Nick used that experience when he drafted the final scene in The Elves of Ceradon. Prince Deko of the Zordoo elf clan had watched his people be murdered by life leeches, squid-like creatures with razor-sharp teeth, who sprang up from the forbidden lake to feast once every century. The last of his kind, Deko had no choice but to trek across the land of Tertia alone, in search of another clan of elves who lived in Ceradon. The Ceradonian elves were a myth, children’s stories told to Deko and his sister at night. But Deko knew Ceradon was real, and finding it was his last hope after his own kingdom had been destroyed. Throughout his journey, he battled trolls and dragons, was almost drowned by a merman and lost a hand fighting with a three-horned bull snake.
All the while, he was aware that the life leeches were tracking his scent and chasing him. But in the end, he’d finally reached Ceradon’s city gates. Dehydrated and weary, Deko struggled to tell the guards who he was, but before he could speak, a life leech attacked him. Deko was too weak to fight back but he used what energy he had left to throw the life leech down. He lifted his sword, thinking about his father, who had been a harsh king known for mercilessly executing those who opposed him. Deko had hated his father’s ruthlessness and swore to never be the same, but if he didn’t kill the life leech, it would kill him. Deko hesitated, his blade nearly piercing the life leech’s throat, and in a split second, another life leech attacked him, and then everything went black.
That was how Nick ended the book. He thought a cliff-hanger would have readers clamoring for more. In that, he’d been right. It was the reason so many editors had offered on his book when Marcus resold it. But now he didn’t know how Deko’s story should continue.
He’d struggled to write the first chapter for book two. In the opening scene, Deko has just awoken in the infirmary at the Ceradonian queen’s castle. He almost died from the life leech attack and had been in a coma for three days. When he gains enough strength, he walks through the city of Ceradon, feeling lost and out of place. He mourns his people and his old life. He also worries that the life leeches will find a way to break through the gates surrounding the city.
Nick’s aim with the chapter had been to establish a somber tone. Now, as he sat across from Marcus at the Redeye Grill in Midtown, a few blocks away from Marcus’s office, Nick was convinced that he was in over his head, and after reading his pages, he was sure that Marcus had come to this realization too.
“So, about the first chapter,” Marcus said, moving aside his empty plate.
Nick nodded. “I know.”
“You know what?”
“That it’s bad. I shouldn’t have sent it to you without editing it first.”
Marcus laughed. “It’s not bad. You’re really your own worst critic.” He reached into his satchel and pulled out a small notebook, flipping it open to a page that was covered in his tiny, neat handwriting. “My main critique is that I think Deko should be more active. He just survived a heinous attack and he wakes up and walks around the city aimlessly. What are his goals? What does he want to happen next?”
“I don’t know.” Nick fidgeted with his fork. “He wants peace, I guess. He wants to start over, but he doesn’t know if he can.”
“Why can’t he? What’s stopping him?”
“He feels guilty for surviving when no one else did. He doesn’t know what he has to live for.”
Marcus tilted his head, looking at Nick thoughtfully. “Maybe that’s your plot. Deko needs to figure out what he has to live for now. If not for himself, maybe someone else or a cause.”
“Maybe.” The issue was that Nick didn’t even know who Deko was anymore. How could he write his story when his mind was blank? “I’m going to work on that.”
“I know you will,” Marcus said, waving down their server. “How about we set up another meeting next month to talk about whatever progress you’ve made?”
“Yeah. That sounds good.” He just hoped in a month’s time he’d have something more to share.
After they left the restaurant, Marcus went back to his office, and Nick opted to walk back to his apartment. He wanted to marinate on the notes Marcus had given him.
And he needed to sort out his thoughts concerning Lily.
He’d almost kissed her again last weekend at Marcus’s party. Even though they’d been concealed in the darkness of the kitchen, he could see her bright gold clothes and the way she looked at him. Like she wanted him to kiss her. He’d been this close to doing so. He couldn’t get her out of his mind. This was bad.