"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."
Leia Hamilton can move things and set them on fire with her mind.
Leia's father and step-mother tried to hide their past: a time when they were part of a team of superheroes. But despite being disbanded for over twenty years following a series of tragedies, their problems were passed to their children and Leia finds that her future collides with their past.
In the diverse world of human and superhuman, heroes and villains, friends and enemies, some of Leia's choices have terrible consequences. For Leia, this leads to a personal crossroads and a search for redemption.
Not your normal superhero novel, Mindfire isn't about secret identities, costumes, or evil plots endangering the world. Instead, self-discovery and adaptation is at the forefront as the reader follows the lives of the characters who are unafraid to show love and explore spirituality.
Can redemption and renewed grace weather the flames of absolute power and superhuman strength?
Most superhero books are about secret identities, costumes, and evil plots or enemies threatening the world. But MINDFIRE takes a different approach: the main protagonist doesn't have a costume, she doesn't even call herself the codename "Mindfire." She learns she has super powers and that she's the child of a super hero and a super villain. She has to decide what kind of person she wants to be. That's why the tagline is "Power alone doesn't make a hero or villain." It's who you are inside that determines that.
The growing relationship between Leia and her love interest, Josh. Leia goes through a lot in the book and not just anyone would stick with her. You may even question whether Josh will stay with her. We learn as much about Josh as we do about Leia. It's a romance element that's very compelling and satisfying.
Five hours later, the green “i” in “Skippy’s Pizza” flickered on the neon
sign above the entranceway. Customers talked and dined in the booths or at
their tables as “I Ran” by A Flock of Seagulls played over the speakers. The
restaurant lighting was dimmed in the customer area to provide a comfortable
atmosphere while it was well-lit behind the counter and in the cooking area.
Skippy’s was a local restaurant, so the owner had chosen to put pictures and
even flyers from local events and bands around the counter and on the walls.
Tonight, Leia was at the register taking orders. She normally didn’t mind
this aspect of her job, it gave her a chance to talk with people as they ordered
their food. But as usual, there were difficult customers.
“Are you saying you won’t put that on my pizza?” the fifty-something man
demanded. He was tall, very muscular, and smelled of beer and cigarettes.
“I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t have grilled salmon as an ingredient here at
Skippy’s. I’ll gladly substitute one of our other ingredients,” Leia said.
“Like what?” he replied, curious but not yet satisfied.
“Well, sir, we have pepperoni, Italian sausage, hamburger, ham, spinach,
barbecued chicken, Roma tomatoes—”
“Standard pizza toppings,” the man interrupted gruffly.
“Yes, sir,” Leia continued, smiling but holding her ground. “Just tell me
what you’d like and I’ll have it made for you.”
“I want grilled salmon!” he shouted. “Let me talk to your manager, miss!”
Miffed, Leia pointed to her nametag. “I am the manager … sir!”
“Are you kidding me? You’re just some kid barely out of high school!
How can you be manager?”
Leia had had quite enough. Channeling every bit of self-confidence she
could muster, she stood to her full six foot height and stared the man in the
eyes.
“I have attempted to accommodate you, sir,” Leia insisted, slamming her
fist onto the counter next to the cash register. “I have explained that we do not
carry grilled salmon at this or any of our locations and I have offered you an
alternative, which you have refused. As the manager of this business, I have
the right to refuse service to anyone … including you. You are preventing
other customers from ordering, customers who know and understand what our
regular ingredients are. So, sir, I must ask you to leave!”
It was then that Leia noticed that not only was the middle-aged man
staring at her in fear, but so were the other six people near the counter and the
two couples sitting at booths.
“What are you??” the man said. “You ain’t normal!”
Leia turned around and saw the same frightened look in her co-workers’
eyes. Then she noticed the four pizza cutters and two butcher knives
suspended in mid-air around her, pointing towards the man. In one of the
butcher knives, close to the left side of her head, she saw a reflection of her
face. Her eyes were glowing and on fire … yet they didn’t hurt.
When she looked down and lifted her fist from the counter, she was further
shocked to see the impression of her fist permanently embedded into the
countertop and cracks spider-webbing from the impression. A pit opened in
her stomach and she almost became nauseous. With her concentration
shattered, the hovering objects fell to the floor. Then Leia collapsed to her
knees, trembling with adrenaline and fear. She closed her eyes and all the
sounds in the room were drowned out by the roar of a building tidal wave in
her ears.
The sounds of employees and customers alike as they ran out of the
building were barely heard.
Sometime later, she wasn’t sure how long, Leia recovered her composure,
her senses relented and most of her strength returned. Leia looked up and saw
that she was alone.
“Leave. Now!” a female voice said. Leia didn’t hear it with her ears. It
seemed to be in her head. “The police have been called. You have to get out
of there, now!”
The voice was familiar, though Leia couldn’t identify who it was. But
clearly, whoever spoke to her was worried about her. Leia stood up and exited
the back door of the restaurant. Hearing sirens a few blocks away, she started
running down back alleyways to avoid being seen out on the street.
“It’ll be alright,” the woman’s voice soothed in Leia’s head. “But you
should get home. Only tell your parents. They’ll understand.”
Am I nuts? Is that it? Maybe Josh was right, I have a fever and I’m
hallucinating!
“I wish that were true, girl,” the voice added. “But sometimes the truth is
harsher and more difficult to deal with.”
Who are you??
“Someone with … abilities like you,” the voice said. “I want to help you.”
Why? Everyone else is scared of me! Are you just interested in me because
I have powers? Why are you doing this?
“You mean much more to me than your powers, Leia Hamilton. I’ll
explain everything someday. I promise.”
Still somewhat disoriented, Leia began to cry, feeling overwhelmed as it
dawned on her what had happened. There was so much she still didn’t
understand.
“They fear you because you have power,” the voice continued after a short
pause. “It separates you from them, it makes you better than them. And they
know it.”
I’m not better than anyone.
“Really?” the voice said, ripe with sarcasm. “You could have turned that
drunkard into a torch or impaled everyone in there with sharp objects. You
could have crushed their skulls!”
Shut up! Leia thought, agonized by the callous imagery. I’d never do that!
The voice laughed.
“I was like you once,” the voice added. “Young, hopelessly naïve, and
idealistic. I hope you can maintain that illusion. I had to learn the hard way.”
Who are you?
The voice went silent as Leia reached her home and went inside.