The Blackbird

By Beth Fuller

When Ira is sent home early from his work on All Hallows’ Eve, he finds a mysterious woman lingering on a bridge. She is desperate and wild, and as she falls into the river below, Ira follows, determined to save her against all odds. But when she awakens, he finds nearly drowning is the least of her worries. A far darker entity is haunting her. Can he save her before the time runs out?

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Nov 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005910549

Book preview

Ira struggles to rescue a drowning mystery woman on All Hallows’ Eve. But he soon finds that it is not just her life that needs saving...

When Ira is sent home early from his work on All Hallows’ Eve, he finds a mysterious woman lingering on a bridge. She is desperate and wild, and as she falls into the river below, Ira follows, determined to save her against all odds. But when she awakens, he finds nearly drowning is the least of her worries. A far darker entity is haunting her. Can he save her before the time runs out?

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The Blackbird

Copyright © 2021 Beth Fuller

ISBN: 978-1-4874-3394-9

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by eXtasy Books Inc

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Smashwords Edition

The Blackbird

By

Beth Fuller

Dedication

To Pete, Ezra and Teddy

Chapter One

It’s the only way.

Ira’s footsteps faltered and froze. The words were quiet, barely more than a breath on the air, and Ira wasn’t quite sure how he had caught them at all amidst the clatter of hoofbeats and carriage wheels rumbling down the cobbled streets beside him. The distant sound of hawkers and street vendors made strange, almost inhuman harmonies through the fog, like sirens calling him out to sea, and the world seemed both frighteningly empty and yet not quite empty enough, all at once. Clutching at his hat to stop it from being blown away, Ira cast about the city streets around him for the source of the words. He could see no one there, but that was not surprising, given the inclement weather.

And yet, that voice had seemed so near—as if it were just over my shoulder.

He didn’t like to think of himself as superstitious, but all the same, Ira shuddered as he pulled his rain cape a little more closely about his shoulders and carried on slowly over the bridge. He had been sent home early today, along with all the other junior clerks. Mr Fennis had warned them to go straight home lest they get lost in this fog. His colleagues had laughed and, despite promises to the contrary, headed straight to their clubs and taverns for warm drinks to ward off the chill, but Ira hadn’t joined them. The cold of the late October day was seeping into his bones, making him weary, and he thought he would use his impromptu half-day holiday as Mr Fennis had intended them to, huddled up beside the fire in his