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The Veil (Devil's Isle Series #1)
Audio MP3 on CD(MP3 on CD - MP3 - Unabridged CD)
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Claire Connolly is a good girl with a dangerous secret: She's a Sensitive, a human endowed with magic that seeped through the Veil. Claire knows that revealing her skills would mean being confined to Devil's Isle. Unfortunately, hiding her power has left her untrained and unfocused.
Liam Quinn knows from experience that magic makes monsters of the weak, and he has no time for a Sensitive with no control of her own strength. But when he sees Claire using her powers to save a human under attack-in full view of the French Quarter-Liam decides to bring her to Devil's Isle and the teacher she needs, even though getting her out of his way isn't the same as keeping her out of his head.
As more and more Sensitives fall prey to their magic and unleash their hunger on the city, Claire and Liam must work together to save New Orleans, or else the city will burn.
Product Details
|Tantor Media, Inc.
|Publication date:
|Devil's Isle Series , #1
|Edition description:
|MP3 - Unabridged CD
|Product dimensions:
|5.30(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.60(d)
About the Author
Chloe Neill is the New York Times bestselling author of the Heirs of Chicagoland, Chicagoland Vampires, Devil's Isle, and Dark Elite series. Chloe was born and raised in the South, but now lives in the Midwest. When she's not writing, she bakes, works, and scours the Internet for good recipes and great graphic design.
Amy Landon is a classically trained actress with numerous off-Broadway, film, and television credits. Her voice can also be heard on many television and radio commercials. She has an easy facility with dialects, and she is happy to find that her lifelong obsession with books is matching up with her acting and vocal work.
Read an Excerpt
The French Quarter was thinking about war again.
Booms echoed across the neighborhood, vibrating windows and shaking the shelves at Royal Mercantile—the finest purveyor of dehydrated meals in New Orleans.
And antique walking sticks. We were flush with antique walking sticks.
I sat at the store's front counter, working on a brass owl that topped one of them. The owl's head was supposed to turn when you pushed a button on the handle, but the mechanism was broken. I'd taken apart the tiny brass pieces and found the problem—one of the small toothy gears had become misaligned. I just needed to slip it back into place.
I adjusted the magnifying glass over the owl, its jointed brass wings spread to reveal its inner mechanisms. I had a thin screwdriver in one hand, a pair of watchmaking tweezers in the other. To get the gear in place, I had to push one spring down and another up in that very small space.
I liked tinkering with the store's antiques, to puzzle through broken parts and sticky locks. It was satisfying to make something work that hadn't before. And since the demand for fancy French sideboards and secretaries wasn't exactly high these days, there was plenty of inventory to pick from.
I nibbled on my bottom lip as I moved the pieces, carefully adjusting the tension so the gear could slip in. I had to get the gear into the back compartment, between the rods, and into place between the springs. Just a smidge to the right, and . . .
I jumped, the sound of another round of fireworks shuddering me back to the store—and the gear that now floated in the air beside me, bobbing a foot off the counter's surface.
"Damn," I muttered, heart tripping.
I'd moved it with my mind, with the telekinetic magic I wasn't supposed to have. At least, not unless I wanted a lifetime prison sentence.
I let go of the magic, and the gear dropped, hit the counter, bounced onto the floor.
My heart now pounding in my chest, the fingers on both hands crossed superstitiously, I hopped off the stool and hurried to the front door to check the box mounted on the building across the street. It was a monitor with a camera on top, triggered when the amount of magic in the air rose above background levels—like when a Sensitive accidentally moved a gear.
I'd gotten lucky; the light was still red. I must not have done enough to trigger it, at least from this distance. I was still in the clear—for now. But damn, that had been close. I hadn't even known I'd been using magic.
Already pumped with nervous energy, I jumped again.
"Good lord," I said, pushing the door open and stepping outside onto the threshold between the store's bay windows, where MERCANTILE was mosaicked in tidy blue capitals.
It was mid-October, and the heat and humidity still formed a miserable blanket across the French Quarter. Royal Street was nearly empty of people.
The war had knocked down half the buildings in the Quarter, which gave me a clear view of the back part of the neighborhood and the Mississippi River, which bordered it. Figures moved along the riverbank, testing fireworks for the finale of the festivities. The air smelled like sparks and flame, and wisps of white smoke drifted across the twilight sky.
It wasn't the first time we'd seen smoke over the Quarter.
On an equally sweltering day in October seven years ago, the Veil—the barrier that separated humans from a world of magic we hadn't even known existed—was shattered by the Paranormals who'd lived in what we now called the Beyond.
They wanted our world, and they didn't have a problem eradicating us in the process. They spilled through the fracture, bringing death and destruction—and changing everything: Magic was now real and measurable and a scientific fact.
I was seventeen when the Veil, which ran roughly along the ninetieth line of longitude, straight north through the heart of NOLA, had splintered. That made New Orleans, where I'd been born and raised, ground zero.
My dad had owned Royal Mercantile when it was still an antiques store, selling French furniture, priceless art, and very expensive jewelry. (And, of course, the walking sticks. So many damn walking sticks.) When the war started, I'd helped him transition the store by adding MREs, water, and other supplies to the inventory.
War had spread through southern Louisiana, and then north, east, and west through Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and the eastern half of Texas. The conflict had destroyed so much of the South, leaving acres of scarred land and burned, lonely cities. It had taken a year of fighting to stop the bloodshed and close the Veil again. By that time, the military had been spread so thin that civilians often fought alongside the troops.
Unfortunately, he hadn't lived to see the Veil close again. The store became mine and I moved into the small apartment on the third floor. We hadn't lived there together—he didn't want to spend every hour of his life in the same building, he'd said. But the store and building were now my only links to him, so I didn't hesitate. I missed him terribly.
When the war was done, Containment—the military unit that managed the war and the Paranormals—had tried to scrub New Orleans not only of magic but of voodoo, Marie Laveau, ghost tours, and even literary vampires. They'd convinced Congress to pass the so-called Magic Act, banning magic inside and outside the war zone, what we called the Zone. (Technically, it was the MIGECC Act: Measure for the Illegality of Glamour and Enchantment in Conflict Communities. But that didn't have the same ring to it.)
The war had flattened half of Fabourg Marigny, a neighborhood next door to the French Quarter, and Containment took advantage. They'd shoved every remaining Para they could find into the neighborhood and built a wall to keep them there.
Officially, it was called the District.
We called it Devil's Isle, after a square in the Marigny where criminals had once been hanged. And if Containment learned I had magic, I'd be imprisoned there with the rest of them.
They had good reason to be wary. Most humans weren't affected by magic; if it was an infection, an illness, they were immune. But a small percentage of the population didn't have that immunity. We were sensitive to the energy from the Beyond. That hadn't been a problem before the Veil was opened; the magic that came through was minimal—enough for magic tricks and illusions but not much else. But the scarred Veil wasn't as strong; magic still seeped through the rip where it had been sewn back together. Sensitives weren't physically equipped to handle the magic that poured through.
Magic wasn't a problem for Paras. In the Beyond, they'd bathed in the magic day in and day out, but that magic had an outlet—their bodies became canvases for the power. Some had wings; some had horns or fangs.
Sensitives couldn't process magic that way. Instead, we just kept absorbing more and more magic, until we lost ourselves completely. Until we became wraiths, pale and dangerous shadows of the humans we'd once been, our lives devoted to seeking out more magic, filling that horrible need.
I'd learned eight months ago that I was a Sensitive, part of that unlucky percentage. I'd been in the store's second-floor storage room, moving a large, star-shaped sign to a better spot. (Along with walking sticks, my dad had loved big antique gas station signs. The sticks, at least, were easier to store.) I'd tripped on a knot in the old oak floor and stumbled backward, falling flat on my back. And I'd watched in slow motion as the hundred-pound sign—and one of its sharp metallic points—fell toward me.
I hadn't had time to move, to roll away, or even to throw up an arm and block the rusty spike of steel, which was aimed at the spot between my eyes. But I did have a split second to object, to curse the fact that I'd lived through war only to be impaled by a damn gas station sign that should have been rusting on a barn in the middle of nowhere.
"No, damn it!" I'd screamed out the words with every ounce of air in my lungs, with my eyes squeezed shut like a total coward.
And nothing had happened.
Lips pursed, I'd slitted one eye open to find the metal tip hovering two inches above my face. I'd held my breath, shaking with adrenaline and sweating with fear, for a full minute before I gathered up the nerve to move.
I'd counted to five, then dodged and rolled away. The star's point hit the floor, tunneling in. There was still a two-inch-deep notch in the wood.
I hadn't wanted the star to impale me—and it hadn't. I'd used magic I hadn't known I'd had—Sensitivity I hadn't known I possessed—to stop the thing in its tracks.
I'd gotten lucky then, too: The magic monitor hadn't been triggered, and I'd kept my store . . . and my freedom.
Another boom sounded, pulling me through memory to my spot on the sidewalk. I jumped, cursed under my breath.
"I think you're good, guys!" I yelled. Not that I was close enough for them to hear me, or that they'd care. This was War Night. Excess was the entire point.
Six years before, the Second Battle of New Orleans had raged across the city. (The first NOLA battle, during the War of 1812, had been very human. At least as far as we were aware.) It had been one of the last battles of the war and one of the biggest.
Tonight we'd celebrate our survival with colors, feathers, brass bands, and plenty of booze. It would be loud, crazy, and amazing. Assuming I could manage not to get arrested before the fun started . . .
"You finally losing it, Claire?"
I glanced back and found a man, tall and leanly muscled, standing behind me. Antoine Lafayette Gunnar Landreau, one of my best friends, looked unwilted by the heat.
His dark brown, wavy hair was perfectly rakish, and his smile was adorably crooked, the usual gleam in his deep-set hazel eyes. Tonight, he wore slim dark pants and a sleeveless shirt that showed off his well-toned arms—and the intricate but temporary paintings that stained his skin.
"Hey, Gunnar." We exchanged cheek kisses. I cursed when another boom sounded, followed by the sparkle of gold stars in the air.
