The Rising Fire (The Witch in the Woman Book One)

By Stacey Criswell

Life for Renée has been hard since her parents were killed by Skylark. Her brother, Jacob, lived with her up until two years ago when he was arrested for starting an argument with Skylark. Now Jacob has been sentenced to death as an example to all citizens Hagar.
Before his death sentence is carried out, Renée meets Aldric, the leader of a vampire rebellion against Skylark. He starts asking questions, peaking her suspicion. When he tells her that she is the one of the two sisters of Katrina, and with her powers could help take Skylark down, she isn't so sure of it. Skylark does everything he can to convince her to just give herself over to him. He kills people close to her an threatens her life countless times
In the end she is forced to push her own fears aside to protect everyone she cares for. She looses many, but will it be worth it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stacey Criswell
• Release date: Mar 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301356720

Stacey Criswell

I'm fifteen years old, and hope to have all my books published some day. Although, I do write a lot, I'm an ordinary teen. I live on a farm with my family and do Public school online, which gives me plenty of time to think about different books to try out. I love writing and putting myself in the position of my main character. It's a way of releasing things I want to say or do, through my writing. I hope you will all stick with me through this amazing journey.

Book preview

The Witch in the Woman Saga

Book One: The Rising Fire

By Stacey Criswell

Smashwords Edition

Copyright© 2013 Stacey Criswell

For more books by this author, look on Smashwords.com under Stacey Criswell.

This is a work of fiction. The characters, names, places, incidents and dialogue are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without prior written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Dedicated to my parents, for never giving up on me. And my brother and sister, I know you both will always be there for me.

Chapter 1:

I wake up sooner than I had expected, or wanted to. But, I can't go back to sleep. I try my best by closing my eyes for another five minutes, but how can I? Today will be one of the worst days of my life, and I can't do nothing to change that. My brother’s hearing is today, and I know it isn’t going to end well. The best he can get is thirty years to life in prison. But, I have never seen anyone get off that easy. For the crime he had committed, no one has ever gotten anything less than the death sentence.

We never really had the best relationship, but he is my brother. I don’t want him to die. I hated living with him though. My life was literally a living hell. I wish things were different between us, but I know if he gets out and comes back, he will have control over me again. I always put up a wall when he was around, but people say that changes me. I become isolated, and guarded. That’s the point of a mental wall, so no one can hurt me. Right?

So, why would I be so broken down if he were to die? And, why don’t I just get away from him? Because, I feel like since he’s my brother I owe him something. And, I am absolutely terrified of him.

I slowly trudge to the bathroom to look at myself in the mirror; I have black eyeliner stains from my eyes to the bottom of my chin, where I was crying the night before. Although, that's not new. I seem to cry a lot these days. I turn on the sink water, cup my hands under it and splash it on my face. It hasn’t helped any; I look even worse now, so I wet a rag and scrub my face until it finally comes off. I don’t have to go anywhere until 2:00 P.M. so I see no reason to get all prettied up. All I can bring myself to do is throw my long black hair up in a bun. Then I slowly ease down stairs to start my day.

As I start a pot of coffee, I see the clock; it is only 5:30. I take a deep breath, and whisper; I really wish I was in bed. But, I ignore myself as usual. The coffee pot beeps to show that it's done, so I take a cup, with a teaspoon of sugar in it, and go back upstairs to my room. As I walk in I notice the window is open. But, I don't remember opening it. I sit my coffee down on my side table and go over to shut it. Out of the corner of my eye I see a quick movement causing me to quickly jerk around but nothing is there. I roll my eyes. I’m just paranoid. I slowly close the window and sit on my bed. My cell phone starts ringing, so I follow the sound of my Breaking Benjamin, I Will Not Bow ring-tone. I will not bow, I will not break, I will shut the world away, I will not fall, I will not fade, and I will take your breath away.

I spot my phone sitting just under the edge of my bed. There it is. I look at the screen Jett is highlighted in dark blue on the screen. I don’t know if I am really able to handle talking to anyone now, but I tap the talk button anyway, Hello?

Hey. How are you doing? He asks me in a sympathetic voice.

As good as I can be I guess. Why are you up so early? I ask suddenly curious.

