Mall Demons Part 5: This Is No Dream; Free E-book

Here is Part 5 of the Mall Demons Story as released through Wattpad.com. This is part of the soon-to-be-released "The Chosen Must Fall," Book One of the Mall Demons Urban Fantasy Series. Some of the details have changed for the final edition. Much of the action has been expanded.

You can see some of the new material in my first Kindle e-book edition on sale for only 99 cents. You can participate in a limited time giveaway of the first e-book, too. Just check out my previous blog entry. OK... for now, here's Part 5. I must admit, Evangeline has decided to go her own way, as some powerful characters often do.

Evangeline knew she had to disturb him. Time had caught up with them. The enemy was at the gates.

"He looks so peaceful," she said looking through the apartment window.

"We must wake him," Watcher said.

"Unless… we appeal to him in his dreams."

"A dream sequence?" Evangeline inched closer to the window. A steady stream of rain hit it. Tink. Tink. Tink. Tink. Tink… "No. That's so 1st Century, Watcher. This generation has no patience for getting the story in a dream."

“Technology,” Watcher grumbled. “Times were much simpler back then. Maybe we can tweet him the news.”

Evangeline grinned. “No sense prolonging this.” She closed her eyes, and her body went transparent. Then she flew through the window and into Daniel's bedroom.

"Ready?" she asked. Watcher remained on the outside eyeing Evangeline.

"Oops. Sorry." She forgot Watcher could not move through solid objects. She concentrated. Watcher went transparent.

"Thank you," Watcher said once he was inside the bedroom with Evangeline. He was visibly put out by the reminder that his powers had diminished.

Evangeline knew it was best to pretend like she had not noticed Watcher’s reaction. She knew his millenniums-old frustration. Being an outcast had had severe consequences. Then again, she knew it was better to be an outcast on earth than to be a resident of Hell. And, she was glad Watcher wasn’t there.

"How do you think he will respond?" she said.

"One way to find out."

They moved closer to Daniel who was still asleep. Outside the thunder and lightning had quieted, but the rain continued falling.

"How should we wake him?" Evangeline asked.

"A slap always works," Watcher answered and grinned.

Evangeline gave him a disapproving look.

“I’m just saying,” Watcher stood at the foot of the bed. "It’s a thought."

Evangeline moved to the side of the bed drawing nearer to Daniel. Quite suddenly, without moving his head or any other part of his body, Daniel opened his eyes. He studied the room. His eyes darted: window, door, dresser, nightstand, then back to the window.

“Did you plant a thought into his mind?” Watcher asked.

Daniel’s eyes jumped to the foot of the bed. Like someone trying to bring the camera image into focus before snapping a picture, Daniel zoomed in on the nothingness at the foot of the bed.

Evangeline noticed. “No. Not yet,” she answered.

Still without as much as a twitch from any other part of his body, Daniel’s eyes jumped to the spot Evangeline was standing at. All he could see, however, was empty space. There was a growing sensation inside him – unnerving him. It had roused him from sleep. He saw nothing, but felt something.

“I believe that he can sense us,” Watcher said.

Evangeline moved around Watcher to the opposite side of the bed. Daniel’s eyes were searching again, then came to rest where Evangeline had stopped.

“I think you’re right,” she said.

Gently, Evangeline entered Daniel’s mind.

He heard a voice in his head. It was a woman’s voice. Pleasant, he thought. Soothing. Was it his imagination?

‘You’re not imagining things, Daniel,’ Evangeline said.

‘OK,” Daniel said in his mind. ‘I’m dreaming this is real.’

‘This is no dream.’

Daniel wanted to move. He was looking out into an empty room that didn’t feel empty. He was apparently having a conversation in his head with a woman who wasn't there. She had a nice voice. At least she wasn’t scary, he thought. But still, it was freaky. He didn’t know what to do next.

‘Relax,’ she said. ‘I’m a friend.’

Daniel really wanted to sit up. Maybe this was a dream. He was dreaming that he wasn’t dreaming and that a lovely, soothing voice was in his head telling him he wasn’t dreaming. It didn’t make sense, and his mind was racing. Why couldn’t he move? He concentrated on telling his arm to move. It didn’t budge.

‘I don’t like this!’ Daniel thought.

Move, hand! Move, arm! Get up! Get up, now!

Evangeline tried calming him. Daniel’s eyes were darting to and fro faster now. She could see his facial muscles quivering.

