Jacqueline Patricks's Blog - Posts Tagged "nightmares-of-the-queen"
Sneak Peek from 'Nightmares of the Queen'
He unlocked the door to his apartment.
"Captain Charles Lewis, this board of inquiry has decided…"
He stepped inside and shut the door behind him, making sure to relock it.
"…that due to the lack of supporting evidence, the massive loss of life to your unit…"
He ignored the wilted leaves of his philodendron—their edges brown and curling—as he aimed for his kitchen. Specifically the refrigerator.
"…and the loss of the entire team of scientists who were highly regarded in their fields…"
The fridge’s handle was cold and hard against his palm as he stood staring into its bright belly. He’d only have one. He just needed one to take the edge off. Fingers of his right hand tightened on the handle while his left reached forward, shaking.
"…that you will be reassigned to administrative duty and subject to regular evaluations, psychiatric and professional,..."
The icy glass bottle in his hand instantly soothed him, calming his tremors and he hadn’t even opened it.
"…until such time that you have proven that you are capable of assuming another field command."
A pop and a snick and the metal cap flipped off to clatter on the countertop, spinning and twisting. Lewis had swallowed almost half of the beer before the cap could roll to the tile floor. Too bad he couldn’t enjoy the river of cold foam rushing down his throat. He hadn’t enjoyed anything since they’d returned a month ago. Another gulp and swallow while he stared at the wall behind his stove. He’d always hated that beige tile. Boring. Lifeless.
“Fuck!” Lewis threw the mostly empty bottle at the offending ceramic. Brown glass and golden froth exploded, littering the stove, but the tile survived. Stumbling backwards, Lewis’ back hit the far wall of his narrow hall-like kitchen, and he slid to his butt, legs bent in front of him. Being hardly worn, the soles of his dress shoes slipped and his feet splayed out until his legs smacked the floor.
Pressed against the wall, the corded edge of his beret dug painfully into the back of his head. He’d forgotten to remove his cover indoors—just like he’d forgotten at the inquiry.
Maybe they’re right. Maybe I am unfit for another field command. Lewis balled his hands into fists trying to force the tension from his body. Bitter ale clung to his tongue, distracting him and inciting a craving for more. Eyelids drifting shut, he inhaled deeply and thought about happy places.
Sir?
“No!” Lewis snapped his lids open. Lifeless beige stared back. “You’re not real,” he whispered. He covered his face with both hands. “You’re dead.”
Sir? What happened?
“You’re all dead,” he said, his hands muffling his gruff voice.
This is your fault. Why didn’t you save us?
A short sob escaped Lewis and he bowed his head, face still masked. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry…” he said again, softer as his upper body slid sideways, hitting the wood cabinetry with dull thud. Shoulders trembling, Lewis tried to restrain himself as his emotions swirled and buckled.
You owe me, sir.
Lewis stilled, then removed his hands from his face. “Brown?”
I looked out for you when you needed me. You owe me.
“I. I tried, Sam.”
You weren’t good enough.
Nodding, Lewis pulled his legs to his chest. “I know. I’m sorry. If I could’ve stayed…”
Sudden music broke the spell, and Lewis’ head jerked, smacking the wall so hard his vision whited for a second. He groaned and rubbed the back of his head, already feeling the tendrils of a fresh migraine spreading. The music shrilled again, and he realized it was coming from the inside breast pocket of his class A uniform.
With a frustrated sigh, Lewis readjusted his position so he could reach his cellphone. When had he taken it off vibrate? Everything after the inquiry this morning was a blur. Reading the display, he considered allowing it to go to voicemail, but it was an old Special Forces buddy. He’d quit the field years ago for a Pentagon desk job, had said it was the best decision he’d ever made. Somehow, Lewis doubted it.
Nightmares of the Queen
"Captain Charles Lewis, this board of inquiry has decided…"
He stepped inside and shut the door behind him, making sure to relock it.
"…that due to the lack of supporting evidence, the massive loss of life to your unit…"
He ignored the wilted leaves of his philodendron—their edges brown and curling—as he aimed for his kitchen. Specifically the refrigerator.
