The Legacy
of the Key
Ancient
Guardians Series
Book
One
S.
L. Morgan
Genre:
Fiction: Fantasy Romance
Historical,
Science Fiction
Publisher:
Pasidian Press
Date
of Publication: December 21, 2012
ISBN-10:
0615736742
ISBN-13:
978-0615736747
ASIN:
B00ARK6SUO
Number
of pages: 372
Word
Count: 101,102
Book
Description:
No
matter where you are, facing your reality with passion and purpose
will always lead down the path you were intended to go.
While
Reece Bryant is making her way through this world on her own, she is
suddenly confronted with the truth of her existence, and the reality
of her future. It is when she encounters two alluring and mysterious
men, that a series of extraordinary events takes place, putting
Reece’s life in grave danger. With her life in the balance, Reece
must blindly trust the two mysterious strangers; and when she does,
she is brought into an enchanting world that is beyond her logical
comprehension.
This
captivating land reveals new worlds and new dimensions to which her
existence is paramount. But it is once she falls in love with the
stunning Levi Oxley that everything will change, and Reece’s life
will be in more danger than ever before.
Forced
to return to Earth and face a Council of Worlds, Reece discovers
there is more to this enchanting dimension than she could have ever
imagined.
At
a moment’s notice, even thru the fog of our denial, our journey can
become crystal clear. And within the revelation, once our fear
subsides, we can find contentment and purpose if we focus on the
things that matter most. Trust—Courage—Love
Book
Trailer: http://youtu.be/b2DdKCL3Bjs
The
Legacy of the Key is the first installment of S.L. Morgan’s new
fantasy romance novel. The romance in this novel is perfectly
suitable for young adults, teens ages 13 and up.
Prepare
to journey into a captivating new world…that will remove you from
reality as you know it! A 2014 Global ebook Gold award winning book
and a 2014 Silver award medalist in the Reader's favorite
international awards.
Praise
for The Legacy of the Key:
5-STARS
Ancient Guardians: The Legacy of the Key by S.L. Morgan is an
enchanting novel with a flawless plot, breathtakingly vivid scenery
and characters that so completely come to life and are relatable. The
story took me from this world and transported me to a different time
and to a place so beautiful and magnificent I sometimes needed a
moment to pause and just take in the breathtaking scenery described
therein. ~Reader's Favorite Review by Faridah Nassozi
5-
STARS "There are two words to describe this book: ABSOLUTELY
AMAZING. It is very difficult to put into words how much I enjoyed
it. The concept of the different worlds and dimensions among us was
unique and very intriguing; it immediately had me hooked.".
~Reader's Favorite Review by Cheryl Schopen
5-Stars
"The book is fast paced and will take readers to another
dimension altogether. It is a great roller coaster ride with fantasy,
science fiction, mystery, romance, action, suspense and a new
dimension all woven together.
Chapter
One:
The
fall semester of Temple University’s medical program in
Philadelphia had finally come to an end. Reece handed in her last
final, and walked out toward the area where her friend Jack was
meeting her to drive her to the airport. She had been dreading this
day, not because of the finals, but because she was flying back to
San Diego. Halfway through the semester, Reece had been notified that
she would have to return home to settle the last of her father’s
estate.
Two
years ago, the summer after she graduated from college, her father
died of a massive heart attack. He left her alone; with no one she
could call family.
She
had planned to stay in San Diego to pursue her medical degree, but it
took nearly everything she had to stay and cope with her father’s
death. In the end, she could no longer bear to live in the city that
reminded her so much of him, and their years together.
After
his passing she fled to Philadelphia in search of a new life. She had
settled in quickly, making a couple of friends who helped to take her
mind off of what she had left behind. Her grades were excellent, and
she could not have been more proud of how well she was doing on her
own. She felt strong.
Now,
she had to return and face again the reality of it all again; the
painful memories and feelings of weakness that she had so
successfully suppressed.
She
was determined not to let this trip tear down the strength she had
found. She refused to let the past haunt her anymore. The trip would
not be a long one; she would quickly handle the paperwork regarding
the sale of her father’s home, and then return to her life in
Philadelphia.
“Hey,
Reece,” a familiar voice called out, pulling her out of her distant
thoughts. “You’re out early; I was just going to wait out at the
benches for you.”
