Enjoy this sneak peak of Chapter 1 of my new book, Dreamwalkers! It will be officially released on July 16, 2021, and I also have signed copies for sale currently. Enjoy!

ONE

Present Day

Ansley

In the darkness, Ansley leaned back against the wooden shed and tried to slow her breathing. Just when she needed silence, her heart seemed to beat out a rhythm loud enough for the deaf to hear. She focused on taking measured breaths and blowing them back out slowly, but her heart continued its traitorous mission to reveal her location.

She creeped out from the cover of the utility shed she had scrambled towards only moments ago and glanced around the corner. Ansley could barely see anything in the darkness, but she knew who was out there. She quickly retreated behind her temporary haven to refocus on her breathing. Horror filled her as the sleeve of her cotton shirt caught on the jagged boards of the shed. She took a deep breath as her fingers worked to free her arm.

Where had he gone? He was there somewhere. She hoped that he wasn’t coming around the other side of the building to surprise her. Anticipating that fate and the dangers of being caught, Ansley began to move slowly along the building in the other direction. Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart began tap-dancing as she heard footsteps running in the direction of the shed. Her heart stopped suddenly, and a gasp escaped from her lips.

“Come out, you stupid little girl!” The man snarled as he prowled around the edge of the shed nearest to her.

Ansley was not certain where she was or how she had gotten here. Worse, she wasn’t sure that there were any buildings or woods nearby to run towards. When she had approached the shed, it had been the only structured in sight for miles around her in the dark. She shouldn’t have volunteered for this. Ansley’s family had been tracking this group of shifters for weeks. She’d foolishly thought that she could help apprehend them. Her hands as they shook in the darkness, and she could see her breath as it escaped her lips. Ansley silently wished that she had her bow. She knew that she could easily take down her assailant if she had the weapon in her hands.

She was afraid, but she knew she could not linger here forever. Taking a deep breath, Ansley ran out from behind the shed to take her chances and stopped upon seeing her pursuer. She tried to draw herself up taller to give the impression of strength, but it was useless. The man in front of her easily stood at six feet tall. She barely reached five. She was no match for him in any way.

He gave her a knowing grin as she stared at him helplessly. His shoulders were broad, and his arms rippled with unleashed potential. This was a stark contrast to Ansley, who at 18 years old, was small and slender. Her arms were thin but strong enough to do the farm work often required of them. He held a large sword out towards her, and he sneered at her the same way a fox may look at his dinner. In a few seconds, the sword was swallowed by a flame that reached from hilt to tip. Ansley reached nervously inside her coat to give the impression that she was holding a weapon.

The man let out a deep throaty laugh. “Give it up, girl. We both know you are unarmed and alone out here. Let’s get this over with already. I want to enjoy the rest of my night.” His malicious grin was broken up by his tongue running over his teeth.

Repulsed, Ansley backed away from him, and her heartbeat thrummed throughout her body as a cold sweat dripped down the back of her neck. Her arms erupted in goosebumps. A chill ran through her blood. She never thought her life would end this way. She had barely even begun to experience anything, and now it was being ripped away so easily. She swallowed what she could of her fear and prepared herself for the worst.

In a single moment, lightning from an approaching storm lit up the sky, and the downpour began to cover her in a coat of sweet summer rain. The cold that had wrapped around her was lost, blown away like a feather in the wind. She felt hope fill her soul and believed she was no longer alone. Ansley lifted her face to the sky and let the soft rain roll down her face to calm her nerves. A familiar shadow approached from behind the man, hands outstretched out in his direction. Ansley dared to hope that another ending was in store for her.

As the rain fell on the man’s grimy, shoulder-length hair, he seemed to sense the change in Ansley’s attitude and the atmosphere itself. He half-turned, but it wasn’t quick enough to stop what was coming. A small, round pit opened up in the earth under his feet, sending him soaring to the bottom with a clash. Heavy tree roots sprang from the soil and barred  the pit’s opening. Ansley could hear the man’s growls below. She thought the noises sounded like those of a caged lion, but she supposed he was close enough to an animal to react like one. She frowned, not losing sight of how lucky she had been.

Then, she turned to find a soft, wrinkled hand on her shoulder, and a smile on the face of the person reaching out to her. Her grandmother whispered over the rain, “Come, child.”

***

Ansley gasped for breath as her eyes sprang open. She sat up in her small, quilt-covered bed and shook her head at the terror flooding her body. It still amazed her how everything could feel so real inside of the dreams, only to return to her reality.

