Excerpt from Lunar Revelation

                Recently I’ve been working on a different section of my book. It’s a more horror in nature. In fact, the genre of my book is more of a dark fantasy book. I combine the fun of fantasy with the suspense of horror at different parts of my book. This excerpt is to show my command of how horror feels. I hope I pulled it off well. Please feel free to leave a comment. Any type of constructive criticism helps. I really want to publish this someday. Enjoy the reading!

Lunar Revelation Excerpt

Tentatively, I put my hand into the blackness. The sensation that could be sensed from this was one of complete nothingness. Not hot or cold but total emptiness. I pulled my hand back and felt unsure about stepping into the portal. The hollow feeling of the portal made me nervous. It seemed like I could potentially be walking into a trap. I can’t turn back now. Fin needs me but I can’t help but feel scared of this portal. It doesn’t feel right. Come on! You can do this! I steeled my nerves and put one foot into the portal.

            The feeling of vacancy engulfed my body as the rest of me came into the portal. Part of me wanted to go backwards out of it but I had to press on. Moving forward through the portal the sensation persisted for a few moments. When I emerged on the opposite side of the portal my hands touched cold metal. Torch light greeted my eyes and I could see the wrought iron door that stood in front of me. Putting my shoulder against, I shoved the door open.

            The heavy, iron door was reluctant to move. It made the horrible metal on metal screech as it slowly opened. Once it was finally open, I was able to see where the portal had taken me. A haunting landscape was now spread out in the eerie light of the half moon. Mist choked the tombstones that line the field in front of the building I was now standing in front of. The mist itself seemed to move about like spectral hands clawing about for living flesh. It was completely silent. Not a sound could be heard in the surrounding area.

            I shivered a bit from a chill breeze that swept through the yard. Scanning the gloomy headstones, it was obvious that this would not be as quite as it first appeared. I was standing in a real haunted graveyard. A feeling of dark dread wrapped its icy fingers around my heart. This isn’t what I was expecting. I feel like I’m walking into a horror film…

            I stood frozen for a moment, not sure if I should step out into the cemetery. The graveyard had mostly remained in its state of unnerving silence as I'd started making my way through the ghastly fog. I could barely make out the outline of the huge French château. It made Coşmar mansion seem tiny by comparison.

The burial grounds were an immense morass. Normally, I liked the challenge of navigating a maze but this was a cemetery. A haunted cemetery at that. Who knew what terror awaited me around the next row of tombstones. This was worse than getting the sword back at Avalon Island.

I picked my way through the rows of headstones. My nerves were as tense as piano wires. Any step could be my last. The ground shook the minute my feet stepped over a certain grave. I fell on my side as the earth beneath my feet started to rise. A coffin was revealed from under the rubble. A moment later the sounds of groans and scratching came from inside.

I sat there a moment, staring at the grisly sight in abject horror. Then the wooden lid of the coffin exploded. The stench of rotting meat and decay met my nostrils. A corpse shoot up out of the coffin. Wasting no time, I ran at full speed away from the zombie. That wasn’t my best idea. As I ran down the row more graves burst open. Soon I was surrounded by zombies. I had no choice but to stand and fight.

I drew my sword and began hacking my way through them. There weren't too many but there was less ahead of me than behind. After a moment a path was cleared and I ran for it. When the groans and gurgling faded I relaxed. I collapsed on the steps of a mausoleum.

Heaving in huge gulps of moist air, I leaned against the cold stone of the building. My heart began to thud less and less in my ears. It was quiet again in the cemetery. Quiet was good. Quiet meant it was safe. I breathed a heavy sigh and slumped further back against the chill stone of the mausoleum.

Once I'd calmed down enough to try again another nasty surprise caught me off guard. I was looking out at the fog trying to make sense of where I was when someone spoke.

"Lost?" asked a dry, raspy voice.

"Yeah," I sighed. "I ran so far from where I started I have no clue how to get back. Or to where I want to go."

"Where do want to go?" The voice asked.

"The mansion," I replied. "You wouldn't know how to get there would y-" I had turned to look at the person I was addressing and saw a hideous skeletal face behind me.

I screamed and scrambled backwards. I raised my blade at the specter and glared at him. The ghost wore clothes from the Victorian era. His wispy hair stuck out from beneath a large top hat. He was almost six feet tall and the skin that remained on his bones clung to them like tightly stretched taffy. 

