Sneak Peek Sunday: Excerpt from 'Playing with Fire'

My second novel, "Playing with Fire" (Book 1 in the 4 Elements of Love Series), is still with my beta readers. In the meantime, I feel like sharing another excerpt. Ladies and Gents, here's part of the first chapter!

Coming soon!

She wanted to burn.
The house in front of her was on fire, and the spectacle drew her magically.
From where she stood, she could hear the flames lapping at the wood and concrete, sizzling with their heat and hissing with their hunger. They sounded like snakes in a feeding frenzy, eager tongues scurrying ahead to check for more to devour, for kindling material to fuel the flames. The fire’s sounds were louder in her ears than the groaning of the house giving in, the cracking of surfaces and the exploding of glass. It was as though the fire were speaking to her, beckoning her closer in a malicious whisper, inviting her to join in on the hot and spicy feast.
Felicia stood rooted to the spot, eyes traveling up and down the shape that had once been a two-story house and now resembled a single, giant, burning slab, standing out in stark contrast against the black night sky. She watched the flames leap out of the broken windows and flickering in the air like brightly colored banners, watched the fire feed on the building material and furniture, raising itself to greater strength. Soon, the flames would dance across the lawn and find their way toward where she was standing, half hidden behind a tree.
Anybody in their right mind would have bolted, half scared out of their wits at the sight of the raging fire.
But Felicia wasn’t in her right mind.
She could feel the fire tempting her, pulling her closer with its heat and energy, and with its promises of passion. Her pulse was racing. Had she seen herself at this moment, she would have looked at a face with wide eyes, pupils dilated and reflecting the dancing flames, nostrils flaring like an animal scenting the smoke.
Before she knew it, she had started walking toward the flames as if in a trance, feet moving on their own will, heart hammering in her chest.
The closer she got to the burning house, the hotter it felt. Sweat was breaking out across her body, forming tiny pearls on the bare skin of her arms and on her face. She licked her dry lips and took some more steps forward, the noise increasing, and the voices inside her urging her on.
A shout tore through the night, disrupting her dream-like state.
“Stop!”
Her head whipped around to the sound. She was more irritated than alarmed. Over her left shoulder, she saw the figure of a sprinting man. He was gesticulating wildly, repeating his warning. Or was it a command?
She didn’t care. Part of her wanted to react like any normal human would have, but there was another part beyond normalcy. The flames were calling her, and she wanted nothing more than to become one with them.
Determined, she turned her head towards the burning house again, more than half of the upper story collapsing with horrible finality. There was no time to lose.
Before she knew it, she was running full tilt towards the fire, a desperate scream of “Noooooooo!” ringing in her ears until she was lost to the world around her.
All around her was heat, delicious, intensive warmth within and without. She stood in an embrace of fire, arms spread wide, turning in a slow circle on the spot, amidst a burning room. In another second, the flames would touch her, caress her, seduce her, and devour her.
There was a loud crash accompanied by a whoosh of air. Something hit her in the back with full force.
Everything went blank.

More appetizers

Character Profiles: https://devikafernando.com/blog/playing-with-fire-get-to-know-the-protagonists

Cover & Blurb: https://devikafernando.com/blog/cover-reveal-for-my-upcoming-book-playing-with-fire

Another Excerpt: https://devikafernando.com/blog/sneak-peek-excerpt-2-from-playing-with-fire