Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…a fun way to sample new books and find new authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)
I’ve switched to Trapped on Talonque, which came out in August. Briefly, part of the book is a scifi take on the Sleeping Beauty tale. The story synopsis is after the excerpt.
We’re further on in the story now than we were last week, and Nate has an encounter in a dream with the mysterious woman. She tells him they aren’t dreaming but communicating, and apologizes to him. Slightly edited from the published version:
“Why are you sorry?” Nate stayed with her first words to him, “You’ve done nothing to harm us.”
“I pity anyone trapped here on this cursed planet. The king will sacrifice you to his hungry gods when you don’t produce the miracles he expects. Demands. I—I didn’t tell him the truth when he asked.” Brow furrowed, she studied Nate’s face. Biting her lower lip, she said, “Honesty on my part would have brought instant death for you – he believes you’re my father’s warriors, come to rescue me, so I agreed with his conclusion. I said you were also sent to retrieve certain possessions because he’s desperate to acquire the marvels my father wielded. My deception may give you time, perhaps a chance to save yourselves – you must play the game.”
The story:
Will an alien sleeping beauty awaken to save him, or destroy everyone around her?
When a Sectors Special Forces soldier and his team crash land on an alien planet, they’re taken captive and given a challenge–win at the violent ball game of sapiche and live. Lose, and they die, sending a mysterious, alien beauty to an even uglier fate. To survive, these soldiers must win the game and find a way to free the dangerous prisoner from her locked chamber.
Nate Reilly and his team are in deep trouble. Prisoners on a backward alien planet, they’re brought before an alien ‘goddess’, sleeping in her high tech seclusion. Nate is astonished when she awakes and establishes a psychic link with him. But her news is not good–he and his men must win a brutal challenge set by their captors, or they will die. She’ll give her aid, but in the end their courage and strength must win the contest.
Bithia sleeps in her chamber, as she has for thousands of years, since her own people unaccountably left her there. Viewed as a goddess by her captors, she must hide her ancient secrets to survive. But only the bravest of men may free her. Can she use her psychic powers to keep Nate and his men alive long enough to help her escape, or will her only hope of freedom die with them?
Oh boy, talk about being set up. Great snippet, Veronica. 🙂
I like the idea of a selfless Sleeping Beauty more concerned about helping others than about escaping her curse.
Whatever the game is, it sounds bad, very bad. Good job of building tension, Veronica. 🙂
I love this storyline, Veronica. Excellent hook.
Fairy tales offer such great fodder for inspiration.
She seems clever and perhaps she is being kind to him.
Not the best place to live. Great snippet
Oooo I love all that her confession revealed. Nice!
Great snippet.
What a woman. To know her is to love her. Thanks for this delicious new story, my friend. Hugs to you and the family on this Thanksgiving holiday.
It sounds as though he is in serious trouble. I like the Sleeping Beauty idea.
Fabulous snippet! Sounds like he has no choice now.
Oh nice…so he can dream communicate with his Sleeping Beauty! intriguing!
Ooh, political intrigue and an SFR twist on Sleeping Beauty.
What a woman! Selfless despite the fact that she’s been imprisoned for centuries. Great snippet.
How interesting, and what a cool twist on the fairy tale!
She helped as much as she could, but she doesn’t have much power to help! Now they have to take that slim advantage and run with it!
Great way of increasing tension.
Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place! I also love the unique twist on Sleeping Beauty.
Yet another awesome premise! That final line leaves me with so many questions. Must know more! lol. Great work, Veronica!
Thanks for all the comments! I really appreciate this group and all the support (plus the fun of going out and reading everyone else’s excerpts too!). All the best wishes…
What a woman, she is after their safety before her own. Great insight into her character. Nice snippet!
Hmmm. But can this disembodied voice be trusted? I suppose they have no choice but to trust her and keep on going. Great snippet!
I forgot to join WWW this week. But I have my post up! https://jennajaxon.wordpress.com/2016/11/20/weekend-writing-warriors-112016-seduction-at-the-christmas-court-an-unwanted-suitor/ if you want to visit!
I’m not sure if I would want to throttle her for that deception, or thank her for the chance of survival it may give them. Maybe both? It’ll be interesting to see how he reacts to that confession.
Sounds like she’s trying to help. I’m not quite sure how helpful she is, but it does sound like she’s trying.
Love that they’re communicating through dreams. Sounds like she’s trying to help. Hopefully.
She sounds sufficiently desperate and concerned for him. I hope he plays along.