Alia Rashad

At 6-years-old, Sela and her family were struck by a tragedy when her older brother went missing, and was said to have died in combat. Seven years later, Sela begins to suspect that not everything was as perfect as it seemed, and that something foul was at play. Sela, along with her loyal companions, decides to leave the village and embark on a long, perilous journey to find out what really happened to her brother all those years ago, with the use of a power she'd kept secret from all but her family her whole life: telepathic abilities, or as she calls them, her Mind Games.  On this journey, Sela faces terrible dangers and dark magic as she prepares to battle an enemy she did not expect, and uncovers a secret she did not foresee.

MIND GAMES

“Sela, hurry up!” Sela’s mother shouted from across the hall. 


Sela was in the kitchen, filling a large clay bowl with ice cold water from the pipe, which lead to the river. 


A few seconds later, Sela came running into Henry’s room, where I lay in bed twitching, tossing, and turning, drenched in sweat, thick yellow pus oozing from the festering gashes on my warm, pale arms. Every inch of my body seemed to be burning like fire. Sela’s mother was sat at the bedside, her cool hands on my face. Sweat ran down her temples and along her forehead, tears streaming down her red face. Beside the bed stood a small table, on which were some herbs, tea and a freshly made bowl of steaming hot pumpkin soup. 


“Here, mother,” Sela whispered, handing her the bowl and tunic. 


CHAPTER 20: TULA