Terror of the Sixth Spire Book Preview #2

This excerpt is about a young girl named Astrea who found a large stone tower near her village. It had appeared mysteriously overnight in a cow field. While the other villagers were too scared to approach, she was drawn to its power. The girl didn’t understand their fear but soon she would.

For a few moments, Astrea complied to her mother’s orders, but the tower was far too interesting. She didn’t want to disobeyed her mother, but she sensed it calling to her. Each step away from the tower felt heavier and heavier. Unable to resist any longer, the girl ran back to the tower while ducking below her mother’s wide swing.

Amid the crowd’s screams and her mother’s caterwauling, Astrea grabbed the stone wall with her bare hands. Everyone became silent. She could feel a soft pulse inside the wall along with a strange warm energy.  It reminded her of a distant dream. It comforted her until the pulse quickened. She examined the wall for the cause while failing to notice her mother’s approach. Before she could react, her mother grabbed Astrea and sprinted away. She had wrapped both arms around Astrea to keep her from escaping. The grip was so tight she was barely breathing. Then, she saw it move.

The tower stretched and coiled like a snake’s tail. With her mother escaping the field, Astrea watched a large stone body with eight spindly legs emerge from the ground beneath the tower. Instead of a tower, it had transformed into a giant scorpion. The stone creature arched the tower back and aimed it at the town.

“Do not fear me,” the tower growled. “I am here to heal your cursed land. Do not run!”

Her mother still ran as did every other villager. Looking over her mother’s shoulder, Astrea was blinded by a blast of energy lancing out of the tower. Nearby, the shepherd’s house exploded from the bright white blast. Distressed, the girl scanned the burning rubble for any sign of the kind old man. She relaxed when the shepherd’s familiar curses echoing across the town. Then, another building exploded. She tried to find the house, but heavy black smoke enveloped the small town. Everything became a blur.

– Excerpt from Chapter 1, Terror of the Sixth Spire, Fallen Spires Book 2