Complete Cities That Eat Islands - Ebook

THREE BOOKS FOR THE PRICE OF TWO!

Collected only here are the three parts of Cities That Eat Islands in the author-approved version. A sweeping story of crime, fantasy, and time travel that not only connects to the Miki Radicci Series and the Radicci Sisters series but brings to light the early years of the Tenebrous Chronicles.

Exploring the unknown can be a daunting task, but when it comes to rescuing a friend, Carmella Noto and her twin brother Enzo will do whatever it takes.

In 1961 Brooklyn, Carmella is a brilliant young artist with the ability to psychically experience other people’s pain and death, while Enzo is a nonverbal autistic who hears radio waves in his head. Both must reluctantly use their secret abilities to find their friend who was taken by a heinous monster.

As they dig deeper into the city, they find themselves in the middle of a history bigger than themselves and one that will never let them go.

With a thrilling adventure through the darkest hearts and moments of time, this story will take readers on a journey of self-discovery and courage.

Chapter 1

The bell rung and I left my Chemistry final behind. A few of my classmates called my name down the hallway, probably wanting to know how I did. I studied the best I could given the last few days. Home was not an option with Mama and Pappa around at night talking and laughing and Enzo always interrupting by pointing at something funny on the television or coming into my room to hang out. A few times I snuck off to the library and studied until they closed. But even there my goal seemed impossible. I had four other finals to pass in order to graduate at Abraham Lincoln High School.

Through the maddening crowd of students talking, laughing, and rushing about to go home for the day or arrive on time for some sporting practice or club meeting, I stopped at my locker, picked out the books I needed for my American History 2 final tomorrow, tucked them under my arm, and slammed the door. The crowd behind me a little thinner, more manageable, I made my way to the stairs and ran down them.

Outside, the humid heat mixed with the ocean salt pressed against my skin and again made me wish I had cut my dark long hair short for the summer. Cars parked in the street and lot played the latest pop and rock ‘n’ roll music as I walked down the stone steps and crept up on the statue of Lincoln who protected us from bad education. He wasn’t doing a good job but the administration said differently.

As I crossed the lawn to the sidewalk, intending to catch an air conditioned bus to the boardwalk, a pair of screams caught my attention. Two grease heads in polos and jeans stood in front of a cherry red convertible parked on Ocean. The hood was up and the engine was running so loud I barely heard what they were saying to each other. Clearly one was upset with the other and the other wasn’t going to take it. Kids stopped to watch. I hugged my books and felt a chill run down my back.  

Then it happened. The angrier guy pulled his fist back and…

...knuckles crack across my face...turning my head...I gasp in pain...a molar loosens...blood fills my mouth...a fist plows into my stomach...folding me in half...he pushes me…

“Carmella?”

Someone grabbed my shoulder. I leaned into them, let them move me away, farther from the fight. I glanced up into their concerned face. Britney Himes. She smiled even though her eyes were worried, both of her hands on my shoulders. I held my books to my chest and breathed deep.

“You okay?” she asked. “You looked like you were…” She shrugged. “I don’t know. Like you were going to drop or something.”

No. Not drop. I hadn’t dropped yet. I just experience the pain of one idiot punching another. Maybe if someone was depressed or in sorrow I would feel that too. It had never been so overwhelming that I would faint.

I took a deep breath and said, “I’m fine.”

Britney smirked.

“Something you wanna tell me? Or something you wanna share?”

I laughed. Drugs? Pregnant? Lately I wished my life was so simple.

“No.”

I glanced over at the fight. Or no fight. It was done. A few people nursed the loser on the sidewalk. The winner closed the hood of the car, hopped in the driver’s seat, and drove off.

“White trash,” Britney said, then smiled at me. “No offense.”

“None taken,” I said. “I agree.”

“You going home?” she asked. “I was going to meet Barbara and Trish at the Rickman. Some post final pig-out.”

“Ohhh, I can’t.”

“Your brother?”

“If I don’t bring him home, he won’t come home,” I said. “Then I have to study for tomorrow.”

“For a girl with no college plans, you sure do study a lot.”

“Hey,” I said. “I might go one day.”

“Right. Save the money.”

“Or marry rich,” I said, kissing her dark brown cheek.

Britney laughed.

“Shit, girl. If it were only that easy.”

I smiled, waved, and ran off to catch the bus down the street.