Excerpt: Terra's Gate

The party his mother threw for his fourteenth birthday party changed Drew’s life forever. They held the quiet celebration a few days early, while his father was still out of town. His father would preside at the official celebration. Drew was sitting in the seat of honor at the head of the table in the very best dining room when his father walked in, trailed by three visitors. His arrival was so unexpected that every single person in the room froze in shock. Drew watched as a ribbon fell from his mother’s hand and drifted onto the edge of the table where it teetered and began its slow descent to the floor. It settled there, only to be stirred up when Drew’s father stalked by.
“Why are there humans in my formal dining room?” He had intended to whisper, but his voice echoed like thunder in the silent dining room. Drew’s friends managed to wiggle out of their chairs without moving them, and stood, rigid with fear, staring at their bare feet. Major, Drew’s aging retriever leaned against his legs and growled so softly that Drew felt it more than he heard it. He buried his hands in Major’s fur.
“Heaven knows I’ve been patient with your eccentric ways, Layla, but I never imagined you would involve Drew. Forcing him to sit with slaves. Shame on you!” His father grabbed his mother’s wrists and shook her. At that, Drew pushed back his chair and stood up. His chair scraped loudly across the wooden floor, and the sound seemed to recall his father to the present. He released his wife and turned back towards his guests.
“I beg your pardon,” he said. “We don’t usually allow children or slaves in this area of the house, and I was caught off guard.” With fear thundering in his chest, Drew watched as his father crossed to the servant’s door and rang the bell. Major stood next to him, a silent supporter
Susan came in, and although her quiet dignity must be a façade, it helped to calm Drew. “Take these slaves down to the penitentiary for now,” his father said. She nodded and turned to leave. The four human slaves followed her. The tall, blond one was her own son, Drew’s best friend. Drew watched his friend’s straight back and measured step with pride.
“It wasn’t their fault,” Drew protested. “I wanted them to come, and how could they say no?”
His father lifted his chin a notch, and gave Drew a quelling look. “We’ll talk about this later. First, there are some people I would like to introduce you to.” Drew was very nearly as tall as his father now, but the summer’s growth spurt had left him skinny as a post. He felt awkward next to his father, like a young colt standing next to a racehorse. His mother put her hands on his shoulders, reminding him that fighting his father openly never worked. Together they moved towards their guests.
“Is that...Jack?”