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    Into Darkness: Touch of Insanity, #5
    Into Darkness: Touch of Insanity, #5
    Into Darkness: Touch of Insanity, #5
    Ebook124 pages1 hour

    Into Darkness: Touch of Insanity, #5

    By Rosa Marchisella

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    About this ebook

    Kharee, her companions, and the criminals Ben and Chasing Rabbit are trapped in a dark realm known only as the Drift. Hunted by a demon made of the very land they travel, the group must work together to find a way home.

     

    When they discover the hint of a magical stone that might help Kharee heal Mischa, their journey takes a dangerous detour, made worse by Ben's mysterious new powers. As the dark taint of the Drift takes hold of the ascetic's mind, the group faces terror, betrayal, and heartache.

     

    Touch of Insanity is a complete series with cliffhangers that require the books to be read in order.

    Book 1: First Steps

    Book 2: Abbey Isle

    Book 3: Forging Ahead

    Book 4: Each According Their Worth Book

    5: Into Darkness

    Book 6: The Fallen

    Book 7: The Birth of Pain

    Book 8: The Great Divide

    Book 9: Tarna'Hala

    Book 10: From Ashes

    Book 11: Blood of Darkness

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherEmber Park Imprint
    Release dateMay 20, 2020
    ISBN9781989016084
    Into Darkness: Touch of Insanity, #5
    Author

    Rosa Marchisella

    Rosa Marchisella is the author of the gripping Touch of Insanity series and bone-chilling novella, The Greatest of Books. Her stories focus on fantasy, paranormal, and thrilling adventures. A dynamic and prolific story-teller, Rosa has earned critical praise as a writer, stage actress, vocalist, public speaker, and artist. Her hobbies include gardening, hikes, and playing games with her kids.

    Read more from Rosa Marchisella

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      Book preview

      Into Darkness - Rosa Marchisella

      Chapter 1

      image-placeholder

      Awave of Light roiled through the madness, waking him from his deep slumber. The Lighted One! At last, the one he awaited had finally arrived. At last, he would rise from his dark resting place to walk among the living.

      As he rose, the wretched white sands of this decaying world formed his body. His new flesh glinted like a blanket of diamonds. Water became his blood, flowing from the root of his heart to the fruit of his organs. Shriveled ivy took root in his skull and flourished into hair. A shroud of cobwebs clothed him. Flakes of the slate sky fashioned his eyes, and the wind gave him voice. After centuries of troubled dreams, haunted by faceless tormentors in the Dark, Lilten took a breath.

      The Lighted One shone like a beacon to guide him through the madness. She was Mother, Sister, and Lover to his mind. She gave him sight when he had known only Darkness for so long. He must find her so the blindness that once claimed him would be banished forever.

      With a bitter flicker, the Lighted One disappeared! Where had she gone? He strained to concentrate, refusing to give into panic. Ah, there she was. Odd. Shades of Darkness overlapped The Lighted One. She traveled with a source of Darkness. No, two sources! How could it be?

      That would cause trouble, but he could not stop to ponder what those shades meant. The Lighted One would be harder to find. Tracking her required all his focus. When they came face-to-face, he would ask for an explanation, but now he must be a wolf on the hunt.

      The promise of peace, love, and happiness gave him the strength to place one newly formed foot in front of the other. There would be wholeness again.

      Chapter 2

      image-placeholder

      Sunlight woke me from a dreamless sleep. I sat up, confused. We were supposed to march on Barron Gane before sunrise. Why hadn’t Phillip woken me earlier? And why was the camp quiet?

      I stepped out of my tent and stared around in disbelief. My companions’ tents huddled near mine, including Ben and Chasing Rabbit’s house arrest tent. Not one hoof print, boot print, or tent peg marred the hard-packed earth outside our camp.

      Happy and the horses grazed on the sparse grass. Jack, Ferean, and Pip watched them from the shade of my tent. I scratched Jack’s ear. Ferean whined in protest, and I paused to lavish affection on his ear. After a hesitation, I pet Pip as well. He wasn’t a little pup anymore. I hadn’t seen much of him since arriving in Jalar. I hadn’t seen much of Chasing Rabbit, either.