Her father liked to call it “out of body”, but that did not make it any less shocking when she returned from walking each morning. She thought about the transition and wondered if anyone had successfully proven if the soul of a dreamwalker actually left their body at night. If so, it would leave the body very vulnerable, but she knew that was the case anyway. Her father had taught her that every time the dream realm was entered, that became the reality. The body would always suffer the consequences of what happened to the soul. At least, that is what she had always been told. She had been lucky thus far to not have to learn the truth of the matter. She stretched her arms over her head to accompany a wide yawn before tidying her shoulder length black hair, which had knotted itself in the night.

Ansley swung her legs over the side of her bed and felt comforted when her feet touched the cool wooden floorboards. It brought her back to reality. She inhaled the familiar scents of her childhood:  lavender and coffee.

Lavender was her mother’s favorite plant to grow, and it had sprung up at her hands all around the family’s farm. Each morning, Ansley’s father insisted that they welcome each other back from their dream adventures with a steaming hot cup of coffee. She loved that about him. Smiling in anticipation of her awaiting cup, she stood and grabbed her shawl.

Always needing to be rescued!  She was tired of that, but she wasn’t sure it would change any over the coming months with her inheritance ceremony looming.

Ansley plodded down the hallway trying to shake off the memory of the night spent running from her assailant. She was thankful that her parents had not been involved. She smiled again as she was pulled from her musings by the sound of her younger brothers running into the kitchen ahead.

Their kitchen was fairly large for the size of their home. It had a large black stove and lots of countertops for Ansley’s mother to prepare the meals they all savored. Ansley glanced at the kitchen with new eyes, as if returning for the first time after a long journey. One large, rectangular kitchen table took up the majority of the space. But, there was still enough room on each side for her brothers to play their usual morning game of “Chase” around the table.

Ansley rolled her eyes at them as she watched Eli, her youngest brother, running ahead of Ryker while holding a piece of jelly-smeared toast as high above his head as his arm could reach. Ryker kept reaching for it, but Eli was too fast. Despite turning nine in the next few weeks, Ryker was still prey to his younger brother’s games. Eli’s bright blue eyes twinkled with wicked delight as he weaved and bobbed around his father and mother to avoid Ryker’s angry hands.

“Mom!!” Ryker yelled in frustration. Leila briefly turned her head away from the coffee pot that was poised over her empty cup to glance in his direction. She was a slight woman, but she was tall. Ansley had always thought she favored her mother most. Her mother’s long, black, wavy hair, and slender frame had been passed on to her; however, Ansley’s bright, lagoon blue eyes had been inherited from her father. She shared the same eyes as Eli, who had climbed on the table and was now laughing hysterically while pointing at Ryker. Leila had always said that her and  Ryker’s and brown eyes came from her father, whom Ansley never had the chance to meet before he passed on.

“E-if I have to come over there, you will regret it,” Leila simply said, eyeing her unruly toddler. He stopped mid-laugh and looked at her nervously. She might’ve been soft-spoken, but the woman could command an army with the look she gave that little monster. Eli finally gave in and handed his brother the toast while climbing down off the table.

“Finally!  You grace us with your presence!” Ansley’s father, Everett, boomed across the room. Ansley turned in his direction and smiled sweetly. She then headed for the row of clean coffee cups. “Please, do tell us of your adventures from last night?” He inquired as he sipped his steaming cup. His eyes sparkled mischievously, as if he already knew exactly what had happened.

“It wasn’t anything special…” Ansley murmured into her coffee cup. She added two creams and one sugar to the black brew.

Everett was a burly man, but he could undo an opponent with more than just his strength. He could outwit anyone Ansley had met. Ansley watched the cogs turning behind his wrinkled, tan brow as he looked over her, determining if she had sustained any injuries from her dream.

Ansley’s father had always had a way with her. Being the only girl in the house besides her mother, Ansley might’ve been inclined to have little in common with her father. In reality, Ansley and her father shared much more than either of her siblings:  a sharp mind, a sense of humor, and unbending stubbornness.

“Oh really?” Everett exclaimed. “Then, why do I get the feeling I will be hearing more from Nana at dinner tonight?”

“Think what you want, Daddy,” Ansley said with a smile. “I have chores to do at Nana’s.”

“Be careful and ask Nana if she is still planning to make the pie for dinner tonight. I have her blueberries picked and ready.” Leila said over her shoulder as she continued to wash the breakfast dishes.

“I’ll be back in a few hours.” Ansley said in her father’s direction.

“Take your time. Nana gets lonely these days.” Everett replied as he kissed his daughter on the forehead and walked back towards his bedroom to change into his work clothes.

Ansley walked down the hall to her own bedroom. She was happy for an opportunity to avoid discussing her dream with her parents, but that didn’t change the fact that her grandmother would be eagerly awaiting her when she arrived. She sighed as she changed into a pair of supple work pants and a worn, button-up shirt. She knew that her grandmother would want to go over each error that led to Ansley being cornered by the shifter.

