Prophecy

By Ingibjörg N. Frid

Tialilja Tomasdottir, born and raised in Isafjordur, a small town in the west side of Iceland, is a young author who has been writing books based on the visions shes been having since she was a young girl. Unbeknown to her, she is a threat to certain groups in the world, and they set out to hunt her down and stop her from publishing any more books. In between running for her life, falling in love, being attacked, and losing people she loves, she finds out there is something special about her. The plot thickens when she realizes that she is a part of an old prophecy and a certain power-hungry man will do everything to get his hands on her. After being hunted for so long, the big question is who can she trust? Who is giving out information about her? Who is betraying her? Read Tias story and find out how she unravels the prophecy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Jul 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499088137

Ingibjörg N. Frid

Ingibjörg Naomi Friðþjófsdóttir is an Icelandic author. She’s a single mother of four, loves reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with her family. If she’s asked to describe herself, she always says, “I’m an independent, stubborn, single mother who loves her family and friends.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Greece

K ristin and Margret’s time in Greece had been marvelous up until that day. Kristin was happy she had decided to go on the graduation trip. She had been a little skeptical about whether she should go, but since she had been so immersed in her studies over the past four years, she felt celebrating her accomplishments was well deserved.

Oh, had she let loose! She had done something she had never done before. She had met a boy in one of the clubs and gone home with him; she was no longer a virgin. Her cheeks started turning red and she could feel heat rushing to her face. She was a little ashamed of herself for doing it, but it had been so freeing; it was so out of character for her, and her father would kill her if he ever found out. But she didn’t care, at least not right then. She and Margret were supposed to fly home the next day, and she was to begin working for her father the day after that. She knew when she started working she wouldn’t have the opportunity to see the world again as she had seen it on this trip. The last time she spoke to her father, he had told her one of Milo in the North’s sons were preparing to ask for her hand in marriage and her father had said yes. Kristin was not comfortable or happy about it. She wanted to be as free as her friends in this world were.

Margret was actually not free, since she was almost six months pregnant, but Kristin was happy she had come with her on the trip. Kristin suspected it was her own brother that had gotten Margret pregnant, though Margret had not told anyone who her baby’s father was. Kristin remembered how Hrani had left the faerie dance in January. He had not been able to take his eyes off Margret, and now their father refused to allow him to come visit Kristin.

Kristin was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she didn’t immediately notice the noise and havoc that had broken out around them until Margret pulled her up and started to drag her away. Kristin looked back and saw a huge dog running after them; injured people and still bodies lay all over the place while others tried to run away.

Margret and Kristin were separated in the chaos. Kristin ran as fast as she could but panicked when she found herself in an alley with no way out. Kristin was turning around when she saw a woman who had been running behind her come into the alley. She started to tell her this was a dead end when the woman jumped on her. The first thought Kristin had as she fell onto her back was, Wow, she’s fast! But the thought quickly vanished as she fought with the woman to get away. The woman hit Kristen on the head so hard she was dazed and shocked. She recovered fast and tried to pound on the woman’s head with one hand and pull her hair with the other. Loud snarls came from the woman when Kristin landed a strong blow to her ear and another on her cheek. Kristin felt a bite on her shoulder and tried to pull the woman’s head away from her. She tried to jerk her hips up to throw this crazy person off, but nothing worked. Kristin felt herself getting weaker and weaker; she was getting dizzy and felt a burning sensation where she had been bitten. She started looking around to find some kind of weapon and saw an iron pole near them. Kristin stretched her fingers and touched the top with her fingertips and managed to roll it toward her. When she had a good grip on the pole, she smashed it as hard as she could at the woman’s head. The woman twisted on top of her, but Kristin was ready and hit her over and over as hard as she could.

The woman’s eyes rolled back in her head and she rolled onto the ground. Kristin stumbled to her feet and turned to look at the woman. When she saw she was unconscious, Kristin dropped the pole and ran back to the street, where she saw people still running away from dogs, who were sniffing all around. Kristin didn’t think twice; she ran toward the hotel. She hoped Margret had made it there safely.

Orfeo chased the wolves into the square; he saw dead bodies all around. Jamilah and her lycans had clearly been there. Orfeo gave the order to kill all the lycans and clear the bodies away as quickly as possible. He sniffed the air and found the scent of Jamilah coming from an alley down the street. When he came to the alley, he stopped and stood still. There was an alarming scent coming from the blood on the street. He moved closer, bent down, put a finger in one of the little splashes of blood on the ground next to Jamilah, and sniffed. He smelled werewolf and fairie. He sniffed it again and growled angrily. Jamilah had bitten a fairie that was pregnant by a werewolf. He turned to where Jamilah was lying unconscious on the street and shook his head. He was furious that she had escaped from captivity once again. He knew he should have killed her as soon as she gave birth to his twins. He postponed it again and again because it was hard to say good-bye to her, though he knew the Jamilah he had loved was long gone.

The current Jamilah was only a shadow of her old self. A vampire had bitten her and changed her. Normally, she would have been killed immediately, but she had been pregnant with alpha pups when she was bitten, which had kept her alive until the pups were born. He had not known at that time what effect the bite would have on the twins, so he kept Jamilah alive. He was still struggling with whether or not he should kill her.

Jamilah’s time was finished. Yes, he should have killed her three centuries ago instead of keeping her locked inside his house. Orfeo bent over her and put his arms around her head, turning it with a sharp jerk until he heard a crack signifying a broken neck. He took a knife out of his pocket and stabbed her in the heart. That should be enough.

He stood with the corpse in his arms and walked toward the road. When he was done getting rid of her body, he would hunt. He knew whose blood was mixed with the faerie’s; he wanted to get the faerie. Those who had faeries working for them were always much better off than others, but he had heard it was not possible to find faerie settlements. They had been seen around the world, but no one knew where they lived or where their home was. Nikolas Wolf Nikolaidis seemed to have found one and impregnated her, so he clearly knew where he could find the elusive faeries. It was about time for Nikolas to give some of his powers to him. Orfeo deserved it.

*     *     *

Nineteen years later …

Whoever said life was easy was an idiot. Only those who grew up with a silver spoon in their mouth and never had to lift a finger said such nonsense. Ordinary people had to fight with blood, sweat, and tears to get where they wanted to go in life, and more often than not, they had to settle with far less than what they wanted to. Tialilja had never expected to be in the position she was in currently. No one in their right mind would have suspected it, and Tialilja, who believed herself to be a very open and understanding person when it came to new inventions and lifestyles, was surprised how well she herself had taken everything that had been thrown at her the last couple of years.

We’ve all heard of vampires, werewolves, elves, witches, sorcerers, ghosts, mummies, devils, shape shifters, angels, and people with special powers such as telepathy, mind-reading, forming fireballs, and stuff you connect to characters in books or movies. Each country has it’s own legends and folklore, many of which have become internationally known, such as vampires and werewolves. Many people ask themselves whether these creatures are fictitious or if they really are among us. Others make fun of those who believe these creatures are in our midst. No one has been able to prove if they exist, because their motto is to keep their existence from others. Tialilja knew the truth and had known it since she was a young girl. Her parents had to take her out of kindergarten because her lively imagination had often gotten her into trouble. The teachers blamed her parents for allowing Tialilja to watch movies that were not proper for children. How else would such a young girl be able to describe these mythical creatures so well? Unfortunately, in her case, it was not so and the truth was not so simple.

Tomas and Margret Eggertsdottir had adopted Tialilja Tomasdottir when she was two days old, after her mother passed away from complications during her birth. Tialilja was born with incredibly strong media skills, or psychic powers, as some people called them. She didn’t need much to be able to see what had occurred in the past or what was about to happen in the future.

Tomas and Margret did everything they could to provide their small princess safety and shelter from life’s dangers. They gave her all the love, care, and understanding she needed and much more. Tialilja loved them with all her heart and never thought of them as anything but her parents. Tomas and Margret had one son, Sigurbjörn, or Sibba, as everybody called him. He was one year ahead of Tialilja in school, but only six months older, since he was born in October and Tialilja in April the year after. They often didn’t get along and generally avoided each other to keep peace. When Tialilja was two, Tomas and Margret adopted one-year-old Alma from Reykjavik.

Tialilja had always been a very quiet and self-sufficient child. Sometimes she had a hard time after she had a vision or a dream that disturbed her, and she needed more care from her parents. Alma responded badly to the extra attention Tialilja needed. She hated it when Tialilja got more attention than she did; Tialilja was often the victim of Alma’s jealousy. Other than those few incidents, Tia and Alma got along as sisters usually do.

When Tialilja was thirteen years old, her best friend, Ylfa Ýr Úlfsdóttir, lost her mother and was sent to Montana to live with her father and his family. Tialilja felt lost without her best friend. She was glad she got to speak with her often though. A short time later, she met a girl named Hafdis Aradóttir, or Dis like Tialilja usually called her. She had recently moved west to Isafjordur with her mother after her father had died. Tialilja had dreamt about Dis for some time before she moved to town. They forged a close friendship right away. Tragically, Dis’s mother died of a heart attack only a year later. Tomas and Margret offered to let Dis stay with them, but her relatives wanted her to go back to Reykjavik and live with them. She was able to spend most of her school holidays with Tialilja and her family, though, and the girls remained close friends.

When Tialilja was fifteen, she went to Oxford, England, for summer school to learn Victorian English. She lived with an elderly couple a few blocks from the college. While she was there, she became friends with Kelly, the girl who lived next door. The girls remained friends even after Tialilja returned home after the summer term was over.

For part of the next school year, Tia went to Athens, Greece, as a foreign exchange student and lived with a young couple in Athens. During the weekends, they stayed on a small island owned by the couple. It was the best time in Tia’s life. She loved the island and vowed to return as often as possible.

Tialilja had strange dreams and visions for as long as she could remember; her mother always encouraged her to write them down. When she returned from Greece, Tialilja decided to put everything together she had written over the years and try to make it into a book. She published it under the name Cara Mia and never expected it to become as popular as it did. At sixteen, she had a book contract with a publisher in the United States; it looked like she had a bright future ahead of her.

One month after her seventeenth birthday, Tia and Alma decided to go to Sudureyri and swim at the popular outdoor pool. They had a surprisingly good day together with no fighting. While driving home, their car was forced off the road, causing them to crash. Alma was killed instantly and Tialilja had serious injuries. Tialilja thought she had seen Jason, her neighbor, driving the other car, but she couldn’t say for sure, because she had hit her head against the door and lost consciousness within seconds of the crash. She wasn’t sure if she saw him in the car or if she saw him in a vision after the impact. Tia took Alma’s death very hard and blamed herself. Her parents told her it wasn’t her fault, but it did little to help her grieving heart. Her friends, Ylfa and Kelly, called or talked to Tia every day through Skype. That was how she was able to keep on going and move past the hurt, get on with her life.

*     *     *

Tia had spent the last ten months writing and had traveled to England twice to support Kelly while she went through several music auditions. On one visit, Kelly and Tia sat down and wrote a few songs together. Kelly finally got the big Yes! and a record deal. Tia was so happy for her! Kelly’s dream of being a singing superstar was happening. She already had two singles on the top ten billboard charts in the United States, and things were looking up for her. Kelly’s first tour was coming up, and Tia was thankful she would be able to spend some alone time with her before she left. This time, it would be different though. The record label had insisted that Kelly have bodyguards with her while she traveled. Tia wasn’t sure how Kelly would handle being ordered around by huge, buff men, but Tia had to admit that she herself was thankful, especially after she was attacked in the hotel last time she was in London. Yeah, the police said it was a simple break-in, but Tia knew better. She had dreamed about it, and that was how she had been ready when they came. But it didn’t end there; wherever she went, she felt like someone was watching her every move and she wasn’t sure why. She had gotten a few threatening letters from some crazy fans, but her publisher told her not to worry. No one would figure out where she lived or who she was. She hoped they were right.

Tia strode through the airport following the signs to baggage claim. She noticed several glances that were cast her way as she moved through the crowd, but she no longer cared what others thought. She lived her life as she wanted.

She caught a glimpse of herself as she passed a mirrored wall. She paused, frowning at her reflection; she had forgotten she had short purple hair. She wiped a dark smudge from under her eye and sighed; at least her skin was glowing. She heard a squeal; turning away from the mirror, she found herself enveloped in her best friend’s arms in a tight hug. Flinching at the unexpected contact, Tia let herself hug Kelly in return.

Oh, it was so good to see her! It had been a while since they last met in person. E-mail, Facebook, and Skype had carried their friendship over the distance though. They had met up every Wednesday evening in front of their computers and talked through Skype wherever they were in the world. As always, Kelly looked magnificent with her curly red hair that hung loose down her back. It seemed to shimmer and change color with each step she took. She was dressed in jeans that looked to be high fashion, but Tialilja knew those pants; they were Kelly’s favorite pants. She had bought them a few years ago and couldn’t throw them away, because they were so soft and not stiff like other jeans. She was also wearing a black tunic with a multi-colored pattern along the sleeves and neckline. Tialilja wished she had one of those. When Tialilja looked down at Kelly’s feet, she saw they had on the same shoes: dark brown leather flip flops with a narrow leather string that went over the toe and back behind the heel. They were comfortable and took no room in her bag.

Hi, sweetie. Kelly hugged her tight against her. You are always so beautiful, Kelly said, smiling her infectious smile. If you were in a tunic like mine, we would be dressed the same!

I was just admiring your top. I would love to have one like it.

It’s good to hear, since I bought one for you, replied Kelly while innocently blinking her long thick lashes at Tialilja.

You’re joking!

No, why would I joke? I know your tastes and I know you wouldn’t stop hassling me until I told you where I bought it. So, I decided to save you the time and me the hassle and bought one for you.

Have I told you recently how much I love and miss you?

Every time we talk, replied Kelly as the girls hauled the luggage out to the car.

How do you do it? You look so good even after such a long journey? I always look like a scarecrow when I travel, no matter how hard I try, muttered Tialilja as they loaded luggage into the car.

You always look good, Tialilja. You don’t see it because you’re tired. I, on the other hand, managed to sleep well on my way here and it helped.

Tialilja shook her head as she smiled. If you say so. Take a seat. I’m going to go pay for the parking space.

Tialilja went in and searched of the parking meter; she had just stepped into the building when she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She looked around the area but saw nothing suspicious. Tialilja started to walk away, but her instincts told her someone was watching her. She walked around, but the feeling didn’t go away. She decided to go back to her car and hoped she would be able to pay on her way out the gate. When they came to the exit, Tialilja saw she could use her credit card to get out of the parking lot, but the uneasy feeling didn’t stop until they were a few miles from the airport. Tialilja was glad Kelly was meeting her bodyguards at the hotel. Tialilja didn’t want to think of what could happen if no one kept Kelly safe. Enough was already happening around Tialilja, and she didn’t need the added worrying about Kelly.

What did you do to your hair? When did you color it? Kelly said, laughing as she touched Tialilja’s hair.

