The Crystal Crux Series tale unfolds in ten days over five books.
Betrayal
Blue Grotto
Cold Knight
Shimmer
Beautiful

Today, August 14, 2026
is exactly 828 years after the first day in my book series.
The year was 1198.

I decided early on to begin each day of the series with a scripture I felt sort of captured the essence of something major happening in the story on that day.

On DAY TWO, the damage has been done. Pero is trapped in the sanctuary prison while his nightmares and memories continue to punish him, shades not letting down, hissing and haunting him.
Anthea watched Capua burn. She believes she is the only survivor, a useless sentinel, a ghoul of grey stone on a cathedral roof. And it doesn’t get any better for her as Rugerius Fabbro takes her to Capri and the Blue Grotto to be experimented on by ghoulish magician.
Francis Whitehall, his family dead, is traipsing eastward through the woods with Guidus Salvatore, the former provost of Parthenope following close behind. The two men barely escaped the siege of Capua but they have nothing but the clothes on their backs – and a few gold coins secreted in their clothing and boots.
The enemy is quite satisfied with the results.

I will be counting down all ten days in a row this week and I will offer up one of my favorite paragraphs from each day.
The excerpt below is from the past when Anthea first arrived in Parthenope. She came to the city expecting to marry the Castellan, Rugerius Fabbro. She had no idea the snake pit she was falling into. It was an arranged marriage.
Rugerius wasn’t there to meet her at the dock. They’ve been turning the city upside down trying to find Rugerius.
Rugerius’ father, Gherardus, is left to entertain Anthea and her father until the bastard is found.
Gherardus gets into a stern argument with his Rugerius’ brother, Talento. Gherardus puts his son in his place.

Gherardus snarled at Talento. “Don’t pretend to command me.” He shoved his index finger into his son’s chest hoping it might hurt him. And it did. “You are not your brother, Talento. I can still knock you on your ass.” He got nose to nose with his wiry son and clenched his fist. “I swear you’d be kissing marble right now if not for their presence.” He motioned discreetly to the Manikos.
Bergus smirked, evidently amused.
“Now,” Gherardus finished, “get your ass out there and find him. Put your eyes and your stealthy contacts to good use. Get inside every hostelry, beneath every bedsheet, and locate that goddamn brother of yours.”
Excerpt – Blue Grotto

We get a pay off on this later in the story when Gherardus finds cause to lay his son out like he promised he could. But you’ll have to read the books yourself to find out why.
Talento knows exactly where his despicable brother Rugerius is and what he is doing.
To get back at his father for embarrassing him in front of Bergus, he deceitfully sends his father and the naive bride-to-be to the room where Rugerius is currently sinning.
It doesn’t go well.

I’ll be back tomorrow to post something from Day Three.
Until then, stay inspired and keep reading!