Affinity
Bird In A Guilded Cage
Mary E Merrell
The crows followed Talon around everywhere. When he graduated from high school, Talon moved to Sacramento to work with his uncle, and the birds followed. He recognized the same straggly-tailed old crow that had followed him around since junior high. Iris Yorita lived in his old neighborhood in Modesto. Snakes were drawn to her as the big, black birds were drawn to him. She called their ability an AFFINITY. Claimed it was a gift from God, and they should use it to help people. Talon thought she was out of her mind. How could a bunch of mangy crows or slimy snakes help anyone?
When a thief targeted the people in his uncle's neighborhood, all fingers pointed at the new kid, Talon. He decided it was time to put this strange ability to the test. Find out who was robbing their neighbors and clear his name. As Talon learned to communicate with his crows, the thievery heated up. Something more sinister than mere robbery was going on, and it would take Talon, Iris, and their new found friends, to discover what really was going on in this up-scale neighborhood
Excerpt
Talon took his usual seat on the
couch. The television was on but the sound muted. When his uncle returned, he
held an old, jacked-up photo album, the cover propped open by yellowed papers.
He stopped in front of Talon.
“Uncle Nate. Listen.” Talon stood
up and met his uncle’s blue gaze and braced himself to be made fun of, for his
uncle to laugh his ass off. “I can communicate with crows.” Okay. There. He had
said it. First time ever.
“I know.”
“What?” Talon dropped back onto
the couch, sinking into the cushion as he cradled Scraggy close to his chest.
“Well, I didn’t exactly know
you’ve been talking with them, but I’ve known you’ve got some kind of weird
relationship with them. I’ve been waiting for you to spill it, kid. I’ve seen
those black buzzards following you around like they was waiting for you to
croak or something.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Talon felt...disappointed. As if everyone knew except him. Like he was a big
joke or something.
“Don’t get all butt-hurt. I
figured you’d tell me when you were ready.”
Uncle Nate plopped down next to
Talon like nothing bizarre was happening. “Look at this.” He put the photo
album on Talon’s knees, opened the worn cover and carefully placed the papers
and news clippings on the end table. Sticky paper held old black and white
photographs in place as Uncle Nate flipped the pages.
“Do you know what our last name
means?” he asked.
When Talon didn’t answer, Uncle
Nate pointed to an old picture He tapped his finger on the man standing there.
Behind the man was a big, black bird perched on a fence.
“Our last name means crow or
raven.”
Talon swallowed and took back all
the crappy things he had just thought about his uncle.
“Your great-grandfather claimed he
could talk to these birds. Everyone thought he was nuts. Our grandmother, your
great-grandmother told us the family secret when we were in grade school. Your
father and I. Of course, we were warned if we ever said anything the crows
would come and peck our eyeballs right out of our heads.” He widened his eyes
at Talon, took on a spooky voice and waggled both his hands next to his head.
“Or you’d be driven crazy by the birds, oouuuuweee aaahhh.”
Scraggy cawed and struggled a
little.
When Talon didn’t laugh or smile
at his joke, he continued, “Your father and I used to imagine what it was like
if we could control the birds,” he said in a soft voice.
“You don’t really control them.”
Talon ran his finger across the picture of his great-grandfather. “It’s more
like a connection with them.” He let his mind touch briefly with Scraggy,
sending comforting thoughts. The bird quieted down.
“Right on. When did it start?”
“In middle-school.” Talon turned
the page, looking for more pictures with a strange black bird.
“You won’t find anymore pictures
of the bird. Believe me. We searched through this many-a-time. But you might be
interested in this.” He handed Talon a small black leather-bound book. “Your
great-grandfather’s journal. It sounded like a lot of rambling to me, but maybe
you’d understand. With your ability and all.”
********
About Mary Merrell
Mary E. Merrell lives in the Central Valley of California
with her husband, two dogs and four cats. She has two grown sons, Everette
Merrell and Richard Mickelson who is married to a great girl, Brooke. Mary has
worked at various jobs, selling furniture, a meat company and a manufacturing
company. It wasn’t until she started selling real estate that her Real Estate
Paranormal Mystery Series came to life in that old, vacant home. She enjoys
reading all types of genres and writes Paranormal Mysteries and YA Urban
Fantasies. When she’s not writing, she’s working on her decorative planter
business LivingCreations with her husband, gardening and playing soccer. Please
visit her website to see what she’s working on next.
www.maryemerrell.com, or contact her
through Facebook and Twitter.
Thanks for the awesome excerpt and giveaway, Mary!
Readers, Mary is offering your choice of three books for a giveaway! Prize is international, ends 11-6-12
Here are your choices:
