Valens Remembered, The Story Begins
Valens of Legacy, Book 1
Sherrel Lee
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 9780985249687
ASIN: B00CSTZSE4
Number of pages: 92
Word Count: 26,324
Book Description:
Do you love reading about ShapeShifters? Psychics? Genetically Engineered Monsters?
Get your free copy of Book One of the Valens of Legacy series now.
As Larinda Nix Thomas buries her adoptive parents, who died in a deadly echo of the accident that took her birth parents, hidden documents reveal that she is being threatened by a sinister force and that she shouldn't trust even her closest allies. Fate demands she accept her place among the Valens as a shapeshifter, a unicorn, which brings more changes to her life than she could have imagined and puts her on a collision course with her ultimate destiny. In this first book of the Valens of Legacy series myth is rewritten, fantasy and science fiction blend to create a chilling story of death, loss, and discovery.
Struggling to make a life for herself on the streets of Seattle, Washington--Jemma a, runaway is battling to stay safe and unmolested, find legitimate work, and secure an education. Concerned social workers search for her and other runaways to return them to the lives they escaped from. True friends are few and life has made it hard to trust anyone. The memory of loving family no longer exists.
Meet the women who can't remember their past. Discover their stories. Begin the journey into the world of the Valens of Legacy.
Available at Amazon and BN
Excerpt – Valens Rebel, Book 5
Prologue
Miranda crept through the dark palazzo toward the bedroom where Giovanni Belledini slept as though he were already dead. He wasn’t her primary target, but he would have to suffice tonight. His death would start the endgame and with any luck, the bitch scientist he was supervising would get the blame. When they saw Belledini dissected like a specimen, she’d be the obvious suspect. But before Belledini died, Miranda had a few questions for him. Where was the Blood Map? How had it been created? How many people were aware of how powerful it still was? If she could locate the Blood Map and bring it to her grandfather, his creations—the Humani—would become the most powerful weapons in an arsenal of monstrous killers.
Miranda reached Belledini’s bedroom and slipped inside, silent as a shadow. Her unsuspecting target was snoring loud enough to have shaken walls in most other residences, but the walls of the palazzo were a foot thick and had withstood war, natural disasters, and bloodbaths without revealing the screams and secrets they had witnessed through the centuries.
Miranda sat on the edge of the oversized bed, running her hand across the expensive duvet and sliding it under the downy pillows. She had always loved Italy, with its secret societies that had existed since memory began. The country had been part of her life for over a hundred years. The feuds between the powerful families and the inventive methods they used to torture and kill their enemies were endlessly fascinating. She had learned so much from these masters, but Belledini wasn’t a master of anything. He was a low-level, dull-witted dupe who would change loyalties at the drop of two lire. It insulted her that he had been entrusted with the secret to the Blood Map she sought. He wasn’t worth wasting funds to try to bribe him. However, it pleased her greatly to plan all the ways he would suffer while she encouraged him to tell her everything he knew.
The mattress shifted and Giovanni woke with a start, shocked to see Miranda so close. “Who are you? How did you get in?” He shouted.
Miranda bared her teeth in a threatening smile. “Mr. Belledini, I’m surprised you are so shocked to find a woman on your bed. Your reputation had me expecting a much more enthusiastic welcome.”
Belledini sat up, shifting away from her, his eyes narrowed to angry slits. “Again, who are you? What do you want?” he demanded, his hand slipping under the pillow beside him.
Miranda laughed at the sight of his shocked face when he came up empty-handed. “Do you think I would be foolish enough to leave your pathetic little toy where you can reach it so easily? I am so disappointed. I had hoped the stories of your half-wit antics had been exaggerated.” Miranda gave a heavy sigh. “I see we are not going to be friends, so I guess it’s time to go to work. Tell me, Giovanni, where is the Blood Map?”
Belledini glowered at her. Then, without warning, he threw the covers off his naked body and tossed them at Miranda. While she fought her way out from under them, he leaped off the bed and ran toward the bathroom.
Miranda fired through the duvet, the bullet striking the floor in front of Belledini’s foot. He came to an abrupt stop. She tossed the torn duvet to the floor. “Not a weapon of my choosing,” she said, nodding at the gun in her hand. “I much prefer a knife for close work, but the gun is effective when people think they can run away. Now, turn around and come here. I think we have things to discuss.” She shook her head as she watched him stumble toward her on hairy feet, his stomach juddering with each step. Miranda directed Belledini to pull one of the straight-backed chairs from beside the fireplace into the middle of the room. “Now. Sit down. I am going to give you one more opportunity to tell me where the Blood Map is before I bind you to the chair. I love helping people tell me what I want to know, but I try to be a fair and compassionate person.”
Belledini dropped heavily into the chair, staring through her. “I do not know what this Blood Map is. You have been misinformed. I can tell you nothing.”
Miranda pulled a roll of duct tape from the small pack she carried at her waist and tossed it to him. “Bind your legs to the chair,” she said. “Tightly.” He hesitated, but she gestured impatiently with the gun, and he began to bind his thick legs to those of the antique chair. It was a pity—such a beautiful piece of furniture, and it would be blood-soaked when she had finished her task. Perhaps his heirs would find a way to restore it. Otherwise they would have to replace the pair.
When he finished, she instructed him to roll the tape back to her. She moved behind him and began to wrap his chest and arms with the remainder of the tape. She couldn’t wait for the sweet music of his screams.
