Excerpt Thursday - From Beltane Magic

Owen found himself placed between Dade and Chris among the drummers. He was caught up in learning the rhythms and watched either Chris or Dade’s hands to pick up the beat. This he found was also a good place to be as the dancers stopped often and danced right in front of the drummers or brought them drinks.

After an hour his arms were tired and he honestly had a new admiration for the men beside him who were still going strong, moving effortlessly from one rhythm to the next.

During a slower beat, he noticed several of the dancers moving through those at the edge of the circle and through the drummers. He watched as the dancers took their wreaths off and placed them onto a male’s head. He was sure the males didn’t realize how silly they looked wearing flowers and ribbons, although when the dancers gave them a kiss, he was also sure they didn’t care how odd they looked.

Kasey paused in front of the drummers and began to weave her way toward them, slowly taking off her wreath. She smiled in a shy, nervous kind of way at the drummers. Neither Dade nor Chris paused in their drumming, but Owen could feel them both waiting to see who she was going to place her wreath on. When she passed Dade and went to Chris, Owen noticed and enjoyed the grin on his new friend’s face.

Chris actually missed a few beats in the rhythm as he raised a hand to place behind her head to receive the kiss. Owen didn’t see steam, but he felt warmer just witnessing their kiss.

      He found himself wishing some woman would make him look like an idiot and place her wreath on his head. He turned to watch the same with Doc and Rachel. He was sure Steven was blushing after it, or maybe it was just from the heat of it.

At the point when Cora began seductively dancing her way into the drummers, his heart stopped. She was far too exotic a woman for him to handle, but if she placed her wreath on his head, he would certainly try. He felt like a schoolboy wanting to jump up and say, “pick me,” but he dug deep and found his dignity somewhere.

She passed him by and held the eyes of the man beside him. When she placed the wreath on Dade’s head and leaned her mouth down to his, Owen was sure the sparks that flew between them somehow burned him. In his own amazement, he realized it was a kiss out of a movie that made your heart speed up. Dade didn’t miss a single beat on the drum, though the kiss seemed to last more than just a few moments.

      He found himself wishing for mistletoe or a cute puppy, anything that would bring one of them to him. His heart tripped and almost stumbled when he noticed Leena was dancing toward the drummers. He fought the urge of wanting to look around and make sure he was the only one in the area without a wreath on his head but held onto what adult-like composure he had left. 

When she stopped in front of him, it was all he could do to not stand and meet her halfway, so he held the drum in front of him tightly and stayed seated. As the wreath touched his head, she smiled a smile that made his insides burn. He reached up to gently guide her head down to his.

Purchase Links:

http://www.classactbooks.com/From-Beltane-Magic-by-Jacqueline-Paige-PDF_p_320.html

http://www.amazon.com/Beltane-Magic-Seasons-ebook/dp/B006XNI92O/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1327597221&sr=8-5

Book II coming in March 2012

Jacqueline Paige
http://jacqpaige.webs.com

Excerpt Thursday - This Ring

It's Thursday and I'm actually aware that it is!

More excerpts have also been added to my website.

With the release of Curses  I thought 
it would be appropriate to put excerpts up for
the second story in Curses


This Ring

All in all it had been a long tedious road to this point with no turns what so ever—until this morning when she had looked right at him with both disbelief and dismay on her face.  It may not have been a positive cosmic vibe but it was a hell of a lot more than he’d had in all the years he had been waiting and wandering.

Before he was filled with that woe feeling that plagued him daily, after all spending an eternity with no one but yourself got to you after a few years, he turned back to study her.  This hadn’t been a huge past time of his, most of the time when there were people around he wandered the other way.  After all they represented the one thing he wasn’t – there.  With her though it was different, she was somehow different than all the others.  What was it about her?

There wasn’t anything in particular that stood out about her.  She seemed to be an average height and build.  He pinned her age somewhere close to thirty that much about women hadn’t changed that he couldn’t guess an age range and be pretty close to right.  Her hair was a mousy brown, for lack of a better way to describe it, and she had it all chopped up like scissors had randomly been placed wherever and cut—he liked it, it was original.  Of course he didn’t know what the current in thing was, so it may not be all that original.  He wasn’t close enough to see her eyes, but thinking about when they were huge and staring in his direction, he was fairly certain they were brown.  So she was very much average across the scales—but what was it about her that just kept him sitting here on this rock, not that he felt his body against it, watching her.