My Next Cosplays

My Next Cosplays

            It’s been a while since I talked about the cosplays I’m planning on doing. I currently only have one in the works but have ideas for more down the line. I wanted to share them with you. The current cosplay that I’m working on is one that has been long overdue for me.

            I am not ashamed to admit that I am a Disney girl. I was raise on Disney and will always love their films. However, few outside my family know what my favorite Disney film is. I’ve loved it since I was three years old and have heavily identified with its main character for years. So, to finally go back to my fandom roots. I am finally cosplaying as the main female protagonist from the film.

            I’ll give you who don’t know me a few hints about her. First, she wears blue for much of the film. Second, she lives in a small town in the country side. Third, she loves books and reading. Can you guess who she is?

            If you guessed Belle from Beauty and the Beast then you are correct. I’ve decided to cosplay as my favorite Disney character. I figured it was about time that I did her. Especially, since I know I can pull her off. No wigs or face paint for this cosplay. However, for the skill level that I have I’ve decided to do Belle’s blue town dress. It’s actually my favorite dress that she wears.

            I’m very excited to do this one. In a way it’s completing my fandom circle. I started cosplaying with a pokemon cosplay (my third fandom). Then I’ve done several Legend of Zelda cosplays (my fifth fandom). I’ve done one Kingdom Hearts cosplay (my fourth fandom). It was about time I did one from my very first fandom.

            However, after Belle is completed I’ve been debating who to do next. The next fandom I could think of because I was now doing American made fandoms was that of either Marvel or DC comics. The two superheroines that came to mind were Rogue from the X-Men or Batgirl from Batman.

Perhaps you guys can help me decide. I love both of these girls but I’m not who I’d do better at pulling off. So, I’d like for you to cast a vote in the comments to help me. That way once my current project is finished I can start working on figuring out the next cosplay I’m going to do.

          

              Looking forward to who you think is the better of these two ladies that I should do. Until next time.

~ChildofCourage~

Lunar Revelations- Chapter Four Excerpt

I recently changed the name of my book. I liked how the new title fits with the theme of the novel better. Here's an excerpt from a chapter that I'm currently working on enjoy!

It took almost until sundown to find the river inlet. I actually had to ask for directions. When I stepped out onto the veranda the sunset had begun to paint the sky with strokes of red and bands of gold and dark orange. “Wow!” I breathed. “This is what I’ve been missing in the city.”

I heaved a deep sigh. It was good to see a full sunset again. The crowed buildings of the city often choked the beauty of the sunsets. The only thing that would block the view here were the clouds and a forest that sat on the opposite bank of the river. The leaves of the trees danced in the dying light of the sun. As it began to darken small lights began to flicker among the trees.

The lights moved about in a way that seemed like they were alive. They threw their glows haphazardly across the bark of the trees. Sometimes a light would land on a limb or a branch and seem to pace around. After the sunset, sound soon drifted across the water towards me. It was playful and happy in its tone. It was entrancing. I wanted to find the source of the music.

Screw looking for clues! I’m going to find that music! I raced down the stairs of the veranda and into the inlet. The moment my feet touched the water something strange happened. My head began to spin and my legs turned into jelly. Losing my balance, my body twisted as I fell. My body slapped the surface of the cold water and the force of the hit caused me to pass out.

The next sensation that I remembered was a feeling of warmth, burning almost. I opened my eyes to find myself hovering several feet off of the water. My clothes were soaked but I couldn’t feel the weight. My body itself felt completely weightless. The warmth that I felt flowed over my back. It almost seemed liked I was close to an open fire.

I glanced up and saw a pair of burning blue wings stretched out over my head. I could feel claws holding onto my shirt. Whatever creature had pulled me from the water was now flying me back to the veranda. Above us the stars in the sky glittered like a jewel box. I enjoyed the feeling of flight as I was carried back to the earth.

Placing me on my feet, the winged creature loosed its hold and swooped over to the railing. I followed its movement and when the being came to rest I saw what it was. An azure phoenix rested on the railing. It preened its feathers carefully and plucked a damaged one from its wings. It floated gently away when it was plucked and came to rest lightly on the floor of the veranda.

“Were you trying to drown yourself?” said a voice.

