Sample chapters from book 2 - Lost In Another Realm
Chapter 1 - The Bara'ad
The leaves rustled as the wind brushed past them. Sarah caught her breath as
she chased robins through the trees, gliding between branches with the
exuberance of a child at a playground.
Birds chirping, leaves falling, the sounds of the forest - and a man's
terrified scream. Back to work..
A warrior on patrol, it was her duty to see to the safety of the people in
these woods.
Her keen eyes pierced through the dense forest. A man trapped in a cocoon
cowered beneath a spreading oak tree. Only his face and neck were exposed.
A female Spidr'ac bared its fangs. With its eight spindly legs, it rapidly
made its way to the man. Its eyes were fixated on his neck.
"Please, no," said the man. His face was white as a sheet.
Sarah hovered over the man. Her hands went ablaze. In an exhilarating burst
of power, she discharged a stream of fire, leaving a pile of ashes in place of
the Spidr'ac.
Landing in front of the man, Sarah tore open the cocoon as if it were strands
of crepe paper.
"Thanks," he said.
"You're welcome," she smiled warmly.
His legs melted into a thick jelly and his entire body collapsed into a black
mound. Several tentacles lashed out from the mound and twined themselves around
Sarah. A multitude of glowing eyes opened around her, scrutinizing its victim.
Sarah's felt her strength drain away. The tentacles' icy touch had a
paralyzing effect on her. She could barely draw a breath. Too weak... can't fight back...
A black hole burst open beneath them and the creature with Sarah fell in
through it - into another world.
Leaning forward with his elbow on the table and his chin on his hand, Jake
was engrossed in the discussion.
Clayton dumped a glowing bundle on Torin's desk. "We found parcels of
raw energy in a dragon's nest. Helen analyzed them and found they were directly
from Jake."
"What are samples of Jake's energy doing there?" asked Torin.
"I salvaged some documents from the nest. Apparently, they are testing
something that is supposed to neutralize Jake's power," said Duncan.
"How did they get those parcels?" asked Jake.
Before anyone could answer, a scream rang right through his head. Sarah!
Their shared mind link told him everything.
His pulse raced as he appeared beneath the oak tree. Sarah was gone. The
portal had shrunk to the size of a pin hole.
With his glowing hand, he tore open the portal and plunged in.
Falling through the portal into another world, Jake realized that like Sarah,
his power was gone. A black gelatinous mound slithered through the woods,
carrying Sarah with it.
The creature's icy embrace penetrated her skin, chilling her bones. The acrid
stench of dung mixed with petroleum made breathing an unpleasant endeavor.
Though the paralyzing weakness had faded, the creature's steely grip was
unyielding. Without her powers, she could not break free. If I can just slip out..
Relaxing her body, exhaling every ounce of air from her lungs, she tried to
wriggle her way out.
Like beads of mercury, the creature oozed itself into the gaps she made so
she had no space to escape. What is this thing?! It's got to feel some pain...
She dug her nails into the creature, but her nails sank in harmlessly as if
it were some sort of viscous liquid.
Jake's fire was gone. He needed a weapon. Bending over, he picked a sharp
rock that lay beside him.
His heart pounded with fury as he sprinted after the creature. Pouncing onto
it like a lion upon its prey, he plunged the rock into the dark beast.
The rock sank harmlessly into the living gelatin.
Jake felt trapped in a block of ice. A paralyzing numbness spread throughout
his body. He sank helplessly into the black mound, as if it were quicksand.
Sarah watched her world collapse as the creature swallowed her Jake like a
snake ingesting a rat. "Jake!"
Apparently, the beast did not find Jake palatable. It spit him out like
someone would spit out rotten meat. A Bara'ad! Should've known.
Covered in a nauseating jelly that smelled like vomit and dung, Jake sprawled
out on the grass, his green-flecked eyes darted around searching for something
else he could use. I need fire, or at least something that gives out heat and light.
His gaze fell on the golden vines laden with glowing fruit. Fire melons. Bara'ads hate these.
Jake picked up a sharp stone and plunged it into the glowing fruit. The
juice-covered stone was like the glowing embers of a fire. It was almost too hot
to touch, and it glowed brilliantly.