Tialilja just shrugged her shoulders as she changed gears. I wanted to change, and what better way than to start with the hair?

Yes, but your hair has always been your pride and joy. Kelly looked searchingly at her and saw there was something bothering her. We still have some driving time until we get to the hotel. Tell me what’s bothering you. I don’t want anything to spoil the trip, so spit it out.

Tialilja considered keeping quiet, but she really needed someone to talk to before she went crazy; Kelly had always listened and given her good advice. She took a deep breath and started to talk, I just found out my mom and dad are not my biological parents. I was adopted as a newborn.

Kelly looked startled and speechless at Tialilja but then hesitantly asked, And how do you feel after learning this? When did you find out? And how?

You know I’ve always felt a little different or that I somehow didn’t fit into the family’s dynamic. Now I finally know why. I discovered it when I was looking for my passport in my dad’s safe. My birth certificate was next to my passport. I was curious, since I’d never seen it, and I read it. Margret Eggertsdottir was not register as my mother.

Who was? asked Kelly; surprise and interest had her at full focus.

Tialilja had difficulty answering her with a lump in her throat. She whispered, Kristin Aronsdottir, as she wiped away the tears that streamed down her cheeks. She slowed the car down so they didn’t get in an accident.

Did you ask your dad about any of this? Kelly asked as she stroked Tialilja’s arm reassuringly.

Tialilja shook her head. I didn’t need to. I looked through the safe and found my mother’s death certificate. The cause of death was eclampsia. She died giving birth to me. Tears started running faster down Tialilja’s cheeks. I just don’t understand why my parents never told me this. They know I’m sensitive to my differences. Why haven’t they said anything?

Kelly ordered her to stop the car, and Tialilja did so as soon as she saw a vacant parking space. Kelly rubbed her on the back and tried to comfort her. Maybe he will do that. Maybe they don’t have the courage to do it. I don’t think it would be easy to tell your baby they are not of your blood even though they love you and treat you like you are. But I agree with you. I would never keep something so important from my child. You need to ask them about this, but you can’t do that until you get home again. You need to do this face to face, not over the phone. Are you sure you want to be here in Spain right now, or do you want to turn around and go back home to Iceland?

Tialilja sniffled and wiped her eyes. No way! I am not going home. You don’t know how much I have been looking forward to this vacation. And of course, let’s not forget that I cut and colored my hair for this trip too! She tried to smile as she heard Kelly laugh. Come on, let’s forget this and enjoy the next few weeks.

I am sooo looking forward to a good time. Kelly giggled while Tialilja put the car in gear and drove off. Kelly froze in a Paris Hilton pose, and stroking her red curly hair, she said, Boys, watch out! Here we come!

*     *     *

They had been in Spain for fourteen days and had been having a blast. They spent their days either on the beach or walking between the many shops. They loved shopping, but they preferred to stay on the beach, lounging in the sun and relaxing during the day. At night, they went out to eat somewhere and then went clubbing. One night, Kelly talked Tialilja into getting a tattoo; she chose to have Tinkerbell put on her lower back, since that was her favorite Disney character. When it was Kelly’s turn, she chickened out.

One evening after a day out on the beach, Tialilja was trying to put cream on her back. Kelly came in blabbing about how she was fed up with men.

They are no good! Every single one of them drives me insane. What are you doing?

Putting lotion on my back. I’m afraid I was starting to burn before I came in.

I’ll help. Turn around, Kelly ordered as she took the cream from Tialilja.

What do you want to do tonight? asked Tia quietly. She knew as soon as they went out, Kelly was going to look for a new guy, regardless of how fed up she was with them.

Oh, sorry. I say that often, don’t I?

Tialilja just smiled at Kelly’s embarrassed expression. I have no complaints so far and will not start now. Shall we go down to the lobby and get something to eat, or do you want to go somewhere else? You can tell me why you are fed up with men while we eat.

They ended up in a small family restaurant that was located around the corner from their hotel; they had decided to take it easy that evening. We are going out partying tomorrow night to celebrate your birthday though, said Kelly.

Tialilja looked at her, and when she saw the twinkle in her eye she shook her head. Kelly! Tialilja gasped. She had hoped Kelly would forget about it being her birthday.

Come on, Tialilja, it’s not every day you turn eighteen years old, not to mention while you are in Spain!

Nothing wild! You know how it usually ends.

Yes, but it was not my fault. Who would have suspected that Leroy was selling dope!

Me. I warned you about him, Kelly.

Yes, yes, OK, nothing wild.

Tialilja just smiled, because she knew Kelly would not be able to resist doing something outrageous like she always did whenever they met up.

Tell me, how is the new book coming along and when do I get to read it? Kelly asked before putting a forkful of bacalao in her mouth.

Tialilja shivered at the thought of eating bacalao, or salted fish, like she called it. She didn’t eat anything that came from the ocean unless it was haddock. How can you eat that?

Stop changing the subject. How is the book?

A little smile touched Tialilja’s lips as she replied, It’s done.

Kelly started choking on the wine she had just sippe,. Say it again?

I’m done.

When do I get to read it?

How about after I buy a book to read, you can read mine?

Kelly stared at her with big green eyes. Did you bring it with you?

Yes, of course, or you wouldn’t be able to read it.

Kelly was watching something behind Tialilja’s shoulders when she said, Very good. We can sit by the pool tomorrow and read, OK?

Tialilja nodded her head and saw she had lost Kelly’s attention. She slowly turned around to see what Kelly was looking at. Two men stood in front of the restaurant and were arguing while moving their hands around really fast. Tialilja had to admit the men were very handsome, about twenty-six to twenty-nine years old. Both dressed in suits, their hair combed back away from their faces, but they were too old for Tialilja’s taste. Obviously, Kelly had some interest in them.

Do you have your key card, Kelly?

Yes.

You know what our deal was. No guys in our room!

Again came just a simple, Yes.

Tialilja knew Kelly was sexually active and talked freely about her experiences. But Tialilja had no experience and didn’t know anyone she would like to have that experience with. She reminded Kelly again what their deal was before they even booked the trip. Being raised in Iceland was completely different then being raised in England. In Tialilja’s opinion, English kids started having sex way too early. And Tialilja was raised in a small western town of Iceland called Isafjordur, with a population of around 3,000. There wasn’t much of a selection of guys to choose from and everyone always thought Tialilja was rather strange, so her selection was none. Alma, Tialilja´s younger sister had been sexually active for a year before she died; then again, she had a similar personality to Kelly’s.

Pardon me. Tialilja jumped when she felt a man’s hand on her shoulder. When she looked up, she saw the waiter standing next to her.

The men who are sitting at the end of the bar have sent you two ladies these drinks and asked me to see if they can sit with you.

Before Tialilja could come up with an answerer, Kelly agreed and started making room for them at the table.

What are you thinking? We were going to relax tonight! Tialilja said in a shocked voice. She was not in the mood to entertain some guys who were full of Spanish arrogance and self-importance and would probably not keep their hands to themselves.

I’m trying to have a good time. Remember, we go home in two days, and you still haven’t let loose. Tia, you are turning eighteen, you’re done with your book, and didn’t you say you wanted a change? You cut off your hair and colored it, got a tattoo. Now you can take one more step and do something wild for the night, OK? Pleeeeeezzz, Tialilja? begged Kelly.

If I get fed up, I’m out of here and going back to our room!

OK, but not until we dance a little.

The thought of being able to dance as an outlet for the energy she had burning inside her sold her on the idea of going clubbing. OK, I say yay to dancing, but no to some sleazy private party.

