NEW RELEASE JANUARY 3, 2020

The final installation of the horror, paranormal trilogy

The Darkening 

Nexus:

The Araphym

The Darkening Part III

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BLURB

Michael's daughter, Claire, is now eighty and a widow. In the twilight of her life, she has come to accept a quiet and uneventful existence.

But that is all about to change. For Claire is the Araphym, an immortal, human hybrid, and the only thing standing between Cagas, king of the underworld, and the total annihilation of the human race. Only problem is Claire doesn't remember...

Will Claire come to realize her place in history as the Araphym, or will life as she knows it cease to exist?

Warning: This book may contain language and violence which may be offensive to some readers.

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EXCERPT

“Mrs. Lawson has a pretty garden.”

Claire cast a smile in the direction of her Great Green Macaw, as it sat on its perch on the front porch. “Thank you, Ta-lin.”

“Not at all.”

She chuckled to herself and dropped a cushion on the cement path. “Now if these eighty-year-old knees will keep working, it will continue to be a pretty garden.” She kneeled next to a flat of marigolds and grabbed the garden trowel. Stooping over the earth, she dug a hole and placed the single marigold into it. Drawing the soil in around it, she then patted it gently.

“Pretty flowers.”

“Yes they are, aren’t they? Samuel always did love when I planted marigolds.” She sighed. “If only he were here to see them.”

“Ma’am?”

Ta-lin barked like a dog and Claire turned.

A man leaned over the white picket gate.

She squinted, adjusting her straw hat down over her eyes. “May I help you?”

“I’m your neighbor, Dale Coleman.” He thrust a thumb at the street to his left. “This letter was in my mailbox. I believe it’s yours.”

She climbed to her feet. “Funny. I thought I knew all my neighbors.”

“Moved in a couple of days ago. Into the old Peterson place.”

“The Petersons moved? I didn’t even know their house was for sale.”

The man shrugged and held out the envelope.

“I’m sorry. Where are my manners? I’m Claire Lawson. Please, do come in and have a glass of fresh squeezed lemonade.”

He tipped his hat and opened the gate. “Don’t mind if I do.”

Ta-lin squawked. “Duck, Claire.”

Claire turned to Ta-lin.

“I need you to duck. Now.”

Her brow crumpled, as Ta-lin stretched his green wings out at his sides, the feathers knitting together as they grew and extended out into great leathery appendages. His eyes glowed yellow, his beak protruding into an elongated snout. He opened his mouth as long sharp teeth glistened in the sunlight.

Claire’s jaw dropped. “What the f—”

The dragon-like beast leaped from its perch and swooped directly at her.

Claire screamed and jumped back—falling onto the cement pathway as Ta-lin swooped over her. She brought her arms up, as he flew into the man.

The man pulled a knife, his eyes now red.

Ta-lin’s claws ripped at his throat.

The man plunged the knife up into Ta-lin.

Ta-lin screeched and sank his teeth into the man’s neck, as they both fell to the ground. For a moment, they were still, and then Ta-lin rolled onto the grass. The six foot wings retracted, as feathers once more formed. “Claire…”

“Ta-lin?” Claire stared from the man to the parrot, and then slowly crawled to Ta-lin’s side. Blood flowed from the gaping wound, and Claire reached instinctively for it.

The moment her fingertips touched Ta-lin, a glow surrounded him, the wound closing and knitting as the blood disappeared. The scrapes and blood on her hands and knees vanished.

Claire gasped, and a blinding flash of light surrounded her. The light faded, and she was standing in a park. “What’s happening?” She staggered back. “What is this?”

A girl waved from a sandbox.

“That’s…me.” She spun to the bench behind her. “Oh my God. Mom? Dad?” She gulped. “But…How can this be?”

All motion ceased, silence surrounding her.