Guest Author: Iryna K. Combs
Please welcome today’s Guest Author
I R Y N A K. C O M B S
Black Wings
A new time. A new planet. A new world. New technologies. Two new humanoid species. A new war.
The two species separate, but in the removal, some of the best are left behind among the worst. Captured and held as slaves, they are treated cruelly for entertainment. Torture. Pain.
Annabel, endures a year of such cruelty, kept alive only by way of syringes which, while healing, cause a greater agony. She discovers a secret held by their leader, and decides to help her own kind by escaping–even if it means a final death, preferable to the life she has endured.
Her escape succeeds, and she joins her own kind at the other end of the planet. Among her new friends she meets many who help her adjust to their happier life. Will Annabel find romance? Or will another war break her down?
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Excerpt
Annabel stopped for a moment and closed her eyes, knowing exactly the owner of the voice. She slowly turned around, as did the others.
“Already leaving?” Jonathan said walking up closer to her. “Leaving without your boyfriend?” He smiled at her.
“Don’t start, Jonathan,” Annabel said seriously.
“What’s there to start?” he replied still looking at her. “Don’t make me, and I won’t start anything.”
“I’m tired and I’m going back to the hotel.”
“Come with me, I’ll take you back to your hotel.” Jonathan reached for Annabel’s hand and pulled it closer to him.
“Don’t worry about it,” she refused.
Jonathan suddenly looked at Dexter who seemed to be calm, perhaps because fighting did not scare him. He was confident he could protect Annabel and himself.
“Why don’t you steal somebody else’s girl?”
“I didn’t steal, you lost.” Dexter replied, calmly standing right by Annabel.
“I didn’t lose anything,” Jonathan growled and moved toward Dexter. He punched him in his face. Dexter quickly reacted and hit him so hard Jonathan fell backwards to the ground. Dexter’s punch would impress even a big-time fighter. He was one of the best and strongest fighters Maximus had trained. Jonathan quickly got up and was about to continue fighting when the Old Opera House guards rushed over.
“What’s going on here?” one of the tall guards asked. “Who do we need to ban from next year’s ceremony?”
Jonathan looked at Annabel.
“Nobody, I’m leaving.” he hissed, wiping his bleeding lip and walking back inside the Old Opera House.
Annabel, Dexter, his friends, Hannah and Rick moved on to their cars.
“Your eyebrow’s bleeding,” Annabel noticed, looking at him as they walked through the parking lot. “I have an emergency kit in my room.”
Dexter told his friends to go without him and sat in the car with Hannah, Rick and Annabel.
“Are you okay, Dex?” Hannah asked with concern.
“Yeah, like nothing happened.”
“I’m glad it didn’t turn out worse,” Annabel said, looking at Dexter’s eyebrow.
“It’s nothing, but I’m glad too. I told you nothing would happen.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Dex,” Rick said, looking at Annabel in the rear view mirror and nodding. “He was quick to start the fight first, and you finished it. Like it’s supposed to be.”
Annabel knew sooner or later she would still have to talk to Jonathan about his behavior, and the longer she waited, the harder it was going to be.
They pulled up at the hotel and walked inside, taking the elevator to their rooms.
“We’ll see you tomorrow, Annabel” Hannah sang, pulling Rick by his hand toward their room as soon as they exited the elevator.
“Bye, Dex. See you later, Annabel” Rick barely had time to say, waving at them both.
Annabel and Dexter walked to her room with its small living room, kitchen and studio bedroom. In the little kitchen she opened the cabinet where she had earlier noticed an emergency kit.
“Looks like I got blood on my shirt.” Dexter noticed the sleeve on his shirt had red spots and began removing it.
Annabel saw Dexter unbuttoning his shirt and turned her head away. She knew he had a nice muscular body that would drive any woman crazy. He walked around the table and sat on the high round chair. Annabel opened the kit to make sure everything she needed was there. She prepared a peroxide solution with the cotton ball and came to the table, beside Dexter. She put the emergency kit on the table and faced him. Annabel could not help gazing at his body, and she began to feel jumpy. She kept a tight hold on her emotions, as if she was not affected by him. Dexter was staring at her face—so beautiful, innocent and pale. He seemed to be entranced, not taking his eyes from her.
Annabel took small cotton ball and looked at Dexter.
“It might hurt a little,” she whispered reaching up to his eyebrow. Her hands began to tremble slightly, being so close to him. She slowly and carefully wiped the dried blood away. Dexter watched her face, not showing any pain or discomfort. Annabel noticed he was mesmerized, and tried to pay attention to what she was doing. After cleaning his eyebrow, she turned to put everything back. Dexter took her hand and slowly pulled her close. Annabel looked at him and her heart began to race. He gently moved his hands behind her back touching her skin, pulling her even closer. Annabel took a slow breath, feeling butterflies in her stomach.
She placed her hands on his strong shoulders, not expecting to feel his body on fire.
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About I R Y N A K. C O M B S
Originally from the Ukraine, I am still considered a new face to America. Speaking three languages including English, that became just as natural to me as my native Russian.
I grew up in a town on the south of Ukraine doing the same things that other kids my age did. Dreaming, hoping and wishing. Growing up, I spoke absolutely no English and never even saw myself somewhere abroad. Nevertheless writing a novel in another language!
I went to the local school that brought mostly negative experience in my life. But it shaped me throughout the years. My college life was much better. I was known to study well and to go out partying as much as it was possible.
In my first year of college I began to work in the marriage agency and met my future husband. We dated and traveled to most of the Europe along with Egypt.
When I finally got my fiancée visa, we both moved to the states, where soon after, got married. In the first few years I did some modeling and acting. Photo-shoots, run-way and photo in the magazine fulfilled my childhood’s dream.
A few years later I became a mother of a wonderful and most handsome little boy. Along with learning and experiencing motherhood, I began to make hand-made jewelry and organic soaps. This hobby turned into my small business and became bigger than I thought it would.
In the last year I discovered: an author lives inside me. Never did I think that I would write an English book and that I would love doing it. But I did! And I loved it!