Uhum … wow, Tialilja, look. If those are the guys who gave us the drinks, then I’m in heaven.

Tialilja turned and saw two handsome young men coming toward them. They were both dressed in jeans and white shirts, with black hair and black eyes. Their skin was a deep bronze color, but what got Tialilja’s attention was how ruggedly beautiful they were. She saw nothing that diminished their beauty. They walked around like they owned the place with the determination of a lion.

Good evening, ladies. How are you tonight?

Fine, thank you, replied Kelly cockily. I’m Kelly and this is Tialilja. What are your names?

My name is Miguel and this is Alex. They greeted them both with a handshake and then sat. As soon as Tialilja touched Alex’s hand, she felt uneasy and the feeling didn’t go away. She didn’t like it at all, but she had promised Kelly she would go dancing. She had to put it on a back burner and try to enjoy the evening.

So where are you from? said Miguel, who sat next to Kelly.

England, said Tialilja briefly and gave Kelly a warning not to correct her.

What about you two? asked Kelly right back and looked concerned at Tialilja. Kelly knew that if Tialilja didn’t want them to know where she was from, then she had a good reason, but what was the reason?

I’m from here, but Alex is from Greece. He doesn’t speak much English, but he understands more than he speaks. Do you speak Greek, Italian, or French?

Sorry, they both said in chorus.

English it shall be then, said Miguel as he smiled. What are you two doing here?

We’re on vacation. Tialilja’s birthday is tomorrow and we wanted to celebrate it in the sun, Kelly told them and gave Tialilja a huge warm smile. Miguel put one hand on the back of Kelly’s chair, and right then, Tialilja knew how the night would end.

That’s nice. We have to do something special for you tonight. What would you like to do, Tialilja? Go sailing, a party, or find a club? Miguel turned to Tialilja and waited patiently for her to answer.

We were thinking about dancing, going to a good club, said Tialilja slowly and took a sip from the glass they gave her.

After that, the time flew away from them. Before she knew it, they were at some club Tialilja had never been to or heard of. She was dancing with Alex, while Kelly was making out with Miguel in one of the many stalls next to the dance floor. Tialilja had been careful and closely watching what she been drinking. But when she started seeing shadows moving around the room, she knew she was in big trouble. She tried to use hand movements to make Alex understand her, but he spoke absolutely no English and didn’t understand enough for her hand movements to make sense. It was when she had to push Alex away after he tried to grab her for the hundredth time that she had enough and just wanted to go back to the hotel and sleep.

Tialilja walked toward the stalls, looking for Kelly to let her know she was going back, but she couldn’t find her anywhere. She began to walk along the stalls to look for Kelly, but still she was nowhere to be found. Tia knew it had been a bad idea to go out without Kelly´s bodyguards, but Kelly had been so determined she wanted one last night out without a shadow at her back, and Tia hadn’t been able to say no to her; at that point, Tia was regretting it big time. She looked in the bathroom, and when she didn’t find her there, she walked two rounds around the club. Unsuccessful, she went back to Alex and tried one more time to get him to understand her. He beckoned her to follow him and walked to a closed door at the back of the club; he knocked on the door and waited.

A gigantic man Tialilja suspected was drunk opened the door and led them into a corridor that seemed to have a thousand doors. The only thing Tialilja wanted to do was find Kelly and get them both out of there. She didn’t like the feeling she was getting from this place; something evil was there. The feeling Tialilja had got when she greeted Alex came back much stronger. She was sure it meant danger. She opened the first door she saw and walked into what appeared to be an apartment. She called Kelly’s name, but when she got no answer, she turned around and went out to the hall and opened the next doort. As soon as she opened the door, she heard Kelly arguing with someone. Tialilja went into the apartment and saw someone was reading the riot act to Kelly and Miguel.

Kelly, I just wanted to let you know that I’m going to the hotel.

Another? Who the fuck are you? thundered the man who was arguing with Kelly and Miguel. He looked big, not just tall, but big in every way.

Are you coming with me?

Answer me! thundered the man again. Tialilja looked at him; it was too dark where he was standing. The light from the table lamp only covered a small part of the room, and the man was standing in the dark, so she couldn’t see his face, but she saw shadows moving around the room more clearly at that point than when she was in the club. Goose bumps formed on the back of her neck and down her arms; this man was very dangerous. He had killed many people and would not hesitate to kill again. The shadows Tialilja saw were proof enough for her.

Kelly, come now! Tialilja cried as she felt horrible danger all around her. She had to get out of there before the sense of all-consuming fear took over her normal thoughts and shut her down completely.

Kelly looked at Miguel and then over to Tialilja. Kelly didn’t hesitate when she saw how frightened Tialilja was. They were just getting out the door when Tialilja was pulled back without anyone touching her. Her dress was torn down the middle of her back all the way down to her underwear. Tia screamed in fear and told Kelly to run.

She couldn’t see anyone near her, but somehow something was holding her.

Who are you? thundered the voice again.

No one, said Tialilja; her voice trembled, but she looked straight where the man was standing, acting like she could see through him.

She’s just a British tourist on holiday, Miguel answered for her.

Don’t let me see you here again! roared the man. Tialilja ran out the door as soon as she was free to move again.

When the girls returned safely to their hotel, Tialilja angrily yelled, What the bloody hell were you thinking when you disappeared with Miguel and who the hell was that man in there with you two?!

I was not thinking about anything special, and I have no idea who he is, but I didn’t like him, not even a little bit!

You don’t say, said Tialilja sarcastically as she checked that the doors and windows were locked. Her fears hadn’t diminished and she didn’t want to be there anymore.

Tialilja. Kelly pulled her arm to stop her. She didn’t like the terrified look in Tialilja’s eyes. What did you feel or see when you walked in there? Don’t say nothing, because I saw you back there, and I see fear in your eyes now.

I felt horrible fear. After I touched Alex’s hand, I almost fainted, because my heart went into overdrive, but I pushed the feeling away because I promised we would go out dancing. I pushed it aside again at the club, but when you disappeared, the feeling I had was terrifying and I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

Kelly hugged her and said she was sorry. Tialilja gave her a smile. She knew Kelly didn’t understand fully what Tialilja saw and felt. She was shaking all over; she was so cold inside her own body she didn’t know if she would ever get warm again. When Tialilja saw Kelly sit down on the sofa and lift her laptop from the table, she left the living room and decided to take a hot shower.

Tialilja stood in the shower for over twenty minutes trying to get some warmth into her body, but it didn’t work, so she put on her pajamas and crawled into bed. The trip had been very good except for that one night. Tialilja was afraid it would be the one memory to last about their trip for the rest of her life.

Chapter 2

Meanwhile, just outside of North Adams, Massachusetts …

A ce Nicolo Del Toro Papadopoulos, or Ace, as he was called by his pack, took a big swig of his beer as he pointed the stick toward the corner pocket he was aiming his ball into.

Eight ball in the middle pocket.

He rolled his head in a circle, trying to relax the muscles in his neck and shoulders. It had been too long since he had allowed himself to relax and have a good time. He had a gnawing need inside him to go out running and then pick up a hot woman and have a night of wild passion. This need had been getting stronger each day, but he had been traveling on pack business and could not let himself get distracted. Ace hoped he might get the chance later tonight to take care of his needs.

He had come to the bar to talk with Shane and Wolf, his two most trusted Brothers. There weren’t many members of his pack who were able to join him as his Brothers. The men had to pass intensive training and have special psychic abilities in order to join the group. They were in charge of pack security and helped run the pack and the businesses that supported everyone. The men belonging to the Brothers were really close; they were more like real brothers.

