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  I stare at the cabin door, debating whether it is safe to step out there or not. I really want some fresh air. I feel like a caged animal in here, but I fear the vampires waiting out there.

  Making my decision, I steel my nerves and cross the room, quickly pulling the cabin door open before I can change my mind. A man stands in my path, trapping me in the doorway. I stare up at him, my brown eyes meeting his blue ones in an intense moment where neither of us say a word. He eventually steps to one side, allowing me to pass. I let out a deep breath after I make it past him.

  There are only two pirates other than the captain in sight on the deck, and all are far enough away from me to lure me into a false sense of security. I make my way to the side of the ship, looking out at the sea and watching as the waves crash against the ship. There's no land to be seen anywhere, just a never-ending view of blue water.

  Breathing in deeply, I let myself enjoy the sea air. It could be so much worse than this. I have no idea why I am alive and set to be released once we reach land. I don’t trust the captain’s intentions, but at least for now, I am still breathing and unharmed. Casting a wary look over my shoulder, I see the captain leaning against the door to his quarters. He’s watching me, not even trying to disguise his attention. I shiver and turn away, looking back at the sea.

  The sea calms me; it’s always made me feel safe. When I’d go swimming alone in the cove, sometimes I would test how far out I could swim. I’d gotten further than I ever believed possible one day when I set off not long after sunrise. When I’d finally returned home, it was almost dark. I made it inside just in time to watch the sunset from my room.

  An unnerving thought suddenly strikes me, making me grit my teeth.

  Why does the blue of the ocean have to make me think of his eyes? Does he have to ruin my favourite view?

  Chapter Ten – Sebastian

  Her hair is blowing in the wind, the blonde strands flying around her head in disarray. She's brave to have left the relative safety of the cabin and stepped out here in the open. Most would have chosen to hide away, but not her. I watch her curiously, she's not like any of her kind I have ever met. Any other would have surely jumped into the sea at the first opportunity to escape, but she seems cautious of the open water, yet also fascinated by it, as she watches it with wide eyes.

  She turns and meets my gaze. I could look away and pretend I wasn't watching her, but instead I just keep staring, letting my eyes burn right into her. She flushes and turns away, looking back out at the sea. In my periphery, I spot one of the crew watching her too.

  Leave her.

  He turns to look at me, his eyes widening in alarm.

  Captain? He questions me mentally. I narrow my eyes at him in irritation.

  You know your orders, you're all to leave her alone for the duration of her time on board with us. We will reach land in a day or two's time, and she will leave us untouched. Do you understand?

  He frowns, looking between the girl and myself. Why?

  It is not your place to question me. I answer. He shrugs his shoulders and turns away, dropping it for now. I can feel his curiosity burning through the mental link that isn't fully closed off yet. I push into his mind a little, trying to not alert him to my actions. A recent memory flickers in his head. Wrath had been talking about Azula earlier, had been making some of the men question her presence. I pull out from his mind. I would deal with Wrath once Azula is gone; he’s been causing nothing but trouble for a while now.

  Watching her leaning over the edge of ship, closing her eyes and breathing in the air deeply, I know I need to get her away from here soon. The crew will only ignore temptation for so long, and she’s the most tempting thing I have ever seen.

  “You slept well, I hope?” I ask her as I approach. She jumps, not having heard my footsteps. I wait as she swallows thickly before answering me.

  “As well as one could expect,” she eventually responds, but I can hear the lie in her voice.

  “Are you unaccustomed to sleeping on a ship?” I ask, wondering if perhaps that is the cause.

  “Yes, but I fell asleep easily enough, especially considering the circumstances,” she answers plainly. She seems to be determined to not look at me, as she keeps her eyes forward, staring out at the sea.

  “Bad dreams?” I question softly, trying to set her at ease to coax the answers from her.

  “I told you, I slept just fine,” she snaps. Another lie. Night terrors it was then.

  “You have nothing to fear so long as you keep to yourself, and ensure you do not cut yourself. We draw closer to land. I believe if the winds stay as they are, we will reach it tomorrow,” I reply.

  “I still don't understand why you haven't harmed me?” she asks quietly, her voice barely a whisper over the waves crashing against the hull of the ship.

  “You don't need to understand. Just be thankful it is the case,” I answer, turning away from her.

  “Thank you,” she calls after me in a soft voice.

  You're welcome, Azula. I reply in her head, cutting off the mental link immediately after. I hear her sharp intake of breath, but don’t slow my pace, even as I feel her eyes burning into my back as I walk away.

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  About the Author

  Cece Rose is the proud owner of one dog, four turtles, and one annoying boyfriend.

  She hails from Devon in the South-West of England, but dreams of sunny skies and sand between her toes. Although, whenever abroad, she will moan about the heat, and the sand that gets everywhere.

