Author Colleen Michelle Johnson's website
Forget the first chapter for my book! Scrap it. Going to start with chapter two as one, as I originally had it before someone changed it all LOL! Hey, he did some awesome edits.
Asgrove Academy will start with Lissa drowning in the magical realm while she has a few flashbacks to her ‘human’ life later. Welcome to magic, Lissa đ
Posting a picture I made for my Pinterest account of the same name, nightshaelane đ
Why only one side? Because the other doesn’t match!
There are currently two versions of my story for National Novel Writing Month.
One shows the twins past. The other is current day. Mystery, Suspse, Horror, Thriller just isn’t my genre. I am pushing myself to write this even though it makes me sick.
But as with all stories, once the dream or nightmare has shattered my night, it demands to be told.
So remember that this is all reallly rough draft. Over 8,000 words. Unedited. No check check. ROUGH. MATURE CONTENT
PRESENT DAY
After completing a heavily detailed, commissioned piece for a VIP in France, twin brothers Jacob and Jason sat together in their living room. Each held a cold beer in their right hand.
Jacob turned their fatherâs old radio on and began to twist the dial in search of something interesting. Jason removed Jacob’s hand when he heard a male voice delivering the evening news.
âIn just one month, the State will be taking custody of the seventy-five children living at Annaâs Orphanage, on Klein Avenue. Mr. Longly, the manager, stated that he was sad to see the home for orphans close its doors. Unfortuantely, the long standing funding it had been receiving was cut off last week when their anonymous benefactor passed away. According to lawyers from Ashton and Davis, this benefactor had no will. This wonderful establishment has been home to many orphans for over fifty yearsâŠâ
“I didn’t know there were any orphanages left in this country,” Jason said, scratching an itch on the side of his face. His eyes stared at the old fashioned radio that once belonged to their father.
“Sounds like the opportunity we’ve been waiting for,” Jacob replied. After setting his beer down on the glass table next to the radio, he entwined his fingers and set them behind his head as he rested against the black, leather couch.
“Better us than the government,” he mused. “I agree. I think I have a plan. Those children will be moved in to the foster system in thirty days. How about we take a trip to meet, who was it? Oh yes, a Mr. Longly, to see if he would like a small donation, to ease the transition of the children?”
Jason rubbed his chin with his long, thin fingers. “It has been a very dry summer.”
His brown eyes, a mirror of his twin, glittered with excitement. “Klein Avenue is only fifty miles away. We can take the sedan.”
Together, the brothers sat and talked for the rest of the evening creating a fantastic ruse.
Two days later, Jacob, wearing a solemn, black suit, met with the man in charge, Mr. Longly. He spoke of making a donation for the children. After Jacob was inside, Jason, wearing black sweatpants with a matching sweatshirt, under the cover of night, snuck around the building. The ground was covered in dry, brittle brown leaves. After making three large piles, with a flick of his lighter, he created brilliant orange flames.
Both brothers had heavily altered their outward appearances using face putty, false mustaches, and long side burns. Their clothing had been stuffed in various places to change their body shape.
After the fires were cleared, fifteen girls were found missing. Mr. Longly gave the police a firm description of the man who had come to see him before the fires had started.
A large search spanned six months before the authorities had no choice but to declare the case cold.
After the orphanage was closed and the remaining children entered the foster system, the search for the missing, orphaned girls was easily replaced by the news of royal marriage. It was that of Prince Edward and Cassidy Forton that stole the attention of the world.
The Jovinet brothers had achieved their first goal.
The fifteen girls, ranging from four to thirteen were held, unbeknownst to all, in the basement of the brick building on their estate.
A building that happened to be located behind the very Statuary that had most recently provided a stunning angel to the newly married couple.
The perfect gift, a standing angel, arms crossed over her chest, face tilted toward the heavens as if pleading for redemption.
CHAPTER ONE
A girl no more than five, stood before a silver, metal door set in a large brick building. Its roof was covered in dark brown tiles.
Big green bushes with bright red flowers grew on both sides.
The man, dressed in a black leather duster stood holding the young girlâs hand.
The girl bit her tongue so hard that blood beaded on her lower lip.
They faced a single door set in the red brick building.
There were no windows on this side of the building.
The girl had a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach.
A keypad was revealed, hidden behind one of two ivy plants hanging on opposite sides of the door when, with his right hand, the man pushed aside the plant, and entered a code.
After a slight hissing sound, the door was set free from its frame.
The little girl cautiously peeked out of the corner of her eye at the man holding her hand firmly in his.
As she considered his appearance, she didnât think he looked like a monster.
He didnât have horns or a devilâs tail.
A shiver ran through her aching body.
Monsters didnât have to be slimey or scaly.
This man had short, brown hair and was dressed nice right down to his shiny black shoes.
No, she thought. Monsters came in many different forms. Even though he appeared charming, darkness lurked beneath his careful façade.
Standing in the open area just inside the door, the hissing sound came again as the door sealed closed and the girl tried her best not to let her tears show.
The light was dim as the man guided her to the right. They stopped at the wall where he pressed his right hand against one of the bricks. A small opening appeared along with wooden stairs leading down into pure darkness.
The man tugged on her hand and she followed behind him, blind to her surroundings.
At the bottom of the stairs, the man flipped a switch.
Three paths appeared.
The man chose to walk down the middle path that flowed beyond her sight.
After a few minutes, they stopped walking.
The girlâs slightly glazed hazel gaze wandered to the silver numbers on the gray door. 525.
âBe a good girl,â the man said as he unlocked the door using the keypad directly under the numbers.
As the door swung inward, he pushed the little girl into her new home.
She stumbled and then stood still, facing the bare walls.
She listened as he closed the door.
The lock was set in place with a firm click.
Under his long duster, the man wore a red long sleeved shirt along with tightly pressed black slacks.
Indeed, it appeared as if he was off to a business meeting.
His tie was the only thing that made him stand out from others.
It was a thin black tie covered with little brown monkeys covering their mouths.
Hands in the pockets of his pants, he walked leisurely through the maze of little rooms, each holding something very dear to him.
With a smile on his thin lips, he began to whistle softly, his dark, hooded eyes watching the numbers on the rooms as he returned to the main house.
Back in 525, the girl glanced at the tiny vent in the high ceiling. There were no hooks to hang clothes upon nor was there a chest of drawers to put things away. Not that she had anything anymore.
There was a single object in the space, a black, thick metal framed twin sized bed. It had a thin, spring free, mattress upon it.
There was a single, white pillow along with matching white sheets.
She hadnât earned a blanket yet.
But she had paid dearly for the bed, its pillow and sheets.
The little girl climbed up onto her bed and stuck her fingers through the narrow slits in the headboard. Rubbing the skin off her pointer finger, she made a few small tally marks upon the gray wall.
Quickly withdrawing her hand, she stuck her finger into her mouth to soothe the pain and sucked away the blood.
Her movements made her appear as if she had fallen over on the bed and accidentally got her hand stuck in the metal headboard.