He put the bottle on the edge of the table and got himself into position for his shot. He lifted his head and made the shot. The white ball rolled toward the end of the table, right into the eight ball, which headed straight into the pocket.

I won again, he said indifferently. This was getting to be boring.

Fuck!

Ace ignored the guy’s curses and looked out the window. Maybe he would get some time to himself the next day; he was feeling a bit irritable.

The forest around the main pack ranch was huge, and he could wander around it for days without coming across any human beings. It was located alongside Clarksburg State Forest, just outside of North Adams, not far from Boston. They had the best of both worlds, big city and wilderness.

So what’s going on? he asked.

Have you heard of the books by Cara Mia? Shane asked as he came up behind Wolf with his hands full of some documents.

Nope. Should I have? Ace asked as he sat down at the table they always sat at in the bar.

Not really, unless you read these kinds of books, and I doubt you do. There have been some discussions about them during the Council of Alpha meetings for the past three years. I’m surprised you don’t remember them, said Shane.

I remember someone talking about them. Aren’t they stories that are remarkably similar to what have been going on with us? asked Wolf, his curiosity awakened.

Shane nodded and came up to the table. We got a call from one of our informants and also from our representatives at the council yesterday, who told me that either someone has been telling stories about us and other packs, or it’s someone high within the council circle who is writing these books under the name Cara Mia. In the latest book, there are scenes that are too accurate to be coincidence. Every detail is exactly like events that have happened to us the last few years. I ordered the books and immediately read them. These are no fucking fiction books. They are detailed descriptions of actual events that have happened over the past twenty years or so. Though the names and the places aren’t the same, there is no doubt who we are or what we are. I ran the name Cara Mia through the security company’s database, and there are others also looking into the books from Japan and Romania. But this really only means one thing.

There is either a traitor among us or the person who wrote this has a special talent for finding out about us, and it doesn’t matter which one it is. She or he is dangerous for all of us, added Ace and he sighed heavily.

I am waiting for more information, so I’ll let you know as soon as I have more. Moving on to Issue Number 2. Do you remember when I told you about a year ago, you have new neighbors near your Washington state property? A young lady bought the old Hensley farm.

Yes, I remember, but I’ve never seen or met her. What about her? asked Ace.

Apparently, she was seen in Marblemount, Washington, a couple of weeks ago with a some men. I never would have remembered her except for the strange questions she asked Marvin when she was looking at the farm, said Shane.

Ace sat up and looked briefly at Shane. What questions?

She wanted to know if the farm and the land that came with it was fenced in. Also asked about the wildlife in the area and whether she should worry about it, since she had been told there were wolves in the area that could wander onto her land. She told Marvin it was OK as long as they didn’t come up to her house, because, get this, snorted Shane, she is scared to death of dogs.

Dogs? yelped Wolf. Is she comparing wolves with dogs?

Clearly, said Shane, laughing.

Is this all? asked Ace tiredly. He was ready to go home and forget his earlier needs. He wanted a nice long sleep. He wasn’t in the mood for anything else that night.

When I originally ran her name after she purchased the property, nothing came up on the standard search we do for all people moving close to our lands. Nothing came up on her, so I forgot about her. After she was spotted again recently, I re-ran her name through our system. I also ran her name against the files we stole from Orfeo. It always takes a while for everything to check out. When I was leaving the office today, the computer’s warning alert system suddenly started going off. When I looked at the screen, I saw it was not a warning from our standard search program, but a warning from the big bells! Shane looked at Ace and waited for his response. He didn’t have to wait long. He saw Ace slamming his fists on the table.

Bloody hell! Are you telling me one of the searched-through Orfeo’s files set off the alert? Was it activated because of this woman? How many years since we got the last one? Ace yelled.

Shane nodded in response. It’s been almost twenty years, Shane replied And get this, Orfeo called me fifteen seconds after it went off to let me know that he would be here tonight at midnight to talk to us.

Damm, it must be serious if he is on his way here, Wolf muttered, shaking his head. Are you sure it has something to do with the woman?

What else could it be? I doubt he knows we stole his files. But we really have no other ties with him at all, replied Shane as he looked between the Brothers.

She is probably one of the girls Orfeo has been seen hanging around with lately. If this were something important, he would call us directly. No, he needs something from us, and I’m not in the mood to placate him. I’m not going to worry about it. Ace stood up and stretched out his hands. I’m going to disappear for a little while. Wolf, is my bike still in the garage?

Yes, it was there the last time I looked.

Shane stood up and stopped Ace before he could walk off. Orfeo asked if you were going to be home by midnight. What should I tell him if he calls again?

Well, well, well, the world is getting more interesting every minute. I’m leaving, muttered Ace coldly as he walked out, brushing by Shane.

*     *     *

The night wasn’t any different from any other that summer. The humidity in the air made it warm even with a slight breeze; Ace couldn’t wait for it to cool down. He wouldn’t complain when it started snowing. The moon was almost full, and there weren’t many days until the moon would be full and everyone would gather to run. It had been too long since he had a chance to run with his pack and enjoy himself without interruption. He had difficulty tolerating the big cities; it was hard to find places to run unnoticed.

The pack needed to find a few new places near the cities they visited the most so it wouldn’t be so far between runs. It could be dangerous for them in the long run if they had to curb their needs. Ace sighed in relief when he began to strip off his damp shirt. What the hell could his father want? Really, they should refuse to meet with him. How dare he give them orders! They were no longer under his protection or jurisdiction. They had never actually been under Orfeo’s protection, based on his and his pack’s behavior toward Ace and Xavier.

Ever since they were babies, Orfeo had ill-treated them, locked them inside, trying to break them down. They both had scars after the beatings they endured from Orfeo and his men. They should have been under the pack’s protection because they were the alpha’s sons, but no; they had been treated like they were parasites or like the mud on parasite’s shoes.

Orfeo knew how the pack treated them; they were mimicking his behavior toward his sons, so he did nothing to help them. Xavier had talked Ace into running away from the pack. They broke off all ties and set up their own pack instead. They were fifteen years old when they said good-bye to Orfeo. Orfeo had sent men out to hunt them and bring them back, but Orfeo’s men had not been expecting to find Ace and Xavier as alphas of their own pack. When the news spread that the twins had their own pack and they treated every member with respect, there were some who left Orfeo’s pack and joined them instead.

What Ace and Xavier called their victory moment was when Topias and Magdalena left Orfeo and came to their pack. Topias was their mother’s brother, and the twins considered Magdalena their mother; they even called her Mom. She had been the one to care for and raise the boys as they grew up.

Topias had told them the truth of what had happened to their mother and how Orfeo had kept her alive after they were born, knowing that she had lost her mind while carrying the boys. It was well known if a vampire bit a pregnant woman, she usually lost her mind and went crazy. The fetuses needed too much blood, and there was barely enough left for the mother. Orfeo had refused to give their mother the blood transfusion that could have saved her. He had been afraid that she would turn into a lycan after the birth.

How Orfeo came to that conclusion was a mystery to them, since their mother didn’t have any wolf genes in her body. Their mother had been a human when she was bitten, not a werewolf. This was just one of the many things they couldn’t forgive Orfeo for. Many criticized the brothers, said they were too young to handle such a large pack. How were they going to support everyone? How would the pack survive? The twins didn’t listen or let the hurtful comments bother them. They set up their own security company called Wolf Security. Little by little, they worked to build their company. Currently, the company was known all over the world and obviously was thriving. They also opened bars and hotels all over the world. Ace had just arrived back from three months of travel seeing to their international businesses. If everything went like Ace hoped it would, then they had just tripled their earnings, and not only that, they were now the biggest and strongest pack in the world. But there was something else bothering him, and he didn’t know what it was. He folded his jeans and put them over the seat of his motorcycle before he let the wolf take over.

