“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.”
~Albert Einstein
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What is Mystery?
Any affair, thing, or person that presents features or qualities so obscure as to arouse curiosity or speculation.
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I’ve decided to put myself out there and post a section of my work-in-progress, Dracúl. This is my first draft. Dracúl follows The Fall of Lilith and is the second installment of my Fantasy Angels Series. I thought this section had a lot of mystery, so it went well with this week’s theme.
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Chapter 1- THE AWAKENING
I awoke to darkness and the smell of musty earth and mold. I gasped, feeling disoriented to the time and place. The air was humid and stinging cold. Trembling I shifted on the moist ground my eyes flitted in every direction searching for a source of luminosity. Filaments of moonlight scarcely passed the towering trees that surrounded me.
I raised my shadowy vision to the skies but did not gaze upon a single star. Instead, I saw a mass of dark, branches looming above me. The cold breeze blew and made the trees rustle like living things. Bare branches seemed to come at me like clutching clawed hands. An eerie howling and whistling made by the wind moving around them gave me a jolt.
My pulse began to thump loudly in my ears drowning all sounds except that of my fitful panting.
“Where am I?” My voice sounded small, brittle and unfamiliar. I was but a child. A boy.
Unsure what to do, I lifted my upper body off the wet earth and squinted into the dimness of the forest.
My mind was clouded. “Who am I? Why am I alone in this darkness?” I squeezed my eyes shut and then sprung them open again. My vision began to clear, but my mind was still a fog.
I passed my hands over my face and head. I inhaled sharply as my hands ran across two pointy projections extending from my skull. Shaking, I passed my hands over the rest of my body and noticed the skin below my waist was different from the skin on my torso, arms and face. My lower body was covered in dry, smooth scales cold to the touch.
Images of a tall creature with long extremities filled my mind. Where are my lower limbs? As my vision adjusted to my surroundings I saw that I had no legs. Instead, I had a scaly tail––like a serpent. There was a heaviness tugging on my backbone. I shook to remove the hindrance, but instead a huge pair of black, spiky wings distended from my back. My body tensed. “What sort of creature am I?”
Once more I closed my eyes. When I reopened them I saw colors––grayish green moss covered rocks and russet trees, a sea of gold and copper covered the ground as crisp leaves float down from trees and curl into the moist earth. I gazed at my arms and hands. My skin was red––as red as blood and my hands were clawed.
“Was I abandoned here?”
I wished to escape, but my reptilian lower body would not move. A gust blew chilling the air and blowing the trees. I feared getting ensnared by the trees’ clutches if I took flight. Hostile screeches from unknown creatures pierced the air. I whisked my head to and fro searching for the origins of the sounds futilely. Terror seemed to thwart logic and rational thinking.
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Colleen Chesebro is a writer, poet, and book reviewer. She hosts an inspiring event every Wednesday on her blog, Silver Threading, called Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge. Anyone can participate by choosing a quote by a favorite writer and combining it with a poem, story or excerpt and posting it on your blog.
Hi Vashti
Great choice of words, left me wanting more X X X
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That’s wonderful. Thank you Jaye! 🙂
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Oh, Vashti! This introduction sounds fabulous! I want to know what the boy is and hear more about him. I loved this! WOW! ❤
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I’m so happy you enjoyed the excerpt, Colleen. I’m half way through this draft and I’m excited with the way it’s going. 😀 xx
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I love it when it all falls together! 😍
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Well, I’m intrigued.
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Awesome! Mission accomplished. Ha, ha. 😉
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There sure is mystery. Nice quote.
The reptile boy read was curious. Well began! 🙂 Looks exciting..
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That’s great to know. Thank you! 😀
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Wow! Mystery, horror, fantasy… Everything, Vashti!
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Wonderful! Your comment just puts a fire under me and gives me the push I need to finish. Thank you so much! 😀 xx
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Pretty cool start here. I vote for more.
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Aw. Thank you! These great comments are very encouraging and makes me want to write, write, write until I finish. 😀 xx
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Go, go, go. I need to get back behind the keyboard too.
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Wow Vashti- what a rich scene. I am intrigued! 😊
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Yaaay! Thank you! That’s just great to hear because that’s what a first page is supposed to do. 😀
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🙂
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Awesome! A tempting treat to be sure. Looking forward to the rest. 🙂
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That’s great, Annette! I’m hoping to publish The Fall of Lilith sometime in the next couple of months and then Dracúl not too long after that. Let’s see what happens.😘🙏🏼
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Can’t wait for Lilith to be released. Tbh, I thought the next installment would be about Lucifer(hence the angel theme). I wonder how Dracúl will be tied with this series… Hmmm
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Thank you! Believe me, you will figure out very quickly how Dracúl is tied to the series and if you read The Fall of Lilith first you’ll already know. Lucifer, Gadreel, Dagon . . . they will all have their turn. 😉
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An excellent start to a mystery. Not only does the reader not yet know who the character is, but the character has yet to discover it too.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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Thank you David! The book is actually a fantasy but it does have elements of horror and mystery. I appreciate the encouragement, it means a lot. 🙂 ❤
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Very best of luck with it Vashti. May it be a big hit. xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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Aw. Thank you! Hugs&Kisses ❤
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Fascinating! Where’s part two?
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This is the 1st draft of the beginning section of the first chapter of my novel Dracúl. Phew! That was a mouth full. I’m about half way done with the first draft and I wanted to share this excerpt. The feedback is good and that’s very encouraging––puts a fire under me to finish. 😉 xx
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I’ve missed you and your descriptive, eloquent writing, Vashti! This excerpt has it all..mystery, suspense and fantasy, and it all comes together in your signature style.
XXX
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I’ve missed you too but I’m happy you’ve been having a great time touring the country. I love your posts. I’m so glad you enjoyed the excerpt. Thank you very much! ❤ xx
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Lovely mix of intrigue here Vashti. Great imagination grabber! 🙂
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Hi Debby! Thank you. I’m so happy to hear that. 🙂 xx
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❤
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Great quote and intriguing first chapter. 🙂
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Thank you Marje. 😀
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:))
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Love that quote at the beginning!! A bit of mystery keeps things interesting. Thanks for sharing with #ReadWithMe
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That is a great quote. What did you think of the excerpt? It was my pleasure sharing. Thank you for hosting ‘Read With Me’ every week.
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You do such great work!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
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Thank you Jess! I’m glad you liked it. 😀
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