At least, thatâs what she wanted anyone to believe when they sat down to watch the camera feed coming from the four cameras mounted near the ceiling, way beyond her reach. Each appeared to be no bigger than her fist. All four had a single, steady red light.
The small girl with brown curls down to her waist removed her black slippers and placed them by her bed.
âMust be perfect,â she whispered, her petite fingers arranging the slippers so that they were flawlessly aligned.
She removed her long, dark cloak and carefully folded it into a neat square before placing it next to her slippers.
As she had been instructed, she picked up the book on the floor and began to read it out loud in her soft voice. She made sure she was loud enough for the recordings.
The punishment for breaking this rule, as she painfully learned yesterday, would be the return of the silver chain around her neck which would be attached to a metal pole in the room without a door.
She wrinkled her nose at the memory that wouldnât go away.
The man had ripped away her cloak, thrown a bucket of cold water over her bare skin and grinned at her.
âYou will remember to read loudly enough for me to hear you. Iâm sorry you are making me do this. But little girls who break the rules must be punished.â
First, he set a thick silver metal collar around her neck. Before she could figure out what was happening, he had attached it to a metal chain that was connected to the only thing in the room, a metal pole.
Out came a scary black whip which rained down on her back exactly ten times.
With each strike, her body jerked, pulling at the chain, which hauled her back by the collar around her slender neck, nearly choking her.
Her legs had collapsed at the third lash and a scream tore from her throat, raw and nearly feral.
âGood little girls do not scream,â the man said calmly as he struck her again with his whip.
She shivered as her blood ran in streaks from her back to her thighs and feet.
Next came another bucket of cold water which set her teeth to chatter.
Blinking through her tears, she hung her head. Wet hair concealed her face.
The man had left her in that room alone for a long time.
She wasnât sure how long, only that when he returned, her hair was dry.
She was crouched on her knees, holding her legs to her chest when he had carefully removed the metal collar from her neck.
Then his fingers had pushed against her tender flesh as they probed inside the place that shouldnât be touched.
She had squeezed her eyes closed and pretended she was swinging in the air on her swing set back at the orphanage.
The man had pushed her forward until she was on her hands and knees.
She swallowed her cries.
Disorientated by the pain and cold, she heard a zipper and then a quick rustle of clothing before the man grabbed her hips and plunged his thing inside the place that shouldnât be touched.
Fresh blood ran down her thighs.
When her body was rammed hard from behind, she felt the manâs body quiver as he moaned.
His fingers bruised the flesh of her thighs as he pinched them.
Letting the cold steal through her bones, she was vaguely aware of the man dressing.
She caught sight of his chest, covered in strange silver metal balls before a thin a gray towel was thrown down on her.
She grabbed it and wrapped it around her bruised body.
That was the first time she had met Audrey.
âTake her back to her cell. 525. Use the ointment and make sure no blood remains on her body,â the man instructed the willow thin girl with large, round, empty brown eyes.
âYes, sir,â she had said, her voice rough yet clearly feminine.
When the man left, Audrey had walked over to her.
She remembered feeling shocked when the girl had gently picked her up in her arms.
In a whisper, Audrey had counted to ten before she carried her from that horrible, blood stained room.
âYouâve earned your own room with a bed,â Audrey had whispered in her ear.
Earned.
Now, she knew that with every item in her room, it all came with a price.
She had paid in pain and blood for the items she had now.
âGive me the towel. Lay down on your stomach, on the floor,â Audrey had told her.
As the little girl did as she was told, Audrey leaned close to her ear, and whispered a few rushed words. Tears pricked the girlâs eyes but she did not cry.
Not even when Audrey applied the ointment to her back that made the pain so much worse.
Nor when Audrey had gently cleaned between her legs.
She had learned something important in those few hushed words.
Audrey was twelve.
And she had been the first which meant she was the oldest.
Sadness, a black, hollowed space in her flat chest ached at the thought of Audrey living in this place for seven years.
She held this information close to her heart.
She wasnât alone.
There were girls living in tiny rooms just like her own.
There were girls, naked with silver collars chained to steel posts outside.
There were girls who lived in a similar building as her own but they were older.
The biggest clue she had was the number inked into the skin of her hand. 525.
Her building held a total of 600 cells but not all of them held a girl.
Some would never be opened again.
Audreyâs building held one hundred cells.
And the girls chained outside could be as much as fifty at a time.
And to become one of sirâs angels was to never have to feel pain again.
This puzzled her but she set it aside.
The days and nights she had spent chained outside was branded into her brain.
She had been disorientated from the drugs the man had used when he had taken her from the playground behind the orphanage
One moment she was happily slipping down the big, blue plastic slide, and the next she was naked, wore a collar like a dog around her neck and was chained to a post outside with other girls who appeared to be of the same age. Somewhere she had never been. Hell.
Audrey told her something far more important than numbers.
She had said to never forget her own name.
She promised herself each morning that no matter what happened, she would be Angie and she had been loved.
She remembered how many days she had spent outside.
Angie had marked the dirt near the post with her tally marks.
Five miserable, degrading days until on the fifth day, the man had come to her and asked her a question.
Her lips had been so dry they bled.
Her tiny body shivered in the cold morning. The sun had barely begun to rise in the clear sky.
She didnât feel human anymore.
She felt like an animal lost and alone.
The man had snapped his fingers twice, and she knew what was coming. She had seen him do this very thing to several of the girls chained near her.
The chain had been very short. With her neck held close to the pole, she laid down on her back and spread her arms and legs wide, pretending to make a snow angel, although the hard dirt below her wouldnât yield to such a whimsy idea.
Just as she had witnessed, the man, so neatly dressed it confused her, had violated her body for the very first time.
He had no shame in showing himself to all present as he licked the skin on her chest.
His tongue continued to explore her body.
She sent her mind far away.
Later, Angie could barely stand. Everything hurt.
The man had unchained the collar from her neck and then lifted her up and set her on her feet. Holding her empty collar up in the air like a trophy, he had spoken to the rest of the chained girls, âThis is the beginning for you, my sweet girl.â
He had then given her the black slippers and dark cloak to wear. He had taken her trembling hand in his own and walked with her to the brick building.
It was the first time she has been in her room.
There had been nothing but the book on the plain, cement floor.
Her first night on her lumpy mattress was spent curled in the fetal position. She pulled her hair around to conceal her face as she cried. It was that first night that she had not spoken loud enough during her reading.
âEvery night, a bell will ring. You are then to stand, and read. Punishment for not reading in a loud, clear voice entails a whipping. Be a good girl. Remove your cloak and fold it neatly into a square. Place it near your bed. Place your slippers neatly next to the folded cloak. There are many punishments for not listening to me, do you understand, sweet girl.â It had not been a question but a statement.
As she nodded her head, she watched him leave.
Once she heard the click of the lock, she allowed herself to sigh ever so lightly.
She had been left alone.
Inside, there was no way to tell the time other than by certain sounds. There was a beep at night which was when she was supposed to read. And there were the strange triple beeps that she took for morning.
Outside, in the bitter cold, at least she could see the moon for feel the sun.
At one point, a red tray had been pushed into her room from a slot in the wall next to the door.
