The Dragon in the Garden
(The Watcher Rising Series, #1)
By Erika GardnerContemporary Fantasy
Date Published: Eformats- 2/19/16, Print 10/21/16
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
There is magic beneath the mundane and in The Dragon
in the Garden, Siobhan Orsini witnesses it all. No lie can
fool her, no glamour or illusion can cloud her Sight. She
sees through them all and wishes she could close her
eyes. Returning to face her past, Siobhan inherits her
grandparents’ house in California’s wine country. She
encounters a talking dragon, a hot fallen angel, a demon
lord, a Valkyrie, and, oh yes, her ex-boyfriend. And that is
just in the first twenty-four hours.
It’s time to find out why she has this power.
Siobhan seeks out the Oracle and learns that only her
Sight can help mankind navigate the travails of an
ancient war. Our world is the prize in a battle between
the dragons, who would defend us, and Lucifer’s fallen
angels, who seek to take the Earth for themselves.
Using her gift, she will have to make a choice that will
decide humanity’s future.
Sight can help mankind navigate the travails of an
ancient war. Our world is the prize in a battle between
the dragons, who would defend us, and Lucifer’s fallen
angels, who seek to take the Earth for themselves.
Using her gift, she will have to make a choice that will
decide humanity’s future.
The memory has haunted me for years.
In the middle of a bright California summer, dark days came. My mother and grandparents spoke in hushed, serious voice, arguing about my absent father. Was it my fault he left? A soft whimper escaped my throat and my eyes burned. I needed a hug, but no one paid any attention to me that day. So I ran away to the refuge of my grandparents’ garden where I could hide among its statues and flowers.
My eyes lingered over the familiar garden ornaments. I passed the old birdbath, the statues of gnomes, and a cheerful squirrel. I ran one hand over the stone deer. Its brown paint had faded from years under the sun. Walking with quick steps down the gravel path, I made my way to the center of the garden, my special spot where my favorite statue waited.
A gnarled apricot tree grew there. Right now it was covered with tiny green apricots. Later in the summer the sweet fruit I loved would ripen. I would get to pick them with my parents, no, just with my mother. My lip trembled. My father wouldn’t be here.
The bright-green dragon lay curled at the foot of the apricot tree, partially covered by vines. My mother called the color jade green—the same shade as my eyes. As a child she talked to all the statues, but I only spoke to the dragon. I named her Daisy. Sitting down next to her now, the tears welled up at last, spilling over my cheeks. I wrapped my arms around my legs, making myself into a little ball of five year old misery.
“Child, why are you sad?” said a woman’s voice.
“Who said that?” I asked, wiping my cheek.
“I did.”
“Where are you?” I stood and peered at the plants and statues around me.
“Right here.”
“Are not,” I retorted.
A soft laugh filled the air and the woman spoke again. “Perhaps you are right. Easy enough to fix, I suppose.”
The breeze picked up. The space beneath the apricot tree shimmered. Ripples warped the air like the heat over the barbecue when my father cooked. The sweet notes of wind chimes filled the yard. Grandma and Grandpa didn’t have any wind chimes. I whirled around to find the noise.
Under the branches appeared an enormous green dragon’s head.
·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•٠· Erika Gardner ·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•٠·
Erika is a sixth generation San Franciscan of Irish descent.
She attended the University of California at Davis and
completed degrees in Medieval History and Biological
Sciences. A lifelong lover of books and a scribbler of many
tales from a young age (her first story was completed at age
five) she turned to writing full-time in 2011.
Erika resides in Northern California with her incredibly hot
husband, their three amazing kids, and their chocolate
Labrador named Selkie. To reach Erika regarding her books,
wine recommendations, or to debate which Iron Maiden
album is the best (clearly, it’s Brave New World),
you can find her online at www.erikagardner.com.
husband, their three amazing kids, and their chocolate
Labrador named Selkie. To reach Erika regarding her books,
wine recommendations, or to debate which Iron Maiden
album is the best (clearly, it’s Brave New World),
you can find her online at www.erikagardner.com.
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