Beyond the Portal

By Emily Del Rosario

Four friends take a vacation to New Orleans; they stay in a famous haunted hotel. It's almost Halloween, they rent costumes and expect to have a great time that night. Suddenly one of the girls mysteriously disappears. As they search for their friend, love begins to blossom for one of them. There’s a portal that opens up in New Orleans every October 31.Her friends wonder was there foul play or, did she go into the portal?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669841654

Emily Del Rosario

Emily Del Rosario, was born in Arizona. She is a retired secretary. She has published three paranormal books for young adults, one non-fiction travel book. She has translated one historical memoir, and two paranormal fiction books. Emily lives in Grants Pass, Oregon with her husband and two Jack Russel’s. She is a greeter at their church. In addition to writing, she enjoys traveling and spending time with friends.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Anna Luz Betancourt prefers to be called Anna. She’s twenty-nine, tall, beautiful, popular, and adventurous. She fell in love once when she was seventeen. Has never been married, and loves to travel. She’s not sure if she believes in the paranormal. However, she is curious about it. She’s a dentist in the town of Del Ray Oaks, California.

Luz Maria Morgan, nicknamed Lucy, she’s twenty-seven pretty. She resembles her cousin Anna; except she’s about two inches shorter. Lucy loves being a veterinarian in the small beach city of Carmel by the Sea. She’s easy-going smart and loves animals. She has a dog named Johnny D. She loves having her cards read, especially by gypsies. Last but not least, she dreams of marrying a tall, dark, and handsome man with money.

Abigail Fraser Collins, she’s twenty-seven, nicknamed Abby. She recently became a widow. She’s beautiful, has red hair and green eyes and freckles. She lives in Santa Rosa, California. The paranormal is frightening to her.

Oliver Fraser, nicknamed Ollie, he is Abby’s gay cousin. He’s twenty-eight, single, and good-looking. He is also friendly, funny, and always well-groomed, and sharply dressed. He wants nothing to do with the paranormal. He looks for love in all the wrong places.

CHAPTER ONE

Del Ray Oaks, California:

On a Saturday morning Anna, sat on her lounge chair on the patio with a light blanket wrapped around her. It was a beautiful Spring morning. The hummingbirds were happily enjoying the nectar she put out for them. Of all the season’s Spring was her favorite. She thought back to the time when she and her friend Abby got together to celebrate the Spring Equinox in Mexico. On that day the sun is positioned directly over the equator, and the length of the day and night are equal. That means the earth’s two hemispheres are receiving the sun’s rays equally. equinox comes from the Latin meaning equal light. It also marks the beginning of spring and the end of winter.

In Mexico, the spring festivals are called primavera. The Mayans celebrate the return of the Sun Serpent during the spring Equinox they celebrate it at the foot of El Castillo pyramid, a most popular archeological site called Chechen Itza.

Every year in the late afternoon on March 20th or 21st the sun casts a shadow over the pyramid creating the illusion of a snake moving down the pyramid until it joins the huge serpent’s head at the bottom of the stairs. This happens twice a year, on March 20th or 21st and September 22nd or 23rd.

It seemed like so long ago that we were there, Anna thought. She was restless, not a week went by that she didn’t think of the only man she had ever loved, and what a mistake she made when she turned down his proposal. She thought, if I could turn back the clock I would marry Chris, and move to Scotland with him. She felt like she was in a rut. Although she loved her job, and the people she worked with.

She had recently bought her new home in Del Ray Oaks, California. She thought I’m tired of going to work every day, coming home, and watching TV or reading. She was also tired of going on an occasional date now and then. Most of the men she dated were either too old, too young, alcoholics, or just plain losers.

Lately, Chris was often on her mind. The worse day of her life was when Lucy called her and gave her the bad news. She said, Anna, I have bad news. Christen was killed, he was in Scotland on a fishing boat when a hurricane hit. They haven’t found his body yet, but they’re sure he’s gone. Anna, I’m so sorry, I know that you still have feelings for him.

It had been ten years since she turned down his proposal. Every time she thought about him she hated herself for being so stupid. He wanted to marry her and move to Scotland. They would stay with his parents until he got a job. After some time, he told Anna, We would be able to get our own place.

