Title: River of Ashes Author: Alexandrea Weis & Lucas Astor Series: St. Benedict #1 Genre: Psychological Thriller
SOME TRUTHS ARE BETTER KEPT SECRET. SOME SECRETS ARE BETTER OFF DEAD.
ALONG THE BANKS OF THE BOGUE FALAYA RIVER, sits the abandoned St. Francis Seminary. Beneath a canopy of oaks, blocked from prying eyes, the teens of St. Benedict High gather here on Fridays. The rest of the week belongs to school and family—but weekends belong to the river.
And the river belongs to Beau Devereaux.
The only child of a powerful family, Beau can do no wrong. Star quarterback. Handsome. Charming. The “prince” of St. Benedict is the ultimate catch.
He is also a psychopath.
A dirty family secret buried for years, Beau’s evil grows unchecked. In the shadows of the haunted abbey, he commits unspeakable acts on his victims and ensures their silence with threats and intimidation. Senior year, Beau sets his sights on his girlfriend’s headstrong twin sister, Leslie, who hates him. Everything he wants but cannot have, she will be his ultimate prize.
As the victim toll mounts, it becomes clear that someone must stop Beau Devereaux.
The light from the fire pit chased away the shadows from the woods along the outskirts of Devereaux land. Beau warmed his hands as Mitch Clarkson, the towering ebony-skinned player from the football team, recounted their last victory against Martin High. Josh Breeland, the defensive end with arms as big as tree trunks, sat next to him while Jenson Theriot reclined against a stump across from Beau. The redhead’s eyes darted between them, appearing unsure.
Mitch popped the top off a beer bottle. “That Boulder kid got past you last week. You didn’t see him comin’, did ya? Made you miss a block and almost got Beau’s ass sacked.”
“Almost cost us the game,” Beau added.
Jenson put down the beer Mitch swiped from his old man’s stash. “Yeah, I know, I blew it. That’s why I was surprised you asked me to come out here. I’ll make it up to you at the next game. I promise. I’ll make every block, Beau. You can count on me.”
Beau traced a circle in the dirt with a stick. “I know. You just need a little incentive. That’s why we’re here.”
Jenson peered into the thick covering of pine and oaks surrounding their fire. “You got a sweet place, Beau. I never knew these woods were behind your house. Kind of creepy, though.”
Josh cracked open another beer and handed it to Jenson. “The last time we camped out here, I heard a bunch of shit crashin’ through the brush. Mitch said it was deer. My guess is a pack of raccoons.”
Beau’s grip on his water bottle tightened. “It was wild dogs. We get them on the property. My dad thinks they come over from The Abbey grounds. Even shot a couple.”
Jenson looked at his two beers. “I shot a buck once. I didn’t like it much.” He set one of the beers down.
“Then you didn’t do it right,” Beau insisted. “The fun is tracking down your prey. And make sure it never sees you coming.”
“Dude, chug it down,” Josh said, picking up Jenson’s beer. “Ain’t gonna get fun ‘round here until you’ve emptied a six-pack.”
“Hell yeah!” Mitch hollered.
Beau grinned at his friends’ enthusiasm. He couldn’t carry out his plan without them.
Beau stared down at the sleeping giant curled up next to the fire. Jenson drooled as he slept off the beers Josh had practically force-fed him. Beau racked the shotgun in his hand, ready for the festivities to begin. He nudged Jenson’s hip with the weapon. “Wakey, wakey, Jenny. We’re going hunting.”
Jenson stirred, his eyelids slowly fluttering open. Then he bolted upright, wide-eyed.
Beau, Mitch, and Josh stood around him, wearing grotesque dog masks. Beau liked how the shadows cast by the firelight made them look like monsters. He liked the fear in Jenson’s eyes even more.
Beau aimed the shotgun at him. “Run, dog.”
Jenson scrambled to his feet, pulling at his falling jeans. “What the hell?” He held up his hands. “What’s goin’ on?”
“Aw, come on, Jenny,” Mitch teased, slapping his shoulder. “You’re gonna be our prey tonight.”
Jenson stood, the vein along his neck pulsating. “Guys, come on, now. Stop foolin’. I don’t wanna go runnin’ in these woods.” He motioned at the trees. “Beau said they got wild dogs—”
The boom of Beau’s gun going off pierced the night.
Jenson cowered while Mitch and Josh snickered.
“Run, Jenny, run!” Beau shouted.
Jenson took a step away, not appearing too motivated.
Beau pointed the gun at his head. “I said move.” He growled.
