reviews_and_ramblings | Excerpt Day: Escaping Darkside by Amanda Steiger

Escaping Darkside by Amanda Steiger
Release Date: Apr 2, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-59596-581-3
Publisher: Changeling Press
Publisher Link: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1131

Blurb: Death is just the beginning of Christian’s problems. After he’s killed in a hit and run accident, he wakes up in Darkside -- the demon-infested world between life and death -- and learns that he’s being hunted by the merciless Council. Then he meets Seth, an inhumanly beautiful man with silver hair and golden eyes. He offers Christian his protection, and a glimmer of hope. At the far end of Darkside is a door to Earth. If Christian can reach it, he’ll have a second chance at life. There is only one problem. Going back to Earth will mean leaving Seth behind forever… and Christian is falling in love with him.

Excerpt:

A hand grabbed his arm and twisted him around. He found himself staring up into a face that was almost human, except it was black-not brown, but licorice black-and topped by a pair of small, spiral horns protruding from crimson hair. The man dragged Christian through the crowd, out the door, into the cool night. He shoved his face into Christian's, eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here? You're not from Darkside."

"I don't even know how I got here. What is this place?"

His lip curled in an unpleasant expression that was half-grin, half-sneer, revealing tiny, sharp fangs. "You're from Earth, huh?"

"Earth? You mean we're not on Earth?"

"Oh boy, are you in for a rude awakening." Sharp claws dug into the meat of Christian's arm, making him squirm. "There's bound to be a fat reward on your head. The Council doesn't like it when souls slip through their grasp." Breathing hard, Christian tried to pry the sausage-thick, dark fingers from his arm. "Let go!"

"Oh no. You're not getting away so easy."

A voice rang out: "Hands off, Dorf. He's mine."

The horned man looked up, and his eyes widened. "Seth!" He released Christian's arm as if he'd found himself holding a poisonous snake. "Shit. Sorry, Seth, I didn't know."

Christian turned and followed Dorf's gaze.

At first, he thought he couldn't possibly be looking at the right person. The tall, lanky, pale young man didn't look all that scary, but he was the only other person around. He wore a fishnet shirt, a black leather jacket and faded black jeans, slashed at the knees and lower thighs, as if someone had used them for sword-fighting practice. He stared at Dorf, one hand on his slim hip. "Well? Go on."

Dorf gulped and backed away. He gave Seth one last, fearful look, then scurried into the club and slammed the door.

Christian stared at the man called Seth. His mop of shaggy hair was a pale silver-white, as if it had been lacquered with moonlight. A fishnet shirt outlined a hard, toned chest, smooth skin stretched taut over whipcord-lean muscle, without a spare ounce of fat anywhere it wasn't needed. And his eyes.

Goose-bumps rose on Christian's arms. His eyes were large, almond-shaped, and golden. Something told Christian they weren't colored contacts.

Who was this guy?