GRACELESS (a dystopian/science-fiction/post-apocalyptic/fantasy novel)
As we readied to wheel the cart away, the ground reverberated beneath my feet and I looked up as one of the Monsters dropped to the ground, inside the city and stared around the square. As he walked, his eyes locked onto mine. “Sarah!” Colt screamed my name. “Don’t look it in the eyes!” It was too late. I stared with fascination at his golden eyes, the iris surrounded by a silver ring. They were probably the most beautiful pair of eyes I had ever seen on human or Monster before, not that I had ever been that close to a Monster before. His fangs descended from his mouth. “Well aren’t you a pretty little human,” he said. “Don’t move.” I found myself rooted to the spot, unable to disobey his command and then he turned to my aunt. “Stay right where you are,” he commanded. My brothers were still fighting the other Monsters on the wall when another Monster landed inside the city, landing in a crouched position, his cloak billowing around behind him. He looked up from beneath a cloaked face and I could see identical golden and silver eyes. As his cloak fell away, I saw his silver streaked hair and my heart sank when I realised who he was. This was the Alpha Monster. The Alpha had never ventured this far north. He barely left the sanctuary of his city Zion, which was further south. He stood and surveyed the area and a smile spread across his face. Both the Monsters turned their attention to the Wall where my brothers were still fighting. I took a step backward and then halted. I was no longer frozen, unlike my aunt, who was still like a statue. I knew the legend of the Monsters. We were never supposed to look one in the eyes for they had a compulsion that could make their victim do whatever the Monster wanted. For some unknown reason, it did not work on me. The first Monster turned his attention back to me and I didn’t move a muscle. I could feel my body scream at the unnatural stillness. His fangs descended. I knew that he was going to kill me. Zade screamed my name and jumped off the Wall and charged toward the Monsters. The Alpha threw his hand out and shoved my brother away and he flew and hit the wall. Zade climbed to his feet and nocked an arrow into his bow and let it loose. It landed in the forehead of the Monster holding me and he stumbled away. Unfortunately it did not kill the Monster, but it gave Zade the distraction to race toward me. His fingertips brushed mine and the world exploded around us. The Alpha was thrown through the air and the world around us began to vibrate. The entire Wall was shaking on its foundations, causing all the Monsters to fall off the Wall. The glass in the nearby buildings exploded outwards and the gates into the city began to buckle and bend. I looked at Zade. His eyes had turned completely black as debris whirled around us. Several carts inside the city began to lift into the air before they were thrown several metres into the air. All of the Monsters were lifted into the air, blood streaming down their faces. My twin was the most powerful Gifted in Iridiah. And it was all because I was his amplifier.
Dragon book (no name as of yet. Maybe something about dragons)
Ahead of us, Mikhail pushed open the door to the assembly hall and entered, several soldiers behind him. Draco smiled at me. “Come on,” he said. I turned to my father. “Dad?” “I’ll be close by, but I won’t be in the school. If you ever need my help, you just need to say my name and I will be there.” “I don’t understand.” “This necklace your mother gave you, it was spelled with an enchantment. You say my name and I will come to your aid, but in seven years, you never said my name.” “No I didn’t. I’m sorry.” “Don’t be. I am so proud of you.” He hugged me tightly and kissed me on the forehead before changing into his dragon form and taking to the skies. I stayed there for a moment and then turned and followed Draco. He entered the hall first and instant silence fell over the hall and then the screams started. Students began running for the door, some were even climbing up the damn walls, all in an effort to get away from me. I stopped in the middle of the hall and turned my head to the right. There was only one two girls left in a row. The first one was staring up at me with a clearly visible look of fear in her eyes. I smiled. “Boo!” The girl screamed and raced for the door, knocking over chairs in her hurry to reach the door. I turned to the other girl who returned my stare, raising an eyebrow. “Hi,” she said. “I’m Sarah.” “Eowyn,” I replied. “Eowyn is my favourite Lord of the Rings character!” she squealed. “I’m so happy you’re