Jenson tripped over a log as he hurried to the edge of the firelight. He hesitated before the curtain of darkness that led to the deepest reaches of the Devereaux Estate and glanced back at Beau and his friends. Wiping his eyes, he took in their dog masks, then eased between two tall pines and disappeared.
“Run, Jenny!” Josh called out.
Beau lowered his weapon and turned to his friends. “Chase him down the trail to the point I showed you. By then, he should learn to move his ass faster on the field.”
Josh howled, getting into character. He took off into the darkness, carrying Beau’s flashlight.
Mitch followed right behind, wielding one of the electric lamps Beau brought from the house.
Beau tucked the rifle under his arm and returned to the campfire. He grabbed a backpack and set out in the opposite direction from the others. He had work to do.
Alexandrea Weis, RN-CS, PhD, is a multi-award-winning author of over twenty-seven novels, a screenwriter, ICU Nurse, and historian who was born and raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Having grown up in the motion picture industry as the daughter of a director, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective and began writing at the age of eight. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story moving and memorable. A member of the Horror Writers Association and International Thriller Writers Association, Weis writes mystery, suspense, thrillers, horror, crime fiction, and romance. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans where she is a permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries and rescues orphaned and injured animals.
Lucas Astor is from New York, has resided in Central America and the Middle East, and traveled through Europe. He lives a very private, virtually reclusive lifestyle, preferring to spend time with a close-knit group of friends than be in the spotlight.
He is an author and poet with a penchant for telling stories that delve into the dark side of the human psyche. He likes to explore the evil that exists, not just in the world, but right next door behind a smiling face.
Photography, making wine, and helping endangered species are just some of his interests. Lucas is an expert archer and enjoys jazz, blues, and classical music.
One of his favorite quotes is: “It’s better to be silent than be a fool.” ~Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird)
After enduring Delphine’s dangerous training regimen, the young gods and demigods embark on a mission to take down the corrupt shipping company once and for all, to liberate victimized communities up and down the Mediterranean and nearby seas. But unforeseen conflicts cause the young gods and demigods to question the nature of their mission, their purpose, and their relationships with one another.
In the face of impossible choices, how important are love, loyalty, and friendship? Moreover, how far should one go to defend those who can’t defend themselves? Should one sacrifice everything?
Read the surprising conclusion of The Vampires and Gods Series. For lovers of Greek mythology, paranormal romance, and action adventure stories.
Gertie stood in the foyer of the great hall on Mount Olympus, waiting for Hector to finish his tour with Hephaestus. Hector had invited her to join him to see the magical forge, but she’d wanted him to have this chance to be alone with his father. She hadn’t thought about her own comfort—or lack of it as she stood there with the Olympians on their thrones only a few yards away. Although she’d earned their respect in the battle with the old man of the sea and his entourage of monsters and was about to become a goddess herself, she didn’t dare presume that she was free to speak with them.
She pushed a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear and glanced nervously at the gods before averting her eyes to her boots. Her stomach hurt, and her heart wouldn’t slow down no matter how deeply she breathed. An eternity seemed to pass when Hector finally emerged with his father.
Just seeing Hector’s face again made her less nervous. Although people often mistook them for brother and sister because they both had blond hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, fortunately for them, they weren’t, even though they were both descended from gods.
“Are you ready for the council meeting?” Hephaestus asked her.
Gertie took a deep breath. “I think so.”
“Of course, she is,” Hector said. “She hasn’t stopped talking about it for days. Have you, Gertie?”
“Are you sure you’re ready?” Hephaestus asked again.
“Yes,” she said, this time without hesitation. “I’m just a little nervous about how it will feel and how I’ll adapt. There isn’t much written about apotheosis. I feel unprepared.”
Hephaestus laughed. “Preparation has its virtues, but surprises make life exciting.”
“I like that.” Hector beamed up at his dad.
Gertie would rather be prepared.
“Good luck,” Hephaestus said as he turned to walk away.
“Thanks again for showing me around, Father,” Hector said. “I hope I’ll have the chance to see you again soon.”
The god gave Hector a polite, if not distant, nod before taking a few strides to his throne, next to Apollo and across the white marble floor from Aphrodite.
“How did it go?” Gertie whispered to Hector, who hadn’t stopped smiling since he’d emerged from the forge.
“I’ve never felt happier,” he said, his blue eyes bright. “My father has finally acknowledged me publicly and has given me more than a moment of his time. It’s a dream come true.”
“Oh, Hector.” Gertie squeezed his hand. “I’m really happy for you.”
“Thanks. Being here has made it easy for me to make a decision.”
Gertie tilted her head to one side. “What decision?”
