Baptism: The Magaram Legends 3

By G. J. Winters

From the Publisher that brought you popular short story series Witching Call, Hostile Hearts, Earthbound Angels, The January Morrison Files Psychic Series, Eternally Soul Mates, Ralph's Gift, Children of Time, Chains of Darkness, Seasons of Love, Friend Zone and finally, The Magaram Legends Series...

TAKE A DIVE INTO ANOTHER REALM, PASS THE TEST TO ENTER ITS DOORS
STEP INSIDE THE GATES INTO THE MYSTICAL WORLD OF THE MAGARAM

Everytime Julio "sees" the beautiful lady by the deep well, he always ends up fighting another gigantic, terrifying supernatural monster—and each one more dangerous than the last, too. He does not know what this means, and almost losing his life many times is driving him to look more seriously for answers.

But answers are never easy to find. There is nothing in the 'real' world that can point to him what his experiences in the forest mean. He already knew they were all real—being back in the Magaram facing another creature more monstrous and louder than the last year after year has erased any doubts from his mind. The best that he has gained from the supernatural bouts are his skills with the knives and his physical strength and agility. Aside from seeing his beautiful lady from afar, he has not even gotten a chance to be with her.

But when the next day arrived at last, they came face-to-face. She waited for him—she finally talked to him! They went back to the Magaram Realm, and she told him that everything was a test, that he was being readied.

For a terrible war.

And what war, you will have to learn in this third installment to The Magaram Legends Series: Baptism.

If you wish to read more, download now!

BONUS PREVIEW IF YOU BUY THIS BOOK!

EXCERPT
Once again, they continued ascending the stone steps up to where the Araman held council.

Though in truth, the view was spectacular, Julio also felt compelled to talk to Irina. After all, it was his relentless pursuit of her that brought him to the Magaram realm, four years in the making.

“I wouldn’t mind living here,” he started.

“Easy to announce,” Irina replied.

“It would be easier if I lived with you,” he quickly shot back.

The Magaram was silenced. For the first time since he met her, Julio witnessed her face blush. Although they walked and ascended the stony pathway, their eyes locked.

He saw how he had caught Irina off guard. He had issued the remark without thinking of what its effect would be. He just had to say it, for all he knew, this would be the first and the last time he would be setting foot inside the enchanted realm.

“I... I am unsure what you mean,” said Irina.

“Honestly, that makes two of us,” said Julio. “I have spent the better part of almost four years thinking about you. At first, I didn’t even notice that something was different. I spent many days coming back to that place where I first met you, hoping to see your face again. I almost gave up about the fights with those creatures. But I never gave up the hope that I will see you again.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“Irina, I think,” he paused, trying to find better words. “I want you... love you. It’s the only reason why I kept coming back.”

Download and discover why readers are raving about GJ Winters.

Scroll up and get the book now!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandra Ross
• Release date: Dec 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310193200

G. J. Winters

G.J. Winters “fell into” writing when a well-meaning teacher of his submitted his Creative Writing assignment for publication in the school paper. The local paper picked up the article and asked G.J. for publishing rights, to which the young G.J. agreed with some hesitation, as he felt “that wasn’t one of my best writings at the time.” The reality was that this article was written when G.J. was a junior in high school.The article, which was a fictionalized version of a local myth surrounding a famous abandoned house near a swamp, was an assignment turned in as part of a mid-term exam. The teacher, Miss Mendez, thought G.J.’s writing was “exemplary” and showed “natural, raw writing talent for a person his age." The assignment called for “providing details to a local urban myth – provide background, using a local resident’s POV, and close with a vague hint of authenticity and realism."The story, entitled “The Old Mansion by the Swamp,” appeared in the high school paper as a short story, but was later serialized in the local paper in 6 parts. G.J. added more characters and even a sub-story (which later became a story of its own, “I Was Shirley Massey” – a story which centered on a member of the fictional family who resided in the Massey Mansion in the late 70s and disappeared without a trace).With the success of both of his original series, G.J. thought to venture into writing longer stories, this time with futuristic themes, as he has always been fascinated with travelling through time, future crimes, apocalyptic themes, and stories set in civilizations from the future.G.J. identifies with sci-fi writers such as Isaac Asimov (“Kept me awake through most evenings in college.”) and Margaret Peterson Haddix (“My girlfriend at the time had fits of jealousy over my fanatical tendencies towards this author.”).G.J. holds a degree in Chemistry, is an intern at the R&D division of a pharmaceutical manufacturing company, and lives with girlfriend Deidre, a magazine editor.

