Short Excerpt from Chapter 4 of the New Novel...

In planning today’s blog, I had so many options, but I think what’s really needed is a glimpse into my new book. So without any ado, here's a short excerpt from the 4th chapter...

Anabel couldn’t remember the last time her mother had spoken of Aunt Clara. There had been a falling out when the three sisters; Clara, Chloe, and Catherine were teenagers. Her mother said she didn’t know where the other two went. So how was she supposed to ‘find Clara’ anyway.

“Mom, what happened between you guys?” Anabel would have loved to have siblings, but her mother never wanted a relationship after her husband left. Besides, she was ‘too busy’ she’d always say. Her mother worked hard. Anabel had to give her credit there. She also seemed to always be everywhere at once. One time, as a young girl Anabel had gone from the kitchen where her mother was plating her sandwich to the living room to eat and watch cartoons, when her mother was right there, setting the plate in front of her. To five year old Anabel, it seemed like magic. To adult Anabel, she realized her mother had likely just followed behind.

“After our mother died,” Catherine began speaking in hushed tones. “We found an old, old manuscript in Mother’s bedside table. It was in an old script and was full of tales of strange and wonderful things. After we’d read it, strange things began to happen. Clara ignored them. Chloe freaked out. I tried to embrace it. I always loved the supernatural. I believed in faeries and magic and dragons. They often came to me in dreams. I thought it was great fun. Because I was much younger than my sisters, I tried to control the strange things, and tried to insist my sisters do the same, my sisters thought I was delusional. We had many fights. They called me young and naive and insisted that I give up my childish notions and realize all the things could be logically explained. When I refused, they stopped talking to me. Soon after that they moved out. I learned many things that summer.” Catherine smiled and squeezed her daughter’s hand.

“They still come to me in dreams, especially the dragon.” She said almost to herself. She seemed to drift off for a moment. Anabel looked away, blinking rapidly. 

“Anabel.” Catherine’s voice was sharp. “You need to cast the spell to find lost things and locate Clara. She can tell you the rest. She knows. The curse must be broken.” She closed her eyes.

Anabel tried not to roll her eyes. Curse? What curse was her mother talking about? She didn’t want to upset Catherine though. She kissed her mother’s beautiful blonde hair. The exact shade of her own.

“Rest now Mom. Things will make more sense in the morning.”

Catherine sat up and snapped her eyes open. “They’re clear now! Cast the spell! Break the curse!”

She laid back down, gave Anabel the ‘mom’ look and closed her eyes again. She fell into a deep and even sleep.

Suzette Berry