Clarissa
“What door, dear?” Her mother asked, sniffling.
‘LIAR! LIAR!’ Mimi hissed. ‘Imposter! Hater! Betrayer! Traitor! She is a liar!’
‘Calm down.’ Clarissa demanded, agitated by Mimi’s outburst, which was unlike him.
Mimi was usually patient and understanding. His eager impatience confused her. Her mother saw the agitation on her face, and her tears started again.
“Tell me- what door?” Her mother pleaded.
Clarissa“If you are prepared to agree to Clarissa’s terms, then we can head up there.” Stefan spoke slowly, but his confidence overflowed. His toothy grin caused a few nervous chuckles around the table as it accentuated the possibility that he lost his mind long ago. Was that smile the reason he got the confession from the werecat at the farm? It played a definite role in the stories that Clarissa heard about him. “What that we keep our prisoner of war for ourselves? Most negotiations don’t require the captor to hold on to the hostage.” The elderly werecat returned with a toothy grin of his own, unaffected by Stefan’s.
Clarissa ‘Your meeting has ended. Come to me. Come before it is too late.’ Mimi demanded. ‘Too late for what?’ Clarissa asked. ‘The exchange will not go as planned. You will need me.’ Mimi pleaded. A violent shudder ran through Clarissa at Mimi’s prediction. But the exchange was simple, and Stefan would be there to protect her. Why was she smelling danger, tasting her anxiety? Stefan was still staring boldly at her as he leaned against the wall. The focused att
Stefan Clarissa was breathtaking as she stood in the center of the balcony. Stefan knew Clarissa’s fiery spirit could resist the effects of the bard’s magic. But the rapture on her face meant she was riding the spell for all the pleasure it could bring. Stefan bit back an edge of jealousy. He didn’t have the bard’s tongue and would never deliver this fetish to her. Her eyes glazed over, and her red hair floated around her as if gravity did not affect her. She could drift off into space and never touch the earth again. Stefan struggled with the urge to run up and ground her. What would he do without her?
Clarissa Clarissa sat up warily in the bed, looking around the small room. For a simple race, they sure embellished their bedrooms fancy. Gold and silver decorations hung over the walls. The bed had a feather mattress, and the sheets were so smooth that she just slid to the edge of the bed as she got up. Elaborate wooden furniture ornamented the large room. Male clothing hung in the corner. She was in a man’s bed? At least she still wore the werecat dress she did the ceremony in. She wasn’t sure what had happened. The last thing that she remembered was agreeing to the exchange. Stretching, Clarissa tested how she felt and determined everything was still
Blake When Blake’s scouts reported Clarissa made it safely to the werecat village, he had immediately reported to Righ, whose face lit up as he strode directly to his throne room. “She is near the end of her time with the werecats.” The Old King calmly explained to Blake, but excitement lined his words. “Yes, then she will go home to marry that repulsive freak,” Blake grumbled. Blake snarled with jealousy as he envisioned the wedding that would end in an unbridled kiss between his love and that monster. As King Righ waved his hands over the black pearl, he
Clarissa Clarissa closed her eyes tightly as she gripped the door handle. She already tried several times to force it open with both physical force and magic. She learned quickly that physical force was not going to do the trick. But every time that she tried magic, lightning zapped through her. ‘You need to get out of that room and come to me.’ Mimi demanded. He wanted to say I told you so but he held off. She was gathering her resolve to try again when a key rattled in the lock. Clarissa grabbed a chair and held it over her head, preparing to swing at whoever opened the door.
Stefan “Clarissa Fairwater is young and raised without magic. But I have seen much growth since meeting her, and I will be the one to continue her training.” Stefan argued, his definitive tone leaving no room to return the argument. Bristol smiled lazily and latched onto Stefan’s words. “If you are the one who trained the girl, then you are the one who placed the boobytrap!” Stefan rolled his eyes. He was getting fed up with this little man. If he weren’t trying to be diplomatic, he would already have ground his bones into the dirt. Stefan took a deep, steadying breath and countered.
Stefan When they got to the Chief’s room, he and Stefan sighed with relief at finding the door locked. It meant Clarissa was safely tucked away. But inside the room told another story. Clarissa was gone, and the only thing that remained was a broken wooden chair she used in her escape. Clarissa’s scent was in the air, but he could also smell blood. She had been here alright and not too long ago. Was she injured? After several moments of scavenging for clues with Chief Yungerr, Stefan closed his eyes. What had he seen that could lead him back to her? There was a magical residue in the air outside the room that he had barely noticed in his panic to get here.
