Bouncer Post #162

Title: SHADE

Genre: YA Epic Fantasy

Word Count: 87,000

Query:

Dark creatures lurk in the shadows, and the part-demon prince alone possesses the power to summon them. Controlling the dangerous demons, however, is a talent the nameless teen has yet to master. The prince’s emotions are the key to summoning the demons, but keeping his feelings in check proves difficult with his mother’s smothering rules and demand for perfection. When the prince uncovers his mother’s nefarious plan to release the shadow demons through him, he loses control and all hell literally breaks loose. The prince is forced to flee for his life as the creatures destroy his castle home, and murder the one person he truly loves—his father.

Lost and exhausted, the prince discovers the warm and beautiful human world. He meets Vera, a girl hiding her own dark secrets underneath a tough exterior. She names him Logan and teaches him to control his emotions and, in turn, his dark power. But his bliss is short-lived when he learns his mother is hunting him. She seeks to exploit his dark power and will stop at nothing until she gets him back. Logan must elude the queen’s grasp and master his power, or risk losing Vera and turning the world he’s grown to love into a bloody, barren wasteland.

First 250:

He could easily end it. Summon a demon, let it gobble up the queen, and enjoy a peaceful supper without her scouring him for imperfection. The servants would probably applaud him.

Summoning a demon? No problem. Stop it from slaughtering everyone including himself, well…unfortunately not.

The prince gazed at the dark, stone walls of his bedroom. Their rough surfaces were like wrinkled pillows frozen in time—once soft now hard, cold and unforgiving. Not so long ago the prince saw kindness in his mother’s eyes. But those days had faded, growing harder to recall like a dream shortly after waking.

Fifteen servants stood in a rigid line against the far wall as though awaiting execution. Some trembled, others wrung their hands, but all eyes stayed trained on the queen as she prowled around the prince inspecting his preparation. One mistake was all it took to summon her cruelty.

His long, black cape pulled lightly against his shoulders as she examined it. He could tell her to get out. Maybe even slam the door in her face. The courageous corners of his mind surged with exhilaration at the thought, but he remained silent. This was her game. If he wanted to win—truly win—he’d have to play it right.

“I trust gloves were worn during your preparation?”

He tensed. The gentle tone meant to disarm him was poison nectar—sweet to the ears, deadly if believed. But no matter what she tried, he wouldn’t show her anything.