‘Please, relax,’ she said. ‘You’re OK.’

‘Yeah, right! Whoever you are. I’m so not OK!’

‘I’ll show you,’ she said. “See, here I am.”

Daniel turned his gaze to the nearest side of the bed. He actually heard with his ears the voice. It was close. She was close. That’s when he saw.

“What the?....”

It was as if dozens of tiny camera flashes were going off. It reminded Daniel of the scene with thousands of fans in the stands during the halftime show of the Super Bowl. The flashes here in his bedroom were orange, and with each flash, the picture became clearer.

Evangeline appeared her long orange hair resting on her cape which concealed her arms. Daniel noticed the shiny armor of her breastplate and the golden hilt of a sword. He asked his body to move again. This time it obeyed, and Daniel commenced freaking out.

*******

“It could have been worse,” Watcher said, standing over Daniel who was now face down on the floor twisted in sheets next to his bed.

“Worse?” Evangeline said, kneeling next to Daniel.

“Well, he’s not bleeding or anything.”

Evangeline tried reviving him.

“Daniel?”

He moved his head and moaned. His legs were tangled in the sheets. He used his arms to roll onto his back. When he saw Evangeline next to him, he pushed himself away until his back was against the wall.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” she said. “Relax.”

“Why would you say that?” Daniel asked. “That’s what bad guys say when they’re about to tie you up and torture you or…”

Watcher sighed. “This was so much easier before movies and television.”

“You’re not helping the situation, Watcher,” Evangeline said.

“Who are you talking to, lady?” Daniel asked. “What situation? Who’s Watcher?”

Evangeline closed her eyes. She focused her thoughts on Daniel. Her breathing slowed as she willed Daniel to calm down.

“Feel better? Calm?” she asked.

“Yes,” he responded. Daniel’s gaze was straight ahead and vacant like those volunteers hypnotists bring up to the stage and make do weird things like hop on one leg or bark like a dog.

Watcher stepped closer to Evangeline and Daniel. “You have him under your control?”

“I didn’t want to,” she answered, “but this will go faster if he’s calm.”

“I agree,” Watcher said.

“Daniel, my name is Evangeline. I’m here to help you,” she said. “Do you understand?”

“Evangeline. Here to help,” Daniel repeated.

“Yes. That’s my name. I’m a warrior angel in Heaven’s Army. I’m here with a message. You must listen. Your life depends on it. The fate of humanity depends on it.”

Daniel’s gaze was still fixed straight ahead. Evangeline reached out for Watcher who helped her rise to her feet. With all the angelic authority she could muster, she spoke the words that bound Daniel to his task.

“You have been chosen. It’s your duty to prove humanity should be spared… again,” she said. “Whatever we bind on earth will be bound in Heaven; whatever we loose on earth, will be loosed in Heaven.”

Hovering outside the bedroom window, a small demon watched. An orange light pulsed from Evangeline as she spoke the last words. The light enveloped her and Daniel. The demon shrieked then vanished.

Watcher turned, looked out the window into the black landscape. He searched the shadows, but saw nothing. He turned back to Evangeline and Daniel.

"They know," he said.

Free Mall Demons E-Book

So here's the deal: On January 7, I'm giving away 2 free Mall Demons e-books. If you want them, then simply post a comment to this blog entry to enter the contest. It's that simple! 

Some of you may have read the flash fiction story that started the whole Mall Demons Urban Fantasy Series. If so, then you will be familiar with the content of the e-book, which expands on the first story. In the end, I wanted to create a story that dealt with Good vs Evil. 

The Mall Demons Urban Fantasy Series is the result. The twist here is that the battle between good and evil is happening at a shopping mall. Have you been to a mall lately? Well, if so, then you may have encountered a demon. Yes, you probably have. Everyone is vulnerable. They want you to die!

Survived The Holidays: Time To Write That Urban Fantasy Novel

Christmas is over for another year. The kids are still home for the holidays, which means the homestead is quite chaotic. I've taken a break from blogging and tweeting the last few days. It felt great to unplug. I have been reading and spending time with the kids, but I am feeling the pull to get back to business.

Last night I proofed one of my works in progress. I also learned a few tricks using Microsoft Word that helped me with my manuscript. I'll talk more about that later. Still waiting for a response from the Amazon folk regarding my request to designate my e-book, "Death Speaks Loudest To Those Who Flee," as a Kindle Single. Supposed to take up to two weeks to get a response. Figure the holidays will lengthen the process a bit.