I smiled despite myself. "Damn it. Now they're just showing off."
"Good thing you're getting into the spirit," he said with a grin. "Happy War Night."
"Happy War Night, smarty-pants. Let me check your ink."
Gunnar obliged, stretching out his arms so I could get a closer view. New Orleans was a city of traditions, and War Night had its own: the long parade, the fireworks, the spiked punch we simply called "Drink" because the ingredients depended on what was available. And since the beginning, when there was nothing but mud and ash, painting the body to remember the fallen. Making a living memorial of those of us who'd survived.
The intricate scene on Gunnar's left arm showed survivors celebrating in front of the Cabildo, waving a purple flag bearing four gold fleurs-de-lis—the official postwar flag of New Orleans. The other arm showed the concrete and stone sculpture of wings near Talisheek in St. Tammany Parish, which memorialized one of the deadliest battles of the war, and the spot where thousands of Paras had entered our world.
The realism lifted goose bumps on my arms. "Seriously amazing."
"Just trying to do War Night proud. And Aunt Reenie."
"God bless her," I said of Gunnar's late and lamented aunt, who'd been a great lover of War Night, rich as Croesus, and, according to Gunnar's mother, "not quite there."
"God bless her," he agreed.
"Let's get the party started," I said. "You want something to drink?"
"Always the hostess. I don't suppose there's any tea?"
"I think there's a little bit left," I said, opening the door and gesturing him in.
Gunnar was a sucker for sweet tea, a rarity now that sugar was a luxury in New Orleans. That was another lingering effect of war. Magic was powerful stuff, and it wasn't meant to be in our world. Nothing would grow in soil scarred by magic, so war had devastated the Zone's farms. And since there were still rumors of bands of Paras in rural areas who'd escaped the Containment roundup and preyed on humans, there weren't many businesses eager to ship in the goods that wouldn't grow here.
There'd been a mass exodus of folks out of the cities with major fighting—New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mobile—about three weeks after the war started, when it began to look as though we weren't equipped to fight Paras, even on our own soil.
There were plenty of people who still asked why we stayed in the Zone, why we put up with scarcity, with the threat of wraith and Para attacks, with Containment on every corner, with Devil's Isle looming behind us.
Some folks stayed because they didn't have a better choice, because somebody had to take care of those who couldn't leave. Some stayed because they didn't have resources to leave, anywhere to go, or anyone to go to. And some stayed because they'd been through hard times before—when there'd been no electricity, no comforts, and too much grief—and the city was worth saving again. Some stayed because if we left, that would be the end of New Orleans, Little Rock, Memphis, and Nashville. Of the culture, the food, the traditions. Of the family members who existed only in our memories, who tied us to the land.
And some folks stayed because they had no choice at all. Containment coordinated the exodus. And when everyone who'd wanted to get out was out, they started controlling access to the Zone's borders, hoping to keep the Paras and fighting contained.
No, staying in the Zone wasn't easy. But for a lot of us—certainly for me—it was the only option. I'd rather make do in New Orleans than be rich anywhere else.
We'd tried to make the best of it. In the Quarter, we'd solved the scorched-earth problem by planting things in containers with "clean" soil. I had a lemon tree and a tomato plant in the courtyard behind the store, and I got more fruit and produce from the small roof garden shared by a few of us who still lived in the Quarter. We'd taken over the terrace that had once been a fancy pool and cabana at the abandoned Florissant Hotel, turned it into a community garden. Containment had done the same thing at the former Marriott to provide supplies for the agents.
War made people creative about their survival.
Owning one of the few stores left in the Quarter also had some advantages. Because so many of my customers were Containment personnel, I'd been able to get goods from the military convoys that crossed the Zone. It also helped that Gunnar worked for Devil's Isle's Commandant. Of course, that had unfortunate personal implications, too. Gunnar didn't know about my magic, and I had no intention of telling him. That would be bad for both of us.
Gunnar followed me inside to the small curtained area behind the front counter. It was the building's "kitchen," and held a small blue refrigerator that had lived (thank God) long past its prime, a gas stove, an old farmhouse sink, and a few stingy cabinets.
I sighed with relief at the burst of cold air from the fridge. Gunnar moved beside me, and we stood in front of it for a moment, savoring the chill.
"All right. Let's not waste the cold while we've got it." Consistent power was another rarity in the Zone. Magic and electricity didn't mix, which made the electrical system unstable. Keeping the lights on and the city dry were constant battles.
Considering that, it made sense to finish the tea while it was still good and cold. I grabbed the cut-glass pitcher and poured the rest of the tea into two plastic hurricane cups.
The pitcher had come with the store; the cups were my contribution.
Gunnar sipped, closed his eyes in obvious pleasure. "You could steal a man's heart with this."
I took a drink, nodded. "It's good, but it hasn't done much heart stealing so far." My last go-round hadn't been successful. Rainier Beaulieu had been tall, dark, and handsome. Unfortunately, when he told me I was the "only one," he'd forgotten to mention "right now."
I'd been in a lull since that little mistake. The Zone wasn't usually a draw for the young and eligible.
Gunnar grinned. "It's War Night. Everything could change."
That was the best part of it: Anything seemed possible. "My fingers are crossed. Feel free to keep an eye out."
"I love playing your wingman."
"I can wing my own men. You're just the scout. How are the crowds?"
"Emboldened by the heat," Gunnar said with a grin. "And embiggening. It's gonna be a helluva night out there."
"War Night always is," I said, but knew exactly what he meant. New Orleans could never be accused of shyness, and War Night would be no exception.
He glanced at the wall clock. "Tadji's meeting us at the start. How much longer till you close up?"
Tadji Dupre was the third in our friendship trio. "Fifteen minutes if I keep her open until six."
"Be a rebel," he said. "Close early."
Funds were hard to come by these days, and I wasn't one to turn down even fifteen minutes of business. On the other hand, I probably wouldn't be missing big sales tonight. People would be thinking about jazz and booze, not dried fruit and duct tape.
Some of that jazz bloomed outside, and we walked back into the front room, drawn by the music.
Half a dozen men in brilliantly colored suits, the fabric and elaborate headpieces covered in feathers and beading, filled the sidewalk. They were the Vanguard, New Orleanians who'd served in the war and organized the first War Night parade six years ago. A few had been the feathered performers known as Mardi Gras Indians, and they'd brought some of those traditions into this celebration.
One of members stopped, tapped a dark fist against the window. I grinned back at Tony Mercier, a silver whistle between his teeth, a black patch covering the eye he'd lost in the Second Battle. Tony had fought with the Niners from the Ninth Ward. And now he was the Vanguard's Big Chief.
He pointed down the street, signaling their destination, and then back at me. That message was obvious: They were heading to the starting line, and it was time for me to join them.
"I'm leaving soon!" I called out, and waved them on. They shuffled down the sidewalk, followed by a second line band that grooved to notes wrought through worn brass. A tuba marked the beat, a trombone and trumpet pushed the rhythm and melody, and half a dozen men, women, and children with tambourines, silver whistles, and homemade drums danced behind them.
The song, the instruments, and the parade were bittersweet reminders of life before the Veil had opened. But they were also reminders of what made New Orleans so amazing: its creativity, its traditions, its willingness to band together and face down a common enemy.
I rejected the idea that I was part of that common enemy. And besides, tonight wasn't about fear or regret. Tonight was about life, about experience, about celebration.
"All right," I said, grinning at Gunnar. "Lock the door. Let the good times roll."
"Laissez les bon temps rouler," he agreed.
Blacks, grays, taupes. There weren't many civilians left in New Orleans these days, especially in the Quarter, and we tended to wear neutral colors. Military colors. Our clothes blended with theirs, and that was fine by me.
Stay quiet; work hard. That was my motto.
But this was War Night. War Night deserved more than camouflage, so I'd donned a pale violet dress sprigged with white flowers. While Gunnar waited downstairs, I changed from black and gray into NOLA-appropriate purple that worked pretty well against my green eyes and long red hair. Fortunately, I was happy with it straight, because it wouldn't hold a curl if you begged it.
When Gunnar finished off the tea and the store was locked up tight, we followed Royal Street past brick buildings still half-destroyed, then turned onto Canal. As Gunnar had reported, the crowd was already huge.
The few remaining palm trees swayed, the air cooling as the sun dropped toward the horizon. The sounds and smells of War Night were carried on the breeze—the rhythms of brass-heavy jazz, the fruity scent of tonight's Drink, lingering smoke from the fireworks.
The Vanguard stood at the head of Bourbon Street, scepters waving beneath a homemade arch of metal scraps, paper flowers, beads from prewar Mardi Gras parades. This year's War Night theme was "paradise," so they'd also stuck in palm fronds, Spanish moss, and flowers made of cut soda cans.
The parade would zigzag through the Quarter, down Bourbon to St. Anne, and then over to Jackson Square, a gorgeous park even war hadn't managed to destroy. At the Square, the parade would turn into a block party that would last until the band got tired, the booze ran out, or Containment shut us down.
"Claire! Gunnar!"
We looked over, found Tadji waving from a spot in the middle of the street. She was tall and slender, with velvet-dark skin and curly hair that framed a face dominated by enviable cheekbones and a wide mouth. Tonight she wore a gauzy purple tunic over a saffron bodysuit, and a dozen thin golden rings on her fingers that sparkled in the light. The ensemble—fluid fabric over her long, strong form—made her look like a pagan goddess.
She was absolutely gorgeous, crazy focused on her work, and usually unflappable.
Except when it came to magic.
Tadji was a couple of years older than me. She'd been born in a small community in Acadiana, the French-speaking part of Louisiana, but left the state after high school. Her mom and aunt, and her grandmother before them, had practiced voodoo, preparing gris-gris and cure-alls for neighbors, helping them summon loa and saints.
Tadji thought they were con artists, and had been angry and embarrassed that they'd wanted to bring her into the family business. It wasn't until the Veil opened that we learned magic really did exist, that some of the voodoo and hoodoo practitioners, psychics, and magicians really did have some power. I wasn't sure whether Tadji's relatives fell in that category.