Jack
was getting ready to start his internship. He was an even tempered
guy, and enjoyable to be around. They had developed a quick and
entirely platonic rapport from the moment they met, and he always
made her feel comfortable.
She
smiled. “Thanks for taking me to the airport, Jack. I hated to call
you so late, but Lori’s cancellation was kind of last-minute.”
Lori and Reece had shared an apartment since Reece’s arrival in
Philadelphia.
Jack
placed his arm around her shoulders as they started walking. “So,
when is Lori going to admit she’s in love with me, and get rid of
that geek, Mitch?”
Reece
chuckled. “When you get over yourself, and you’ve shown you can
stay in a relationship longer than one night.”
He
stared back at her. “Figures. Why do women always wait for Prince
Charming to come along? I could be Prince Charming if that’s what
it takes.” he laughed at himself.
“Jack,
I’m sure you could. I think many of your girlfriends thought you
were!”
“Well,
whatever dork Lori wants to date is her problem, not mine. I’ve
never been the type to attract the brunettes anyway. It’s always
the blonde’s that seem to be attracted to men like me.”
Reece
stared at him incredulously, “You’re unbelievable.”
He
laughed. “Actually, come to think of it, there is one blonde
haired, blue eyed girl that hasn’t fallen for my charming
sensibilities…” He looked at her and smirked.
Reece
shook her head, “And that’s not going to change, either! I don’t
get it.”
“Get
what?”
“The
fact that you have to stereotype every female you come across. How
shallow can one person be? You’re actually judging your
relationships with women by the color of their hair? It’s stupid,
and it’s half the reason you can’t stay in a relationship longer
than one day.”
Jack
laughed, “Awe, Reece, that’s what I love about you, always trying
to keep me in line. And you know what? You’re probably right.”
“I’m
always right.”
Jack
dropped her off at the airport about two hours before her flight.
Airports, ugh. If there was any place that she dreaded, it was an
airport full of rush and chaos. On this trip, she had enough to
contend with without additional stress.
She
gritted her teeth through the security inspection, then shouldered
her backpack and made the rounds of the shops, hoping to keep her
mind occupied. She studied what seemed to be every souvenir in the
terminal, then headed over to her departure gate and found a seat.
She had at least half an hour before boarding.
As
she sat back, she noticed two young business men walking toward the
gate. They were dressed immaculately, in perfectly tailored suits
that gave off an air of absolute supremacy. It wasn’t their
magnetic and powerful presence that had her studying both of them,
but there was something strangely familiar about them. Even so, she
couldn’t place their faces from any class she’d been in. Well,
it’s obvious they wouldn’t be in college, Reece, they’re
dressed like they own the airline company. Who are these guys? It was
bothering her that she couldn’t identify where she had seen them
before.
One
was dark-haired. Tall, dark, and very handsome, she thought with an
internal chuckle. He was probably in his late twenties, but had an
intimidating presence. He walked as though he commanded the entire
gate, perhaps the entire airport. She frowned, trying to figure out
whether it was the way he held himself, or the odd sense that she
knew him, that caught her attention.
The
blond man beside him was about the same height, and equally stunning,
but less intimidating. The good-humored expression on his face set
him apart from the other man. He looked as though he was recalling
the punch line to a good joke. The men walked through the waiting
area and stood near the large windows, away from the crowd.
Without
warning, the dark-haired man looked away from his friend and stared
directly at Reece. Their eyes locked, and she startled, but tried to
continue gazing casually around the room. Her eyes didn’t see what
was in front of them, though; she was wondering why these men seemed
familiar.
She
could not resist another glance back toward the window. The blond man
was already staring directly at her. Busted. Perhaps she hadn’t
been as discreet as she’d thought. He smiled vibrantly at her to
confirm it.
Oh,
well... She gave him back a smile, and looked past him at the sky
outside. Thankfully, boarding was now announced. Reece stood and
turned away.
Knowing
this would be a long flight, Reece had opted to fly first class. She
was one of the first to board, and found a comfortable aisle seat.