"…and the loss of the entire team of scientists who were highly regarded in their fields…"
The fridge’s handle was cold and hard against his palm as he stood staring into its bright belly. He’d only have one. He just needed one to take the edge off. Fingers of his right hand tightened on the handle while his left reached forward, shaking.
"…that you will be reassigned to administrative duty and subject to regular evaluations, psychiatric and professional,..."
The icy glass bottle in his hand instantly soothed him, calming his tremors and he hadn’t even opened it.
"…until such time that you have proven that you are capable of assuming another field command."
A pop and a snick and the metal cap flipped off to clatter on the countertop, spinning and twisting. Lewis had swallowed almost half of the beer before the cap could roll to the tile floor. Too bad he couldn’t enjoy the river of cold foam rushing down his throat. He hadn’t enjoyed anything since they’d returned a month ago. Another gulp and swallow while he stared at the wall behind his stove. He’d always hated that beige tile. Boring. Lifeless.
“Fuck!” Lewis threw the mostly empty bottle at the offending ceramic. Brown glass and golden froth exploded, littering the stove, but the tile survived. Stumbling backwards, Lewis’ back hit the far wall of his narrow hall-like kitchen, and he slid to his butt, legs bent in front of him. Being hardly worn, the soles of his dress shoes slipped and his feet splayed out until his legs smacked the floor.
Pressed against the wall, the corded edge of his beret dug painfully into the back of his head. He’d forgotten to remove his cover indoors—just like he’d forgotten at the inquiry.
Maybe they’re right. Maybe I am unfit for another field command. Lewis balled his hands into fists trying to force the tension from his body. Bitter ale clung to his tongue, distracting him and inciting a craving for more. Eyelids drifting shut, he inhaled deeply and thought about happy places.
Sir?
“No!” Lewis snapped his lids open. Lifeless beige stared back. “You’re not real,” he whispered. He covered his face with both hands. “You’re dead.”
Sir? What happened?
“You’re all dead,” he said, his hands muffling his gruff voice.
This is your fault. Why didn’t you save us?
A short sob escaped Lewis and he bowed his head, face still masked. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry…” he said again, softer as his upper body slid sideways, hitting the wood cabinetry with dull thud. Shoulders trembling, Lewis tried to restrain himself as his emotions swirled and buckled.
You owe me, sir.
Lewis stilled, then removed his hands from his face. “Brown?”
I looked out for you when you needed me. You owe me.
“I. I tried, Sam.”
You weren’t good enough.
Nodding, Lewis pulled his legs to his chest. “I know. I’m sorry. If I could’ve stayed…”
Sudden music broke the spell, and Lewis’ head jerked, smacking the wall so hard his vision whited for a second. He groaned and rubbed the back of his head, already feeling the tendrils of a fresh migraine spreading. The music shrilled again, and he realized it was coming from the inside breast pocket of his class A uniform.
With a frustrated sigh, Lewis readjusted his position so he could reach his cellphone. When had he taken it off vibrate? Everything after the inquiry this morning was a blur. Reading the display, he considered allowing it to go to voicemail, but it was an old Special Forces buddy. He’d quit the field years ago for a Pentagon desk job, had said it was the best decision he’d ever made. Somehow, Lewis doubted it.
Nightmares of the Queen
Sneak Peek Scene of Nightmares of the Queen
My rough draft of Lewis meeting up with Ta'mat again in 'Nightmares of the Queen', sequel to 'Dreams of the Queen'
Add it to your shelf! Nightmares of the Queen
_________________________________________________
The silver-haired, pale-skinned version of Cass stood in the middle of the room, in front of the small metal table bolted to the floor. Gracefully, almost in slow motion, she looked up—no longer staring at the hidden camera—and their gazes met. "Captain Lewis." Her smile was lazy, indulgent.
Lewis hesitated for one breath before stepping into her den. The door shut behind him with a deep metal clank. He was locked in with an insane goddess until he requested otherwise. A corner of his lips twitched—to smile or to frown?—hell, at the moment even he wasn’t sure. With his hands at the small of his back, clenching his sweat-soaked beret, and his legs shoulder-width apart, he waited just inside the door.
“So good of you to come," she said.
“As if I had a choice.”
“We all have choices.”
“Do we?”
