Well-Kept Secrets

By Lissette E. Manning

The truth is sometimes hard to bear.

From the moment news of The Child Of Calamity arrived on her doorstep, Leto knew things would never stay the same. Never once did she imagine that her precious daughter would use Zeus’ sacred prophecy to achieve an end to her own means. Deep inside, she’s always believed that goodness lay in Artemis’ heart. That her daughter would use her powers for the better.

Leto knows that nothing good will come out of her daughter’s sordid machinations. Though she doesn’t quite understand what drives her, she knows she cannot allow Artemis to do as she pleases. Order must be maintained. She cannot risk Zeus’ wrath yet again should her daughter continue on the path she currently treads.

Delving deeper into the secrets surrounding the prophecy, Leto is determined in understanding why Artemis is so hell-bent on changing life as they know it. Someone out there knows exactly what’s going on. Somehow, some way, she’s going to try to put a stop to Artemis’ plans. To do that, however, she’ll have to go back to the beginning, much to Zeus’ chagrin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lissette E. Manning
• Release date: Jun 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370510405

Lissette E. Manning

Lissette E. Manning is an author from Connecticut. She has been writing since she was six-years-old, and spends most of her time trying to place her thoughts into order and giving life to the stories that are always brewing inside her head.She enjoys reading books, listening to music, playing the occasional video game, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family. She’s also a bit of a computer geek.Her writing genres of choice are Science-Fiction/Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Short Stories, as well as Poetry. She’s currently working on several projects such as The Secret Keeper, Tales of Velosia: The Prophecy, The Corsicanth Princess, and many more.

Book preview

Well-Kept Secrets

The Child Of Calamity Series

Book 4

Copyright © June 2017 Lissette E. Manning

Published © June 2017 L. D. B. Press

All rights reserved.

The author retains sole copyright to her contributions to this book.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.

For information and inquiries, please address: Nancy Medina, via the following email address: [e-mail].

This book is a work of fiction and any similarities to any persons, living or dead, or places, events, or locales, is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

To Maya.

Also By Lissette E. Manning

The Child Of Calamity Series

The Goddess’s Wishes

Protected Secrets

Hidden Secrets

Power Play (TCoCS Omnibus Edition)

The Falgori Series

Subtle Secrets

Into The Abyss

Warriors of Galantha Series

Iocasta’s Reprieve

Memories of You (A Poetry Collection)

Stuck

Written under the name of Nancy Medina

Her Sister’s Keeper (Coming Soon)

Written under the pseudonym of Annelise Ianthe

Rise of the Undead (Coming Soon)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover

Copyright

Dedication

Also By

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

About The Author

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’d like to thank each and every one of you who’s stuck by me through thick and thin.

To all the wonderful souls on my fan page, thanks for sticking around. Your support means a lot to me. You inspire me daily, and I look forward to bringing you more of what I write.

I hope you all enjoy this series and what’s to come.

Chapter 1

Leto raked her nails across the desk’s surface, her dark brown eyes full of worry. She stared at the photograph, trying to make sense of what she saw. She’d come across it by accident when it had fallen out of Apollo’s pocket not too long ago. Though she wasn’t sure of what the image represented, she knew she could not ignore it.

She snapped her fingers together. The image dissolved into a small cloud of smoke. A muscle twitched along her lower jaw. Leto pushed herself to her feet and made her way toward the panoramic window. The sun’s rays poured into the room.

Apollo! she cried, tapping her left foot with impatience as she waited for her son to appear.

He materialized in front of her, his golden hair severely disheveled. Yes, Mother?

She crossed her arms upon her chest and stared down her nose at him. Is there something you have to tell me?

He frowned, shoving his fingers through his unruly curls. Um . . . No?

Are you sure?

Apollo nodded. Yes.

Her mouth pursed with displeasure. Apollo . . .

He cowered beneath her angry stare. What?

Something has come to my attention.

Apollo raised an eyebrow at her. Oh?

What are you and your sister up to?

Apollo’s cheeks grew bright red. He lowered his head to avoid her intense scrutiny.

Nothing.

Leto reached out to curl her fingers beneath his chin. She pulled his head up and gazed into his troubled icy blue eyes.

I’m well aware of the sordid relationship you and Artemis have between you, my son. While it might not be my cup of tea, there’s nothing I can do to change it. I’ve allowed the two of you far too much leniency because of the fact that you’ve saved my life more times than I can count. Be that as it may, I am still your mother, which means you must obey. Is that understood?

Apollo’s mouth trembled, his eyes shining with unshed tears. Yes, Mother.

Now, what has Artemis gotten you into?

He tugged his chin out of her grasp, running his hand through his hair once more. His shoulders slumped with defeat.

I’m not sure.

No?

No.

She clapped her hands. The photograph she’d perused, moments ago, was whole again and fluttered to the floor.

Apollo followed its trajectory with his eyes, unwilling to bend down to fetch it. His features paled.

Leto waited for him to pick the photograph up.

Her son