There Be Demons by M.K. Theodoratus - Book Tour + Giveaway
There Be Demons
by M.K. Theodoratus
Genre:
Urban Fantasy
Urban Fantasy
After her father remarries, Britt Kelly’s life becomes a cesspit. She
lives in her sister’s two-bedroom tenement apartment with her
mother, two brothers, and two young nephews. She starts a new high
school where she knows no one. And, even when Britt thinks she’s
making friends, the church where she studies in is torn down.
lives in her sister’s two-bedroom tenement apartment with her
mother, two brothers, and two young nephews. She starts a new high
school where she knows no one. And, even when Britt thinks she’s
making friends, the church where she studies in is torn down.
Then, the field commanders of The Demon Wars draft her and her friends to
aid the four Gargoyle Guardians who fight the demons invading the
city of Trebridge. The fate of the city hangs on Britt’s ability to
lead and learn enough self-control to manipulate the natural magic of
Grace. Meanwhile, she also needs to decide what to do about Cahal,
her chemistry lab partner who is as strong as her and may have
interests more than just protecting Trebridge.
aid the four Gargoyle Guardians who fight the demons invading the
city of Trebridge. The fate of the city hangs on Britt’s ability to
lead and learn enough self-control to manipulate the natural magic of
Grace. Meanwhile, she also needs to decide what to do about Cahal,
her chemistry lab partner who is as strong as her and may have
interests more than just protecting Trebridge.
“There Be Demons” is a continuation of M. K. Theodoratus’ urban fantasy,
"Night for the Gargoyles". It tells the tale of Gillen and
his team of Gargoyle Guardians as they defend Trebridge while
teaching Britt and her friends – the untrained “reinforcements.
Along the way, Gillen and Britt learn things about each other to make them stronger
both together and alone.
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After their stepmother opened the door on the
tenth floor, Britt touched her brothers’ shoulders, and they barged in as if
expected, just as she told them to do. Manufactured lavender odor, smelling
nothing like Granny Nan’s real sachets, rushed out. Britt wrinkled her tickling
nose, trying not to sneeze as she entered the living room. To her mind, the apartment
smelled worse than the stale cooking of St. Edmund’s hallway.
Bet Granny Nan’d groused up a storm about
stinking sepulchers if she met the Ice-Bitch.
Cold prickles teased the back of her neck. She
stood by the door, unable to move. The colors of living room shifted, and the
chemical stink made her queasy. The memory warmed her, giving Britt the
confidence to confront her stepmother. She would be as hard-nosed and grumpy as
her Granny Nan.
No one knows everything she taught me when she
was supposed to be taming my temper. Slithering shadows
pulsated around her stepmother, but Britt drew a deep breath. Plastering a
sicky sweet smile on her face, she said, “Hi, Mrs. Kelly. How are you
today?”
The ice queen’s dress clung to her slim hips,
and a string of pearls showed in the V of her neckline. Her blond hair swayed
when she moved. Britt thought the pearl drops hanging from her earlobes nice,
but she couldn’t imagine wearing high heels around the house. Pietra and her
mom kicked theirs off as soon as they got in the door.
Her stepmother rubbed her hands down her
thighs. “Why are you brats here?” Her voice sank into a menacing register, her
words bit cold and precise. “I told you hoodlums never to invade my home
again.”
Britt blinked. Mom worked in accounting for
this cabrona at the brokerage?
“It’s our visiting day,” answered Carlos,
returning the Ice-Bitch's glare with a steady gaze.
Darin nodded his agreement, but he grabbed
Britt’s hand and stepped closer to her. Looking down she saw his lower lip
tremble.
“We thought we’d save Dad some time and come
here,” said Britt. She put an arm around Darin’s slim shoulders. “It’s been
ever so long since we’ve seen him.” She grimaced when her voice came out so
breathy.
Sitting down, her back straight and hands folded
in her lap, her stepmother called “Timothy.”
Carlos stepped back, bumping into an end table.
The Ice Bitch shrieked, “Timothy.”
On the couch opposite, Britt slouched between
her brothers on the couch. The condo decor was all cream and polished wood and
dark green drapes across a bank of windows. The apartment was so high Britt
thought she could reach out and run her fingers through the drifting clouds.
Once Britt thought she wanted a posh place like this. Now she wasn’t so sure.
“Timothy Kelly, come here this instant.”
Man, does he sound in trouble. Britt
shrunk into the sofa as her throat constricted. Not even Mom sounds that
mean when she’s ranting.
Timothy Kelly emerged from the back of the
apartment and stood in the hallway. His face paled as his gaze darted from his
wife to his children and back. “Yes, Elsbet.” His dark hair had a deep widow’s
peak just like Granny Nan’s, only his receding hairline made his sharper.
Britt regarded him as he sauntered toward the
couches set square in the middle of the room, reminding her where she got her
lanky height. He was thinner than she remembered, held himself tighter. His
normal salesman-smile grew until it wreathed his face. He brushed a hand
through his wavy black hair – what was left of it – and tugged on an ear like
Darin did. Britt blinked when she thought she saw a smoky leash around his neck
leading to the Ice-Bitch's hand.