She hadnât noticed it before.
The food spelled so good. Her stomach rumbled. She couldnât remember the last time she had eaten.
She had sat next to the tray and studied its contents. There was a white, plastic, nearly rubber cup that held water. No way to break it. In fact, everything was unbreakable. There was a bowl made of the same material which held warm noodle soup. There wasnât any utensils so she had lifted it to her cracked lips and drank it.
When she was done, she left the tray where it had come into her room.
Then she sat and watched it.
Time slipped by.
She heard a small sound and her eyes widened as the tray was pulled out of her room by slender fingers. Unpolished nails. No words were exchanged.
Angie understood. Everywhere she was, someone was watching.
She moved to sit in the corner furthest way from the door. She held her knees to her chest and cried.
Time continued to move but she had no idea if she had been given lunch or dinner.
When no more food arrived, she found she needed to pee.
But there wasnât anywhere to go.
She had looked up at the cameras. âI need to pee, please,â she had said.
From the far wall, a bucket made from that strange rubber plastic popped out with a seat on top. It was attached to the wall. No toilet paper.
Glad for strange miracles, she sat and peeâd.
With the relief came the awareness of being watched.
When she stood, the toilet retracted back in to the wall.
She thought about screaming for help yet again but found she no longer cared.
Being inside, unchained was a gift she had earned through pain and the loss of her innocence.
Later, a bell rang.
She stood in the center of her room and read from the book. Afterwards, she lay on her back, watching the unblinking lights from the cameras that watched her.
Then he had come for her. That had been her first trip to the whipping room and her first meeting with Audrey.
Now, several days later, marked in blood on the wall, her tally marks, she huddled under her sheet, willing herself somewhere else.
It must have been a new day, for when her door opened, the man had come for her.
He was wearing jeans and a blue plaid shirt.
He held out his hand.
She scrambled off her bed, tugged on her cloak and shoes and was at his side within seconds.
Her body felt numb as she walked with him back up the wooden stairs, out of the brick building towards the main house in the center of the property.
She felt eyes on her and couldnât let herself glance back at the rows of chained girls.
Once they stepped inside this new building, she was surprised to see that it resembled a normal home. Aside from some strangely painted rooms, she was deposited into a room where to her shock, a man with a face identical to that who held her hand sat with an array of instruments and different colored paints.
The second man had taken her hand from the plaid shirt one and her firmly down on the single wooden stool.
Then he had taken her right hand and pressed it upon the cold, stainless steel table he sat behind.
She watched as he glanced up at plaid shirt man who said, âUse green. 525.â
After speaking, the plaid man left.
Angie turned her attention to the man in black leather pants with a bare chest covered in different silver balls.
Her mind flashed back to the whipping room.
âThere are two of them,â her mind screamed at her.
âDonât move,â his rough voice said before the buzzing began.
A new pain burned through her hand and the ink was etched into her skin forever.
Angie could feel stress in the air.
But the man didnât speak to her again.
When he was done, he sat back and stared at her.
She tried her hardest not to wiggle on the stool.
She kept her gaze off the side but it wasnât a very big room.
âIâll be seeing you soon, 525.â
A hood was placed over her head. It had come from behind.
It took everything inside her not to scream and thrash around.
The person behind her held her shoulders and she stood.
Her burning hand throbbed in time with the pain coming from that place that should not be spoken of.
She tried to push the pain from her mind.
She concentrated on the small hand that had grasped her own.
She was guided through the house and into a bathing room.
With the hood still in place, her cloak and slippers were removed.
Gentle hands washed away the final signs of her innocence.
She let herself cry silent tears of pain.
Hands that didnât hurt her dried her body with a soft towel.
When she was dry, the slippers were returned to her feet and a softer cloak was set upon her shoulders.
Then she was led outside and the hood came off.
She had been delivered into the waiting hands of the flannel shirt man.
âCall me sir, sweet girl,â he had whispered into her ear.
She swallowed the bile that rose-up in her throat.
Afterwards, he had taken her back to her room where he left her after giving her a quick kiss on her nose.
So, on her twenty-second night stolen away from her world, she finished her first read through. âThe rules are set by sir. Punishment of various degrees shall be given as needed. Gifts can be earned for being a good girl. One day I hope to be one of sirâs angels.â She closed the book and returned it to its place on the floor. Then she had laid down upon her bed. In her mind, she could see her tally marks. All twenty-two of them.
She pulled the thin white sheet up to her chin. A memory flashed brightly through her mind. She had once slept in a place of peace and safety.
Ignoring the pain that throbbed in those places she wasnât to speak about, she willed herself to sleep. The low lighting was never turned off. The cameras acted like silent sentries.
Morning came, not with the rise of the sun, for there were no windows to see but with the customary beep-beep-beep that showered every cell in the building.
For Angie, this meant little on this day. But for others, it was a turning point.
The man stood at the control panel dressed as smartly as he had the day before.
The pads of his fingers danced down the lines and over the rows of numbers.
A few moments later, five cell doors opened.
He closed the panel and turned to await his little girls.
He was not disappointed. The give girls came to stand before him, each wearing their black slippers and dark cloaks. âWhat a lovely morning to see such beauties. Come with me. We shall breakfast in the main house, together.â
Sir entered his code, unlocked the door, watched his little girls walk out into the morning light before securing the door once more.
âCome, come, little ones!â he said, his hands tucked into the pockets of smartly pressed pants.
They walked with their heads down, one following the other along the stone pathway until they stood at the entrance of the main house.
Sir uncoded the heavy oak door, and motioned for his angels to enter. He secured the door behind them.
âI think we shall begin in the morning room,â he said with a smile.
He walked towards the room covered in bright yellow paint. The single window was open, letting in a soft breeze.
The little girls stood shoulder to shoulder, eyes downcast, each working hard to ignore the garish paintings of monkeys on the yellow walls. These monkeys had their mouths and eyes covered.
âPlease sit,â sir motioned for his angels to sit at the oval wooden table elaborately decorated with glowing white candles in elegant golden holders, embroidered place mats, each with a row of monkeys covering their ears. The table wear was bone china and the utensils pure silver.
Domes covered five large plates.
When the man nodded his head, after sitting down and placing his linen napkin upon his lap, the girls removed the domes, set them on a long wooden table and returned to carry the dishes to sir. One at a time, he took what they offered from the plates they carried along with a bite to their left ear.
Through the pain, none of the girls made a sound. In a group, punishment was worse than if a single rule was broken.
After they had served the man, they set the plates down on the table and served themselves.
âFor today, you may say my name once. Jacob. Now say it.â
As one, wide eyes stared at the man and spoke softly, âJacob.â
âVery good, now eat.â
Forcing the fluffy pancakes dripping in real maple syrup down their throats and washing it away with freshly squeezed orange juice. None of the girls could enjoy their break from their bleak cells. Not when they knew that their day hadnât really started yet. Sir would begin after breakfast was over.
Audrey had been awake long before sir had woken the cell girls. She and two other girls, all the same age as Audrey worked in the kitchen making breakfast for the girls that would remain locked in their cells. Across the room, standing side by side was twin girls with fiery red hair. Their dresses matched that of the rest of the kitchen workers except for one small detail. The sash around each girlâs waist was a brilliant purple.
