A.H. Washington's Blog

It’s been a while. While it has been a while, there has also been a journey. I want to begin by thanking everyone who’s come across this page, visited, liked a blog post, or followed.

Now that I’ve thanked you, let me get to the point of this post. Life has a way of throwing curve balls. Sometimes those balls are cause for pause. Well, that’s where I am. It’s time for a pause, but just for now.

I need some time to fill my empty cup before I can fill anyone else’s and that includes blogging and writing for now. Once my cup is filled, I promise I shall return.

I’m not putting a time stamp on when I will return, but just know this pause is just for now. I wish everyone the best and many blessings. Keep sipping and keep reading.

A.H.

Welcome to another draft episode of A Psalm of Dawns and Dragons. I hope you enjoy1 Don’t forget to leave your comments!

Chapter 3:

Vendors lined the road leading to the Keep. Bright reds, yellows, blues, and oranges represent multiple Houses within Zaylen and outer realms. Their accents drowning all other tones as they push their trinkets as the best.

The Bereft of Life Festival brought the much-needed coin to the working class of Zaylen as it was the only festival open to outer realms free of charge. This was King Ager’s way of mounting a rift between the working class and the servants who served Zaylen’s noble families for a term. Once their term was up, they were free to join the working class, unlike slaves.

The rift mattered because the working could earn while servants could not so naturally they believed they were better. Many refusing to put former servants to work instead of offering them more servitude. Sadly, the workers appreciated this way of life, though four moons after the festival end the king would send increase tax decrees.

Jessup rounds a corner squeezing through the crowds with a smile on his pale face.

“I assume you entered your place without incident,” Kalera said.

“Of course I did. The Enforcers love it when a Dred or two enters. They hate us like everyone else. They place bets on who will die first.” He said.

“So the king’s assassins hate Dreds. Men who kill infants and younglings when Ager calls for it, hate your kind.”

“They consider us unnatural. An abomination of the Gods.”

“And the Shellions are not?”

“The Crown accepts them as pure, intelligent humans who are able to shape the realm without special gifts.”

“You believe that. Shellions, Blood Shellions at least share a direct linage to the Goddess Rose. What they possess is not simple intelligence as many believe.”

“I’m enjoying my Morph lesson this light,” Jessup says and then smiles as a youngling approached.

The youngling neared Kalera, stopped in front of her, and dropped the purest flower in all the realms at her feet. Kalera bends and retrieved the flower. She looked at the male youngling who refused to look her in the eyes. She gently grabs his face and turns his head so that his eyes could meet hers.

“It’s forbidden for me to look upon such beauty my Lady,” He said.

Kalera was taken back because humans with her tone and features are slaves in the realm.

“Thank you,” She replied.

He removed a shiny blue trinket from his pocket when Jessup interrupts.

“You look familiar. Didn’t I buy a so-called dragon’s claw from you last cycle? I have you know it wasn’t a dragon’s claw and my mother. Well, let’s just say she was angry.”

“I bet you can use this, my Lady,” He said to Kalera ignoring Jessup.

Kalera took a closer look at the cloth and noticed scales. She removed it from his hands. Kalera gazed at it as if she was peering inside it.

“Where did you get this?” She asked without turning her eyes away from it.

“My master,” He replied.

“It’s beautiful, but I’m afraid I don’t have any coin,” She said.

“The way I see it he owes me so it should cost nothing,” Jessups said.

The youngling looks up at him and frowns.

“My lady this belongs to you so it yours.” He said to Kalera when a tall brute walked up and struck the boy to the ground.

“You’re worthless. You had one job today. Now get up before I shred you.” He screamed.

The youngling’s eyes swelled as he tried to stand and apologize. Clutching his fist, the man moves in to strike him again, but this time his hand met Kalera’s wrist.

“You will not touch him again,” She commanded.

“You black besa! I dare you to touch me,” He said then spat near her boot.

Kalera’s core begins to warm and her eyes glowed. Tiny bumps raised on his skin and he began to quiver.

“You’re a spec beneath him,” She said as her hands began to glow.

“Kalera,” Jessup interrupted.

The man screamed and ran away.

Jessup helped the youngling from the ground.

“You are okay now. He won’t hurt you ever again. Go, find your family.” Kalera said.

“I have no family,” The boy said as his tears met Kalera’s hand.

The youngling takes off screaming after his master.

“Hey! You forgot this,” She said of the blue dragon scale.

Sigh.

“It all he knows. He was probably taken as an infant from his mother. Thank you.” Jessup said.

“For?” Kalera asked.

“I thought you Morphs hated us,”

Kalera takes another look at the scale and placed it inside of her cloak.

“I should’ve ended the master’s life. With my full strength, I would’ve.”

Jessup moves closer asking her what she knows about the festival ignoring her last statement. Instead of divulging information, she pressed him about how he planned to get them inside before the blue moon because the line into the Keep was ever-extending.

He removed himself from her then approached his mother and kinsmen wishing them a farewell.

Kalera rushed over to him. A part of her wanted to show gratitude, but she decided not to. Instead, she turns to Jessup.

“So you have no plan or stuck no deal with the Enforcers to get us inside faster,” Kalera said.

“I figured you didn’t need suspicion.”

“Just go. Continue to farewell your people. I’m going to my dragon.”

They both turned and ran in the opposite direction.

Kalera approached Cruor who hisses.

“I’m tired of waiting. Hunger rumbles inside me.”

“On the other side of the towering gates, you may feast on their sheep. You know of Ta’l’s sheep land. So you will fly me and the Dred into the Keep. My powers are returning so your cloak will hold.”

Cruor nodded as Jessup approached. It was as she suspected, he needed her to get inside.

Cruor’s long tongue escaped his mouth as he looked upon Jessup.

“There’s something seriously wrong with your dragon.”

“He’s a Morph dragon. He never hatched but was made for his only, my father. So yes there’s something wrong with him.”

“You brought a Morph dragon into the realm.”

“That wasn’t my intention.”

“Your powers are returning and you are blocking my sight,”

“Maybe you shouldn’t dive into the inner thoughts of others. That’s called invasion.”

Jessup silenced himself and stared at Cruor.

“I’m sure you’ve never ridden a dragon before. Don’t be afraid. I won’t let you fall.”

A ringing began in her ears. The inner ear’s high pitch quickly moved deep inside her head. Flashes of light flickered when the pitch became a voice.

“Can she hear you?” The voice asked.

“I don’t know,” Another voice answers.

“Are you sure about this?” The previous voice asked.

“I’m sure of nothing,” The second voice replied.

Then Kalera hears ascend as the voices fade and the pitch returned.

“Are you alright?” He asked.

“Yes,” She replied.

Cruor moved closer, lowered his head, and sniffed her.

“Does he wish to eat me?”

“Don’t fear him. To fear Him is to wish for death.”

Cruor lowered his left-wing while Kalera instructed Jessup to grab and step on each horn that she does. Halfway up he loses his grift and falls to the ground. Kalera turned and looked down upon him.

“Dreds. Still just humans.” She thinks to herself before sliding down.

“Look, I don’t want to be here until the light. Pay close attention Dred.” Kalera commands.

Up again she climbed. Only this time, she took slower calculated steps. Before long she reached Cruor”s back and reached her hand out to help Jessup plant himself behind her.

“You may want to hold on. You’re not immortal. If you fall, you die unless you can fly Seer.” Kalera said before she removed the Seer Stone and grabbed on to Cruor’s horns. With a whisper, the giant beast rockets straight into the sky.

With every twist and turn, Jessup gripped Kalera as tight as he could.

As they flew over the gate of the Keep, Cruor spotted Ta’ls sheep land. He took an unexpected hard right turn just as Jessup loosened his grip and then …

Jessup disappeared into the clouds. As he plummeted below Kalera could hear his screams.

“Cruor, descend now!”

“No. I’m starved!”

“I need him. Descend!”

Cruor ignored Kalera’s demand so he did what he would not expect. Without her full power, she leaped from the back of the Morph beast. With closed eyes, Kalera pulled what she could from her core. Before long she caught up to Jessup. Bolts from her attached her to him like a magnet as they continued to dive.

Jessup calmed himself as the wind beat his body. He focused on nothing but her. A Morph who risked herself to save his life and then smack.

Their bodies hit the back of Cruor. The dragon retrieved them just before their splatter. Still cloaked, he flew them down into the Keep near the dark side of Ta’l.

Kalera had blacked out and was unresponsive. Jessup had no way to communicate with the dragon who snarled at him, nudge her, and then flew off.

Cruor had managed to land them inside the most cutthroat area of Ta’l. The Dark side was riddled with some of the worst the realm could offer.

As a Seer, he was previewed to their thoughts and desires some of which made him gage. In Upar he spoke to drown them out as he focused on toting Kalera on his back.

He made his way through the crowd hoping the cloak would last, but his hopes would fade. Soon, he noticed the men and women hissing at him and glaring into his soul. He was unknown in these parts so he had to do something quickly.

“Jessup. Is that you?” He heard in the distance.