Two
uniformed pilots sat in the front row. Perhaps they were going to
take over the flight after Chicago, where more passengers would
board. As soon as the airplane moved away from the gate, Reece rested
her head against the leather headrest, closed her eyes, and allowed
herself to drift off. It seemed now that the long week was finally
catching up with her.
She
woke enough to refuse when an attendant approached her to ask about
refreshments. As she laid her head back, the two pilots in the front
row stood and walked toward the cockpit. That’s a bit out of the
ordinary, Reece thought sleepily.
She
heard a step and looked backward down the aisle. Through the curtain
that separated first class from coach, stepped the two young men she
had seen earlier. They didn’t stop, but walked toward the cockpit.
Now, she was a little concerned. Both men looked extremely somber.
She noticed their blue eyes. Very blue eyes. They were almost—they
were glowing, like sapphires reflecting the light.
Reece
looked around at her fellow passengers, but no one seemed to notice
anything strange. In fact, no one seemed to notice anything at all;
they all stared straight ahead like mannequins, and the flight
attendants were nowhere to be seen.
Now
the two men were in the cockpit. Must be crowded with six in there,
Reece thought nervously. Her heart beat faster.
The
aircraft then went through an odd array of motions. It banked hard in
one direction, and then immediately dropped. Reece’s stomach
reacted instantly, and she gripped the armrests so tightly there
should have been finger dents in them. The plane was climbing now.
She looked for some comfort from the other passengers, but found
none. Everyone in the cabin was expressionless and stoic, staring
blankly ahead. Reece began to wonder if it could all be some strange
dream.
Just
then, the plane lunged sharply forward; it felt as though they were
in a nose dive, speeding back down toward the Earth. Suddenly, a
flash of light lit up the cabin, blinding Reece. While she was still
dazed, another blinding flash lit the cabin.
After
the two bright flashes, the airplane started to level out. The lights
in the cabin flickered. It seemed the bright lights were the cause of
the electrical malfunctions in the aircraft. Or was it the other way
around? At any rate, they were not heading downward anymore.
Reece
began to calm down. The plane flew smoothly without any more abrupt
movements. Quiet conversations sounded around her, and she felt as
though she were waking from a trance. The cabin was dark, and the
people around her were talking to each other with concern.
A
voice came over the intercom. “Good evening, passengers. This is
your pilot speaking. It seems that our aircraft is experiencing
various forms of technical difficulty. There is no need for any undue
concern, but to err on the side of caution, we have requested, and
have been granted, clearance to return to Philadelphia. We are en
route there now. I ask that all passengers remain seated until we
return the aircraft safely to the ground.”
Reece
remained quiet; she did not know what to believe. Shortly after the
pilot made his announcement, the airplane began its descent. Once
safely on the ground again and the airplane slowly returned to an
open gate, the pilot came over the intercom again, thanking the
passengers for their cooperation and expressing his apologies for the
inconvenience. Reece sat in shock and wondered if it had been a
dream. Dream or reality, I want off this plane, she thought, and she
grabbed her backpack.
As
she followed the group back into the airport, she noticed the two
young men again, walking ahead of her. The blond man was acting as if
he had just got off a plane in Las Vegas after a winning streak, but
the dark one seemed uninterested in his friend’s enthusiasm. They
stopped, both of them staring down at some object in the dark one’s
hand. Reece looked at them speculatively. They raised their heads
simultaneously, looking directly at her. She could not pull her
questioning eyes away from them, wondering if they were the cause of
the airplane’s malfunctioning. They returned her gaze, seemingly as
interested in her as she was in them. Everything in her wanted to
stop and question them, but for fear of making a fool of herself, she
turned her attention back to the crowd in front of her and continued
to walk past them. Before turning the corner, she turned back one
last time. They were both staring intently at her. The dark blond
smiled at her warmly. There seemed to be more behind his smile than
just politeness.
After
Reece managed to secure another flight out for the next morning, she
called Jack for a ride home from the airport. She hated to bother him
again, and should probably just take a cab ride home, but she’d
rather not be in the presence of strangers after what she had just
experienced. Jack had wasted no time returning to pick her up, and
she was grateful for it. The distress of the strange flight started
to diminish as soon as she was away from the airport.
Jack
dropped Reece of at her apartment. “Marti’s later?” he asked.