Watching him as if he might wiggle off her hook any second, she ran her fingers over her lips. “Don’t be absurd, Captain.”
“Why did you ask for me, Ta’mat?”
“Ah.” She strolled closer, head tilted slightly. “I never could fool you. Pity.”
________________________________________________
Mahwahahahaha!
Add it to your shelf! Nightmares of the Queen
_________________________________________________
The silver-haired, pale-skinned version of Cass stood in the middle of the room, in front of the small metal table bolted to the floor. Gracefully, almost in slow motion, she looked up—no longer staring at the hidden camera—and their gazes met. "Captain Lewis." Her smile was lazy, indulgent.
Lewis hesitated for one breath before stepping into her den. The door shut behind him with a deep metal clank. He was locked in with an insane goddess until he requested otherwise. A corner of his lips twitched—to smile or to frown?—hell, at the moment even he wasn’t sure. With his hands at the small of his back, clenching his sweat-soaked beret, and his legs shoulder-width apart, he waited just inside the door.
“So good of you to come," she said.
“As if I had a choice.”
“We all have choices.”
“Do we?”
Watching him as if he might wiggle off her hook any second, she ran her fingers over her lips. “Don’t be absurd, Captain.”
“Why did you ask for me, Ta’mat?”
“Ah.” She strolled closer, head tilted slightly. “I never could fool you. Pity.”
________________________________________________
Mahwahahahaha!
Stand by...
I'll be revealing the cover to Nightmares of the Queen in the new year!
And the working title for the third book of The Brajj Trilogy is Destiny of the Queen!
I have a premise and an ending for the entire trilogy that I think is mega-cool! Just have to get this second book published and started on the third. Looks like at least spring of 2015, unless I can write faster.
Also have Fairytale Apocalypse: The Verge #1 due out just after Nightmares, so its cover will be revealed shortly after Nigtmares'!
Lots of cool things in 2014!
And the working title for the third book of The Brajj Trilogy is Destiny of the Queen!
I have a premise and an ending for the entire trilogy that I think is mega-cool! Just have to get this second book published and started on the third. Looks like at least spring of 2015, unless I can write faster.
Also have Fairytale Apocalypse: The Verge #1 due out just after Nightmares, so its cover will be revealed shortly after Nigtmares'!
Lots of cool things in 2014!
SQUEE!
Nightmares of the Queen's first draft is officially finished and in the editing and polishing stage! Projected publishing date, late March 2014!!!!
Add it to your shelf!
Add me to your fan list to stay updated on releases
AND
First 20 to add it to their shelf and become a fan starting today win a free ARC copy!
Free Sample of Nightmares of the Queen at Smashwords!
Put it on your shelf -- Nightmares of the Queen
Then go to Smashwords to read 20% free. Preorders available at all Eretailers except Amazon.
Released officially March 30 $2.99!
Dreams of the Queen will be on sale March 30 for $.99!
Smashwords
Then go to Smashwords to read 20% free. Preorders available at all Eretailers except Amazon.
Released officially March 30 $2.99!
Dreams of the Queen will be on sale March 30 for $.99!
Smashwords
Gah! So close to being a top 100 author on Amazon!
Ranked today at #447 in overall Science Fiction! How wonderful and a bit frustrating to be so close to the top 100...sigh. But every few months I sell more and climb higher. And this is only after one year and four months since I started self publishing. Who knows what will happen in another year!
VERY prelimiary blurb for 'Destiny of the Queen' Book 3 of The Brajj
Can a goddess find redemption?
Can a soldier find purpose?
When you think all is lost,
When you believe life is meaningless,
Sometimes your destiny is revealed.
If you’re willing to see the signs,
And brave enough to fight,
Sometimes you can change worlds.
________________________________________
I'm aiming to publish a year from now, if not sooner.
Can a soldier find purpose?
When you think all is lost,
When you believe life is meaningless,
Sometimes your destiny is revealed.
If you’re willing to see the signs,
And brave enough to fight,
Sometimes you can change worlds.
________________________________________
I'm aiming to publish a year from now, if not sooner.
Queen 3's progress...
Keep an eye out, I'll be posting some teasers from Q3.
Passed 7000 words today. :o)
Passed 7000 words today. :o)
