DARK SECRETS

PREVIEW Ink black skies were being ripped apart by bolts of lightning that lit up the heavens, turning the under bellies of the heavy rain clouds into flashing billows of light. Daylight was no brighter than the electric blue that sizzled and snapped. It was as if the Gods were fighting a mighty battle, blades striking and war cries bellowing. Saul, an Immortal Guardian of mankind, walked unseen through the streets that should have been deserted. But instead, there were hordes of humanity grouped together, huddling in angry masses. It was hot! The rain gave no relief! Instead it made the air heavy and hard to breathe. The summer heat, of late, had been almost unbearable to the humans, making their skin itch, as if it were too tight for their bodies. Tempers were short and ugly as everyone tried to cope and failed. Saul often walked among those he guided, helping them to fulfill their destinies that had been written at birth. But tonight something was different. For some time now he’d had an uneasy feeling, an itch between his shoulder blades that warned of danger and evil. As he walked, Saul sensed that evil had been this way not long ago, leaving, in its wake, death and despair in abundance. The Dark, as it was known among the Immortals, walked among the humans much the same as the Guardians did. Its purpose, however, was to find a mind, body and a weak will that it could control and turn from the path chosen for it. Saul and the other Immortals didn't go looking for the Dark, but did battle for the souls it had picked when their paths crossed. Sometimes the Guardians won, leading the way back to the destiny as written, and a good life. But sometimes the Dark won. When it did, lives were taken and ruined, never to be redeemed. Most times the Dark caused only mischief and could be sent back to the shadows from whence it came. But once in a great while, powerful bringers of the Dark grabbed hold of a soul and the damage was immense. Proof being the serial killers rotting in jail, or leaders of men and nations that history had named evil incarnate. Saul couldn't ignore the feelings building inside him, as they warned and urged him to take action. He wondered why the Guardian of the soul that the Dark had chosen had not defeated it or, at the very least, sent out an alarm of danger coming. Saul’s hunt for a glimmer of the identity of the Dark drew him to stand below a window on the third floor of an apartment building. Its light glowed weakly through the rain and heat as he stood below and looked up. A man, wearing nothing but a pair of boxer shorts, stood on a stingy balcony, leaning his arms on the railing. He was in shadow, as the light was to his back. Saul noticed that the rain didn’t bother him in the least, as it pelted his body and ran in streams from his long, black hair. The flashes of light from the sky gave Saul a glimpse of a man of above average height with muscles tight from use. His face, however, remained in shadow. Saul did not feel the Dark in this man, but rather great strength and a will of iron. Saul found goodness within the soul of this man and decided, on the spot, that this would be the human he would guide and use to help him find and defeat the Dark. As Saul watched, the man straightened and slowly moved back, standing just inside the doorway, but away from the window. The light went out. But Saul knew the human was still looking out, trying to see why he had the feeling of being watched. This human had good instincts and Saul would use everything and anyone he could to bring about order as it was meant to be. Saul began to fade, satisfied for now, having found his weapon to begin the battle. He knew, as he shimmered away, that the Dark was not going to be easily defeated this time. He would pit their combined, mighty strength against the Dark and, hopefully, be victorious. Immortal and human would stand shoulder to shoulder to fight this battle. As Saul learns more details about the next victim of the Dark, he discovers that his warrior, Jaxon Riley, and the woman, Hannah Priest, whom the Dark seeks to destroy, are destined to be together. Now Saul must bring them together as Destiny had planned. Oblivious of the Dark Master, Roman's, plan to take her life because of her special gift, Hannah Priest resists being assigned a body guard. No matter how handsome he is. Saul must ease her anxiety over the man who just entered her life. Only an unsuccessful attempt on her life convinces her that what she has been told is the truth. Now she must rely on Jaxon to guard and protect her from Roman's human puppet, Simon Small, a killing machine of Roman's design. Falling in love was the last thing on Jaxon and Hannah's minds when they met. They clashed and were at odds with each other from the very start. Little did they know that within a very short time they would find a need to be with each other. That need quickly grows into a love neither had ever known possible in their lives. Now Hannah is protected by the most dangerous of human men, one who is in love with her. But will it be enough to shield her from the Dark and their plans for murder? Saul and Jaxon work together to shield Hannah from harm and exact justice against the Dark. They must stop the plans the Dark Master Roman has made to cause chaos and unleash his human puppet of death on Hannah, and anyone who might get in his way. Saul and his warrior must be successful. But only one side would come out alive. Which one remained to be seen!