Under The Moon: Helena Meets Magic, #1

By MG Camacho

It's Whatever After meets Grimmtastic Girls meets Harry Potter in this new YA Action-Adventure, Fantasy, Paranormal series by MG Camacho. 

Meet Helena, an average, twelve-year-old girl — well, at least until she turned thirteen where she discovers a whole new magical world where witches, vampires, fairies and mermaids exist.

In this origins story collection, Helena learns about her magical powers, keep her BFF Grace alive and safe from an evil blood-sucking vampire, help a fairy clan defeat their wicked wizard nemesis once and for all, help a mermaid's family regain their oceanic throne and discovers that her destiny was to fulfill a very old prophecy of saving the world from utter destruction.

With Helena being a new witch and all, does she truly have the magic and guts to save everyone? And if she can't, then would all of her love ones and friends — not to mention the world — die as foretold? Download it now to learn more!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Booktalk Publishing
• Release date: Jul 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781540166784

Book preview

UNDER THE MOON

M.G. Camacho

Under The Moon

By MG Camacho

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 by MG Camacho

Book cover art © 2014 by Nate Lindblad

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used, reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without the written permission of the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

For information, please contact:

MG Camacho

[e-mail]

If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

My short stories are like soft shadows I have set out in the world, faint footprints I have left. I remember exactly where I set down each and every one of them, and how I felt when I did. Short stories are like guideposts to my heart… — Haruki Murakami

For lovers of short stories. Hope you enjoy.

Dear Friends,

I am so happy and grateful to be able to share with you six short stories in this book. I had so much fun writing these stories and living in their world and now that it’s over, I know have to start working on a new short story collection but I find myself procrastinating and still thinking about Helena and her adventures.

Anyway, I would like to share with you a few tidbits about the stories in this collection. First off, Haunted House came about from a dream I had way back in high school and the dream was the scene where Grace first meets Richard. It was so compelling, I just had to write it down and turn it into a book. Well, I did try to write Haunted House into a full-length YA novel but as I was about to write the last chapter, it didn’t feel right. It felt way too long, the pacing of the story too slow. So I chopped a huge chunk out of it and turned it into a short story. And I discovered that I like it better that way.

Bonds Of Fate came about while I was talking to a radio personality of mine and we were talking about how doppelgängers are so different between cultures and growing up in the Philippines, this is somewhat an Asian take on doppelgängers.

A Mysterious Caller is an inspirational short story that I wrote during a workshop and I decided to add it here.

These three short stories I’ve mentioned were originally written a long time ago, so long ago, I can’t quite remember the year I started writing it. I wrote Under The Moon in 2013 and was planning to turn this into a YA novel but keeping it short and sweet would be better than drawing it out when it’s not really necessary. As for the rest of the stories in this book, I’ve written them all in 2014 including revisions for Haunted House.

I hope you do enjoy this book as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.

Take care,

MG

For a complete list of the author's books and other creative work,

visit her website at http://www.mgcamacho.com

Under The Moon

Helena will be turning thirteen in two weeks, on a full moon, the wise Crone announced. Turning to the parents of said child, she asked, Has there been any indication of her powers manifesting yet?

No, not yet, came the reply.

We need to make sure she is indeed the maiden as prophesied by our great ancestor who will break the curse. Our time is running out. We cannot waste anymore time. If a week after her thirteenth birthday and her powers has yet to manifest, then she is not the key and we need to find the girl who is, the Crone spoke with urgency. Drake, since you go to the same school with Helena, I am appointing you guardian and guide. Watch her carefully and look for any signs of her powers manifesting. And if she is indeed the key we’ve been waiting for, guard her with your life. The circle is dismissed — for now — until we convene again. Blessed be, everyone.

Blessed be, those in attendance answered back then slowly left the clearing towards their own homes.

***

All around her, the stench of death is everywhere. Villages burned down to the ground, the pitiful cries of the wounded and dying fading fast. The marauding invaders long gone.

Helena, are you even listening to me? her best friend Grace, grumbled, jolting Helena back into the present.

I’m sorry. It’s not like I do it on purpose, Helena apologized.

When Grace asked if she talked to someone about her dreams, Helena replied, No, because they’ll think I’m going crazy, while surreptitiously looking around the crowded hall.

So, it has begun, Drake thought to himself as he met her gaze steadily.

The day passed by in a blur when the final bell rang loud and clear.

After waving goodbye to Grace, Helena continued walking down the street. She tensed. Stop following me! she yelled, turning to face her stalker.

I can’t. At least not without talking to you first, Drake explained, running a hand through his wavy brown hair. I know about your visions and I can help you, he added.

Did Grace put you up to this? irritation evident in Helena’s voice.

Ignoring the question, Drake assured her, Don’t be afraid, you’re not the only one. There are others like you.

Others? Who? curious now as to who the others are, Helena asked.

You’d be surprised because they’re very close to you. And no, Grace is not one of them, he replied. Do you remember a story your parents or your grandmother told you as a child? Drake pushed on.

Helena can vaguely remember a fairy tale story of a girl with magical powers. What about it? she asked skeptically.

It is very much real and alive in you, Helena, he confirmed. You are the key to breaking the curse and I am here to guide and guard you until you have full access and control over your powers, Drake explained.

You are crazy. I have no powers, Helena exclaimed in denial.

You are more powerful than you think Helena, and those visions, they’re just one tiny manifestation of your powers, Drake said adamantly.

You are — Helena trailed off as another vision overcame her senses.

The woman stood in the midst of a circle of fire, hands outstretched to the heavens and a dark shadow, surrounding the fire loomed over the woman. By breath, by blood, by air, by fire, by earth, by water, your dark and evil curse will be broken by a maiden of thirteen moons on the thirteenth year a hundred years from now. This is my will so mote it be! the woman