A work in progress

I haven't updated my blog since the end of September. I haven't worked on my current project in over a month either. Life gets in the way too much for my comfort.

But rest assured, I AM still working on the third book in the Amethyst Chronicles entitled Past Reflections. And to prove I have been working, here's a bit from chapter one.

******

Why would she be dreaming? Last thing she remembered was getting the device Dr. Fergas asked for. She was examining the weird looking contraption and then was under an attack. The fireballs were all around them before she was engulfed in a bright light. Her stomach flipped at the realization.

Them. Her and Liam. Only now he was gone. Her entire world had disappeared.

The only thing that made sense to her was if the device actually worked.

“Oh, no.” She covered her forehead with her hand. “Oh, wow. Okay.”
“Is everything okay?” Dr. Brooks asked.
“Not in the slightest. Okay.” Ember rubbed her temples, trying to come up with another way to phrase her next question other than blurting it out. She quickly gave up. “What year is this?”
“Year?” Dr. Rhodes questioned. She exchanged an odd glance with her counterpart. “2016.”
“2016.”

Ember let out a deep breath as her mind reeled. Her head hit the wall and she slid down to the floor, bringing her knees to her chest. Dr. Rhodes watched her curiously as Dr. Brooks walked in front of Ember, peering at her awkwardly. She reached for Ember’s hands, but stopped when her friend snapped her name.

“She’s not going to hurt me, Mack,” she insisted.
“Better safe than sorry.”

Dr. Brooks shot the woman a glare before turning her attention back to Ember. Still, she didn’t attempt to touch again. The soft blue eyes seemed unfazed as she searched Ember’s purple ones for answers. It was time she gave some. Ember stood up, smoothing out the front of her navy blue uniform in the process.

“Okay, what I’m about to say is going to sound strange. I’m not even sure I can really prove it, but I am going to ask you to trust me.”
“Awfully big statement coming from a woman who appeared in my lab out of thin air, but go ahead.” Dr. Rhodes nodded toward her.
“As I said, my name is Ember Wilson. I am an agent with the ISC from the year 3018. I was on a mission to retrieve a device that you invented.” Ember pointed to Dr. Rhodes. “What I found was an oddly-shaped device with a pyramid on top. My team and I were under attack and the device began to light up. Next thing I know, I’m here.”

Both women paused at her words. Dr. Rhodes scanned over Ember’s appearance and turned to Dr. Brooks.

“Maddie, do you know what this means?”
“Yes!” she exclaimed. “Your machine will work!”

Ember was taken aback as the scientists wrapped their arms around each other and began to dance in a circle. They laughed in celebration until Ember cleared her throat and they stopped.

“I’m sorry, forgive us,” Dr. Brooks said. “I know how this must seem to you.”
“Look, I know you aren’t celebrating my misfortune, Dr. Brooks—”
“Maddie,” she corrected.

Surprise rippled through her. Ember felt honored. To be standing in front of this woman whom she admired so much and to be able to call her by the same name her friends and family did made Ember smile.

“Okay, Maddie. I don’t need to tell you I don’t belong here. So if you and Dr. Rhodes don’t mind, I’d like to be getting back to my own time.”
“Call me Mack,” she instructed. “I would love to, but that’s going to be a problem. The device you described is one I’m currently working on, but . . . well . . .”
“Well, what?”
“It’s not operational yet.”
Ember’s eyes darkened. She swallowed the growl forming in her throat. “What do you mean, not operational?”
“It’s not completed.”
“Are you kidding me?” Ember sputtered. “You mean I’m stranded here?”
The two women exchanged another glance. “We’re . . . not sure,” Maddie admitted.
“Not sure.” Bitterness dripped from Ember’s voice. “You two are geniuses. Figure it out.”
“Okay, I know this comes as a shock—” Maddie began.
“A shock? You think this is a shock?” Ember stepped toward Maddie.

Mack pushed the woman behind her, glaring hard at Ember. The action made Ember pause. She could only imagine how she appeared to them. She slowly nodded, taking a step back and pressed against the wall.

“I’m sorry. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“That remains to be seen,” Mack said in a flat tone.
“We know that,” Maddie said, placing her hand on Mack’s shoulder. “We’ll figure it out. Just bear with us, all right?”

Ember nodded. It was, after all, unfair of her to expect them to have all the answers.

Maddie gave her a gentle smile and walked over to the desk, picked up a flat device in the shape of a small rectangle, and turned her attention to the newcomer.

“Okay, then. Let’s start from the beginning, shall we?”


Does this whet your appetite? Sound off in the comments!