Unusual Historicals: Excerpt Thursday: DESCENT by Tiffany Apan

30 July 2015

Excerpt Thursday: DESCENT by Tiffany Apan

This week, we're pleased to welcome author TIFFANY APAN with her latest novel, DESCENT, book one in the series, Birthrite. Join us again on Sunday for an author interview, with more details about the story behind the story. The author will offer a free digital copy of Descent and Sacred Atonement: A Novelette (The Birthrite Series, #1.5) as a bonus. She can also give away a signed hard copy of the books (Descent and the Sacred Atonement novelette). Be sure to leave your email address in the comments of today's post or Sunday's author interview for a chance to win. Winner(s) are contacted privately by email. Here's the blurb.

Visions of infant twin boys, clouds, a young woman taking her own life, and a collision of space, time, and realms...a

On the eve of Summer Solstice in 1844, four men in different areas of the world share an experience that impacts not only their own lives, but those of the future generations. The first is Nicolae Ganoush, a young Romany fugitive from a slave village in Wallachia. The second is Jonathan Blake, an eighteen-year-old Irishman in the American Midwest who finds himself falling in love with a young woman from a nearby Sioux village. The third is James Livingston, a prominent figure in Colonial America. The fourth is Hector de Fuentes, a sixteen-year-old from Tuxpan, Mexico with special gifts and visions enhanced by a mysterious and wondrous cave. Each man carries his own inner battle, unbelievable ancient truths deep within their lineages, and demons that are much closer to home than any of them would like.

Later in 1931, seventeen-year-old Dorothy Blake, a descendant of Jonathan and his Sioux wife, is living in Plains, New York, the town founded by James Livingston. The notorious Fleming Orphanage has long fallen into disuse but kept by the town as a landmark. The buildings loom high on a hill, overlooking the town, taunting the townsfolk with its lore. On Halloween night, Dorothy ventures up with friends, and the group of six expects nothing more than a good time along with a few laughs. But they fall into a dark, brutal evil; one that extends beyond the orphanage and town of Plains, far back into history. Their descent is only the beginning…

The Birthrite Series is an epic journey into the vast unknown, plunging deep into the dark crevices of the mind, begging the question of what sanity really is and if the insane truly are. Are we really shown the whole truth of what surrounds us or is it an illusion? It also tells of deep-rooted love, planted centuries ago and a story of family, forgiveness, and redemption.

***An Excerpt from DESCENT (THE BIRTHRITE SERIES, #1)***

Nicolae struggled once more at bringing an arm to wake Sebastian as the dark figure closed in. It hovered above the boys with its long, dark cloak billowing about. The young man could feel the visitor's eyes pierce into him, attempting to uncover his every secret from beneath the dark hood masking its identity.

The fog thickened, forming a white curtain around Nicolae's surroundings. He continued his fight to wake his brother while trying to bring the other hand to his dagger, but nausea shot out from his core and spread throughout his body like a plague.

The fog circulated, forming a giant whirlpool. A violent throbbing assaulted Nicolae's temples until his vision darkened. Terrified as he was, the black haze was almost a great relief.

He let out a loud groan and rolled onto his side, bringing a hand to the source of the pain. Then his eyes shot open at the realization of being able to move.

A relieved sigh escaped him as he saw the woods restored to their original darkness. Only a dream...

With his eyes still lowered, he slowly pulled himself to a seated position and pressed his palms to his forehead, trying to coax away the remaining pain. As it slowly evaporated, Nicolae noticed the reddish tint reflecting off the dark skin on his forearms. He frowned, wondering what would cause such a thing.

He lifted his gaze to gauge the source and jumped back upon seeing what hovered over him. In a pitch black starless sky, a giant, blood red moon brushed the tips of the grotesquely twisted, gnarled trees surrounding him. Despite their tangled and uneven appearance, the bare branches appeared unbreakable on the trees of the thickest, black bark. Like many pairs of contorted arms, they seemed to reach toward him.

As Nicolae's eyes adjusted, he turned to where his little brother lay asleep, only to find the space empty.

Sebastian!

He looked to the other side of him and found that his bag was also missing. Frantically, he surveyed the area and rose to standing. He cleared his throat, testing his voice before calling out to his brother.

Nicolae listened, awaiting a reply, but the shallow echo of his voice through the trees was the only response. He took a step forward, hearing the crunch of the barren, rocky soil beneath his boots as he called out again, but the forest remained still.

He tried searching for any indication to his whereabouts.

'Sebastian could be anywhere…' The voice was far away, though clear as a bell.

Oh God, Sebastian, where are you?

“SEBASTIAN!” he screamed, no longer caring if he drew attention to himself.

The trees seemed alive, breathing as they loomed over the young man. In his righthand periphery, he caught movement among a cluster of brush.

Nicolae turned in the direction, narrowing his eyes. “Sebastian?” He took a tentative step forward.

There was no answer, but the shadow moved toward him.

Nicolae maintained his stance, placing a hand on his dagger sheath. The emerging silhouette was too large to be an eleven-year-old boy.

“Who’s there?” Nicolae’s adrenaline rushed (the way it had the night they took Eloisa) as the other presence continued into the clearing.

His eyes widened as he found himself facing the cloaked visitor from moments earlier. The black cape hung just below the shin of high, black leather boots that pulled up over dark pants that were of a heavy wool material. As swordsmen challenging the opponent to a duel, the two individuals fixated on one another.