      I entered Foss’s tent, calling his name. The bard moaned and rolled over. His dark hair veiled part of his face. I sucked my breath in, caught off guard by his beauty. I longed to sit and admire him, but the fact the entire army vanished motivated me. Worse, I recognized the blighted land around us.

      The pale sky, withered plant life, and paltry landscape from our journey to Beadin-Sith to look for Peckman, the gnomish herb daddy, were still burned in my memory. The journey should have taken weeks, but crossing through this dark land had only taken days — miserable, desolate days that gnawed at our spirits. I didn’t know how we had arrived here this time. We’d somehow been plucked from the middle of an entire army, and I was deeply concerned.

      I shook Foss. Wake up. There’s trouble.

      The bard’s eyes snapped open, and he jumped from his cot, pushing me aside.

      The king? He looked around wildly, and I put a hand on his arm.

      Us. I led him from the tent. Foss’s face paled, shoulders slumping.

      They left without us? Blurry-eyed, Phillip looked around, confused, from the tent entrance.

      "We left without them, I replied. This is not Besamie."

      I explained what I knew about the land and sent him to wake the others. We needed to move quickly.

      I dressed, and Foss helped me with my armor. Ben walked around, muttering, while Chasing Rabbit stood with a tragic expression, and Gilum alternated between cursing our luck at missing battle and belching. Gor and Phillip had the wit and skill to fold the tents small enough to fit in the cart with our equipment.

      The squire hummed as he packed, happy to trade a gruesome war for an adventure in a strange and mysterious land. I hoped for his sake the land wasn’t as dangerous as I feared. Phillip was dedicated but not skilled despite months of effort. If I helped him live long enough, he’d grow into a good and honest man.

      A quick inventory revealed four tents, six cots and bedrolls, a cart and cart horse, our mounts, pets, and personal belongings — but no food.

      I stroked Feather’s nose and inspected the grass she nibbled. It was coarse and dry, with little nutritional value. Tomar’s teeth! I hadn’t heard birds or insects since waking. We hadn’t seen squirrels, rabbits, or other small woodland creatures besides the injured raven during our last trip through this land. If we couldn’t find wildlife or civilization, we might starve.

      Gor, you and Ferean keep an eye out for any game in case we don’t find a town soon. The dwarf nodded and bent to confer with the wolf before helping Phillip load the wagon.

      Did anyone bring money with them?

      My companions looked to me incredulous. To war?

      I didn’t think so. I rubbed my face in frustration. We’re not going to last long without food. This grass isn’t worth the dirt it grows in. When we find civilization, we will have to sell the cart and whatever equipment we don’t need.

      Like what?

      I turned to Ben. Like the tents for starters. We need money more than we need tents.

      Maybe we can find odd jobs? Phillip volunteered.

      I nodded reluctantly. If we must, but we shouldn’t get distracted from our course.

      And what be our course? Gilum grunted

      North, I answered. It’s the direction His Majesty is heading.

      Ben frowned. North! Whatever for? It’s not like we’re going to bump into him by going that way.

      I took a deep breath, struggling to keep my jaw from clenching. I was in no mood for opposition, especially from the fallen ascetic. Phillip and Gor hurried to finish packing the cart. We were all anxious to be on our way.

      I think Kharee is right, Foss said.

      You would, Ben sneered, ignoring the dangerous glare Foss shot him. I say we go east.

      Foss and Phillip mounted their horses. Phillip settled my coat of arms in its cup where it hung limp. Gilum and Gor climbed into the cart. Everyone waited for a decision.

      Think about what you’re saying, Ben. I gave an annoyed flick with my reins. "Isn’t this place familiar? We crossed through a place like this on our way to Beadin-Sith. We continued to travel in the same direction and arrived at our correct destination in less than half the time we should have. I don’t understand what happened, but I believe we should continue in the direction we were heading

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