The
Art of Safkhet Presents – Blood Myth
(The
Myth Series)
Zakah
Sange was born into a world of dark magick, always living in the shadows of his
father, the Raka King. He was dangerously sexy and enigmatic; he used power and
control to shape himself into a hard and cunning man. Zakah became a warrior, a
weapon and the master of his own violence lurking within.
Sorina Ruzicka was the great granddaughter of the evil god Akhekh. She was born into a legacy of magickal gifts that she wanted no part of. After years touring as a blues singer she returned home where she only wanted the seclusion of the mountains. A chance meeting with the mysterious club owner forced Sorina into the battle of her life.
Sorina Ruzicka was the great granddaughter of the evil god Akhekh. She was born into a legacy of magickal gifts that she wanted no part of. After years touring as a blues singer she returned home where she only wanted the seclusion of the mountains. A chance meeting with the mysterious club owner forced Sorina into the battle of her life.
Can a willful
witch, accept the controlling nature of a demon who demands submission? Trusts
will be tested, lines will be crossed and a fate neither of them expected will
be played out.
Author
Bio
Stacy was born
in West Virginia but now finds herself living in Texas. She has loved
writing since the first grade when she completed her first book, The Land
without Rules. Her mother will tell you it was a brilliant book.
Throughout her
school years she was in journalism and has been an avid reader of all
literature. She has always craved the feeling of discovering an author's world
for the first time. Now she devotes her time to creating her own worlds.
Stacy focuses mainly on paranormal romance and poetry. She loves creating
dominant male characters and headstrong females for her books.
Stacy now finds
herself on a new journey and finally has taken the leap to go after her dreams.
She recently finished a poetry book, Whispers in the Dark with two fellow
authors and finished her first novel Blood Myth in her Myth Series.
3 Excerpts to
choose from
CHAPTER
THREE
Outside her cottage, the wind rose and whirled fiendishly.
Rain pelted at her windows. Sorina wrapped her arms around her up drawn knees,
resting her head on them. She felt his emotions. She sensed his need and what
he wanted her to understand, but she didn’t understand.
“Sorina.” Zakah made sure his voice was
warm, sensual, caressing, velvety, and soothing. “Don’t try to understand, my
little rabbit.” He could feel her anguish even though she tried to hide it with
her stubborn chin and defiant eyes.
A shadow flickered from a candle. Her
eyes followed the shadow. She gasped up at his tall, dark, well-muscled frame
which appeared out of nowhere. Sorina stammered, looking up at him towering
over her. “What are you doing here?”
She looked like a scared rabbit. He
never felt regret or pity, but to know he was the cause of her fear broke his
heart. Zakah couldn’t stop himself; he did something he had never done in all
his long years. He wanted to give comfort, take away her fears. Zakah gathered
her into his arms, imprisoning her against his hard chest. “Breathe, Sorina. It
will help.”
She pushed against the wall of his
chest. “Let go of me. I am not a child who needs to be cradled or spanked.”
She emphasized the last word.
Zakah ignored her struggle to pull away
from him. He held her close to his chest, his hand stroking over her back
slowly. He buried her face in the wealth of her luxurious hair, breathing in
the sweet scent of citrus.
Sorina found the strength to pull back
from his embrace. “I saw you. I felt you when you were using that rod on that
woman. You were imagining she was me.”
Her breath caught in her throat when he threaded his fingers through her
hair. Zakah gripped her scalp in his strong hands, yanking her head back and the
look in his eyes seared her to the bones.
He lowered his head, his mouth inches
from her plump lips, so that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her
skin. “Yes, I did imagine she was you. I wanted her to be you. I needed her to
be you.”
Sorina was silent. She started to
tremble in his arms. He knew his words were beginning to sink in. Zakah took in
the sad shadows and fear lingering in her large, golden green eyes.
Her heart was pounding. “I want you to
leave.” She pushed at the wall of his chest.
He merely tightened his hold on her.
Zakah could not hide the bit of enjoyment he was getting from her struggle.
“You do not want me to go, Sorina.”
“Yes, I want you to go, Zakah.” His smug look of amusement infuriated her,
making her work to keep her voice under control.
