Reading Writing and Book Reviews

Counting Down…

Enjoy this “Flaming” Sneak Peek
  into VANISHED, releasing 1/11/16 from
Author Bethany Shaw

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“Hello, witch,” a vampire said as he flashed in front of her. “I heard you lost something.”
She glared, her lip curling up in disgust. She was in no mood to put up with him. She had never met him, but from the description she had she could only assume that this was Oliver Smith. A spell was at the tip of her tongue, but she paused, taking in his stance.
His hands were shoved into his jacket pockets and he leaned against the hood of Cadence’s car like he didn’t have a care in the world. He seemed awfully relaxed for someone intending to hurt her. That didn’t mean she should let her guard down.
“What do you want?” she demanded, narrowing her eyes at him as she stood. Should he attack, she wanted to be ready. To be safe, she conjured a low wall of fire to separate them.
Oliver stepped back and rolled his eyes. “I have no intentions of harming you, witch.”
She sighed, studying him for a long moment before allowing the flames to lower to a simmer. “Don’t think I won’t fry your ass if you get too close,” she warned.
“You’ve got bite to you, I like it,” he flirted, wagging his brows playfully. 
Jamie quirked her brow, calling on the orange flames to rise again.
“Okay, wait. I know your friend is missing,” he replied holding his hands up.
“Yeah, your brother took her,” she snapped. If she had backup she’d consider trying to abduct him. Then they could negotiate a trade, assuming Zak cared enough about his brother.
“Is that what you think?” he asked, trailing his hand over Cadence’s car. “I don’t see evidence of a struggle. She looked feisty. I bet she would’ve fought Zak off—or at least tried to.”
Jamie sighed annoyed. All she wanted was to find her friend—her sister. She didn’t want to entertain a vampire. But if Oliver could somehow lead her to Zak and Cadence she needed to listen.
“Did you see this?” Oliver asked kicking at something.
“What?” she asked irritated as she slowly marched toward him while being careful not to get too close.
“Herbs,” he said simply as he bent down to pick up a few sage leaves.
Frowning, she walked down to the edge of the sidewalk; if this was a trick of some sort she was going to make him pay.
Jamie knelt down looking at the sidewalk. A few remnants of herbs lay on the ground. She hadn’t seen them last night. She closed her eyes, opening up her senses. A ripple of magic hung in the air. It was faint, but there.
She closed her eyes and chanted quietly.
“Told you,” Oliver exclaimed triumphantly causing her to pry her eyes open.
Giant scorch marks covered the yard. Every blade of grass was singed black. The current of magic intensified and she swallowed. Something had gone down here, something Cadence and Zak weren’t capable of and something someone had gone to a great deal of trouble to cover up.
“I can see the wheels churning in your head, little witch.

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