Book preview

Baptism

By GJ Winters

Published by Publications Circulations LLC.

SmashWords Edition

All contents copyright (C) 2013 by Publications Circulations LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this document or the related files may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, companies and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.

~ ~ ~ ~

Chapter One

THE NEW CREATURE, which looked like a mixture of many different animals, stomped its hooves on the ground. Though Julio was at least ten feet away, he felt its force on the earth. The loose pebbles that were scattered near it bounced into the air

Its legs looked like they were of spiders but its joints to its hooves were coated in something that looked like fur. Every time it stomped its hooves, the fur stood up on end, giving it a bristly appearance.

The height of the creature bothered Julio for he was no taller than the joint of its legs. He was just as tall as the hardened spikes that came out of its joints pointing upwards. Its width was at least an arm's length, with its hooves twice as long.

It had two bony and curved protrusions that resembled oversized mandibles. These mandibles swung to the sides and back and were thick on the outer end. But when the creature spread them open, they were actually paper thin and sharp.

The creature began to move its lower body backwards while its torso stayed in place. Julio was puzzled as to why it would back up, as surely, he presented no significant threat. When its torso was fully at the fore of its massive bulk, it raised up its arms with the bony, scythe-like appendages arranged in a fan-and Julio got his answer.

Spikes! Pointed spikes flew out of the tips of the creature's hands. What looked like mere outgrowths were actually missiles that flew faster than he could react. He would not have known that he was being attacked if not for the first spikes that closely missed him. When he heard a spike fly through his right ear, Julio became a flurry of activity.

It moved and oriented itself towards him. He paid more attention to the tip of its arm where the spikes had come from. It had a bony carapace that looked like a shield and tapered off into two curves meeting, making the tip of the carapace look pointier and deadlier.

He could not tell right away where the spikes came from, but one arm was an exact copy of the other. Each arm had at least twelve holes and about half of it was empty on the right. The left still had all spikes intact.

A plan came to mind.

If he ran completely to the creature's right, it would continue shooting at him with its spikes. Chances were that it would miss. This was easy, but coming back around would be harder. That would put him in a position where it might trap him into a spray of spikes with its other arm.

Julio had to think on his feet-staying in one place could mean the end. Off to the creature's side he ran while the creature followed after him. The spikes came one at a time, always striking close to where he was. He got nicked in the waist as he hesitated when he came across the steep slope of the mountain, where he'd misled that giant serpent in the last battle.

At the last moment, he decided to run towards the beast.

A couple of quick strides and he pushed against the tilted ground to launch himself into the air. Facing it, he saw its expressionless eyes follow him as it adjusted its left arm. It shot more spikes at him but missed. Julio rolled and landed on the ground.

He escaped the spikes but he was now closer to the creature.

Quickly on his feet, Julio looked at the beast, then ducked and rolled once more. The creature was facing him. The torso on top of the insect-like trunk was twisted towards him. Its arm was raised and Julio knew he was about to be showered with spikes again. He felt his arm hit something but he continued moving.

He executed three curving rolls as perfectly as he could manage until he rolled onto something-and it was painful. His movement brought him near the rear legs of the beast. He hoped it would give him a little cover. A sharp object jabbed Julio on his side. He realized that he was pierced by a spike.

But he was relieved that the spike did not hurt that much. No more than a centimeter in circumference and less than four inches long, it pierced cleanly through his skin. Julio was running once more towards the slope, directly opposite where he had launched himself earlier. He was running, tracking the creature, trying to pull out the spike, and holding onto his bolos. Then when he started to move it, he could have sworn it felt ten times bigger. He felt it tear in his flesh as it was slowly sliding out. This was while he continued to run.

The creature had repositioned itself by this time, too. It moved its bulk towards Julio, followed by its torso, and then the rest of its