Like a dart throwing champion, he hurled the stone into the Bara'ads eye.
With a piercing shriek, the beast faded into a wisp of black smoke.
Sarah shook uncontrollably as she stood in its place. Her skin was like that
of a plucked chicken - goosebumps everywhere. Her grime-coated body stank of
petroleum and fresh dung.
"Are you alright?" asked Jake, his voice brimming with tenderness.
"I’ll live," she replied. The smell of vomit and dung drifted
towards her. "Boy, do you stink!" she said with a smile of relief.
"So do you," he laughed. "Now, eat this," he said as he
offered her fire melon.
"Ow!" She dropped the burning fruit, splattering it all over the
ground.
"Forgot to warn you about the heat," laughed Jake as he handed her
another fruit.
Gingerly, she bit through its thin skin right into the juicy pulp. The sweet,
tangy taste filled her mouth.
The pleasantly hot juice trickled down her throat, into her stomach, warming
her from within. She stopped shivering.
"Oh wow. These are better than apples," she said as she took
another bite.
Sarah noticed that her arms were glowing. She realized her skin was fiery as
if she were in her warrior form. Excited, she leaped in an attempt to fly, but
fell forward instead.
"You won't get your powers back by eating a fruit," chuckled Jake
as he helped her to her feet.
His touch made her skin tingle and turned her heart into a fluttering
butterfly.
"Have some more. They'll strengthen you and repel the Bara'ads," he
said as he offered her another fire melon.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"In another realm," he answered as he took her hand.
Her cheeks turned into a pair of ripe tomatoes. Lowering her gaze, she asked,
"How do we get back?"
"Normally, I'd tear open a portal and fly home. I usually retain my
powers when I go realm hopping. This is the first time I've lost them," he
replied as he munched.
The ground was bronze, littered with marble stones and shimmery emerald
clusters that resembled grass. Golden vines laden with fire melons draped over
the ground. Shrubs with tiny fruit that glowed like tiny icicles in winter
peppered the land.
"This place is beautiful, so unreal," said Sarah as they explored
the land.
"I've been here before. There is something new in this realm that
neutralizes our powers," said Jake with a distant look in his eyes.
They strolled past a cluster of trees. The tree trunks and branches were like
copper. There were no leaves, only huge pear shaped fruit that glowed with red
and yellow swirls.
Bronze vines crept up these trees. These were laden with amethyst gourds that
shone in the sunlight.
"This world is a lot like home. Most of these fruits are edible. Humans
can settle here permanently, living off these fruits, the wild fowl and water
from the streams," said Jake.
The emerald clusters beneath their feet were as soft as the thick piled
carpets back home. The air was pleasantly cool. Sweet voices of unseen animals
and hidden birds added to the songs of that alien world.
"Look," said Sarah. Her eyes brightened with excitement as she
pointed to a herd of winged horses that flew over the trees. "Wonder what
it's like to ride one of those."
Chapter 2 - Waterfall
Brilliant streams of water tumbled from a marble cliff, into a golden lake
that glistened in the sun.
"Do you see that?" said Sarah as they emerged from the coppery
forest. Her dewy eyes glistened as her lips broke into a radiant smile.
"I'm going in for a bath."
"Go ahead," laughed Jake, still covered with the nauseating grime.
Slipping into the golden lake, fully clothed, Sarah frolicked in the water
like a dolphin. The grime washed away as she swam.
Sarah emerged from the water. Her hair glistened in the sun like tendrils of
pure gold, caressing her luscious curves, down to her tiny waist. Her clothes
were barely visible, made transparent by the water as they clung to her skin.
"Get in. You need a bath too," she said. Her hazel eyes sparkled
with brilliant flecks of green, and twinkled mischievously as her sultry lips
pouted sensuously.
Mesmerized, Jake stood rooted to the ground. His heart throbbed longingly as
his eyes took in her beauty.
"Come in. The water's great!" she said.
Jake took a step forward and tripped on a stone.
Sarah's laughter tinkled like silver bells. "What are you waiting
for?"
Abruptly, her radiant face turned white. Her laughter was replaced by a
piercing scream. She vanished under the water that bubbled in her place.