If you have a Kindle or have the Kindle App for your computer, smartphone, etc., please check out "Death Speaks.." It's only 99 cents.

One Thing You Can Do in 2012 To Be A Better Writer

As I wrote in my last blog, I'm thinking of New Year's resolutions for writers. A Top Ten List for me, at least, if not for other writers. But a list for me will more than likely speak to other writers since we all share some of the same bad habits.

With that in mind, one of my proposed resolutions for writers is this: Read more books.

I still remember my creative writing professor in college offering up that bit of advice. Recently, I challenged the students in my creative writing group to do the same. Still, I believe for some of us reading is a challenge. We don't read enough. In the last two weeks I've read two books, started a third and halfway through it couldn't force myself to finish it, and now am on to a fourth book. 

In a Writer's Digest article from July, THE 7 DEADLY SINS OF WRITING, not reading books was listed as number six. In the article M.J. Rose, author of The Hypnotist is credited with offering this bit of advice:

Reading is essential for writers. Rose cited a study that said that 23 percent of people in the United States want to be writers. If all of them read 10 books a year, Rose said, “We’d all be doing a lot better.”

So, how much do you read? Would reading more books be a good New Year's resolution for you?

10 Best New Year's Resolutions For Writers

Less than two weeks until the end of the year. Goodbye 2011. Hola and que tal to 2012. It got me to thinking about what resolutions I might make as a writer. It's always a good thing to push yourself. So, what are the best resolutions for writers? For some it could be to start a daily writing routine. It could be to actually submit your work instead of writing solely for yourself.

The possibilities could be endless. I haven't decided what all my resolutions should be, but I'm thinking about it now and hope to write out a list of 10, my Top Ten, if you will. Two brains are better than one, and a thousand are better than two, so I'm asking what resolutions you can think of, as well, to help the aspiring writer.

Successfully Self-Published! Death Speaks Loudest Kindle Version Is Out

Cover design by Engagedesign.com

I feel relieved and excited. I spent Saturday editing and formatting my submission through Kindle Direct Publishing. And my first e-book is published and available to the world. Death Speaks Loudest To Those Who Flee, the Kindle edition, is available for 99 cents.

Still some details to iron out as I wade through these self-publishing waters for the first time. 

• First of all, I have to figure out why my cover image isn't showing up next to the product description.
• Second, it seems there's a separate process to getting your e-book listed as a Kindle Single. From what I can tell, it can take up to two weeks. The upside is that authors can choose the 70 % royalty option once they get the Kindle Single designation even if the price is 99 cents. So, needless to say, I'll be shooting Amazon an e-mail to get that process started.
• And third, I will need to make a decision about KDP Select which Amazon lists as "a new option to make money and promote your book." Authors must decide, however, to make the book exclusive to Kindle for at least 90 days. That means during that time you can't sell it anywhere else. Now as a Kindle Select, your book is included in the Kindle Owners' Lending Library and, Amazon says, authors will earn a share of a monthly fund when readers borrow your books from the library.

So... decisions, decisions. Overall, this has been a good experience. I at least now know what it take to get a manuscript from beginning idea to the marketplace. Now, I just need to edit and format 'The Chosen Must Fall: Book One of the Mall Demons Series' for publication in January. At the moment, it stands at about 200 pages. However pages are not really relevant for e-books since manuscripts get resized on individual e-readers depending on reader settings.

Are you new to self-publishing? Thinking of taking the plunge? Send me a question. I'm happy to share what I'm learning now that I have dived into the deep end of the indie author pool!

Mall Demons! The Storm Rolls In

I am about to put the book-length version of the Mall Demons series to bed. The Kindle version will be out soon. Until then, here's another part from the stories I've posted on Wattpad. Enjoy!

