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Category:
Young Adult/Teen
Publisher: Isaiyan Morrison
ISBN-10: 0578405903
Pages: 228
Copyright: Dec 6, 2018
ISBN-13: 9780578405902
Price: $0.99 (eBook)
From tragedy comes destiny.
Cassidy is a 17-year-old girl being raised by her father in San Diego, California. Her existence is a mixed blessing, full of life but burdened with the knowledge that her mother died while giving birth to her. Her mother’s absence constantly weighs on her mind, but she trusts her loving father to protect her like he’s always done.
Until the day that she discovers the truth.
Cassidy is a Behesian – born with dark magic and the ability to do extraordinary things – and it was her mother’s parting gift to her. She’s not the only one out there and her dark gift makes her the strongest one alive. However, her father has kept her talents a secret, but not for her peace of mind. He works for The Brotherhood, a secretive organization that tracks and studies supernatural people… and his daughter is the perfect test subject.
She finally realizes the crucial decision she faces: either stay with her father, the only family she’s ever known – or join her new Behesian brethren in the ultimate fight for survival.
Behesian is a thrilling Young Adult novel about the choices we make and who we really are. Author Isaiyan Morrison crafts this compelling tale of self-discovery against a backdrop of magic, wonder and fate. Because when the true meaning of family gets lost between the lines, sometimes the only way forward… is through your heart.
Excerpt
Talking to boys was never my specialty and Sara made it look so easy. I kept my eye on her when she reached the table. While she spoke to him, her eyes moved nervously back to me. I didn’t know what made her act uncomfortable. Still, I sensed something peculiar about this teenage boy and I couldn’t place my finger on it. In fact, it made little sense on how familiar he seemed to me. Eventually, my thoughts turned back to the dream of the weird town where no one spoke, and I put two and two together. He looked just like one of the people I passed when I walked down the road with the mysterious woman who I believed to be my mother.
Eventually, Sara took a seat at the table. Mission accomplished.
The boy continued to eye me, and I felt my stomach fill with butterflies as my face flushed. I tried to hide my dramatic change by keeping my focus on the menu billboard when I heard a male voice from behind my shoulder.
“Excuse me.”
I turned around and faced the boy with short, jet-black hair.
“Yes?” I glared into his bright blue eyes.
“I’ve seen you somewhere before. Did you attend Thurston High?”
“Thurston High?” My eyes wouldn’t move from his angular cheekbones and thin lips, even though I wished it. “No.”
“Oh…” His voice drifted. “Are you sure? I swear I’ve seen you before.”
“Maybe you have me confused with someone else?”
He scratched his left cheek. “No. I think it was you… What’s your name?”
“Cassidy.” I couldn’t help but notice his soft stare.
“Oh, maybe I do have you confused with someone else,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I turned back around.
“Is this place always packed like this?” he asked.
“This is my first time here so I’m not sure.”
We stood in silence for a few minutes until it came time to step up to the counter. I quickly placed my order, paid, and moved out of line. The employees prepared the two lattes and a bagel faster than I expected. Afterwards, I grabbed the food and joined Sara and the other male near the back who, to my surprise, were in mid-conversation.
“Two lattes.” I placed the cup tray on the table.
She looked up and smiled at me. “Elijah was telling me this place serves the best lattes he’s ever tasted.”
I sat.
“This is my sister Cassidy,” Sara introduced me.
Elijah smiled. “Nice to meet you.”
I forced myself to sip my drink, which tasted horrible.
“Did you get his name?”
“Who?”
“The guy who stood behind you in line.”
“Why would I get his name?”
“Because he’s walking over here, right now.”
What I didn’t already swallow lodged in my throat. I coughed when I heard his voice.
“You don’t mind if I sit here?” he asked.
And there he was, standing directly behind me, with a drink in his right hand and a sandwich in the other. Embarrassed, I stuffed my bagel in my mouth.
“Sure,” Sara replied to him.
He sat in the empty chair next to me and Elijah leaned back in his own. “I’m Elijah.” He held out his hand.
“Darrien.” Instead of shaking his hand, he nodded and sipped from his coffee.
Sara also sipped her drink. “So, Elijah’s only been in San Diego for a week. I was telling him about a few places he could check out while he’s here.”
“Oh, I’m not from here either,” Darrien said. “I’m from Phoenix.”
“Ohh, I’ve always wanted to live in Phoenix.” Sara smiled at him.
“It’s an okay place.” He sipped his coffee again. “But if you’re looking for a few places to check out, try Old Town. It’s pretty interesting.”
“I’ve heard about that place,” Elijah spoke. “Isn’t there some haunted mansion there?”
“Ghosts don’t exist.”
“Hmmm, some people think they do,” he replied. “There are a lot of unexplained things out there.”
“Like what?” Curious, Sara rested her arms on the table and leaned forward.
“Ghosts, lost souls, UFOs,” Elijah explained. “Demons, people with powers—”
“I expected to hear UFOs but people with powers?” Darrien interrupted. “You can’t be serious, can you?” His response didn’t silence Elijah.
“Why not? Anything is possible.”
Darrien laughed.
“Even if you don’t believe it.” A serious look overcame Elijah’s face. “Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.”
Darrien’s laughter slowly filtered. “To be honest, people who believe stuff like that are usually a little touched in the head.”
“If that’s what you think.” Elijah grabbed a napkin from the dispenser and wiped his mouth.
“That’s what I know.”
Annoyed, Elijah dropped his hands on the table and squinted.
Darrien backtracked. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“You didn’t offend me.”
“Well, that escalated quickly,” I mumbled to myself. Tension filled the air and unsure of what would happen next, I changed the subject. “You were right, Sara. This caramel latte is pretty good.” Once again, I forced myself to take a sip and swallow the disgusting contents.
“Delicious.” Her voice was monotone.
Elijah stood. “I have to go. It was nice getting to know you two.” He faced me. “Nice to meet you Cassidy.” He held out his hand.
I held out my own and when they touched, I felt a weird tingling sensation on my palm. This made his shoulders jump slightly and we stood, in silence, before Darrien spoke up again.
“You can let her go now.”
Elijah pulled away and grabbed his coffee cup.
I noticed a thin trail of white smoke rise from the bottom of the cup. “Hey… um,” I pointed at it, “I think your cup is smoking…” Suddenly, it burst into fire and Elijah dropped it and stomped the flames out with his foot.
The commotion caused everyone in the coffee shop to take notice, along with the sight of burning paper swirling through the air.
Without saying another word, he casually walked toward the door and left.
“What in the heck just happened?” I asked Sara.
Stunned, she shrugged nonchalantly and gulped her drink.
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