*     *     *

Turkey earlier the same day …

Oh, hell! Salka cursed low when she got out of the crystal clear sea and saw two English guys sitting near her towel. She twisted her hair and squeezed the water from it. Why couldn’t they take a hint and leave her alone? Earlier, they had whistled at her when she walked by and had ignored them; they should have realized she wasn’t interested in them. She hated having to be polite and send them away. She pretty much wanted to tell them to go fuck themselves and leave her alone. She knew if she did that, they would probably never leave her alone. The sea had been comfortably cool, but as soon as she got out of the water, the harsh sun started to dry her skin. She had to be careful if she didn’t want to burn. The place was a paradise by itself. It was the first time she had traveled without any fuss or interruption, and she loved her life right then. She was not going to let two nincompoops ruin it for her.

She walked slowly across the hot sand and saw one of them stand when she approached. They were both what she called normal size, not six feet, but not short. One was dark-haired while the other was blond with a reddish tinge. The blond twittered, Hi, princess. He grinned at her and added, Can I get you something to drink?

No thank you, she said as she bent down to take her bag and towels away from them.

What about … ? he raised his eyebrows several times and gave a clue as to what he meant by grabbing the front of his crotch. He looked greedily at her chest and seemed to be ready to grab her. Salka quickly wrapped the towel around herself and started to walk away.

No thanks, she replied coldly and continued walking away. She walked toward a small coffee house she had seen earlier that morning. The guys didn’t seem intent on taking no for an answer and chased her. She was getting pretty annoyed by the time she reached the coffee house and turned quickly toward them. Can’t you take ‘No!’ for an answer? I said no, and I meant no!

Where’s the fun in that? asked one of them as he ran his hand over her ass. She struck him on the arm and quickened her steps. They seized one of her arms to stop her, but Salka was ready in a defensive position when she heard a rough voice behind her.

How about you release the lady’s arm, then go away and never return?

Fuck off, you bloody wanker! This is none of your business! said the one holding her arm as he tightened his hold.

Hi, honey. I was coming to meet you, said Salka as she

Reviews for Prophecy

[john_warner-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This historical mystery is the second in the Giordano Bruno series involving the Italian heretic monk excommunicated from the 16th century Catholic faith for his scientific studies that were contrary church dogma. Bruno's deductive services are again requested by Queen Elizabeth's spymaster, Francis Walsingham. The 25th anniversary of the queen's accession to the throne is near and one of the queen's maid of honors has been discovered murdered, which is soon followed by another. Both murders involve victims who have astrological signs inscribed into their skin. Bruno is pressured into finding the killer or killers before an assassination plot agains the queen can be realized. As an Episcopalian and fan of historical mysteries, I enjoy reading this series.

[jbd1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An excellent followup to Heresy, S.J. Parris' Prophecy sees Giordano Bruno back in the thick of things, trying to keep a conspiracy from bringing down Queen Elizabeth (and hopefully keeping himself alive in the process).Parris' depiction of John Dee's laboratory and library alone make the book worth reading; the fact that she's also managed to put together a good, complicated political thriller is icing on the cake. Her Bruno is an enjoyable character, and even though my favorite character from the last book (the bookseller Rowland Jenkes) doesn't make a re-appearance, I suppose there's hope that he might return in the next volume.The third volume in the series arrived this week (prompting me to read this one quickly so I can catch up); I'm looking forward to it with anticipation.

[lilkim714 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a fabulous read! I loved this book. This is the second book in the Giordano Bruno series and I recommend the first one Heresy just as much as this one. This book hits the ground running as soon as you begin and doesn't leave off the suspense until the very last page. A mystery that leaves you guessing until the very end with plot twists and surprises that you never see coming. I most definitely can't wait to see what the author has in store for Giordano and am anxiously awaiting the next release. Recommended very highly for historical fiction and mystery fans alike.

[bookczuk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In a previous life, even before my nursing career, I majored in history. I still love a novel that immerses me in the past, and Elizabethan England remains a favorite time period, so it was with great to dive right in, thanks to the Early Review program at Library Thing and the generosity of the publisher. There were so many unexpected things that delighted me about this book. I'm not even going to include good plot and good writing, even though it had both. Firstly, Giordano Bruno is a real historical character, who was a Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, mathematician, astronomer and was excommunicated for a couple of those things. But historically, he is fascinating. Normally, I cringe at books that incorporate real people into novels, but the author was tactful and skillful, keeping her story believable. Elizabeth Regina appears only in the periphery, but other historical greats do show up, within context. Astronomy a topic oft discussed in our household, and while we only give so much credence to Saturn in Retrograde, the idea of the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in alignment, playing a significant part in the book, was of interest, as was the looming collision of those those two other stars, Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots. The mention of William Byrd and his music was also coincidental. I'm in a choir which just performed his astonishingly beautiful Mass for four voices. The mention of Byrd, who was Catholic in a time when people lost their heads for such things, and the interplay of the conflict between the two churches added another element to the mix.Though this was the second book in a series, I didn't feel out of my depth jumping in. Enough back story was alluded to so that I wasn't lost, but neither was the earlier book spoiled should I decide to read it.

[devenish_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This follows directly on from 'Heresy',the earlier adventures of Giordano Bruno,a secret agent who works for Sir Francis Walsingham. The murder of one of Queen Elizabeth's maids of honour,closely followed by another,creates panic at Court and fears for the safety of Her Majesty. Plots aplenty as various factions attempt to gain power and put their particular candidate for the English crown on the throne. Things are complicated by the Queen's astrologer,Doctor Dee,who is making some dangerous predictions regarding Her Majesty,which some regard as treason.A highly readable series and a great character in the form of Bruno.

[toobusyreading · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is 1583 and excommunicated monk Giordano Bruno is not what he seems. He is living in the French embassy in England, and finds himself investigating the murder of one of Queen Elizabeth's maids of honour. And he is embroiled in plots to replace Elizabeth with Mary Stuart, and to restore Catholicism to its rightful place in England. It doesn't help that Bruno is a foreigner, a heretic who doesn't believe that the sun revolves around the earth. Who is on what side? Who is a traitor or a spy? And who can Bruno trust?This historical thriller mixes history and intrigue during a time that was full of plots and danger, wrapped in tales of prophecy and astrology and forbidden arts. It's the second Giordano Bruno thriller, but a reader who has not read the first, Heresy, won't be lost.It took me about 50 pages to really get involved in the story. During the first few pages, I felt like I needed a cast of characters but that quickly sorted itself out. And then there was a little too much dialogue used to explain the background story. After that, the story moved more quickly, and kept my interest. Both the fictional story and the very real history behind it were well told, making for a very good read.Thank you to Doubleday for giving me an advance reader's copy of this book.

[john257hopper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was the second novel in this series featuring Giordano Bruno as the sleuth in exile in England from the Inquisition and working for Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth's spymaster. He is here uncovering yet another Catholic plot, this one involving Henry Howard, younger brother of the Duke of Norfolk who was executed after plotting to overthrow the Queen and marry Mary, Queen of Scots. Henry Howard's plot involves other English rebel Catholics, the Duke of Guise, the Spanish Ambassador Mendoza and the Scots. And the mystic/magician John Dee, unwittingly, as well. It is intricately plotted and very well written and researched, but I do not feel the depth of characterisation present in C J Sanson's Matthew Shardlake.

