SEER TRAINING HAS BEGUN
I'm the one and only Seer...AKA the girl who sees angels. I need to learn how to control my powers before The Nexis Society figures out my little secret. But can I really trust the Guardians to have my back? Maybe I need to make some unlikely allies in order to truly protect myself. Because if I don't, Nexis will use me and my powers to change the course of history. How can one girl, even the Seer, stop an all-powerful secret society? Crossing Nexis is book 2 in the Nexis Angel Series, a YA paranormal academy romance. If you love a sassy heroine, a classic love triangle set an elite academy, and life-or-death choices with a paranormal twist, download your copy of Crossing Nexis today! |
FREE EXCERPT from Crossing Nexis
CHAPTER 1
Snowflakes splatted on the windshield as Old Faithful charged uphill through the slush. Despite the fits of sleet and snow that assaulted us on the three-hour drive from New York to Pennsylvania, somehow my heart felt lighter with every mile put between me and Montrose Academy. My junior year had started with the hope of a fresh start, only to end with my crazy ex stalking me a thousand miles to try to kidnap me. Not your average semester.
But then again, I found out I wasn’t your average girl. In just a few short months, I’d discovered I had the power to see the unseen world of angels and demons. Not exactly a gift I’d asked for, by the way. Nope. Apparently my family came from a long line of people with this “supernatural sight.” I just lucked out it was my turn to carry the mantel of the Seer. At least now I had a new boyfriend to help train me.
“Here we are, good old Harrisburg PA. At last.” Bryan squeezed my hand with his rough fingers, bringing me back to reality. We coasted into his hometown—more like a snow-encrusted Thomas Kinkade village.
His tin-can of a car shuddered to a stop at the red light.
“It’s beautiful, all wrapped up in snow.” I couldn’t help but smile at the welcome distraction.
Quaint little shops lined the streets, their roofs capped in snow. White Christmas lights twinkled in the eaves. Street lamps with red bows flickered on as dusk gathered around Main Street.
“It’s the envy of all other towns.” Bryan’s blue eyes sparkled as the light turned green.
“It’s okay, you can admit it. You live in one of those towns. The kind with festivals to commemorate the first snow.”
I blinked at him, just staring at his profile. I still couldn’t believe this guy was my boyfriend. Earlier today he’d told me he loved me and somehow convinced my dad to let me go to Pennsylvania to meet his family. What a guy, right?
His brow bunched up as he stared at the road. “Uh oh. I forgot about this crazy festival. Looks like we’ll have to go around.”
“What festival?” I turned to look out the windshield. A barricade I hadn’t noticed blocked the street in front of us, frosted enough to blend into the snowy backdrop. Bundled-up people lined the sidewalks, waiting around for something.
Those blue eyes snapped toward me, suddenly haunted. “Lucy, I’m sorry. I’m such an idiot.” His jaw twitched as he flicked on his blinker and turned left past a stone chapel, blanketed by ice.
Glancing at his stone profile, I followed his line of sight to two rows of elementary schoolers lined up on the sidewalk. “What are those little girls doing? It’s too cold for them to be out.” I sunk my teeth into my bottom lip. Yep, I just sounded like my mom. Too scary.
He ignored me slammed his foot on the accelerator, eyes as wide as marbles.
“Bryan, slow down.” My heart thumped away as we skidded past the church. “What’s going on?”
I squinted at the strange scene in front of me, my heart beating just a little bit faster.
Little girls in flowing white robes with red sashes swarmed from the church doors. Two nuns glided among the white-on-red huddle. One placed electric candles in the girls’ red-mittened hands, while the other plunked holly wreaths on their heads. The candles flickered like real firelight.
Then I saw it—a giant banner next to the chapel. St. Lucy’s Day Parade Entrance.
Dread slammed me, right in the pit of my stomach.
I gasped, a choking breath that stilled my lungs. Automatically, I flipped my left wrist over. The tiniest scar still singed my skin. Remnants from the last time I stepped into St. Lucy’s church, where a lunatic Watcher vowed to brand a hot iron to mark me as the Seer, just like the original St. Lucia’s.
Bryan snatched my hand, like a lifeline desperately yanking me back to reality. “Sweetie, I’m sorry. They do this stupid parade every year. I totally forgot it was today.” He sucked in a breath. “We’re not Catholic, so we don’t celebrate it. But any event that goes on in this town is a big deal. They make a production out of everything.”
My hands trembled as his words crackled in my ears like radio static. White-gowned girls floated toward me in two perfect lines. Almost as if they had one mind synced together by the cold. A little blonde girl locked her eyes on me.
My heart pounded with new speed, and suddenly I could see. All the visions of St. Lucia I’d ever envisioned lined up one after another—like a playlist of terror.
St. Lucia appeared before me with creepy jeweled eyes of diamond and topaz, her long hair blowing behind her as she stretched a pale hand toward me. My pulse kicked into high gear as I tried to blink the image away.
But the image didn’t go away. St. Lucia morphed into the version of her I’d seen in the Nexis book, with hollowed eyes. Her face contorted as if to warn me. I forgot how to breathe. All my breath seized in my throat. Would I share the same fate, and have my eyes gouged out by the Watchers?
