Vanish: The Frosted Realm Series, #0

By Stephanie Kline

Prequel to The Frosted Realms Book 1: Discover

Between the faces in the ice and my deteriorating bravery, I don't even know which way to turn.

The end of high school is supposed to be full of photos, laughs, fun, drunken parties, college shopping, and excitement. But mine... well its looking more and more like an episode of Unsolved Mysteries every single day.

 

If Unsolved Mysteries had faces in ice walls and strange otherworldly clues.

 

One day I'm moving forward, playing video games with Ethan, surviving the animalistic ritual of senior prom, and the next day I'm sitting alone in silence, wondering how two people could just dissapear into thin air. I dream about their faces, I feel my parents near, but no one can find them. But for me, this is no normal case closed vanishing act. The further I search the weirder it gets, and something in the back of mind is telling me fear is a good thing to have. Will that fear lead to my parents? Or will it twist my world until there's nothing left?

 

Read the prequel to the new series by International Best-Selling Author Stephanie Kline. A fantastical journey into realms beyond realms, and one spicy teen's journey to find the answers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clever Girl Writing, LLC
• Release date: Apr 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393679189

Stephanie Kline

Bestselling Author Stephanie Kline has written hundreds of chart topping novels for her array of private clients. She is the author of the best selling book Ella & LA, best selling series The Frosted Realms, collaborator for the Void Beast and Denise short stories and comic books, and co-author of the fantasy series War of the Realms. She also owns, operates, and manages the writing and publishing firm, Clever Girl Writing, LLC. Stephanie has an MBA in Sustainability, a BTM with a concentration in Project Management, and an Associates of Fine Arts. When she’s not writing, managing, or speaking, Stephanie spends her free time with her son, an aspiring musician and artist, her husband, her four dogs, and the young writers she mentors throughout the year. If there is any time left where she isn’t passed out at her computer desk drooling on her dog, she enjoys attending Comic-Cons and Book Conventions where she often can be found leading panel discussions on Women in Writing, a fun but telling look into the world of writing for both women in the business, and girls with aspirations for it. You can visit her at www.authorskline.com or connect with her author page on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or Amazon!

Book preview

Chapter One

S o, in the end, the Roman Empire crumbled into oblivion, but not before leaving behind some of the most influential systems in history. Mr. Chapman kicked his feet forward and back, sitting on the edge of his desk.

The bell rang, and he nodded, watching as everyone packed their bags. No homework this weekend. Have fun, dance your hearts out at prom, and be ready on Monday to start our reviews for the end of the year finals.

Everyone groaned. Me? I personally paid zero attention to any of it. As a senior, we all felt the same way. We couldn’t wait to graduate. My reasons weren’t because I yearned to take flight and go off to college where I would drink too much, almost fail out, find redemption, and eat nine hundred pizza rolls made in a toaster oven hidden in my dorm closet. I was just ready to get far away from all the morons I had spent the last thirteen years avoiding five days a week, eight months out of the year.

I grabbed my books off the desk and held them to my chest as I exited behind everyone else. Mr. Chapman put up his hand as I walked past. I reached up and gave him our usual high five. You going to prom?

I rolled my eyes as I turned, backing out of the classroom. Of course, I am. My parents pretty much have given me zero options. They say I have to experience life. I swear they’re aliens. They want human experiences as if it's not a normal thing.

He chuckled as he wiped off the whiteboard. You never know, it could be an eye-opening experience.

I snorted as I stopped in the doorway. Or it could be Carrie. And no one wants to spontaneously combust because of bullying.

Mr. Chapman laughed as he pulled his worn, brown leather letter bag from the floor. I’ll be there, and I’ll make sure to bring a fire extinguisher.

I tapped my nose and pointed at him as I backed the rest of the way out of the classroom. Mr. Chapman was the only cool thing about high school. He liked to teach, and I liked to learn, which immediately made me a target. Of course, not as big of a target as my best friend, Ethan. We weren’t weird, we just weren’t popular...okay, I take that back. We were kind of weird, but we didn’t bother anyone.

Dodging two idiots chasing each other down the hall, I sighed and scooted along the lockers until I got to mine. I opened it up and slid my books inside, pulling out my backpack and jacket. I just had to make it through prom that night, and then I’d have the whole weekend to chill, play Darkened Dominions on Xbox with Ethan, and pretty much do nothing. My parents had some fancy dinner awards thing Saturday night, and Sundays were open to whatever. My dad was usually tinkering in his home lab, and my mother would most likely be at my grandmother’s.

Hey there prom date, Ethan said, leaning against the row of lockers, his thumbs tucked into his book bag straps. You ready for some dancing, spiked punch, and our normal game of who just got knocked up in the back of their limo?

I glanced up and chuckled. I already have my money on Lisa Crow.

He scoffed. You’ve picked her for every dance since middle school.

Hey, it's bound to happen, so I just go with the odds.

What? It was true.

The familiar scent of teenage sweat and spray on men’s body spray rolled over me, turning my stomach. Drake Carter walked up behind us, putting his huge arms out, wrapping one over my shoulder and the other over Ethan’s. We both cringed. Drake had been Ethan’s arch-nemesis since he was nine. Before that, they were apparently best friends, but that ended when Drake stopped caring about being an astronaut and started caring about football and dude stuff. He was around six-two, muscular, about three of my size in width, with a shaved head, and a constant mischievous smile.

Lookie what we have here, he said, pulling us in tight. Pretty little Clara and her girlfriend, Ethan. Are you two princesses coming to prom tonight, or are you being called back to the home planet?

I pulled away from him, disgusted. They were gonna let us go to prom, but they had enough evidence from you and the team that no intelligent life existed here. So, we’re going back early before we catch whatever it is that makes you such a moron.

His lip twitched, and he slowly looked over at Ethan, who was laughing. He released Ethan from his arm hold and palmed the side of his face, tossing his head into