What's Next?

Ok! So we just announced the publication of Mine a couple weeks ago, but what's next?

Well, next is Knowing. This takes place in the same world, and strangely enough, the same year as Mine. It follows three people, Kayson, his sister Tamah, and Darren.

Supernatural creatures have not yet came out to the humans, but there are a few rare healers out there. People who around their teenage years, seem to just acquire this magical ability. No one knows why it happens, but it's considered rare and those who get these abilities are often treated special.

Kayson and Darren are healers except... their powers aren't typical. The story follows them as they try to find answers as to why.

Below is a sneak peek at the story, which is anticipated being released early 2025. (I have a goal for February). Stay Tuned for more details and check back for updates!

!!!WARNING!!! This story has several triggers, including abuse (child and animal), and may not be suitable for everyone.

!!!Reader Discretion is Advised!!!

Part One - All You Knew Kayson

Her essence drips between my shaking fingers to form a crimson puddle on the floor. Sweat runs into my eyes. I cringe at the burn. I may have lost. Father’s footsteps echo from the ceiling. He’s coming. My legs threaten to buckle.

You will not fail, I command. Failure is not an option.

The tips of my fingers tingle as energy gathers, warming with the glow of my remaining power.

Death is failure.

I put my hand against my sister’s neck. Her pulse stutters.

Failure is death.

The basement door creaks. Angry steps batter the stairs. Warmth leeches from me into her, and the wound starts to close. Muscle and skin knit themselves together, like time spinning in reverse. The lights dim. My body feels the pull as Death turns away from her. Now, its eyes are set on me.

***

I am four when it happens. It is raining. We’re the only ones here. Tamah, my two-year-old sister, is playing on the swings. Our mom pushes her, and she giggles. I am on the slide. I want to climb down the metal chute. The big kids do it all the time. But the surface is wet and my foot slips. I tumble landing in a heap. I shriek, pain shooting through my arm.

"Kayson!” My mom rushes over. She picks me up. My vision blurs, but she soothes me.  “Shh, Shh, it’s ok.” Something pale and hard is sticking out of my skin. My mom hurries toward the car but stops. “Tamah!”

She rushes back to the swings. My sister is quiet, watching. I just want the pain to stop. Tears crawl across my cheeks. I shut my eyes and wish it all away. Like bees to a flower, something gathers inside and my body warms. My arm tingles. Before my mom can figure out how to get us both into the car, I am not crying anymore. I wiggle to get down. I want to climb the slide again. My mom turns back with wide eyes. My arm is healed, not even a scar.

My mom rushes us home. She examines me over and over, but I just want to play with my toy cars and color. When my dad gets home, she leads him into their bedroom. I hear them talking. My dad comes out when the sky is dark. He kneels.

“Hey, son, how are you?”

“Good.” I make the grass orange.

He watches me color. “Your mom says you fell down today.”

“Off the slide.” I pick up the red and start on the sky.

“Did you hurt yourself?”

“Guess so.” I shrug.

“Kayson. Did you break your arm?” My dad’s voice is harsh.

“I guess.” I can’t color like this. Why won’t he be quiet?

He grabs my hand. “Did you heal yourself?” His fingers dig into my wrist. I squirm and try to pull away. “Did you?” he growls. His grip tightens.

I yelp and tug harder. My dad lets go. I pull my arm to my chest and back away. He watches me. There is something in his eyes, something that has never been there before.

***

Two days later, my father returns home with a puppy. My sister and I are excited. We’ve never had a pet before. My mom is angry. I hear them yelling while I lie in bed. The black-and-white ball of fur that I sneak into my room wants to play. I pet its head and giggle. Rainbow, my sister calls him, but he is Blue to me. They are still fighting when I fall asleep.

Weeks fly by. Blue and I are inseparable. Every night I sneak him into my bed and every morning he follows me to breakfast. We do everything together. My dad hovers, always watching. But one morning, I can’t find Blue.

Running from my room, I check his places. “Here, Blue,” I call, but he is nowhere. The house is silent. The air feels weird. I freeze in the empty living room as my body tingles. Something smells like pennies. I hear a soft whimper down the hall. My mind screams to flee but my legs are moving toward the sound, toward the smell. I push open the door to the dining room. Blue lies in a pool of blood, his leg twisted at an unnatural angle. My eyes widen.

“Blue!” I dart to his side and drop. Blood soaks into my superhero pajamas. His fur is matted under my hands. My body convulses with a jolt of pain. His pain. Tears stream down my cheek. “No,” I sob. I bury my face in him. My fingers warm as energy gathers. I imagine his body whole again, the wounds gone. The warmth leaves my hands and falls into him.

“So you are.” My father’s voice pulls me back. I stare up. When did he come in? Was he here to help Blue? No… no longer Blue… he’s Red now. My father grins and something dark lurks behind it. “This is wonderful, son.” Red stands, the wounds healed and his energy returned. He snarls as my father yanks me up, wrenching me toward the weathered basement door. My feet drag on the floor. I tug back.

“I don’t want to,” I beg. “Please.” I don’t like the basement. The air is stale and smells of something funny.

My father doesn’t listen. “This is where we will practice,” My father finally releases my arm. I move away and glance around the darkened room. The red brick walls and gray concrete floor feel creepy. The one light bulb leaves shadows in every corner.

“We’ll come down here once a day.” He turns. “It’s our secret though. I don’t want people hounding you about your powers. You’re too young for that.” He smirks, that darkness now gleaming again.

We go down to the basement every day. He takes me after dinner while my mom cleans and Tamah plays. He carries me down like dirty laundry. He cuts himself and I am forced to heal it. The more I resist, the more he hits me. The training leaves me tired and drained.

Find out what happens next when Knowing is released - 2025!!