Maybe he’s working out?
Britt stared at the gray tinge under his complexion. I’ll bet he daren’t
yell back at her like he did Mom because she has all the real money.
While her father fidgeted three steps from the
hallway, she squeezed the twins’ hands as she waited for her stepmother to
answer. The weekend slob she grew up with had disappeared. His slacks matched
the dark stripe in his sports jacket, and his shirt complemented them in a
different shade. Britt hoped the twins noticed how sharp he looked for the next
time they argued about dressing up.
As Britt glanced at her stepmother, the light
shifted as if the sun had slipped behind a cloud, making the room darker. For a
moment, Britt thought her stepmother had turned a murky green, darker than the
drapes, and the woman's canines grew long enough to rest outside her lips.
Britt’s heart raced as she fought not to show her fear.
Don’t be silly.
Green skin’s impossible except for frogs
Get the Short Story – Night for the Gargoyles FREE! It was the first story set in Andor and formed the inspiration for There Be Demons.
Night For the Gargoyles
by M.K. Theodoratus
Night for the Gargoyles -- A Story Combining Magic with Reality!
Gillen's dilemma. Who to fight? The Demons overrunning the city or Orvil,
the rival lusting for his position.
the rival lusting for his position.
The four gargoyles guarding Trebridge are outnumbered by a growing number
of demons. Gillen, their leader, is caught between fighting Demons
and the schemes of Orvil to replace him. He tries patience with the
plotting Orvil and asks the Angeli for reinforcements. Will help come in time?
A free short story set in a world where reality plays with magic.
Read the short story that inspired There Be Demons!
Read the short story that inspired There Be Demons!
**Get it FREE!!**
I'm one of those weird people who have always played with fantasy. Had a
pretend friend by the time I was three, play acted elaborate
fantasies even after I learned not to talk about them, read comic
books, and discovered Oz, A. L. Merritt, Andre Norton, and Fritz
Leiber before my teens.
pretend friend by the time I was three, play acted elaborate
fantasies even after I learned not to talk about them, read comic
books, and discovered Oz, A. L. Merritt, Andre Norton, and Fritz
Leiber before my teens.
The gears changed to include writing fantasy after the sixth grade. Until
then, mysteries ala Nancy Drew were my favorites. Most of my fiction
writing has been lost through the years. Must admit, though, I still
have the Clue of the Clay Cats, written in the sixth and seventh
grade, sitting in some file drawer.
then, mysteries ala Nancy Drew were my favorites. Most of my fiction
writing has been lost through the years. Must admit, though, I still
have the Clue of the Clay Cats, written in the sixth and seventh
grade, sitting in some file drawer.
Many fantasy worlds have entertained me since then...but I've only written
in two since I started writing again, aka consistently. My main two
worlds are Andor where demons prey upon humans and other supernatural
events occur and the Marches of the Far Isles. My favorites, though,
are my Far Isles Half-Elven, Renna, Mariah, and Kerry, where I
explore the political ramifications of genetic drift on a hybrid
elf/human population. Unfortunately, my Half-Elven had become a
cliche by the time I completed the 600,000+ words moldering in my
computer. [Which is okay. I mainly write to amuse
myself.]
in two since I started writing again, aka consistently. My main two
worlds are Andor where demons prey upon humans and other supernatural
events occur and the Marches of the Far Isles. My favorites, though,
are my Far Isles Half-Elven, Renna, Mariah, and Kerry, where I
explore the political ramifications of genetic drift on a hybrid
elf/human population. Unfortunately, my Half-Elven had become a
cliche by the time I completed the 600,000+ words moldering in my
computer. [Which is okay. I mainly write to amuse
myself.]
Currently, live with my old man and two lap-cats in Colorado. The kids have long flown the
coop. Some of my favorite authors remain Alexander, Briggs, Belcher,
Cooper, Croogon, Pierce, Butcher, Elkins, McCrumb, Gaiman, O'Connell,
etc. etc. etc.
coop. Some of my favorite authors remain Alexander, Briggs, Belcher,
Cooper, Croogon, Pierce, Butcher, Elkins, McCrumb, Gaiman, O'Connell,
etc. etc. etc.
Oh, yes, my pubs. I've published shorter fantasy for my Half-Elven, including
Troublesome Neighbors and Vengeance. Andor short stories include
Night for the Gargoyles [which inspired Andor], Showdown at Crossings
[prequel to There Be Demons], Doom Comes for a Sold Soul, and The
Ghost in the Closet. The short stories are both free and 99c.
Troublesome Neighbors and Vengeance. Andor short stories include
Night for the Gargoyles [which inspired Andor], Showdown at Crossings
[prequel to There Be Demons], Doom Comes for a Sold Soul, and The
Ghost in the Closet. The short stories are both free and 99c.
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