  She has largely convinced all who know her that she is a vampire, mainly due to her nocturnal habits. In reality, it’s because her creativity only ever strikes when the sky is dark, and the stars are shining. (Plus, it’s actually quiet enough to concentrate on writing.)

  You can find Cece on Facebook and Twitter. And, don’t forget to join her Facebook group, Cece’s Demon Den!

  Other Titles by the Author

  THE DESDEMONA CHRONICLES

  A Demon’s Blade – Released: May 2017

  A Demon’s Debt – Released: December 2017

  An Angel’s Defiance – Coming: May 2018

  FATED SERIAL

  Fractured Fate – Released: July 2017

  Twisted Fate – Released: August 2017

  Rejecting Fate – Released: September 2017

  THE MARKED SERIES – Written with G. Bailey

  Marked by Power – Released: November 2017

  Marked by Pain – Released: February 2018

  Marked by Destruction – Coming: April 2018

  SOULS OF CREATURES SERIES

  Vengeance – Released: December 2017

  Justice – TBA

  THE LAST SIREN’S SONG

  Blood Sea – Released: March 2018

  Blood Moon – Coming: June 2018.

  Marked by Power by Cece Rose & G. Bailey

  COVER & LINK HERE

  Please continue reading for a free sample chapter of Marked by Power…

  Prologue

  The dim lighting in the room does nothing to hide the predatory look on his face as he stalks around me, moving in a circle. I keep trying to move with him, to keep my eyes on him and my back away, but he’s just too quick. He shoots flames to my left, and I jump to my right, narrowly avoiding the hit.

  I try to counter with air, calling on my mark. I aim low, hoping to strike him off balance. He blocks my attack with a simple swipe of his hand. A cool jet of water flows from his right hand, he doesn’t aim it at me, but at the floor
. I stare at him in confusion, when suddenly the water begins to cool and freeze over. I struggle not to slide across it. I lift my left hand and command fire, using fire’s heat to melt the ice. The steam creates a wall between us. I try to use it as a screen to attack, but he simply uses his air ability to clear his vision again. I back up a few steps to keep out of reach, but he pounces, crossing the space between us. Within seconds I’m pinned down onto the blue mat by his weight. I struggle to get loose, completely forgetting to use my magic in order to assist me.

  “Miss Crowe,” he whispers in my ear softly, his deep voice sending shivers right through me.

  “Kenzie,” I mumble.

  “What?” he asks.

  “Please call me Kenzie,” I whisper.

  “Miss Kenzie Crowe,” he utters softly, his cool breath against my neck making me shiver.

  “Yes?” I whisper, looking up, and catching the heated look in his green eyes.

  “You would be dead six times over if I was really trying.”

  Chapter One

  Kenzie

  Today is the first day of the rest of my life, my initiation into the marked academy. I glance around at all the other seventeen-year-olds dressed in traditional white, as we walk across the rocks. Most look excited, a few nervous, and one even looks a little bored, but I’m calm. I’ll be happy whether I get one power, eleven, or any of the numbers in-between. I feel a hand slip in mine and as I look around to see Kelly, I smile at her.

  “Aren’t you nervous?” Kelly asks.

  “Nope. It doesn’t matter what happens. I’ve just got to last three years in this school, and then I’m back to the plan. It’s hard to be nervous when you’re not invested,” I answer softly, aware of the quiet around us, and not wanting my voice to echo in the darkness of night.

  “I am,” she whispers. “What if I only get one? My dads will be so disappointed. Mum will be happy whatever, but those two, they just have so many expectations,” she adds. I frown. I know her dads have always been pushing Kelly to be a high achiever, but seeing her worry like this makes me glad that my own fathers only want me to be happy. The three of them have always shown me support in whatever I want to do, and my mum is the same.

  “It’ll be fine, Kells, I promise,” I reply, squeezing her hand tightly. She shoots me a grateful smile, and then her eyes widen as we reach the cave entrance. The entrance is considerably large for a cave and is mostly filled with water, but for a narrow, uneven ledge that runs along one side of the cave.

  One by one, we file onto the ledge in alphabetical order, walking slowly and carefully across it. Kelly lets go of my hand reluctantly and slips in behind me, walking so close I can feel her breath on my neck. I’m glad her surname follows mine, Crowe and Curwood, I’d hate to think of her doing this part without me.

  We follow along the trail until I see the people in front of me seemingly vanish into the wall. I trail my fingers along, waiting for the crack I know is meant to be there. The guy directly in front of me steps to the side and vanishes. I follow his steps and feel my fingers leave the wall, finding the gap. I slip through after him and walk in darkness for a moment, until I see where the narrow gap opens up. Torches line the walls, the flames flickering and casting shadows everywhere. I carry on following behind the guy in front, and I hear Kelly following closely behind. The path opens into a large cavernous space. A serene pool of water lies between us and a grand, golden, double door. The doors are covered in the twelve markings of the marked, six on each. There are three people cloaked in black standing in front of the door. One stands to the side by a gong, holding a long striker. Another stands slightly to the other side, gesturing to us all to file into the room. And one stands in front, a long gold chain hanging around their neck, the master of today’s ceremony.

