Kelly Hashway: Friday Feature: My Tethered Soul

It’s been months since Zadie faced her sister’s Reaper, months during which she’s been under her mentor’s magical protection. But now that she’s turning seventeen, that protection is about to run out.

When dark forces lure Zadie to wander at night, she’s manipulated into committing unspeakable acts. With her friends and family at risk, Zadie must try to use her powers to break free from the Reaper’s grasp, or surrender to the Reaper’s Rite, which can only lead to death.

Excerpt:

Swinging the door open, I held my breath. A few wire hangers hung on a rod, but otherwise it was empty.

Gavin stood and tapped his foot on the floor. “This floorboard is loose. Maybe there’s something under here. You know, like in The Tell-Tale Heart?”

I glanced at him over my shoulder. “Great, Gavin. That’s just what I need: a little scare to get me motivated.”

He let out a small laugh as he bent down to inspect the floorboard. While he prodded at it, I turned my attention back to the closet. It was deeper than mine was. More square than rectangular. Big enough to fit a large desk in. Stepping into the closet, I found a door to the right. Inside the closet.

That’s a strange place for a door.

This door didn’t have a knob, but a rotating handle. I ran my hand over the smooth metal of the handle, working up the courage to press down on it. The closet lit up as lighting flashed in the sky. I needed to find out what was behind the door, but I couldn’t seem to move my hand.

Just open it, Zadie. Swallowing my fear, I pressed the handle down and pulled on the door.

When my eyes adjusted to the lack of light, a set of stairs stood before me. Up to an attic, I presumed. Dull drywall flanked it, and a window at the top of the stairs let in a small amount of light.

I was about to turn around and get Gavin when another flash of lightning lit up the stairwell. Something glinted in the short blaze of light. A small, thin item halfway up the stairs.

My bracelet.

Was I here? I must have been. Why else would the bracelet be on the floor? What did I do here? Up here in the attic?

“Zadie?” Gavin called.

For a moment, I couldn’t speak. Swallowing hard, I forced sound to break free from my throat. “Just a second.”

“Where are you?”

Instead of answering him, I climbed the first step, focused on the bracelet. Was that what it really was? Or was my mind playing tricks on me again? The second my foot grazed the next step, the door slammed shut behind me.

“Zadie!” Gavin’s voice was muffled, and the handle jiggled. But the door remained closed.

I flew to the door, fighting with the handle and trying not to hyperventilate. Lightning flashed through the window above me. I banged on the door as Gavin called my name. And then, all at once, the temperature dropped.

My breath came out in a frosty mist. I spun and backed up against the door, my eyes searching. But the storm outside played with my senses. My thumb moved over my phone, and I held it up to light the stairwell. But as the next crash of thunder vibrated through the house, I started and dropped my phone.

The light from the window disappeared. Plunged into darkness, I crouched down and searched for my phone. Something moved at the top of the stairs.

It’s here.

Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tethered-Soul-Reapers-Rite-Volume/dp/1939765234/

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/My-Tethered-Soul-Reapers-Rite-ebook/dp/B00L77YTNO/

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-tethered-soul-dorothy-dreyer/1119705276?ean=9781939765239

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-tethered-soul-dorothy-dreyer/1119705276?ean=9781939765246

Book Depository http://www.bookdepository.com/My-Tethered-Soul-Dorothy-Dreyer/9781939765239

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20703626-my-tethered-soul

Author Links:

Author Website: http://dorothydreyer.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/dorothydreyer