Audrey herself wore a sash of bright, sunshine yellow just as the other two girls helping her wore.
The kitchen was set up in the shape of a square, with a large island in the middle. Here, the girls arranged the trays that would be sent to the cell girls and those that would be given to the girls outside, chained to the cement area located behind the brick building.
Audrey and the others rarely deterred from their daily schedule. They all knew they were being monitored. That every movement and word was being recorded. Audrey wasnât sure how many girls remained outside. It had rained last night and they had no protection from the harsh elements surrounding them. Audrey thought of the tall brick walls that encompassed the property. From her years spent here, she knew there was no one near them. The estate must be set far away from humanity. She believed it to be tucked away, hidden in a forest where no satellite could perceive their location. Her father was a scientist and used to tell her stories about space travel, and the satellites that roamed the free air of space.
âTime,â a short, mocha skinned girl said, holding two trays in her hands. She set them upon a push cart before going back for more. The tallest girl who happened to have no hair at all but beautiful amber eyes set her trays on another push cart. âAlmost done,â she said, her voice raspy. Her hands shook.
âRight,â the twins said together. With pale hands that quivered, they finished placing their bowls on their single cart.
âAfter the three of you finish with the cell girls, could you come and help us with the chained ones? Last night was a terrible storm. Iâm afraid of what weâll find this morning. We may need help with the oven.â Though her eyes were downcast, Audrey remembered their crystal blue color, as light as the sky itself.
âOf course,â the three girls replied.
âCarts are ready for the cell girls. I see yours are ready for the chained ones. Good. Letâs go,â Audrey said, leading the way out of the kitchen with her cart ahead of her. The door was open and they left it that way as they walked carefully to their designated locations to distribute breakfast.
Audrey waved the black device soldered to her wrist by the door to the cell girls building. Â She allowed the two girls to enter before her with their carts before following them inside. She closed the door, inwardly cringing at the hissing sounds the door had made. Bad memories came with those sounds.
âMeet back here when you are finished. Note numbers,â Audrey said stoically before turning away from the others. She began to distribute breakfast trays to the cell girls through the small slit near the bottom of the door. No words were exchanged until Audrey finished and returned to the entrance where the two older girls like herself stood next to their empty carts.
âOutside,â Audrey said as she waved the band around her wrist at the door again. As each girl passed, they whispered numbers. Audrey had an excellent memory. Now she knew which girls were in the main house. A shiver ran down her spine.
Nodding at the shorter girl, Audrey whispered her name, Ebony. âTake your cart back to the kitchen. Make sure the ovenâs flames are at their highest. Be quick. I do not want to see sir outside with the girls he has taken for the day. We will see you soon.â
As Ebony rushed towards the kitchen, Audrey and Sallie, an eleven-year-old girl with blonde hair that fell in waves to her shoulders walked slowly around the bushes to see the bright haired twins finish feeding the chained girls.
âRose, Helen?â Audrey whispered, her eyes anxious as they roamed over the naked girls.
âSix are dead. Ten still live,â whispered Rose.
âFor now,â Helen said just as quietly as her twin.
âPut two on each cart. Weâll take them to the kitchen. Ebony will be ready for us.â Audrey followed the twins to the first dead girl. Pulling a key from the single pocket of her dress, she unlocked the collar from around the tiny figure. Rose picked her up and gently placed her on the bottom of her cart.
The girls followed behind Audrey as she unlocked each of the dead girlâs choke collars.
Once they had them placed carefully on the carts, they hurried back to the warmth of the kitchen, where sir never entered.
Safely inside, all five girls sighed before glancing at one another.
âIâll do it,â Rose said. âItâs my turn.â
She bent down and picked up a dead girl with long, straight black hair. She placed her tiny body on a large rack before sliding it into the hot oven used for this sole purpose.
The other four girls fell to the floor, each horrified by their own actions and terrified of the punishments they would receive if they didnât follow through with their assigned tasks.
âItâs done,â Rose said. She walked to where the others sat slumped against the far wall of the gray colored room. âWhose turn is it for the cell girls?â
âMine,â Sallie said, wiping her brow with the back of her hand before quickly leaving the warmth of the kitchen.
âIâll sketch the dead into the book,â whispered Audrey who got to her feet. She pushed herself away from the wall and walked to the sink. The other girls came to make a half circle around Audrey, blocking her from the every one of the cameraâs. Opening the right wooden door, she touched the back to move aside a hidden panel where she retrieved her book of the dead and her pencils. Once she was finished, she carefully replaced the heavy book and pencils. Content that they were hidden once more, she stretched her back, as did the others who stopped humming.
âThis completes our morning yoga,â Helen forced herself to smile.
Aside from Helen, the rest of the girls returned to the upper level of their residence where their rooms were located. Each had a small four paned window with white curtains tied back with light purple sashes. There were no doors.
They made their beds, and spent the rest of the morning in the laundry room. Sallie came up the stairs, her arms loaded with blood stained cloaks and sheets. âThis will take longer today,â she sighed. The others continued their tasks in the laundry room. They did not stop until everything had been washed.
âWhat a lovely breakfast.â Jacob smiled at his little girls who returned his gesture.
âTime for a stroll,â he said.
The girls stood, pushed their chairs back in place and formed a single file line near the door where sir stood waiting. They knew not where they were going. None could know the fate awaiting each of them in the darkness of the forest.
âCome along. I wish to wander through the forest,â he smiled as he led the way out of the back of the charming house and into the dense forest.
When they came to the first weeping willow tree, sir pulled a black haired girl with the number 146 away from the group and told her to stand at the base of the tree.
When she was where he wanted her, sir led the girls on until they reached another weeping willow tree. This time, sir pulled a short, blonde haired girl with the number 500 on her hand away and led her to the tree. She stood without a word.
Continuing deeper into the forest, sir once again stopped at the third weeping willow tree where he motioned for number 45, a small, very frail looking red headed girl to come forward. She took her place at the base of the tree, her eyes downcast.
Not far ahead, they stopped at the fourth tree. With its long, graceful, ground sweeping branches, a single tear slid from Jacobâs eye. He took number 388 away from the remaining girl and placed her next to the base of the huge shade tree.
The man named Jacob took the hand of the plain faced girl and walked deeper into the forest. They walked in silence until finally, they reached another tree, just as elegant as the others. He moved the girl to stand at the base of the tree where he got down on one knee. He set his hands upon her shoulders until their eyes met. Nearly identical brown in color, they gazed at one another for a few moments.
Straightening his shoulders, he took on the persona of sir again.
Sir broke eye contact first. Number 25 began to cry and sir backhanded her hard. âNo crying is ever allowed.â He said sternly. Her frizzy, orange hair framed an oval face and his heart softened. âI am sorry that you made me punish you sweet girl. I find it is time for some truths. You have been with me for quite some time now and no matter what Iâve done for you, you just do not meet my angel standards.â Sir shook his head before standing. âStand there like a good girl now,â he murmured as he moved out of her sight. His right hand reached up for the lever and he yanked it down hard. He waited a few moments before resetting the metal lever. Looking down at the ground, his head tilted to one side as he toed her macerated flesh and crushed bones. âThe skull is always hard,â he sighed. He pushed a dark green button built into the tree and the ground opened up and swallowed the mess 25 had left behind.