It
was their usual coffee shop. “Sure.” she smiled at him. “Lori
will bring Mitch; think you can stand it?”
He
clasped his hands dramatically. “Ah, my broken heart!” Then he
reverted to his normal voice. “Pick you up at six, okay?”
Reece
dumped her backpack at the door, plopped down onto the sofa, and
turned on the television. She dropped her purse to the floor next to
her and grabbed the remote. Flipping through the channels, she found
a sea life documentary to watch. Graceful dolphins, swimming,
swimming... Suddenly, she felt as if it were three in the morning;
she could hardly keep her eyes open. She let her body relax and
closed her eyes.
She
woke abruptly from a dreamless sleep, thinking she’d heard the
door. She sat up, looking toward the door, expecting Lori to enter.
There was no sign of Lori, and no sign the door had been opened. The
deadbolt remained in the locked position.
Old
building noises. She sank back into the sofa, pulling over her the
blanket they kept draped over the back. She leaned over to grab the
remote control from the coffee table.
Something
moved. In the kitchen? It was just a glimpse, out of the corner of
her eye. She sat back, taking slow breaths. Probably nothing. She
stared into the kitchen—open to the living room, with a counter
between.
Phone.
She picked up her purse and fumbled around for her cell phone. As she
retrieved the phone, she looked up and was stupefied by the figure
standing in front of her. She tried to blink it away, but it
remained; solid, unmoving.
“Dad?”
she whispered.
She
stared in amazement at the image of her father, standing in her
living room. He didn’t move, or respond to her. He stood there,
expressionless, as if he was studying her.
Reece
felt as if a heavy weight had landed on her, instantly paralyzing
her. She could not do anything except stare at him. He was wearing
the clothes he had worn the last time she saw him; dark brown slacks,
and a crisp, blue shirt.
Suddenly,
he smiled his heartwarming smile.
Reece’s
eyes filled with tears, and the image blurred. She’d forgotten how
much she missed him. She felt a flood of repressed emotions far
greater than those she’d feared her trip to San Diego would evoke.
His face, his presence, and his smile brought back vivid memories of
him and their life together; memories she had tried to set aside so
she could function without him. These were the memories that made her
wonder how she could go through the rest of her life alone.
Frightened
by the realization that her deceased father standing in front of her,
she squeezed her eyes shut, hoping this image would go away.
Strangely, the weight lifted slowly, and she regained control of her
large muscles. When she dared to open her eyes, he was gone. She felt
both frustration and relief. Was her perpetual anxiety over her
impending trip causing hallucinations now? She needed to get hold of
herself.
Slam!
Reece leaped off the sofa and turned back toward the door.
“Geez,
girl! What are you doing here?” It was Lori, jumping back into the
doorway and dropping her Keys.
With
her hand over her heart, Lori stared at Reece in shock. Reece was the
mirror image of Lori, with her hand covering her chest. She took a
deep calming breath. “Sorry Lori, my flight was pushed out until
tomorrow. The plane had issues or something.”
Lori
let out a sigh of relief and bent over to pick up her Keys. “Well,
that’s…” she started.
“Never
a good thing, I know.” Reece finished her sentence.
An
hour later, they were all in Jack’s car. He drove the car as if he
were in a high-speed chase.
“Slow
it down, Jack,” Reece said. “I knew I should have taken own my
car,” she muttered to Lori who sat next to her in the back seat.
Lori
smiled and leaned forward to put a hand on Mitch’s shoulder.
“You’re driving next time, honey.”
“Hey,”
said Mitch, “I’m actually enjoying myself. It’s not every day I
get to jump into a classic ‘67 Camaro SS. I’m curious, how fast
can these cars really go?”
A
large smile stretched across Jack’s face. “I can fix your
curiosity if you’d like.”
Lori
exhaled ostentatiously. “Why don’t you do that after you drop us
off, Jack? Then you both can go kill yourselves together. What is it
with men and cars?”
Reece
shrugged her shoulders. More talk about cars would just encourage
Jack to do something stupid. “Hey, what do you guys think about
going to dinner instead of coffee? I’m not really in the mood to
sit in a coffee shop right now. School’s out and we’ve spent
enough time there studying for finals.”
Lori
smiled. “Good call, Reece. I’m hungry, anyways. Let’s go to
that new Italian restaurant. It’s supposed to be nice.”