Part 4 of the Mall Demons Urban Fantasy Series

Daniel wiped down the last of his tables, looking over his shoulder to scan the restaurant patio. Two men sat at a table having drinks. Daniel had that annoying feeling that someone's eyes were on him, but it wasn't these guys.
"An-da-le! Daniel!" Jose, one of the other busboys, walked by, urging Daniel to move faster.
 Carrying a tub full of dirty dishes, Daniel followed Jose into the kitchen. He looked over his shoulder towards the patio. That nagging feeling wouldn't go away. Daniel didn't know it yet, but he would be nagged by that being watched feeling consistently over the next few days.
"That was my last table," Daniel said, placing the tub on a long rectangular stainless-steel table next to the sink.
"Very good, very good," Jose said with a strong Spanish accent.
About 15 minutes later, Daniel moped out of the Chevy's restaurant onto the sidewalk in front of the mall. Jose emerged behind him, leaned against the fence lining the patio and lit a cigarette.
"Lo siento, Daniel," Jose said. "Sorry, amigo. I’ll pray for your father."
Daniel smiled back at Jose.
"Smoking's bad for you."
"What are you, eh?" Jose replied. "My priest?"
"No, no," Daniel said. "I'm just saying..."
Daniel waved to Jose as he walked away. He looked down the long empty sidewalk. He wore a look of disappointment. Daniel needed extra cash. He had hoped to pick up some extra shifts. Jose had been talking the previous week about taking night classes. Now Jose was having second thoughts. The economy being what it was and the cost of those classes being a few grand more than he'd expected, Jose decided he couldn't afford it.
After Daniel turned his back on Jose, he had that feeling again much stronger this time. He looked into the shadows of an alley to his left. Two eyes emerged when Daniel turned his head to scan the darkness.
"Spare change?" A homeless man held out his hand.
Daniel reached into his pocket and gave the man his last dollar coin.
"God bless you.”
The way the man said it gave Daniel an uneasy feeling. It seemed too rehearsed. Or maybe too businesslike, but Daniel nodded anyway. He took a few steps and was about to turn the corner when he felt a sharp gust of wind behind him. For a second that feeling from the restaurant intensified. Then just as quickly, it lessened.
He looked back to the alley entrance which was now empty darkness. The homeless man was gone.
"Weird," Daniel said to nobody.
Halfway down the block Jose was using his last five minutes of break to smoke a cigarette. He saw Daniel disappear around the corner. He exhaled a long stream of smoke which rose up through the patio's slat roof and into Sargas Vak's squinting, red eyes.
"Stupid humans and their infernal habits," Sargas said.
Sargas waved the smoke from his eyes.
"He might as well get used to smoking," said a second demon who settled on the roof next to Sargas Vak.
Sargas cleared his throat, then leaned over and spit a stream of hellish, black phlegm onto Jose's head. It covered his forehead, poured down his face and into his mouth. Jose took a long drag from his cigarette sucking the smoke and demonic phlegm deep into his lungs.
"That will speed things up," Sargas said.
Meego Bose laughed. More smoke reached them on the roof.
"Reminds you of home doesn't it?" Meego Bose said.
"I have not been back in centuries."
"I know," Meego said.
"Do you, now." Sargas faced his new apprentice. "I doubt you know much."
Sargas ascended like a sinister raptor stretching his wings. Each thrust sent him higher into the sky until the mall seemed the size of a shoe box. Meego climbed after him.
Sargas was searching for something. He knew the time had come again. He looked at the mall. This was the battleground. At one corner of the roof, Sargas thought he saw it. But just at that moment, Meego whipped past him his tail striking Sargas across the face.
Sargas growled. Meego hovered defiantly next to his new master.
"Insolence!" Sargas said.
The demons circled each other
"I know one thing," Meego said. "You will not dispatch me as easily as your last apprentice."
Meego whipped his tail at Sargas again. This time Sargas caught it in his hand. Meego howled. Before Sargas could react, Meego clawed at his own tail ripping it from his body. Nearly instantaneously, another tail grew in its place.
Sargas tried to hide it, but the surprise was etched on his face. He tossed away the dying tail.
"You have mastered regeneration," Sargas said matter of factly. "Maybe you do know more than your predecessor."
The sky lit up in the distance as a storm rolled in. The sound of thunder followed. Sargas stole a glance towards the roof corner, but not for long. Meego was ready to pounce. This demon had no desire to remain an apprentice for long.
"I know what you want Meego, but now is not the time."
"The best time to dispatch your master is at the beginning," Meego said.
"It is also the best time to consume your apprentice." Sargas countered.
More flashes of light interrupted the dark sky. This time it came from below them, from the roof. There on the spot Sargas had been observing stood two brilliant figures.