“Move aside rats. Let my man through.” The voice said.

Catching the tune, Jessup realized he was saved.

“Vinecard!” Jessup shouted.

“Hey. What’s a Dred like you doing in a sorry-ass place like this? And who is she? What the f**k have you gotten yourself into as of late?”

“It’s a long tale, my friend. But I need refuge.”

“You’ve come to the right place for refuge.”

Vinecard led Jessup down an even darker alley and then through a decrepit wooden door.

Jubilant sounds erupted as House handmaids danced in nothing but their skin atop counters. Visibility was poor from the various pipes in the mouths of almost every man and some women.

“Through here!” Vinecard yells.

They enter another door. This time to a room that choked Jessup.

“I know it’s not the best…” Vinecard said.

“It will do,” Jessup interrupts.

“Enjoy.” Vinecard said and then smiled before exiting.

Jessup walked over to the bed and carefully laid Kalera down. He straightened his back and rolled his shoulders forward and then backward all while he kept his eyes fixed on her. He leaned down into her face and whispered, “You’re beautiful. Thank you.”

Just then she opened her eyes to find herself glaring into his. For a moment, she looked upon him and then sprang forward.

“Where’s Cruor?”

“I don’t know. After we landed, he took off.”

“I’m running out of time. Why are we here?”

“You needed a place to rest. This place belongs to a friend.”

“Did you tell your friend about me?”

“No. I wouldn’t betray your trust and thank you for saving my life.”

Silence filled the air for a few moments.

“I must get to the Keep. The challenge will begin soon. You are still coming?”

“I will catch up to you. I need to make a detour first.”

Kalera closed her eyes then vanished from Jessup’s sight. 

I hope everyone had an awesome week and is ready for some football (American football fans)!

Below you will find the draft for chapter two of a Psalm of Dawns and Dragons. I hope everyone enjoys it.

Chapter 2:

“There, the mountains will give us cover,” Kalera said.

The winds were kind on their descend, which she appreciated. Once beyond the veil, Kalera and Cruor were unmasked which allowed her to feel as a human does. Her face tingling in the breeze, but not for long.

               To unmask was not only to lose the veil but to endure realm sickness. An illness all Morphs were subjected to without their powers. The worst part, it affected the physical body and the mental psyche.

After planting his four feet on the ground, Cruor lowers his massive wing for Kalera to slide down. For a few moments, she gazed upon the majestic mountains of Rhodes, once a bustling metropolis before the depletion of magma glass, one of the realm’s most important natural resources.

               A growl from her stomach takes hold. She rubbed her right hand over the area near her pelvis as her stomach began to bubble. Putting one foot in front of the other, sweat began to seep from the pores of her head and face. Her eyes watered so she lifted her hands towards her mouth but it was too late. A burp escaped then she heaved. Instead of pins and needles, she felt as if spears were impaling her.

               Cruor looked down upon her and then to the heavens. He let out a screech of freedom.

               “No Cruor!” Kalera mumbled.

               Though the seal allowed her to connect to him telepathically, without a bond she could not connect to his deeper thoughts. She could only hear what he wanted her to hear at that moment.

               “Please. Don’t leave me here,” She said while trying to stand.

               Kalera’s legs gave out and her face met the dirt.

               “The crystal’s navigation took us off course. We must get to Ta’l before the third blue moon rises or we won’t have much time.” She said.

               “Your powers have been flicked away. You can’t even cloak me. I may as well have some fun.” Cruor said.

               “Cruor, please. I have a Seer Stone which will cloak you and still allow the seal to work.”

               “And the vileness seeping from you?”

               “I’ll be fine,” Kalera said as she slowly stood to her feet.

               But Kalera was far from fine. The illness could last longer or shorter than two blue moons. She didn’t have her Elementos dragons, and she had no way to control Cruor.  Even though the Elementos would have become hatchlings without the veil, their powers would’ve remained in tack giving Kalera a shield from the elements of the realm. Without them, she’s nothing more than human. At least for a moon or two and hopefully not longer.

               As for Cruor, he’s not like the Elementos. His powers remain in tack and he remains a full adult dragon capable of destroying the Zaylen Realm if he wanted to.  Destroying the realm is not her mission.

               “We’re not here for fun,” She said after she retrieved the Seer Stone from her inner cloak.

The rays of the sun struck the stone which activated it. A small bight light radiates and then it expands surrounding both Kalera and Cruor.

“Hey. What are you doing back there?” A voice calls that is drowned by Kalera’s hacking and coughing.

Cruor opens his mouth. “A sweet treat.”

“No!”

Kalera could see a silhouette of a man as she tried catching her breath.

The closer he got, the wider Cruor’s mouth opened. Losing her balance after pleading with Cruor, Kalera sat on the ground. Gazing upon her, the man removed his sword from his scabbard.

“Get up!” He orders.

Kalera raised her hand above her brows trying to block the spectrum of the sun.

“I won’t ask you again, slave!” He yelled.

“You’re about to be a dragon’s snack,” Kalera said.

“Ha. Ha. The sun must have fried your brain. There’re are no dragons. The Northmen killed them all. But you wouldn’t know that being a slave girl.” He said as he wiped the sweat from his burning forehead.

“Dam, I’m melting all of a sudden.” The man said.

The smoldering heat of Cruor’s breath had taken effect.

Again he orders Kalera up. This time he pointed his blade towards her throat nearly making contact with it. The blade began to quake and glow red so he immediately released it.

“What the f**k,” He whispers then he reached out, took Kalera by the arm, and violently removed her from the ground.

“Did you do that to my blade? Are you a Shellion?”

“First a slave, now a Shellion. Make up your mind and never touch me again.”  She said and then coughs.

“What’s wrong with you? Do you have the plague?”

Kalera turned to look up at Cruor who had closed his mouth.

“Do you have a mere?” she asked

“Answer my question. Do you have the plague?” He asked again.

Kalera knew she had to think of something quick.

“I ate a flash weed and it didn’t agree.”

“Flash weed huh? What house do you belong to? I bet I could fetch a good coin for you.”

I guess I’m a slave again.

Sigh.

Light comes to her mind. Her way to Ta’l presents itself. That’s of course if Cruor continued to behave.

“I belong to the Bolongs. To Lord Bolong’s Blood Shellion, Shereen.” Kalera said.

“I’m blessed by the … F**k the Gods. They curse us anyway.  So you’re a handmaid. Shereen only keeps the best around to ease the storm of King Ager.” He said.

“Yes. A handmaid who needs to get back to Ta’l before the Bereft of Life Festival begins. Can you help me?”

“The road will be crowded with every kind of riffraff the realm has to offer especially this year with Shereen accepting applications for apprentices. She’s even opening it up to Dreds. Can you imagine, men born with dark magic interested in becoming a Shellion?”

“Can you get me there or not?”

“You will be more than worth my comfort. I’ll help you.”

“Good. Now let’s go.”

“I taste savory flesh beneath my tongue,” Cruor said.

“Hold your tongue. This is my ride. “Kalera said hoping Cruor would follow without incident.

He takes to the sky. The cloak of the Seer Stone absorbing the quake of the ginormous beast when he lifted from the ground.

A burning sensation rises from Kalera’s core into her desert mouth as she and the human make their way around the mountains and molehills to finally come upon his camp.

Bamba shelters lined a small section of the desert terrain. Some elders were attending to younglings while others roasted fresh kills. They communicated with their hands which Kalera found odd. 

The elder attending to the meat suddenly blankets the flame, but Cruor’s nostrils awakened to the aroma and the sent wilded him. Kalera pleads but the beast approaches to devour the unexpecting nomads. 

The weary Morph closes her hazel eyes and stepped in his path while clutching the Seer Stone.

Opening her eyes, she finds Cruor looking at her. He lowered his head and looked into her eyes.

“You would die for these specs?” He asked.

“No. I would live for them,” Kalera said.

Cruor sniffed his queen, snarled, turned his body, and walked a distance as if he was a puppet. He was hungry and Kalera couldn’t stop him so why change course. 

I would live for them. Why were those my thoughts and words?

Baffled, Kalera realizes that losing power and falling victim to the elements was worse than she remembered. Her thoughts ceased with a high pitch whistling sound. From above male and female archers appeared atop the molehills. Even with impaired vision, she noticed pelts only covered their most vulnerable parts. 

Attention back on the ground, the stranger is in front of her. He speaks but only his lips were moving. Kalera’s eyes became heavy before going dark. 

Kalera jumped up to a sharp pain at the center of her head. She removed a wide pelt covering to see black stones surrounded her nakedness. She stood too quickly and stumbled, but her fall was broken. Looking over her helper’s face, she discovered he’s not the stranger she originally met. He was someone else. 

“Where are my coverings and the man who brought me here?” She whispered.

“There,” He replied pointing to a small chest.

Slowly she put one foot in front of the other and made her way to the chest and opened it. The man gazed upon her dark, oily skin as she covered herself.

Kalera met his gaze. “I’m sure you’ve seen a naked woman before.”

