People called Sean a blood guide, though he never fully understood why. As far as he knew, he could hear heartbeats and heal people. It wasn’t until he walked in on his brother’s brutal murder that he learned of the darker nature of his power: blood speaks to him, and he to it. With a simple song, he can command it to do whatever he wants, and in that moment, he showed his brother’s murderers no mercy. Now Sean must fight to keep his inner demons in check and his path to redemption begins with the establishment of sanctuary for people like him, people with powers, the Awakened.
Graciela is one of many who did not Awaken, but she’s watched as her brother’s power as an empath—the ability to sense other’s emotions—has brought him to the brink of death. Together, they set across Central America in search of a cure, or at the very least, safety. What they find is a sanctuary called Hope, the same one Sean governs.
But they soon discover that even from within the compounds of the sanctuary, no one is safe. Not when there are people in the world with unimaginable power and insatiable bloodlust.
Extract
***
Sean sprinted the rest of the way.
By the time he reached his mailbox, his stomach dropped. The front door was unhinged. Windows shattered. Graffiti covered the garage tucked beneath his house, and every other flat surface. Words like “blood demon” and “vampire”, slurs meant to alert the community of the danger living next door, were like red flashing sirens along the paneling. It was like he was staring at someone else’s home, he could hardly recognize it.
Suddenly, Sean’s spine stiffened. He could hear three heartbeats coming from inside, then the stagnant stench of iron enveloped him like a cloud. Blood. Fresh blood. But Sean’s ability examined it further, noted the subtlety of a musty leather odor specific only to the blood of a roider. Sean’s shoes screeched against the pavement as he bounded for the stairs.
His brother. Samson.
Thank you, Jessaca Willis and Frasers Fun House.
About the author
Jessaca is a fantasy writer, with an inclination toward the paranormal, dystopian, dark, and horror sub genres.
Jessaca studied social work for both her undergrad and graduate degrees and incorporates themes from her education (i.e. systems of oppression, family dynamics, mental health) into her writing. She is a self-proclaimed nerd who loves cosplay, video games, and comics. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her partner and their human- and fur-babies. She is an amateur trapeze artist (though currently, she’s on hiatus after having a baby).
Author links
Website: https://www.jessacawillis.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessacawillis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessacaWillisAuthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Nerdy4Books_Jessaca
Purchase Links
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