She'd eventually made peace with her mom and aunt. But she didn't talk about them much, except to say they moved around a lot. She never wanted to discuss them, or magic.
Tadji was now in grad school, studying linguistics at Tulane, the only college still operating in southern Louisiana. She was interviewing survivors in southern Louisiana to investigate how war affected language in the Zone.
I hadn't gone to college, but I knew how to make do. I read as much as I could on my own, and I'd learned some things on the streets that couldn't be learned in a classroom. But I was still in awe of how much Tadji knew about so many things. Jealousy bit me sometimes, even though I knew I'd made my choice to focus on the store.
We exchanged hugs, and she and Gunnar exchanged cheek kisses.
"Hey, guys!" she yelled over the booming drum. "Happy War Night!"
"Happy War Night!" we shouted back at her. She pulled paper cups and a recycled lemonade bottle from the khaki messenger bag around her shoulder, distributed the Drink.
"To New Orleans," Gunnar said. "May she be forever strange."
I sipped, my eyes widening at mouth-puckering tartness that warred with sinus-clearing alcohol.
Tadji was good with words. Tadji was not good with chemistry.
"That is . . . strong," I said as Gunnar wheezed beside me.
"Is it gasoline?" he asked.
"What?" Tadji blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?" She took another drink, tasted. "It's good, right? It's good."
"It's definitely almost a beverage," Gunnar said, then pointed toward Bourbon Street. "Ooh! Fire-eaters."
When Tadji turned to look, he took my cup and tipped both his and mine into a planter box overgrown with weeds. I doubted the plants would survive the night.
"Gumbo," he whispered, the word a warning.
I loved Tadji. But as we'd learned during Sunday night dinners—our weekly ritual—she could not cook. As far as I could tell, she didn't taste things the way other people did, and didn't have much interest in food anyway. I didn't consider myself a foodie, but I preferred edible to gummy cardboard. Which generously described the "gumbo" she'd made for us one evening. Gunnar and I had worked to keep her away from the stove after that.
Since there was no point chastising someone who literally didn't have a taste for cooking, Gunnar just kept smiling.
"So good," he complimented after handing my cup back to me, but shook his head when she held up the bottle in invitation. "Don't want to push things too early."
The look in her eyes said she didn't buy the excuse, but she didn't argue about it. "Suit yourself. I like your dress," she said to me.
I glanced down. It was probably a little old-fashioned for War Night, but that made it feel more appropriate. That was why we were there, after all—to remember traditions and luxuries we couldn't afford anymore.
"Thanks," I said. "You look amazing."
Tadji shrugged off the compliment. She wasn't great with them, which I thought was residual guilt about coming home with more than she'd had when she left. And probably more than her family had now.
The music grew louder as the Vanguard prepared to move. Gold fireworks arched over us, sending my heart stuttering again as the crowd's roar grew to a thundering crescendo.
"Nous vivons!" we shouted together. It meant "we live," and was our mantra of remembrance, of grief, of joy that we'd survived war, even as we lived in its shadow.
The Vanguard stepped forward, feathers and sequins flashing in the gaslights that had replaced streetlamps. We were a few dozen feet from the front of the crowd, and we could take only tiny steps forward. It took ten minutes for us to reach the arch, which was guarded on both sides by a pair of Containment agents in gray fatigues and black boots. Their gazes passed over the crowd, looking for troublemakers.
One of the agents made eye contact with me. I forced a vague smile and pretended to be nothing more than a red-haired girl in the crowd.
Gunnar, Tadji, and I linked our hands as we passed beneath the arch, the soda can flowers glittering as they shimmied in the breeze.
Gunnar squeezed our hands. "Let's make this a War Night to remember, ladies."
• • •
Even in the heat, people were damn certain they'd enjoy War Night. A party was a luxury they wouldn't give up.
There weren't many wrought-iron balconies left on Bourbon Street. But people still filled them because you couldn't have a parade in New Orleans without throws. Beads were expensive and not exactly a priority for military convoys, but paper was still easy to come by, so necklaces of twisted paper and folded flowers had become another War Night tradition. Folks on the balconies wore dozens of necklaces on their arms, and they tossed them over the parade as it passed, filling the air with paper petals.
I snatched two as they fell, handed one to Tadji, and we slipped them over our heads. The twisted necklace and its flowers, big as old-fashioned peonies, were made from folded phone book pages. Not that we needed them—war had destroyed most of the phone, cable, and fiber-optic lines and towers. The Paras had learned quickly enough to target them.
We were six blocks into the parade, and the sweaty crowd had bunched together again, any sense of personal boundaries completely abandoned. Gunnar had found a dance partner a few people away, so when the fourth sweaty person in a row bounced against me, I decided it was time for a break. I grabbed Tadji's hand and maneuvered through jostling bodies to the edge of the crowd.
The breeze felt like a miracle.
"Oh my God, that's better," Tadji said, flapping her tunic to cool herself. "Good call."
I nodded. "I was about to punch the next sweaty person who elbowed me in the stomach."
"The next person who elbowed you in the stomach, or you were going to punch them in the stomach?"
Sometimes it didn't pay to be friends with a woman obsessed with words. "Har-har. The point is, there are a lot of sweaty people in that crowd." I glanced back, surveyed the mass of people. "I think the party's even bigger than last year."
She nodded. "The population's actually gone up a little in the last few years. Some people think it's safe to come back, that there's no chance the Veil will open again. And some people are fascinated by what happened, really hope that it will."
Her voice had gone quiet, and I glanced at her, found her gaze on the high wall that surrounded Devil's Isle, visible at the other end of Bourbon Street, the sky orange above it from the glow of the electrified mesh that covered the neighborhood and kept the Paras from escaping upward.
"Do you ever wonder what it's like in there?" she asked.
I had wondered, and hadn't liked what my imagination had come up with. A few thousand Paranormals and Sensitives interned for our protection—and because the government had no idea what else to do with them. We'd closed the Veil, after all. That made them prisoners of war from a world we could no longer access.
That made me think of uncomfortable things. I wasn't bad, and Containment still would have tossed me into Devil's Isle. If I wasn't bad, what about the other Sensitives who'd been locked in?
"I try not to think about it," I said honestly.
"It's a complicated issue. But man, what I wouldn't give to get in there. Can you imagine the vocabulary they've developed? The Paranormals probably had to create a completely new language just to describe what they're going through."
She was probably right, and I could admit it was intriguing. But I still didn't want any part of Devil's Isle, and I had no interest in going in there. Not when the odds were good that they wouldn't let me out again.
While Tadji watched the parade, bouncing to the music, I checked out the street. There was a former walk-in daiquiri shop on the corner. It was missing a front wall, but an off-duty Containment agent—a man I'd seen in the shop—stood behind the bar and poured red liquid into plastic cups. His version of Drink, probably, and an opportunity to make a little extra money. Couldn't fault him for that.
A handful of his uniformed Containment colleagues looked on from the sidewalk, gazes moving suspiciously between the parade and the patrons in the make-do Drink shop.
Most of the agents who worked in the Quarter had been in the war. They'd seen its horrors, and knew about its tragedies. Others came from outside the Zone, or were too young to remember battle. They'd missed the fighting, the injuries, the sweet and bitter smells of death and battle. Maybe because they hadn't seen the horrors for themselves, there was fervor in their eyes. They'd learned to hate Paras, and wanted their own chance to fight magic.
I looked away, torn as usual between who I was and what magic would have made of me, and let my gaze skim the rest of the revelers. The couple whose pale skin sheened with sweat, whose eyes were filled with love as they drank greedily from plastic cups. The friends who sat in a line on the curb, shirts soaked through, but all of them grinning. A man who stood alone, arms crossed, watching the party.
He was tall, with a long, taut body, and wore jeans and a short-sleeved shirt that snugged over muscled arms and chest. His hair was dark and short, his eyes sharply blue and topped by thick eyebrows, his nose a sharp, straight wedge. He blinked long, dark lashes that fell like crescents across his tan skin.
"Handsome" didn't seem nearly a good enough description. His attractiveness was nearly visceral, bladed and sharp, like a weapon he could draw. He probably had women at his beck and call, probably had every romantic skill a woman might imagine.
And because I lived in a war zone, I had a very active imagination.
A casual glance would have said he was bored by the shenanigans. But boredom hadn't tensed his body like a panther posed to attack, or put that intense gleam in his eyes. He was coiled energy, and his gaze was on the crowd, tense and watchful, as if he was waiting for something big to happen.
His gaze suddenly shifted, those sapphire eyes streaking toward mine and locking on.
Something settled low in my gut, like my soul had rearranged itself, changed and shifted to account for him. For this man I'd never seen before.
Each dull thud of my heart ticked off another second, and still he didn't move or look away. The intensity of his gaze didn't diminish, and that made cold sweat skitter down my spine. Why was he focused on me?
A group of men and women shaking tambourines and maracas passed between us, breaking our eye contact. There were nearly twenty of them, dancers with plastic coins sewed to their bodysuits, feathers braided into their hair. And when they finally cleared the block, he was gone.
I turned in a circle, scanning the street and crowd for him, half annoyed to find him gone, half relieved. He apparently hadn't been watching me. But he had been . . . interesting. Hard edges, serious eyes, beautiful body. I wouldn't have minded if he'd ambled toward me, asked my name. And I didn't say that very often.
"Did you hear what I said?"
I blinked at the sound of Tadji's voice. "Sorry. What?"
"You were staring again."
It was a bad habit. Like the man with blue eyes, I was a watcher of the world.
"Guilty as charged," I said, putting a smile on my face, rolling the sudden tension from my shoulders. "What were you saying?"
"I was asking if you were ready to get back out there."
"Absolutely." I put an arm through hers. "Let's get back to the parade."
• • •
Three hours later, we stood in front of the Cabildo, where the parade had turned into a party.
