Riley Girl Preview

Dear reader,
 Surprise! You get to read an excerpt from my book, Riley Girl. It's only the first 8 pages. You lucky dog. It's copyrighted so don't try anything funny or I'll be forced to consume your soul.
Enjoy!

-Simone Riley-

            Bright red and blue lights reflected off the slick pavement that flew under my rapid footsteps. The mirror-like asphalt pulsed with deep blues, stunning reds, and unmixed violets.  Brushing a strand of blond hair away from my damp face, I flashed a look at my cousin. Phillip’s pure blue eyes met mine as he smiled briefly and picked up the pace. A siren wailed loudly; it seemed right behind me. I increased my stride as Phillip swerved towards a chain link fence and leapt over it. 

            Following him, I cast one glance over my shoulder to watch our pursuers. The sleek black and white car slid to a stop, and the door jerked open. A figure stepped out and raised his hand in the air, shaking it and yelling over the sirens. I could barely hear the words that weren’t swept away by the wind.

            “Stay away from the Rileys!” A smile broke over my lips. “No one messes with the Rileys!”

            Because everyone is too afraid.

            We ran until the wailings and lights faded. Phillip slid to a stop underneath a willow tree with an expectant grin on his face. “That was amazing,” his breath came in short gasps as he leaned against the tree for support. “Unbelievable.”

            I slid to the wet ground with a sigh. He swallowed and placed his hands on his muscled thighs.

            I had invited Phillip for many reasons. He was strong. He wasn’t a snitch or a bragger. And lastly, he hated our family just as much as I did.

            My head rolled back and rested on the rough bark as I closed my eyes. Even though we had run for our lives, I wasn’t tired. Later, after the adrenaline had worn down, I would be exhausted. But, at that moment I was just keyed up and anxious.

            And, worried.

            “What time is it?” I ran a hand through my wind-blown hair. Phillip leaned closer to his arm and peered at his watch. I opened one eye and stared at him carefully for any signs of guilt, but saw only excitement that mirrored my own.

            He stood up and wiped his hands on his jeans. “Ten till one.” 

            I exhaled and stretched my aching legs. Three hours past my curfew. “Hopefully Danielle doesn’t remember me.”

            Phillip nodded sharply and held out his hand. With a sigh I latched on and let myself be pulled up.  I met his eyes with a serious gaze. “Phillip,” he cocked his head to one side and folded his arms. “No one can know we did this. Ever.”

            Biting his perfect lips for a moment, he shook his head slightly. “I won’t tell anyone.” He looked away. “Especially Zoe.”

            I turned my head upward. A raindrop caressed my cheek and slowly slid down. “Especially Zoe.”

            No one would have ever found out if the Riley police hadn’t showed up. I glanced back in the distance, looking for the red and blue lights. There was only darkness, but I still felt uneasy. Someone had leaked about the meeting. Until I knew who, I wouldn’t be able to trust anyone. Not that I did in the first place.

            Shaking the dread that had seeped into my gut, I started out into the darkness with Phillip close behind me. It rained harder, the wind growing more fierce. The whole night suddenly seemed a lot more ominous than before.

            I led the way through the towering trees and into a wide field. When I was little my mother took my siblings and me there. I remember running to hide in the dancing stalks of corn, waiting to be found. We were so happy then. But, everything changed.

            My hair blew around me, forcing me to duck my head.

            It was the first time a Riley had come with me to a protest.  Mostly I flew solo and disguised as a Jameston or Halfway. It was risky to go to a protest, even under cover. If my family ever knew . . . .

            Zoe wouldn’t hesitate in locking me up and throwing away the key if she found out it was me who was causing all the Rileys trouble. Only the public figures of the lower classes, the ones that supported me instead of her, stopped her from getting rid of me. Zoe disliked me for many reasons, and she let me know it every single day. Even when we were children I could remember her tormenting me and all our other family members as well.  It wasn’t as if we were ever mean to Zoe; it was just that she . . . she didn’t understand why we, as in I and Danielle, had to be born. She was already going to get the throne and all the power. Why did she need us?

