[THIS STORY WILL BE TAKEN DOWN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2024]
This is a collection of bonus scenes I've written over the years. Some are part of later books in the series. Some short stories are simply 'What If' scenarios. Some moments are scenes that happe...
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FOURTEEN YEARS AGO
(EVVIE 8 YEARS OLD)
A sticky saltiness floated on a gentle breeze. Wisps of clouds hovered around the high cliff's craggy edges as if they were too shy to stain the vibrant blue sky above the Pacific Ocean. The distant sound of seagulls calling while gliding on air currents accompanied the gentle lapping of water.
My long legs splashed through the surf and I delighted in the wet spray cooling my baking skin. The taste of brine washed across my tongue when seawater splattered across my open mouth. Warm air coursed around my limbs as I propelled into a jeté to leap across the waves. My tawny hair with the long ends of a neat pink ribbon gathered into a high ponytail, rippling with the movement.
My swim togs reminded me of a ballet leotard and were already dusted with sand. I loved ballet. The depth of feeling expressed through graceful limbs alone. My parents had finally agreed to lessons and my clothes had arrived the morning we'd left for our family adventure. I'd only had time to rip open the box and stroke my fingers longing over the leotard and tights, the frilly tutu and slippers, promising them I'd see them again when we returned, whereupon I'd meet my dance instructor and begin my lessons.
But here, today, this was all about my little sister.
Yesterday we'd flown to California in my family's Gulfstream. My little sister had been given a sedative before we'd left and she'd missed out on her very first aeroplane ride. While she slept I'd gripped the leather armrests, reveling in the roaring engines and the thrill of acceleration as we were thrust forward, racing down the tarmac. The bumpy liftoff. The eerie airborne feeling as we ascended, the tiny world below disappearing as we rose above the misty clouds.
Nelle had been put to sleep because my mother had been nervous about being trapped thousands of feet in the air with her daughter. If something should go wrong, we'd be at my little sister's mercy.
And here we were for one afternoon at the beachside.
My father had driven us from our vacation penthouse out of the choking city, through the quiet countryside, and onto winding roads that hugged the coast, until he found this secluded spot. There wasn't a single bodyguard in attendance either. I'd never known what it was like to have a day by ourselves without a guard or soldier standing nearby, sharp-eyed and silently keeping watch.
Today it was just my sisters and my parents.
We were down at a small alcove, the clay cliffs softened by tall green palms. Jagged boulders jutted out of the golden sand that led to the blue ocean—magnificent and endless.
At the high end of the beach, Lise waved out, catching my attention. She dug a candy-striped towel from her canvas bag and flicked it out, bending over to adjust the corners so it lay flat. Her pink sunglasses slid down her nose as she grimaced, wiping her fingers free from sand. Next she retrieved a comic book from her beach bag and stretched out on the towel, happy enough to spend the afternoon reading.
