The Book
The Beast Within
by Jonathan Yanez
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Published: March 2013
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Book Description
Once eighteen-year-old Connor Moore stumbles across an almost human species, he is faced with history’s darkest secret, a daunting future, and a love life he can’t even begin to explain.
Concealed throughout the pages of time, there has been a powerful race of human-like creatures manipulating mankind. This Elite race is made up of five ruling families, who have obeyed The Law and remained content to keep their identities a mystery. Now after centuries of secrecy, an ancient foe is forcing them out of hiding.
When a dark-haired mystery woman named Laren crosses Connor’s path his life is turned upside down. Soon Connor is taken on a heart-pounding journey that leads to a startling discovery of who he really is and a daunting future of what he is to become.
Katie sat, powerless. The events were unfolding around her at lightning speed. Before she knew what was happening, Faust was ripping her father’s head from his body. It only took a second, and her father’s body fell to the ground.
His head rolled a few feet once Faust dropped it and came to rest near Katie’s chair. She was petrified; her brain couldn’t comprehend the reality around her. Katie wanted to move, wanted to scream, wanted to do something but she couldn’t. Instead she just sat in her chair, staring at him.
Faust grinned at her and made a move toward her mother. Instantly Randolph was there blocking his path, “Okay, okay, Faust, by God you are mad. You win. I will join your cause tonight.”
Faust’s eyes dilated back to blue and his fangs receded giving way to his normal smile, “I knew you would come around, old friend. You have always been the reasonable one. Hope you don’t mind, I invited the others over for an old fashioned meeting before we go.”
Randolph looked defeated, “Whatever you desire, just leave them alone. They have no part in this.”
Faust took a napkin from the table and began wiping Katie’s father’s blood from his hands. He made his way slowly to where she was sitting. Katie’s heart beat faster and faster as he approached. Soon he was directly beside her, playing with her hair in long soft strokes.
Katie was shaking so hard she didn’t think she would be able to talk, but she finally found her voice. Katie cleared her head of the pain, sorrow and disbelief and accepted the anger. She turned on him as she fought back the tears and rage, “You’re going to pay for this.”
Something came over Katie then, something she had never experienced before. She knew the appropriate response to the past few minutes should be fear and sorrow, but all she felt was anger. Anger overwhelmed her and forced her to take action. She reached for Faust, not knowing what she was going to do; bite him, claw him, punch him — she had to do something.
Faust caught her by the neck with one hand and lifted her off the ground like a newborn kitten. He brought her eye level as she fought against his grasp. The animal rage inside of her was building. He squinted his eyes as he looked into hers. “You’re one of us, aren’t you?”
“Faust, no, we had a deal,” Randolph reminded him.
Faust seemed to mull this over in his mind. “Yes, quite right, I won’t kill her then. She can join us.”
The last thing that Katie remembered was two black eyes and Randolph screaming in the background.
Excerpt
Katie sat, powerless. The events were unfolding around her at lightning speed. Before she knew what was happening, Faust was ripping her father’s head from his body. It only took a second, and her father’s body fell to the ground.
His head rolled a few feet once Faust dropped it and came to rest near Katie’s chair. She was petrified; her brain couldn’t comprehend the reality around her. Katie wanted to move, wanted to scream, wanted to do something but she couldn’t. Instead she just sat in her chair, staring at him.
Faust grinned at her and made a move toward her mother. Instantly Randolph was there blocking his path, “Okay, okay, Faust, by God you are mad. You win. I will join your cause tonight.”
Faust’s eyes dilated back to blue and his fangs receded giving way to his normal smile, “I knew you would come around, old friend. You have always been the reasonable one. Hope you don’t mind, I invited the others over for an old fashioned meeting before we go.”
Randolph looked defeated, “Whatever you desire, just leave them alone. They have no part in this.”
Faust took a napkin from the table and began wiping Katie’s father’s blood from his hands. He made his way slowly to where she was sitting. Katie’s heart beat faster and faster as he approached. Soon he was directly beside her, playing with her hair in long soft strokes.
Katie was shaking so hard she didn’t think she would be able to talk, but she finally found her voice. Katie cleared her head of the pain, sorrow and disbelief and accepted the anger. She turned on him as she fought back the tears and rage, “You’re going to pay for this.”
Something came over Katie then, something she had never experienced before. She knew the appropriate response to the past few minutes should be fear and sorrow, but all she felt was anger. Anger overwhelmed her and forced her to take action. She reached for Faust, not knowing what she was going to do; bite him, claw him, punch him — she had to do something.
Faust caught her by the neck with one hand and lifted her off the ground like a newborn kitten. He brought her eye level as she fought against his grasp. The animal rage inside of her was building. He squinted his eyes as he looked into hers. “You’re one of us, aren’t you?”
“Faust, no, we had a deal,” Randolph reminded him.
Faust seemed to mull this over in his mind. “Yes, quite right, I won’t kill her then. She can join us.”
The last thing that Katie remembered was two black eyes and Randolph screaming in the background.
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Guest Post
10 Things readers would be surprised to know about you:
- I know how to play the piano and want to pick it back up again soon
- I have three tattoos and I’m open to being persuaded to get #4
- I’ve skydived
- I’ve raced motorcycles and cars
- I love Kelly Clarkson, Jessie J, Pink, Katie Perry, I don’t care what anyone thinks they have some catchy songs!
- I’m growing my hair out to donate to Locks of Love. Five inches so far I need ten before I chop it off
- I’m doing a fifteen mile/twenty-five obstacle mud run in April called The Tough Mudder to support the wounded warriors foundation
- I played the saxophone growing up
- I was homeschooled all the way up until college
- I have a cat, Helen, with two different colored eyes and a husky ,Daphne, who thinks she’s a wolf
About the Author
Jonathan Yanez
Jonathan Yanez was born and raised in a Christian household in Oxnard, CA. He was involved in everything from piano and saxophone lessons to swimming and track. Growing up his parents encouraged him to read, and he did - anything he could get his hands on. Soon he developed a fascination with storytelling and characters that would follow him the rest of his life.
Graduating from BIOLA University with his BA in English Literature he never lost his love for writing and creating. He now works part-time as a personal trainer and hopes to one day make the move to writing full-time.
Other than reading and writing, his passion is living life to the fullest. He loves; spending time with his wife and pets, watching movies, participating in mud runs, traveling, going to the gym and pushing his limits in everything. This desire takes him anywhere from skydiving and motorcycle riding, to surfing in Hawaii and various types of martial arts. He has his eyes set next on archery and running with the bulls in Spain.
He is married to the love of his life and resides in Southern California with his husky, Daphne and cat, Helen.
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