The Cabildo had been a city council building, a court, a museum. After the storm, the Louisiana State Police set up there. Now it was the headquarters for the Devil's Isle Commandant—and Gunnar's tidy desk sat outside his office. Its former buildings-at-arms, St. Louis Cathedral and the Presbytère, had been destroyed in the war, leaving the Cabildo as the lone sentinel in front of Jackson Square.
Magic had mostly skipped over the Square itself. The plants had survived the war, providing a gorgeous spot of green among the gray of the Quarter. But the statue of Andrew Jackson, the hero of the first Battle of New Orleans in 1815, hadn't made it through the second one. Jackson could beat back the British. He wasn't as good with Paranormals.
Around the Square and inside its gates, War Nighters abandoned paper flowers and costumes in the heat, switched from booze to bottled water shipped in by a snack food company outside the Zone that had apparently been feeling charitable—or wanted to market its goods to the folks who came into the Zone for a good party.
We'd danced so long I was almost deliriously tired. But it was the right kind of tired—the kind of exhaustion that made troubles seem far away. War Night was about unity and debauchery, and we were taking full advantage, like hedonism on this one night could make up for a lot of want the rest of the year.
Tadji and I sat in front of the fence that surrounded the Square, our feet stretched in front of us.
"I am starving," Gunnar said, hand on his stomach as he leaned against the fence. Bodies and sweat had smeared the paint on his arms, blurring the figures and landscapes into hazy stripes.
He glanced speculatively at a pushcart on the corner selling unidentified meat chunks on skewers. The grill filled the air with the slightly gamey scent of swamp critters.
"No," I said.
"What if I dared you?" Gunnar asked, poking me with the toe of a boot.
"I've had my share of questionable meat," I said. "And I don't need to relive it." Times had been even leaner during the war, when even FEMA had trouble finding food in New Orleans. Dealing with wars on American soil was politically complicated, and it had taken nearly a week for the feds to mount a response to the invading Paranormals. In the interim, before FEMA brought in the trucks, we did what we had to survive. If that meant nutria for dinner, so be it.
"Our little scavenger," Tadji said, patting my arm. "You know what would do us all some good right now?"
"A bottle of very old Scotch?" Gunnar suggested.
"That, too," Tadji asserted. "But I was thinking good, old-fashioned yaka mein."
Yaka mein was another New Orleans specialty that took off during the war, but tasted a helluva lot better than gamey swamp critter. It was supposed to be hot broth over noodles with hard-boiled egg and green onions. Nowadays, it was bouillon cubes and dried, reconstituted eggs. Not exactly the same, but it still hit the spot, when you could find it.
We probably could have wandered into one of the more residential neighborhoods, found someone selling bowls from the back of a truck. But I was running out of energy to find anything.
I yawned hugely.
"Lightweight," Gunnar teased.
"Guilty as charged. I think it's time for me to head home. Who wants to carry me back to the store?"
"I've got a little party left in me yet," Tadji said. "But even if I didn't, I'm not carrying you anywhere."
I looked at Gunnar, who shook his head. "You're not a helpless damsel. Rescue your own damn self."
I couldn't really argue with that. "In that case, my friends, this is where I leave you. I'll drag my tired, old bones back to the store." I held out a hand to Gunnar. "If you'll at least help me up."
Tadji clucked her tongue. "She always gets so dramatic when she's tired."
"I know. She's twenty-four, acts like she's eighty-four."
"I have customers who are eighty-four," I pointed out, "and I'm sprightlier than at least some of them."
Gunnar offered both hands, helped pull me to my feet.
Tadji stood up, too. She looked a little guilty, and I half expected her to give in and walk back with me.
But before she could speak, a shadow fell over us. We looked up. The shadow belonged to a very well-built man. His skin was dark, and his eyes were brown and amused beneath slightly pointed eyebrows. His chest was bare, his abandoned T-shirt tucked into one of his back pockets. And across his gloriously broad chest was a black tattoo in a Gothic font: WORK HARD, PLAY HARD.
I could relate.
"Hey," he said with a smile.
"Hey," the three of us said simultaneously. We all held out hope.
The man grinned, a flash of white teeth, but it was all for Tadji. He put a hand on his chest. "I'm Will Burke," he said, then hooked a thumb toward the band, currently offering us a lively rendition of "Tipitina." "But everybody calls me 'Burke.' Would you like to dance?"
"Oh, well, I—" Tadji looked at me, eyebrows lifted in obvious hope.
"Don't mind me," I said with a smile. "I was just leaving. The store is calling my name."
Burke snapped his fingers, pointed at me. "I knew I'd seen you before. You run Royal Mercantile?"
"I do." The Marriott was only a few blocks away, and the soldiers who lived there bought sundries at the store, so I knew a lot of agents by sight. But Burke didn't look familiar. "Have you been in?"
"Only once. I haven't been in the city very long. I'm with PCC Materiel. Just transferred." He grinned. "I hear you've got the best store in the Quarter."
PCC was the Paranormal Combatant Command, the Defense agency that managed the entire war effort. Containment was one of its units, as was Materiel.
"It's easy to be one of the best when you're one of the few," I said, returning the smile, and deciding I liked him. And not just because he'd complimented my store. "But don't let us interrupt you. You were going to dance?"
"Thank you," Tadji mouthed, and took Burke's extended hand. They walked toward the crowd, began to move and sway to the music.
"I like him," Gunnar said.
I snorted. "That's because he's your type: gorgeous and well connected."
"And apparently skilled at the art of materiel."
"And in civilian terms that means what, exactly?"
"That means he has access to the good stuff. Food. Furniture. Uniforms."
I knew an opportunity when I heard one. I turned to him, linked my hands together pleadingly. "See if he can get me some cheese. The real stuff, not cheese-flavored product, not 'cheeselike' spread. Actual, real cheddar."
"You know refrigerated trucks don't do well in the Zone."
I knew—it was another electricity problem—but I didn't care. "I'll give you a million dollars if you can get me some real cheese."
"You don't have a million dollars."
"I have a million walking sticks."
Gunnar grinned. "I don't want your walking sticks." He pursed his lips, considering. "But I do need to make sure he's on the Commandant's visitor list." He pulled out a small notebook and pencil to scribble a note. Gunnar took his job seriously, and wasn't going to miss an opportunity to tell the Commandant about a material (or materiel) advantage.
That's precisely what made my friendship with Gunnar tricky. But he was too much my family to give up on him now.
"Come on," he said, shoving the notebook away again. "I'll walk you back to the store."
I didn't mind the offer, but I knew the Quarter better than I knew the guy who'd just asked Tadji to dance. I didn't get any bad vibes from Burke the materiel guy, but better safe than sorry. And besides: cheese.
I shook my head. "Don't worry about me. You stay with Tadji. Keep an eye on her. And when they're done dancing, find out which materiel he's responsible for. Use your copious charm." I spread my hands in a dramatic rainbow. "Think dairy."
"That's my hilarious girl," he said, but concern flashed on his face. "There were three wraith attacks last week. Are you sure you'll be okay walking back alone?"
He'd told me about each attack to warn me, to keep me on my guard. He hadn't realized the irony.
"It's only four blocks," I said, "and there are Containment agents everywhere." That was a blessing and a curse. "I'll probably have to push them out of the way just to get inside the store."
Gunnar didn't look thrilled, but his pressed his lips to my temple. "Be good, Claire. And be safe."
I told him I would.
And I really had meant it.
Instead of heading down Royal Street, I walked around the Square to Decatur. It was only a block out of the way, and I liked the route better—I liked seeing the river and imagining the world hadn't really changed, that life as we'd known it hadn't really ended. That my father and I still lived in a house in Central City, and I was worrying about dating and getting a good job. That a giant prison wasn't lurking behind me.
When I was younger, I'd roam through the store's antiques, making up adventures. I'd always thought it was cool that so many people who lived or worked in the Quarter knew my dad, considered him a friend. It was like being part of a secret club—the secret guild of folks who weren't just tourists but who knew New Orleans. I guess I had a little of that now—Burke seemed to know who I was, for example. But it wasn't the kind of familiarity I'd expected. And now it was dangerous.
I turned up Conti, reached the building that held the Louisiana Supreme Court, an enormous marble structure that took up an entire block between Royal and Chartres. It was square on the Royal side, and rectangular on the Chartres side with rounded towers on each end.
I'd heard the city had spent tons of money restoring it in the late nineties, only to have most of the back half destroyed in the war. Now the building was abandoned, and the few surviving palms and magnolias around it overgrown. The windows were supposed to be boarded over, but plywood was a valuable commodity, so it disappeared more often than not. This time, someone had gotten creative, removing the plywood from enough windows in one curved flank that the dark holes looked like a grinning skull.
You could take the people out of New Orleans, but you'd never get all the crazy.
I rounded the corner, saw movement near one of the magnolias. From the very unfortunate groans, War Night or Drink or both had gotten the best of someone.
I nearly smiled in sympathy before she burst out of the foliage. She couldn't have been more than eighteen or nineteen, and she was screaming like a maniac.
She didn't see me in front of her and hit me full on, so we struck the sidewalk together like felled trees. Pain sang through the elbow I'd inadvertently used to break my fall, and the skin scraped against still-hot asphalt. She tried to get to her feet, kneed me in the stomach.
I grunted, tried to help her up, but she wore only shorts and a tank top in the heat, and her skin was slicked with sweat. "What the hell?" I asked.
She didn't respond, and she was panting when she finally crawled off me, climbed to her feet, and loped into the street. She was limping.
I sat up to watch her, confused. Did she need help, or was she just walking off the effects of a long and boozy night?
But when her gaze met mine, her eyes were wide and terrified. She hadn't been drunk, I realized; she'd been afraid.
She knew had been my first paranoid and totally irrational thought. She'd somehow realized I had magic, thought of war and terror and death.
But it wasn't me she was afraid of.
He emerged through the darkness like a horrible ghost, whipping past me like a raptor and leaving behind the scent of something sour and spoiled. The magic had left him desiccated and skeletal. He looked brittle, with pale, nearly translucent skin and hair that had gone white.
He was a wraith. And he wasn't alone.
