For those of you current on the book drama... I would like to say that things are progressing nicely. I am excited about the edits being made and would like to share with you just a teaser of chapter one. If you have read the book, you will see just HOW MUCH has changed....... and I hope you thoroughly enjoy it!!!!!! THE RE-RELEASE IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!!!!!!! Here you go, TEASER ... CHAPTER ONE: (Also, please note that the technical and grammatical errors have not been corrected as of yet, but it is in progress.) THANK YOU!!! <3
Fall from Eden
Evie sat dangerously close to the precipice. Below her feet, a river waged war against the rocks. She wrapped her mother’s blanket tighter around her shoulders and hugged her knees in close. Summer had begun its warm-weather dance with spring, and the mornings were still very cool. She liked it that way; getting up early with the chill teasing her bones only to be warmed by the sun’s heated glare as darkness succumbed to the promise of a new day. It was the one thing that never changed, and her greatest comfort. Light always overcame the darkness.
Today, her soul felt troubled, her predictable, happy life had taken a turn she didn’t understand. Whisperings in the village; people she had known all her life suddenly withdrawing into their homes. All the laughter and fun seemed to have left their little parish, with no explanation or time frame when it would return. She knew and cared for the majority of people who lived there. It was one of the benefits of being minimal in numbers. Everyone knew everyone else, and most of the children grew up together. Only now, it was as if everyone she cared about walked under the influence of some heavy burden. It was as if a funeral had occurred, and everyone was in mourning.
“Hey, stranger,” a soothing voice spoke out accompanied by soft footsteps. She shook her thoughts aside. It was him, the one person who always made her feel at ease. She shifted away from the edge and turned to face him “Laramie….” She smiled up at him, her heart skipping. His boyish good looks haloed in morning sun were breathtaking. His hair like golden rays of sun that ran wild over his head. A brilliant smile, and eyes of deep green moss. His eyes captured her heart and soul, every time she looked into them.
He grabbed her hand and lifted her into his arms. “Come on! It’s too cold for you to be up here; you’ll catch your death.”
“Well…we can’t have that, can we?” she said, her lips upturned playfully. Relief washed over her as he cradled her close. She always felt safe here, next to him. “No, Miss, we certainly cannot. Especially since it would be a very sad wedding if there was no bride.” He tilted her chin and kissed her lips. “They would call it the worst wedding of the century and that would be a travesty on both our houses.” He spoke with forced seriousness, and raised his eye-brows. Unable to suppress it any longer, she let out a burst of giggles. He could always make her laugh.
“That would be positively horrific. Though I’m sure you would not be in want of a bride…”. For a moment her eyes clouded over, then she batted her lashes coyly at him. He set her down gently, and took a step back from her.
“What is this nonsense you speak? Everyone is delighted for us!” His eyes twinkled. “Is that jealousy in your voice? Is there someone I should stay away from so I can prove my love to you?” He grabbed one of her hands and spun her outward so it appeared as if they were dancing. Then whisked her back in and scooped her downward.
“Tell me, Evie, and I’ll have them sent away at once! I’ll alert the Queen. I’ll call in the Cavalry. I’ll not have my soon-to-be bride questioning my love for her and feeling miserable.” He lifted her back up while he said this, and his lips turned up roguishly.
“How insufferable you are,” she exclaimed, but found herself laughing at his intense declarations. “Laramie, I love you. I’m not jealous of anyone. It’s more that before this…well, whatever it is, descended on the village, the girls used to talk. Not Sara, she knew I loved you from the moment we met. It’s every other girl; every time we played together they only talked about handsome Laramie and who would marry Laramie? Yvette was the popular choice because she is the most beautiful.”
“I don’t know if I should laugh at such a preposterous thought or run away with you. What’s more I can’t decide if I’m flattered or not. What say you Evangeline, my bride? Did you fight over me? Did you declare your love and slash your sword at them for saying such things?” He pulled out his sword and slashed a make believe foe standing before them.