Excerpt – Valens Rebel, Book 5
Prologue
Miranda crept through the dark palazzo toward the bedroom where Giovanni Belledini slept as though he were already dead. He wasn’t her primary target, but he would have to suffice tonight. His death would start the endgame and with any luck, the bitch scientist he was supervising would get the blame. When they saw Belledini dissected like a specimen, she’d be the obvious suspect. But before Belledini died, Miranda had a few questions for him. Where was the Blood Map? How had it been created? How many people were aware of how powerful it still was? If she could locate the Blood Map and bring it to her grandfather, his creations—the Humani—would become the most powerful weapons in an arsenal of monstrous killers.
Miranda reached Belledini’s bedroom and slipped inside, silent as a shadow. Her unsuspecting target was snoring loud enough to have shaken walls in most other residences, but the walls of the palazzo were a foot thick and had withstood war, natural disasters, and bloodbaths without revealing the screams and secrets they had witnessed through the centuries.
Miranda sat on the edge of the oversized bed, running her hand across the expensive duvet and sliding it under the downy pillows. She had always loved Italy, with its secret societies that had existed since memory began. The country had been part of her life for over a hundred years. The feuds between the powerful families and the inventive methods they used to torture and kill their enemies were endlessly fascinating. She had learned so much from these masters, but Belledini wasn’t a master of anything. He was a low-level, dull-witted dupe who would change loyalties at the drop of two lire. It insulted her that he had been entrusted with the secret to the Blood Map she sought. He wasn’t worth wasting funds to try to bribe him. However, it pleased her greatly to plan all the ways he would suffer while she encouraged him to tell her everything he knew.
The mattress shifted and Giovanni woke with a start, shocked to see Miranda so close. “Who are you? How did you get in?” He shouted.
Miranda bared her teeth in a threatening smile. “Mr. Belledini, I’m surprised you are so shocked to find a woman on your bed. Your reputation had me expecting a much more enthusiastic welcome.”
Belledini sat up, shifting away from her, his eyes narrowed to angry slits. “Again, who are you? What do you want?” he demanded, his hand slipping under the pillow beside him.
Miranda laughed at the sight of his shocked face when he came up empty-handed. “Do you think I would be foolish enough to leave your pathetic little toy where you can reach it so easily? I am so disappointed. I had hoped the stories of your half-wit antics had been exaggerated.” Miranda gave a heavy sigh. “I see we are not going to be friends, so I guess it’s time to go to work. Tell me, Giovanni, where is the Blood Map?”
Belledini glowered at her. Then, without warning, he threw the covers off his naked body and tossed them at Miranda. While she fought her way out from under them, he leaped off the bed and ran toward the bathroom.
Miranda fired through the duvet, the bullet striking the floor in front of Belledini’s foot. He came to an abrupt stop. She tossed the torn duvet to the floor. “Not a weapon of my choosing,” she said, nodding at the gun in her hand. “I much prefer a knife for close work, but the gun is effective when people think they can run away. Now, turn around and come here. I think we have things to discuss.” She shook her head as she watched him stumble toward her on hairy feet, his stomach juddering with each step. Miranda directed Belledini to pull one of the straight-backed chairs from beside the fireplace into the middle of the room. “Now. Sit down. I am going to give you one more opportunity to tell me where the Blood Map is before I bind you to the chair. I love helping people tell me what I want to know, but I try to be a fair and compassionate person.”
Belledini dropped heavily into the chair, staring through her. “I do not know what this Blood Map is. You have been misinformed. I can tell you nothing.”
Miranda pulled a roll of duct tape from the small pack she carried at her waist and tossed it to him. “Bind your legs to the chair,” she said. “Tightly.” He hesitated, but she gestured impatiently with the gun, and he began to bind his thick legs to those of the antique chair. It was a pity—such a beautiful piece of furniture, and it would be blood-soaked when she had finished her task. Perhaps his heirs would find a way to restore it. Otherwise they would have to replace the pair.
When he finished, she instructed him to roll the tape back to her. She moved behind him and began to wrap his chest and arms with the remainder of the tape. She couldn’t wait for the sweet music of his screams.
About the Author:
Wrangler of a fearsome Yorkiepoo named Rogue (Half Yorkie half Poodle weighing in at a hefty five pounds). Obsession controlled writer with a passion for making up names and twisting myths.
Sherrel, as the daughter of an Emmy winning cameraman, learned early in life the dark secrets of creating all those incredible fantasy characters for the large and small screen.
Refusing to be crushed at the discovery the monsters, aliens, and Robby the Robot weren't real, Sherrel's imagination soared. She became a SELF-proclaimed voyeur of special-effects and expert at fictional character creation.
Website: http://sherrellee.com/
Amazon: http://ow.ly/liYNS
Twitter: @gryphoenix
StoryFinds: http://storyfinds.com/author/8166/sherrel-lee
June 2 Top Ten List
Darkest Cravings
June 2 Spotlight
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
June 3 Interview and review
happy tails and tales
June 3 Spotlight
Cassandra M's Place
June 4 Interview
Eclipse Reviews
June 4 Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too!
June 5 Character Interview
Author Karen Swart
June 5 Spotlight
Deal Sharing Aunt
June 6 Interview
Roxanne’s Realm
June 6 Review
Beverly @ The Wormhole
June 9 Interview
Pembroke Sinclair.
June 9 Review
fuonlyknew ~ Laura's ramblins and reviews
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment