I've been digging through my stories trying to decide which I'd like to share. I finally narrowed it down to two, When Souls Collide and Clone. When Souls Collide is a bit on the dark side but has a HEA. The other is a love story, but it doesn't have an HEA. There was no way I could justify it. Before you start throwing things, let me explain.
Eva is a sociopath, an anti-heroine. She's suffered unspeakable evils, isn't stable, strikes out on instinct and doesn't act like your typical romance main female character. The end of this story is all about her redemption and I could write no other ending for it. Nothing else fit.
I think sometimes, we romance writers have novels that we know we can't sell because they don't follow the protocol of a love story but we also know they have to be written. Clone was one of those novels. It's a love story above everything else, but it's also about trust, betrayal and human nature. It digs deep into the human soul and where we come from. It's a story about revolution of a woman and the freedom of a people who were born to be spare parts and slaves. It's a story about greed and how society can so easily be infected and lose sight of who they are and what is right and ethical. It's a story of monsters.
There are triumphs and there are things that will break your heart. Eva is Eva, a product of her enviroment and her freedom doesn't change her past or who she is and what she choses to do. She commits horrible deeds against those who deserve it and also against two who don't.
So, now that I've told you all of this--you'll understand why I chose the other.
When Souls Collide
All rights are the intellectual property of the author. No part may be copied or reproduced without the permission of the author.
***Warning. The following story contains erotic elements, explicit language and violence. Read at your own risk.***
Prologue
“They’re only a few hours out. What do you want us to do, Your Highness?”
King Zarros, of the High Imperial House stared at the screen. Lights indicated an Armada moved toward them. “How many?” He squinted. The blips seemed to merge into one glowing blob, making it impossible to tell by visuals alone.
“Hundreds of thousands. They outnumber us fifty to one. We’ll be annihilated. We need to evacuate the planet.”
Another planet. When would the running stop? Zarros took a deep breath. Now was not the time to panic. If they fled, they’d die in space. The Kori wouldn’t let anyone escape. After one hundred and eighty planetary cycles, the Kori empire had found them and wouldn’t turn away. His people would die for the price of a murdered princess a millennium past.
“Gather every ship, civilian and military, anything that can take flight.”
“Shall I start evacuation?”
“No. I want you to destroy the ships, anything that can be used to escape. If anyone tries to leave, I want them shot down.”
“Sir?” His commander shifted his gaze from the screen and back to the king. “We have to evacuate. We can’t stand against them.”
“If we run, they’ll pursue and destroy us. They’re faster, they have better technology and that’s exactly what they expect. They won’t destroy the planet if what they want is on it. Our best chance is on the ground. It’s time to stop running. The people must commit, even if I have to force them.”
“This is suicide.”
“No, this is survival.” He ran a hand through his hair and studied the converging lights. “Gods help us. We shall make our stand here, every man, woman and child that can hold a weapon.” Zarros strode over to the window and studied his city. “They’ll not forgive me, but this is all I can give them. A cornered animal will fight to the death.”
The commander nodded. “Then it shall be done.” He spun on his heel and marched through the door, barking orders.
Thanks for stopping by,
D L
3 comments:
Interesting spin on the story. It has my attention.
That really got my notice!! Really, really liked it!
The beginning of this story was inspired by Cortes's scuttling of his fleet of the Veracruz coast. It accomplished two things--Some of his men, loyal to the Govenor of Cuba had already tried to mutiny. By disabling his fleet, he squashed any future rebellions. His men had to commit for their own survival and their loyalities could no longer be divided. He in effect, stranded them on a hostile world with no chance to escape. It was work together for the same cause or die.
When you put it that way--most will work together.
I've always viewed this tactic as both brilliant and brutal. I often wondered what could happen in a different world, where the stakes were higher and the annihilation of a people was the cost of failure.
This story has two warring peoples. One primitive--who have de-evolved and fight with Guerilla warfare. The other are are high-tech, invading their world--one they have no means to leave.
DL
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