Since the 2nd installment in the Dragon Queen series, Black Rayne Scarlet Moon, will be dropping soon, I thought I’d give you a teaser from the first book from the series, BLACK RAYNE SILENT SCREAMS. (Available at Amazon)
Thanks for swinging by and enjoy!
The Winged Beauty (Part 1)
Calroada Island
Demon Realm
From afar, the sharp bray of a blade sliced through the air and seized the night. Followed by the howls of the fallen, a brush of wind wafted the foul scent of demon blood into her senses.
They were coming.
At the place where the ocean met the sandy beach, the full moon illuminated the calm open waters, giving the night a false sense of peace.
As the scent of her wounded lover assaulted her senses, Nikena gazed back along the path she’d traveled and bristled. Nothing but the cold darkness stared back at her.
“Please, be patient, my dear Kaishan,” she whispered in a mental message. “I will retrieve your soul from purgatory and we shall be as one again.”
Clutching the bundle close to her breasts, she turned back to the ocean and moved forward. A spellbinding voice sifted up from the watery plain in song and warmed her bare feet as she crossed. She came upon a large coral reef. It shimmered like the bright orb watching from above.
“Princess Narri,” she softly called.
The song stopped and the water rippled. A burst of wind washed over her, lifting her hair from her shoulders. A playful giggle echoed in the distance as the mystical creature’s head pop out of the water like a curious child.
Narri’s magical presence shifted the breeze and strained the placid ambience surrounding her. The water fairy swam toward her in flashing speed, and then her head disappeared beneath the small waves.
The flutter of Nikena’s gown and flow of her hair froze in mid motion. Time paused, then resumed, bringing back the sound of the night. A pair of scaly hands reached out of the ocean and clamped onto the reef. The princess of Arna, the demon waters, emerged and rested her lamina coated frame on the limestone.
“Shame on you, milady, to make me wait so long to be blessed with your heavenly presence.” Extending her fin, Narri splashed her jestingly. “You should’ve told me you were coming. I would’ve prepared a meal.”
As always, Narri was a colorful dream. Magical hues of lavender and ocean blue scales stretched down her elongated aquatic tail, curves and torso. Small droplets of water seeped into the smooth, fawn shade of her full breasts, and made her appear as if the water hadn’t touched her at all. Bouncy aqua hair, which turned dark brown in the moonlight, dried instantly. Tiny iridescent sea creatures clung to her thick tresses, sparkling like gems.
“How thoughtful of you Narri, but unfortunately this visit is not for pleasure.”
“Aw,” Narri pouted, raking the tiny creature trinkets from her hair. “I was looking forward to splashing around with you again. I notice you are without your armor. Surely you can take one quick swim with me. It will ease your troubled mind, milady.”
Peering deep into Narri’s bright hazel eyes, Nikena gazed upon the image of herself in a sheer silver gown, which flowed gracefully against her mahogany skin.
“Just one little swim…” Narri’s words trailed off when a soft whimper came from the bundle held to her breasts. She gasped. “A child? You’ve brought a child with you?” Excited, she clapped her hands and flapped her fin. “Where did you get it from? Ooh, may I see?”
Nikena brushed the thin veil from the infant’s face and lowered her for Narri’s view.
“Oh my…” Narri scooted closer, nearly toppling off of the reef. “What a beauty.” Leaning in even closer, she inhaled the baby’s scent and stiffened. She swallowed hard and stared up at her wide-eyed. “Milady is this child the—”
“Yes,” Nikena replied.
“But, but you have—no, this is too soon,” Narri stammered, her eyes darting about nervously.
“No Narri. The time is now.”
“Oh no, that means the demons…” She tilted her head toward the dark forest. A storm of black clouded her irises. Her scales and fins turned a shade of onyx. “They are coming. Where is Lord Kaishan? Where are the dragons?” she asked, her mental words laced with panic.
Frowning, Nikena pressed her hand to her heart and looked away. The mention of her demon lover made her chest tighten. “My time is limited, my friend. I must pass a great responsibility onto you for the sake of God’s children.”
“What does milady command?”
The request sat on the edge of her tongue. She glanced down at her daughter’s beautiful face, so peaceful in deep slumber. There was so much at stake and to ask the lady of Arna to shed her scales and abandon her home, for the sacred love child nestled in her arms was too much to ask. But there was no one else she could trust.
“Milady, they are drawing near. Please tell me, what will you have me do?”
“Take my daughter from this place and protect her. These cursed demons are not to have her.”
An iridescent gleam glazed Narri’s eyes. “You trust me with such a precious being? I am honored. Where am I to take her, heavenly one?”
“Mayiki will open a portal for your escape. He awaits your arrival in Bahdea, the forest of enchantment.”
Swallowing back her emotions, she gazed at her lovely child once more, said a silent prayer then handed her to Narri. Sadness and grief weighed heavily on her heart as tears threatened to spill down her face. She took in a shaky breath and turned away.
Harboring howls of evil, a dark cloud moved across the bright moon, shading its radiant glow. Nikena sought her spiritual energy for emotional balance.
“What will you do? Where will you go?”
A steady calm consumed her as the sounds of the approaching demons escalated. The heat of silver absorbed her irises and lightning cracked from the heavens. “I will do what I must.” She raised her hand and called out, “Arise Geantye!”
A bolt of lightning shot from the heavens and filled her hand with her war companion, Geantye, the double edged, spirit battle axe. His energy sparked and stirred, fusing with hers. Together they gleamed in raw power.
Ready for war, she squeezed his leather wrapped handle, and glanced at the silver-eyed creature staring at her through the reflection of the razor sharp blade. “I will distract them to give you time.” She turned to Narri and sprouted her wings.
Tears filled her friend’s eyes. “Milady, wait! Before you give into the call of the battle, please give me a name. Give me the name of your beautiful daughter.”
Nikena straightened her back and glared up into the wickedness that consumed the night sky. “Sharayna. My daughter’s name is Sharayna.”
The zephyr teased her feathers and with a powerful flap of her wings, she ascended from the watery plain and took to the air. The stirring wind engulfed her in a hot rush, fueling her energy.
Against her better judgment, she sucked in her dreariness and searched for one last look at her child, but Narri no longer occupied the reef. A smile of relief curved her lips. “Swim hard, my friend.”
“Where is she, Nikena?” hissed an entity, manifesting out of the blackness which coalesced before her.
He took shape as hundreds of blood thirsty chingi demons separated from the dark cloud. Combined with their foul stench, the sound of their leathery wings flapping in the wind surrounded her.
“You cannot keep her from—”
With the unseen swipe of her axe, she severed the ghastly creature’s head. “You dare to speak of my daughter, demon?”
“You will pay for that, wench!” shrieked another.
She flashed before him and claimed his head before he could strike. Their angry howls over their fallen comrades charged her intent.
She raised her battle axe to the sky, blazing hot silver. “Now, who else wants a taste of my blade?”
Copyright © Yvonne Nicolas 2012
To be continued next Sunday. 🙂 Thanks for reading!
The artwork featured in this piece was created by Kyle Chaney Jr. of Plan B Comics. That’s my boy!
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