Adrenaline surging through his veins, Jake dived into the water and raced
towards Sarah.
He saw it - a giant green serpent twined around her legs, pulling her into
the water. Sarah struggled, but was unable to break free. It's drowning her!
Jake's heart pounded furiously. His sinewy arms tightened as he grabbed the
serpent’s head and twisted it backwards, trying to break its spine.
In its struggle, the serpent released Sarah and lashed wildly at Jake with
its massive tail. It hit him with such force, he was thrown against the sharp
rocks below.
Jake's back stung from the cuts he sustained. His lungs felt like balloons
pumped beyond maximum capacity. Ignoring the pain, he surfaced for a gulp of
air.
The hunter became the prey. The serpent coiled its tail around Jake's torso,
pulling him towards its mouth.
A sharp pain pierced through his arm. The fangs had found their mark. Blood
gushed out of the throbbing wound as the serpent lunged again.
Ignoring the searing pain, Jake grabbed the serpent’s mouth. He braced
himself, digging his feet into the muddy ground of the shallower waters for
support as the serpent’s tail lashed wildly at him. Jake's entire body tensed
up. With a burst of strength, he tore apart its jaws.
The serpent’s body went limp. The lifeless beast sank to the bottom of the
lake.
It was over. The golden lake was a pool of blood. Jake swam to the shore,
leaving a trail of blood as he walked towards Sarah.
"Your arm," she said as concern clouded her eyes.
"It'll heal. Are you okay?" he asked as he examined the red marks
on her milky thigh. His warm touch made her heart palpitate.
Sarah's cheeks were like the glowing coals in a barbecue pit. As she lowered
her eyes, her eyelashes fluttered like leaves in the wind.
"I'm fine. Just a few bruises but you? The poison.." she murmured.
Gazing at Sarah, Jake was silent - spellbound by her beauty. Her sweet
breath of tuberose and vanilla drugged him.
"The snake bit you. Is it poisonous?" she asked.
"Oh, that. A tourniquet and some herbs would take care of it," he
said as he tore a strip off his shirt. "Here, help me tie this above the
wound."
Sarah took the fabric from his hand. It was imbued with the intoxicating
scent of an orange grove drenched in musk - the smell of Jake without his
fire. Unconsciously, she brought it to her nose. Her cheeks burnt hotter when
she realized what she was doing.
Carefully, she tied the tourniquet as he instructed, as gently as she could.
"Tighter. You have to stop the blood flow. Don't worry. I'm not made of
paper," he laughed.
Gingerly, she pulled the fabric tightly over his sinewy arm, marvelling at
the impressive way he was sculpted.
"Thanks," he smiled as he held her close with his good arm.
His warm scent enveloped her - pheromone tinged sweat in an orange grove.
She rested her head on his massive chest. Smiling blissfully, they watched
the birds fly past. Each bird had plumage that glowed in two or more colors. The
flock the flew past them had feathers like blue and pink sapphires while the
birds that rested in the trees around them were dressed in rubies, emeralds and
amber.
"I'd love to take a long break here," she said. "Haven't had a
vacation since the day I joined you as an elite warrior."
"Looks like we're stranded here. We’ll just have to wait for Torin's
rescue team," replied Jake with an impish grin.
"I hope the rescue team won’t ever arrive," said Sarah. Her
cheeks turned as red as rubies under Jake’s admiring glance.
"Come, I know where to get the herbs. They are found near a comfortable
place we can call our temporary home," he said.
Arms entwined, they strolled towards the a mountain range. Along the way,
Jake plucked sprigs of several plants to use as medicine.
"There," he said, pointing to a large at the side of a mountain.
"The walls are smooth. This place is so large, spacious and comfortable.
Are the caves here like this?" she asked.
"It's not a natural cave. I made it during my last visit, by accident.
Threw a fireball at a dragon and missed. Hit the mountain instead," he
laughed.
"We can store the food and water here. The empty skins of these gourds
would be perfect as our water containers," mused Sarah.
"We'll need fire if we're to survive. There are all sorts of beasts in
this world and fire's our only protection. That's our first priority," he
said.
