Ordained (34 page)

She inhaled deeply and held it, knowing full well the next breath would involve excruciating pain.

One
…
Two
…

She pinched her eyes tight and flinched as the sharp prick pierced the skin on the inside of her right arm. Her heart beat faster, anticipating the discomfort she knew was coming. She tensed more; first at the neck, then down her spine.

Three
…

She bit down hard and scrunched every muscle in her face.

It came quick – a rushing, burning sensation. First light and bearable, then strong and absolutely unbearable.

Fo-ur
!

The intense burn traveled quickly up her arm to her heart. She gasped and threw her left hand to her chest. Her lungs strained for air – a heavy suffocation set in. From there the burn shot out in each direction.

Tears escaped her eyes, but she kept the internal screams to grunts. It felt like being stabbed with blistering spikes on every inch of her body – repeatedly. She could literally feel the cells within her body as they fired, screaming out as they were each poisoned with the tainted blood now flowing through her system.

Then the screaming started.

FIVE
!!!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the following people for offering a fresh perspective when my eyes could no longer see. Much thanks!

James L. Warnix

April Warnix

Constance Sharper

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Devon Ashley resides in Texas with her son Riley. She has a Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Microbiology. In her free time she loves to write, design, knit and read an eclectic range of books.

Ordained
is the first novel in the series The Immortal Archives. Look for
Metamorphosis
Winter 2011

See more of Devon Ashley’s books at http://devonashleywrites.blogspot.com