I shut my eyes against the horror as my stomach curdled. The darkness faded into light, as a new vision of St. Lucia emerged from the shadows. This time she had eyes of light surrounded by the rays of heaven. A peaceful feeling crashed over me, washing away all remnants of terror. St. Lucia stretched out her arm again, this time to beckon me closer. I shook my head. I didn’t want to hear her warning, whatever it was. With my refusal, she faded into nothingness.
My vision cleared, and the world righted itself. I was back in Bryan’s car, stopped in a line of parade traffic.
I turned to him. “Can we get out of here already? Doesn’t this hunk of junk have four-wheel drive or something?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll get us out of here. Right now.” Bryan’s jaw hardened into a stony line as he spun the wheel hard to the right to escape the traffic jam.
The tires slipped in the slush and the car fishtailed as he peeled out. I wrapped my fingers around the seat and held on tight, my stomach churning even as I silently urged him to go faster. With a few deft maneuvers, he righted the car and slid onto a desolate two-lane highway. Soon we were headed in the right direction. Away from this sick celebration.
I didn’t care where this country road took us. At least I could breathe again.
Suddenly Bryan’s palm encircled my scarred wrist. “You have to know I’ll never let something like this happen to you again.”
“I know.” The trembling stilled, my heartbeats slowed.
“I’m not just a Guardian,” his fingers laced through mine, “I’m your Guardian now. I’ll do anything to protect you.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. Leaning over, I planted a kiss on his cheek.
His body went rigid, from his head to his torso, except for a lone muscle twitching in his cheek. And that’s when it hit me. He was just as scared as I was. Only he was afraid for me.
My heart curled in on itself. Angling my face to the window, I watched as pines blanketed in white buzzed past the window. I never wanted this. Never asked to be the Seer. The gift could’ve been given to many more worthy people, like my brother James. This so-called power was taking over my life and hurting the people I loved.
Being the Seer felt more like a prison than a privilege. And I couldn’t trap anyone else in my own prison.
So I pasted a smile on my face and let three empty words tumble from my mouth. “I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?” He didn’t look at me, just flicked on his blinker and turned Old Faithful onto a snow-packed road that coiled like a slinky through the forest, winding and curving for miles.
“I’m hardly ever sure of anything.” Except one thing. I couldn’t put this burden on anyone else’s shoulders. It was my cross to bear. I needed to learn to be the Seer and figure out how to use that gift. Bryan said his family would train me. Whatever that meant.
“I’m not naive.” Gulping in a major breath, I clenched my fists. “I know you can’t protect me from everything. That’s why I’m here. To learn how to fight. To stand up for myself. So bring on the Seer training. I’m ready for it.”
“That’s my girl.” He squeezed my hand. “You’ll be awesome at this.”
I closed my eyes against the whiteness, but the truth still smacked me in the face. It iced the breath in my lungs. I wasn’t even close to ready for this.
Snowflakes splatted on the windshield as Old Faithful charged uphill through the slush. Despite the fits of sleet and snow that assaulted us on the three-hour drive from New York to Pennsylvania, somehow my heart felt lighter with every mile put between me and Montrose Academy. My junior year had started with the hope of a fresh start, only to end with my crazy ex stalking me a thousand miles to try to kidnap me. Not your average semester.
But then again, I found out I wasn’t your average girl. In just a few short months, I’d discovered I had the power to see the unseen world of angels and demons. Not exactly a gift I’d asked for, by the way. Nope. Apparently my family came from a long line of people with this “supernatural sight.” I just lucked out it was my turn to carry the mantel of the Seer. At least now I had a new boyfriend to help train me.
“Here we are, good old Harrisburg PA. At last.” Bryan squeezed my hand with his rough fingers, bringing me back to reality. We coasted into his hometown—more like a snow-encrusted Thomas Kinkade village.
His tin-can of a car shuddered to a stop at the red light.
“It’s beautiful, all wrapped up in snow.” I couldn’t help but smile at the welcome distraction.
Quaint little shops lined the streets, their roofs capped in snow. White Christmas lights twinkled in the eaves. Street lamps with red bows flickered on as dusk gathered around Main Street.
“It’s the envy of all other towns.” Bryan’s blue eyes sparkled as the light turned green.
“It’s okay, you can admit it. You live in one of those towns. The kind with festivals to commemorate the first snow.”
I blinked at him, just staring at his profile. I still couldn’t believe this guy was my boyfriend. Earlier today he’d told me he loved me and somehow convinced my dad to let me go to Pennsylvania to meet his family. What a guy, right?
His brow bunched up as he stared at the road. “Uh oh. I forgot about this crazy festival. Looks like we’ll have to go around.”
“What festival?” I turned to look out the windshield. A barricade I hadn’t noticed blocked the street in front of us, frosted enough to blend into the snowy backdrop. Bundled-up people lined the sidewalks, waiting around for something.
Those blue eyes snapped toward me, suddenly haunted. “Lucy, I’m sorry. I’m such an idiot.” His jaw twitched as he flicked on his blinker and turned left past a stone chapel, blanketed by ice.