  We all file into rows in front of the water. Once side by side again, I feel Kelly's hand slip back into mine. We kneel as instructed and wait for the rest to file in. Once we are all waiting, kneeling patiently, the master of the ceremony steps forward.

  “Welcome new students, to The Marked Academy. One by one your names will be called, and you shall enter the water. The water here is all the way from Ariziadia, and will activate your dormant powers. You are to submerge to receive your marks at the sound of the gong. Once blessed by the water, you shall declare how many markings you received, before passing through the doors. However, if you are not blessed by the water, you must leave immediately. Do you all understand?”

  A mixture of affirmative answers and head nods roll across the room as we indicate our understanding. I feel Kelly’s hand squeeze mine tighter, the worry of not being blessed clearly getting to her.

  “We shall begin,” the ceremony master says. I can feel the tension in the room as everyone stares forward, waiting for the blessings to begin.

  “Jacob Addison,” the robed figure to the left calls, their deep voice carries across the otherwise silent room. The guy knelt on the front row furthest to the left stands and makes his way to the pool of water. His hunched shoulders the only sign of his concern as he slowly wades through the water till he reaches the centre and stops, nervously looking around. I count my blessings that I’m not first. The pressure of going before everyone else must be overwhelming.

  The robed figure to the right bangs the striker against the gong and Jacob submerges himself in the water, going completely under. We all watch and wait with baited breath for him to rise. After what feels like forever, he emerges, spluttering and his hands patting against several parts of his body. He must be counting his marks.

  “How many markings?” the deep voice calls.

  “Seven,” Jacob replies. He looks around and catches the looks of who I assume to be friends, giving them a thumbs up, before wading the rest of the way across the water. He walks up and past the robed figures before slowly pushing the grand looking door open and stepping through, the door closing softly behind him.

  “Joshua Allen,” the robed figure calls, wasting no time in continuing.

  The next guy stands and makes his way into the water. The gong sounds, he submerges, and then emerges again.

  “How many markings?” the robed man asks.

  “Four,” Joshua answers, his voice wavering over the simple word. Without looking back, he crosses through the water and walks up past the robed figures, and leaves through the golden door as the guy before him did.

  “How many more people before us?” Kelly whispers to me softly.

  “Twenty-two,” I whisper back. “Just be glad our surnames don’t begin with Z.” I shoot a smile at her, which she returns nervously. 247 of us needing to be blessed, I’m glad I’m not the robed guys right now. Turning my head, I cast my eyes across to the guy sitting at the back at the far right. Nope. It’s him I am glad not to be, his knees will be aching like hell by the time he gets called.

  I turn back my attention to the ceremony, watching each person stand as they are called and step into the water. They all receive marks; the lowest three and the highest ten, that one earning some impressed looks from other students knelt waiting. As I watch Liam Cartwright walk through the large doors on the other side of the water, I take a deep breath.

  “Mackenzie Crowe?”

  Despite expecting it, I freeze when my name is called. I wasn't feeling nervous before, but the water suddenly looks so much more daunting. With so many still in here watching, I feel the pressure mound. What if I only get one? It doesn't matter so much to me if I don't have powers, but others may think less of me for it, and I have to put up with these people for the next three years.

  What if, I stand in the water and have nothing, nada. If I'm not marked, what would happen then? It’s not as if that is common, but it’s been known to happen; I wouldn't be the first. Not marked, not human, but unmarked. The unmarked are born of a marked line, but not deemed worthy of power. The ultimate failure in the eyes of my people.

  I gulp as I stand, straightening my shoulders as I walk the short distance t
o the water. The water is completely still, not a ripple in sight. I dip my toe in first, feeling the cold shoot straight into me, chilling me to my bones. I cast a glance back at Kelly. She shoots me an encouraging smile and mouths something at me, but I can't make out what. I turn back, looking straight at the door ahead, and step into the water.

  I wade in until about waist deep and in the centre of the pool. I look up above, the gap in the ceiling of the cave letting the moonlight in. The glow of the full moon is strangely comforting. The gong sounds and I submerge a second after, letting the icy-cold water cover me, closing my eyes as my head goes under. I feel the chill of the water make me shiver, and I start to wonder how I will know I have been blessed or not, when I feel a burn on my left ankle. That's one. Another on my right hip. That's two.

  Fuck my ribs! I clutch my ribs with my hands as a burn starts there as well. And then suddenly, pain strikes across my body in several places all at once. The water now feels hot, not cold. I pull myself upright so I'm standing, shaking slightly. I look down at myself and try to make a count of all the marks, using pain as an indicator of the ones below clothing.