This button automatically reset. He kicked dirt around the spot that was bare until it resembled any other place in his vast, dense forest.
âSuch a waste of time,â sir sighed. He took his folded hanker chief from his breast pocket and wiped his brow. âNo more time to waste on these silly girls who will never be angel material.â He talked to himself as he made his way back to number 388 where he performed the same routine but this time without words. 45 and 500 met the same fate as the previous girls who were never able to reach his high standards for becoming one of his angels.
Sir stepped into a patch of bright sunlight. He let the warmth sink into his skin. Feeling refreshed, he strolled back towards the chained girls awaiting his presence and attention.
Shortly before lunch, the five older girls returned to the kitchen. They made sandwiches for the cell girls and soup for the chained ones. They followed the same pattern as they had for breakfast.
They met back in the kitchen where they ate together in silence. Audrey passed a tiny slip of paper around where she had written down the numbers of the girls she had seen disappear with sir into the forest. After they finished eating, they returned to the sink, where Audrey retrieved her book, quickly sketched the dead while her fellow angels stood in a half circle around her, stretching and humming for the cameras.
Once the task was done, they walked to the main house where they cleaned up the breakfast from the yellow room with the disturbing monkey paintings. As they cleaned, Audrey made a series of hand gestures.
In this haunting place, ten young girls died for no reason today. Five survived to live on as angels while ten remained chained outside and twenty-six lived inside their cells, never knowing when a reward or punishment would be coming for them. Even though the girls in the cells could not communicate, they shared more than one common fear. Whether reward or punishment, both brought pain, and humiliation.
Next chapter
When her door opened, Angieâs heart nearly stopped. She was terrified of what might be coming. She thought hard about all the days she read from the book. She was sure she had read and clear. She ate what food was brought to her and left a tidy tray. She did her best to keep her space clean. Nothing good ever came through that door. Huddled naked underneath her thin white sheet, five year old little Angieâs hands trembled.
âGood morning,â sir said as he leaned against her doorframe. He wore a crisp white shirt today with jeans. Jeans? Angieâs legs began to quiver. Which of the two men wore jeans?
âGood morning sir,â she replied softly. Angie set herself on automatic. She sat up in bed, pushed her sheet off of her body and stood. She made her bed, nice and neat. Then she put on her slippers and cloak before turning to face the man she called, âthe candy manâ. Before her momma had died and Angie had been sent to the orphanage to live, she used to tell her a story about a man who would steal children away from their parents if they were naughty. He would offer them candy. If the child took the candy, the candy man would take them far away from their loving parents, to a place of fear and death.
She knew he wanted to be called sir. But that was reserved for good men. These men were not good men.
âI brought you something special,â the candy man smiled, bright white teeth flashed at her.
âThat was very nice of you sir,â Angie said carefully.
âWould you put it on for me, now. Please,â the candy man said.
Angieâs eyes set upon the pretty, pink dress the man held out to her.
Not wanting the present but dreading the punishment more, she took the dress slowly from the manâs fingers.
Angie removed her plain cloak and pulled the dress on over her head. There was a zipper in the back she couldnât quite reach. Terrified to upset the candy man, she slowly turned to face him.
âIâm sorry sir, IâŠI donât mean to upset you but I canât reach the zipper in the back,â once the words were out, she didnât know if she felt better or worse.
âIs that why your pretty face is wearing that awful frown? Turn around,â he instructed and Angie did as she was told.
She held still as she felt his fingers touch the bones of her spine. Feather soft touches with the tips of his fingers wrapped around to beneath her arms, forcing her to laugh as he tickled her without mercy. Her laughter quickly turned to tears as he threw her down on her bed.
âLittle girls should learn to not make the angels weep,â his warm breath fanned across Angieâs face as his hands wrapped around her neck. His body straddled her tiny frame and she began to thrash around as the oxygen was cut off from his forceful strangulation. Her hands pulled at his strong fingers. As the light dimmed, Angieâs eyes stared into the candy manâs brown, manical gaze and she wondered for a second if this was the end.
Just before she passed out, he let go of her neck, threw her dress up over her face and pulled her legs apart. When the pain became too much, she gratefully lost consciousness.
A burning pain from her chest had Angie opening her eyes to a grinning candy man. âLiked that, did you now, 525? How about this?â he asked, his fingers pinched her nipples again.
Tears sprang to her eyes but she held them back with sheer will. It will be over soon, she told herself.
â525, you are making amazing progress towards becoming an angel. Iâve even considered a few names for you but, alas, you arenât quite there yet.â
The candy man bent down and bit her shoulder. Though her back arched from the pain, she did not speak.
âHmmm, you taste delightful. Letâs see if you taste good here too,â the candy man grinned, displaying his bright, white teeth again. Angie felt his fingers dig into her tender flesh between her legs and she froze.
He brought his fingers to his lips and sucked on them. âYes, you do taste sweet.â He decided.
The candy man pushed her away as he stood. He turned to look at her. âYou can keep the dress, it looks very good on you. And youâve earned it. You may keep this too,â he said as he withdrew a small, fabric doll from the pocket of his jeans. He tossed it to her. Her numb fingers caught it. She was still too scared to move even though the candy man could see all the places that couldnât be talked about.
âHave a wonderful day, 525 and donât forget this,â he grinned one last time before tossing a green mint onto Angieâs bed. âI can hear your whispers. You talk in your sleep. You call me the candy man which is fine by me. But my brother must always be called sir. He pulled up his shirt and showed her his chest full of silver balls. He laughed while pulling his shirt back down. âIâm the one who brings the pain.â
Then he stepped out into the hallway. After she heard the lock engage, Angie held her breath a moment longer. Sure that he wasnât coming back right away, she slowly sat up, pulling the dress down to cover her abused flesh.
She stared at the little doll. It seemed like it was homemade as it was created using a light cream colored fabric. The eyes were blue and probably made by a marker while brown, curly hair was drawn on.
As Angie inspected the doll, she nearly dropped it when she realized the doll had no clothes. There was a black X in the spot between the dollâs legs.
Feeling nauseas, Angie laid back down on her bed, curling herself and her doll into a ball. She stayed that way for a long time. When her dinner tray was pushed through the slot, she didnât feel hungry but the thought of being punished for not eating made her pick up the silver tray. There was a bowl of mashed potatoes with a small dab of butter, a square container held what she thought might be meatloaf and the smaller circular container held peas.
Angie hated peas. She hated the candy man more though. She poured the green peas into the mashed potatoes and using her finger, she mixed them up really good. There was a cup of milk on the tray and she drank the whole thing using it to help her choke down the gross vegetable infested potatoes.
When she finished, she placed the tray through the slot and returned to her bed where she tucked her sheet tight around herself. She had time before she had to read, she thought. Just a few minutes for the food to settle and sheâd read the rules in a clear, loud voice before going to bed.
A different chapter
âif youâre an angel, why havenât you tried to escape?â
Seraphim pointed to the black, silicone band that sat right above her ankle bone. âBecause if I take one step off the property, boom. I explode. There are no phones in any of the buildings. No televisions either. We have set routines. Even if either of them isnât watching the cameras, they have got programs running that alert them if we deviate from the routines.â
âWhat does deviate mean?â
âBasically it means alter. I learned it from the one with the piercings. Remember, we were all five when we were taken. I wonder if my family still thinks about me.â
âThatâs what those balls are? Piercings? I thought we just pierced our ears.â She shuddered.
âI think about my room at home a lot. Not the orphanage but my real home before momma died. I had a brown bear that sat against my pillows on my pink bed. Everything was pink. I think about my dolls too. I might have to blindfold them now that Iâve seen what real evil is. They seem so not a part of this world now that Iâm in this gray room with gray stuff.â
âThere was a younger angel named Dumah. She tried to send messages to anyone outside the tall walls by writing notes and attaching them to rocks sheâd throw over the walls. She also tried the rebellious act but it only got her hurt more. One day she went with sir who took her to the forest. He came back, humming. We never saw her again. Bad things happen in the forest. Death. You do not want to go in there. Iâve got to go. Too much time has gone by and one of the twins will come looking for me.â
Seraphim stood and left Angie in her cell being careful to lock the door behind her.
She rushed off towards her building to wash Angieâs clothing hoping with every step she took that she would not run into either of the twins.
I published four books since October of last year. My first books ever and I never asked for help but I need it now. I have an eye disease that messes with my vision and because I am an indie writer and author, caretaker of my mom and grandma, a single mom and disabled by depression and I like to provide my work for free on Smashwords and BarnesandNobles I use Grammarly for editing. I cannot afford an editor as I don’t intend to make money. I can’t!
I need a beta reader! I’d like at least three people. This book is called Witches and Wizards. It is about a human mortal girl who falls through a magical circle into another realm, Asgrove. In this realm, magic is their lifestyle and at the Asgrove Academy, learning potions, runes, talents and animal caretaking are just a few of the normal classes available to FIrst year students. After four years, their fragile mortality turns to immortality. Dark magic has spread through this realm even before their Queen was stolen from Asgrove and thrown into the mortal world where she was killed. King Aros and Goddess Amara Vedis search constantly for her soul to be reborn in the mortal world for the king and his queen are the creators of Asgrove and all the people and creatures that reside within. He has waited centuries for his lost queen and now, a new soul has entered the Golden Palace, a building that has been locked for a very long time. Is this mortal his lost queen? Will darkness consume the souls of this realm or will the light fight back and win?
This book is filled with unique spells, twist and turns, buildings that speak and a love long lost but maybe found. It is about 300 pages and 18 chapters, made to look partly like journal entries.
My cover:
Cover Art:
SelfPubBookCovers.com/Daniela
Altered by author
Thank you for your time!
Colleen
First two chapters follow.
Author’s Note
Herein follows journal entries taken from the personal collection of Riona Brooks. Just your ordinary sixteen-year-old girl who, without a choice, was taken from her world and brought to the realm of Asgrove straight into the heart of the Asgrove Academy for Witches and Wizards.
Her writings detail the amazing events that occurred between August 29, 2010 and August 6, 2011 and have been blended with school records and sentient House memories.
Riona finds that the Asgrove Academy is a school for witches and wizards who work to complete their four years of training before they shed their fragile mortality and embrace their immortality. Students from all over Asgrove come to this school to awaken their talents in the North Gate Labyrinth Maze and attend special classes. There are classes for potions, rune divination, orb creation and animal care. These are unique and unusual animals that look for their one student companion that they will bond with for life. A special graduation ceremony wraps up the year under the full moon.
From the transition to the Asgrove Realm and her introduction onto the campus of the Asgrove Academy through the next, very challenging and most difficult year of her life, it’s all documented here.
She includes details of her visits to the Goddess Amara Vedis’ Garden and the frightening and extraordinary events that happened after that first, fateful visit.
There are memories from an old soul and tears from a love long lost and found.
All journal entries are from Riona Brooks’ personal collection and have been used with permission.
Colleen Michelle Johnson
CHAPTER ONE
The Present
Journal Entry August 5, 2011:
First Year Graduation has been scheduled for tonight under the full moon. We get to learn if the boys or girls won in total points from our training classes at this time too. I initially started as a First Year so I know it’s supposed to be one of the greatest events of the school year. Three more years and the transition from mortal to immortal becomes complete. But life doesn’t always go the way things are planned, even in a world with magic.
Here in Asgrove, everything I’ve learned has altered everything about myself in ways I could never have imagined. At Asgrove Academy, life is full of classes but unlike my old world, there is no math or social study classes. Instead, there are classes on making potions, rune divination, animal care and talent training in the labyrinth mazes. It’s also about living in talking buildings and creating spells because that’s what teens do here at school.
A dark (negative) magic has worked its way into the school and during my absence it has gained too much power. This unwanted magic had too many centuries to taint witches and wizards of all ages. I never believed such evil could exist until I died. But that was centuries ago (read on to understand). When my new soul was found and brought to Asgrove, I had to embrace my magic fast and pretend to be one person while living as another. You see, my magic is special and it awakened my old soul. But this eternal fight against the dark magic cost everyone dearly. Yes, immortals can die. No matter what my soul is, young or old, I am a witch, and I am powerful Riona
August 27, 2010
The Beginning, from the Mortal World
The sun had been burning everything it touched all day, making it the hottest summer day we had that year, and I was stuck camping with my family. We were camping in the same woods we had used for years so I found it pretty boring. But my dad wanted to camp higher up in the mountains because he insisted that he would find better hunting areas. I spent most of my time in our RV with the air conditioning blasting away. I read a few books and played games on my phone. Listening to music with my ear buds was the easiest way to pass the time. I exchanged text messages with several of my friends, bemoaning the cruelness of life and how I was stuck out in the wild while they got to sleep in.
We shared a dull dinner of hot dogs that my father insisted we roast over the campfire. Then I had to fight off my brothers who attempted to dump water on me. They kept yelling that the water would cool me off better than the air conditioner. Thankfully my dad told me that I should take a walk and look for some great shots. âBut don’t go too far,â he had told me. I can still hear his words now. Wish I had listened!
I grudgingly pulled on my favorite hoodie and stuffed my phone in my pocket before carefully placing my camera bag over my shoulder. Maybe I could get some good pictures to post online and sell as stock photos. I admit it made me some easy money for what my parents thought I spent it on clothes and movies but really, I used it for my friend Michelle but she’s a secret for now.
I left our campsite intending to take a short walk when a swarm of blue and white butterflies caught my eye, and I followed them until I came upon a most extraordinary meadow.
I had hesitated for a minute before I stepped into the meadow as I silently admired the butterflies. I set my camera bag gently on the soft grass and walked among the flowers and butterflies. I wasn’t sure why I waited, but I should have listened to myself!