“It has been a while and you’re welcome by the way.”

“You want a thank you. Where’s my manners? Thank you.”

“I have you know my mother kept frozen stones a top you when the fever took hold, so yes a thank you.”

“How long ago was that?”

“It matters not.”

“How long?” Kalera commands.

“Two moons.”

Panic sat in as Kalera realized how much time had escaped her and she thought of Cruor. She felt for the seal and called out to Cruor but he was silent.

“I have to go. The man I came here with promised me that he would get me to Ta’l.” 

“Tomas didn’t break his promise. By light, we will be near the Keep.”

“Tomas. And what may I call you?”

“Jessup.”

“Jessup I’m Kalera.”

“You’re quite more. You’re a Morph and the next time you decide to bring along a dragon, feed him first.”

Kalera’s eyes widened.

“You’re mistaken.”

“No. I’m a Seer.”

She knew no lie would convince him. Seers are Dreds, males born with dark magic, the light of their maker, the God called Daft. 

Kalera felt compelled to reveal herself to him though she knew it was against her code. Perhaps realm sickness was beginning to distort her mind.

“F**k it.” She thought.

“Yes. I’m a Morph.”

“Why are you here?”

“That’s no business of yours.”

“You are powerless at the moment so your thoughts are mine.”

“You wouldn’t dare. I will order my dragon to destroy you.”

“The one outside who refuses to answer you? I think not.”

Kalera exited the shelter to find Cruor a short distance away still cloaked from all eyes except his.

“Those humans were caring for you,” Cruor said.

“Why didn’t you respond to me?” She asked.

“I was busy. You were in good hands.”

Cruor had killed no one nor flown away. No one but Boilos tames him so why hadn’t he done what he was made for?

Jessup exited the shelter when Kalera noticed the humans speaking in Upar, the dragon’s tongue. 

“Before they were mute.”

“I had already warned them of what you are and what you brought with you.”

The archers, elders, and younglings were readying the meres to move out when Tomas returned.

“Good to see to you feeling better.” He said.

“Is the Keep full?” Jessup asked.

“There’s still space and you will be just in time to throw in a coin for the apprentice challenge,” Tomas said.

This was news to Kalera’s ears and her ticket to sharing the same space with Shereen.

“You know, she told me she was Shereen’s handmaid. Liar.” Tomas said.

Jessup smiled as Tomas mounted his mere.

“So, will you fly?” Jessup asked.

“You know I can’t until this sickness ends so why ask.”

“You Morphs have no sense of humor.”

“Humor escapes me. Why would anyone want to be humorous or feel this agony I’m feeling?”

“This is life. You’re born, you live, you work, if lucky fall in love, if not you f**k, then die. Maybe not all in that order.”

Jessup reaches out to take Kalera’s hand. She stares at it for a moment.

“Unless you can mount my mere. Take my hand and then we’re off”

She looked to the black beast with an ivory horn protruding from its forehead on all fours standing at least six to seven feet from its hooves to its back.

“My lady.” He said as he took her hand and hoisted her onto the mere.

Don’t forget to let me know what you think!

Talk soon.

Hello Dawnies,

I hope everyone has had a productive week. I’m super excited to bring back weekly drafts for the Dawn Series book three. Every Saturday, I will add updated draft chapters for book three. If you are like me and need to read a series from the beginning, join me on Wattpad. Books one and two (drafts) are uploaded there. Look beyond chapter one and you will find the link for Wattpad.

I welcome your suggestions and criticism.

Chapter 1

When humans go bump in the night, the Morphs are the ones who bump back.

During a period of lastingness, a time before time, the Gods created the realms and all manner of creatures for themselves believing they could occupy the lands in their spiritual forms. They were wrong and would learn only physical bodies could survive the worlds they meticulously spawned.

The Gods decided they would manufacturer physical bodies for their spirits to possess. Their plans failed. Their spirits too powerful for the physical hosts so it was decided. If they could not possess the bodies, they would use a tiny portion of their light to give life.

Before their experiment began, they created great beast they called dragons that could wield the power of the four elements needed to maintain the realms. Before long, and after many failed attempts, life prevailed in the bodies they would call human mortals.

               The Gods rushed the humans into existence. Truth be told, they got bored. Each of them wanted to out conceive the other. By their almighty accounts, the realms were their canvases and the humans their masterpieces. They should’ve just stopped at the dragons.

****

The aroma of rotten flesh teased the Elemento Dragons that encased Kalera. Their wrath raging down on her like an avalanche of grey storms pounding her impenetrable shield.  Flagon, the fire dragon erupted flames, magma, and ash while Drake, the water dragon spewed boiling water. Waygon, the air dragon opened his ferrous mouth releasing powerful gust that the Morph queen continued to withstand.

               They ceased attacks when Zarion, the earth dragon unleashed debris of soil and razor-sharp seeds that erupted into indestructible trees.

               Kalera’s shield, the core source of her power, forced Zarion to retreat when Cruor, Kalera’s father’s dragon attacked from within weakening her shield which brought her to her knees.

               Her eyes bulged, and in agony, she turned towards the Morph generals who were finding amusement in her suffering. They twisted their aged necks, gazing into one another’s cold black eyes. For the first time, Kalera saw smirks on their pale decrepit faces.

               An intense light penetrated the stone floor when a portal opened; Boilos, the Morph king, drifted from inside.

               “Enough Cruor! Your work is done for now. Take the Elementos and feed.”

               The general’s faces were again frozen and lifeless as Kalera stood. Boilos’ gaze was a clue and they exited the chamber straight away.

               “You did well my child,” Boilos said.

               “You call that well Father? Cruor nearly killed me.”

               “Ha. Ha. He can’t kill you.”

               “So say you.”

               Boilos took his daughter’s hands into his, looked at them, and then into her longing eyes.

               “The Goddess wants to meet with you.”

               “Why? What didn’t I do this time?”

               “She wouldn’t share her purpose with me, but I’m guessing she wants you to be in attendance at the Bereft of Life Festival in the Zaylen Realm.”

               Kalera removes her hands from his and walked toward a window gazing out.

               “I had plans in the coming lights. Neither included attending a human festival.”

               “When they call, we act. That’s us..”

               “Yes. Our purpose as a Morph is to serve our masters. Please, I’m tired of those words. How old am I Father?”

               “You know I can’t answer that.”

               “Right. You can’t because we are everlasting immortal beings who exist, not live. I’m tired of just existing. Of having all this power and for what? We’re nothing more than sheep.”

               “We have the freedom to choose.”

               “Do we? The mortals make more choices than we ever will. If I had that freedom, I would not need to meet with the Goddess now would I?”

               Boilos sighs and nears Kalera.

               “So much of your mother lies within you. Visit the gardens today. You’re missed there.”

               She gazed upon flowers of multiple spectrums. The onyx soil glistened as spuds seeped through the dirt.  Coils chirped as they awaited their mother’s meals, but some mothers won’t return for they were made meals themselves by the dragons.

               Mother Coils unlucky enough to succumb to their injuries right away had fallen into the leaf wasteland. Trees that were once bustling with life had grown weak for their dependence on humans who neglected them. Kalera had grown tired of replenishing the soil due to human carelessness. The wasteland, named by Kalera, is where her mother’s body lies. Queen Palera’s final resting place.

               It had been many blue moons, so maybe her father was right. Maybe she should visit the gardens. The place where mother chose a mortal existence.

Palera betrayed the Goddess Rose and the Morphs for the one thing Morphs could not choose love. Love was forbidden. Partly, it was no fault of her own. Affection was a part of her genetic code. The Goddess Rose equipped her with some attributes similar to humans. She could feel so the Goddess created Boilos as a companion for Palera, but he could not love her the way she desired because he was not created to love.

One light, the Goddess decided to give her the physical connection she longed for. She and Boilos shared a bond as the humans did. Through their intimacy, an embryo spawned. A Morph embryo.

After giving birth like a human female, Palera fell in love with her daughter which allowed Boilos to go about his duties as the appointed king to an army of Morphs slated to be made to keep the humans in check.

Palera’s bond with Kalera lasted for many lights, but soon she longed for intimacy again. Boilos refused her advances so she sought other means. Human means.  

During a mission to the realm, she met and fell in love with a human who contorted her with his wiles. She begged the Goddess to relieve her of her duties and to allow the Gods to grant her a mortal existence. For some reason, Rose agreed and Palera chose mortality.

Gazing upon his daughter Boilos opened a portal, their transportation device, and beaconed Kalera to walk inside. She closed her eyes and entered.

               Exiting the portal, she opened her eyes to her mother’s tomb and a statue that commemorated her final ride on her dragon Brogo.

               Kalera’s memory of her mother before her fall was faint. She remembered her teachings on how to care for dragon eggs and how to bond mentally and physically with them once they hatched. Though the bonding didn’t take much. The hatchlings were intelligent. They knew who their protectors were. One look is all it took to bond the great beast as they matured into full-grown dragons. With maturity came their ability to communicate and see the Morphs through telepathy and afterimage. Dragons are the only creations by the Gods with the ability to see, hear, and communicate with Morphs who are cloaked from the realm by the veil though they exist in it.

