign proclaiming, “Cassie Scot: Normal Detective.”
“I read your web site,” Mrs. Cleaver said.
“Really? Did you see my list of services
and exemptions?”
“Of course.”
“So what do you need?”
“An exorcism. I told you, Sylvie is
possessed by the devil.”
I glanced again at the hissing cat, whose
yellow eyes shone with very typical feline anger. “I don't do exorcisms. It was
listed under exemptions.”
“But you're Cassandra Scot, aren't you?”
“Cassie.”
“Your parents are Edward ans Sheila Scot?”
“Yes.” I felt my face burning. Just because
I had powerful sorcerers for parents, didn't mean I was one as well. Okay, so
it wasn't just my parents – it was my grandparents, aunt, uncles, cousins,
brothers, and sisters. Still, there had to be a second cousin out there
somewhere without any magic at all.
Why couldn't people just read the sign?
“Well, then.” She sounded as if the whole
matter were settled. She plunked the carrier on my desk and took a vacant chair
in front. “I went to your father first. Your grandparents always told me to go
to him if I needed anything after they were gone. Your father said you were
ideally suited for this sort of work.”
“He did?” My dad wasn't above a practical
joke, but this sounded more like something my brother would do. My brother, who
looked more like Dad's twin that his son, thanks to Dad's egregious use of
youthening potions.
“Nicolas,” I muttered under my breath.
“This is war.”
“What's that, dear?”
“Why don't I take a quick look at the cat?”
“Of course, dear.” Mrs. Cleaver clearly had
not expected any other result.
I opened the door to the cage, but
carefully did not reach my hand inside. The cat stopped hissing. After a moment
or two, it poked its nose outside the cage, sniffing the air. Then it stepped
outside.
That's when I noticed how very pregnant
Sylvie was.
“She needs to see a vet,” I said. “She's
going to have kittens.”
“I know. Little demons. It never used to
happen when your grandparents were alive.”
“I... see.” I seemed to be saying that a
lot. “You know what? I think I'll need to keep her for a few days. I'll call
you when she's free of the... demon.”
“You will?” Mrs. Cleaver's eyes shone with
relief. Crazy or not, I knew I'd said the right thing. “How much will it cost?
I don't have a lot of money.”
“Don't worry about it.”
“I really must pay you.” She dug through
her beaded handbag, closing her fist around a bill, which she handed to me with
the air of someone bestowing a treat on a young child. “Thank you so much.”
I watched in bemusement as she walked out
the door, leaving me to deal with the pregnant cat. I figured I'd take Sylvie
home to my sister, Juliana, a gifted healer. She had been begging our parents
for a cat lately, anyway.
As soon as the door closed behind the old
lady, I glanced at the bill she had pressed into my hands. A single dollar. I
wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.
At least my parents are rich.
“This is the last paranormal case I'm
taking though,” I said to whoever might be listening.
Sylvie
meowed. I think she knew I was kidding myself.
September 2 Spotlight
Whatever You Can Still Betray
September 2 Interview
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
September 3 Spotlight
Who's Reviews
http://whosreviews.wordpress.com/
September 3 Romance Radio Network
Interview
http://romanceradio.net/
September 3 Romance Radio Network
Interview
http://romanceradio.net/
September 4 Guest blog and review
The Booklicker
September 5 review
Once Upon a YA Book
September 6 Interview
Reading In Twilight
September 9 Spotlight
Sapphyria's Book Reviews
saphsbookblog.blogspot.com
September 9 11pm ESt
Live Radio Interview
Other Worlds of Romance
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/other_worlds_of_romance
September 9 11pm ESt
Live Radio Interview
Other Worlds of Romance
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/other_worlds_of_romance
September 15 Interview
Bewitching Book Tours Magazine
September 16 Guest blog
Traci Douglass
September 17 review
Mousehead & Tales
September 18 Spotlight
The Simple Things in life
September 18 Spotlight and review
The Insane Ramblings of a Crazed Writer,
September 19 Guest blog
Simply Infatuated
September 19 Spotlight
Mommasez...blog
September 20 Guest blog
September 23 Spotlight
Rose & Beps Blog -
September 24 Spotlight
Jodie Pierce's Ink Slinger's Blog
September 25 Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com
September 26 Guest blog
Dalene’s Book Reviews
September 27 Interview
Pembroke Sinclair.
September 30 Guest blog
Fang-tastic Books
September 30 Spotlight
Let’s Start Saving Now –
Book Worm &More,
Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective
Cassie Scot Book One
Christine Amsden
Genre: Urban Fantasy (paranormal, mystery, romance, new adult)
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Date of Publication: May 15, 2013
ISBN: 9781606197
ASIN:B00C7VR69I
Number of pages: 260
Word Count: 85,000
Cover Artist: Ural Akyutz
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/UPWGTW5OHG4
Book Description:
Short Version:
Award-winning author Christine Amsden has written stories since she was eight, always with a touch of the strange or unusual. She became a “serious” writer in 2003, after attending a boot camp with Orson Scott Card. She finished Touch of Fate shortly afterward, then penned The Immortality Virus, which won two awards.
Long Version:
Christine Amsden has been writing science fiction and fantasy for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.
At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams. (You can learn more here.)
In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work.
Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children, Drake and Celeste.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristineAmsden
a Rafflecopter giveaway
5 comments:
Thanks for hosting!
Great post, love this story!!
Love the Mini-Story!
So does the cat give birth?
Thanks for sharing this great sounding books and the giveaway. I am looking forward to reading it. Congrats on the completion of the tour. evamillien at gmail dot com
Love the mini-story! I would gladly take one of the "demon" cats off her hands- had me chuckling!
Post a Comment