The butterflies were flying high and low as if their movements were an award winning choreographed dance before landing on the little bell flowers. I bent down and leaned over my camera bag and with great care; I began to assemble my most prized possession, my Nikon D700 digital SR camera with 24.1 pixels and 6 SPS continuous shooting. I attached my Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor lens (my best landscape lens) and closed the bag. I moved slowly around the scene so that I didn’t scare the butterflies away before shooting enough pictures to last me a few months. Ever since that one birthday as a toddler when I received my first plastic camera I have loved photography.
Now, I’ve seen many movies with couples lying in fields of flowers and I thought it funny to find a spot just like I’d seen on the big screen! Such color and life, so beautiful it took my breath away.
I carefully took the lens off my camera and tucked it away before putting my camera back in its bag, zipped it up and left it on the soft grass. I had spotted a huge weeping willow tree, and I sat down with my back to the trunk of a tree. I was dazzled at what nature had created.
Then it happened. One moment I was sitting under a tree and then I was gasping for air (so scared!) as I struggled to breath. Once I surfaced I found that I was inside a super large and cavernous room. It was dark but as soon as I got to my feet, light came from everywhere, and I could see that it was beautiful.
Need I mention that I do not like the story of the blonde girl who falls through a rabbit hole into a magical world?
Standing there dripping wet, I stood at the edge of an indoor pool wondering what the heck had just happened to me. Looking into the pool, I couldn’t see anything but the bottom of the pool. No hole or vortex to show how I got here.
I didn’t know what to do with myself. The only sound I could hear was the water dripping off my soaking wet clothing. I struggled a bit and removed my squishy sneakers and then I peeled off my socks and hoodie (so hard getting wet clothes off!) and put each piece of clothing down flat to dry. I dug my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans and looked at it. No juice, sadly it wasn’t made to take a swim, so it was now a lost cause. I dropped the phone into one of my shoes and left my wet T-shirt and jeans on because I refused to be naked anywhere.
I roamed around trying hard not fall, but I couldn’t do much about the puddles of water I left in my wake. Looking around, I saw these big columns that looked like pure gold. Peering down at the floor, I studied the cold stone beneath my feet and decided I was insane. There were huge off white colored tiles with large pieces of gold (who does that?) inside. As my eyes took in the space around me, I saw that gold accented almost everything!
Peeking through an open archway, I found a very weird room filled with jars and jars of powders, what looked like dried flowers and other things I had no idea what they could be. It was strange so I quickly left to explore other areas.
My thoughts wondered briefly if I had wandered into the future to an apocalyptic world where no one existed anymore.
By the time I found the only set of doors in the whole place, I was freezing. My hair was plastered to my head, and my jeans were wet. The doors looked like someone had gone a bit crazy with a jewel setting tool. Egyptian tombs flashed in my head, and I pushed the thought away.
I wondered about fire safety. The windows were tall and too thin for a regular sized person to fit through, and as I knocked on them, they didn’t move. So why only one set of doors? I tugged on the cold golden door handles, but they wouldn’t budge, so I turned to look around again. Maybe I had missed a door hidden somewhere in here.
Looking around I found no green exit signs, no switches for electricity, nothing modern.
Suddenly, the doors behind me were flung open and bright light flowed in blinding me. When I was able to see again, I saw a significant group of adults who stood staring at me.
The way they looked at me, well I guess I did look pretty bad standing there wet, stiff and shivering so much my teeth had begun to chatter.
The clothing that these people were wearing activated my imagination again, and I felt surely I had fallen back in time. The women wore big, full skirts and long dresses. All of them wore dark cloaks, I mean who wears such clothing like this, for real?).
I had counted ten people before I noticed that the guy in the back had closed the doors behind him, and it had made a click sound. That sound to me meant, I was locked inside with some really crazy people. The fact that they just blocked the only doors out of this place scared me to death. I ran off like a scared rabbit. I felt my heart race from fear. Darting around I ducked into a big closet and pulled some of the clothing down to the floor, wrapping some around me to act as camouflage. I left a small spot open for my eyes to be able to peek out and see anyone that came into the closet. At least I felt a bit warmer. My dad had taught me how to build blinds for hunting, and this was the best I could do with clothing.
I could hear voices talking, and my stomach hurt to hear them close enough for me to understand what they were saying. At least we spoke the same language.
âWho was that?â I heard a man shout and a woman answered him in a cold, smooth voice. âCalm down Professor Lucas. Did you take note of her clothing? She is obviously from the mortal world. She must have been transported somewhere inside the Golden Palace from one of King Aros’s circles. Thing about it Professor Lucas! The Golden Palace would not have turned the lights on had no one been inside. Lower your voice, the girl looked terrified. I will have to speak to King Aros about the transportation process as I believe she came in through the pool. Her clothes are thoroughly wet.â
âProfessor Augustorio, she’s not in the pool’s changing area, a kitchen, or any other room. Nothing is out of place, but we did find a pair of shoes and socks by the pool, all very wet. Oh yes and another garment we aren’t sure what it is. Plus this was in one of the shoes.â
âThank you Josef and Erol,â the professor said as she took a small device from Erol. âPlease lay everything out to dry on a rack near the pool and then you may go. Now Professor Lucas, I want you to think! We had to unravel several magical bonds to enter ourselves. The girl is mortal and here for a reason and here she shall stay. It is King Aros’s own magic that brought her here.â
âVery well Professor Augustorio. But I will have words with King Aros. This space has been sealed for centuries! It is not possible to get inside without breaking through King Aros’s magic. Gaining entrance to the Golden Palace should not be possible! And no other mortal has just ‘appeared’ inside the Golden Palace!â
âProfessor Lucas, I think you would be of better use to us if you left to have that talk with King Aros right now. You’ll only scare the girl, and we don’t want that at all. Go along, and I will take care of her.â
âAs you will, so shall it be, Professor Augustorio.â The mean guy said before stomping off. I brilliantly deduced the girl they referred to was me.
I blinked and found a woman standing in front of me. My body stiffened when I saw her. Her body was brighter than a light bulb, and I was sure she was some beacon of light.
When no one came running, I looked at her, and her face kept changing between an old woman, a young woman and another face I can’t explain. When she spoke it was musical like a delicate note from the flute or a string of the harp, so very hard to describe (now I’m hallucinating!).
âGolden one, you are safe here. I have found you at last and those people out there looking for you are only here to help you,â her voice was so calming that my racing heart began to slow down.
âI am the Goddess Amara Vedis and I welcome you to Asgrove. You are invited to come to my garden whenever you have a need. Close your eyes and remember the tall willow tree. Blessed Be my Golden one.â And then she bent down, moved the clothing from my head and kissed my forehead before her shimmering form disappeared. Now I knew that I had just lost my sanity!
âChild, please come out, we only wish to help you.â It was the professor lady that I heard talking before, and she sounded close. My sanity was slipping away because I had just seen an angel or something equally divine. I stood up and brushed off the extra clothing I had been hiding in. I took a breath before leaving the closet.