There were choices here, at least a few.  He could sit here and continue doing what he was doing until night came, bringing morning closer.  That would get a few bits past boring if she went back inside again and didn’t return.  The second option was to go wander around the lake and pass the time with more speed than he was doing now.  Grinning, he shook his head—because making time go faster had worked out so well for him in the last decade, or two.

Follow my tour to find out more or possibly win a copy of either Dreams or Curses

http://bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com/2011/10/now-on-tour-dreams-and-curses-by.html

Stop by tomorrow when I'm at Lisa's World Of Books

And on Saturday I have LK Rigel here at the blog with her book Give Me: a fairy tale

Jacqueline Paige

http://jacqpaige.webs.com/

Excerpt Thursday - Animal Trilogy

I found some time last week - at least it feels like it was last 

week - updating my site and adding excerpts to the things

I'm working on.

I've recently finished the first book in my Animal Trilogy -

Heart.  It's not all polished up just yet, but I am working on

it so I thought I'd share a piece of that one today.

~*~

Three women without knowledge of their true heritage...

Three men that have waited for their mate all of their lives...

Hearts and tempers collide with wild passions and animal instincts

in the Animals Trilogy  

~*~

Animal Heart Excerpt:

If nothing else I was warmer now.  How long would the rain last?  Did I want to wait it out and then try to find a washroom – in the dark?  I shook my head before I could go any further with that thought. There was no way I was getting out of this car until it was light out again, rain or no rain.  How many hours until daylight?  I debated very briefly whether I could squirm around and reach my purse to get my phone.  Highly doubtful.  Besides being cocooned in the puffy material, my phone off for a reason and turning it on just to check the time wasn’t worth the risk of Aiden being able to trace the location.  Truthfully I didn’t know if that was possible even though all the movies reference it being so, but understanding what type of man Aiden was and what he was capable of, I wasn’t taking any chances.

Working one arm free from the bag, I shifted far enough forward to reach the ignition; he couldn’t track my cars clock.  Turning the key, my heart sunk when I noted the time, there were too many hours left until dawn.  I looked out the windshield and froze, my heart jumped into my throat. Afraid to so much as breathe, I stared at the animal a few feet away from my headlight.  My brain first thought dog, but that was no dog.  That was a wolf; it had to be a wolf.  Were wolves that big?  It seemed bigger than in any pictures I’d seen.

I sat there looking at it, not sure if I should honk the horn would be a good idea or just if I should just sit and try not to get hysterical waiting for it to leave.  My car may be metal, but the roof was something this animal could probably get through. As I continued to stare at it I couldn’t help thinking it was a beautiful creature. It’s grey and brown fur looked soft and thick, not that I’d ever be able to find out if it was.  It was the way the haunting grey eyes watched me that made me decide not to honk the horn or scream as loud as I could – which had crossed my mind briefly.  I was fairly certain it was as surprised to see me as I was to see it.  Didn’t wolves travel as group?  A pack?  I wanted to look around and see if there were more in the trees, but the logical part of my brain told me I was better off not knowing.  I never argued with the logical part.

I’m sure I stopped breathing all together when it took a step closer to the car and then turned quickly back towards the trees.  As I was reaching for the keys it stopped and looked back at me for the length of two heart beats before it bolted into the trees and disappeared.  Turning off the key, I sat in the dark leaning back against the seat while I tried to remind my body how to take air in. In this moment with my heart was beating so loud I could hear it, or at least it felt that way, I reached the decision that I was not getting out of the car until daylight, and even then was questionable.  One more conclusion was also not turning the lights on again; my mental state was much better not knowing what else was outside of the car.  I checked to make sure the door was locked, I did know a wolf wouldn’t just walk up and use the door handle, but I felt better knowing I was locked in and more importantly other things were locked out.

Pulling my arm back into the sleeping bag, I shuffled down as far as I could and closed my eyes.  The sooner I slept, the closer daylight was to getting here.  Over the noise of the water beating off the car, I thought I heard a howl.  In reaction to that I slid as far down as possible into the material and squeezed my eyes shut hoping morning would just hurry up and arrive.

Jacqueline Paige
pop over to my site for more new excerpts

http://jacqpaige.webs.com/

http://jacqpaige.blogspot.com/

Bloggers back!

That old saying is true - you don't know what 

you've got until it's gone...

Blogger wouldn't open for me all day 

yesterday or this morning - I missed it!!

Even though I don't post daily I still stop

in a read all my faves each day.

A lot of comments are gone now, so if you

did post and I haven't replied I apologize

now - I think Blogger ate them!!!

