First Chapter Reveal: The Sixth Power by Carol Nicolas + Win $75 Amazon Gift Card!
Title of Book: THE SIXTH POWER
Genre: YA Paranormal
Author: Carol Nicolas
Website: www.carolnicolas.wordpress.com
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
PURCHASE AT AMAZON
SUMMARY:
Tania Westing, a high school senior, is one of the Gifted Ones, descendants of an ancient family with seven special powers. Some of the powers are common, and some are rare.
FIRST CHAPTER:
Genre: YA Paranormal
Author: Carol Nicolas
Website: www.carolnicolas.wordpress.com
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
PURCHASE AT AMAZON
SUMMARY:
Tania Westing, a high school senior, is one of the Gifted Ones, descendants of an ancient family with seven special powers. Some of the powers are common, and some are rare.
Until her geneticist brother Tom was murdered, Tania lived
an ordinary life. Now hidden in her mind is a clue that will reveal Tom's
research, including secret formulas to unlock all seven powers. During spring
break, Tania meets and falls in love with handsome Dan Maclean. When Tania
reveals her rare power to heal, the evil Gifted Ones who killed Tom suspect
Tania has his research and formulas and come after her. Tania must learn to use
her powers to help save Dan's sister in time to keep Tom's secrets safe.
FIRST CHAPTER:
Sometimes, even when
you know that death is imminent, you just have to go ahead and complete your
small task in the great plan, Tom thought as he glided through the still,
dark room. His bare feet made no sound
on the smooth, hardwood floor. He felt
strange sneaking around like a thief in his own house.
Tom paused at the ornate chess set on the living room coffee
table. His sister, who always played
white because his dad insisted she have the first move, could lose in three
moves if she wasn’t careful. Tom moved
her bishop. There, that should buy her
some time. Too bad his own problems
weren’t so easily solved.
The grandfather clock ticked steadily in the elegantly
furnished living room. He had to
hurry. He used his Gift and sent out a
mental sweep of the La Jolla neighborhood.
None of El Calavera's men were in the area, though he had spotted them
following him earlier that day. He knew
they were close and would catch up to him.
He planned to be far from here by then.
Tom entered the study and sat down at the family computer
where he and his sister had spent many hours playing on-line games. He accessed his email and opened a file he
had sent earlier from Triumph Genetics Lab.
At once the virus he had created began to destroy all the files in every
system.
“Forgive me, Tania.
You’ll understand someday.”
He opened the door to his father’s bedroom and moved
noiselessly to the dresser. His father
had set up a shrine there: a vase of
gladiolas and lilies, his mother’s framed picture, her gold cross on a fine
gold chain, and a pair of fat purple candles that illuminated the room and sent
the fragrance of lavender through the air.
Three sympathy cards stood open on the left. In the center was a bronze box with a plaque
engraved with the words ‘Maria Valdez Walters Westing.’
“Mother.” He kissed
his fingers and touched the words.
He glanced at the rumpled bed. His father must have taken a sleeping pill;
his mouth was slightly open and his breathing hoarse and ragged. Tear stains glistened on the side of his
haggard face. Tom bent down and kissed
his father’s forehead. “Love you, Dad,”
he whispered. Sorrow flooded Tom’s heart.
He knew he was about to cause his father even more grief. He touched his father’s forehead and sent a
specific command to his subconscious.
Next, he went to his little sister’s room. At fourteen years old, Tania was already a
beauty: tall and slender, with straight
black hair that fell past her shoulders, and smooth, light brown skin. She was so much like their grandmother. Her eyes were closed, her breathing slow and
peaceful. Her favorite book, The Lord of the Rings, lay beside the
pillow where it had slipped from her loosely curled fingers, and her bedside
lamp cast a dim glow into in the dark room.
He wondered if she ever turned it off at night now. Even in sleep, she looked a little sad. His heart ached.
He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Sweet dreams, little Sis. Remember me.
Take care of Dad.”
Tania surprised him when she opened her large, dark eyes and
grinned. “Gotcha! You thought I was asleep, didn’t you?” She sat up and wrapped her arms around
him. “Are you home for the weekend?”
“No, I just stopped to say goodbye.” He squeezed her tight,
memorizing her.
She sniffed. “You
smell weird.”
