#MidWeekTease Ethereal Guardian

Hopefully soon I can start sharing something new I'm working on, but currently, it's still all in my notebook and needs to be transcribed. In the meantime, I have another snip from Ethereal Guardian. This does follow the previous, which was a dream/flashback.

Ember woke with a start. Her heart pounded in her ears and she clutched her chest. If Summer hadn’t described her memories as Mary Parker, she might think she was crazy. Instead, she wondered who Anne, her ancestor, was.

Climbing out of bed, she pulled on a robe and descended to get a glass of water from the kitchen. She paused on her return, watching Geoffrey pace the spot where they’d worked the spell on Duncan. The ghost seemed very solid, only a hint of an aura gave him an unnatural cast.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“The floor feels different here. Like I might fall through it. You know, I don’t understand why I don’t fall through floors the way I go through doors and walls.”

Ember shook her head. “Best not to think about it. I know it feels hot to me, like it’s been in the sun for hours. Geoffrey, did you know a girl named Anne and her brother, Thom?”

The ghost cocked his head to the side then shook it. “No, I don’t think so.”

“It’s okay. I just had a dream.”

“Good?”

She shook her head, sipping water from the glass. “No. I think it was the beginning of the witch trials.”

Geoffrey shuddered, wrapping his arms around himself, as though he were cold. “That was a bad time. I was young when it first started, but it grew, even after they…after Mary, they did horrible things to other women. Of course, after Mary, I didn’t pay it much mind.” He turned away, looking to his feet.

“I understand. Thank you, Geoffrey.”

“Any time, Ember.”

“Do you sleep?” she wondered aloud.

He chuckled. “Sort of. I rest after you’ve all left. I like to be active when you’re here. Feel less like a lurker that way.”

Ember nodded. “I’m glad too. It would be much worse if you just popped in and out of existence.”

“Exactly. Sleep well, Ember. I’m sure your dreams or memories will guide you, just as Mary’s, Summer’s did.”

“I hope so.”

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#MidWeekTease Ethereal Guardian

I'm going to continue with excerpts from this WIP. I hope you enjoy.

Thom breathed deep and his shoulders slumped slightly.
Ember shook herself, breaking free of his hold. “What are you about, Thom? Why are you acting strangely?” It was odd enough that he sent a note rather than visiting himself. His countenance worried her.
He looked toward the door the Reverend had entered. Satisfied with what he found, that it was still closed she assumed, he pulled her through another doorframe and closed that door, leaning with his ear to it.
“Pastor Mather believes Dorothy is…possessed.”
“What!” She clamped her hand over her mouth and Thom frowned, leaning his ear to the door again. “Why would he think that?”
“You saw how her babe recovered? How quickly? He believes she made a deal with the devil to save the child.”
Ember shook her head, thinking of Dorothy, their cousin, only a handful of years older than Thom. Dorothy was…outspoken. She let her hair down when in her home and unbuttoned her collar and cuffs, but in all other ways she followed every letter of every law laid out by their Lord. She couldn’t be less evil or more good.
“What are we going to do?”
“Warn her. I couldn’t write this. I can barely speak it.”

Ember nodded. “I will, immediately. If you can think of any way for us to clear her of this charge, please, let us know.”
“I will, Anne. I’m asking Pastor Mather just that, carefully. Hoping he’ll take my interest as mere curiosity. If I find anything, I will call on you again.”
“Oh, Thom. You don’t think he would hurt anyone, do you?”
He shook his head. “I don’t, but you’ve heard of other rumors, other towns. Salem is no different. It could happen here as easily as anywhere.”
Ember nodded. “I understand. Take care, Thom.”
Just then the door opened and they both jumped.
The Pastor opened the door only wide enough to peer in. “Thom, I need you. Please see your sister off.”
“Yes, Reverend.”
“Thank you, Reverend, for letting me visit.”
His frown smoothed. “You are welcome, Anne. Our Lord opens his arms for each of us, including you.”
She bowed her head and kept her eyes on the floor.
He didn’t close the door, leaving it ajar as he walked away.
She spun and hugged Thom in a tight hug. “Take care.”
“I will. Go.”
Reluctant, she released her brother and walked out the door.