"I guess we will both be forced to wait," Meego said.
Meego bowed his head in a show of reluctant submission. Sargas met the bow, then descended.
"I speak for our side," Sargas said without turning back to face Meego.
The two angels watched the demons clash.
"If we can keep them fighting each other, this will be over quickly," the warrior angel said.
The second angel wore the armor and red cloak of a general. He remained still observing the demons above.
 "A house divided will not stand," General Batalla said.
 Sargas and Meego landed in front of the angels. At once, Sargas roared and flapped his leathery wings summoning several dark mists which turned into imps and surrounded the four combatants. General Batalla calmly pulled out his sword. The sight of the heavenly sword caused the imps to step back into the shadows so that only their red eyes were visible.
 "One of these days I will catch you without that sword," Sargas said. He stepped forward. As he drew nearer to General Batalla, Sargas' skin sizzled like frying bacon. "One of these days."
 "Not this day, Sargas." General Batalla sheathed his sword. "This day is for the presentation of terms."
 "Very well," Sargas said. His tone changed. The proceedings had begun. "We have roamed through this shopping center and have found it suitable to our needs..."
 At Sargas' words, the imps drew nearer again so that their evil faces appeared to be hovering in the darkness. Sargas continued.
 "We have gone back and forth," he said. Sargas grinned. "Its inhabitants willingly belong to us."
 "You crossed the line," General Batalla said.
 "And I dealt with my apprentice!"
 General Batalla motioned to his lieutenant who stepped forward with a scroll. The warrior angel unrolled it and read:
 "One has been chosen to prove he is blameless and upright. The chosen fears God and shuns evil. The fate of this ground shall be decided through him. The hedge around him shall be loosened."
 The warrior angel paused and glanced from side to side noticing the imps inching closer - each wearing widening grins. They knew their work was about to begin. Meego looked like a lion ready to pounce. Thunder and lightning rumbled overhead as rain showered down on them.
 "Is that all," Sargas asked.
 "There is more." General Batalla motioned for the reading to continue. With more authority, the warrior angel read the final words on the scroll.
 "Everything the chosen has while on this ground is in your hands, but you may not lay a finger on the man himself off the battlefield. The chosen's name is Daniel."
 At the mentioning of Daniel's name, the imps danced and let out demonic laughter. One by one they vanished. Their mission was now clear. This army of the night had its target.
 "You may not touch him!" General Batalla reached for his sword.
 "We understand the rules, general," Sargas said. "My imps are merely leaving to make preparations. When Daniel returns, we will attack him so brutally that he will surely curse you and your kind to your face!"
 With those final words, Sargas took flight into the night followed by Meego.
 "Go inform the others that it has begun," General Batalla said.
 The warrior angel nodded and disappeared in a bright flash. A few seconds later, Evangeline and Watcher appeared in an orange flash.
 "I thought I felt your presence nearby Evangeline," General Batalla said.
 Evangeline bowed. Watcher remained erect.
 "You may rise," General Batalla said. He scowled at Watcher. "You may want to teach your companion about respect."
 Watcher met the general's stare.
 "There are some advantages to being an outcast," Watcher said. "I bow down only to those I respect."
 "Now, now...let's not divide this house," Evangeline said. "There's work to do."
 General Batalla gave Watcher one last scathing look, then turned to Evangeline. He moved to the roof's edge with her.
 "You must go to him. Prepare him for what's coming," he said. "It is your duty to protect Daniel. Is that clear?"
 "Yes, general."
 "Do not fail us." In a flash of light, General Batalla vanished, leaving Evangeline and Watcher alone on the roof.
 Watcher walked over to her. They looked down at the sleeping city below. There was a peaceful calm that unnerved them.
 "Ready to reveal ourselves?" Evangeline asked.
 "Indeed."
 "Let's rock!"
 They flew off the roof in a flash of orange, and in a bright arrow of light streaked through the rain towards a dark high-rise apartment building in the distance.
 Daniel was reclining in bed. He read the Metro Hospital bill in his hands:
 $2,365.
 He placed the bill in the opened Bible on the bed. The sound of rain hitting his bedroom window caught his attention. It looked like this storm was dumping a lot of water, Daniel thought. Maybe enough to flood. But he would worry about that later. Daniel closed his Bible and placed it on the nightstand. He prayed for a peaceful night's sleep so he could face the next day and whatever troubles that came with it.
 Daniel did not know yet that his prayer could not be answered.