[dorolerium · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Picking up a few months after Heresy left off, Prophecy is another great murder mystery/thriller starring Giordano Bruno as our unlikely detective and spy all rolled up into one. Rather than being set in a more remote location like Heresy, this one takes place primarily in London and is more directly involved with the court of Elizabeth I.Unlike a lot of historical fiction, this one has nearly no romance and is primarily about finding the murderer of Cecily Ashe, as well as trying to uncover the latest plot to overthrow Elizabeth and restore Mary Stuart to the throne. Are the two things related? Is it mere coincidence that they happened at the same time?I really liked that although Elizabeth is in this book, and there are some discussions surrounding her unwillingness to marry and the men involved in that stuff, this book isn’t really about her. Not in the typical sense anyway. Which makes for an interesting story – things are all about saving the Queen and her throne. I like anything that brings up Sir Francis Walsingham as well, so it was all around enjoyable for me.This book also does a great job of making you think your main characters are in some actual danger, even though you can take a step back and realize that because these are all genuine historical figures, they have their own fates not included in this particular story. There were several occasions when I thought, “How on earth is Bruno going to get out of this one?” It’s quite the ride to see how that actually pans out.There are some references to the previous book, but really, you don’t have to have read it to understand what is going on in this one, which I also liked. A series where the individual books can stand on their own is always good fun! I would say that this is a better book than Heresy was, so you may want to read that one first just for the context in terms of this particular author.Overall, it’s a fun read and I think nearly everyone will enjoy it!

[bridgetmarkwood · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was thrilled to receive this book through the Early Reviewer's Program. An Elizabethan murder mystery covers my two favorite genres. There is no doubt that SJ Parris is a good writer. Though not poetic or particularly amazing, her words certainly paint the picture of what she wants you to see. For me, the parts of the book that deal directly with the "Prophecy" and the murder mystery (including trying to figure it out) were great. I was enticed, as I should be, and excited to turn the next page. Unfortunately, I think this book was mis-categorized. It is one part historical mystery and five parts Elizabethan politics. I found that I kept wishing the book would get back to the thrilling mystery I was looking forward to and get away from all the who-is-on-what-side and the plot to sabotage the queen. Though I see that these are loosely related to the mystery, I felt like the mysteries were more thrown in as a thread to tie and showcase the political battles of the time. With lots of characters and representations of others holding essential positions, it will certainly give one a better understanding of the politics at the tumultuous time of Queen Elizabeth vs Queen Mary. Though somewhat interesting, I was really hoping it would be the other way around. My final thoughts are these: If you are a historical politics buff, this book rocks (seriously, well written, researched, etc.)! If you are looking for a historical murder mystery as the focus of the book, this may not be the book for you.

[karenduff · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is the Autumn of 1583 and Catholic plotters in England and France are planning to replace Queen Elizabeth with Mary Queen of Scots, Giordano Bruno is set by Walsingham to infiltrate the plotters at the French embassy.

I thought this book was very well written and researched. The story moves along at a good pace, and the atmosphere that is created is suspenseful and page-turning, in fact I only put it down because I had to go to work.

I think the author has done a very good job in evoking life at the elizabethan court, with all its intrigues,paranoia and deception.

I liked the fact that there were some elements of the story that if they are fact I hadn't read before and now I will have to go and research those parts of the story to find out if they really happened. I like when author assume that their readers will know something about the period in which the story is set and if they don't know something they will read up about it.

My only complaint about this book is that I knew who the murderer was when they made their first appearance, other than that I thought this was a very enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed S J Parris's novel Heresy or anyone who enjoys C.J.Samson's Matthew Shardlake series.

[bratlaw · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The novel covers the conflict with the followers of Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Stewart. Giordano Bruno is a former monk. His Patron is King Henry III of France. he's living under the protection of the French ambassador in England. Bruno secretly sides with Queen Elizabeth and was hired by her spymaster to dig up useful information that would help the Queen. The plot has twists and turns with the added mystery of the murder of the Queen's ladies. I was drawn into the story until the very last page.

[theflamingoreads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In 1583 Giordano Bruno, excommunicated monk, esoteric scholar, and reluctant detective, finds himself deep in a mystery involving two queens and their two factions who will stop at nothing to bring one of them to power and keep the other in power. Queen Elizabeth I sits on the throne of England, but for how long? There are those who are ready to murder anyone who stands in their way to make Mary, Queen of Scots, the next Queen and bring Catholicism back to the monarchy.Up in the sky the planets Jupiter and Saturn are on course for a once in a millennium alignment that portends great changes. In London, Bruno finds himself, once again, following the orders of Sir Francis Walsingham who has unwittingly placed in him in a precarious, and deadly, situation. Ostensibly in London as a spy in the household of the French ambassador, it's not long before he is called upon to investigate the death of one of the Queen's maids of honor. The machinations behind the murder lead Bruno in one direction and back again as he uncovers clues and secrets to who is behind the murder. Soon, however, he finds himself faced with the death of another young girl and the opposition ratchets up their efforts to keep Bruno from discovering who killed the young girls. There is more to keep him busy - as he listens to the odd ramblings of John Dee, astrologer to the Queen, he finds himself defending Dee's prophecies from those loyal to Mary and looking over his shoulder as those that deem astrology and prophecy as heresies plot to make Bruno the next victim.He has not forgotten his quest to find the one book that holds the secrets to becoming 'god' that began in the first book of the series, "Heresy" and he feels as though his search may be closer than ever. Now he must determine who he can trust and who will see him dead before his search ends. Secret societies and the misguided faithful are both determined to keep those secrets away from Bruno and anyone who seeks them."Prophecy" is well-written with engaging characters and a steady plot. The mystery unwinds in such a way that the person behind the murders may be the last person you suspect. The historical aspects of the novel are intriguing and provide a fascinating look at 16th century England and the political and religious schemes in place to disrupt the monarchy. As with the first novel, Giordano Bruno is a resourceful, clever, and unafraid to seek the truth, even if it puts him in mortal danger. Highly recommended for anyone who loves historical mysteries.

[shuffy2_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is 1583, and Giordano Bruno has fled Italy to escape religious persecution but is he any safer in England? A young woman is found dead, but it is no ordinary death. What makes matters worse-- she was Queen Elizabeth's maid and her body was found within the palace walls. Bruno is enlisted to help solve the murder however he discovers a much bigger plot that puts his life in danger- not to mention the life of the Queen! Will he discover the murderer in time and how does religion and magic factor into everything....Great historical who-dun-it! Suspense, mystery and history all rolled into one. I found the novel a bit hard to get into a first but that soon changed and once I was drawn in it kept me wondering until the end. Perfect summer read for historical fiction fans!

[cyderry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This Historical thriller is the second in the series with excommunicated monk Giordano Bruno as the central character. Bruno, a "secret agent" of Walsingham (one of Queen Elizabeth's advisors), is part of the French embassy's delegation. Sent to England by King Henri to avoid religious repercussions, Bruno is drawn into the murders of two of the Queen's Maids of Honor as well as a plot on the Queen's life and replacement on her throne by Mary of Scotland. The murders are vailed with the mystery of the Prophecy related to the great Conjunction - Saturn and Jupiter aligning - which foretells of the end of an age. Just as we all know from history, the rivalry of Elizabeth and Mary is also the rivalry of Catholic vs. Protestant. The investigation weaves together the occult of the period as well as the conspiracies of the characters.Great characters as well as a great story.