Jake returned with a large pile of branches, leaves and dry grass. He struck
a flint against his steel belt and fanned the flames into a merry blaze.
Sarah boiled the herbs in water and dressed Jake's wounds, both the gaping
wound on his arm and his interestingly patterned back.
Jake winced as the stinging solution seeped into his wounds.
"That'll do," she said, pleased with her work.
Gazing at his lovely Sarah, he put his arms around her, bringing her close to
him.
Holding her blushing face, he kissed her lips tenderly. They were lost in the
warmth of their love, drugged by that long, lingering kiss.
Chapter 3 - Missing
"You called?" said Helen as she appeared before Torin. The scent of
rose, orchids and germicide breezed in with her.
Torin looked up. His brow was etched with concern.
"It's about Jake and Sarah, isn't it?" said Helen.
"There's no trace of them in our realm," said Torin.
"Those lovebirds probably want some time alone. Jake must have blocked
your mind probes to protect their privacy," she laughed.
"Even if he blocks my probes, I'd still be able to see the energy he
emits."
"Not if they've gone realm hopping," mused Helen.
"Jake's too responsible to leave without informing anyone."
"You do have a point. Alright. I'll set up my tracking system to locate
their exact whereabouts."
Harsh lights illuminated the room. Helen headed straight for the console and
entered Jake's biodata.
"Found anything?" asked Torin.
"Nothing in this realm or the twenty neighboring realms," said
Helen. "I'll track the next hundred realms. No one ever goes that far
anyway."
Minutes seemed like hours. The whirring sounds of the overworked computers
irritated Torin. "Remind me to procure new equipment for you," he
muttered.
Helen smiled knowingly.
"Still nothing. Not in two hundred realms. No point tracking further.
Let me try Sarah's biodata," said Helen.
After a painstaking wait, the system returned a negative response.
"They're really gone," said Helen.
"Impossible. How could the two of them vanish without a trace? Can your
system track their physical bodies?" asked Torin.
"I'm afraid not. Only their active energy can be traced across
realms," said Helen.
A pair of elite warriors appeared before Torin.
"Hope we're not disturbing you sir, but we're here to report our
findings," said Nitis.
"Proceed," said Torin.
"We were sent to follow up on Duncan's and Clayton's findings.
Apparently, the dark beasts now have a device that can suppress Jake's power
completely," said Nitis.
"Does it work only on Jake or on all our energy based warriors?"
asked Torin.
"It would work on all of us," said Nitis.
"They intend to invade our world again. This time with these suppression
devices. With all our powers gone, we cannot rely on Jake's counterattack to
stop them," said Alcott.
"Where are these devices kept?" asked Torin.
"In another realm- no one knows which one," Alcott replied.
"Find out and get back to me. We have two missing elites. I think they
are stranded in that realm," said Torin.
Chapter 4 - Hakan
"Bob, I heard you have problems short-listing candidates for the
position of a new elite warrior. I can help," said Hakan.
Fine needles of rain sprinkled over the warriors.
"Can't let our favourite trainer catch a cold," said Hakan,
flashing a toothy grin as he sheltered Bob with a family-sized umbrella.
"Thanks, but I'm not made of sugar," said Bob as he stepped aside.
He could not stand boot-lickers. Such games might work in the regular world, but
not in the warrior community where everyone is a telepath.
"Seriously. Why beg those guys to take a post they don't even want? I'm
different. I'd love to take on the responsibilities associated with the elite.
Besides, haven't I proven myself on the field? Who thought of that trap that
snared the scorpion queen?"
"If you knew what that entails, you'd think twice. I didn't have that
choice. You kids do."
"You still need to fill up the list of potential candidates. Feel free
to slot my name just to make up the numbers," said Hakan, holding his grin
under his shelter as Bob flew off.
Staring through the glass wall of his apartment, Hakan watched the busy
street below him. Men peddling carts selling their wares. Cobblers below the
tracks of the overhead trains. People rushing off to work while he lounged at
his sofa, watching the world go by. His patrol was to begin in an hour. Plenty
of time to go. No missions scheduled yet. He was bored.