            She didn’t.

            Once she took the Riley power, she would get rid of anyone who stood in her way. That’s why I went to the protests.           

            I knew that if she became the Riley Matriarch I wouldn’t be able to stop her from destroying everything.

            “This is where we separate,” Phillip slowed and turned to me. I rubbed my hands together while jogging in place to keep my muscles going. “Um.” He looked toward the numerous twinkling lights on the dark horizon. “Thanks for, you know, inviting me, I guess. I had fun.”

            “Any time, Phil. I need as much help as possible if we’re to stop Zoe before she’s crowned.”

            A tiny smile formed on his lips as he said goodbye. After a quick, brotherly hug he turned and galloped into the night. I watched his lean figure until it faded into the blackness. Phillip had it easier than I did, for sure. He had two sisters -- both were older. There was no possible way (unless he killed them both, which was not likely) that he would ever have to lead. On my head rested a deep dread that grew every year as Zoe’s actions became more and more cruel.

            If she was killed, I would become leader of everything. Everyone would look to me for leadership. Leadership that I didn’t know how to give. Her police had to work night and day to make sure she survived the numerous assassination attempts against her.

            There were twelve clans in our region. Rileys had and always would be the head clan. It was destined to be that way. The second most powerful clan was the Olivers. Following them were the Halfways, Jamestons, Marshalls, Fieldings, Brownings, Meyerses, Taylors, Fosters, Walters, and lastly, the DuMondes.   

            It was like being ranked. The Rileys’ ranking had no limit. DuMondes fell far below zero. The lower the rank, the worse the treatment.

            The Rileys, me included, were treated like gods. Our blond hair, blue eyes, and pale skin made us invincible. No one could do anything to stop us. They just bowed down and followed our orders. Rileys were known for their cruelty. I had been fighting against everything my whole life. For peace, for freedom, for myself. I didn’t want to be cruel – I didn’t want to be a Riley.

            I wanted a world where everyone could be equal. Where genetics didn’t matter.

            The cold rain brought me back to reality as I drew to the twinkling lights. The city was quite large, probably a few hundred thousand living in it. Maybe another twenty thousand lived in the suburbs. On three sides there were tall hills, leading to small valleys on each side. One valley was of the sprawling streets of mansions the Rileys, Olivers, and Halfways lived in. Another was full of the factories that made the things we needed to live on. The last was mostly the forgotten buildings nobody cared about: the old libraries, museums, and decimated skyscrapers. My house was very distinct; it sat on a hill that overlooked the downtown.

            Finally, I entered the town limits and slowed to a walk. I crept through the silent streets until I reached a small apartment complex. A figure waited with a basket in hand. “Maura?” I whispered.

            A grim smile awaited me from my best friend. “Finally, Simone. I’ve been waiting forever.” She grabbed my waist and hugged me fiercely. Maura was an Oliver. I wasn’t allowed to see her in public. Only at the learning center, and even then I couldn’t really talk to her. It would only lead to punishment for the both of us.

            “Sorry, the police decided to break up the party.” I unwound myself from her thin arms and held her at arms’ length. Her eyes had a greenish tint that clearly wasn’t Riley. Her hair was a regular among the Olivers: a light brown with blond highlights. Her skin was pale, but next to me she looked as if she lived in the sun. She was tiny and vulnerable. I couldn’t afford to take her to the protests.

            She shook her head and flipped open the basket. She pulled out two articles of clothing. “Here,” she handed them to me, “change quickly and go.”      

            Only Rileys were allowed out after dark. And, of course, the police. If any members of the lower classes were caught, they’d be killed. Maura was sacrificing a lot to help me.