A second monster, another male, streaked after him, joined the first one as they followed the woman into the street.
Their withered and angular bodies were partially covered by dirty scraps of cotton and denim, probably the remnants of the clothes they'd been wearing when they finally crossed the line between Sensitive and wraith.
Fear flooded me, and with it, memories of war. Of the blood-hungry Valkyrie I'd killed with my own two hands. Of the angel I'd seen standing atop the Superdome, calling out to his troops with a golden horn, his ivory wings streaked with blood.
I glanced up at the building on the corner. The light on the magic monitor that hung ten feet above the street blinked green, activated by the wraiths' abundant magic, the energy they'd absorbed from the Veil. Containment had been notified. Agents would be on their way, so I shouldn't get involved. That was always my father's advice.
One night, a few weeks before the Battle of New Orleans, he'd stood beside me while we watched a Containment vehicle rumble down Royal. In the back, clutching each other with obvious fear, were male and female Paras whose naked skin glowed pale green in the twilight.
"Will-o'-the-wisps," he'd said. "Or what we'd call will-o'-the-wisps, at any rate." That had been before the gaslights were turned on again, and it didn't take the truck long to disappear from sight.
"They look scared," I'd said. They hadn't looked like the enemies we'd faced, the Paras who'd threatened us with weapons and death.
"It's better not to get involved. What's our motto?"
He'd said the words a thousand times. "Stay quiet. Work hard."
"Good. You worry about the store, about the citizens of the Quarter, and let Containment take care of the rest." He'd looked up at the stars that dotted the sky over New Orleans, visible when the power was out, and put a hand on my shoulder. "Someday, things will be back to the way they were before. Only hard work will get us there."
He told me that six weeks after he'd helped the army personnel who were left in New Orleans fight a battle it didn't look like we could win. But he'd jumped into it anyway, because, his warnings to me notwithstanding, that was the kind of guy he was.
He'd died two weeks later.
The woman screamed, pulling me from the memory and back to the present. She'd moved into the empty street, shrieking wildly as she tried to scurry away from the wraiths. Her ankle crumpled, and she hit the ground again.
All the while, the wraiths were getting closer, their eyes focused on her. And they weren't going to wait. The surplus of magic short-circuited their brains' impulse-control centers, made them extra aggressive. They'd kill her without hesitation, without remorse, because they existed to feed their hunger for magic. And damn anything that stood in their way.
I knew my father had wanted me safe, that he'd told me not to get involved because life in New Orleans was too precarious now. But the woman was in danger, and Containment wasn't here. This was my street, my Quarter, my city. That made it my responsibility. I had to keep her safe—or at least keep the wraiths away from her—until help arrived.
I couldn't use magic—not with Containment cameras all around. I looked around, found a fallen limb beneath one of the gigantic magnolias. Hands shaking with adrenaline, I grabbed it up and ran back toward them, holding the branch like a baseball bat.
"Hey! Get away from her!" I hoped yelling would scare them away and bring out people with actual weapons—assuming anyone was sober enough to hear us, or that the sound could carry over the horns and drums that still echoed from Jackson Square.
One of the wraiths turned back to me, a man with arms painfully pulled toward his body, skinny fingers tipped with long nails. He seemed to sniff the air—recognizing the magic I absorbed like him—then opened his mouth, screamed with a sound that was somewhere between fingernails on a chalkboard and the scrape of rough metal against metal. It was a horrible noise, pitiable and terrifying at the same time, and it made my stomach tighten with nerves.
Head bobbing, he began to lope toward me.
I pushed down fear. If he was moving toward me, he was moving away from her.
"Yeah, that's right!" I yelled. "Over here!" I waved the stick in the air, ran back and forth across the street, trying to get the other wraith's attention, too. Not that I knew what I'd do if I got it—but I was at least mobile, stick in hand, with solid lungs.
But it didn't work. The second wraith grabbed the woman's ankle, lunged at her.
This time, I didn't think, I didn't remember, I didn't debate. I ran forward, wound up, and slammed the branch across the wraith's spine. He screamed and reared back, looked at me with furious, watery eyes that were equally pitiful and terrifying.
I wasn't thrilled about hurting something that I could so easily become. But he didn't seem to care about my struggle. He shrieked, took a step forward. I moved backward and swung the limb in front of me to make sure he was giving me space.
I caught movement from the corner of my eye, realized the other wraith was also moving toward me. I'd managed to get their attention off the girl, but that might not serve me well in the long term.
I realized I could have used one of those walking sticks about now. Maybe one with a pop-up bayonet.
I looked back at the girl. She still looked wan, but she'd survive, if she could get up and run.
"Go!" I told her, and she climbed to her feet, limped down the street.
I looked back at the wraiths, trying to keep them both in front of me so I wouldn't be surrounded, so they couldn't trip me up.
One of them reached out to grab, skinny fingers like painted bones, tipped in thick, pointed nails. I swung the limb to bat the hand away, but he was faster than I'd anticipated. He snatched it, wrenched it from my hands, and tossed it down the street.
He swung out with his free hand. He might have been skinny, but he was strong, like his strength had been honed and concentrated into what was left of him. His arm hit me like an iron bar, and I flew backward through the air, a doll thrown by a spoiled child.
I hit the asphalt on my back. Pain burst through my body as the air seemed to fly out of my lungs. I tried to breathe, wheezed roughly.
They were both moving toward me. I sat in the middle of Royal, with not a soul in sight. Drums echoed down the street, the rhythm growing faster as the song rose to its crescendo.
Just like Gunnar had said, I had to be my own hero.
I climbed to my feet, still woozy, and paused to let my brain catch up with my body. But that only gave time for the fear to settle into my bones.
What People are Saying About This
Praise for Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires Novels:
"These books are wonderful entertainment."—#1 New York Times Bestselling Author Charlaine Harris
"Neill creates a strong-minded, sharp-witted heroine who will appeal to fans of Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series and Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake."—Library Journal
"Between the high stakes, the intense romance, and the fabulous cast of characters, I cannot recommend this book any higher!"—A Book Obsession
"Chicagoland Vampires is one of my favorite series, and with each installment, I'm reminded why I keep coming back for more."—All Things Urban Fantasy
"Delivers enough action, plot twists, and fights to satisfy the most jaded urban fantasy reader."—Monsters and Critics
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
This book was awesome I love Merit & Ethan, I was very worried about starting a new series with CN as the writer because sometimes you feel let down; however, Clarie's story starting to unfold and grow I was caught! Having grown up in the south and knowing the area was helpful for me because I knew what it was like "pre war", so it helped me see the streets and locations better than if I'd never been to the area. Anyhow, this is worth reading! Go for it, I rgink you will enjoy it! Sarah
I really enjoyed this book. It is starting out even better than the Merit/Ethan series.
Loved it! The action and suspense kept me reading.
I can now say that I own all of Chloe Neill's books. I was sceptical about starting a new series, especially after finishing the last book Chicagoland Vampire series, but The Veil quickly drew me in to its story and the characters are wonderfully developed. I am anxiously awaiting the next release! I just wish there was a shorter wait time between books. It is that good!
Great read
Claire Connolly is the last survivng member of her human family, but recently she has started exhibiting signs of having magic, which is illegal after the supernatural war. She has gotten good at hiding her magic, but when she see's a woman being attacked by wraiths she comes to her defense and the only way to come out of it alive is to use her gifts. Unfortunately she is spotted by Liam, a bounty hunter whose job is to catch the wraiths and take them to confinement in Devil's Isle. Liam does not turn Claire in, instead he works with her and finds her a tutor to teach her how to control her magic to keep her from turning into a wraith. He also agrees to teach her how to become a bounty hunter, like him, and as they hunt they discover that there are forces at work that are trying to open the veil between worlds, and they can't allow that to happen. Claire is torn between the human world and the magical. Her friends are completely human but she can't ignore the help Liam is giving her, and she can't ignore the connection she feels to him. Liam, who is human is also drawn to Clair, and is torn between wanting to get closer and wanting to hold her at a distance because if she loses control, he will have to turn her in. The setting for this novel is New Orleans and added to the characters torn feelings about magic. After all, New Orleans pre-war capitalized upon its magical elements to draw tourists and make money. Now post war, all of those elements are illegal, making the city feel dead and decayed giving it a post apocalyptic mood. I enjoyed this book as it was different and interesting. It's the first in the series and made me curious to see how Claire's character was going to evolve and also see if she and Liam could resolve their differences. ❤❤❤❣
My first by Ms. Neill and it won't be my last. Strong characters, great world building and an unusual storyline. I loved it and I'm on to book two.
All in a all a fun read and cool world.
Realy enjoyed this book. Lots of action and a great storyline. Should be a good series.
When I saw Chloe Neill was coming out with a new UF series, I was quite excited! I really liked what I've read of the Chicagoland Vampires series and I am looking forward to continuing soon. I really enjoyed the first installment in her Devil's Isle series, The Veil. There was quite a bit of information given in order to set up the world, but I didn't feel it was dumped upon us. It was necessary to truly get to a point of understanding what New Orleans was like post-war and post-Veil opening. It is truly a devastated place, but I love how the residents that live in the Zone still manage to find happiness despite it all. Our main character Claire, is a Sensitive, but she has to keep her magic a secret, else she be sent to Devil's Isle along with all the other paranormals and magic users. Their prison is one Claire will do anything to stay away from. I really liked Claire's character. She's not a pushover and she doesn't run away scared. She sees a girl in trouble and she knows she can't just leave her there to die at the wraiths' hands. Unfortunately, Claire has to use magic, thus sending Liam Quinn into her life. Liam is a bounty hunter who hunts wraiths and brings them to Devil's Isle. Sensitives become wraiths when they cannot regulate their magic, so it's a tricky situation with Claire. He wants to help her because he doesn't want to be the one to bring her to Devil's Isle- especially not after starting to have feelings for her. This definitely ups the tension between these two, because Liam doesn't feel like he can have Claire, what with him being the one who would have to take her, should she become a wraith. Overall, I thought he was a good character though. He cares for her, but there's not all this drama and angst between them either. He also treats her as an equal, even though she is clearly inexperienced in the field. She proves her worth and I really loved seeing that. I really enjoyed our secondary characters Tadji, Gunnar, Gavin, and Burke to name a few. Neill has done a good job of introducing us to her characters, the world, and giving us resolution for this book. Obviously, there are some revelations that will play a larger role in upcoming books, as well as Claire and Liam's impending relationship. Overall, this was a good start to this new series. I did get a little bit of information overload, but again, it was all necessary to the plot and understanding the world. I can't wait for the second book, The Sight!
