by Destiny Blake
Genre: YA Time Travel
Release Date: April 26th 2016
Summary:
Everybody
wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die
wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die
Andora died and she remembers every last detail of her
gruesome death. One would think after going through that ordeal, she could face just about anything. She’s about to
find out.
gruesome death. One would think after going through that ordeal, she could face just about anything. She’s about to
find out.
Soon after her death, Andora discovers that heaven
doesn’t want her and hell doesn’t have room for her. She’s not about to
question the latter all things considered. See, Andora wasn’t exactly a nice
person and as far as faith goes, she only believed in herself. Come to think of
it, she probably wasn’t scheduled to meet St. Peter at the pearly gates.
doesn’t want her and hell doesn’t have room for her. She’s not about to
question the latter all things considered. See, Andora wasn’t exactly a nice
person and as far as faith goes, she only believed in herself. Come to think of
it, she probably wasn’t scheduled to meet St. Peter at the pearly gates.
According to the Gatekeepers—the beautiful ones who stand
guard over the afterlife—second chances are rarely given but Andora earns one
anyway. The Gatekeepers decide where she should spend the rest of her life and
off she goes, traveling through time to a historical realm of perpetual hell,
also known as the early 1800s.
guard over the afterlife—second chances are rarely given but Andora earns one
anyway. The Gatekeepers decide where she should spend the rest of her life and
off she goes, traveling through time to a historical realm of perpetual hell,
also known as the early 1800s.
Andora begins life as a prairie girl, but soon faces
another untimely death. Landing in front of the Gatekeepers for round two, she
takes it as a sign. Desperate to live a more acceptable life, Andora quickly
realizes that being good isn’t as
easy as it looks particularly for those with mischief in their veins.
another untimely death. Landing in front of the Gatekeepers for round two, she
takes it as a sign. Desperate to live a more acceptable life, Andora quickly
realizes that being good isn’t as
easy as it looks particularly for those with mischief in their veins.
To make matters worse, her second-second chance is one she shares with another subject. A
handsome rogue of a boy, Rebel makes it his mission to land in front of the
Gatekeepers as often as possible. However, there’s a small problem with his
plan. There’s no way to guarantee that the Gatekeepers will always be there to
guide them into a new world and they soon discover that a fresh start is
anything but a sure thing.
handsome rogue of a boy, Rebel makes it his mission to land in front of the
Gatekeepers as often as possible. However, there’s a small problem with his
plan. There’s no way to guarantee that the Gatekeepers will always be there to
guide them into a new world and they soon discover that a fresh start is
anything but a sure thing.
“We’re coming to
your world. Welcome to ours….” Gatekeepers by Destiny Blake
your world. Welcome to ours….” Gatekeepers by Destiny Blake
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Excerpt
The day I died really sucked. Waking up in
front of a righteous bitch with plenty of superior attitude? Well, let’s just
say… it made dying look like a walk in the park.
front of a righteous bitch with plenty of superior attitude? Well, let’s just
say… it made dying look like a walk in the park.
A barely
audible light tapping of a booted toe yanked me into sudden consciousness. Pressing
my cheek against the black and white tile flooring, I stared up at the one
attached to the boot. I’d been here before. Given the look on Vengeance’s face,
she wasn’t exactly happy to see me again.
audible light tapping of a booted toe yanked me into sudden consciousness. Pressing
my cheek against the black and white tile flooring, I stared up at the one
attached to the boot. I’d been here before. Given the look on Vengeance’s face,
she wasn’t exactly happy to see me again.
“Well?
What are you waiting for?” She crossed her slender arms. “You know the routine.
Get up. On your feet, Lassie!”
What are you waiting for?” She crossed her slender arms. “You know the routine.
Get up. On your feet, Lassie!”
Lassie. I hated that name.
“We don’t have all day.” Vengeance smirked. It
was the kind of grin that left chills up and down my spine. “We have to assign
another identity. We wouldn’t want to keep your new family waiting now would
we?”
was the kind of grin that left chills up and down my spine. “We have to assign
another identity. We wouldn’t want to keep your new family waiting now would
we?”
“Of
course not, Veng,” I grumbled,
deciding to stick with the nickname. Veng
didn’t seem to care for it. The flaring nostrils and clenched fists provided
proof. Before I could congratulate myself for crawling under her skin, the
wicked wench grabbed my ear and forced me to stand.
course not, Veng,” I grumbled,
deciding to stick with the nickname. Veng
didn’t seem to care for it. The flaring nostrils and clenched fists provided
proof. Before I could congratulate myself for crawling under her skin, the
wicked wench grabbed my ear and forced me to stand.
“Ouch!”
I screamed.
I screamed.
“There,
there,” she muttered sardonically.
there,” she muttered sardonically.
In the
distance, several Gatekeepers rushed down the corridor. They were undoubtedly
told of my arrival.
distance, several Gatekeepers rushed down the corridor. They were undoubtedly
told of my arrival.
“Vengeance,
how many times do we have to remind you? Do not torture the subjects. It’s bad
for morale and –” Thorne came to an abrupt halt as soon as he rounded the first
pawn-shaped column. He sucked in a sharp breath before he dramatically exhaled
and asked, “Andora. What are you doing here?”
how many times do we have to remind you? Do not torture the subjects. It’s bad
for morale and –” Thorne came to an abrupt halt as soon as he rounded the first
pawn-shaped column. He sucked in a sharp breath before he dramatically exhaled
and asked, “Andora. What are you doing here?”