She remembered the sweet sounds of the lullaby her mother would sing. Beyond that, only her betrayal and death.

How could you have been so consumed by a mortal? Was Father not enough?

 “I’m sorry I haven’t visited you. I need you now more than ever,” Kalera whispers. “I wish you were here. I wish your choices were different. I wish I knew why. Father won’t admit it, but he’s lost without you. The humans continue to deplete the lands. The Goddess will activate us soon, I’m sure of it. We will shed their blood. I don’t like them, but I don’t hate them.  I envy them. Why did you choose them?”

The trees swayed back and forth then the dead leaves surrounded her and the spectrum sky darkened. Thunder roared then a lightning bolt struck the ground opening it. A bright light illuminates the garden and then disappears. Standing in the distance was the Goddess Rose.

She paced in a perfect circle several times before approaching Kalera.

“Your mother loved you more than anything. She was my greatest creation. The first Morph. She was perfect and without thought or question, she did any and everything for me. She was the vacuum for the specks my brothers and sisters called their best creations. You see I didn’t agree with human life. I knew their experiment would fail. When it did, they came to me for help. I told them to destroy the humans but they wouldn’t. Their egos were more important. You know the rest of the story.”

“Do I? Did she love me more than anything? More than mortality?”

“I made a mistake with her. When I realized it, I should’ve returned her to the dirt. But I didn’t because she was mine. A small part of me understood why my brothers and sisters refused to destroy the humans for themselves. Enough of the emotion you must learn to tuck away permanently. I have a mission for you.  A Shellion has made a discovery. She harvested a mineral from a sacred stone. Now, the amount was minuscule, but it was enough for her to replicate. Now, she plans to use her new magic developed from the mineral during the Bereft of Life Festival.  Her new ability will her to raise the dead. I need you to kill her and retrieve the mineral.”

“This sounds like a task for my father. Why are you sending me?”

“It’s time for you to prove you have what it takes to lead. The Morph generals will only follow you if they no longer see you as a child in training. They must obey you.”

“You haven’t told my father. Why?”

“Your powers are in tune to your core. You don’t miss anything. No. I haven’t. This is your chance to prove your valor.”

“Then prove my valor, I shall. The Elemento dragons and I will leave at once.”

“Not the Elemento dragons. You will ride Cruor.”

“Cruor is a monster. He doesn’t listen to me. He’s not bonded to me. Why would I take him?”

“The Shellions once had direct links to us. They know us better than any other living human. They know the dragons. Cruor is an anomaly to them. He may look like a dragon, but as you know he’s very different. The Shellions won’t expect him. I expect you to break the veil by sunrise.”

“As you wish my master.”

Kalera could have argued more trying to get her point across but to what end?

After the Goddess took her to leave, Kalera said her goodbyes to her mother with a promise to visit more often.

She opened a portal to the celestial meeting chamber to find her father and his generals. He dismisses them before she could make any inquiries.

“You ate without me,” Kalara said.

“Surely you care nothing for the feast, only the council,” Boilos said.

“This is why they see me as nothing more than a child at play. You don’t trust me.”

“I trust you above all else, even the Gods.”

“Then why do you meet in secret?”

“I want to protect and guide you as long as I can.”

“Protect me. I’m a Morph as you are.”

“Yes, but you were born. You’re different.”

“I would rather you just say weakly.”

“No.”

“Father one day you will take your place in the lastingness. When you do, I will be the last royal Morph. If the generals don’t trust me nor fear me, they will never follow me.

Boilos opened a portal and out walked Cruor. The black dragon with blood eyes approached the king, bent his long neck downwards until their eyes met. They bumped foreheads, a dragon’s sign of respect. Lifting his head, he looked toward Kalera and snarled.

“Cruor. She’s my daughter remember,” Boilos said.

“Father. I have a mission,” She yelled over Cruor’s obnoxious breathing.

“Which dragon will escort you?”

“You don’t wish to know what I’m to do?”

“I know more than you think.”

“Hum. Cruor. Cruor is to escort me.”

Cruor looked to Boilos and leaned his head right and then left.

“We can’t communicate so I’m not sure how this will work. Plus he hates me.”

“He doesn’t hate you. He’s just a little jealous. Come.”

Boilos and Kalera walked into the grand hall of knowledge. The room is a library of the Gods. All the histories were written by their hands inscribed upon the pages of the infinity books lining the pearl white shelves suspended in the air underneath giant crystal chandeliers.

Boilos whispers the word Shellion and five ruby books float down to the golden table. The books are thick and Kalera has a short window of time to learn as much as she can about their kind. Boilos is quite familiar with the Shellions, but he allows his daughter to use her afterimage power to see them for herself.

She gets to work absorbing as much knowledge as she could about them. With little time left, she decides to say goodbye to her Elemento dragons.

****

               “I don’t understand why we must stay behind,” Drake said with a mouth full of crees.”

               “The Goddess doesn’t want to see any of you hurt. The Shellions are cunning humans.”

               “I don’t trust Cruor.” Drake said.

               “I agree with Drake, and I don’t wish to be the only female around here again,” Farion said.

               “Cruor will protect me. Don’t you worry, I will be back soon enough.”

               “You’re powerless for the first two blue moons after the veil closes. Without a bond, how will he protect you?” Drake said.

               “Leave that to me,” Boilos said as he and Cruor exited a portal.

               “I knew I would find you here,” He said.

               “I had to say goodbye,” Kalera said.

               “I had something made for you. This is a temp seal. It will allow you to communicate with Cruor while you’re in the realm.”

Cruor opened his mouth blowing on the seal in the palm of Boilos’ hand. It illuminated then Boilos lifted his hand to the back of Kalera’s head where the seal sticks like glue and then absorbs into her scalp.

She felt a slight sting, but she could hear Cruor inside her head as the sun peaked over the horizon. Kalera hugged her father, bumped heads with all four Elementos, and then mounted Cruor. She spoke the words of the Upar tongue when Cruor took to the sky. He only had moments then the veil would close. Once parallel with the sun a blue light appeared and then disappeared. Below the clouds, Kalera gazes at the wall of Zaylen.

I hope you all enjoyed chapter one. Stay tuned next week for chapter two.

What do you think about Kalera’s new world?

Talk soon,

A.H.

https://www.wattpad.com/user/AundrielWashington

It’s been a while since I have been here. Good to see the new follows in my absence. There’s only a few of us, but a few is greatness.

I hope everyone has been okay in our very trying world. 2021 has not been very kind and it’s only just begun. I have lost two cousins and an aunt since the beginning of this new year. My aunt only passed last Thursday. All taken from this good earth by Covid-19.

Though I’m grief stricken, I decided to do what I love. I love to write. It’s time for me to do just that. Writing is the grandest part of what I love to do, but I must have people to share it with. Growing my audience and brand has to be at the forefront this year.

To kick it all off, the Glows of Fantasy Giveaway is underway. The giveaway includes seven books for you fantasy readers. It includes indie authors such as myself and well known authors. By clicking the link below, you will have the entry info.

Also included for the winner, free shipping.

Regardless, I’m hell bent on pressing forward and this giveaway will help me do just that. I hope you join me.