Jack
laughed and responded. “Whatever you women want, I’m just the
driver.” he looked toward Mitch. “You cool with that, Mitch? Oh
wait, never mind, you’re always cool with anything.”
He
tried to make eye contact with Reece in the rearview mirror. Reece
ignored him pointedly, looking out the window.
They
were stopped at a red light, a block south of the restaurant.
Pedestrians hurried past on the sidewalks. Two of them—What?—two
of them were the young men who’d been on the airplane. Reece’s
heart raced.
“Reece?
What are you staring at?” Lori had grabbed her arm.
“What?
Um, well, there was… it’s just...” She turned back to look out
the window, and the two men were gone.
“Just
what, Reece?” Lori said, trying to look past Reece out the window.
“Oh,
nothing. My mind was somewhere else. I’m sorry, what were you
saying?”
Lori
laughed. “Girl, you need a cocktail or something! You’re starting
to act delirious.” she laughed, but her eyes showed concern.
“I
just need to eat something; it’s been a long day.”
The
restaurant’s parking lot was full. “Well, of course, this place
is packed! Hopefully, the garage we passed has a spot available.”
Jack huffed. “You girls need to learn how to cook dinner or
something. By the time it takes me to park, you both could have
cooked and served us men a nice, healthy meal.” He spun the car
back down an alley to find more parking.
“We
‘girls’?” said Lori. “You ‘men’? Learn to cook yourself,
Jack! Until then, just park the car and quit complaining, or you can
wait with it until we finish.” They pulled into an extra parking
area and found a spot. Before he was out of his car, Jack noticed
another car nearby. “Are you serious!” he said, walking up to it.
“Check out this car, guys. It’s like some prototype or
something.”
Mitch
walked over to the car while Reece and Lori stared at them both,
annoyed by the delay.
Lori
called out to them, “It’s nice, Jack. What is it, a Porsche or
something?”
Jack
laughed as he walked the length of the sporty black car. “It’s
not a Porsche. I’ve never read, or heard, about anything like this!
I wonder whose it is; this car has to be worth well over a hundred
thousand bucks!”
As
he walked closer, the car emitted a warning sound. Reece crossed her
arms. “Jack, can we GO? You are most likely about to meet the
owner; I’m sure it has some kind of pager. I’m ready to eat.”
Jack’s
head snapped up, and he walked away from the car; turning back over
and over, as if he wanted to check it out one more time.
Once
inside the restaurant, they were seated in a secluded, candle-lit
nook behind a red brick archway. While waiting for their orders, they
engaged in conversation about their challenging finals earlier that
day. As usual, Jack entertained the group with his natural humor. It
was definitely the environment Reece needed to take her mind off of
the strange events from earlier.
In
the midst of her laughter, Reece glanced up to see if the waitress
was returning with their meals, only to be frozen in shock. Across
the way, the two men from the plane were sitting at a table which
faced theirs. The blond man was staring directly at her, and when she
tried to act as though she hadn’t noticed them, he raised his wine
glass in her direction and smiled.
She
looked back to Lori and Mitch sitting across from her, trying to
shake herself into reality. Are they following me? Who are these
guys?
Lori
looked at her quizzically. “Reece, are you okay? You look like
you’ve seen a ghost.”
Reece
shook her head and tightened her fist angrily. This could not be
happening.
“What
do you need?” Jack said. “I’ll get the waitress. Why are you so
tense?”
Reece
heard all of their voices like echoes in the background as she pulled
herself together. She closed her eyes and unclenched her fists.
“Water,” she said softly. “I just wanted to see if refills were
coming.”
She
had to pull it together, and she would do it now. Reece would not
allow these men to intimidate her in anyway. Whether or not these two
interesting men had anything to do with the strange occurrences on
the plane, or if they were following her now, she would prove to them
she wasn’t afraid of them. Inwardly she was concerned, but she
would not let them see that.
Jack
was the one to break the silence. “All of this over a glass of
water? Stay here; I’ll go get the waitress.” Reece clutched his
hand. “Sheesh, Reece, can you release the death grip? I won’t
make a scene, but Lori’s right; you look like you’ve had a
paranormal experience or something.”