He enjoyed the life of a warrior. Still a bachelor, he could pick up girls
easily and impress them with his warrior powers. Life between patrols was a long
party. His expenses paid for by The Academy that seemed to have endless funds.
The view from his apartment was nothing like what the elite warriors had. The
perks the stealths enjoyed paled in comparison to their elite brothers. Those
lucky guys lived in the clouds. As a warrior, he was welcome to visit that city,
but since he was posted to guard this town, he had to live here - with ordinary
folks. On top of that, there was the dirt, chaos and noisy kids that abounded
here.
He had seen Bob's living quarters which was at least three times the size of
his miserable apartment and the view there was astounding. The world was so
quiet up there. What do you expect? Living in the clouds. Those lucky elites
were immortal on top of that.
He'd give anything to join them - to be an elite warrior.
"You've been short listed for the position of an elite warrior. Please
report to Torin in his room now," said the telecommunications droid.
His heart thumping with anticipation, Hakan popped up before Torin for his
appraisal. He held his breath while Torin probed his mind.
"He's not suitable," said Torin as he turned to Bob. "Evan's
the only one in your team that meets the requirements."
"Why? I'd make a better elite than that bimbo, Sarah. She's an elite
only because Jake fancies her. I was the one who came up with the plan that
trapped the scorpion queen," said Hakan as his disappointment turned to
anger.
"Your mental structure cannot contain the power of an elite warrior.
You'd go insane," said Torin.
Bob and his team sat around the oak table in the meeting room.
Torin stood up before the men. "We need new elite warriors to beef up
our forces. I have selected Evan to join our elite force."
Torin's eyes pierced right through Evan. "I want you to join us as an
elite warrior. Bob will train you for your new role."
Evan shifted his weight. "I'm honored but I'll have to turn down your
offer. My family needs me."
Hakan flashed a toothy grin at Torin. "Since he's not interested, I can
take his place."
"No. You're not suitable for that role."
"Evan doesn't want it. I do. So what's your problem?" snarled Hakan.
Torin's voice was firm. "The answer is still no."
"You BASTARD!" Hakan hurled the table at Torin.
With a thought, Torin suspended the table in mid air. "Evan, escort
Hakan out of this building."
"Hands off me, you wimp!" Hakan hurled a blast of raw energy at
Evan who blocked it with his force field. Telekinetically, Hakan lifted the
chairs in the room and flung them at Evan.
"Enough!" Torin's eyes glowed dangerously as he forced the chairs
back to their rightful places with his power. His eyes pierced through Hakan.
"Stop this childish behavior. Apologize to Evan at once!"
"I'll do no such thing." Hakan vanished.
Trudging down a muddy path, Hakan kicked a stone unfortunate enough to stand
in his way. His breath was shallow, as rage simmered in his heart. "I'd do
anything to get hold of their power. Then they'll pay. They'll know who the
greatest warrior really is," he said to himself.
"Hakan," whispered a low voice.
Hakan stiffened.
"Hakan, I can give you the power of an elite..." said the voice.
"Who are you?" asked Hakan.
"Jake's power can be yours, in return for a small favour."
Hakan's face brightened, "What favour?"
The voice told him what was expected.
Looking out of the window, Helen could see the full moon in the ebony sky
devoid of clouds. In her mind, she heard werewolves howl at it - creatures
that horrified her as a kid, long before she became a warrior. Now, she hunts
them down.
Beep.. whirrr... beep
The droids busied themselves cleaning up the acids, glass and metal shards
that littered her laboratory. The result of yet another explosion. If I weren't indestructible, I'd have died many times over by now. Jake's
energy is so... savage... indomitable... pretty much like Jake himself.
She had spent the entire day working on a device to contain Jake's rampant
power; to prevent that energy from consuming Jake, eventually. Looks like the dark beasts beat me to it. I hope Jake has the sense to
deliver that device to me intact if he should encounter it.
I could use the technology behind it to help him.
Helen could barely keep her eyes open. Bleary eyed, she returned a glowing
canister of energy to the safe and locked it.
"She's gone," said Hakan to his invisible companion.
"You're on your own now. You've got all the instructions on what to
do," said the voice.