https://kingsumo.com/g/m2mnsr/win-seven-fantasy-books-to-complete-your-bookshelf

Time flies. I mean it feels as if it literally does. The earth revolves around the sun. Timekeepers tick, and the sand will flow through an hourglass. Whether we believe it, like it or not, it waits on no man. Yesterday, I did as I always do, l looked over my children’s baby books. As usual, I was reminded of the uniqueness of our lives and how sometimes we have no say in how it all turns out. I have six children for those of you who don’t know. Just last week, my oldest daughter got engaged. A happy year ending for my family because 2020 treated us roughly. Of course, if I had a say, she would still be a toddler! 2020 reminded us all that we are not completely in charge. We’re not the boss, but we are definitely operating managers. Here in 2021, be an operating manager. Take a stand.
Taking a Stand Means to PSC:
This is the year for planning, strategizing, and consistency (PSC).
To plan is to set goals and objectives. Remember that a goal is what you desire to accomplish. An objective is the steps you will take along a guided path to achieve your goal. In essence, your goal is your vehicle, and your objective is the space on which your vehicle travels.
In order to take a stance that matters, make your goals specific to your desires not the desires of others. Yes, we love our families and friends but our goals must relate to us. While setting specific goals, make sure they are achievable.
One way to set achievable goals is to set a specific number of goals. For me, one goal every quarter is a way to go. For you, it may be two goals a year. That’s okay. Quality should always supersede quantity.
Goal Formula:
Everyone writes their goals differently and that’s totally fine. My formula is just a suggestion.
Begin with the end in my (End Date) +Who (Yourself) + Go From (What you can do now) = Will do (Goal) (EWGW)
Example:
By the end of January of 2021, A.H. will go from having ten chapters of book three of The Dawn Series to a completed manuscript.
Objectives:
Objectives are just as important as our goals. They must be concise. Would you drive your car in a tornado? Would you take a helicopter ride in severe wind gust? I’m sure the answers are no. Make sure you’re objectives make sense.
Objective Formula:
Who +Will do+ How long+ Accountability = Goal Progress (WWHA)
Example:
A.H. will write four chapters a week for four weeks and check in with the accountability partner weekly.
The bottom line is we must monitor our progress which means monitoring our objectives. The best way to do so is with an accountability system. For us writers, that’s a person. You need someone who will hold you to your goals. This partner is someone who needs you to and wishes for you to succeed. Without accountability, our goals mean nothing. In fact, most people don’t meet their goals because they fail to monitor progress through accountability.
Strategizing:
Following a specific strategy or having a strategy for accomplishing your goals is just as important as your plan (goal). From the moment a light bulb goes off in your mind, you need a strategy. Strategizing allows us to work smarter and not harder. Hard work is important, but hard work without concise moves is just that, hard work.
As a fiction writer, I use story structure phases to plot out my stories. The structure allows me to outline my story from beginning to end. It’s called the scene-setting. Knowing what the major scene will be in each chapter allows me to easily set up conflict and the character’s response to the said conflict as I write each chapter. Without the structure, I’m simply mopping in the dark lurking for ideas.
Consistency:
You have heard this time and time again. Consistency is key. You’ve heard it often because it’s true. Consistency is key. Once you have a plan by setting goals and following a strategy, you must execute through consistency. I believe accountability partners drives us to be consistent.
If your objective requires you to complete a task daily, set a specific time a day to complete the task and try not to veer off schedule unless absolutely necessary.
Following PSC this year will allow me to better manage (stand) my personal and professional life. Will you join me?

Happy New Year!

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Welcome to winter wonderland. Well that depends on what region of the world you live in. No matter the region, I’m hoping all is well for you and all connected to you.

I have been away for a while, but I can’t allow my today to ruin my tomorrow.

Many of you have been anticipating book three updates so now we are here. This evening, I’m sharing with you the first draft copy of chapter one. Happy reading.

Chapter 1:

When humans go bump in the night, the Morphs are the ones who bump back.

During a period of lastingness, a time before time, the Gods created the realms and all manner of creatures for themselves believing they could occupy the lands in their spiritual forms. They were wrong and would learn only physical bodies could survive the worlds they meticulously spawned.

The Gods decided they would manufacturer physical bodies for their spirits to possess. Their plans failed. God’s spirits were too powerful for the physical hosts so it was decided. If they could not possess the bodies, they would use a tiny portion of their light to give life.

Before their experiment began, they created great beast they called dragons that could wield the power of the four elements needed to maintain the realms. Before long, and after many failed attempts, life prevailed in the bodies they would call human mortals.

The Gods rushed the humans into existence. Truth be told, they got bored. Each of them wanted to out conceive the other. By their almighty accounts, the realms were their canvases and the humans their masterpieces. They should’ve just stopped at the dragons.

****

The aroma of rotten flesh teased the Elemento Dragons that encased Kalera. Their wrath raging down on her like an avalanche of grey storms pounding her impenetrable shield. Flagon, the fire dragon erupted flames, magma, and ash while Drake, the water dragon spewed boiling water. Waygon, the air dragon opened his ferrous mouth releasing a powerful gust that the Morph queen continued to withstand.

They ceased attacks when Zarion, the earth dragon unleashed debris of soil and razor-sharp seeds that erupted into indestructible trees.

Kalera’s shield forced Zarion to retreat when Cruor, Kalera’s father’s dragon attacked from within weakening her shield which brought her to her knees.

Her eyes bulged, and in agony, she turned towards the Morph generals who were finding amusement in her suffering. They twisted their aged necks, gazing into one another’s cold black eyes. For the first time, Kalera saw smirks on their pale decrepit faces.

An intense light penetrated the stone floor when a portal opened; Boilos, the Morph king, drifted from inside.

“Enough Cruor! Your work is done for now. Take the Elementos and feed.”

The general’s faces were again frozen and lifeless as Kalera stood. Boilos’ gaze was a clue and they exited the chamber straight away.

“You did well my child,” Boilos said.

“You call that well Father? Cruor nearly killed me.”

“Ha. Ha. He won’t kill you.”

“So say you.”

Boilos took his daughter’s hands into his, looked at them, and then into her eyes.

“The Goddess wants to meet with you.”

“Why? What didn’t I do this time?”

“She wouldn’t share her purpose with me, but I’m guessing she wants you to be in attendance at the Bereft of Life Festival in the Zaylen Realm.”

Kalera removes her hands from his and walked toward a window gazing out.

“I had plans in the coming lights. Neither included attending a human festival.”

“When they call, we act.”

“We act. How old am I Father?”

“You know I can’t answer that.”

“Right. You can’t because we are everlasting beings who exist, not live. I’m tired of just existing. Of having all this power and for what? We’re nothing more than sheep.”

“We have the freedom to choose.”

“Do we? The mortals make more choices than we ever will.”

Boilos sighs and nears Kalera thinking of what might make her feel better.

“Visit the gardens today. You’re missed there.”

She gazed upon flowers of multiple spectrums. The onyx soil glistened as spuds seeped through the dirt. Coils chirped as they awaited their mother’s meals, but some won’t return for they were made meals themselves by the dragons.

Mother Coils unlucky enough to succumb to their injuries right away had fallen into the leaf wasteland. Trees that were once bustling with life had grown weak for their dependence on humans who neglected them. Ta’l’s wasteland of the garden is where Kalera’s mother’s body lies. Queen Palera’s final resting place.

It had been many blue moons, so maybe her father was right. Maybe she should visit the gardens. The place where mother chose to betray her immortality for a mortal cause.

Palera betrayed the Goddess Rose and the Morphs because she fell in love with a human who contorted her with his wiles. Regardless, she was still Kalera’s mother and Kalera loved her so perhaps it was time for forgiveness.

Without another word, Boilos opened a portal, their transportation device, and beaconed Kalera to walk inside. She closed her eyes and entered.

Exiting the portal, she opened her eyes to her mother’s tomb and a statue that commemorated her final ride on her dragon Brogo.

Kalera’s memory of her mother before her fall was faint. She remembered her teachings on how to care for dragon eggs and how to bond mentally and physically with them once they hatched. Though the bonding didn’t take much. The hatchlings were intelligent. They knew who their protectors were. One look is all it took to bond the great beast as they matured into full grown dragons. With maturity came their ability to communicate and see the Morphs through telepathy and afterimage. Dragons are the only creations by the Gods with the ability to see, hear, and communicate with Morphs who are cloaked from the realm by the veil though they exist in it.

She remembered the sweet sounds of the lullaby her mother would sing. Beyond that, only her betrayal and death.

How could you have been so consumed by a mortal? Was Father not enough?

“I’m sorry I haven’t visited you. I need you now more than ever,” Kalera whispers. “I wish you were here. I wish your choices were different. I wish I knew why. Father won’t admit it, but he’s lost without you. The humans continue to deplete the lands. The Goddess will activate us soon, I’m sure of it. We will shed their blood. I don’t like them, but I don’t hate them. I envy them. Why did you choose them?”

The trees swayed back and forth then the dead leaves surrounded her and the spectrum sky darkened. Thunder roared then a lightning bolt struck the ground opening it. A bright light illuminates the garden and then disappears. Standing in the distance was the Goddess Rose.

She paced in a perfect circle several times before approaching Kalera.

“Your mother loved you more than anything. She was my greatest creation. The first Morph. She was perfect and without thought or question, she did any and everything for me. She was the vacuum for the specks my brothers and sisters called their best creations. You see I didn’t agree with human life. I knew their experiment would fail. When it did, they came to me for help. I told them to destroy the humans but they wouldn’t. Their egos were more important. You know the rest of the story.”

“Do I?”

“You know what’s important. I know you didn’t expect a visit, but I couldn’t wait any longer. A Shellion has made a discovery. She harvested a mineral from a sacred stone. Now, the amount was minuscule, but it was enough for her to replicate. Now, she plans to use her new magic during the Bereft of Life Festival. She will raise the dead. I need you to kill her and retrieve the mineral.”

“This sounds like a task for my father. Why are you sending me?”

“It’s time for you to prove you have what it takes to lead. The Morph generals will only follow you if they no longer see you as a child in training. They must trust and obey you.”

“You haven’t told my father. Why?”

“Your powers are in tune with your core. You don’t miss anything. No. I haven’t. This is your chance to prove your valor.”

“Then prove my valor, I shall. The Elemento dragons and I will leave at once.”

“Not the Elemento dragons. You will ride Cruor.”

“Cruor is a monster. He doesn’t listen to me. He’s not bonded to me. Why would I take him?”

“The Shellions once had direct links to us. They know us better than any other living human. They know the dragons. Cruor is an anomaly to them. He may look like a dragon, but as you know he’s very different. The Shellions won’t expect him. I expect you to break the veil by sunrise.”