The Veil is the first installment in Chloe Neill's urban fantasy series titled: Devil's Isle. This was a promising first book to a series that will surely grow in popularity. Overall, I liked it. The premise was complicated enough to keep me thinking, the characters were interesting enough to keep me reading, and for the most part, the story was pretty fast paced. Although, I liked it, I didn't love it and I'm sad to have to admit that. There was a portion of this story that had me zoning out a bit and I even considered skipping over whole chapters. The thing is, I can't identify what it was that kept me from feeling completely engaged and invested. I also want to note that while there may be some romantic tension, any actual romance in this book is understated to the point of being almost nonexistent. On the plus side, the potential for romance is enough to keep me interested in reading the next book. I think the characters have some pretty good chemistry. Ms. Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series completely sold me on her as a writer, and I was very excited to read The Veil. While Chicagoland Vampires is Ms. Neill's love letter to the city of Chicago, The Veil looks to be the start of a love letter to the city of New Orleans. One of Ms. Neill's many talents include drawing the reader into the setting and giving you a reason to want to stay there. The smells, the tastes, the sounds, the visuals...let's just say I want to visit New Orleans now :) Urban fantasy is one of my favorite genres so I for sure will be continuing the series. I have faith in Ms. Neill, and I'm interested to see what she does with this story. My favorite quote: "You could take the people out of New Orleans, but you'd never get all the crazy."
The Veil Book 1 of the Devil's Isle Series Chloe Neill 4 Stars A thin line is the only thing that protects us When I first got the book I was hesitant to read it. I thought for sure I wouldn't like it, whether that was due to the title or the cover I don't know. What finally got me to read it was the author, Chloe Neill. Now I don't mean we talk about my worries, I mean that I am a fan of hers. She has another series, the Chicagoland Vampires. I love this series with the great detail to the descriptions, the wonderfully developed characters, and a little humor and romance interweaved with the action and suspense. I will admit I wasn't hooked by this book. I have read other books that take place in New Orleans and I always have a problem seeing the scene. I am sure this is one of the reasons I had difficulty getting into the story. For me the Devil's Isle reminded me of a prison of war camp from WWII and this was my biggest issue. However, I did like the characters and I want to learn more about Clair and her tinkering skills and hear more about all the treasures in her shop. I will be ordering the second book in the Devil's Isle series. I did not notice any grammar or spelling issues, which is a big pet peeve for me. If I have to stop reading to give a word or sentence a second look, it pulls me out of the world created in the book. Overall, it was a well written story and you should take a chance on it. I give the book 4 stars.
Absolutely loved this new series by Chloe!! It has plenty of action, betrayal, humor and the beginnings of a great romance. This is an interesting take on paranormals. There was a Veil that broke letting paras into the world. The government was able to seal the veil and have put paras in a guarded area away from the population. They also put people who discovered they have magic once exposed to paras in the same guarded area. These people are called sensitives. The government as it turns out is hiding many secrets. Not all paras are bad, there is a way for sensitives to learn control over their magic, the veil must remained closed for everyone's safety. If you haven't already I recommend reading it. 5 stars.
I just want to start by saying what a fan I am of Chloe Neill and her Chicagoland Vampire series! When I found out she was writing a new series, I was thrilled! Okay, so I'm not a fan of dystopian, or whatever you would categorize this book as. So, I wasn't sure about this book. Nevertheless, since this was Chloe Neill, I had to give it a try. The story started off a little slow, but I understand that the characters and the world building had to be created first. This book was basically the set-up of the series, a get to know the characters and environment they exist in. Once the story really got going, then WOW! It was fantastic! The New Orleans the author created was well done. The plot was creative, and it has a lot of potential as a series. I loved all the characters. I really liked Liam and Claire the most. Claire is sassy and has a strong moral compass. Liam is just the sexy bad boy. The biggest thing I felt this story was lacking, was romance. I'm used to a little more romance in my Chloe Neill books. There was almost none in this book, besides a little bit of tension between the two main characters. Overall, this is another hit from Chloe Neill. I'm giving the first installment, The Veil, four glittery stars!
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4 1/2 The Veil is Ms. Neill's first book in the Devil's Isle series and she has a winner on hand!!!! The beginning of The Veil is a tad slow, but there is a lot of world building that needs to be done. There are some many things as reader/listeners that we need to know. So every part is important. I love Claire. She is as Liam would put it Reckless Brave. This really is the perfect description of her. Claire does not back down from what she believes is right. Even when she learns more about her world and as her views of right and wrong change, she always sides on the side of right. I can not wait to see what is in store for Ms. Claire Connolly in the next book. Liam Quinn. Just his name is great!! But there is so much more to Liam Quinn then just his name, good lucks, his tough as nail exterior and his job to protect the people of New Orleans. Liam is a bit of a lost soul searching for something, even though he may not know what it is. Thankfully he has found it in a fiery red head that will challenge him every step of the way. I loved these two. I really can't wait for Liam to get with the program. There are a lot of side characters too that I don't believe will stay in the back ground for long. I do believe that Devil's Isle is going to be an amazing series and I can't wait for more. I had the honor of getting an audio book version of The Veil from Tantor Media for review. Amy Landon did any amazing job in her narration. The story was told smoothly and not in a manner that felt like she was just reading the words (which is very important for me). I do hope that Ms. Landon will continue to be the narrator for future books in this series. If you are a Chloe Neill fan I believe you will enjoy this new series. If you are new to Ms. Neill now is the time to jump into this new world. Audio fans, I would recommend this book to you also!! If you are unsure please go listen to a sample. Looking forward to the next adventure. Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Tantor Media, Netgalley & PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
This was a good start to a new series. I have only read one other book by Chloe Neill so I thought that this would be a great chance to jump into a new series just as it is beginning. The book was good but it lacked the something extra that makes a book great. Every time I start reading a book, I always hope that it will be one of those books that I can't get out of my mind and have a difficult time putting it down. This wasn't that kind of book. I liked this book but I didn't fall in love with it. I liked the overall premise of this story. I found the world to unique and interesting. I think that this book may have fallen victim to the first book syndrome that often occurs with the start of a new Urban Fiction or Paranormal series. I did actually find that the second half of the book moved a lot faster for me after a lot of the background information for the world had been covered. I like the fact that the main characters, Claire and Liam, are for the most part "normal." Okay, Claire is not completely normal but she was such a likable character. I really liked all of the characters in this story. Liam knows how to handle himself and I liked how he shared everything with Claire. Moses was great - I really hope that we get to see more of him in future installments in the series. Liam's family and Claire's friends all seemed to add to the story. This book did a great job of laying the foundation for a really exciting series. The cast of characters are colorful and very likable. The story is set in New Orleans which is such a vibrant and exciting city which adds an interesting element. The world is a little different than other books that I have read but it includes so many elements that I found familiar. This book didn't really have a lot of romance but I really liked the sexual tension between Liam and Claire and hope to see that explored as the series progresses. I would recommend this book to fans of Urban Fiction and paranormal stories. I really like Chloe Neill's style of writing and think that this is a solid start to a new series. I am really looking forward to continuing with this series. I received an advance reader edition of this book from Penguin Publishing Group via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
The Veil (Devil's Isle #1) by Chloe Neill I'm a huge fan of Chloe Neill's Chicago Vampires Series. I was ecstatic when I found out she was releasing a new series. The Veil is extremely different than Chicago Vampires, which is good because it is a distinct series and not a spin off. I wasn't really sure how much I was going to like it when I initially started reading it. I think that happens a lot with a first book of a series. A lot of background information needs to be set in order for the series to come to life. The more I read this book the better it got. By the time I got to the end, I was disappointed that it was over and anxious to read the next book. I started to feel really invested in the characters. The story takes place in New Orleans seven years after "The Veil" was torn, opening a doorway to a supernatural world that started a war against humanity. Some humans called Sensitives are gifted (or cursed) with magic that seeps through the Veil. Now seven years later, any paranormal being, including Sensitives, that are found are imprisoned in Devil's Isle. Our heroine and Sensitive, Claire Connolly, is attempting to hide from that fate. Simultaneously, something is going on that is threatening to reopen the Veil. I loved Claire. Her family is gone, but she developed some great friends. She is selfless and really cares about what happens to New Orleans and its people. She discovered she was a Sensitive eight months before the start of this story. She needs to learn how to control and hide her powers, enter Liam Quinn. Liam is everything you could want in an Alpha Bounty Hunter. He has some personal issues that make him realistic and intriguing. He helps Claire and introduces her to some people that can teach her to control her powers. Through him, she discovers that not everything she has been told is what it seems. The plot was carefully thought out with lots of foreshadowing. The story becomes more intricate and exhilarating as it goes on. The Veil has a satisfying ending. Chloe Neill creating an excellent foundation to the Devil's Isle Series; she did such an amazing job with her character development and story line that I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. The better we got to know them, the more I fell in love with Claire and Liam. Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Worlds Collide Chloe Neill's new Urban Fantasy series begins with THE VEIL, set in a post-apocalyptic New Orleans. The Veil which stood between the magic and human world was ripped down by paranormals seven years before igniting a war with humans that left much of the South, especially Louisiana, devastated. Claire Connolly, who lost her father during the war, stayed in New Orleans and with her store, the Royal Mercantile, is trying to help the city rebuild. The magic that came into the world woke up the power in Sensitives who are human magic users; however, the downside is those who cannot learn to control the magic become wraiths, sort of the paranormal version of zombies. Anyone caught using magic ends up in Devil's Isle, an internment camp for those paranormals left behind and Sensitives. Claire has made a family for herself among her friends in French Quarter where as a businesswoman, she provides the rationed supplies for the Containment troops and the locals that are left. As is often the case in a war torn place, life can be hardscrabble and fraught with tension and fear; but those left behind are working to recover after so much loss. It's always interesting to see how resilient human nature can be when the world is ripped apart. Liam Quinn, a bounty hunter of wraiths and dangerous paranomals, sees Claire saving a woman from a wraith attack and offers to help her learn to hide, and more importantly, control her magic. While they are very attracted to each other, Liam resists getting involved with Claire because he may one day have to take her down should she become a wraith. For those who enjoy this type of Urban Fantasy, the characters are well developed and interesting including the varied assortment of paranormals who were left or stayed behind when the Veil was closed. The government's tight militaristic control challenges Claire and her friends to make a life despite the hardships and dangers from both sides of the Veil. Someone is trying to reopen it which will plunge the world once again into war and despair. And Claire learns that the line between friends and enemies can become quickly blurred.


