Flicker: The Flame Series: Book Two

By T.D. Holmes

After discovering that her nemesis is none other than her friend, Lexi must live to fight another day. But now he knows that she’s a witch.
Can she survive long enough to her abusive step-father face justice, or are her days numbered? And can she carry on alone, or is there someone out there to help her?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: May 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398400481

T.D. Holmes

T.D. Holmes is a British author based in Northern Ireland, UK. Despite being dyslexic, she loves to read and after a traumatic experience, found solace in writing. Since then, her love for writing grew as she discovered a creative and vivid imagination. She describes herself as nerdy with a sarcastic sense of humour. She loves everything Disney and sci-fi. From Doctor Who to Marvel and DC. She has a great love of foxes and dreams to start a conservation charity.

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About the Author

T.D. Holmes is a British author based in Northern Ireland, UK. Despite being dyslexic, she loves to read and after a traumatic experience, found solace in writing. Since then, her love for writing grew as she discovered a creative and vivid imagination.

She describes herself as nerdy with a sarcastic sense of humour. She loves everything Disney and sci-fi. From Doctor Who to Marvel and DC. She has a great love of foxes and dreams to start a conservation charity.

Dedication

This book goes out to my friends. You have become my family and I wish you nothing but joy. Sharon, for the better part of a decade you have become my sister. I love you. Tina, you showed me a lot in the short time we have been friends and I miss you every day. You are an inspiration and your character gave ideas for several stories. And last but by no means least, Laura. Thank you for being my grammar Nazi. You always supported me, and I am grateful. Thank you for being my friend and I love you.

Copyright Information ©

T.D. Holmes 2022

The right of T.D. Holmes to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398400474 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398400481 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2022

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

Laura, thank you for being my grammar Nazi. You made critiquing my terrible grammar fun. With a bottle of wine and a listening ear, you always supported me, and I am grateful. Thank you for being my friend and I love you.

Prologue

Many Years Ago

Valentine holds the heart of his one true love in the palm of his hand, her blood running down his arm. He is standing with her lifeless body at his feet, and he begins to laugh. Not because his evil plans have come to fruition, but because he just murdered the only woman he ever loved. He is laughing because it’s all he can do to keep from sobbing!

The anger he felt at her has passed. Now, all he feels is despair. He falls to his knees and speaks to the vessel that once held her soul. Valentina! I am sorry. These powers, this sorcery, I cannot control. No being but the gods should possess such things.

He lifts his head and looks at her father, and anger boils once more. You! he spits with venom as he rises to his feet. Why did you make me do this? Why did you make me kill her? Had you only accepted me! Had you given me her hand!

He looks around at the carnage he created. Then goes over to Valentina once more. He kneels beside her and makes her a vow. He says, We cannot be together. Not until I end this craft and all who practise. No; all who possess it. Then I will rest with you, my love. To remind me of my mission and so I do not stray from my path, I will take your name as my own.

He rises and with her heart in his hand, he creates a spell; a spell so strong he needs the heart of the one he loves most. He creates a portal, one that takes him to the gates of Helheim. He leaves the portal open and seeks Hel herself. He begs and pleads with Hel to release his sweet Valentina. She refuses and asks him to leave. He storms out and marches to the tunnels to the Einherjar crypts, where they rest until Ragnarok.

When he leaves Helheim with an Einherjar, Hel knows something is wrong. When she finally discovers what it is, she consults Forseti, the god of justice. Together with Snotra, an oracle, they prophesise a witch to bring back the missing Einherjar and defeat Valentine.

The prophecy says, A witch will be born of tragedy. With her birth a great power that can break through any curse or spell. In her heart will be pain, but it will be filled with love. With this balance she will bring the Einherjar home and its captor to justice. But with this success comes a great sacrifice.

Chapter One

I am sitting alone in an airport café. Jimmy is using the bathroom and Dr Paul Mitchel has just revealed he is Valentine. I try to disguise my shock as confusion.

Paul…I don’t understand.

You do! I know you do! And I will take your power! he replies. Just then, Jimmy comes back.

Hey Paul! Where are you flying to? Paul turns and greets Jimmy back and his whole demeanour changes. This installs a fear in me. Chills travel down my spine.

Sorry, Jimmy, I need to commandeer your girl. I have a patient that needs her. She won’t settle until Lexi sees her.

I’m about to catch a flight to LA, Paul.

I know, and I wouldn’t normally ask, but it’s an emergency. I’m afraid that she will harm herself.

I didn’t get the chance to tell you any of this yet, but it’s Kelly. The 14-year-old that came to you last year. She has relapsed, and she needs to see you. She is in a bad way. Please?

I know that this is just a ploy to keep me grounded and I can’t say no. If I do, Jimmy will suspect something is up; I never abandon my patients. And if I say no, then Paul will get the confirmation that I know he is Valentine and that I am indeed the witch he has been searching for.

Defeated, I groan inwardly. Okay. I’ll just have to pay for a later flight, I say, and look Paul dead in the eye. But I am leaving for LA. On the first flight I can get. I then turn to Jimmy. I’m sorry, babe. She is just a kid. I can’t leave…

I know! he cuts me off. Go. I will be here waiting. I won’t leave without you.

I begin to protest, and he raises his hand and says, I insist! Go! He bends down and kisses me. I then stand and take my handbag off the back of the chair I was sitting on.

You need to inform the airline. We checked our bags, I say and Jimmy nods. I say goodbye and leave with Paul.

Once in his car, I keep the ruse up. I see that it is the only way to convince him I am not who he thinks I am.

Kelly. Tell me more. Where is she? How is she? How can I help? Paul is silent until we leave the airport car park.

Oh, that bad? I remark, hopefully convincingly.

No! She is fine. Or at least I assume so. I haven’t heard from her.

What? Then, why would you? What is going on? I press Paul. My heart sinks to the bottom of my stomach. I think he is going to kill me. Today.

What’s going on is, I know! Alexis, I know it’s you. You are a witch. And I want your power. If I am correct, I need to kill you before you kill me, he tells me, and this scares me to my very core.

After all this time! he trails off. Why you? Why now? He looks over to me. You know I liked you. Hell, I respected you. He turns his head back to the road. I use this opportunity to talk to him.

Paul, I respect you too. You are an amazing doctor. You show empathy to your patients. Gain their trust. You have a high rehabilitation rate. With you, in-patients become out-patients, who then become fully-functioning, capable people who can take charge of their own lives. Plus, most of your patients have never relapsed.

This notion of me being a witch, Paul… I sigh. Witches aren’t real. No one is going to kill you. I won’t harm you. You are my friend and I will help you; you need to let me, or someone, anyone help you. Whatever you are going through, you don’t have to go through it alone. I reach out and place my hand on his arm, hoping I can fake an assuring touch.

I see him visibly calm. I think it worked. As he relaxes, he slows down, and I release a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

Where do you want to go? I ask him. Home?

He shakes his head. Okay, I say. you take us where you want to go. I’m here. We sit in silence the rest of the way.

Chapter Two

After a long and silent car journey around the town a few times, Paul finally decides to take us to his office. I go quietly and willingly. I must not show any sign of him being right