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#MidWeekTease Ethereal Guardian

Still sharing from the third Ghosts of Salem book, tentatively titled Ethereal Guardian. Like her roommates and fellow coven witches, she is dreaming of being her own ancestor.

Ember picked up her skirts and stepped carefully around a puddle in her path. She quickly dropped them again, eyes darting to be sure no one saw her ankles. Her face flushed at the thought and she stepped more lively toward the church. She wasn’t late, wasn’t even expected, but hurried all the same.
Knocking on the door of the rectory, she held her breath. Sweat gathered between her breasts and rolled down her chest. The season wasn’t warm, but the sun held more heat than expected. Nerves have nothing to do with it.
The door opened only a crack and a hand darted out to close on her gloved wrist. She let out a screech as she was yanked inside.
“Anne, you came.” Thom wrapped her in a hug
“Of course I came.”
“Did anyone see you?”
“I’m sure someone did. Why?”
Pastor Mather rounded a corner and Thom pushed her behind him. “Brother Thom? Are you well?” He cocked his head. “Good day, Anne. Visiting your brother?”
“Yes, Reverend.”
“Well, be quick about it. He has work to do.” The older man moved on, opening and closing a door to one of the rooms along the hall.
Thom breathed deep and his shoulders slumped slightly.

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#MidWeekTease Getting back in the saddle

After a very dry writing season (although there was a decent amount of rain outside) I'm trying to be more regular, push myself to do more, to get back into the flow of writing, editing, releasing, promotion. First step? Tease something. Something new? Well, it's not newly written, but newly shared. This is from the third book of the Ghosts of Salem. One of the aims is to finish it and it's partner, the fourth and final book of the set.

Here's your tease:

“Ember!” Turning, she spotted Connor coming out of another building. Rather than head in his direction, she took a moment to drink him in. The nursing student had thick arms, filling the sleeves of his fleece hoodie. He trotted up to her, dark blond hair bouncing slightly on each step and falling into his warm brown eyes. His smile gleamed, teeth bright, and any fear or doubt faded out in its light. Those firm arms wrapped around her, pulling her to his broad chest. His chiseled chin rested on the top of her head as he hugged her, marking a straight line.

“I missed you,” she told him. He’d crossed her mind many times since her return. Their relationship was new enough that she sometimes forgot the hole left in his absence, but his arrival promptly filled it again. 

“Missed you too.” He released her enough to look into her eyes. “You had a good break, though, right?”

She snickered. “Yes.”

“Oh, good.” He sighed and took her hand in his. “Where are you headed?”

She pulled against his hold, stopping him. “Yours wasn’t?”

He sighed again. “Nothing big. Just have some family I’d rather not visit, y’know?”

Ember nodded. “I don’t really, but sure, I can see how that might happen.”

“Let’s just say, it is amazing to see you again.” Wrapping those strong arms around her, he pulled her close enough to kiss. 

They were still amid milling students, so despite her toes curling in her boots, she pulled away before it deepened. 

“Hey, I know it’s still morning, but can I steal you sometime?” Connor asked taking her hand again and leading her toward the quad.

“Depends what you’re stealing me from, I guess.” She stepped around a slushy puddle and her dream returned. She had to blink away the memory of a long skirt and buttoned shoes. Even knowing her friends were experiencing the same, she had trouble accepting the woman was actually her ancestor.

Connor’s voice broke the spell. “Nothing crucial. Just hoped that maybe, for lunch, we could go to my place.”

Butterflies appeared in her stomach, but the fluttering quickly led to the bottom dropping out. In the dorm, the same tower where she’d met Duncan, where he’d…

“Um, maybe? Is there somewhere else we could eat?” She looked to the building in the distance, worried it would fall on her, crush her.

Connor growled low in his throat. “He hurt you there. If he weren’t on his way out, I’d rip that guy apart.” He punched a fist into a palm and Ember started at the force of it. “Listen, we don’t have to go to my room, but I want to take you inside, just the lobby. You can’t let him rule you forever.”

Taking a deep breath, she settled her nerves. He was right. Duncan had made her miserable more than long enough.

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