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Nevada County resident Tony found himself on the wrong side of the law. After 19 years of drug use, he didn't have the will to quit. He was faced with the decision of time behind bars, or time to change his lifestyle. With the help of drug court, he kicked his habit. Now 18 months clean, he calls drug court a blessing in disguise.
He is one of hundreds of Arkansans who have drug courts to thank for turning their lives around. For more than two decades, these courts have offered Arkansas's drug-addicted, non-violent offenders an alternative to jail while rehabilitating them through a strenuous treatment program.
I had the opportunity to meet with Arkansas drug court advocates during the annual conference of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) near Washington, D.C. These 25 Arkansans represent drug courts from across the state. They are committed to the program because they've seen the positive impact this investment has on the community.
Sebastian County Prosecutor Robert McClure said that it's not unusual for him to see repeat offenders in the courtroom, but drug court offers an opportunity for these addicts to break this cycle, while saving taxpayer dollars.
A 2012 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report showed that drug courts reduce substance abuse and crime while also saving money. In Arkansas, the cost of putting an offender through the drug court program is ten times lower than locking them up.
Drug courts have proven to be an effective alternative to jail for individuals convicted of non-violent drug charges. That's why I'm committed to providing these courts the resources they need. There is widespread, bipartisan support for drug courts. For the first time in six years, the President's budget included designated funds for our nation's drug courts. Additionally, I was proud to include resources in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill to build upon the success of drug courts. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) would receive funds for drug courttraining and to create technical standards. The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the bill in July.
Drug courts are a critical component of today's criminal justice system. They reduce crime by as much as 45 percent compared to traditional sentences and have a success rate of 75 percent. This is compared to the 30 percent success rate for drug abusers released from prison. Their success has become a model for breaking the addictions of others. There are 93 approved drug courts in the state that are tailored to meet the needs of participants, including juvenile drug courts and veterans' drug courts.
Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Tabor recently established the state's newest veterans treatment court. He says that if there is anyone we should give a second chance to, it is a veteran.
The willingness of the judicial system to adopt alternative methods to jail time is a cost- effective approach to changing the habits of drug addicts and saving lives like Tony's, who is now halfway through his drug court program. As Washington pursues options for criminal justice reform, drug courts are a great example of a program that works.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Oh My World! Why Your Man Will Cheat On You According To His Zodiac Sign- Part 2 Posted by : Admin August 10, 2019 While being in a relationship we are in so much love that we are ready to do anything for our partner. But, the one question that does cross our minds…Read More>> Share comments


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So one of our goals heading so far north was to stay cool this summer. Well, that just isn't happening with this current heat wave. :-) So we decided to enjoy the cool air conditioned truck today and drive the New Hampshire coast – well, that took 30 minutes! There were some good views and lots of people trying to stay cool.
And then it was back to the air conditioned RV! :-)
Easy and affordable - no matter where you are!


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A walk in the Castle Park sounds wonderful to you – but maybe your children are not quite as excited as you are. We have made extra-special arrangements for our youngest visitors at Lütetsburg Castle Park: A large play area is open to children aged 3 to 10 years in the entrance area.
The Castle Park Mystery
"Schlossparkgeheimnis" a children's puzzle book, makes for an exciting tour of the park. With this book, children embark on an adventure through time! By solving riddles all about Castle Park, they hunt for eight keys with which they solve the mystery and save the park!
The detective story vividly told and charmingly illustrated by Lübbert R. Haneborger ranked third at the German "Gartenbuchpreis" 2014 (Garden Book Award) in the category "Best book on garden history." The puzzle book is available in the Park Shop of Lütetsburg Castle Park.
In the Park Shop you'll also find knight supplies of all shapes and sizes, as well as explorer tools for an expedition through the Park.
Children up to 12 years enjoy free entry to Castle Park in the season (April to the end of October) during the opening hours of the Park Shop.


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Azimut Leonardo 100 | From EUR€ 51,000 /wk
Azimut Leonardo 100 motor yacht is one of the models from the Azimut Yachts Flybridge line. The superyacht is in the Superior Category amongst the company's yachts, not only that, she was also a Finalist in the Boat International's World Superyacht Awards 2010. She can be described as an elegantly sportive yacht, with the saloon that suggests the idea of a refined loft, designed to foster relationships and social occasions for the owner and his guests.
Her shipyard describes Azimut Leonardo 100 as Big, Enormous, Immense. At no surprise. This motor yacht is in a class of it's own amongst the flybridge yachts, with her innovative and revolutionary space invention.
The main deck boast a 30 metre long, bow to stern, elegant area dedicated to comfort and high living. The spaciousness of Azimut Leonardo 100 was enhanced by opening the typically used divisions in the more traditional yachts. She also offers a colossal terrace looking onto the sea, inviting you to share the special moments of intense peace and serenity with your family and friends.
A second lounge on the Azimut Leonardo 100 luxury motor yacht is situated on the flybridge, features the dining area, sofas and whirlpool bath. It is on a slightly higher level over the sea and is protected by an innovative hard top in fiberglass and crystal class.
In the bow area, between the lines traced by the handrails that seem endless, a generous third relaxation area has been designed and built to enhance a sense of hospitality.
The crew of this motor yacht can easily move outside, pilot the helm or go down to the lower deck without guests even noticing, thanks to the customized route to guarantee your privacy.
Azimut Leonardo 100, when being viewed from inside gives the impression of an exclusive loft, looking onto the sea, with her sheer size and elegant furnishings. Viewed from the outside, she is a sophisticatedly designed motor yacht, with lines of unparalleled style and dynamism.
The superstructure of the Azimut Leonardo 100 luxury motor yacht goes slightly further back towards the stern than the more traditional 30 metres. This feature is to underline the dynamic and aggressive nature of her lines, which seem to be running endlessly towards the horizon.
The Master Suite is situated on the lower deck in the centre of the yacht. With large rectangular windows on both sides, it covers an unbelievably large surface area. The comfort of the Owner has been made as high as possible, by incorporating wardrobes with ample space, vanity area and bathroom with blown glass double wash stand and a large whirlpool shower.
Azimut Leonardo 100 Specifications
|2016, 2018
|6.8m (22'3'')
|30.75m (100' 10'')
|Max Speed:
|32 knots
|2 x MTU 2,200HP
|Cruise Speed:
|27 knots
|Western Mediterranean, Tuscany, THE MEDITERRANEAN, St Tropez, South of France, Portofino, Nice, Monaco, Luxury Yachts At Events, Italian Riviera, Iles d'hyeres, French Riviera, France, Elba, Directory, Corsica, Cannes, Camogli, Bormes, Antibes, Amalfi Coast, Ajaccio
The interior has been design, so there is no furnishing whatsoever that covers the window area, thus allowing the light flood right through the large lounge. The Master Suite features scenic windows with portholes that can be opened. Natural light is also penetrating the VIP and Guest Cabins, that have horizontal windows and portholes, respectively.
Azimut Leonardo 100's mahogany tinted zebrine wood furniture is prominent on the teak flooring and contrasts with the panelling covered in light beaded Alcantara fabric, which gives off bright, golden reflections. The contrast of these, gives the interior a vagrant and luxurious look.
Yacht Charter Accommodation
Azimut Leonardo sleeps 8-10 guests in four beautifully furnished cabins, one of them being the Owner's Cabin, one VIP cabin and two guest cabins.
Charter Amenities and Extras
Amenities onboard the Azimut motor yacht Leonardo include the following: Spa Pool on fly. Sound and video system, flat screens in all cabins, wireless 3G network, sattelite TV, forward salon. Fly bridge with bar and sitting area. Two Jet Skis: One new model Yamaha VX de luxe 110 HP 3 seats and one Sea Doo 3DI 130 HP (convertible), Tender : Avon 400 DE LUX JET, snorkeling equipment, wakeboard, water skis, sea bob, water toys...
Charter Yacht Disclaimer
This document is not contractual. The yacht charters and their particulars displayed in the results above are displayed in good faith and whilst believed to be correct are not guaranteed. CharterWorld Limited does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information and/or images displayed. All information is subject to change without notice and is without warrantee. A professional CharterWorld yacht charter consultant will discuss each charter during your charter selection process. Starting prices are shown in a range of currencies for a one-week charter, unless otherwise marked. Exact pricing and other details will be confirmed on the particular charter contract. Just follow the "reserve this yacht charter" link for your chosen yacht charter or contact us and someone from the CharterWorld team will be in touch shortly.