“You are safe with me, Sorina. I would
not allow anyone or anything to harm you.”
She swallowed nervously, whispering
defiantly, “Just you.”
Excerpt # 2 words 789
CHAPTER TWELVE
Zakah was not a fool; he knew the trail was too well marked.
No one would be so obvious unless it was a trap. It did not matter, Tanerk had
his female. He would go where the trail led. Tanerk was an ancient Raka, a
species nearly immortal, and his părinte was their king. But, Zakah was a
predator also, capable of becoming just as loathsome and dangerous as his
ancestors. He heard the same insidious
whispers and felt the same hunger for power his părinte and other Raka did.
Zakah also had the same incredible need to create pain, but he fought and
controlled the violence clawing to get out of him every day. He had come close
to giving into the calls of evil on more than one occasion. Ironically, Zakah’s
need for control included his own internal demons.
He lifted his head to the sky and
scanned his surroundings. Zakah took in the large area, discovering two other
beings near. He maneuvered through the wooded area. Easily, he shifted through
the branches, bushes, leaves, and darkness of the forest. He came to a
clearing, and he saw the tall figure of Tanerk emerge from mist with Sergei
Raka. Tanerk’s nephew stood a few feet behind his unchi.
The wind rushed through the grove of
trees and dark clouds swirled into a boiling cauldron. Whips of white hot
energy illuminated the midnight sky. The earth rumbled with the deep sound of
thunder. Zakah smirked in his părinte’s direction. “No need to put on a show, Babac. A bit
of a cliché, don’t you think?” He stood alert, his mind and body prepared for
whatever Tanerk had planned.
“Discretion was never my thing, sonny
boy. Why have power and magick if you do not flaunt it?” Tanerk shrugged
casually.
Zakah looked over to his right. “Your
minion can back off. I’m coming with you freely.”
Tanerk threw his head back and laughed.
The sick, menacing sound echoed through the forest. “I did not come to collect
you. I came to kill you,” the elder Raka continued. “I have two Saka witches
now. One is moments from giving herself freely, and the other, well,” his voice
purred the words, “your little rabbit has been caught, and she will make a
delicious feast.”
Zakah started for his Tanerk, but he
caught movement from the corner of his eye. Sergei had made his way to Zakah’s
left. He reacted quickly, jumping into the air; Zakah somersaulted through the
sky and landed in front of an unmoving Tanerk. The leader of the Raka just
looked at him, grinning. Abruptly, the trees caught fire; showers of hot embers
fell, penetrating and engulfing Zakah in pain. The fiery cinders burrowed into
his skin and drove their way into his blood.
Zakah knew he was in serious trouble,
but he shoved the thought aside. He pushed off of the ground and burst through
the air, shifting for the first time into his diavol form. Zakah’s fists
tripled in size and led his dive from the sky toward Tanerk. He intended to
smash through his părinte’s chest and rip out his evil heart, but Tanerk’s body
had already turned to mist... Zakah’s fist passed through the Raka’s physique
unharmed. He felt knife-like nails dive deep into his arm. Sergei had hurled
himself onto Zakah’s back. Razor sharp talons sunk into his shoulder. He howled
out from the pain. Zakah thrust the Raka off his back and dissolved into mist.
In his vapor state, he went straight for
Tanerk, shifting at the last second back into his solid demonic form; his
morphed hands went around his părinte’s throat. Tanerk hissed and transformed
into his demon shape, retaliating with a swipe of his vicious claws at Zakah’s
eyes. A brutal head-butt followed which allowed the Raka to free himself from
his băiat’s grasp.
“I have a banquet of prime witch to
feast upon.” Tanerk grinned and disappeared.
Zakah’s body was damaged and needed to
begin repairing so he could find Sorina. He knew it was time to begin the
retreat, but Sergei was still there. Zakah turned toward the Raka and started
approaching him. The two men circled each other for a moment. Zakah watched
Sergei jump into the air, so he mimicked his actions. The two of them collided.
Zakah’s fist met Sergei’s face with a loud crack, starting their decent to the
ground. Zakah grabbed his enemy’s body and threw him against a nearby tree.