Now to play catch up... Be sure to stop 

by tomorrow I have Rie McGaha here

discussing her time travel fantasy book

Calen.

Here's Thursday's Excerpt on Friday.

This is a first peak at a new one I'm working

on the first in the Sisters of Heart trilogy -

The Witch That Lies Within

Tiring from the words they had all said to her many times before, Alana raised her hands in the air and sent a gust of wind through the circle.  “I cannot bear to hear this again, sisters.”  She turned and watched as Ella and Jane nodded to one another.  “I am not taking part in your scheme of evil darkness.”

Ella snorted in an unpleasant manner.  “You would break your word to each present here?”

Alana took a step back, bringing her close to the water’s edge.  “I would not.”  Her eyes quickly met that of Eden and Bridget before she finished.  “I would choose to revoke all I that I have been given than do unjust things to others that cannot defend themselves from your dark ways.”

Lenora gasped.  “You would not...”

Alana raised her hands.  “I would exactly.”

Jane stepped in front of Ella.  “For you to revoke your gifts, would you not be obliged to take all of ours?”

Alana shrugged.  “Mayhap it will, no one can be certain.”

Ella shoved Jane out of her way.  “You would not dare to try, young sister...”

Eden bent down at Alana’s feet and opened the bundle.  Alana opened her hands in front of her and bit her lip to stop from hissing as her sister placed small scores on her palms.  Keeping her focus on the three opposed, she prayed they could not see.  When Eden straightened and walked past Bridget, she knew the task was complete.

Alana clasped a hand each of Eden and Bridget and raised their arms, the blood from the shallow scores upon their hands mixed and brought to her a heat of power that only she could have bared.

“Sister, Eden, stop them!”  Lenora cried.

Alana closed her eyes and felt the winds circle her with recognition.  Beneath her feet the ground quivered, waiting for her to speak to it.  As she opened her eyes and focused on the three sisters she did not now touch, she felt the spray from the water at her back cover her in small droplets.  “I cannot be part of something that goes against all that I feel to be right, sisters.”  Tilting her head she looked at Jane.  “Join us in protecting what is just.”

Jane’s eyes widened and for the briefness of a heartbeat, Alana thought there was a small chance she might agree, but she shook her head and stepped beside Ella.  Woefulness filled her insides, even though she knew the outcome days before, her heart begged her to attempt. “Lenora?”  Once more she waited even though she knew another sister was lost to her.  Lenora backed further away and looked at the sand under her feet. “So shall it be,” Alana whispered.

Inhaling slowly she raised her eyes to the moon whose rays bound her to the sky above.  “I call ...”

“Wait!”  Ella’s voice was filled with panic.  “We can speak more of this and draw an end that pleases each one of us together.”

The fear jolted into her from the hands she held.  Without looking at Ella, she sought to feel what was in her soul.  Pain enveloped her heart as the truth coursed into her.  “Why speak of falseness, eldest sister?  I know what lurks in your heart and I must protect the innocent you wish to cause sufferance to.”

Raising her hands higher she spoke to the night. “I call upon the night and all of her energy, come to me and abet me with this, my last task.”  The winds swirled coloured leaves around her, she smiled and let the magic wash over, feeling the warm welcome of it just once more.  Lightening streaked through the clear sky above, she inhaled the power. “I seek to bind this three and three from doing any harm.”  A circle of flames burst around them, flicking as long tongues of three feet high, blocking the outside from entering and the six from leaving.  “I send for safe keeping all that we have, the gifts that you gave, to our furthest ancestors to keep within until there is a dire need of them.”

A stinging traveled along her flesh as the energies gathered, waiting for her leave go of.  “When a time comes that this three and three be together once more, awaken and come again...”  So much power was collecting inside her she had no choice but to cry a single tear, knowing that this was the last time she would feel it in this body.  “Collect inside the generations and carry us forward to a time long from now.”  She could hear crying, but was not to take a chance to see which sister or sisters it came from. “Select the one that bear good will and a honest heart and make her remember.  Remember the times of this six and behold the gifts we pass to her.”  A clap of thunder sounded across the sky, its cry echoing over the lake until it faded back into the night.  “I thank you from deep within and now set you free...” 

A strong tunnel of wind gust through the circle, stealing any more she had to speak.  Opening her eyes wider she watched as each sister dropped to the ground, leaving her the last one standing.  A burning washed over her, pulling at her until she thought she could bear it no longer, and then it was gone. Emptiness filled her as the flames swallowed into the ground.  Behind her the water was now lying calmly as it had been when they had arrived. The earth was now silent, as it had been. The rays of the moon seemed no more than a light in the darkness, without power and purpose.