“I hid in the corner envisioning Yvette as your bride and knowing that I would never be with you,” she said. She felt ashamed, but she needed him to know how desperately unpaired she felt with him. As if they didn’t belong together. Paired with Yvette however, Evie could see it as if they were two puzzle pieces assembling together.
“You are the one I want and Yvette is…. not you.” He spoke, jolting her from her false imagining of another life, Yvette and Laramie had perfect, curly haired children. She shook her head, trying to erase the thoughts. It was his turn to smile this time; he sheathed his sword and grabbed her hand, looking into her eyes intently.
“My Beloved, if I could steal you away from your insecurities. If we could run away to undiscovered land together, I would. Perhaps after our wedding, you and I will disappear for a while.” He pulled her into a tight embrace, squeezing reassurance into her. Evie melted into his arms, his stifling warmth was something she felt undeserving of. He loved her. He loved her! She grabbed desperately at that truth and tried to cling to it.
“Come, Evie. The day is threatening upon us. Let us walk to the village and prepare for our chores.”
Evie, feeling unsatisfied with his Yvette-is-not-you comment, but reassured of his love, tried to shake off her sulkiness. If only she didn’t feel so plain. Did he truly not understand why Evie would feel that Yvette would win out? Yvette was tall, and gloriously beautiful. Her hair fell like rays of sun down her back. Impeccable skin, cerulean eyes and the most delicately stitched clothing. Compared to Evie, Yvette might as well have been royalty.
From the moment Laramie had arrived in the village, every girl had gotten the gloss-eyed look for him. His wild, curly locks framed his mischievous face, and every little girl his age was giggling and speaking of marriage before they were even trained to sew dresses. Evie’s best friend, Sara, had been a part of the seven, though she had gotten over it once Yvette’s brother; Seth, began to mature. Seth had Yvette’s dazzling eyes, but his soft nature drew Sara to him.
Evie had been just as entranced with Laramie as Yvette and the other girls. Although they had grown up together, chores and various duties kept them busy.
Laramie gripped Evie’s hand tighter, snapping her out of her memories as they walked toward the village, his touch warmed her and she ignored the fact that he smiled down at her from time to time. Even though he declared her beauty almost daily, she felt plain beside him. How to express that without coming off as a desperate child eager for attention?
The truth was, although Evie felt quite plain, she had her father’s dark waves of hair. It was a bit unruly, but cascaded down her head like a waterfall of locks. In her deep pools of golden brown eyes, the adventure she craved emanated out. She always felt like her nose was just a little too elfish, and her raspberry lips always managed to say the wrong thing. Internally she longed for more than just berry picking, and wood gathering. She was screaming for exploration.
His strong arms pulled her in close. The warmth of contentment washed over her, and she felt peaceful. They may have stayed that way for some time, but the most terrifying sound ripped through the air.
Evie’s blood stopped cold as the scream faded into the distance. From the tips of trees, a small cluster of birds took flight. She gripped Laramie’s arm, breathing hard as fear welled inside her like bile.
They ran to Evie’s house first. The sun was beginning to rise and its rays streamed across the village. Evie could barely put one foot in front of the other fast enough. Another scream penetrated the air, it frightened her to the point of stumbling and Laramie reached out to steady her. Evie’s heart was hammering out of her chest.
Laramie stopped in front of her quite abruptly, his face stern. “We have been preparing for this a long time.”-He paused, frowning-“I never actually thought this day would come.” He paused to monitor her reaction, “I promise, I will explain everything to you later. Right now I need you to go inside your house. Hide in the cellar until I come and get you,” he spoke to her assuredly. It was not a request.
She nods her head at him, and backs away, her feet barely able to stagger numbly to her house. Reaching the door she catches herself on the knob, and taking a step forward she managed one last look at Laramie. They were too far apart for her to read his face, inside she felt heart breaking for reasons she couldn’t even understand. She turned and ran back to him, her voice calling out his name. She had to stop him before it was too late.
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