The Demon's Grave (The Demon's Grave #1) by by E.M. MacCallum
Publication Date: May 31st, 2015
Genre: Paranormal
Pages: 435
~Summary~
When strange shadows and messages plague Nora's daily life she fears for her sanity. To escape questions from her family, Nora joins her friends on a weekend getaway. Despite not liking Aidan Birket, Nora finds his remote, Victorian house charming. Until they discover the marble doorway on the third floor and, against Nora's better judgment, they open it.
Trespassing into an unfamiliar world called the Demon's Grave, the group face a charismatic demon and six nightmarish Challenges as punishment. Those that make it to the end can go home, but those that don't will be his forever. Friendships are tested, secrets revealed and sacrifices will be made.
Nora battles zombies, doppelgängers, eyeless bikers, and the demon—whose interests are more than just a game of cat and mouse. If it's all in her head, then it should be easy. But, if not, it means the demon knows about her sticky past, and the death of her twin sister.
I turned the other way in my seat to look. Instant dizzying waves slapped me in the face and I touched my cheek feeling that my skin wasn't just warm, it was hot. Dropping my face in both hands, I wondered if I needed to vomit. Peeking up at my friends through splayed fingers I said behind them. "Guys, we want to get out of here."
"Wait a second," Read said.
Aidan took three strides toward Phoebe and Read to study the new find. "It's a door," he announced.
That's it, I finally lost it. I'm wandering around in my head right now and I bet Phoebe is back downstairs explaining to the rest of my friends that I had a family history of hallucinations and it was bound to happen one day.
This strange door was small, maybe four-feet-tall, if that. I was reminded of the one fromAlice in Wonderland.
Off the deep end, here I go. I giggled behind my hands at the thought.
Our new door had a brass knob that was as big as an eight ball. It wasn't wooden like the door downstairs. It was a pale-blue marble, the color of...the color of Aidan's eyes. It was as smooth and shiny as glass, reflecting the candles and single flashlight. I could see Phoebe and Aidan's reflections in the gleaming surface.
"Open it," Phoebe whispered loud enough for us all to hear though she was talking to Aidan.
Aidan looked back at me. "Should I?" He asked.
I wasn't sure why he was asking me. Maybe because he knew I wasn't feeling well and wanted out too.
My eyes trailed to the messages. I shook my head but at the same time, said. "Sure, why not?" The minute they escaped I knew those words weren't mine.
Touching my mouth with my shaking hands, my lips felt numb. I wanted to yell, "NO!" Instead I wheezed.
Down, down, down the rabbit hole.
Aidan had turned back to the marble door and reached for the knob.
He turned it as if it might crumble beneath his palm, it sounded like two smooth stones grinding together. I jumped out of the chair, spooking Robin. She toppled back as I tried to scream.
Not even a whimper escaped my throat.
"Guys..." Robin called, her eyes on me while everyone else seemed focused on the new find. Everyone except for Cody. He was trying to get out of his chair behind me, but seemed to have lost control of his legs. He couldn't run and I couldn't scream to warn them.
The swelling panic brought on a strange warmth inside my stomach. At first it was ignorable, until I felt a pinch of pain, as if the warmth were growing too hot. Maybe I really did have to vomit.
Grabbing the armrest with my fingernails, I prepared myself to retch over the side when something happened. I can only describe it as a burst of energy escaping.
One second I thought I was going to vomit and the next, the hot acid rippled up my throat and was gone, as if it were never there but I was weakened somehow. The dizziness that almost had me to my knees evaporated along with it.
Choking, I half expected pain when I swallowed, but instead found my voice. "Stop!" The hoarse scream was worthless.
Aidan swung open the door and a shrieking wind exploded into the room.
~About The Author~
I love long walks through bookstores, tea, gothic themes, Halloween, Disney, and almost everything on the Discovery Channel.
"The Demon's Grave" is my first novel, published June 2, 2015. Book Two "Midnight Ruling" was July 2015 & Book Three, "The Haunting" will be out late August 2015
My previously published novella "Zombie-Killer Bill" will be re-released October 2015.
If you'd like to know more please visit my website:
http://www.emmaccallum.com
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