She grabbed her shoulder bag from the chair near her bed and headed back out towards the kitchen. Ansley snagged a few apples for an afternoon snack and placed them in her bag. She didn’t wait to say goodbye to her family, choosing to sneak out the door in hopes of avoiding more confrontation.

Ansley took a deep breath of the fresh morning air and looked out at the land her family had lived on for generations. To the north, she could see the Dream Hollow Mountains rising from the clouds, and as far as she could see to the east were cottages, much like her own. The sunlight kissed each mountain peak like a mother waking up her sleeping child to begin the day.

The land had been settled for hundreds of years after Avendale had gone through one of the worst famines known in history. Terra, originally called Raynan for its peaceful nature, was a small valley at the foot of the Dream Hollow Mountains that fell just outside the capital city of Avendale. Raynan had been inhabited for centuries by native people who lived off the land. These people relied mostly on hunting and gathering for sustenance but had no idea of the wealth of soil that lay below the sprawling grasslands.

After the famine had hit Avendale and resulted in the deaths of almost half of the population, the King declared the land would be turned into farmlands. He wrote a formal decree, gifting the lands to the natives living on it with only one request: that they farm and share their crops with the surrounding cities. Thus, Terra was created and renamed to honor its new purpose, and the tribes became actual citizens of the kingdom.

None of these thoughts filled Ansley’s head as she inhaled the familiar smells surrounding her. She let the wafts of grasses, flowers, and morning dew steady her as she formally greeted the morning.

Life in these mountains was never about splendor. It was about tradition, duty, and family. Her family had decided to settle near her grandmother because the rainfall was ideal for growing her father’s specialty: corn. Little did he know that the land would also support her mother’s lilies of the valley.

Ansley began walking west over the rolling hills to her grandmother’s house. She trailed her hands through the tall grasses and softly swaying wildflowers. Each touch was welcoming and pulled her deeper into the world that had felt so distant last night. She heaved another sigh thinking once more of her near-defeat. Let’s get this lecture started already, she thought to herself.

Ansley knocked on the door and entered the small kitchen to find her grandmother leaning over the stove and stirring a large pot of oats. Ansley’s grandmother, Bianca, was nearing her seventieth year, but like most dreamwalkers, her age was only a number. She was tall like her son Everett, and she was strong. Her arms endured hours of farm work now that she lived alone. Her grey hair was wavy and long but kept neat in a bun at the base of her neck. As usual, Bianca was dressed in black leather work boots, riding pants, and a work shirt. Her grandmother was contrary to every image Ansley could attribute to being an actual grandmother, but it suited her.

Ansley did not like oatmeal, but her grandmother insisted that it was the best way to feed the mind after a long and trying night. Bianca turned and looked at her with a smile flooding her face. “Good morning, Starlight. How are you feeling?”

Ansley scowled but did not answer. She walked to the table and sat down at the cup of coffee already waiting for her. Her second cup for the morning. Her cream already sat in a small pitcher beside the steaming cup.

“Well, I thought I would start breakfast early this morning. I knew you would need a pick-me-up after our adventure.” Her grandmother tried again.

“My adventure you mean. You didn’t volunteer for a mission you weren’t prepared for. You didn’t chase after one of the rebel shifters by yourself, and you didn’t almost lead us into a situation where you were easily cornered without a skill to protect yourself.” Ansley’s unhappiness hung over the room like a dark thundercloud as her grandmother digested this statement.

“We all make mistakes starting out, dear. It is of no consequence that you did. You must learn and try to be more wary in the future. It’s common for a walker’s naivety to betray them before an inheritance ceremony. Besides, nothing that you did will hinder our attempts to find those rebels. They will be brought to justice as our elders have deemed necessary for the crimes they have committed.” Bianca picked up her own coffee cup and took a small sip, “Believe it or not, I do remember my own experiences before my ceremony. Even I made a few mistakes.” She winked at Ansley as she turned back to the pot, spooning out two bowls of breakfast. She added chopped nuts, blueberries, honey, and a strawberry to the top of the bowls before bringing them to the table.

She placed a bowl in front of Ansley and sat down on the opposite side of the table. Ansley’s skin raised in goosebumps as a memory flashed before her eyes…

***

Leila was sitting in Ansley’s place as a little girl ran into the kitchen. Her grandmother and mother were eating oatmeal, much like Ansley and Bianca were this morning. Everett walked into the kitchen, finished with his morning chores.

“Good morning, Starlight!!” His voice rumbled as the little Ansley ran into his arms. He lifted her high into the air, and his laughter boomed out over her giggles.