Azimut Leonardo 100 Enquiry
"Italian design is all about enduring style, all around the world. People want Italian design, Italian quality, Italian craftsmanship, Italian fabrics, Italian brands, Italian food. So…we have the opportunity to export our interpretation of luxury into the world without compromising our principles." - Paolo Vitelli The CEO of Azimut Benetti


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Examining Pathways for Water Loss from Mountain Lake, Giles County, Virginia
Joyce, William Lucas
MetadataShow full item record
Located in Giles County, Virginia, Mountain Lake has a documented history of dramatic water level fluctuations. Previous water balance studies have documented that the main cause of water loss is outflow to groundwater. However, the flow paths of water exiting the lake are unknown. This study applied hydrologic, geophysical, and dye tracer methods to examine the pathways for water loss and the possible geologic controls on these flow paths. Continuous lake level monitoring data show seasonal trends of draining and filling over a three year period. Electrical resistivity profiles suggest the presence of a large low-resistivity zone beneath the northern end of the lake. A dye tracer study yielded limited positive results, but dye detection in one stream and within the lake suggest complex flow dynamics. The most likely reasons for the lack of dye recovery include dilution of the dye during lake recovery, seepage of water below monitoring site locations, or formation of a temporary seal in the depressions created by influx of sediment during periods of lake bed exposure.
- Masters Theses [19450]


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PaySaber Documentation and Support
Whether you
need help getting started, or are wondering how to make the best use of
your built-in customer database, the links below will guide you through
the process of using the PaySaber in conjunction with the USAePay
Credit Card Payment System App.
If you need further assistance, please use the Contact page to access customer service and technical software and hardware support via telephone or email.
Using the Main Terminal
From the main terminal of the USAePay App you can initiate new
transactions, accept quck payment for a product or service, issue a
customer refund, enter the details of an offline transaction and access
all of the additional features of the app, including your transaction
history, customer database, product list and personalized settings. Learn more...
Viewing and Modifying Your History
The USAePay app securely stores all of your transaction information
so that you can easily review or make changes to batches and individual
transactions. From the History screen you can view recently processed
batches, a full list of past and pending transactions as well as easily
locate individual transactions and make any necessary changes or
additions. Learn more...
Personalizing Your Settings
Every aspect of the USAePay App is highly customizable in order to
suit the particular needs and preferences of each individual merchant.
From the Settings screen you can set tax rates, determine what, if any,
managerial permission restrictions are right for you, control the tip
settings, determine the level of detail that will appear on
customer receipts, email settings and more. Learn
Customer Database
Using the customer database as an integrated part of the USAePay
PaySaber system makes flexible, secure transactions even easier with
real-time synchronization and easily updatable customer payment and
contact details. Learn more...
The integrated product database allows you to easily track and store
a wide variety of products and services. From the product screen you
can add new products, edit existing products, update inventory counts
and sychronize your on-site product list with with multiple warehouse
locations. Learn more...
Basic PaySaber Device Details
Learn how to load the paper and operate all basic device functions, including docking your iPhone or iPod Touch, how to correctly load the paper, perform a self-test, and use the built-in magnetic card reader. Learn more...
Additional Support Options
Customer Service
questions regarding setup and usage of the PaySaber device and software
please contact the Customer Service Center or use the online support
+1 323 931 2233Local:
+1 323 931 2231Fax:
GorCorp Inc.
4929 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Technical Support
pertaining to the technical aspects of the PaySaber software or
hardware can be addressed to the corresponding technical support team.
+1 866 872 3729 x706 Telephone:
+1 323 931 2233 x706Local:
firstname.lastname@example.com E-mail:
Hardware Technical Support
+1 866 872 3729 x322 Telephone:
email@example.com E-mail:
Sales & Product Info
PaySaber line of products are maintained and owned by USAePay. If you
have any questions regarding sales or reselling the PaySaber line of
products, please contact the Reseller Sales department. A reseller
representative will be able to help you get set up right away or sign up online today.
Reseller Sales Inquiries
+1 866 490 0042Telephone:


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107.8 Radio Jackie - Bulletins aired each hour
Friday, 16 June 2017
Major traffic disruption expected in Kingston again this weekend
There's more chaos in store for drivers in Kingston and New Malden this weekend.
Kingston Road will be closed all weekend so a crane can be removed from the Cambridge estate.
The site is undergoing a major refurbishment.
The last time a crane was removed, drivers reported 4 hour delays, prompting them to ask why it couldn't have been done overnight.
Ambulance drivers trying to get to Kingston hospital were also severely delayed.
Stay tuned to Jackie for the latest travel across the weekend.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 4:48 pm
Top of Radio Jackie News page here.
of many reasons why we are so useful to South West London...
our very own news team bringing you stories that are relevant to you
and your area.
If you have a press release
or would like to send in news then pop off an e-mail to [email protected]
Follow Jackie News at twitter.com/jackie_news.


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On a chilly winter day, Harriet and Paul celebrated their marriage surrounded by friends and family. This couple quickly became one of our favorites, and the winter wind and chill did not put a damper on their day!
Harriet and her girls hung out in the bridal suite all morning getting ready, and Meagan Bechtel made sure they all looked amazing on this chilly day in January. While the girls were getting ready upstairs, the guys were downstairs with Paul making sure he looked sharp for his new wife! The bride's dress from Alyssa's Bridal was simply stunning, and the added fur shawl kept her warm against the winter wind. After exchanging gifts, the almost newlyweds were ready to walk down the aisle!
The ceremony space was simply gorgeous, with greenery and florals by Davis Floral Designs. The bouquets and boutonnieres had added pops of color that really brought Harriet's vision to life! The extra touch of a rug at the altar space added a little warmth to an already cold and blustery winter day!
After the ceremony, guests were treated to dinner catered by TCP Catering and drinks provided by JC Bartending. The gorgeous cakes were made by Tabler Made (formally The White Kitten Bakes). But our most favorite part of the evening was the special dances. Harriet did the traditional father-daughter dance with her dad, and then surprised everyone by doing a choreographed dance with her mom! It was so cute! Paul danced with his mom – they had some pretty impressive moves! Afterward, Paul danced with his grandmother, and it was the sweetest ever! The dance floor opened up for guests after that, and everyone had a great time dancing to the tunes provided by DJ Matt Hunter.
The new Mr. and Mrs. enjoyed spending time with friends and family, and I don't think they stopped smiling the entire night! So much joy and happiness radiated from them both, and we could not be more excited for these two lovebirds!
Liesl Claire Photography captured the entire day – check out some of our favorites below!
Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Morris! We wish you all the happiness in the world!
Photography – Liesl Claire Photography
Florist – Davis Floral Designs
Catering – TCP Catering
Bartending – JC Bartending
Cake – Tabler Made
DJ – Matt Hunter
Hair & MUA – Meagan Bechtel
Dress – Alyssa's Bridal
Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to keep up with all things BRIK!


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This is the amplicon context sequence in accordance with the minimum information for the publication of real-time quantitative PCR experiements (MIQE) guidelines. For more details, please refer to the following publication, "Primer Sequence Disclosure: A Clarification of the MIQE Guidelines."
ddPCR™ probe assay designed for gene expression analysis. Probe assays consist of unlabeled PCR primers and a dual labeled fluorescent probe.
Info: HEX; Same primer pair and probe as used in qPCR assay qHsaCEP0051481; exonic
Assay Information
Gene Information
This gene is specifically expressed in a subpopulation of neuroendocrine cells and is upregulated by nerve growth factor. The structural organization of this gene is similar to that of the rat gene and both the translated and the untranslated regions show a high degree of sequence similarity to the rat gene. The encoded secretory protein also shares similarities with the secretogranin/chromogranin family however its exact function is not known. [provided by RefSeq Jul 2008]


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6 Things To Know About The Limited Edition Pink Beetle
Volkswagen's flashy Limited Edition Pink Beetle is a snazzy addition to the VW family, and it's the first car to officially have a hashtag for a name since the Pink Beetle's official production name is actually #PinkBeetle. Here are 6 things to know about the Pink Beetle.
The lively little Pink Beetle came to life as a result of a 2014 dealer meeting in Mexico. When they were asked about what feedback they were getting, Volkswagen dealers revealed that one of the most common questions that they were being asked was whether the new Beetle would be available in pink. Eager to meet the demand, Volkswagen designers quickly got to work and the company debuted the Pink Beetle concept at the 2015 New York Auto Show.
The Pink Beetle is not the bubble gum shade of pink you might expect. Volkswagen came up with a deep raspberry-like color called Fresh Fuchsia Metallic, a shade that subtly changes appearance in different lighting. The interior is more subdued to balance out the bright exterior, but it's not boring – the car has fuchsia trim and door accents, and the fun plaid upholstery called "Pink Club" features fuchsia accent stripes.
Along with its head-turning color, the Pink Beetle's exterior has black running boards and gloss black mirror caps that give it a more dressed-up look.
The Pink Beetle has a 1.8-liter turbocharged, 170-horsepower engine that produces an impressive 184 lb-ft of torque, making it fun to drive while still being fuel-efficient. The Pink beetle is available in coupe and convertible models, with a starting MSRP of $21,890. The coupe has the 17-inch multi-spoke Linas aluminum alloy wheels while the convertible model sports the 18-inch five-spoke Twister aluminum alloy wheels. The transmission is a six-speed automatic with Sport mode.
The Pink Beetle has Volkswagen's MIB II infotainment system with 6.3-inch touchscreen, keyless entry, push-button start, Bluetooth with audio streaming, Volkswagen Car-Net App-Connect, and backup camera. It has all the desired technology features but it's still a Pink Beetle after all, so the touchscreen has pink trim.
Heated seats are standard on the Pink Beetle, along with Bi-Xenon headlights, LED tail lights and daytime running lights, and USB port. The Pink Beetle has convenient heated side mirrors to make things easier for you in cold conditions. It has a sporty leather-wrapped steering wheel and a multi-function trip computer to track your gas mileage, trip time, and number of miles until your tank is empty. There is a three-year/36,000 mile standard warranty and a five-year/60,000 warranty on the powertrain.
The Pink Beetles has all the safety features you would expect in a new car, including anti-lock braking system (ABS), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), stability control, and braking assist. The car includes LATCH system anchors for the safest method of car seat installation and driver and passenger front and side airbags.
The new Pink Beetle is exhilarating to drive and is sure to turn heads while out on the town, and while it looks like it's all about having fun, the Pink Beetle also delivers on technology, comfort, and safety features.