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Sneak Peek: BLOOD OF A DARK NATION by Rashid Darden

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BloodoaDN036

Here is an exclusive excerpt from Blood of a Dark Nation, Rashid Darden’s sequel to the vampire novel Birth of a Dark Nation.

Basildon Park

Micah Leung was in his fifth year as the Butcher’s faithful executive assistant.  He was faithful to his employer in every way, from grocery shopping for the household to making sure all the bills were paid on time.  The Butcher loved being tuned in to every possible news outlet to stay on top of the goings-on of the world, so the cable and internet needed to be operational at all times.

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Sneak Peak: YOURS IN THE BOND by Rashid Darden

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Yours in the Bond teaserYours in the Bond is a novel in progress from Rashid Darden.   Here is an excerpt.

 

“You’re in a really good mood.”

JJ carefully put my camera on the table near the big comfy chair.  He stood up, walked over to the lamp, and turned it off.  In the dark, I saw him slide out of his suit pants and carelessly leave them in a clump on the floor.

“Good mood is an understatement,” he announced.  In an instant, he climbed onto the bed and crawled next to me.  He laid on his stomach, looking up at me while he rested his chin on his folded arms.

“This just might be the most fun I’ve ever had,” he said.

“Me too.”

JJ sniffed the air, his nose scrunching into a little wrinkled brown dot.

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Read THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SAVION CORTEZ by Rashid Darden

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LaDoSC Cover draft

 

i
am
crazy

i was born in diana’s tide
with a caul over my third eye
and my umbilical cord around my neck
i was wet
like the forests of the hesperides
i inhaled and swallowed neptune’s froth
drunk with his children, i envisioned our love
underwater
an octopus crowning your head
we became one

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Read BIRTH OF A DARK NATION by Rashid Darden

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Birth of a Dark Nation Cover

Here is an excerpt from Rashid Darden’s Birth of a Dark Nation.

I stood at attention in between Eşusanya and Aborişade while my mother addressed the entire village for the final time. The sun had just risen and a cool breeze still blew over our land.   The vibrant blue sky and pure white clouds were ill suited for this solemn moment.

“My brothers, my sons, my friends. I stand here before you today with a heart that is both heavy and overjoyed.   It is heavy because I send you out into the world to continue our bloodlines. I say farewell to you, the builders, the soldiers, the philosophers. We will not forget your contributions to this culture. We know that wherever you go, wherever you land, you will keep the heart and soul of the Razadi with you. You will seed your communities with our tenacious spirit.   Our influence will be felt all across the land because of you.

“Even though we will miss you, we know this division is necessary for the survival of us all. Even now, a new generation grows. Olateju will be known as the matriarch of the next generation of our people. May all of you be patriarchs of the worldwide Razadi empire!”

Next to her stood the very pregnant Olateju and her Oyo husband, as well as Haruna, the satisfied general of the Oyo army.

“Ogundiya and Babarinde. Come to me.”

Our most senior leader and his deputy approached my mother. I could not tell what she was whispering to them, but I could see what she presented them: iron casks and two scrolls each.

Nervous whispers fell over the crowd. Were those the scrolls? The fundamental tenets of our beliefs and the history of our origins?

Abeo embraced each man and they rejoined the group, carefully entrusting the casks and the scrolls to their assistants. Abeo then descended into the ranks. She looked carefully into the eyes of about a dozen men, and nodded at them.   She didn’t speak at all.

I knew they were all her sons. So much time had passed in between our births that most of us weren’t terribly close.   They were no more my brothers than my peers were, as each man in our tribe respected one another the same.

She came to me and paused. Tears welled in her eyes and she leaned close to me.

“You, my youngest, are the one who will change the world.”

“I don’t want to go, Mama,” I said, choking on my tears.

“Go. Seek the new dawn. I love you.”

“I love you too, Mama.”

She took her place in front of her men for the final time and uttered but one phrase.

“May Olódùmarè and the Orishas forever protect you!”

“And you!” we shouted in response.

 

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