Saturday, December 22, 2012

Snippet Saturday - Endings

This story was not only sexy, but it tugged at my heart even as I wrote it. Imagine being a prisoner in another person's life...

WITCH'S CURSE
by Myla Jackson


Blurb

As punishment for using magic unwisely, Catherine Wein, ex-witch and totally cursed, is doomed to spend each year in a different woman's life. It's New Year's Eve and at the stroke of midnight she’ll make the switch to another host’s life. Catherine's determined to grab for as much happiness as she can with her remaining hours in Kindra Merlot’s body. Enter sexy cop, Sam Cade. 

Dumped by his girlfriend right after Christmas, Sam isn't in the mood to celebrate until he sees the willowy beauty, Kindra. Her sensuality and sexual aggressiveness revives his lagging spirits. Is she the one for him or is she another lying, cheating woman like his ex? Will he have more than tonight to find out?


Excerpt

Catherine dove into the elevator and hit the button that closed the doors. Her fingers punched the lobby button. She didn’t want to get off on her floor in case Sam followed her to Kindra’s apartment. As the elevator descended, she counted the seconds. It must be midnight by now. When would her soul float free and Kindra be on her own?

When she reached the lobby level, she could hear the happy shouts of the party-goers ringing in the New Year. This was it.

“Take care, Kindra. I love you and please give your life a chance.”

I love you too, Catherine. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be all right.

As she stepped into the crowded lobby, Dolly descended on her. “Catherine or Kindra?”

“Both.” Catherine grabbed Dolly’s hand and held on, not wanting to go but knowing she had to.

“The clock is striking midnight as we speak.” Dolly hugged her. “I’ll always be here for you. You know that.”

“I know.” Catherine kissed her cheek. “Be happy, Dolly. And watch out for Kindra.”

“I will.” Dolly’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.

A tingling sensation started in her toes and worked its way up her legs into her torso. “Goodbye, Dolly. Blessed be.”

Though Dolly’s tears fell in earnest now, Catherine couldn’t reach out and comfort her friend. She’d risen above the gathering, weightless and disembodied from Kindra’s mortal being.

There in the middle of the dance floor stood Michael, dressed in black, his shock of white-blond hair a striking contrast to the somberness of his clothing. Invisible to all those around him, his gaze was locked with Kindra’s.

“No!” Catherine could see all that was going on, but she was powerless to do anything about it.
Kindra moved toward Michael, her steps slow yet steady.

“Kindra? Are you all right?” Dolly held onto Kindra’s arm and walked alongside her.

“I’m fine,” she answered in a monotone voice, her gaze fixed in front of her.

“Shouldn’t we go back to your room, sweetheart?” Dolly tugged the woman’s arm to no avail.

“No, I think I’d like some fresh air.” By this time, they’d reached the lobby doors exiting out onto the busy streets of Hell’s Kitchen.

Dolly held tight to Kindra’s arm. “No, you can’t go out there.”

Kindra turned to Dolly, her face set and strangely at peace. “Let me go, Dolly. It’s what I want.”
“No. Catherine made me promise.”

“Go back to the party, Dolly.” She peeled Dolly’s hands off her arm and pushed through the door.
Catherine moved to follow, knowing she could breeze through the entrance as if glass, brick and mortar meant nothing.

Behind her, she heard a male voice call out, “Kindra!”

Sam pushed his way through the crowd, a frantic frown creasing his forehead.

Kindra didn’t stop. She followed Michael out onto the street.

Catherine burst through the walls of the building just as Kindra reached the curb to the busy street. “Michael, don’t do this.”

“It’s her time, Catherine. I’ve come to collect a soul, and I won’t leave without it.” Michael held out his hand to Kindra. “Come.”

Other Authors Participating in Snippet Saturday:

Lissa Matthews
Rhian Cahill 
Myla Jackson
Caris Roane
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
HelenKay Dimon
Shiloh Walker
Delilah Devlin
Eliza Gayle
Lauren Dane
Felicity Heaton
TJ Michaels
 

2 comments:

pansypetal said...

What an interesting concept. I must get this to find out more about what happens. Thank you for sharing.

ELF said...

Ooh, eerie excerpt!