[fyrefly98 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Summary: It's 1583, the year of the Great Conjunction: a rare astronomical event that foretells a time of great upheaval. The word on the streets of London is that the Great Conjunction will result in the death of Queen Elizabeth and the end of the Tudor rule - a result that would certainly please Catholics across the country who long for an end to Protestant rule. The Queen's spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, suspects that some of those Catholics may be taking a more active role, however, so he once again enlists the ex-monk Giordano Bruno to go undercover into the house of the French ambassador to investigate. But when one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting is found murdered with astrological symbols cut into her skin, the stakes are suddenly raised. Now Bruno must determine whether or not her death is part of a Catholic plot to overthrow the Queen... or something even more sinister.Review: Clever, curious, and connected to some very important historical figures, Giordano Bruno is a natural fit for the role of historical detective and spy. With Bruno as her leading man, Parris has once again delivered a mystery that's engaging, intelligent, and well-grounded in historical fact. She does a wonderful job bringing both the historical backdrop and its inhabitants to life, and while I personally preferred the Oxford setting of Heresy, Parris is equally adept at depicting Elizabethan London.While for the most part Prophecy moved along well enough, I did get somewhat tired of the politico-religious talk by about the midway point. I understand that tensions between Protestants and Catholics were very real, and very important at the time, but I felt like they were being dwelt on more than they needed to be, and that they were distracting some of the focus from the murders. I also would have been happier if the plot had put a little more emphasis on the arcane nature of the deaths, and thrown us a few more red herrings - mysteries where the detective spends time chasing leads that seem likely but don't pan out are somehow more satisfying than mysteries where the detective isn't sure what's going on until right at the end. This was also the second book I read in a row where the otherwise very intelligent main character suddenly became blind to other people's shifty behavior right when it was convenient for the plot. But in the grand scheme of things, my complaints are pretty minor. This book, like Heresy, did what I want my historical mysteries to do: get me immersed in the time period, engage my attention, and keep me reading. 4 out of 5 stars.Recommendation: Parris's mysteries are a lot of fun, and definitely recommended for fans of historical mysteries, or of Tudor historical fiction more generally. While Prophecy does make a few references to the events of Heresy, they're not at all interdependent books, and could easily be read separately.

[marysneedle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love the Giordano Bruno character. This was another great thriller with the same believable characters and enough history to make if very interesting. I am looking forward to the third Bruno escapade.

[maryinhb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a beautifully written, historical fiction thriller that takes place during the rule of Queen Elizabeth and in her court. If you are a fan of this era and know a bit about the whispers of occult and astrology that occurred during her reign, you are really going to enjoy this story of conspiracy and mystery. This is probably one of my favorite time periods to read about since it truly was an age of discovery and that these ideas were often described as heresy and treason. Yet, in the world of the ruling class, they were quietly relied upon. When there is a murder of the queen's ladies, Elizabeth calls in her astrologer and a former monk named Bruno to help solve the murders. Bruno first appears as an investigator and spy for the French King Henri in Parris' first book, Heresy. The story also touches upon the rivalry and conspiracy of Queens Mary and Elizabeth.The second half of the book really moves the plot forward and will have you guessing about who is behind the murderous plot and the loyalty of Queen Elizabeth to her trusted companions which may prove to not be in her best interest. I think my favorite part of the whole story is the word play and dialogue of Bruno which is so much fun to read. There is at times an overwhelming amount of historical detail which I find fascinating, but might bog down other readers. The ending caught me completely by surprise and I will now have to go back and read Heresy since I enjoyed this one so much.

[4fish_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Giordano Bruno is a disgraced monk, excommunicated because he wouldn't stop reading books condemned by the Catholic Church. He fled his Italian monastery one jump ahead of the Inquisition. Now he's sheltering at the French embassy in London and gathering intelligence for Walsingham, Elizabeth I's spymaster. His latest adventure involves Catholic plots to free the imprisoned Mary Queen of Scots, doomsday prophecies and murder at the heart of Elizabeth's court. I found it hard to put down and especially interesting because I'm listening to Margaret George's "Elizabeth I" at the same time. This is set in a slightly earlier time period, but features many of the same historical figures.

[bwightman_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. At first, I found it difficult to get into, and the storyline seemed somewhat twisted and opaque, but as the book went on I became more interested in the story. I believe this is actually the second in a series with Giordiano Bruno as the main character. Interesting read, but slow at first. I plan on picking up the first title soon!

[dgmlrhodes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is a historical thriller set in 1583 about excommunicated monk Giordano Bruno. He is living in the French embassy in England, and finds himself investigating the murder of one of Queen Elizabeth's maids. Like any story about the intrigues of the court, there are plots to replace Elizabeth and to restore Catholicism to its rightful place in England. Not only is there a nice mix of history and intrigue, there are elements of prophecy and forbidden arts. This is the second book in the series, but you don't need to have read Heresy to understand what is going on. However, there are references to what happened throughout so I wish I had read Heresy first. This book is impeccably researched and well written. A great historical fiction/thriller. flag

[johnwbeha · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I quite enjoyed this book, the background is well researched and well woven into an intricate plot, featuring a large cast of nicely drawn characters. BUT, it is around 60 pages too long and thus lacks the pace needed to make it a four star book for me. BUT I will be reading book 3 and, probably, book 4.

[morganna1afey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book, although I had a hard time getting into it at first. It had a good plot, but it seemed to move very slowly in the first half of the book, then at breakneck speed during the second half. The prologue is a bit confusing; I am not really into astrology: this book gets very technical about astrology- signs and symbols that I do not have prior knowledge of- so it makes it difficult to follow at times. I have a feeling that this is the second book in a series, because some of the narrative seems to speak of Bruno’s past that the reader should be aware of. I felt lost at times, not knowing what Bruno’s actual position is with Walsingham- I didn’t realize that Walsingham had recruited Bruno to officially ‘spy’ for him and the Queen until the last part of the book.With that said, however, I did enjoy the story as a whole. I liked the intrigue and suspense; I always enjoy a good murder mystery as long as it isn’t too gory. The history is accurate, from what I can tell; I studied the Renaissance era in college quite extensively and the writer uses terms from the period. I did notice that she uses some terms of speech that may not have been a part of the era, like when Bruno gets jumped, he later replies, “You should have seen the other guy.” I think that is modern. Maybe she was attempting to modernize it a bit, and if so, that’s okay. It just seemed a bit jarring to me.If the opportunity presented itself, I would read more of S.J. Parris, but I would probably wait until I had time on my hands- it took me a month to read this, because it was so detailed, and I normally read much faster.

[ddelmoni_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When I found out this ARC was the second in a mystery series I knew this review would take longer to get done. I simply can’t start a series from anywhere but the beginning! It’s not necessary to read Heresy, [Prophecy] truly does stand on its own, but I’m very glad I did. Once again Giordano Bruno, renegade monk, philosopher, professor, scientist and spy is called upon to thwart plots to topple Elizabeth I from her throne on the 25th anniversary of her ascension. This time, the plot is to put Mary Queen of Scots on the throne of England and bring the island back into the “true” faith. Reformation and Catholism is a theme in the series and Parris relies heavily on real life characters for her fiction. With Prophecy she crafted a much stronger novel than its predecessor. There is fascinating political intrigue (Scotland, France and Spain), a more interesting cast of characters (Maria…hummm) and a mystery that I couldn’t figure out until just before the very end (and even then I had 2 suspects). Giordano Bruno alone was enticing enough of a character to make me interested in this series but Parris is getting better with each installment. I’m really looking forward to Book 3.