Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Used to philandering males, Mother watched in amusement as her favored one didn’t let a lack of a soul mate deter him from finding another way to share the love he was capable of by creating life after life. He even extended his love to an outsider. Loving each child with a pure heart, he taught his children the power of their gifts with a reference she hadn’t felt in eons.
When he begot a female child that had a healing power, she cried just as hard as her father when he read the stars, showing her future. The child would become too powerful to allow to remain in their branch of the family. Not only had she been born with a healing gift bequeathed from a god, also inheriting the healing touch from their native ancestors which only one other could brag about, but like all mothers, she couldn’t leave well enough alone, making the soul stronger by being able to use energy derived from nature to restore her strength.
The soul needed to be switched to the other branch of the family, where they had learned the cost of using their gifts unwisely.
Her affection for the family held her hand at removing the female child until her father was given a chance to beget the child who would one day step into his shoes.
Then, with an aching heart, she called them both to Heaven together. However, they weren’t together long before the female soul was sent back to Earth. Mother made certain this time that the gifted soul would be protected by a fierce warrior and a mother who loved and appreciated the nature around her. Just as important, she would be guided by a family member who would teach her how to use the gift, tempered by the personal costs she would ultimately pay throughout her lifetime.
Mother watched the offspring left on Earth with a careful eye, seeing the same qualities and commitments to those they loved as the ancestors who had fought for her in her greatest time of need.
Finally, her patience and planning were about to come to fruition. The seven brothers had the powers of demigods, the stars were aligned to where she needed them and, crucial to her plans, they had the strength of will and courage to protect the rewards she was about to give them. The culmination of her plan hinged on their ability to convince their rewards to love them.
Love was the only variable out of her control. They would have to earn the love on their own without her help or Valentine’s gift.
Yes, it was frustrating for her … So many variables could go wrong … She had made so many promises. Mankind’s fate was on the line yet again—there was a battle looming on the horizon, and those seven demigods were the only way to bring order back to the mortal, and the immortal realm. She was now at the hardest part of being Mother. All she could do was watch and trust her demigods prove their valance. It would hurt her deeply if they failed, because she was at an impasse. She couldn’t interfere, despite all her immense power, held in the palm of her hand. It all hinged on the most basic of human emotions …
Love.
Prologue
She could hear the monster coming.
Alanna shuffled to the side to hide behind the curtain, praying she wouldn’t be found in the dark room. Dread filled her with each step she could hear outside in the hallway.
“Please, don’t come in here … Please, God,” she prayed silently to herself, the prayer freezing in her mind when she heard the sound of the doorknob being turned. Terror held her mind and body paralyzed, as if she were in some Matrix glitch, waiting for what would happen next while knowing she had played this game too many times not to know the penalty of being the loser.
Holding her breath, hearing soft footsteps enter the room, Alanna was so lost in terror that she nearly wet herself when the footsteps stopped near her, so close she could hear the monster’s intake of breath.
“I know you’re in here, Alanna. Come out, and I’ll let you pick the movie we’ll watch. If not …”
The threat hung in the air, waiting for a response from her, which Alanna had no intention of giving.
She remained frozen in place, even after the footsteps had started moving around the room again and the monster had slammed the closet door open to search inside. She had known the monster would come out tonight.
Today was her birthday, and the monster came out to play anytime any joy could filter into her life.
The closing of the closet door had Alanna bracing to be found again as the footsteps were on the move again.
“I’m going to let you win tonight, Alanna, because it’s your birthday.”