Alex Mckenna and The Academy of Souls
The Dead Need Him
After surviving a harrowing case, Alex McKenna just wanted to rest. Unfortunately, his plans are interrupted by the ghost of Seven-year-old Haven, who is lost in an in-between realm.
Despite his great-grandmother’s warning, Alex crosses the bridge between the living and the dead, sending him and his girlfriend into the world of the Academy of Souls, a high school for dead teens who are unable to complete their journey.
There, Alex meets Ophelia, Haven’s teenage sister, who’s been searching for her for more than a century. Together, with a few friends he meets along the way, Alex must cross the treacherous terrain of the Underworld in-between, to save Haven from the clutches of the Soul Gatherer and reunite the sisters.
Excerpt:
The streetlamps illuminated the black empty sea of asphalt. A quiet calm laced the row of sleepy houses. Alex reveled in the tranquility. So much noise constantly filling his head, any semblance of stillness wrapped around his mind like a child’s favorite blanket.
In the center of the glass, a small sphere of light caught his attention. At
first, he thought it was in the yard. Leaning forward and squinting, he realized it was a reflection coming from directly behind him.
Jumping up, he spun around. Growing in diameter, it was beginning to spin.
“Hey, whatcha doin?” Margaret said groggily.
“Stop. Babe, slowly move to your left and come over here by me.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
Margaret gingerly slid to the left as Alex instructed, and then quickly scurried by his side. “What do you see?”
“It’s the vortex opening, the gateway to that girl, Ophelia.”
“Alex, please be careful. Remember what your Gram said. Don’t get too close,” Margaret pleaded.
“She’s there, it looks like a bedroom.”
“What’s she doing?”
“Sitting on the bed, she’s covering her ears.”
The wind whipped around the vortex howling like a wolf speaking to the full moon.
“I don’t hear anything?” Margaret turned to Alex.
“It’s like a high-pitched howl. It’s deafening. Wait. It’s quieting down. She sees me.”
“What’s she doing now?”
“She’s coming closer.”
Alex leaned closer to the anomaly.
“Alex, back up.” Margaret tugged at his t-shirt.
“Babe. I gotta do this. Please. Let go of my shirt.”
Margaret reluctantly let the fabric fall from her fingertips.
Alex inched closer.
“You are Alex McKenna, right?” Ophelia asked.
The anxious teen widened her eyes in anticipation.
“Yes. I’ve seen Haven. Who is she?”
“She is my sister.”
“I think she’s in trouble,” said Alex.
Ophelia floated off the bed and stood directly in front of the entrance to the living.
“I’ve been searching for her for years. She was taken by a man, a Soul Gatherer. I think she is counting on you to help.”
“I think she is, too.”
“Can you?” Ophelia’s eyes widened.
“I can try. Where are you? Is it The Academy of Souls?”
Ophelia’s chin dropped.
“Yes. You know about my school?”
“I do.”
“Oh no.”
“What is it?’
“The gateway. It’s closing!” Ophelia shouted.
Alex heard the desperation in her voice as he helplessly watched the circle shrink. The wind cried out once again, as it violently thrashed around the outer edges of the bridge between the dimensions.
“I have to go.” Alex tasted Margaret’s lips. “I’ll be back soon.”
“What the hell? No. Alex. You can’t,” Margaret shrieked.
“I love you,” his voice trailed.
Alex stepped into the center of the storm. The vision of Ophelia rippled, traveling
to the rim of the circle, and splashing into the void. “This shield is my power to protect against evil, this shield keeps out harm. No dark entities shall pass through this shield. As I will it, so shall it be.”
Sawing to fill his lungs with air, he pushed forward and landed on the floor of the dorm room. Gazing up, Ophelia stood in front of him, her mouth wide open.
“Ugh. My head hurts. Where are we?” a voice echoed.
Alex winced. His heart punching the walls of his chest. Whipping his head around in a frenzy, Margaret was lying on the floor beside him.
“No, no, no, no. What the fuck, il mio amore.” Alex scrambled to her side.
Ophelia moved closer. With her pointer finger, she quickly poked his shoulder and
retracted.
Alex didn’t respond. His focus was Margaret.
“How could you do this? Why did you do this?” his voice strained.
“I couldn’t let you go without me.”
Alex kissed away the saltiness from her cheeks. With the back of his sleeve, he gently patted dry her eyes.
“Alex?” Ophelia murmured.
The couple turned to the bewildered Ophelia Wetherton.
Looks good. Can’t wait to read it.
Thank you. This one is special to me, it was a long road for a family member battling cancer while I was writing it. Sadly, she lost her battle but a piece of her will forever live in Amry.
Thank you!
Sounds like a great read.
Thank you! I hope you gt the chance to read it.
Love it! sounds like an amazing read!
Thank you! Good luck with the contest and I hope you get a chance to read Alex’s adventure across the divide!
The book sounds awesome! Love the eye-catching cover!
Thanks! My publisher has an awesome cover artist, I love how they carry the theme with each new book of the series.
This books cover is amazing , thank you for the chance
Thank you! And you’re welcome! Good luck and I hope you get a chance to read the book.
I like the cover. The blurb sounds good. I love the paranormal genre. Thanks for the chance.
Thanks! Good luck!
Sounds good. Thank you for the chance.
Good luck and thank you! I enjoyed writing Alex’s journey to the Underworld. LOL
It sounds very interesting!
Thanks!!
Good book cover-I think I will read this book
Thank you! I hope you do and check out the FREE novella Ophelia, on Amazon. It’s a companion novella to the book and an introduction to The Academy of Souls.
Looks like great read. Would love to read and review in print format.
This book sounds great. Can’t wait to read.
Thanks and good luck!
Your book sounds interesting! Thanks for the chance!
I hope you do and thanks!
Sounds really interesting.
Thank you!!
Sounds good!!
Sounds Great!
Great choice of cover art
Thank you! I’ll pass that along to my publisher.
Love the cover and blurb.
Thank you! I love the how the cover artist carries the theme through the series.
I’m agreeing with everyone else! I’m excited to read this and adding to my tbr!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it and reach out afterward, I’d love to hear from you!
This sounds like a fun read,I can’t wait to read it!
Looking forward reading it. Excellent cover.
Whoa! A high school for dead teens? This book sounds amazing!
Thank you! I hope you get the chance to read it!
sounds so good.
Sounds like a very complex world to escape to. I would have loved this to have existed when I was a teenager.
Thanks! It’s fun to tap into my inner teen when I’m writing. LOL
Sure like the cover!
Sounds great! Like the cover!
Keep up the good work!
This sounds like a great book. The excerpt really grabbed my attention! So did the blurb and the cover!
I need a good winter read….
Wow, thank you everyone for stopping by!
Looks like a great read !!
It does look interesting.
I am enjoying these tours and finding all the terrific books my family is enjoying reading. Thanks for bringing them to us and keeping up the good work.
I downloaded the Ophelia novella — thanks for the tip on a new author! I enjoy ghost stories.