“As you wish my master.”

Kalera could have argued more trying to get her point across but to what end?

After the Goddess took her leave, Kalera said her goodbyes to her mother with a promise to visit more often.

She opened a portal to the celestial meeting chamber to find her father and his generals. He dismisses them before she could make any inquiries.

“You had dinner without me,” Kalara said.

“Surely you care nothing for the feast, only the council,” Boilos said.

“This is why they see me as nothing more than a child at play. You don’t trust me.”

“I trust you above all else, even the Gods.”

“Then why do you meet in secret?”

“I want to protect and guide you as long as I can.”

“Protect me. I’m a Morph as you are.”

“Yes, but you were born, not created. You’re different.”

“I would rather you just say weakly.”

“No.”

“Father one day you will take your place in the lastingness. When you do, I will be the last royal Morph. If the generals don’t trust me they will never follow me.

Boilos opened a portal and out walked Cruor. The black dragon with blood eyes approached the king, bent his long neck downwards until their eyes met. They bumped foreheads, a dragon’s sign of respect. Lifting his head, he looked toward Kalera and snarled.

“Cruor. She’s my daughter remember,” Boilos said.

“Father. I have a mission,” She yelled over Cruor’s obnoxious breathing.

“Which dragon will escort you?”

“You don’t wish to know what I’m to do?”

“I know more than you think.”

“Hum. Cruor. Cruor is to escort me.”

Cruor looked to Boilos and leaned his head right and then left.

“We can’t communicate so I’m not sure how this will work. Plus he hates me.”

“He doesn’t hate you. He’s just a little jealous. Come.”

Boilos and Kalera walked into the grand hall of knowledge. The room is a library of the Gods. All the histories were written by their hands inscribed upon the pages of the infinity books lining the pearl white shelves suspended in the air underneath giant crystal chandeliers.

Boilos whispers the word Shellion and five ruby books float down to the golden table. The books are thick and Kalera has a short window of time to learn as much as she can about their kind. Boilos is quite familiar with the Shellions, but he allows his daughter to use her afterimage power to see them for herself.

She smiles at her father and gets to work absorbing as much knowledge as she could about them. With little time left, she decides to say goodbye to her Elemento dragons.

****

“I don’t understand why we must stay behind,” Drake said with a mouth full of crees.”

“The Goddess doesn’t want to see any of you hurt. The Shellions are cunning humans.”

“I don’t trust Cruor.” Drake said.

“I agree with Drake, and I don’t wish to be the only female around here again,” Farion said.

“Cruor will protect me. Don’t you worry, I will be back soon enough.”

“You’re powerless for the first two moons after the veil closes. Without a bond, how will he protect you?” Drake said.

“Leave that to me,” Boilos said as he and Cruor exited a portal.

“I knew I would find you here,” He said.

“I had to say goodbye,” Kalera said.

“I had something made for you. This is a temp seal. It will allow you to communicate with Cruor while you’re in the realm.”

Cruor opened his mouth blowing on the seal in the palm of Boilos’ hand. It illuminated then Boilos lifted his hand to the back of Kalera’s head where the seal sticks like glue and then absorbs into her scalp.

She felt a slight sting, but she could hear Cruor inside her head as the sun peaked over the horizon. Kalera hugged her father, bumped heads with all four Elementos, and then mounted Cruor. She spoke the words of the Upar tongue when Cruor took to the sky. He only had moments then the veil would close. Once parallel with the sun a blue light appeared and then disappeared. Below the clouds, Kalera gazes at the wall of Zaylen.

I hope you enjoyed chapter 1. Comment your thoughts in the comment section. What are your likes/dislikes?

Announcements:

Without further wait, the cover reveal for Palera Dawn the second edition is here.

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Order your copy of Dawn of the Dragon today. It’s the perfect book to cozy up with.

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Take a seat with a cup of tea and enjoy the inside scoop.

Chapter 2:

“There, the mountains will give us cover,” Kalera said.

The winds were kind on their descend so there was no need for a shield, which overjoyed her. Unmasking allowed her to feel the wind on her face as a human does. Her face tingling in the breeze, but not for long.

To unmask is to lose the power of the veil and that’s not the worst of it. After planting his four feet on the ground, Cruor lowers his massive wing for Kalera to slide down.

For a few moments, she gazed upon the majestic mountains of Rhodes, once a bustling metropolis before the depletion of magma glass, one of the realm’s most important natural resources.

A growl from her stomach takes hold. She rubbed her right hand over the area near her pelvis as her stomach began to bubble. Putting one foot in front of the other, sweat began to seep from the pores of her head and face. Her eyes watered so she lifted her hands towards her mouth but it was too late. A burp escaped and with it yellow and green vomit. Instead of pins and needles, she felt as if spears were impaling her.

Cruor looked down upon her and then to the heavens. He let out a screech of freedom.

“No Cruor!” Kalera mumbled.

Though the seal allowed her to connect to him telepathically, without a bond she could not connect to his deeper thoughts. She could only hear what he wanted her to hear at that moment.

“Please. Don’t leave me here,” She said while trying to stand.

Kalera’s legs gave out and her face met the dirt.

“The crystal’s navigation took us off course. We must get to Ta’l before the third blue moon rises or we won’t have much time.” She said.

“Your powers have been flicked away. You can’t even cloak me. I may as well have some fun.” Cruor said.

“Cruor please. I have a Seer Stone which will cloak you and still allow the seal to work.”

“And the vileness seeping from you?”

“I’ll be fine,” Kalera said as she slowly stood to her feet.

But Kalera was far from fine. The illness could last longer or shorter than two moons. She didn’t have her Elementos dragons, and she had no way to control Cruor. Even though the Elementos would have become hatchlings without the veil, their powers would’ve remained in tack giving Kalera a shield from the elements of the realm. Without them, she’s nothing more than human. At least for a moon or two and hopefully not longer.

Cruor is not like the Elementos. His powers remain in tack and he remains a full adult dragon capable of destroying the Zaylen Realm if he wanted to. Destroying the realm is not her mission.

“We’re not here for fun,” She said after she retrieved the Seer Stone from her inner cloak.

The rays of the sun struck the stone which activated it. A small bight light radiates and then it expands surrounding both Kalera and Cruor.

“Hey. What are you doing back there?” A voice calls that is drowned by Kalera’s hacking and coughing.

Cruor opens his mouth. “A sweet treat.”

“No!”

Kalera could see the silhouette of a man as she tried catching her breath.

The closer he got, the wider Cruor’s mouth opened. Losing her balance after pleading with Cruor, Kalera sat on the ground. Gazing upon her, the man removed his sword from his scabbard.

“Get up!” He orders.

Kalera raised her hand above her brows trying to block the spectrum of the sun.

“I won’t ask you again, slave!” He yelled.

“You’re about to be a dragon’s snack,” Kalera said.

“Ha. Ha. The sun must have fried your brain. There’re are no dragons. The Northmen killed them all. But you wouldn’t know that being a slave girl.” He said as he wiped the sweat from his burning forehead.

“Dam, I’m melting all of a sudden.” The man said.

The smoldering heat of Cruor’s breath had taken effect.

Again he orders Kalera up. This time he pointed his blade towards her throat nearly making contact with it. The blade began to quake and glow red so he immediately released it.

“What the f**k,” He whispers then he reached out, took Kalera by the arm, and violently removed her from the ground.

“Did you do that to my blade? Are you a Shellion?”

“First a slave, now a Shellion. Make up your mind and never touch me again.” She said and then coughs.

“What’s wrong with you? Do you have the plague?”

Kalera turned to look up at Cruor who had closed his mouth. She didn’t know why but all she could do was accept it.

“Do you have a mere?” she asked

“Answer my question. Do you have the plague?” He asked again.

Kalera knew she had to think of something quick.

“I ate a flash weed and it didn’t agree.”

“What house do you belong to? I bet I could fetch a good coin for you.”

I guess I’m a slave again.

Sigh.

Light comes to her mind. Her way to Ta’l presents itself. That’s of course if Cruor continued to behave.

“I belong to the Bolongs. To Lord Bolong’s Blood Shellion, Shereen.” Kalera said.

“I’m blessed by the … F**k the Gods. They curse us anyway. So you’re a handmaid. Shereen only keeps the best around to ease the storm of King Ager.” He said.

“Yes. A handmaid who needs to get back to Ta’l before the Bereft of Life Festival. Can you help me?”

“The road will be crowded with every kind of riffraff the realm has to offer especially this year with Shereen accepting applications for apprentices. She’s even opening it up to Dreds. Can you imagine, men born with dark magic interested in becoming a Shellion?”

“Can you get me there or not?”

“You will be more than worth my comfort. I’ll help you.”

“Good. Now let’s go.”

“I taste savory flesh beneath my tongue,” Cruor said.

“Hold your tongue. This is my ride. ” Kalera said hoping Cruor would follow without incident.

He takes to the sky. The shield absorbing the quake of the ginormous beast when he lifted from the ground.