Glancing at his stone profile, I followed his line of sight to two rows of elementary schoolers lined up on the sidewalk. “What are those little girls doing? It’s too cold for them to be out.” I sunk my teeth into my bottom lip. Yep, I just sounded like my mom. Too scary.
He ignored me slammed his foot on the accelerator, eyes as wide as marbles.
“Bryan, slow down.” My heart thumped away as we skidded past the church. “What’s going on?”
I squinted at the strange scene in front of me, my heart beating just a little bit faster.
Little girls in flowing white robes with red sashes swarmed from the church doors. Two nuns glided among the white-on-red huddle. One placed electric candles in the girls’ red-mittened hands, while the other plunked holly wreaths on their heads. The candles flickered like real firelight.
Then I saw it—a giant banner next to the chapel. St. Lucy’s Day Parade Entrance.
Dread slammed me, right in the pit of my stomach.
I gasped, a choking breath that stilled my lungs. Automatically, I flipped my left wrist over. The tiniest scar still singed my skin. Remnants from the last time I stepped into St. Lucy’s church, where a lunatic Watcher vowed to brand a hot iron to mark me as the Seer, just like the original St. Lucia’s.
Bryan snatched my hand, like a lifeline desperately yanking me back to reality. “Sweetie, I’m sorry. They do this stupid parade every year. I totally forgot it was today.” He sucked in a breath. “We’re not Catholic, so we don’t celebrate it. But any event that goes on in this town is a big deal. They make a production out of everything.”
My hands trembled as his words crackled in my ears like radio static. White-gowned girls floated toward me in two perfect lines. Almost as if they had one mind synced together by the cold. A little blonde girl locked her eyes on me.
My heart pounded with new speed, and suddenly I could see. All the visions of St. Lucia I’d ever envisioned lined up one after another—like a playlist of terror.
St. Lucia appeared before me with creepy jeweled eyes of diamond and topaz, her long hair blowing behind her as she stretched a pale hand toward me. My pulse kicked into high gear as I tried to blink the image away.
But the image didn’t go away. St. Lucia morphed into the version of her I’d seen in the Nexis book, with hollowed eyes. Her face contorted as if to warn me. I forgot how to breathe. All my breath seized in my throat. Would I share the same fate, and have my eyes gouged out by the Watchers?
I shut my eyes against the horror as my stomach curdled. The darkness faded into light, as a new vision of St. Lucia emerged from the shadows. This time she had eyes of light surrounded by the rays of heaven. A peaceful feeling crashed over me, washing away all remnants of terror. St. Lucia stretched out her arm again, this time to beckon me closer. I shook my head. I didn’t want to hear her warning, whatever it was. With my refusal, she faded into nothingness.
My vision cleared, and the world righted itself. I was back in Bryan’s car, stopped in a line of parade traffic.
I turned to him. “Can we get out of here already? Doesn’t this hunk of junk have four-wheel drive or something?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll get us out of here. Right now.” Bryan’s jaw hardened into a stony line as he spun the wheel hard to the right to escape the traffic jam.
The tires slipped in the slush and the car fishtailed as he peeled out. I wrapped my fingers around the seat and held on tight, my stomach churning even as I silently urged him to go faster. With a few deft maneuvers, he righted the car and slid onto a desolate two-lane highway. Soon we were headed in the right direction. Away from this sick celebration.
I didn’t care where this country road took us. At least I could breathe again.
Suddenly Bryan’s palm encircled my scarred wrist. “You have to know I’ll never let something like this happen to you again.”
“I know.” The trembling stilled, my heartbeats slowed.
“I’m not just a Guardian,” his fingers laced through mine, “I’m your Guardian now. I’ll do anything to protect you.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. Leaning over, I planted a kiss on his cheek.
His body went rigid, from his head to his torso, except for a lone muscle twitching in his cheek. And that’s when it hit me. He was just as scared as I was. Only he was afraid for me.
My heart curled in on itself. Angling my face to the window, I watched as pines blanketed in white buzzed past the window. I never wanted this. Never asked to be the Seer. The gift could’ve been given to many more worthy people, like my brother James. This so-called power was taking over my life and hurting the people I loved.
Being the Seer felt more like a prison than a privilege. And I couldn’t trap anyone else in my own prison.
So I pasted a smile on my face and let three empty words tumble from my mouth. “I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?” He didn’t look at me, just flicked on his blinker and turned Old Faithful onto a snow-packed road that coiled like a slinky through the forest, winding and curving for miles.
“I’m hardly ever sure of anything.” Except one thing. I couldn’t put this burden on anyone else’s shoulders. It was my cross to bear. I needed to learn to be the Seer and figure out how to use that gift. Bryan said his family would train me. Whatever that meant.
“I’m not naive.” Gulping in a major breath, I clenched my fists. “I know you can’t protect me from everything. That’s why I’m here. To learn how to fight. To stand up for myself. So bring on the Seer training. I’m ready for it.”
“That’s my girl.” He squeezed my hand. “You’ll be awesome at this.”
I closed my eyes against the whiteness, but the truth still smacked me in the face. It iced the breath in my lungs. I wasn’t even close to ready for this.