Shortly
thereafter, the waitress appeared with refills, followed by other
staff with their plates. Jack sat back, and once the staff left,
Reece laughed. “Sorry guys, it has been a very long day. I think I
just need to eat. This food smells delicious, doesn’t it?”
Her
friends looked worried. She knew they’d never seen her act this
way. And quite frankly, she was beginning to worry herself.
Reece
ignored their discomfort. She started in on her plate, took a bite,
and smiled brilliantly. “Guys, stop staring at me, we don’t need
any more drama.” she laughed as she took another bite, “Now, what
were we talking about before I almost melted down over a glass of
water?”
Jack
didn’t hesitate to break up the awkward moment. While he continued
to relax everyone at the table with his humor, Reece reached for her
glass of wine. She felt the eyes of the men stealing glances at her,
and now it was time to show them, they didn’t intimidate her.
She
looked over at their table. Both men were engaged in conversation,
but must have noticed Reece watching them. The dark haired man looked
over at her, bringing the blond one’s eyes to follow his gaze.
After Reece had the blond man’s attention, she arched her brow,
raised her wineglass to him, and smiled with confidence. The darker
one’s lips turned up slightly, while he brought his attention back
to his friend, the one who Reece was gazing directly at. The blond
chuckled softly, and returned her smile with amusement. Then, without
another glance back to Reece, he returned to his plate before him.
Handsome
or not, Reece was annoyed that these two mysterious men were playing
games with her. It was best if she just ignored them from here on
out. She knew if she didn’t, it would not take much for her to walk
over to their table and start demanding answers. With that in mind,
she engaged herself in the lively conversation her friends were now
having, and ignored any desire to return her attention back to the
men.
The
rest of dinner was uneventful, and Jack entertained everyone so well
that they seemed to forget about Reece’s odd behavior.
Back
at the apartment, Reece wished Lori a good night, and fell into bed.
The alarm clock would ring soon enough.
About
the Author:
International
Award winning author S. L. Morgan grew up in the beautiful Sierra
Nevada mountains of California. Over the past nine years, she and her
husband, Jason Morgan, their three kids moved throughout the United
States. Recently, S.L. Morgan was blessed to move back to her
hometown of Oakhurst California where she is currently editing the
third book in the Ancient Guardians Novel Series.
S.L.
Morgan was born telling vivid and long stories to anyone who would
listen. With a personality that is extremely driven, she finally
decided to put her stories to paper. With her passion and love for
Jane Austen classics and the wonderful imaginative books from C.S.
Lewis, she created the new Novel Series, Ancient Guardians.
Recently
S.L. Morgan has been honored with awards for The Legacy of the Key,
winning the 2014 Reader’s Favorite Silver medal for Fiction:
Supernatural and also winning gold in the Global eBook awards for
Fiction: Fantasy Romance. The Legacy of the Key was also a recipient
of four 5-star review seals from Reader’s Favorite reviews.
With
her second book in the series published, receiving a 5-star seal from
Reader’s Favorite Reviews and now a nominee for the Global e-book
award, S.L. Morgan is currently working on edits for the third book
in her series.
When
not entirely consumed by writing and editing, S.L. Morgan absolutely
loves to be out on her boat in the summer or hitting the slopes in
when winter comes around. She prides herself in her Starbucks Gold
card and is convinced this series would have never made it to
publishing without a Venti Café Americano.
With
a profound love for her family, life and friends; S.L. Morgan enjoys
every minute of every day, endeavoring to live her life at its
fullest. With a very open and friendly personality, she enjoys
interacting with her reader’s and helping those in need.
Humbled
with every book review, be them good or bad, S.L. Morgan continues to
write in her series with the hopes of entertaining more and more
reader’s everyday.
Website:
www.slmorganauthor.com
Facebook
Page: https://www.facebook.com/slmorganauthor
Book
Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/AncientGuardiansLegacyOfTheKey
Twitter:
@slmorgan1
Tour giveaway 2 autographed copies with custom ribbon book marks that have a silver Key charm on one end and a silver arrow charm on the other side.
These charms match particular items/themes in the book. Open to US Shipping
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Enjoyed the first chapter thank you for sharing it. It dove right into everything! Might have to look it up later.
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