here.” I stared at this girl. She was a sandwich short of a picnic. Hello, I was a Slayer, an enemy of her kind. “You realise that I am the Dragon Slayer,” I stated. “That is not who you are,” she said quietly. “You should not be judged by what you are.” She smiled at me. “Come on, I’ll take you to the headmaster.” I followed the girl to the front of the assembly hall where I stood below seven seats, arranged in a half-circle. The man in the middle stared at me with a furrow in his brow before he spoke. “Greetings to you Eowyn Winchester, I am Headmaster Raven. We welcome you to St. Stephens Academy.” The woman next to him screwed up her nose as if something putrid had just wafted past her nose. “You can leave your weapons here,” she said. “You will not need them.” “I don’t think so,” I replied. “Excuse me?” she asked. “I didn’t stutter,” I replied pleasantly. “I was requested here as the bodyguard of his Royal Highness, so while I’m here, I will keep my weapons on at all times thanks.” The doors to the assembly hall slammed open and a teenage boy stormed up the aisle. My mouth dropped open at the sight of him, it was such a cliché I know, but this boy was the epitome of beauty. He was so perfect he didn’t seem real. It wasn’t until he got close to me and I saw a little scar above his eye that I realised he wasn’t perfect. He had dark hair with a reddish tinge. It fell into his eyes, which were the most piercing blue I had ever seen. His shirt was open and it looked like he was carved from granite. I struggled to hold back a giggle as I suddenly thought of him gracing the cover of a romance novel. “You’re catching flies,” Sarah nudged me and I snapped my mouth shut. The remaining people in the hall were bowing to the boy as he stormed up to the front. “So I hear you’ve recruited me a bodyguard!” he snarled. “I am quite capable of taking care of myself.” So this was Prince Jesse. Joy. “Jesse,” said the woman who had demanded I leave my weapons behind. “I don’t want this anymore than you do, but your father has insisted.” I resisted the urge to groan. The woman I had insulted, was the Queen of the Dragons. My day was getting better and better. “Fine!” Jesse snapped. “Where is he?” I snorted. Of course he thought his bodyguard was a male. He turned toward me and narrowed his eyes at me. “Who the hell are you?” he asked. I turned my face toward him, making sure my rune marking was visible. “My name is Eowyn Winchester,” I said politely. “I am who your father requested.” “Are you kidding me?” he snorted. “You look like a leaf could blow you over.” He turned back to his mother. “Are you seriously considering that child become my bodyguard?” Draco stepped forward. “Your Majesty, if I may?” “Go ahead,” said the queen. “Perhaps Eowyn can be tested.” “Good,” said the queen. “Mikhail, you’re up.” Mikhail grinned at me and I smiled back at him as he withdrew a sword and faced me. I instantly felt my eyes begin to burn. It was an odd sensation but didn’t really hurt. All it did was ready my body for slaying, helping me to see better, both in daylight and darkness. Mikhail lunged for me and I sidestepped. Even though, he had a weapon and I didn’t, I managed to disarm him rather quickly. “This is all very good,” said the queen. “But you need to fight in dragon form.” “With all due respect your Majesty,” I said. “I am tired, I’m injured and I would rather just rest. Can we do this another time?” “And if my son’s life was in danger?” she returned. “Would you wait to rest before you saved him?” I snarled something incoherent under my breath. “Mikhail?” asked the queen. Mikhail’s body began to ripple and change as his nose lengthened and scales began forming over his skin and then the red dragon that I had already faced was standing in front of me. He blew a stream of fire at me, which I ducked beneath. He swung his barbed tail at me and I dropped to my knees and skidded along the ground, avoiding the deadly spikes. I reached into the sheath on my leg and grabbed the blade and then leaped up onto one of the pews. He spread his wings and roared and I twisted my body through the air as I leaped onto his back, pressing the tip of the blade into the back of his head. He changed back into his human form and we both crashed to the ground. He grabbed my arms before I hit the ground and once again, I landed on top of him. He smirked up at me. “This is becoming a habit of yours Slayer,” he said. “If you want a piece of this, you only need to ask.” I rolled my eyes and climbed to my feet and held out a hand for him to follow. When we straightened, we faced the queen. “Next time don’t hold back,” I said under my breath.