            I pulled the long nightgown on over my wrinkled t-shirt and shorts and waited while Maura buttoned the back. Over that went a dark black cloak to keep me camouflaged in the night. She fixed my hair then pulled the hood over my head. “Hurry home.”

            “Thanks, Maura.” I hugged her tightly for a second. “See you on Tuesday.”

            She winked at me before stepping back into the shadows. Pulling the cloak around myself, I hurried down the dark alleys and up to Riley Manor. Only the guard tower lights were still on. I easily avoided them, keeping in the shadows. The house grew bigger and bigger as I approached.

            Please let her be asleep, I prayed silently.

            I used the back service entrance and shrugged off my cloak. Stashing it under a chest, I quietly slipped into the kitchen. My damp, bare feet stuck to the polished floor, making me wince at the sound. The moon lit the room, causing glares from the stainless steel appliances, walls, and counters. I could see my shadow.

            I stepped onto the hard wood floor of the dining room with a silent sigh of relief. There was a creak.

            The light flipped on, startling me. “Sister.”

            I spun around.

            A person stood in front of the gaping window that overlooked the town. All I could see was the straight, whitish-blond hair that cascaded down her back. I stood there, petrified. The gears in my head turned frantically. I needed a plan, an excuse. The girl turned to me. Zoe grinned evilly and crossed her arms. Silently, Danielle stepped beside her from the dark arch that led to the hallway. “Sister, where have you been?”

            Her emotionless, icy eyes gorged into my own. Her nose turned slightly upward like mine; her small lips were like mine. We were so alike, yet so different.

            Her face was harsh and merciless. Suspicion lined the corners of her mouth, along with self-appointed righteousness. Mine was caring and trustworthy.

            “We waited up for you past your curfew, but you never came.”  Danielle’s snide voice cut through me. Her eyes taunted mine as if she were superior. Zoe raised her hand, and immediately Danielle stopped and lowered her head.

            “Where were you,” it wasn’t a question that time.

            I opened my lips. Nothing came out. What was I supposed to say? I couldn’t risk the truth. An idea popped into my head. “I was with Phillip.” Her eyebrow rose. “I had a question about today’s learning at the center.”

            “Why not just call him?”

            She knew my lie. She knew me too well for my own good. I stared right back into those eyes. My eyes. “It seemed better to go in person.”

            “I see.” Zoe narrowed her eyes. A finger gingerly traced patterns on the empty table in front of her. “Good thing you weren’t at that protest. You would have had to be punished like the last time.”

            Danielle snickered as my face burned like fire. Zoe allowed a smile to rise on her face as she watched me.

            Three years ago, in my twelfth year, I was caught at a protest. My outraged mother had invited all the Rileys to watch me be lashed severely.  They also chopped off all my hair, which was a sign of wealth in my family.

            I could still remember the tears.

            I instinctively reached up to twirl a lock of blond around my fingers. “I wasn’t at the protest, Zoe.” I said through clenched teeth.

            She ground her teeth together. “Remember, little sister,” she said bitterly, “I will rule someday. Someday you will have to follow my orders. Remember that, and bite your tongue if you ever want mercy from me.”

            I stared at her in silent fury. Her eyes met mine. A flicker of doubt played there for a second, but then it was gone as quickly as it had come. “Sorry.” I forced out, wanting so badly to fight back.

            “Try to remember next time, Simone.” She wound her fingers together and nudged Danielle. They made their way to the door. “Sleep tight.”

            She disappeared. I ran my hands through my short hair. Her hard smile stayed in my head. Why me? I slammed my fist onto the polished wood of the table. The noise echoed throughout the empty room.

Zoe ruined my life. She always took from me. It was not fair. I closed my eyes, feeling my heart beating quickly in my chest.

One day I’d teach her a lesson.




DUN DUN DUN! That's all I've got for ya, dear reader. I love tips and comments and if you find an error let me know, because I'm not good with grammar. Or commas. Especially commas. Have a lovely night.