A draining feeling passed through her, causing her legs to weaken under her until she dropped onto the sand and panted to seek to breathe once again.  Looking around, the others didn’t move, they just lay where they had fallen without a word.  When she glanced upon Ella, the hatred was clearly on her face.

“I will have vengeance.”  Ella hissed at her.

Alana rolled onto her back and looked at the sky, feeling like nothing more than a child again.  “You may seek to strive for such.”  She answered softly. It was wondrous to feel this once more.

Was she floating?  See seemed weightless enough to be.  Squeezing her eyes shut, she counted to ten before opening them again.

Hovering above a lake, she could see her own shadow cast on the water from the moon above her.

A dream, it had to be a dream.  The last time she checked none of her life skills involved floating.

Glancing around, she didn’t recognize the area below her. People were walking through trees, or maybe those were just children...

Where was she?

A voidness came over her, she felt like she was fading...

            What was that ringing noise?

Bolting up, Teegan looked around to realize she was in her own living room.  

Jacqueline Paige

http://jacqpaige.webs.com/

Excerpt Thursday - a piece of Salvation

I have been told that aside from the towel scene in Salvation

this is a favorite part - of course I'm only 

giving a sneak peak of it here.

:)

Salvation

Two Centuries on not existing is about to change...

He walked with a heavy foot, wishing his boot were real enough

to pound on the floor. He was on the other side of the room before

he looked back at her. “I have gone on alone and completely adrift

for so many years at a time...the loneliness consumed me, leaving

me wanting to howl as a wounded beast does.” He waved a hand

in frustration. “Now, after all I have suffered through, I find I am

able to be heard when I speak, to be seen by other eyes, and I have

to fight every breath with the way I burn for you.” He walked in

large strides closer to her. “I take notice of your every movement,

your every breath, and I cannot even touch you one time!”

Miranda stood there, her eyes huge and locked to his. “I’m...I...I

feel the same way, Jareth.” She motioned to the monitor. “I’m trying,

really I am.”

He hissed out a breath. “I did not imply otherwise.” He looked

down into her brown eyes and wished again he had the strength

to turn from them. He could tell untruths to himself for the reasons

he was here with her, but he could not tell them to her. “I am

sorry, little one. I am not of much assistance when I spend all my

moments with you looking and...” He sighed.

“And?” she whispered.

His eyes searched hers. “Longing, wanting, craving...” He

looked down her body before moving back to her eyes. “The

clothes you wear show me how you are shaped beneath, and yet I

am still disturbed to absolute distraction with the images inside

of my own head that your appealing shape gives to me.”

She tilted her head and looked up at him, her cheeks flushed

and eyes soft. “Would you like to see more?”

“Yes,” he hissed as his mind screamed no. How could he put

himself through the torment of seeing what he desired more than

life and yet not touch, not taste?

Jacqueline Paige

http://jacqpaige.webs.com/

Excerpt Thursday - First look at Dream Visions

I've been working on the final proof of the second book
in the Hidden Senses Trilogy - Dream Visions.
So here's the first look at it.

Dream Visions

 Sitting on the tiny bed, hugging his knees as tightly as

he could against his chest, his eyes darted around the

room. It was so dark and so quiet here--he just wanted to

go home and see his mom. Someone would come; someone

always did in the movies...

A creaking noise made him gasp; he quickly looked

towards the door. Pushing himself back further into the

musty corner, he watched and listened.

When it creaked again, he grabbed the thin blanket

and dropped to lie down on the bed, squeezing his still

damp eyes closed tightly.

Felicity blinked a few times and then looked down.

She was standing at her kitchen counter, hands grasping

the edge so hard her knuckles were white. Sighing, she

pushed the straying blonde hairs away from her face; her

hand were vibrating.

Closing her eyes, she took a calming breath. “I wish

you would show me where, sweetheart.” Whispering it out

loud made her feel better, even knowing he would never hear her.

Rinsing her hands under the cool water, she patted

some against her sweaty brow. Drying them quickly, she

looked around for a moment, trying to recall what she had

been doing before the vision blocked out the rest of the

world.

The kettle began to whistle, startling her. Unplugging

it, she shook her head. It could have been worse, you might

have been cutting vegetables or something else that could

result in coming out of it injured.

If there was one thing she was thankful for it was that

when it happened her body froze--and that usually

prevented her too many serious injuries. Of course, it made

life more complicated when it came to things like being in

public or driving, both of which she tried to avoid.

