Blood Captures the Light

Blood Captures the Light The SoulBlood Series, Book 6 Brenna Harlow Copyright Copyright © 2023 by Brenna Harlow All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. Contents Dedication Prologue 1. Ren 2. Thea 3. Ren 4. Thea 5. Ren 6. Thea 7. Ren 8. Thea 9. Thea 10. Ren 11. Thea 12. Ren 13. Thea 14. Ren 15. Thea 16. Ren 17. Thea 18. Ren 19. Thea 20. Thea 21. Ren 22. Norvyc Reviews Help Indie Authors Author's Note Pre-order the Next Installment Also By Brenna Harlow Dedication To the loves of my life. My partner. My daughter. With love and light, I wish you happiness for eternity. Prologue Thea Being indifferent isn’t always easy, especially when it means ignoring the itch on the back of your non-existent neck. The others and I have felt that itch increase lately, as if something above needs dire attention. It’s been eons since the last great purge, and now we’re hoping the worst hasn’t befallen the humans again. Famine, natural disasters, and space rocks are all threats to our blessed lands. They happen often, and yet… This shift doesn’t feel quite the same. We’ve remained hidden in our land beneath the land, shrouded by stone and crystalline walls. Our inner lights brighten our reflective surroundings, and by gazing into the shimmering gems, we receive visions of what is happening above. Flashes of red are all I’ve seen for many moons. I’m involved with a vision such as this when She approaches. The Mother of all mothers. A reflection of myself, and yet I’m only a fraction of the love she emanates. Each time she approaches, something within me brightens, as if I’m coming more into my power by simply witnessing hers. Her illuminance is brilliant; her wispy form lighting our dark cavern as her internal glow bounces between clusters of large purple amethysts deep within the Earth. Our translucent forms greet each other with a ceremonial twinkle often passed between our kind; the watchers of this land. The creators, protectors, and prosecutors. And as of late, we’ve been slacking. I, much like most of my fellow group-mates, have been directionless in our task to restore balance to the Earth. We simply don’t know where to start. She kneels before me, her formless wisps of light flowing through the cavern like a thin sheet of mist. We’ve all noticed the change, Mother says. Her voiceless thoughts travel between us, whispering through my mind. And now it is time for you to fix it, my sweet Thea. My light vibrates at her praise, humming as my form blushes, flashing the color of pink mimosa petals. Me? Won’t the others help as well? Mother’s light branches out, stroking mine. The contact fills me with purpose; with an overwhelming sense of serenity. My essences’ vibration increases. You are all we need, my dear. Things are changing, and like the water, we must adapt. You’re meant for this task. Her words send a surge of excited pride over me. Whatever trepidation I had vanishes, being replaced with determination. I was created for this task. The Earth needs me. Our creations, our children, need me. The living, expanding Earth is in trouble, and as beings of Light, we are supposed to guard this spinning rock. Our jobs are important, and I’ve just received the ultimate task. I will not disappoint you. The Mother smiles down at me, her ethereal glow pulsating. You never do, my love. Like most other things, hurt was just an expression while in the comforts of my glimmering, sacred home. Now it is an experience. One moment, Mother is wishing me well on my journey as I stand at the foot of the gap in our crystal cave. Evolve, my Thea, She had said. Evolve, prosper, and save the beauty of tomorrow. Then, after stepping inside, I'm enveloped in heat. One last glance at Mother’s white flowing spirit is all I remember before my life becomes centered on feelings versus sight. It was a pleasant experience at first. Warmth spread through me despite the crevasse being devoid of light. The heating tickle made me think of humans as they soaked beneath the sun's energy at the ocean's edge. But the heat soon turned into a blaze, searing through my soul like it was shredding my essence before stitching it together again. If I could have screamed, I would have, but I found myself so deep in shock no reaction would surface. Eventually, the burning lessened, and I was aware of the strange sensation of movement. My soul was lifting. No, my body. I could now feel tingles over my new form. Squeezing my hands together, I felt the bite of my nails as they dug into my palm. I wondered if I would be beautiful like humans. Would my body be like theirs? Or would it be so otherworldly I'd scare them upon first contact? I hoped the former would be true. I erupted with a rattling crash. A momentary sense of weightlessness jolted my stomach, and then I was falling. Falling fast. The impact was more painful than the burn I felt in the beginning. Sharp edges from inside my dark vessel cut into my new skin, slicing and grating over my body. I thought I was finally experiencing the act of dying, something I had romanticized eons ago, before taking my task as a light worker seriously. But this was not the time nor the place. Dying was only a pleasant thought when your tasks on Earth were finished, not before they had even begun. Surely Mother wouldn't allow my departure so early. I blocked out the pain by thinking of her. Mother trusts me. Mother loves me. I am Mother and she is I. And then my small containment cracked. The quiet shattering turned into ear-splitting bursts of energy as I