Sneak Peek: Starlit

Hi everyone!

I had a friend ask me about the writing process and where I am in it. Before ever getting into writing, all I saw was the finished novel. Getting to that point requires a lot more steps than I ever imagined. Here’s basically how it goes:

1.) Writing (This is where you brainstorm and write.)

2.) Editing (This stage is longer than writing. It includes rewriting, editing and, possibly, hiring an editor.)

3.) Querying (Sending a letter and a sample to convince agents and publishers that your story is awesome and will sell. If they are interested, they may want to see the whole manuscript.)

4) Contract (I don’t know the steps after this because I haven’t made it that far. All I know is that, there is more editing and lots of marketing.)

I am in the querying stage with two manuscripts. While I wait for responses, I am writing two manuscripts. One is a young adult (YA) dark fantasy manuscript, “Starlit.” The other is a middle grade (MG) historical fiction that takes place in 1940s San Luis Potosi, Mexico, “The Valiant Conchita.”

Here is the sneak peek of “Starlit”:

Chapter 1

Starlit Mondrugal Gaspid of Kadoc
born to Governor Mante Mondrugal Patiff of Kadoc
and Obsidian Gaspid Troy of Star City during the red moon.
Mother remains in poor condition while baby Starlit thrives.
The people of Kadoc place much hope in the tiny creature.

Jasper Patiff Belline, Official Recorder of Kadoc

“Darling, you will fail.” Mother tipped her dainty nose in the air. Her icy stare threatened me to challenge her in front of all the visiting dignitaries at our long dining table.

My throat tightened. I blinked back burning tears. Crying was not an option. Yesterday, Papa sat between us in this cavernous room. He was my buffer from her. The officials from Star City meant to offer their condolences and make me feel better about losing Papa.

“Father is no longer here to fill your head with fanciful dreams. May he agonize in his tomb.” She downed a glass of liquid fire and flourished a hand to call over a servant to fill her flute.

“Let it be so.” The plump governor from Star City bobbed his head. He licked his bottom lip fawning after Mother.

Arching a flirtatious brow, Mother continued to discuss Papa’s passing with rose petal words and a thorny meaning. I imagined that she relished in my discomfort. My stomach squeezed with disgust. Thank all darkness for giving me father’s white eyes and raven hair. The rest of my features were hers. I would have gladly traded my mother’s beauty for an ogre’s.

“We’ll find you a good match. What silly nonsense it is to think you will lead us. Don’t you agree governor? She’s far too soft.” She plucked a poison berry from a servant’s tray and bit into the tender flesh. Purple juice stained her bottom lip. “Don’t look at me that way. You won’t succeed.”

“Watch me, mother.” I enunciated loud enough for the entire banquet to hear. Hot rage pulsated through my veins. Even at twelve-red-moons, I needed to prove Mother wrong. I will be governor and more. The seat of power is mine.

#

Five years later.

I twiddled my fingers on the leather pauldron, the ornate layers on my shoulder embellishing my strength for such a moment as this. My rival, Cressandra, boasted from the stone podium about her exploits on the battlefield. They were vast indeed. The surrounding crowd soaked in her stories cheering and ahhing at each word she reported to the Star City council. What they didn’t know was my report. I was certain that when I spoke the people would beg the council to give me the last available seat of power.

“The Sundrenens fell by the thousands.” Her wispy voice lingered on words that were certain to rile the populace. “We set our stake on the far end of the field and darkness fell on that land. It is ours.” Cressandra passed me a sidelong glance then cocked her chin back to the crowd.

The audacity! She was not satisfied with her achievements even yet. A glee bubbled in my chest. I would speak after her and finally end this competition between us. It had tired me to the bone.

The speaker of the council sat on his throne behind her wearing a black robe that shadowed his face. A constant assurance of the power he wielded coiled on the golden armrests shaped like a serpent, fangs exposed. His baritone voice resonated across the amphitheater. “Thank you Cressandra for your good report. You may be seated.” He dismisses her with a languid wave of his bony hand. “Now, we would like to hear Starlit’s report.”

I waited for Cressandra to resume her position in our line of governors seated in the front row, but she maintained a firm grip on the metal lectern. Waves of dark hair framed her sharp features. Many a time, darklings claimed to have confused her for me. I don’t see it.

The disheveled spectators did not cheer nor mock her for such childish behavior, but waited in aching silence. What a fool she was to risk the council’s wrath to slight me. Especially since, I had news that would change everything.

I stood and kept my head lowered to show my respect to the council sitting on their honored thrones until Cressandra moved. The vacant seat of power reflected a red glow from the high moon, but I kept it in my peripheral as not to seem too anxious to obtain it. In my seventeen red moons of life, I’ve learned that it is better to appear confident, but not eager. This attitude got me into governing a territory despite my age.