Taking her cup of tea, she went over to the desk and

pulled a tattered notebook from the drawer. Wanting to

record every detail before she forgot any of it, she began

jotting it down. Taking her time, she wrote carefully,

making sure she described every little thing--even going as

far as the crunching sound the old rusty cot frame made as

the little boy moved.

  Jacqueline Paige

http://jacqpaige.webs.com/

Excerpt Thursday - Behind the Mask

Evan smiled a huge fake grin at the nurse in a too-tight costume as he worked his way back toward the bar. He stopped and watched his, what would he call him? He was an employee, but he handled everything from Evan’s cars to calling the pool cleaners. He was also the only employee who knew of his magical abilities and had no problems with it. Whatever his title was, he was having a blast playing bartender at the party. Dressed as a Chippendale, and not the chipmunk kind, he flirted with an Egyptian princess that was waiting for her drinks. He waited until Teddy had struck out before leaning on the bar.

“How’s the king of the jungle?” Teddy leaned on the other side of the counter.

Evan hissed out a long breath. “Bored silly.” He glanced around the candle lit room at the too many costumed people acting like kids. “Did I invite this many?” And where was Arianna? It was past nine, and he’d started to feel like everyone was noticing he was watching the door more than the people talking to him.

Teddy looked around the room and shrugged his naked shoulders. “I don’t know when you consider each invite bringing a date . . .” He nodded. “Yeah probably.” He poured a rum and Coke and handed it to Evan. “You could select some sexy demon or angel to cosy up to.”

Evan sighed and fiddled with the napkins stacked neatly on the bar. “And how do I know which of them I’m boss to and which I’m not? I can’t go to work on Monday and find out I was seducing my own assistant or one of the secretaries.” He sipped the drink. “Tell me again why I wanted masks only.”

Teddy wiggled his dark eyebrows at him. “For the intrigue and mystery.”

Evan laughed. “Next time I want intrigue and mystery, tell me to go buy a book or watch a movie, okay?”

Teddy nodded. “Okay.” He glanced toward the entrance and then snapped his neck back to look at the door again. “Wow,” he whispered. “That’s several steps beyond intrigue and moving right into hot!”

Evan chuckled at the description and turned to look over his shoulder. Very nice, he thought at first glance. A witch stood in the entranceway looking around. She had passed on the typical witch portrayal and had gone for sexy instead. Her auburn hair hung just past her shoulders and framed her masked face. He ran his eyes down her curved shape to her black heels, and she pulled off sexy exquisitely. He was about to turn back to Teddy when she turned and a slender, very nicely shaped leg peaked out of the slit in black skirt. Black fishnet stockings lovingly wrapped that leg.

He turned more in the direction of the entranceway and took his fill of observing each inch of that leg. Every man has one weakness, he thought, and his just happened to be fishnet stockings. Maybe it was odd, but still the truth. She had gone from mildly interesting to extremely appealing with one move of a leg. He shook his head and reached back to quickly down the rest of his drink. Setting the glass on the bar, he gave the grinning bar tender a shrug. “As the host, it would be rude to not go over and greet her.”

  Jacqueline Paige

http://jacqpaige.webs.com/

Excerpt Thursday - Salvation and cover contest

Salvation

Two centuries of not existing is about to change...

Setting the linen down, he looked to the clothes again. He had

tried twice to work the jeans and was at a loss. He heard the door

close to the front room of the house. He smiled; Miranda could

show him how to put these odd things on. He grabbed the jeans

and opened the bathroom door.

“Miranda, I am not—” He glanced up from the jeans to see a

woman—not Miranda—standing inside her door but a rather tall,

light-haired woman. He offered her his most charming smile.

“Hello.” She continued to stand there with her jaw dropped open

and her eyes huge. He was uncertain what he was to say as to

why he was standing in Miranda’s home with a small linen cloth

wrapped about his waist.

The door opened behind the silent woman and Miranda came

in. She stopped abruptly and looked up at the woman.

* * * *

 “Jody? When...” She looked over at Jareth standing outside the

bathroom door, jeans hanging from his hand and a white towel—

a small white towel—wrapped around a mouth-watering tight

waist. His chest was bare, beads of water from his hair dripped

down it. Had she ever seen a more tasty set of abs in her life? She

didn’t think so. She worked her way...slowly...up to his face to see

he knew exactly what she was thinking. He winked at her, snapping

her back to the problem at hand. She turned her head back to

her drooling, stunned friend, Jody. “Jody?”