I
shrugged. “Can’t seem to live without dying. You know how it is.”
shrugged. “Can’t seem to live without dying. You know how it is.”
“No, I
don’t think I do,” he said suspiciously. “Why don’t you start at the beginning
and tell us how this happened.”
don’t think I do,” he said suspiciously. “Why don’t you start at the beginning
and tell us how this happened.”
“Oh you
mean I’m the first subject to return to the fold?”
mean I’m the first subject to return to the fold?”
“Why are
you here?” His voice was firmer this time.
you here?” His voice was firmer this time.
“I don’t
know.”
know.”
“She
remembered,” Vengeance said.
remembered,” Vengeance said.
Thorne’s
gaze shifted from one Gatekeeper to the next. “Can any of you explain this?”
gaze shifted from one Gatekeeper to the next. “Can any of you explain this?”
Dayz
smirked. “No idea. But by the look on your face? You’re not exactly disa—”
smirked. “No idea. But by the look on your face? You’re not exactly disa—”
“Silence,”
Thorne snapped, focusing on me once more. “What happened?”
Thorne snapped, focusing on me once more. “What happened?”
“Considering
how much trouble she’s been, it wouldn’t surprise me if someone killed her
again,” Vengeance said.
how much trouble she’s been, it wouldn’t surprise me if someone killed her
again,” Vengeance said.
“Was
that necessary?” Dayz asked. Dayz’s lanky build made him appear somewhat
awkward but I liked him. He was kind which was an apparent rarity among the
Gatekeepers.
that necessary?” Dayz asked. Dayz’s lanky build made him appear somewhat
awkward but I liked him. He was kind which was an apparent rarity among the
Gatekeepers.
“Truth
trumps necessity,” Vengeance pointed out.
trumps necessity,” Vengeance pointed out.
About
that time, a door slammed on the other side of the welcome chambers. Another
recognizable face appeared. “Guess I’m
not the only human up for reassignment.”
that time, a door slammed on the other side of the welcome chambers. Another
recognizable face appeared. “Guess I’m
not the only human up for reassignment.”
“Rebel?”
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Weeks before, we were brought together for
reeducation. We were separated when the Gatekeepers pitched him into the future.
A short time later, I was tossed into the past.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Weeks before, we were brought together for
reeducation. We were separated when the Gatekeepers pitched him into the future.
A short time later, I was tossed into the past.
“Don’t
act surprised. I told you we’d meet again.”
act surprised. I told you we’d meet again.”
“Yes you
did.” I felt uncharacteristically safe when he hugged me. “It’s good to see
you.”
did.” I felt uncharacteristically safe when he hugged me. “It’s good to see
you.”
He stepped
away and quickly turned to Vengeance. “If you ask me, you should just keep us
here.”
away and quickly turned to Vengeance. “If you ask me, you should just keep us
here.”
“That’s
not an option,” Vengeance said. “And someone should hurry up and explain how
this can even happen. I’m beginning to get bored.”
not an option,” Vengeance said. “And someone should hurry up and explain how
this can even happen. I’m beginning to get bored.”
“Poor
thing,” I muttered, catching a scowl from Thorne.
thing,” I muttered, catching a scowl from Thorne.
“Some
people refuse to die.” Rebel popped his neck and grimaced. “It’s called
cheating death.”
people refuse to die.” Rebel popped his neck and grimaced. “It’s called
cheating death.”
Dayz closed the distance between us. “How did
you die this time, Andora?”
you die this time, Andora?”
“Well, you see…. I was preparing to eat a bite
of bird when…”
of bird when…”
“A bite
of bird?” Dayz wrinkled his nose.
of bird?” Dayz wrinkled his nose.
“Go with
it. I was only a prairie girl for a week. Do you think I had time to learn that
particular era’s slang?” I scoffed. “I did not.”
it. I was only a prairie girl for a week. Do you think I had time to learn that
particular era’s slang?” I scoffed. “I did not.”
“God
save the queen,” Rebel teased. “Maybe next time they’ll place you in a castle
where you belong.”
save the queen,” Rebel teased. “Maybe next time they’ll place you in a castle
where you belong.”
“Or a
dungeon,” Vengeance suggested. “I’m sure I can think of a crime or two to pin
on you.”
dungeon,” Vengeance suggested. “I’m sure I can think of a crime or two to pin
on you.”
Copyright ©
2016 Destiny Blake
2016 Destiny Blake
Excerpt provided for promotional purposes &
pending final approval for publication
About the Author
An avid reader and full-time writer, Destiny Blake enjoys YA paranormal, commercial and literary fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and unique fantasy novels. After 15 years of writing for the market, Destiny decided it was time to write what she liked to read. The end goal was to pen stories that readers would love and her grandchildren would later cherish as well.
The author invites all readers to follow her on Twitter @AuthorDestiny and to stay in touch by writing:
destinyblakeauthor@gmail.com. To help Destiny celebrate the debuts of Legends and Gatekeepers, readers can send their copy and pasted proof of purchase to the email above. Include a snail mail address to receive a promotional product. Please include “Legends & Gatekeepers Proof of Purchase” in the subject line. Offer ends on April 15, 2016. Void where prohibited by law.
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