A burning sensation rises from Kalera’s core into her desert mouth as she and the stranger made their way around the mountains and molehills to finally come upon his camp.

Bamba shelters lined a small section of the desert terrain. Some elders were attending to younglings while others roasted fresh kills. They communicated with their hands which Kalera found odd. 

The elder attending to the meat suddenly blankets the flame, but Cruor’s nostrils awakened to the aroma and the sent wilded him. Kalera pleads but the beast approaches to devour the unexpecting nomads. 

The weary Morph closes her hazel eyes and stepped in his path while clutching the Seer Stone.

Opening her eyes, she finds Cruor looking pon her. He lowered his head and looked into her eyes.

“You would die for these specs?” He asked.

“No. I would live for them,” Kalera said.

Cruor sniffed his queen, snarled, turned his body, and walked a distance as if he was a puppet. He was hungry and Kalera couldn’t stop him so why change course. 

I would live for them. Why were those my thoughts and words?

Baffled, Kalera realizes that losing power and falling victim to the elements was worse than she remembers.

Her thoughts ceased with a high pitch whistling sound. From above male and female archers appeared atop the molehills. Even with impaired vision, she noticed pelts only covered their most vulnerable parts. 

Attention back on the ground, the stranger is in front of her. He speaks but only his lips were moving. Kalera’s eyes became heavy before going dark. 

Kalera jumped up to a sharp pain at the center of her head. She removed a wide pelt covering to see black stones surrounded her nakedness. She stood too quickly and stumbled when her fall was broken. 

Looking into her helper’s face, she discovered he’s not the stranger she originally met. He was someone else with a familiar gaze.

“Where are my coverings and the man who brought me here?” She whispered.

“There,” He replied pointing to a small chest.

Slowly she put one foot in front of the other and made her way to the chest and opened it.

The man gazed upon her dark, oily, skin as she covered herself.

Kalera met his gaze. “I’m sure you’ve seen a naked woman before.”

“It has been a while and you’re welcome by the way.”

“You want a thank you. Where are my manners? Thank you.”

“I have you know my mother kept frozen stones a top you when the fever took hold, so yes a thank you.”

“How long ago was that?”

“It matters not.”

“How long?” Kalera commands.

“Two moons.”

Panic sat in as Kalera realized how much time had escaped her and she thought of Cruor. She felt for the seal and called out to Cruor but he was silent.

“I have to go. The man I came here with promised me that he would get me to Ta’l.” 

“Tomas didn’t break his promise. By light, we will be near the Keep.”

“Tomas. And what may I call you?”

“Jessup.”

“Jessup I’m Kalera.”

“You’re quite more. You’re a Morph and the next time you decide to bring along a dragon, feed him first.”

Kalera’s eyes widened.

“You are mistaken.”

“No. I’m a Seer.”

She knew there was no lie that would convince him. Seers are Dreds, males born with dark magic from the light of their maker, the God called Daft. 

“Yes. I’m a Morph.”

“Why are you here?”

“That’s no business of yours.”

“You are powerless at the moment so your thoughts are mine.”

“You wouldn’t dare. I will order my dragon to destroy you.”

“The one outside who refuses to answer you? I think not.”

Kalera exited the shelter to find Cruor a short distance away still shielded from all eyes except his.

“Those humans were caring for you.” He said.

“Why didn’t you respond to me?” She asked.

“I was busy. You were in good hands.”

Cruor had killed no one nor flown away. No one but Boilos tames him so why hadn’t he done what he was made for?

Jessup exited the shelter when Kalera noticed the humans speaking in Upar, the dragon’s tongue. 

“Before, they were mute.”

“I had only warned them of what you are and what you brought with you.”

The archers, elders, and younglings were readying the meres to move out when Tomas returned.

“Good to see you feeling better, ” He said.

“Is the Keep full?” Jessup asked.

“There’s still space and you will be just in time to throw in a coin for the apprentice challenge,” Tomas said.

This was news to Kalera’s ears and her ticket to sharing the same space with Shereen. But until her powers return she could try her best to hide her thoughts or risk her mission by revealing to the Dred her plans. Decisions. Decisions. 

Dawnies,

Some time has passed since my last blog post. Life has been happening to me but I can’t dwell on it. I’m still here and would like to continue sharing an inside look at book three. Book three has a working title called, A Psalm of Dawns and Dragons. Beginning this weekend, I will share drafts for the chapter’s one and two. Just as I did for Dawn of The Dragon, I will share about 18 draft chapters. Enjoy.

Chapter 1

Humans go bump in the night, and the Morphs are the ones who bump back.

During a period of lastingness, a time before time, the Gods created the realms and all manner of creatures for themselves believing they could occupy the lands in their spiritual forms. They were wrong and would learn only physical bodies could survive the worlds they meticulous created.

The Gods decided they would manufacturer physical bodies for their spirits to possess. Their plans failed. Their spirits to powerful for the physical host so it was decided. If they could not possess the bodies, they would use a tiny portion of their light to give them life.

Before their experiment began, they created great beast they called dragons that could wield the power of the four elements needed to maintain the realms. Before long, and after many failed attempts, life prevailed in the bodies they would call human mortals.

The Gods rushed the humans into existence. Truth be told, they got bored. Each of them wanted to out conceive the other. By their almighty accounts, the realms were their canvases and the humans their masterpieces. They should’ve just stopped at the dragons. 

The aroma of rotten flesh teased the Elemento Dragons that encased Kalera. Their wrath raging upon her impenetrable shield. Flagon, the fire dragon erupted flames, magma, and ash while Drake, the water dragon spewed boiling water. Waygon, the air dragon opened his ferrous mouth releasing a powerful gust that the Morph queen continued to withstand.

They ceased attacks when Zarion, the earth dragon unleashed debris of soil and razor-sharp seeds that erupted into indestructible trees.

Kalera’s shield forced Zarion to retreat when Cruor, Kalera’s father’s dragon attacked from within weakening her shield which brought her to her knees.

Her eyes bulged, and in agony, she turned towards the Morph generals who were finding amusement in her suffering. They twisted their aged necks, gazing into one another’s cold black eyes. For the first time, Kalera saw smirks on their pale decrepit faces.

An intense light penetrated the stone floor when a portal opens; Boilos, the Morph king, drifted from inside.

“Enough Cruor! Your work is done for now. Take the Elementos and feed.”

The general’s faces were again lifeless as Kalera stood. Boilos’ gaze was a clue and they exited the chamber straight away.

“You did well my child,” Boilos said.

“You call that well Father? Cruor nearly killed me.”

“Ha. Ha. He won’t kill you.”

“So say you.”

Boilos took his daughter’s hands into his.

“The Goddess wants to meet with you.”

“Why? What didn’t I do this time?”

“She wouldn’t share her purpose with me, but I’m guessing she wants you to be in attendance at the Bereft of Life Festival in the Zaylen Realm.”

Kalera removes her hands from his and walks towards a window gazing out.

“I had plans in the coming lights. Neither included attending a human festival.”

“When they call, we act.”

“We act. How old am I Father?”

“You know I can’t answer that.”

“Right. You can’t because we are everlasting beings who exist, not live. I’m tired of just existing. Of having all this power and for what? We are nothing more than sheep.”

“We have the freedom to choose.”

“Do we? The mortals make more choices than we ever will.”

Boilos sighs and nears Kalera.

“Visit the gardens today. You’re missed there.”

She looked upon flowers of multiple spectrums. The onyx soil glistened as spuds seeped through the dirt. Coils chirped as they awaited their mother’s meals, but some won’t return for they were made meals themselves.

Some unlucky enough to succumb to their injuries right away had fallen into the leaf wasteland. Trees that were once bustling with life had grown weak for their dependence on humans who neglected them. Ta’l’s wasteland of the garden is where Kalera’s mother’s body lies. Queen Palera’s final resting place.

It had been many blue moons, so maybe her father was right. Maybe she should visit the gardens. The place where her mother chose to betray her immortality for a mortal cause.

Palera betrayed the Goddess Rose and the Morphs because she fell in love with a human who contorted her with his wiles. Regardless, she was still Kalera’s mother and Kalera loved her so perhaps it was time for forgiveness.

Without another word, Boilos opened a portal, their transportation device, and beaconed Kalera to walk inside. She closed her eyes and entered.

Exiting the portal, she opened her eyes to her mother’s tomb and a statue that commemorated her final ride on her dragon Brogo.

Kalera’s memory of her mother before her fall was faint. She remembered her teachings on how to care for dragon eggs and how to bond mentally and physically with them once they hatched. Though the bonding didn’t take much. The hatchlings were intelligent. They knew who their protectors were. One look is all it took to bond the great beast as they matured into full-grown dragons. With maturity came their ability to communicate and see the Morphs through telepathy and afterimage. Dragons are the only creations by the Gods with the ability to see, hear, and communicate with Morphs who are cloaked from the realm though they exist in it.

She remembered the sweet sounds of the lullaby her mother would sing. Beyond that, only her betrayal and death.

How could she have been so consumed by a mortal? Was Father not enough?

