Cut Here by Azzurra Nox ~ Excerpt Tour Post and Giveaway Link ~ by Jaime!
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About Cut Here
By Azzurra Nox
Published on February 13, 2015
YA Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
YA Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
Sixteen-year-old Lena Martin's idyllic world shatters the night her mother dies due to a hit and run accident. Two years later, her dad relocates her from Italy to Los Angeles to help her put behind the time spent in a psychiatric ward following her mother's death. But the move only proves to be a fatal mistake. Shortly after her arrival, the classmates of her new private school begin to commit suicide under mysterious circumstances after reading a cult book called Cut Here.
Determined to unravel the mystery behind the suicides, she bands together with loner Jonathan Russe and outcast Hope Peters to figure out exactly what is happening, not realizing that this places them under a dangerous radar. During this same time, Lena falls for a mysterious and attractive guy named Michael, who is as equally disarming as he's dangerous.
As her attraction grows, so does the body count at St. Lucy Academy. Soon, Lena needs to decide whether to stay away from the guy she's falling for, or to trust him. Is Michael behind the suicides, or is he the key that can unlock the mystery that can stop the bloodshed? Deceptions run high and Lena soon learns that nothing is what it seems.
Excerpt from Cut Here
Jon wasn't sure what had awakened him, if it had been his usual nightmares or a noise in particular. His ears were tuned attentively, trying to make out any little sound. There was something strange about the air in the room. A vague familiar scent lingered, but he couldn't quite pinpoint it, his brain was still adjusting to being jolted out of sleep. There was no hint of light in the room. It was dark. Pitch black. Not even the radio alarm on the bedside table glowered its usual green hued numbers.
“I know where you can find him,” a female voice cooed but he couldn’t make out who it was in the shadows. His breathing shallow, and a cold sweat broke loose upon his forehead. “I know you think of him every single day,” the voice continued. The soft flutter of wings created a cool breeze in the room, and he heard some of his papers on his desk fly off the flat surface. He rubbed his eyes. I must be dreaming, he thought. This voice can't be real.
“Damn nightmares,” Jon said in a cracked voice, his hand instinctively reaching out for the glass of water on his bedside table to help him wake up. His lips touched the glass, wetting them with the lukewarm liquid. He took a small sip as his heart continued to pound in his chest like someone was shaking up a soda can and it was ready to explode.
“I know how you feel, Jonathan,” the female voice whispered softly.
“Who are you?!” His head jerked in the direction of the sound, “How do you know my name?” Suddenly his body tensed. He no longer felt secure. His hand reached out for the lamp switch next to the bed. A hand grabbed his, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, unless you’re ready to truly see me.”
He instantly recoiled, his back against the headboard. Heart pounding. Nerves tingling.
“Why are you here? You want money? What? What is it? What do you want?” his voice shook a little.
“I have no use of material things. What I want is much more valuable,” she placed her hand on his chest. “Your heart is racing. You shouldn’t be afraid of me. I won’t hurt you.”
Her touch startled him and he let out a yelp.
“Then let me see you,” his fingers fumbling with the light switch again. It slipped in his clammy hand, and he cursed under his breath trying to grab hold of the cord in the dark.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” the voice said softly, a chilly breeze filled the room, his hair that usually hung down over his forehead in layers, swept upwards from the air flow. “Unless you’re ready to see me.”
“Shut up!” his fingers scraped along the cord till it came in contact with the switch and he clicked on it. The room lit up in a brief moment and then sudden darkness reigned again as the sound of broken glass shattered his nerves.
“I told you, you're not ready to see me. Don’t even think about running, no one will believe you,” her red eyes glowered. This is fear, he thought, the inability to save yourself because you're too terrified.
“I saw you that night at Santa Monica…”
“You did. But your lady-friend couldn’t see me. Not everyone can see me,” he felt her move closer to him. Her breath was against his cheek now. Before he had a chance to react, her hand wrapped around his neck and he willed himself to move but he felt transfixed, unable to lift a single limb.
About the Author
Born in Catania, Sicily, she has led a nomadic life since birth. She has lived in various European
cities and Cuba, and currently resides in the Los Angeles area. Always an avid reader and writer
from a young age, she loved entertaining her friends with ghost stories. She loves horror movies,
cats, and a good rock show. She dislikes Mondays and chick-flicks.
CUT HERE, her debut
paranormal urban fantasy was inspired by a nightmare the writer had a few years ago. Some of
her favourite authors include Anne Rice, Oscar Wilde, Chuck Palahniuk, and Isabella
Santacroce.