I’m at work. Do you know how hard it is to serve the man who could kill you at any minute, like he’s doing Jacob? I mean it was crazy to even try to argue with Skylark. But, I don’t think simply arguing is a reason to get killed or sentenced to jail. And, I can’t stand to see you hurt.

Skylark was all nice and sweet until Katrina let him have a little power as the leader of the Hagar’s troops for four years. But, they never once had reason to suspect he’d turn on them. He assassinated Katrina, our beloved Queen of five long, but happy years. The best thing about her was we didn’t think of her as a Queen, but as a friend, or a sister. Skylark is now our King, but everyone thinks of him more as a dictator.

I agree it was reckless. He can always start something can’t he? I comment.

Yeah, anyway, I just called to check in on you. I’ll be over after I get off work. Jett says.

Okay, thanks. Do me a favor, and don’t do anything you’ll regret. I plead, knowing he won’t even consider it.

Jett laughs, Whatever I do, I won’t regret it.

I shake my head. Bye.

Bye. He says and we both hang up.

I toss my phone on the bed, and plop down on the edge of my blue oversized chair. As I turn to see what time it is now, I see a figure out of the corner of my eye, and this time it doesn’t move away from me. He is as still as a statue. Hey, who are you? And, what are you doing in my house? I demand, standing up.

You are Renée Perry, are you not? He asks.

I’m not answering anything until you tell me who you are, and what you want. I say, trying to sound as normal and unaffected by him as possible.

He shakes his head, making his black hair hang loosely around his face and around his eyes. He does a quick flip and it falls perfectly into place. I literally have to tear my eyes away from him; he's...like, beautiful. No, you don’t understand. I’m not here to take orders from you Miss Renée. You will tell me what I want to know. When he looks back up at me he has fangs, and his eyes are as red as blood. Yup, I'm serious. Fangs! And, a very serious case of pink eye!

I quickly back up shocked and whisper, What the hell are those? I back up to far and fall on the bed. I don't normally curse, but come on, fangs! Okay wow, I’m completely losing it!

 Oh these? He says, These are just my little friends. So, are you Renée Perry, or not?

Yes, okay I’m her! What do you want? And, since I answered you, could you put those away? I point to his mouth, with a shaking finger. They slowly slide up into his original teeth, and his eye return to a deep blue. This, just creeps me out even more, because that means this happens to him often. It’s not just my imagination.

Good, now that we have that over with. Would you mind directing me towards your brother, Jacob Perry? He roams around my room, and when he sees the armchair he sits gracefully down in it.

What do you want with him? He’s been in jail for two years. Surely, he hasn’t bothered anybody for a long time. Has he? I ask my voice still to shaky to try and act not afraid.

No, I just need to speak with him. So, he’s in jail? Why is that? He plays with my bracelet while he talks.

Okay, listen mister, I respect your whole fang thing you got going on there, but would you mind putting that down? It’s not yours to play with. And, he’s in jail because he started an argument with Skylark.

He looks at me, It’s important that I find him. He hasn’t lived in this house for two years?

No, he hasn’t. I answer.

That’s interesting. I will go talk to him, and if I don’t find out what I need to know, I will come back to you. He stares at me for a moment, and then quickly jumps out the window. Yep, the window. I guess doors are overrated.

I jump up and look out the, but he is gone. I at least expected to find a body, but nothing. Just the smell of his cologne.

I sit there a few moments, wondering if I had imagined the encounter. Thinking maybe I’ve gone off the deep end. Maybe I should get some mental help.

After sitting there for what seems like an eternity, I hear the door bell ring. Pulling away from my crazy world in my head, I jump up, and run down stairs.

Unsure, I open the door, and see Sam, Chelsea, and Michelle, my three best friends. Sam is short with long, black hair; she is skinny and more of a tom boy. Michelle though, has bluish hair, is skinny, and is very girly.

Chelsea has long black hair, and is very quiet. That’s why I like her. What’s up guys? I ask they don’t normally just show up, so I am a little suspicious.

Nothing just thought you might want some company. Says Sam; with a small smile.

I appreciate the thought. I’m still on my first cup of coffee. And, it’s already been a long morning. I complain.

We sit at the kitchen table, and they start talking about the weather, and shopping. I drift off into my own crazy little world. I can’t help but think about the vampire guy….What was his name? Now that I think about it, he never told me his name. Of course, he wasn’t in much of a mood to answer my questions. I have so