He sighed, released her, and sat down next to her on the
edge of the bed. Tania was much too
observant, but he would let her play their game. “Go ahead.
Deduce.”
Tania’s eyes twinkled as she studied him. “You’re wearing old clothes, and you smell
like smoke, sea brine, and sweat. There
are ashes in your hair. Your left
forefinger and thumb are red. Your
sleeves and cuffs are wet at the edges.
Therefore, you and some of your fellow profs -- no, make that your two
buddies at the lab -- those other dolts are much too stuffy to do something fun
-- had a hot dog roast at the beach before you came here. Whatever you used for wood had a lot of
chemicals in it. You got a little too
close to the fire. Try using a coat
hanger next time.”
He grinned. “Very
good, my dear Sherlock. The hot dogs
were delicious. We even tossed the
football around.” He was dressed in his
darkest jeans, a faded black t-shirt, and a black wool coat, but it was more
for camouflage than anything else. There
hadn’t been time to clean up before he’d come from the lab. He wouldn’t tell her what he had really been
doing there.
Tania reached out and tugged gently on his long, tangled
hair. “It’s grown since I saw you
last. If you stick around, I could cut
it for you tomorrow.”
Tania looked so hopeful, but he shook his head. “No. I
can't stay.”
She frowned. “Where
are you going?”
He brushed a strand of her hair away from her face and
tucked it behind her ear. Sorrow
clenched his heart, but he didn’t let on.
“Away.”
Her eyes filled with tears as she took his hand. “I love you, Tom.” Her words were underscored with a yearning
for him to stay, as if those words were strong enough to bring him back home
for good, strong enough to heal the rift between him and his father, and make
them all a real family again. But
nothing could do that now. Their
mother’s ashes were three months cold, and soon he would be with her.
“I love you too, more than you know.” With all his heart he wished he could be
there to see her grow up and fulfill her enormous potential. Like Tom and the others of their mother's
family, Tania had inherited many of the usual Gifts. But Tania was special. His genetic studies had revealed that not
only did she have her mother's DNA for the extremely rare gift to heal, but she
also had the DNA that would signal the pituitary to secrete the hormone that
would activate the Gift. Tania would
become a great healer.
As yet, Tania was untrained and barely aware of her
Gifts. All their mother had been allowed
to do was to teach her to how to hide her uniqueness, to blend in with the
normal population. For her own safety,
Tania would have to remain that way until Aunt Sarah decided otherwise. The research which he had conducted with DNA
samples from those with the Gifts, including his startling discoveries which he
had planned to share with Aunt Sarah, would have to remain hidden as well. He was out of time.
Tom took Tania's hand and turned it so that the ruby in the
delicate gold ring glittered in the lamplight.
This ring was more than just a symbol of the powerful Valdez family; it
would shield her mind from those who sought to probe her thoughts. In a few years, when Tania would begin
training in her Gifts, she would learn to actively protect herself. Aunt Sarah and the others would keep her safe
until then. “Promise me that you’ll
always wear this ring.”
Tania squeezed his hand.
Her eyes were sad. “I promise.”
The clock struck the half hour. Tom had to get out.
He picked up the book from beside her pillow, removed her
bookmark, and opened it to the page he needed.
The Lord of the Rings had been
one of their favorite stories as children.
They had spent so many hours playing together. He smiled.
“Remember how we used to pretend to be Frodo and Sam on the way to Mount
Doom?”
“Yeah.” Tania
grinned.
“We also used to make up riddles for Bilbo to use on
Gollum.”
“Those were great times.”
He looked out the window and blinked back tears. He would never see his sister again. His hand rested on the page as he
recited. “‘All that is gold does not
glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not
wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be
woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be blade that was
broken, the crownless again shall be king.’
Remember that, Sis. Listen with
your heart to find the truth.”
Tania’s eyes were on his face, so she didn’t see how he pulled
a bookmark from his pocket, inserted it into the book at the passage he had
just quoted, and then slipped her bookmark into his pocket. Keep it
safe, he silently commanded. He
looked down at her, wishing there was more he could do. Then he placed two fingertips at her temple
and whispered, “Na dolen.” The command would keep her from remembering
this conversation until she needed it.
Her eyes blinked in blank, sleepy surprise. “Tom?”
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I enjoyed the excerpt and the book looks like an interesting one.
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