“I’m sorry I haven’t visited you. I need you now more than ever,” Kalera whispers. “I wish you were here. I wish your choices were different. I wish I knew why. Father won’t admit it, but he’s lost without you. The humans continue to deplete the lands. The Goddess will activate us soon, I’m sure of it. We will shed their blood. I don’t hate them, but I envy them. Why did you choose them?”

The trees swayed back and forth then the dead leaves surrounded her and the spectrum sky darkened. Thunder roared then a lightning bolt struck the ground opening it. A bright light illuminates the garden and then disappears. Standing in the distance was the Goddess Rose.

She paced in a perfect circle several times before approaching Kalera.

“Your mother loved you more than anything. She was my greatest creation. The first Morph. She was perfect and without thought or question, she did any and everything for me. She was the vacuum for the specks my brothers and sisters called their best creations. You see I didn’t agree with human life. I knew their experiment would fail. When it did, they came to me for help. I told them to destroy the humans but they wouldn’t. Their egos were more important. You know the rest of the story.”

“Do I?”

“You know what’s important. I know you didn’t expect a visit, but I couldn’t wait any longer. A Shellion has made a discovery. She harvested a mineral from a sacred stone. Now, the amount was minuscule, but it was enough for her to replicate. Now, she plans to use her new magic during the Bereft of Life Festival. She will raise the dead. I need you to kill her and retrieve the mineral.”

“This sounds like a task for my father. Why are you sending me?”

“It’s time for you to prove you have what it takes to lead. The Morph generals will only follow you if they no longer see you as a child in training. They must trust and obey you.”

“You haven’t told my father. Why?”

“Hum.”

“The Elementos and I will leave at once, my master.”

“Not the Elemento dragons. You will ride Cruor.”

“Cruor is a monster. He doesn’t listen to me. He’s not bonded to me. Why would I take him?”

“The Shellions once had direct links to us. They know us better than any living human. They know the dragons.”

“They knew the extinct dragons.”

“Cruor is an anomaly to them. He may look like a dragon, but as you know he’s very different. The Shellions won’t expect him. I expect you to break the veil by sunrise.”

“As you wish my master.”

Kalera could have argued more trying to get her point across but to what end?

After the Goddess took her leave, Kalera said her goodbyes to her mother with a promise to visit more often.

She opened a portal to the celestial meeting chamber to find her father and his generals. He dismisses them before she could make any inquiries.

“You had dinner without me,” Kalara said.

“Surely you care nothing for the feast, only the council,” Boilos said.

“This is why they see me as nothing more than a child at play. You don’t trust me.”

“I trust you above all else even the Gods.”

“Then why do you meet in secret?”

“I want to protect and guide you as long as I can.”

“Protect me. I’m a Morph as you are.”

“Yes, but you were born, not created. You’re different.”

“I would rather you just say weakly.”

“No.”

“Father one day you will take your place in the lastingness. When you do, I will be the last royal Morph. If the generals don’t trust me they will never follow me.

Boilos opened a portal and out walked Cruor. The black dragon with blood eyes approached the king, bent his long neck downwards until their eyes met. They bumped foreheads, a dragon’s sign of respect. Lifting his head, he looked toward Kalera and snarled.

“Cruor. She’s my daughter remember,” Boilos said.

“Father. I have my mission,” She yelled over Cruor’s obnoxious breathing.

“Which dragon will escort you?”

“You don’t wish to know what I’m to do?”

“I know more than you think.”

“Hum. Cruor. Cruor is to escort me.”

Cruor looked to Boilos and leaned his head right and then left.

“We can’t communicate so I’m not sure how this will work. Plus he hates me.”

“He doesn’t hate you. He’s just a little jealous. Come.”

Boilos and Kalera walked into the grand hall of knowledge. The room is a library of the Gods. All the histories were written by their hands inscribed upon the pages of the infinity books lining the pearl white shelves suspended in the air underneath giant crystal chandeliers.

Boilos whispers the word Shellion and five ruby books float down to the golden table. The books are thick and Kalera has a short window of time to learn as much as she can about their kind. Boilos is quite familiar with the Shellions, but he allows his daughter to use her afterimage power to see them for herself.

She smiles at her father and gets to work absorbing as much knowledge as she could about them.

With little time left, she decides to say goodbye to her Elemento dragons.

“I don’t understand why we must stay behind,” Drake said with a mouth full of crees.”

“The Goddess doesn’t want to see any of you hurt. The Shellions are cunning.”

“I don’t trust Cruor.” Drake said.

“I agree with Drake, and I don’t wish to be the only female around here again,” Farion said.

“Cruor will protect me. Don’t you worry, I will be back soon enough.”

“You’re powerless for the first two moons after the veil closes. Without a bond, how will he protect you?” Drake said.

“Leave that to me,” Boilos said as he and Cruor exited a portal.

“I knew I would find you here.” He said.

“I had to say goodbye,” Kalera said.

“I had something made for you. This is a temp seal. It will allow you to communicate with Cruor while you’re in the realm.”

Cruor opened his mouth blowing on the seal in the palm of Boilos’ hand. It illuminates then Boilos lifted his hand to the back of Kalera’s head where the seal sticks like glue and then absorbs into her scalp.

She felt a slight sting, but she could hear Cruor inside her head as the sun peaked over the horizon. Kalera hugged her father, bumped heads with all four Elementos, and then mounted Cruor. She spoke the words of the Upar tongue when Cruor took to the sky. He only had moments and the veil would close. Once parallel with the sun a blue light appeared and then disappeared. Below the clouds, Kalera gazes at the wall of Zaylen.

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Dawnies,

Welcome to a look inside of The Dawn Series Book Three. Check out the premise and beyond. Answer the following:

What do you think of the premise?

For those who have read books one and two, how do you feel about this short look inside?

Happy reading.

Look Inside:

Premise Statement:

A queen must break her father’s hex before he discovers the way to use her and her dragons to usher in a literal hell on earth.

Morph generals gaze upon Kalera while she trains.

The four Elemento Dragons encase Kalera, raining their wrath upon her impenetrable shield. Flagon erupts, sending flames, magma, and ash while Drake spews boiling water. Waygon opens his ferrous mouth releasing a powerful gust that the queen continues to withstand.

The three dragons cease attacks as Zarion unleashes debris of soil and razor-sharp seeds that erupts into indestructible trees.

Kalera’s shield forces Zarion to retreat when Cruor, Kalera’s father’s dragon attacks from within weakening her shield and bringing her to her knees.

Her eyes bulge, and in agony, she turns towards the generals who are finding amusement in her suffering. They turn their aged necks, gazing into one another’s cold black eyes. For the first time, Kalera sees smirks on their pale decrepit faces.

A bright light penetrates the stone floor and a portal opens; Boilos floats from inside.

“Enough Cruor! Your work is done for now. Take the Elementos and feed.”

The general’s faces are again lifeless as Kalera stands. Boilos looks at them and they exit the chamber straight away.

“You did well my child,” Boilos said.

“You call that well? Cruor nearly killed me.”

“Ha. Ha. He can’t kill you.”

“So say you.”

Boilos takes his daughter’s hands into his.

“Visit the gardens today. You are missed there.”

He knows Kalera hates the place that has so much life, but also death.

Out of the transparent magma glass window she looks upon flowers of every color and some multiple spectrums. The onyx soil glistened as spuds seeped through the dirt. Coils chirped as they awaited their mother’s meals, but some won’t return for they were made meals themselves.

Some unlucky enough not to succumb to their injuries right away had fallen into the leaf wasteland.  The wasteland of the garden is where Kalera’s mother’s body lies. Queen Palera’s final resting place.

It is believed that her body is the reason the trees only bring forth life for a short time and then wither away leaving only their pale leaves. 

It had been many blue moons, so maybe her father is right. Maybe she should visit the gardens. Without another word, Boilos opens a portal and beacons Kalera to walk inside. She closes her eyes and enters.

Exiting the portal, she opens her eyes to her mother’s tomb and a statue commemorating her final ride on her dragon Brogo.

Kalera’s memory of her mother was faint. She remembers her teachings on how to care for dragon eggs and how to bond with them once they hatched. Though the bonding didn’t take much. The hatchlings were intelligent. They knew who their protectors were. Once they hatched, one look is all it took to bond the great beast as they matured into full-grown dragons.

She remembers the sweet sounds of the lullaby her mother would sing. Beyond that, only her death.

How could she be immortal if her mother is dead? How could the Goddess Rose allow humans to take Palera’s life? She wants to know why and to understand her role as a war commander. She wants to understand her connection to humans. There must be more otherwise she would hate them.

“I’m sorry I’ve been distant and failing to visit you. I need you now more than ever,” Kalera whispers. “I wish you were here. Father and I are lost without you. Humans are planning to revolt once more. The Goddess will activate us and we will shed their blood to maintain order. You know I despise this. What must I do?”

Kalera could only hear the sound of her own voice and the chatter of life from the other side of the garden when a familiar twinge flows from the base of her neck to the center of her cranium.