“Don’t send her head through the ceiling,” Leila said into her bowl of oatmeal with a small smile, “We don’t want to have to search the skies for her.” Everett laughed again and put Ansley on her two small feet. She ran quickly toward her grandmother, who hoisted her up on her lap and promptly gave her a bite of hot, sweet oatmeal.

***

Ansley felt an odd feeling in her gut as she took a sip of coffee. Her uneasiness did not disappear with her memory.

“Ansley?” Nana asked as her face became clear again, noticing her grandaughter’s distraction. Bianca’s eyes were filled with concern. “Are you nervous about the ceremony?” She inquired softly, reaching over her coffee cup and placing her hand on Ansley’s.

“No, Nana. I know it will be alright. You’ll be there with me anyway, so what could go wrong?” Ansley said as she took a bite of honey and strawberries, trying to push aside her unease.

The ceremony was rapidly approaching, and it was really all she had thought about for years. Ansley had turned eighteen earlier in the fall. Her family finally agreed it was time. The ceremony, more formally called “the inheritance ceremony,” was only performed for dreamwalkers over the age of eighteen. This was to ensure that the young ones were ready for the responsibility attributed to the skills.

Prior to the ceremony, a dreamwalker could only appear in dreams of family members or those who had invited them. Children usually began showing signs around the age of ten to twelve and were invited to their parents’ dreams to begin training.

Then there were the others. The elite, they were called. They were born with skills and did not have to participate in an inheritance ceremony. Their skills were acquired directly from the gods, and they were said to be the strongest of all dreamwalkers.

Ansley took another bite as she mused over the term. As a child, she had eagerly waited to see if she was an elite, but she had never shown signs of skills. Her training had begun when she was only nine. The years were littered with memories of nights much like the last and mornings spent discussing the rights and wrongs of each walk. Ansley’s thoughts turned to her parents as she hastily scooped the last few bites of oats from her bowl. She washed it down with the warm coffee and took her dishes to the sink.

“I know you worry for me, but I would rather not think about this at the moment. The ceremony will come and pass, and I would rather not stress over the details just yet.” She walked back to her grandmother and hugged her tightly around the neck. When Ansley pulled away from her, a grey hair tickled her cheek.

Bianca planted a kiss on Ansley’s forehead. “Go home, Ansley, and tend to your duties with your father. I will handle my chores for the morning, and we will talk more later. I love you, Starlight,” she said softly. She released her granddaughter, who did as she was told and walked to the door. Ansley turned one last time.

“I never can understand why you, Dad, and Mother are always so worried about the ceremony. You have been preparing me for years, and I am only the first!  Ryker and Eli will have to follow someday too,” she said as she opened the door to leave.

Bianca smiled. “Yes, but you are the first of theirs to inherit. Surely, you can understand a parent’s worry?”  A tear glistened on her cheek.

Ansley softened her tone, “Yes, but you’ve spent years training me, so I know that whatever the future holds, I’ll be ready.” She shared one last smile with her grandmother before stepping outside.

Ansley strolled slowly back through the fields, oblivious to most of her surroundings. She was lost in thought over what her grandmother had been saying. She spotted her family’s cottage and small farm ahead and smiled despite herself. She could already imagine Eli running around her father as he tried to finish his morning chores.

Eli was merely three years old, but he already had such a strong will. Ryker, though, was a soft-natured boy. He never yelled or cried much as a young child. As he grew older, his interest in animals had grown. His soft-spoken manner could calm even the unruliest horse. Ansley was eager to see if his skills would start to emerge after his upcoming birthday. Not all in a dreamwalker’s family were blessed with emerging, but it was more of a rarity when they did not. Emergence meant that there was potential for skill, and those children could tolerate an inheritance from a family member one day. Ansley yearned to no longer be the only one training in her home.

But Ryker might’ve been elite. Ansley struggled to remember what her father had said about it, “It is very rare, but possible.” He had gone on to explain that no one had been born elite in over one hundred years in their family. Finally, Ansley had understood his meaning of rare.

Ansley eased down the sloping hills, and she listened for the happy sounds that she always associated with her home. It was oddly quiet. She was puzzled by this but did not dwell on the thought. Their family had never been a subdued one. With the miles between them and their neighbors, it did not matter much. The softly rolling hills absorbed any sounds, keeping their secrets from listening ears.

As Ansley drew closer, she was startled to notice that the door was open. Her mother had but one rule in the house that was strictly enforced. Keep the door closed. Their skills made her mother cautious, and she always worried that someone would overhear them talking about something walking related.

Ansley felt her heart stop as she stood and stared at the open door. Finally, she began running. When she glanced inside, she cried out in horror. Her hand shook and lingered over her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. She looked into the kitchen, and her vision began to grow blurry….

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