Saying no to Christen was the hardest thing she had ever done. At seventeen she didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life. She loved Christen so much, only she couldn’t leave her family and friends behind, not knowing when she would see them again. Plus, she had a bucket list of all the places she would travel to after she finished college. She thought, If I would have said yes to him, he’d still be alive. If I could turn the clock back I would do things so differently.

She got up and went inside and thought, I should put in for a two-week vacation, and go somewhere I’ve never been. I’ll call Lucy maybe she’ll go with me.

She got off the bed and sat in front of the dressing table. She combed her long auburn hair. She picked up the phone and called Lucy.

Hey cousin, she said when Lucy answered the phone.

Anna, good to hear from you, is everything okay at home?

There’s nothing wrong, I was thinking about you and thought I’d give you a call. How are you, and what have you been doing lately?

Oh, not much just working at the hospital. I’ve been dating this guy I met. He brought his dog in for a distemper shot. His name is Armond.

Armond, is that the guy’s name or the dog’s name?

Very funny Anna.

Well tell me about him?

Okay, I just met him about three weeks ago. He’s tall dark and handsome. He could be the one, he could be my soul mate.

Great, I hope so, you’ve been waiting for your soul mate to appear since you were a teenager. Does he have money?

Lucy laughed. I don’t know, I’m sort of crazy about him.

Well, that’s great, but remember you’re pushing thirty

Pushing thirty, I’m two years younger than you.

Okay, let’s change the subject. Anna giggled. "OH, I almost forgot to tell you. Paloma called last week. She’s going to Brazil in three weeks. She’s going with her husband Casey and Mr. Morgan, ‘Paloma is Anna and Lucy’s cousin.’

"She’s going back over there, after what happened to her and her friends the last time they were there?" Lucy said.

What are the odds that it will happen again? Besides she went back a second time to take Mr. Morgan to see Sage’s grave. Don’t you remember? They got back in one piece, anyway she asked me to go with her.

Are you going? Lucy asked her with concern in her voice.

I don’t think so, I’m not in hurry to sleep in a cave out in the middle of the Amazon jungle. I have vacation time coming before the end of the year. The only place I’ve been is to Mexico when Grandma’s sister died. Oh, Abby and I went to the Yucatan before she got married.

Why is Mr. Morgan going back to Brazil again? He got permission from the Brazilian Government to have Sage’s body shipped back to the US.

After all this time, why did he wait so long?

I don’t know, all I know is that he wants to bring Sage back and bury her next to her mother.

I guess that makes sense.

So, while you’re wondering if this new guy is your soul mate or not, why don’t you come on vacation with me?

Vacation, where?

Well, I was thinking of going to Scotland, but I don’t have the funds since I bought my new house. What do you think about Florida, or maybe New Orleans? I have two weeks’ vacation coming towards the end of October. We just hired a new dentist. That gives me almost five months to see if he works out.

Anna, are you still in love with Christen?

Why would you ask me that?

Because you just told me you were thinking of going to Scotland. Isn’t that where Christen’s family lives?

Yes, I know that was a crazy thought. Not a week goes by that I don’t think about him.

I’m so sorry Anna you’ll find someone else. You never know when or where.

Okay, let’s stop talking about that. So, will you go with me?

I’d like to go with you, but I have Johnny D.

CHAPTER TWO

Lucy fell in love fell in love with Johnny Depp, the actor, when she saw him in the movie, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’

I’m sure Aunt Lucia will take care of your dog for you.

‘Aunt Lucia is Lucy’s mother.’

"I’ll have to think about it."

Let’s get together and talk about it some more.

Okay when? Lucy asked.

"How about Friday after I get off of work we can meet at Papas Place.

Papas Place on Friday:

On Friday, Anna drove the very scenic ten miles to Carmel by the Sea. Lucy had a nice apartment there, near the animal hospital where she worked as a veterinarian.

As they sat on the patio of Papas Place, Anna, and Lucy discussed their vacation.

So, when can you get off work? Lucy asked.

October 24th, where ever we go we’ll be there on Halloween. How about you, can you get off then?

"No problem we have two other Veterinarians working there now. Only I hate to leave