WE ARE THRILLED TO HOST AUTHOR, CAMILLE BOUCHERON, TODAY. CAMILLE IS SHARING AN EXCERPT FROM HER NOVEL, 'HAUNTED HEARTS' #RWRTeamBlog #ReadWriteRepeat

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With her hands folded on her lap, Jane placed one of her hands on top of Evangeline’s. “This is most difficult. Alessio is gone.”

Evangeline jerked upright, nervous energy coursing through her. “He is not injured or taken ill?”

Jane shook her head from side to side. “No, he is in health.” Watching as she took a deep breath, Evangeline’s pulse quickened. Something was amiss, she could sense it.

“He’s left the island.”

“No, he would not leave me.”

“I am obligated as someone who cares deeply for you, to tell you. Alessio has apologized for the anguish he created in you. We have spoken, and it is his wish for you to do your duty and wed.”

“He would not send you.!” Evangeline shouted, breathing in ragged gasps. “He does not trust you, and neither do I!” she raged, her anger exploding from her, a volcano of pent-up and suppressed emotion. “Where is he? What have you done to him?”

Jane gawked at her, their eyes melded together.

“He is gone. You are free to search for him.”

Pushing Jane out of the way, she sprinted toward the door. Ladruc filled the doorway. Trying to force her way past him, the spidery man stared down at her. No hint of expression animated his repulsive features.

“Remove yourself!”

Stoic and unaffected, he did not budge. “Get out of my way!” she beat on his concave chest.

He stood his ground with her and did not flinch or move away from her attack.

“Evangeline, you will cease this unflattering tantrum!” Jane called from behind. “You will be married. You are unreasonable and stubborn, and that is why you will be confined until your husband takes you off my hands!”

She spun around. “Take me off your hands? What am I to you but goods to be sold? I will be glad to never see you again!” Evangeline blurted it out, it lingered, an emotional cloud over them.

Jane walked to her and paused. “So, you’ve stirred from your slumber, have you?” She slammed the door in Ladruc’s face.

“Your only redeeming quality is beauty. I suggest you hide your madness before you find yourself locked in a tower.” Jane lifted her head in triumph as she placed her hands on her hips, her stance as one who conquered a foe.

“You will not get away with this! Alessio will come for me.”

“No, Evangeline. He will not.”

“If you have harmed him, I will.” She stopped the threat, sealing it inside of her windpipe.

Jane tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “What will you do, Evangeline? Do you imagine yourself my equal?”

“Harm Alessio, and you will discover what lies beneath.” There, she gave life to the vow.

Jane lifted one arching brow. “Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Do not seek war with me. You will lose.”

“I do not fear you.”

“Cease these theatrics.”

“If you’ve harmed him in any way, I will make you pay.”

“You are in no position to threaten me. You are no match for me.”

Evangeline leaned forward, testing Jane. “Are you certain?” Jane flinched.

“I should have whipped you the day in the garden!” Gratification crested in Evangeline. Jane was intimidated of her.

“I should hardly think you are in condition for such an undertaking.”

Jane slapped her. Enraged and shocked, Evangeline struck back, hitting Jane’s cheek.

Jane lunged at Evangeline, grabbing her by the neck. “How dare you!” Evangeline pried her hands away, shoving Jane into the door. Screaming in agony, Jane doubled over.

“Ladruc! Help!”

The human spider materialized. “Jane, Jane, what has happened?”

Jane sobbed hysterically. “It’s the baby, something is wrong!” Contorting with pain, Jane clung to Ladruc.

“I will deal with you later!” Ladruc shouted at Evangeline and locked her in the chamber.

Charging for the door, Evangeline gripped the brass handle and twisted it back and forth violently, desperately trying to break the lock.

She banged on the door. “Let me out! Open this door!” Marching to the balcony rail she stared down at the jagged gorge. There was no way out for her.

She stumbled to the settee and collapsed on it, despair rolling over her. Alessio promised to take her away. He would come for her. She believed with all her heart nothing would keep them from each other.

Outside, the rumble of thunder echoed, deep and menacing. Terror shivered down her spine. Lightning flickered in jagged bursts, and she shut her eyes. Do not think of the gunpowder flashes. Evangeline’s heart pounded as the storm unleashed its fury, thunder resonating with the chaotic memories of the pirate attack.

Damp wind swept through the balcony door as the storm drew near, the churning pressure pulsing. Lifting her legs onto the settee, she hugged them, hiding her face. The crippling spectre of panic whispered, waking the illness in her mind. She resisted, but plunged over the precipice of rationality, and into a state of hallucination. From the realm of nightmares, the fiendish pirates materialized to hold court with her.

She could not escape Captain Pyke or the ghostly pirates haunting her. With each flash of lightening, the phantoms grew more real, their cries merging with the howling wind. Shadows twisted into faces of long-dead sailors, their eyes hollow and accusing.

Boldly racing in, wind zigzagged through the chamber, the curtains flapping like the sails of a doomed ship. Rain lashed windows in relentless sheets, the tempest demanding a reckoning with the past. The presence of ghosts pressed in. She heard their murmurs, their icy hands reaching to drag her into the abyss. The draperies floated from the wall, Miss Lindy stood veiled in gauzy white and then vanished. The insanity seeped from her core, poison oozing from an unhealable wound.

Cannon fire boomed! Captain Pyke materialized and shot Miss Lindy. Blood spread across her chest, staining the floral bodice of her gown. She locked eyes with Evangeline, her face contorting with shock. The wind carried the begging pleas of dying men and the stench of gunpowder.

No, make it stop, make it stop. It is not real.

Unwrapping her legs, she stood. Hypnotized by the storm outside, she stalked out onto the balcony. Rain slashed and stung her, hitting and biting her flesh. A bolt of lightning struck, illuminating the landscape.

Nature raged, and screamed at her, threatening her, demanding she flee, but Evangeline refused. The storm warned her to take cover, to submit and hide. The forest bore the physical beating of the thunderstorm. Trees bent and danced wildly as the gale tore through them, the branches snapping in its fury.

“Alessio!” Evangeline shrieked, demanding the wind do her bidding and call to him. She felt his hand inside of hers, his shoulder beside hers.

His promise rang around her. “I will never part from you again. If the forces of Hell should pull me from you, even then, I shall find my way back from the netherworld to stand beside you.”

Collapsing to her knees on the balcony, she buried her face and sobbed, her outburst merging to become one with the storm.

“Where are you, Alessio, where are you? What have they done to you?”

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COMING SOON: On Sunday, 2nd November, our guest author, Julie Hawkins, will be sharing Chapter 1 of her novel, 'Fool's Gold Folly'.