Jody turned with her mouth still hanging open. She shut it

with a snap and looked back over at Jareth.

Randy turned to Jareth. “Could you give us a moment, Jareth?”

He inclined his head, but not before sending her a devilish

look.

~~

Mystic Perceptions cover is up on

the New Covey Cover awards.

(Entry #28)

http://thenewcoveycoverawards.blogspot.com/

Stop by and vote today!!

Jacqueline Paige

http://jacqpaige.webs.com/

Excerpt Thursday - Mystic Perceptions

Hidden Senses Trilogy 

Book 1

Mystic Perceptions

Brent just sat there and looked at her. Reid stifled a

sigh. They were pulling his leg, right? This was a joke of

some kind. When she continued to stand there, without so

much as a smirk, he frowned over at his partner. Reid shook

his head in disbelief.

“It can’t be paper or clothing,” Jac said quietly.

Brent reached into his shirt, pulling out his chain and

pendant. Lifting it over his head, he handed it to the crazy

woman standing there, patiently holding her hand out at

him.

Reid gave her a ‘you’ve got to be kidding’ look when

she stepped in front of him. When she continued to stand

there, looking at him impatiently, he leaned back and pulled

his keys out of his pocket. Working the pendant off the ring,

he handed it to her and leaned back again. He knew his

blood pressure was going to spike shortly if they didn’t stop

screwing around, then he was going to start yelling.

Sandy sat down behind Jac. “Ready?”

“Yeah.” Jac held up her hand, palm up. When the

doctor lowered Brent’s chain into it, Jac closed her hand

around it and she took a few deep breaths as if she was

trying to find some focus.

Reid knew Brent was waiting for them to say “Gotcha!”

too. When he heard Jac laugh softly, he figured it was now.

Jac shook her head. “Really, Sandy--next time please

specify something they weren’t wearing during sex.” She

grinned. “Cute blonde, though Brent; love the lady bug tattoo.”

Excerpt Thursday - From A Dream

With Valentine's Day so close I thought I'd do an excerpt out of FROM A DREAM which is a Valentine's story - of a different variety.

Jennah opened her eyes. It was dark, completely and utterly . . . dark. What time is it? She rubbed a hand over her eyes and tried to persuade them to focus. Opening them again, she huffed out a breath. It was hopeless, not even a shadow existed wherever she was. She stiffened when she realized that she was lying on something lumpy. She pushed up onto her hand and ran the other one over whatever she was on. It was some sort of padding, scratchy and lumpy. Please let it just be an old mattress.

Sitting all the way up, she hissed and held her forehead. Her head objected to being upright. What had they done to her? Dropping her hand down, she inched it out away from her body to see what she was on. It touched nothing after a few seconds. She moved one leg slowly out. Her foot met air and then fell down to hit the floor. Okay, so it is a bed—or cot is probably more likely considering it’s very narrow.

Something dragged over her leg still on the bed. She froze and tried not to be one of those females that freaked out at the thought of a creature of some kind. Taking a deep breath, she held it as she moved her hand down toward her leg. She held her breath when her hand came in contact with material. A blanket or quilt maybe—I hope.

She turned her head and, ignoring the dizzy feeling movement created, tried to see anything. This is the darkest space I’ve ever been in. She turned and lowered her other leg off the cot. Inhaling deeply, she tried to identify the smells. It was a damp mustiness, but earthy, and not in a good way. Her stomach clenched at the offensive scent. Grimacing, she leaned down until her fingertips touched the floor beside her foot. It was dirt. Cold and damp dirt.

The sound of fabric brushing against fabric dawned on her as she moved her arm back up. She still had her coat on. Frantically, she searched all of the pockets. All they had left her were her gloves. No cell phone. So much for having light, she thought with a groan.

Moving cautiously to the edge of the cot, she began to slowly stand up, keeping one hand a few inches above her head just in case this space wasn’t large enough for her to stand in. When she was standing straight, she reached higher above her head. The ceiling was only a few inches above her. So, this is a very short, dirt-floored . . . something?

She took one careful step with her hand stretched out in front of her. Please don’t let me touch anything—ick! She frowned at her own girlie thought and then shrugged it off, having decided that just about anyone would freak out in her situation—so she was allowed a few weak moments.

~~

I will also be putting up the new contest information shortly - I'm still working out the prize list for it.

As most of you already know my newsletter is out again.  To subscribe follow the instructions along the left side of this blog or pop over to my website and download it.

  Jacqueline Paige

http://jacqpaige.webs.com/