Zakah lifted his hands to the heavens,
summoning his inner power with a few ancient words and threw a bolt of
lightning into Sergei’s chest. He repeated this over and over until there was
nothing but ashes left on the ground.
Excerpt #3 words
744
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
There was an unexpected silence, everything stilled, and the
Raka backed away, clearing a path. Tanerk had arrived. Their leader, their king
joined the battle. It was hard not to be in awe of Tanerk, his ancient power
radiated from him. His handsome face sneered, showing his disgust and contempt
of not only the Saka but his Raka. “Pathetic, this is not finished yet?”
Tanerk’s eyes glowed; he turned from Zakah and focused on Gavril.
His gaze fell on the Saka Guardian. “We
meet again. You do not look well, Saka.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” Gavril
answered.
“I had hoped you would be here today.”
Tanerk moved slowly toward Lilith. His harsh eyes never left Gavril’s.
Gavril pushed past a grouping of Raka,
placing himself in front of his sora. “I’m thrilled I made your day.”
Tanerk lifted his head, taking in the
sounds of his Raka hissing. “They are eager to kill you, Saka. They would fight
one another for the honor of slaying the Guardian. Such power one must have to
create such hatred. How does it feel to have so many despise your very
existence?” The leader of the Raka’s lips curved into a cruel, sinister grin.
“You should know that feeling well.”
Gavril’s voice was low but carried power and authority.
Tanerk smiled. “Oh, but you are wrong.
Yes, the Saka hate my existence, but you the Saka Guardian, are hated even
among your own kind. Why do you bother to protect a race who cannot even look
you in the eye?”
Sorina’s breath caught in her throat.
She knew Tanerk was a master manipulator and capable of finding one’s innermost
hidden struggles. It was how he was able to turn the Saka; he worked on their
doubts, their insecurities. Gavril would not be normal if he was not angry with
his place in the Sabat or in this world. He protected the Saka and made the
hard decisions in life to guard the innocent beings of the world. Her unchi
fought and lived alone. He had no one to come home to. She didn’t remember him
ever having a woman in his life or real friends.
Gavril knew his eyes blazed with hatred,
stepping closer to Tanerk. The movement triggered a restless murmuring of the
Raka, and they pressed forward until Tanerk held up his hand. The revulsion
Gavril felt for Tanerk was so strong that he knew everyone could feel it. The
need to kill Tanerk created an energy that felt like it was alive. The Raka
King remained calm while Gavril was on the edge of violence.
“There will be no Saka left when I am
finished. Your women will be the maiculeană of the new generation of Raka.”
Tanerk licked his lips in anticipation. “Mmm, who should I start with, the
supposed Queen of the Saka or the High Priestess?” He winked at Lilith.
“Biankha wants you, Priestess; she has a score to settle.” He glanced at Nikolette
briefly. “That one is almost ready, is she not, Guardian?”
Zakah glanced at Sorina. She stood
beside Afina. Nikolette was behind them with Zampara at her side. Sorina let
her thoughts carry to Zakah and the others. She prayed opening up her mind to
them would not free her thoughts to Tanerk. I
think I can break the shield and free our powers. Bunica, if you and Nikolette
help, we can penetrate it faster.
The women all agreed and slowly moved
closer to one another while Tanerk was focused on taunting Gavril. Sorina
blocked out the rising fear and concentrated on the feel of the shield. It
wasn’t much different from normal safeguards, but the spell had been warped for
evil purposes. It was still just basic safeguards, and she knew this kind of
magick. Nikolette was drawn to weapons and more physical training, while Sorina
practiced witchery and the manipulation of spells in her youth. She spent days
with her bunica, learning the art of spell casting and weaving magick. She held
her palms up to feel the strength of the weave. Afina and Nikolette shielded
Sorina from the Tanerk and his Raka in an effort to keep him from seeing what
she was doing. Sorina’s hand moved gracefully as she felt the pattern of the
barrier blocking their powers.
“Or shall I start with my băiat’s
whore?” Tanerk smirked.
NO!
Sorina shouted in Zakah’s head, but it was too late. He had already
gripped the hilt of his sword and lunged at his părinte. He was severely
handicapped without the use of his powers, but it did not stop him from going
full force at Tanerk.