I looked around but saw no one but the phoenix. The magnificent bird was the size of a red tailed hawk. Despite the fact that the bird was not on fire its plumage shimmered in such a manner that it appeared to be on fire. I took a step towards the bird when the voice came again. This time I saw who spoke. It was the bird.

“It’s very rude to not answer a question,” it squawked.

I almost tripped backwards over my own two feet. It could talk! I was in shock. I’d assumed that phoenixes were like normal animals. This one was apparently intelligent enough to speak. I gripped the railing, just staring at the bird with wide eyes.

“You can talk,” I quavered, my body shaking from the adrenaline now pumping through my body.

The phoenix ruffled up its feathers in indignation, “Of course I can talk.” It seemed to deflate a bit as he added, “But only to you.”

“Why?” I inquired, tilting my head slightly.

The phoenix shifted nervously and then replied, “Because I was born from your spirit.”

“Huh?” I blurted, not sure if my ears were working right.

The Phoenix launched into the air and flew over towards me. It circled once and came to rest on my shoulder. I was expecting for its claws to clench down and hurt me but there was no pain. It must not have been gripping my shoulder very hard.

“You heard me right,” it urged. “I was born from your soul.”

I blinked and looked into the sapphire eyes of the creature, “Does that mean you’re my spirit guide or something?”

“Yes,” it nodded. “I am your spirit animal.”

Excerpt from Chapter One of The Defender of Legends

I closed my eyes and sighed. I had to stop beating myself up for what was going on. It wasn’t good for me. I had to let go of it and try harder to leave it behind me. As I was trying to quiet the myriad of questions and worries that often filled my mind before sleep banished them, I heard someone call out to me again. My eyes popped open and I looked around the room.

No one was there and my phone was off. I opened the door and called out into the darkened apartment. “Diana? Are you home?” I called into the blackness. I got no answer. I shook my head and closed the door once more. “I have to stop jumping at every sound I hear,” I muttered and turned back to the window.

I stood frozen to the spot when I saw what was in the glass. A beautiful woman had replaced my reflection in the window. She wore a high crown of stars and moon phases. She called out to someone but I couldn’t make out what she was staying. I’m dreaming…this can’t be real. My sleeping meds must have screwed with my perception of reality. I can’t actually be seeing this!

I rubbed my eyes in hopes of banishing the vision but it didn’t work. The woman was still reflected in the window. This time I could hear her. “Please,” she pleaded, her voice sounding like it was coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. “Please, come back. Help us! We need you!”

Her cry was repeated at least three or four times. As I listened to her I looked around the room. The place seemed to become liquid. Everything in the room looked like it was melting away. I tried to reach for my bed but my arm could hardly move. It felt like I was trying to swim in deep water. The next thing I knew, I was sinking beneath the floor. Not like sinking in quick sand where it’s slow but the fast sinking that happens when you’re going underwater.

I kept my eyes on my room until it faded and all I had left was the dancing light of the moon that was refracted in the water around me. Soon, that faded too and I closed my eyes. I couldn’t fight what was going on so I surrendered to the current. I prayed that this was just something generated by the medication. Yet, it couldn’t be. I felt the wetness around me and it saturated my clothes and hair. That sensation couldn’t be faked or at least I didn’t think it could.

I remained in oblivion until I felt my head break the surface of the water. I gasped for air and took in huge gulps of it. Once I felt satisfied that I was alive, I opened my eyes. The first sight that caught my attention was that I was standing in a shallow river inlet. I heard the sound of running water and looked behind me. A great river flowed just a few feet away. The far bank was a good twenty or thirty feet from where the inlet and the river connected.

The far bank had tall grasses that waved emerald green in the moonlight. Just barely visible above that was a line of trees that formed a forest. I shook my head and tried to make myself wake up. You’re dreaming. Come on, wake up! As I was trying to do that a shout rang out.

“You here! Stay where you are!” cried a gruff voice from behind me.

I spun around and saw a heavily armored man standing on a stone veranda. Steps led from the veranda down into the waters of the inlet. The man looked like a medieval knight but one thing made him stand out. He had large, translucent, blue, dragonfly wings that jutted out of his back. I also noticed that his features reminded me of elves from the Lord of the Rings films. He had the hair and pointed ears to match.

“I’ve got to be dreaming…” I muttered under my breath. What I was seeing couldn’t be real. I couldn’t actually be speaking to a fairy. There was no way. I was rooted to the spot just staring at the fairy guard.