“I want to be a god, and I’m ready to do whatever it takes to prove I’m worthy.”
Gertie’s mouth dropped open, and she felt like jumping up and down with joy. “What?”
“I know . . . I was against it before. I wanted a normal life, so I could give my kids a better childhood than the one I had. Now I know things don’t have to be the way they were with my mom—alienated from my father and from the other gods.” He circled his arm around Gertie’s waist. “We can be a part of this life here on Mount Olympus. We can be gods together.”
Gertie thew her arms around him. “Really?”
“Really.” He reached down and kissed her.
As much as Gertie enjoyed the kiss, she soon came to her senses and noticed that some of the Olympians were watching her. “I’ll make my acceptance conditional. If they want me to become the goddess of vampires, they’ll have to make you a god, too.”
Hector furrowed his brows. “What if they refuse?”
“They won’t, especially if your father speaks up for you.”
He kissed her once more, and, together, they made their way to his father’s side, to await the others.
After earning her Ph.D. in English and teaching writing and literature for over twenty years, Eva Pohler became a USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels in multiple genres, including mysteries, thrillers, and young adult paranormal romance based on Greek mythology. Her books have been described as “addictive” and “sure to thrill”–Kirkus Reviews.
For Hazel, an introvert with a knack for people watching, campus life is awkward and hard and…lonely. That is, until she starts to let her guard down around her roommate, Maeve—who’s fun and has a wicked flair for drama. Could there be more than just a friendship here? Maybe. But Hazel has a lot of family trauma to work through before figuring out the other big parts of her life. For now, she’s just happy to have someone to talk to.
All seems to go well until a night in the Trap—the university’s green space—leads to a tense encounter with some drunk guys. When one of the guys ends up dead, Hazel is implicated, and she and Maeve set out to solve the crime before police can connect either of them to it. But how can two amateur sleuths put together a solid case to hand over to the police in time? By following the campus online diaries, that’s how.
Set at the beginning of the internet age, people are just starting to share all their deepest, darkest secrets via the World Wide Web, yet the assumption of online anonymity may be a critical mistake. As the perpetrator posts their criminal diary for public consumption, Hazel and Maeve scramble to use technology to piece together the murderer’s identity. Can they hack their way out of becoming suspects? And if so, could they ever go back to their boring majors?
“The rain subsided a little; its pounding beat softened to a patter, and Aunt Liddy relaxed her shoulders. She punched the radio back on, and the soothing tones of “I Can See Clearly Now” filled the car.
As Aunt Liddy hummed along, I worried a hangnail on my thumb, savoring the little sting of pain. It reminded me who I was, where I was going, and that I was doing it alone. The road stayed slick with water and sounded like its own river as we drove over and through puddles.
Suddenly, a sharp bite stole my breath as I lurched forward in my seat, the seat belt digging into my collarbone and chest. Aunt Liddy put her arm in front of me as if that would be enough to stop my head splitting against the windshield. The dashboard was mere inches from crushing the bridge of my nose.
She stomped the brakes and yelled and cursed. Bright red taillights filled our windshield, sparkling and reflecting in the last of the raindrops that hadn’t been swiped away. The back of our car started to edge around. Back and forth, fishtailing as Aunt Liddy tried to gain control. Her face flushed pink, expression strained.
Life was supposed to flash in front of my eyes, but I hadn’t lived long enough for anything to really show up. I saw my mom smiling and heard my dad laughing, and nothing more. Were they—and everything they’d been through—all my life had amounted to?
Miraculously, Aunt Liddy steadied the car. She laid on the horn. It blared long and loud.
“Did you see him? He cut me off!”
The truck in front of us was massive, with a set of mud flaps showing the curving silhouettes of two naked women. Classy. The truck driver stuck his middle finger out the window.
“Stupid dick.” Aunt Liddy drew in a deep breath. “He’s gonna get someone killed.” She turned to me. “I’m sorry. Are you okay, hun?”
I could barely breathe. My heartbeat pounded in my throat and ears. My eyes watered and felt as though they were barely in their sockets. But sure, I was fine and said as much. That stupid song continued. Its singer insisted life was all clear blue skies and obstacles could be seen from far off, which was a damn lie. Trucks came out of nowhere, and so did bad people. Red flags didn’t look like red flags until after the fact.”
Jessica Cranberry lives in the Sierra Nevada foothills with her family and spends days striking a balance between parenthood, teaching, editing/proofreading, and writing–suspense novels and eclectic short stories mostly. When she’s not doing those things, she’s reading, attempting to garden, or hiking around town. She’s an okay baker, and has been known to paint on occasion.