Hakan teleported himself into the lab. His heart thumped so loudly he was
afraid they'd hear him. Hovering to avoid leaving footprints, he approached the
safe.
His gloved hand trembled as he turned the knob, following the combination he
had memorized earlier.
The safe's door flew open.
Salivating, Hakan removed all five glowing canisters from the safe- Jake's
energy-what he needed to be invincible.
An alarm went off.
His stomach knotted up. Caelan can take the blame for this. No one would know.
Instantly, Hakan disappeared and Caelan appeared in his place.
The door burst open. The fragrance of roses, fresh linen and germicide
drifted into the room.
"Where are they?" Helen's hands were on her hips, her delicate
nostrils flaring.
"Hah?" Caelan raised eyebrows. His eyes were like a pair of
saucers.
"The energy samples in the safe," she replied.
"I didn't do nothin'!" His eyebrows tap danced across his forehead.
She could have sworn those hairy caterpillars switched places.
"I was sleepin' in my room at home and just woke up here." His
gaping mouth revealed his chipmunk teeth, complete with the chipped tooth - an
old battle scar he was proud of.
Under normal circumstances, Helen would have burst out laughing by now. In
this instance, she was in no mood for humor.
She grabbed his collar and dragged him to Torin's quarters.
Banging on the door, leaving fist prints on the steel surface, Helen yelled
for Torin.
"I've got a thief here. He stole Jake's energy samples."
Torin's eyes glowed as he probed Caelan's mind. "He's innocent. Did you
scan the room for anyone else?"
"No. I saw him there and assumed he did it," she said sheepishly. Assume
- Make and ASS of U and ME.
"Check your facts before you accuse anyone next time," said Torin.
"The samples?" she asked in a worried tone.
Torin's eyes glowed again. This time, Evan popped up in front of them,
startled.
"Evan, help Caelan clear his name. Find out who stole the samples from
Helen's lab and hand the culprit over to me." With that, Torin closed the
door.
Fast paced action with powerful characters that come to life in a world terrorized by the dark beasts - dragons,
vampiric derivatives and creatures of death.
A sweet romance blossoms between a young woman and a warrior who initiates her into his world - A world where flight, telepathy and energy manipulation is part of everyday life.
Book 1 : Warrior Girl
"Find the warriors." These last words of a dying friend send Sarah on a mission that takes her into a strange new world.
A captivating tale of Sarah's flight from captivity in the lair of the dark beasts. Discovered by the warriors, she is made one of them and returns to attack her captors with the help of a new ally. Romance blossoms between Sarah and Jake, as they battle against dragons, Ven'eelgs, vampiric derivatives and the nightmarish creatures that torment their beautiful world.
A fast paced teen fantasy that is an eclectic mixture of horror, sweet romance and superheroic adventures. Contains a bonus chapter (Sarah's Journal) not found in A Warrior's Death Trilogy.
is the first book in the sfxfantasy
series, set in a world terrorized by dark beasts. Where a group of warriors are endowed with strange powers which they use to defend their fellow human beings. Telepathy and flight are like talking and walking to these warriors.
The stakes are raised. The enemy has found a way to render the warriors' powers useless. Trapped in another world, Jake and Sarah have to stop the invading armies from entering their beloved world... or die trying.
The warriors are overwhelmed as dark beasts pour into their world. Outnumbered and powerless, courageous humans rely on their wits as they face these supernatural creatures.
A gripping tale of courage and romance in a time where death prevails.
It contains a bonus chapter (Sarah's thoughts) not found in A Warrior's Death Trilogy.
Divide and conquer. The enemy's strategy appears to work when the four most powerful elite warriors are trapped separately in different worlds, each oblivious to his or her past. Sarah alone, being the newest and presumably weakest of the elites was ignored by the dark warriors.
The Academy, barely having recovered from the recent massacre is forced to fend off an invasion without their elite warriors. Evan is forced to make a decision that would change his life forever.
A final confrontation between the warriors and the mastermind behind the dark beasts.
The final book in the trilogy.
This third book contains a bonus chapter (9 years later) not found in the original A Warrior's Death Trilogy
at Amazon.
, 
and 
is the first book in the 