He fluttered down into the water and grabbed my arm roughly. “We’ll see how the King and Queen deal with you, spy,” he growled and began hauling me up the steps into the massive palace that lay before us.

As we got within the walls, my mind just stopped working. This can’t be real. I can’t be in fairyland… I just can’t be.

The Blaze

A spark ignites it,

Flames begin to grow,

The fire burns everything,

I need to let go.

It dies out,

Leaving ash and pain,

It serves as a nest,

I shouldn’t complain.

It nurtures me,

Helps me to grow,

Pain is never wasted,

And I should know.

Time passes,

Things form anew,

The feathers come back,

I’ve lost nothing that I knew.

Finally ready,

I spread my wings,

The ash falls away,

I’ve learned a few things.

I take to the air,

Leaving the ashes behind,

My pain and sins gone,

Yet some regret remains in my mind.

I feel terrible for those I’ve hurt,

For the pain I’ve caused,

But little is served by looking behind,

So from my course I cannot pause.

The old me lies in ashes,

The new flying free,

I will not return,

For that is simply not me.

The fire didn’t destroy everything,

The good qualities remain,

The bad has been cleansed,

I keep the wisdom but leave the stain.

The future is far away,

To reach it is my goal,

And to never look back,

However life is not a stroll.

I hope to keep these lessons with me,

So no mistake may be repeated,

Once a change is made it cannot be undone,

A wound once healed does not need to be treated.

Hope burning bright,

Everything is ahead,

And nothing left back,

I have little to dread.

My time is now,

My wings are open wide,

Now is the time to fly.

Rant #1

Walking on the street has become a dangerous proposition at best. You set out and some moron thinks he can bend the rules. This is done in numerous ways. They can inch up on you. Often they try to squeeze by you. There are some that almost don’t seem to see you at all or notice that the light at the cross walk is green for pedestrians. What makes these people so stupid? Is it impatience? Or seer lack of caring about the world around them?

One wonders if it is because of how society today has train many to be so self-involved. So much of society encourages such behavior. Things like selfies, instant messaging (and practically everything else), Facebook, twitter, and even how parents raise their children feed this. We want what we want and we have to have it now. People are conditioned to think that the world revolves around them because so much of the way things are promotes that.

How can we expect the next generation to be anything but self-obsessed, technologically enslaved, morons? We have to change the way things are heading. Yet so many see no problem with this. How can anybody not notice how drastically this world is becoming corrupt? It’s amazing to thing how many people just want to live off the government and never work because of this entitled mentality. What’s worse is that the government does little to stop this.

To think just how much damage can be done by people who think that they don’t even have to try to find a job suck our system dry is staggering. Who raised these victim minded idiots? Some don’t even see a problem in how they view life through this lens. They just want to sit around and be lazy. Life isn’t about laziness it’s about hard work and growth.

Thus leading to the entitlement mentality of all people. Nothing in life is truly free. Everything has some kind of string attached to it. It hard to tell what kind of hook you’ll end up on if you’re not careful. So much of this world is lost behind smoke and mirrors. Hardly anything is truly real. So many people aren’t as they appear to be. We live in a world that doesn’t value true creativity or hard work. Those who work hard are often overlooked and instead those who are the most popular and loudest get what the other person deserved.

How can and one expect not to have people who don’t even care about the basics of the traffic laws with this kind of atmosphere? It’s no surprise that when you step out onto a side walk that you are taking your life into your hands. It’s no better than betting that you’ll win the lottery. Though you have better chances of getting hit by a car than winning the lottery.

Honestly, people need to get their heads out of themselves and start caring about others more. However, the evidence to human nature now points to quite the opposite happening. It’s just sad. How can the human race have fallen so far? 

Heads up!

Sorry, that I've been dormant for a while. Life has a habit of getting in the way of things. However, I have some good news. I will be posting here more often. Some of my posts will be creative writing pieces that I'm working on to see just let my mind go up any alleys I care to let it. Feel free to read my ramblings and rantings. I will also be posting chapters from my fantasy book that I've been working on. However, I haven't forgotten about writing about my cosplays and how they are going. My next official cosplay is going to be Belle from Beauty and the Beast. I'll be doing her blue dress. I hope it turns out well. Be seeing you soon!