The Daughter Of Lava (#3 Reclaimed Souls Series) (14 page)

Suddenly, I’m in Roland’s arms as I try to figure out why his chain mail is wet or why I’m unexpectedly at a loss for words.

This might be the birthplace and final resting ground of the Feeble Princess, but Roland, unbeknownst to me, has brought me home.

Thirty

I
T
’
S
THE
SAME
BUT
different. I left home when I had just turned thirteen and was still innocent of what would befall me once the army took me away. I see it all like a painting that, in my mind, hasn’t changed, but in reality, I feel a sense of forced harmony. As if it is meant to
seem
warm and welcoming.
 

What I don’t remember is ever seeing anything beyond this little mountain hamlet. No waterfalls. No view of Skyscraper City. Perhaps as a girl of twelve, I wouldn’t have cared to see such things and so I never noticed. All I ever did was follow Pareu around, even when he didn’t want me to.
“Not this time, Rahda,”
he would say angrily. I’d sneak and follow anyway, unaware of what he was doing or where he was going. I never questioned.

How oblivious was I as a girl?
 

What if everything has always been a complete facade? Will the painting in my mind chip away and reveal my true history beneath it?
 

I move away from Roland before I know I’m doing it.
 

“Where are you going?” he asks.

“To find my parents.” I give him a hard look, my eyebrows cocked, which seem to say,
Try and stop me.

He nods and looks me over, and I see myself through his eyes. I’m sweaty, dried blood clings to my skin and clothes, and my pale complexion is marred by a gash and bruises on my cheek, slashes in my palms, and, while not visible through my clothes, burns on my leg. And fourteen blueblood root spike scabs on the
other
leg.

I’m not sure what’s holding me together, but my appearance will not stop me from seeing them, even if to only know that they are still alive and to let them know
I’m
still breathing. At least for a little while longer.

But another truth registers as I view my companions: Part of me knows I’ll never leave this mountain top again.
 

Maybe none of us will.

Reclaimed Souls started off very differently from what you have read thus far. When I started writing the story, I intended for it to be an erotic short story based on a conversation I had with my friend C.B. about Masters and Slaves.
 

My theory (out of this conversation) is that the Slave is the Master and the Master is really the Slave. I wanted to explore this theory of mine through a short story. Originally a short story called LOVE ME, it was going to be about a young woman interviewing for a position with a secretive, dark, misunderstood employer. From outward appearances, the young woman would appear to be the Slave and the employer the Master; but I wanted to turn this on its head and show how the woman—the Slave—was really the Master of the relationship. However, after about the first ten thousand words, the story morphed into four books.

So, why am I telling you all of this? Why should you care?

Even though the story changed theme, I wrote the entire four-book series with erotic scenes that have been “cleaned up” for the final version. I didn’t delete those scenes. Each book as one or two erotic, explicit scenes. Book Three’s scenes involve an unnamed PPS (personal pleasure servant) and Lord Jaucey in Chapter 6. It was so hot and so steamy that my editor literally had to take a break during that chapter. In Chapter 7, Rahda uses her sexual assassin skills to seduce Lord Jaucey and have him call off the attack on Skyscraper City. However, after finishing the series and re-reading book three, I felt that these chapters needed “toning” down in order to reach a broader audience.
 

Again… where am I going with this?

I’m offering you the chance to read these scenes if you want, completely free of charge, on my website. But, be warned, it is explicit and intended for mature, 18+ audiences. If you are offended by explicit sex scenes, strong curse words, or are under 18 years old, then please do not read it.

Here’s the direct link: http://smallfiction.com/personalpleasureservant.
 

If some reason you click on it (or type it into your brower) and it doesn’t work, send me an email and I’ll email the scene to you; but by doing so, you are confirming you are 18 years or older. My email is [email protected].

About the Author

Della is the author of multiple short stories, novellas, and novels to include "Reclaimed Souls", a four-book romance, science fiction and fantasy mash-up Series. She has several stories out on submission with science fiction and fantasy magazines. One of her stories was recently bought by WMG Publishing for a FictionRiver Anthology due to be published in Dec 2015. Della writes romance under the pen name Kelly Washington. Della can be contacted via her website, http://smallfiction.com, or at [email protected].