Clarissa As the blue cloud dissipated, a sudden rush of darkness overwhelmed Clarissa’s senses. Shadows swallowed the world around. A chill ran through her soul. The bond with Stefan and Blake thrummed with concern, but she was already being pulled away.She stood alone in a broken landscape. The sky was a mass of swirling black clouds, blotting out any light. The ground cracked and crumbled, swallowing remnants of once-great cities. Rivers of molten lava snaked through the land, burning everything in their path. The smell of sulfur and ash assaulted her senses.Clarissa’s heart pounded. People ran in every direction, their screams piercing the air. The devastation was total. The earth shuddered, the once-vibrant land reduced to a hellscape of devastation and despair.Her eyes were drawn to the sky, where twisted winged creatures circled. Once noble beasts like her own Mimi, they were now corrupted and enslaved by the malevolent force that brought this destruction.And then, at the ce
BlakeBlake was eager for the ceremony, having studied its technical aspects all week. Yet nothing had prepared him for the overwhelming magnificence of the experience. The ceremony had not been performed for hundreds of years, as the werecat village patiently awaited the hatching of the sacred eggs. Each generation practiced the ritual in reverence, their chants echoing through the ages in hopes that an Onyx Sage would soon emerge. Now, with the arrival of not one, but three Onyx Sages, the village buzzed with unprecedented excitement. The rhythmic chanting of the villagers infused the air with potent magic, each syllable amplifying the mystical energy that surrounded them. This ancient ceremony was designed to cement the bond between the familiar and the sage, intertwining their souls and enhancing their powers but the effect of multiple Onyx Sages in the same ceremony was uncertain. As the chants grew louder, the magic intensified, weaving an unbreakable connection that would ens
ClarissaBefore the door creaked open, the raucous roar of the massive crowd echoed through the stone hallway, a low, thunderous vibration that pulsed in time with Clarissa’s heart. Each footstep amplified the charged energy in the air. As they stepped out onto the stage where they would bind to their familiars, the blinding sunlight turned the bustling world into a bright blur.As her eyes adjusted, a sea of faces stretching as far as the eye could see came into sharp focus. Hundreds of onlookers packed the grand courtyard, their collective breath held in anticipation. The transition from the thunderous noise inside to the outside’s deafening silence was startling. Heads turned in unison, eyes wide with reverence and curiosity.Stefan subtly shifted his stance, placing himself slightly in front of Clarissa, as if shielding her from unseen dangers the crowd represented. Chief Yungerr stepped forward to address the crowd.“After ages of darkness, the Onyx Sages have been reborn with th
Clarissa Glowing purple flora illuminated the bath cavern, casting a soft light over the shimmering pool of teal-lit water, as Clarissa scrambled out of the tub and grabbed the robe hanging just inside the door of the bath chamber. Mimi followed her. But she didn’t see the mysterious elf anywhere.Where had she gone? Clarissa bolted down the hall, checking down every corridor she passed. But they were as empty as her understanding of the elf’s words. Who was going to ask her to go somewhere? Where? And even more confounding, what truth would be revealed there?The cave’s corridor pulsed with flickering light, ancient runes burning like warning embers. Shadows twisted violently as Clarissa sprinted after the mysterious woman, her breath sharp, the air electric with impending doom. Each step echoed louder, pushing her forward through the narrowing path.At the last corridor, Clarissa gasped and her eyes widened. An old woman in a lavender robe huddled in the corner. Her familiar wise e
Thank you for being such an amazing reader! I really want to hear what you think about the story so far. It's important to me that you enjoy it. Please leave a review or send me a message! It has been a difficult couple of months but I intend to finish this book next month. Stay tuned to find out how the ceremony changes everything and what will be required of them to bring peace and love to the world. And if you want to encourage me to keep writing, gems are a great way! Thank you for the gems you have already given. :-)
Clarissa Clarissa lifted her sleepy head from the table, her thoughts spinning sluggishly. The knock that woke her sounded again. Jumping up, she ran to let Stefan in. She fell asleep waiting for him. Disappointment gripped her when she saw the werecat ready to show them to their lessons again. She rubbed her eyes and stared at her confusedly. There was no way it was time already. She hadn’t even been to bed yet. Blake came out of his room looking refreshed and rested. Clarissa felt the dry spit on her face and knew that her hair was a mess. She couldn’t sit in front of everyone all day like this. “Good morning.” Blake greeted them, smiling warmly. Clarissa tried not to let his chipper attitude bother her. But she was exhausted and frustrated. Ignoring his cheer would be challenging; however, it was not his fault that she had not slept. “Just give me a minute to get ready.” She asked, realizing that they had not brought breakfast this morning. She went into her room to cl
Stefan Clarissa kept making strange faces at him throughout dinner. He didn’t appreciate being stared at while he was eating. The chipper conversation rubbed him raw until he could no longer sit still. But once he had Arcadia and Evander in his room, the pressure started to lessen. He had to focus on what was going on back home. Those affairs required his attention now. But his mind forced itself back to the fact that Clarissa had chosen to sit next to Blake during dinner. She hadn’t even sat across from Stefan. A wicked voice in his head questioned what they were doing under the table. The question made no sense. Clarissa kept her hands visible the entire meal. But did Blake? Stefan couldn’t remember, but he did remember the pink flush of her cheeks as she ate. “What do you wish to discuss?” Arcadia asked, sounding like a soldier reporting for duty. She and Evander stood near the closed door at parade rest. Stefan rumbled low in his throat, uncomfortable with their carefu
Clarissa As Chief Yungerr attended to his people without breaks, the day swiftly disappeared. Every time someone left the room, another person entered. The sun was casting long shadows throughout the room when people stopped coming in. Mimi observed everything from the corner of the room. Everyone seemed surprised to see him. He unnerved and distracted them momentarily. But Mimi remained quiet and motionless throughout the day. Clarissa sighed, and Chief Yungerr looked over at her. She stretched her back, realizing now how stiff she had gotten. Chief Yungerr’s chair cushions were essential, and she wished her seat was more comfortable. “So, what have you learned?” He asked, interested. “We saw many people today, and they each asked for something different. But every request seemed to have the same core desires. I counted six of them.” Clarissa said, checking her notes. Chief Yungerr listened attentively. His ears twitched. Smiling, he motioned for her to continue. “More p
Clarissa As Chief Yungerr attended to his people without breaks, the day swiftly disappeared. Every time someone left the room, another person entered. The sun was casting long shadows throughout the room when people stopped coming in. Mimi observed everything from the corner of the room. Everyone seemed surprised to see him. He unnerved and distracted them momentarily. But Mimi remained quiet and motionless throughout the day. Clarissa sighed and Chief Yungerr looked over at her. She stretched her back, realizing now how stiff she had gotten. The cushions on Chief Yungerr’s chair were completely necessary and she wished her seat was more comfortable.