A second flick of the speaker’s hand sent Cressandra dragging her feet back to her spot in line. I swaggered to the podium. My sword clapped my leather pants and boot daggers pressed against my calves filling me with a sense of security as I took my place behind the lectern. The pallid faces in the crowd watched me with their silvery eyes. It filled me with a sense of pride, to have so many expectant ears. I cleared my throat.

“Our planet has too long been in war,” I inhaled deeply to project my voice even more. “We’ve too long squabbled for lengths of territory to be overtaken by those who dwell in the light.” I paused and chose several faces in the multitude to fix my gaze. Some furrowed their brows while others leaned in. “Today this war ends. My soldiers and I infiltrated the Sundrenen Castle.”

A collective gasp echoed through the space. I turned toward the Speaker and nodded my head. He and I kept our meeting beforehand a secret from all. Rock ground against the stone floor shaking the entire theater. My soldiers pulled back dark curtains from behind the twelve thrones while Star City soldiers finished sliding a rock slab along a groove, two manacles dangled down by ropes. Chains clanked as the prisoner was marched to the front of the execution boulder.

Light pierced the room and burned as it hit my eyes. I lifted my hand to cast a shadow over my face and squinted as my prisoner came into focus. The guards slapped on the manacles and stretched my glorious catch on that black slab of stone.  A joy vibrated up my spine and in my scabbard. Even my beloved sword, Macullik, sung with excitement at the prospect of killing the Sundrenen King.

Brightness emanated off the king’s body making it a challenge for all of us darklings to look upon his face. It took some time for our people to see and, when they did, they spoke amongst themselves.

“Can it be?”

“The war is over?”

“Starlit must get the seat.”

“What does this mean?”

“Darkness will reign.”

The cacophony empowered my voice when I continued to speak. “Yes, we have won. The council gives me the honor to end this war. No longer will we fight for territory in the light. No longer will we squint at their presence because we have captured the king, and he is ours.” I allowed myself one glance at Cressandra who’s face crumpled into a fury, and I turned back to the speaker.

For one second, his lips curl up at the edges. My heart nearly skipped a beat. The speaker never showed emotion. Any joy percolating through my blood stilled when he said, “Our dear Starlit will do the honor for all her hard work and dedication to the Dark Realms.”

I had been expecting this ruling, but his cold voice unsettled me. A self-satisfied smirk gleamed beneath the speaker’s hood. Misgivings prickled over my skin as if I’d been tossed into the icy seas.

Applause rumbled through the theater and spurred me to move toward the king. I attempted to walk with my usual gait, but somehow I felt like an apprehensive mouse tiptoeing around a predator. Starlit keep it together! My inner voice screamed for me to get this over with, but somehow the last few steps weighed heavy in my legs.

I’m ready! Macullik’s voice sung in my thoughts.

As my eyes took in the king’s bloody form, I met his gaze for the first time in my life. Something foreign and…achy pounded in my chest. My mind screamed not to do this. Mercy. The word burned as it slipped into my mind. All my life I’d been taught: Darkness takes over the light. No mercy forever our plight. Take up your sword to fight. The sun will be taken by night.

The king’s bright eyes shone with tenderness toward me though he must have known I would end his life. Over the roar of the spectators, I heard the speaker urging me to take my sword. My hands froze by my side as I watched blood soak to the ends of the king’s white tunic. Respect for him stirred because he did not beg for his life or whimper.

“Starlit, take up your sword.” The speaker’s voice boomed with anger.

I clasped a hand over the worn leather on my hilt. The coolness of metal on my pommel grazed my pinky bringing me out of my thoughts. People in the crowd shouted for me to chop off his head or to make him suffer. But looking into his sorrowful eyes, I could do no such thing.

“Finish him Starlit. Tonight will forever be your night.” The speaker’s words evoked an old desire in my heart and a new sense of strength in my arm.

I lifted Macullik to chop, but a whisper infiltrated my mind. It said “Star, you don’t have to do this. This will forever haunt you.”

My arm faltered and my eyes flicked wide. Did the king speak in my mind? Through the blood dripping down the king’s face, I observed the slope of his nose and his parted lips.

In a weak voice, he said, “I want so much more for you, Star.”

I plunged Macullik into his heart and watched as life drained from him. His words throbbed in my ears. The voice I heard in my mind called me Star. The king also called me Star. Could that have been a coincidence? With one long gasp, the king’s body relaxed.

All at once, the air in the room stilled. The ground trembled. The star and moon light vanished. Rock ground against rock roaring louder than any noise I’ve ever heard before. Crack. A deafening rumble knocked me to my knees. My eyes adjusted to the lack of light and, behold, no king hung in chains before me.

Another crack pierced the room, and I plummeted into darkness.