Inferno
by L. Shannon
Lacey's life was going just fine. She was a woman in her prime at four hundred and happy to finally find a man who made her feel alive. John made her blood boil with passion, was good quiet company over morning coffee and didn't cower in fright after meeting her family. He had all that and was hot enough to steam his shirts without taking them off.
Then a dramatic battle puts his love to the test. Will he be able to accept who and what she is? Can he deal with the strange world in which she lives? Will he survive meeting her father?
Excerpt
“Dàn called in all the family that could come. As important as a birthday party is, it is unusual for us to all make one event. We are scattered around the states and have a bad habit of wondering around.”
“Doing what? Do you have any other famous brothers?”
“Are you asking for a full bio?”
“Yes. That might be entertaining.”
“So how do you want all this information organized? From eldest to youngest or by who is probably most famous?”
“That many interesting characters? How about with who is most important to you.”
“Too hard. I’ll just go random. You’ve met Reulton and Rath. Reulton is of course a singer and songwriter. His wife is a horse breeder and trainer. She helped train the last triple crown winner.
“Rath owns a couple casinos.”
“Which ones?”
“Lucky Loki.”
He stared at her. That was one of the most famous casino chains in the industry.
“His wife was a dancer but now organizes entertainers for him. Their daughter, Angel is an actress. Angel also has a doctorate in Criminal Psychology. She has been called the stalker’s stalker-”
“That Angel? Angel Powers?”
“Yes. Do you want me to go on?”
“Yeah.”
Rath and Reulton’s sister, Adhar is a famous author. She writes mystery and suspense under the name, Julie Conner.”
“I’ve heard of her, too. Go on.”
“Her husband, Cradh is currently between jobs but had done many different things, primarily in medicine. Their daughter, Solas has been bouncing around the world for a while now. She has sung and played every instrument with Reulton, played concert piano solo, and each year tries a little college. Enough?”
“What about your father and brother?”
“I can’t tell you anything specific. Both work undercover with a special security organization.”
“Dangerous work?”
“Often. Actually most of my family has been involved at times.”
“Have you?”
“Yes.”
“Not that you haven’t already told me enough to go gray but any other interesting family members?”
“Plenty. My family has never managed to be boring.”
“If you don’t need to start grooming yet, tell me more.”
“Sure. How about last year, Leth uncovered a dog theft ring where animal right activist were taking dogs to an island to let them live free. Or a couple years ago Molach saved a very well known actress from a murder plot. Then married her in the biggest wedding of the year.”
“What about Athair? Is he the next president?”
She smiled. “He probably could be but he spends all his time protecting his wife, Hope and their daughter, Faith.”
“And Dàn?”
“Dàn is certainly the greatest of us all and if people ever hear how, it will be too late to worry about it.”
“So this birthday party will be like a who’s who? Will there be cameras and press all for a little girl’s birthday? That should prove interesting...”
Inferno has never been published. This cover is just some of my play used solely for inspiration.
I took this picture myself several years ago at a dogshow in Ohio. Beautiful as that sunrise looks in the picture it is nothing compared to the awesoem beauty of it in reality. :)
