Blurb:
In
Kindred we find the Damuzi twins settling into their new home with Kori Lark’s
family. Desperate to keep the dangerous truth of their identity a secret,
Charlie and Tirigan educate themselves on everything that was kept from them,
while delving deeper into their mother’s past.
In the future, Tirigan is dealing
with the complicated emotions that overwhelm him after the events of Passage.
In an attempt to control the situation, Tirigan turns inward and cuts himself
off from those who need him most.
By the time Charlie and Tirigan’s
timeline’s merge, a burning mystery is solved, and more than one relationship
begins to unravel.
Friendship. Trust. Dependency.
Lies.
The Damuzi twin’s story
continues.
Excerpt:
“Sorry for taking over your
room,” I tell him, walking until the hallway ends in a slatted wooden door. I
push it open as Oleander sighs dramatically behind me.
“Yes. I am incredibly put out.
You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
Even though Oleander laughs, a
jolt of guilt runs through me. He must see my regret in the sudden tension of
my shoulders, because the Gyan’s laugh immediately disappears.
“I’m kidding, of course.” He
places a hand on my shoulder, essentially swallowing it whole and forcing me to
look up at him. “I’m thrilled to give you my room, Charlie. Over the moon about
it. Really! Are you in the market for a new limb, by chance? Because I’ve got a
couple with your name on them.”
“My name? Really?” I tease,
challenge in my eyes despite the kindness in his.
“Don’t believe me?” Oleander’s
brow’s raises comically. “Have a look, yourself.”
The tall Gyan raises his arms out
as much as he can in the small hallway, exposing his forearms. There, written
in long, flourishing strokes, is my name.
“How?” The question escapes
before I can think better of it. Oleander searches my baffled expression for
what feels like several minutes. I haven’t a clue what he finds there, but
whatever it is makes him smile ruefully.
“You really don’t know what
you’re capable of. Do you?”
“I… I guess not. No,” I respond
quietly. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize, Charlie.”
Oleander shakes his head. “You are who you are.”
A reluctant interview with twins Charlie and
Tirigan Damuzi, protagonists of The Akasha Series. Interview given by Avias
Rallidae, good friend of the twins, and conducted after the events of Kindred: Book II of The Akasha Series.
Avias: “Ah, if
it isn’t my favorite aliens. Are you ready for the interview?”
Charlie: “Why are
we doing this again?”
Tirigan:
“Technically, we’re only half Anunnaki. Alien hybrids would be more accurate.”
Avias: “Right.
Shall we begin?”
Charlie
shrugs. Tirigan simply blinks until Avias break the silence again. Each twin
looks equally put out by the interview Avias has so kindly offered to conduct.
Avias: “So, why
don’t you tell us a little about yourselves. How you came to be where you are,
and what your goals are.”
Charlie: “This is
stupid.”
Tirigan: “You are
fully aware of this information and our present circumstances. I must concur
with my sister. This is extremely foolish and a waste-”
Avias (speaking through his teeth): “For the sake of our audience, just answer the damn questions, will you?”
Charlie: “Fine.
We’re Charlie and Tirigan Damuzi, children of a lying alien and a secretive
human.”
Tirigan:
“Anunnaki and Tessera to be more exact.”
Charlie:
“Whatever. Our mother was kidnapped and our father left us in a monster
infested forest. We didn’t know what we were until we were seventeen. That’s
when we got our powers back.”
Tirigan: “That’s
when we received our powers, yes, but we didn’t really understand the full
extent of them for some time. We are still adjusting.”
Avias: “And
your purpose? Goals? “
Charlie:
“Avoid
the people that did everything they could to ensure we’d never exist, and now
want us dead, all while we try to reunite our family.”
Tirigan: “And
perhaps not endure unnecessary and extremely odd interviews such as this in the
future.”
Avias
rolls his eyes so viciously, one might fear permanent brain damage.
Charlie:
“And
maybe, in the future, we could make some better friends.”
Avias: “Okay!
Next question. How exactly did we come into acquaintance?”
Tirigan: “We met
at the solstice festival the Tessera hold twice a year. Our mother left us a
letter that instructed us to find your father, Kori.”
Charlie: “Which
was insanely easy to do, by the way. I’m still not over that.”
Avias: “No one
is.”
Tirigan:
“Your
father and mother took us in, and now we live with you, your parents, your
brother Robin, your sisters Bo and Cyra, as well as your best friend Oleander,
who moved from New Cardiff to Pacoa with your family two years ago.”
Charlie: “Kor’s
promised to help us look for our mother, while the rest of you help educate us
on the powers we never knew we had.”
Avias: “Can you
speak a little more on those powers?”
Tirigan: “Yes.”
Avias: ”...”
Charlie
huffs out something inane, as she often does.
Charlie
(after several moments of
stubborn silence): “Unlike
fully human Tessera, we have the ability to invoke all four elements. Whereas,
plebeians such as yourself, can only invoke one. Avias purses his lips, but does not respond to the rude and extremely
inaccurate comment. We also have accelerated healing powers because of our
Anunnaki blood, and will outlive you by at least three hundred years.”
Tirigan: “We
cannot, however, transfer any of the four elemental powers into the stones
Tessera use to extend their power to others. We can only transfer-”
Avias: “Not so
fast, Tirigan. We musn’t give away all your secrets.”
Tirigan: “My
patience with this game is wearing thin.”
Avias:
“Alright, one last question! How are you feeling going into the next part of
your story?”
Charlie: “I’m
feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, suspicious of everyone, and maybe a little
turned on. It’s complicated.”
Tirigan
(side-eyes his sister’s response, appalled): “I
am feeling determined, hopeful, and perhaps also experiencing some level of
shame for certain actions.”
Charlie (staring at her brother mischievously):
“Nothing else, Tir?”
Tirigan: “No, I’d
say that’s sufficient.” (He shifts
awkwardly in his chair, blushes adorably)
Charlie: “So you
and Avias haven’t been flirting since-”
Avias: “Right
then! Interview over. Carry on!”
Read The Akasha Series from the beginning!
Books I & II, Passage & Kindred, are free today and tomorrow
(4/15 & 4/16) on Kindle. Look for the first character companion novella
this fall, entitled Captive. The
third book in the series, Salvage,
will be released in 2020.
Don’t forget to visit the other stops on the tour.
Author Bio and Links:
Indie Gantz grew up in Northern
Virginia and received her Psychology degree at George Mason University. Despite
her passion and curiosity for the human mind, Indie left her chosen field of
study to finally give voice to the many imagined minds she has created.
Indie lives with her family in
North Carolina. She spends her days drinking tea and clacking keys.