A woman was standing nearby, and when I saw her white hair piled high on her head in braids, it made my head hurt. Though I hadn’t made a noise, she turned around and looked at me. She looked at my messy appearance before she nodded to me and walked over to sit on a stool next to the bed with a beautiful burgundy and black quilt. I saw a few other people in a big room, but I chose to ignore them for now, and I walked over the woman.
She offered me a lovely white smile. “Come and sit,” she said, so I sat on the floor. Her eyes had widened before she whispered, âThe Goddess has come to you.â I had nothing to say to that.
âBring some towels!â The woman shouted, making me jump, and when she turned back to me, she told me that I was lucky to be here. I totally disagreed.
âLady, I was sitting in a meadow and leaning against a tree and when I blinked, I found myself drowning in the big pool here. My phone’s ruined and my clothes are a mess. Wherever I am, could you please send me home?â
I looked at her as tears gathered in my eyes, âPlease I want to go home!â When she didn’t say anything, I got on my knees, holding my hands out in front of me and pleaded with her. I saw the answer in her eyes right before a male voice I’ll never forget spoke, and his voice filled every space around us.
âDo not let her stay there on her knees! Can you not see that our Goddess has come and blessed her? Look at her hair!â Her hair? I thought. What’s wrong with my hair! I pulled my hair into view over my shoulders, and it looked beautiful to me until it changed from its usual bright blonde to what coffee looks like with cream. This morning it had rested on my shoulders, and now it hung to my lower back.
The woman lifted me up and made me stand before them like I was a toy rag doll. I stood there in shock as my brain fought to keep up with all the changes.
âHello, my name is Aros, what is your name?â Such a simple question easily answered. So I told him the truth, âRiona Brooksâ. When his eyes looked ready to pop out of his head, my knees started to shake. He was dressed very meticulously so he must be a high ranked person. Maybe he could send me home!
âHello, Miss Brooks. I heard you arrived here in the pool, am I right?â I nodded, and he smiled and for some reason my knees grew weak and my brain became fuzzy.
âI am very sorry, for that must have been a very scary moment in the pool for you. I think my magic needs some fine tuning in your world.â He turned away and took a towel from someone that had suddenly appeared next to him.
His words came back to me. He had said my world. âIf I am no longer in my world, where am I?â I asked as I watched him shake out the towel before he leaned in closer to me and placed it around my shoulders. I grasped the edges of it.
âAsgrove my dear. You have come home.â I found his smile to be sad, and his words confused me. Without knowing why, I reached out to touch him, and I saw him, do the same thing before the professor lady pulled him a step away. I dropped my hand to my side. I thought that I was losing control over my body. Meanwhile, my mind was dark with conflict as two thoughts warred in my head. The first was that he was so gorgeous, and the second was, what was I thinking, this man must have high magic! He could send me back home!
The professor lady tried to whisper in his ear, but I have to note that she’s not very talented at whispering, so I heard her say, âIt may not be her. Don’t place your heart where it can get hurt.â
He brushed her off, and his eyes met mine. Instantly my eyes were glued to his. This odd fluttery feeling happened in my stomach and then I saw the colors of his eyes start to swirl silver like nothing I’ve ever seen. As he looked at me, I stared right back, all the time resisting the urge to touch him.
His gaze was magnetic. I remember offering my hand palm up, something I’ve never seen or done before. And he mirrored my movement until his palm touched mine. But as soon as we touched everything went dark.
I woke up later; I could feel that I was lying on something soft, and I thought of the bed. I sat up slowly and looked around. To my great disbelief and fear for my sanity, I found myself still in the same place that seemed better suited for a Disney movie except instead of pastels, the colors here were dark antiques and super elegant. Maybe Gothic would be a more accurate description. I looked around and found the professor lady with the braided hair who was sitting on that wooden stool again. She told me that I had fainted and that King Aros had caught me before I could hit the floor and then he had placed me upon the bed before leaving to finish some business.
âKing? He’s the king of this place?â My mouth became dry, and I searched the room but found no sight of him. I looked under the quilt and saw that I was in my jeans and T-shirt, and I was thoroughly dry. I moved to sit cross-legged and wrapped the quilt around me snuggling in it like a caterpillar in a cocoon.
I told the woman right away that I hated the movie âWizard of Ozâ and please not talk about this realm. She frowned at me and said that she knew of no wizard with the name of Oz.
âWhat about my family?â I had asked her, and she told me to look forward and not behind.
âLady, can’t you just send me home? I want to go home to my mom and my dad and even my impossible brothers!â
It ticked me off greatly when she began to speak to me like one would to a small child or a demented individual.
âYou are in Asgrove at the Asgrove Academy. You are in the Golden Palace. A special place in our world. You cannot leave Asgrove. Do you understand me? The portal you fell through only works one way.â Her gray eyes hardened, and I wanted to take back my question yet I needed to hear her say the words.
âMiss Brook, we can only go forward.â
When she began to talk about Asgrove and magic; I studied her body language very carefully. I saw a gentleness in her, the same I often saw in my mom and my anger grew beyond my control.
â In Asgrove you have strong magic Riona. Here in the Golden Palace you must learn to control it.â
âI’m just a teenager and I do not have powers. I want to go home!â Losing control isn’t something I’ve ever done, but I did, and I screamed and screamed until I had no voice left to use.
I’m stubborn to my core, so I tried to absorb my anger. Imagine my surprise when a man ran into the room waving his hands in the air. “Calm her down! She’s flooding the palace!”
I looked at the professor lady, and she said harshly, âPull your magic back in Riona!â
“I’m not magical!â I cried before ducking underneath my safety quilt.
Inside my mind, which sounds stupid, it felt like someone else was there with me helping me to chill out. I guess this is what insane feels like.
âGood job Riona, you will learn to control your emotions. It is crucial to becoming a great witch.â
I pulled the quilt off my head and looked at her. âAre you crazy? I am not a witch; witches aren’t real!â I climbed off the bed but kept the quilt wrapped around me as I walked to a slim window and peeked out. Lush vegetation was everywhere, and there were lots of people walking around outside. When I saw their clothing, I wanted to scream! We weren’t in the dark ages anymore! âWomen wear pants just like guys!â I raged and hit the solid marble wall with my hands. Pain shot up my arms, and I gritted my teeth. I was seriously worried about my deteriorating mental state.
âIf your temper tantrum is over, I have brought you dinner.â
âDid you just say something to me?â I asked the professor lady, and she shook her head no.
Something shiny caught my attention, and I hesitantly walked back to the bed where a silver tray sat upon it. âWho spoke?â I asked out loud and boy did I get an answer I could never have prepared myself for!
The voice was neither male nor female, and it responded, âI am the Golden Palace. When you are ready to start your training with the other students here, you will be placed in House Five as it has chosen you.â
It doesn’t bother me one bit to admit I jumped and nearly wet my pants. âHow can a building talk and how can a House choose me?â
The woman stood up and asked me nicely to sit down and eat. She explained in just a few words that the buildings here speak.
I struggled with that one for sure.
As if sensing that I was standing on the edge of another tantrum, the word, âEat,â boomed so loud around me that I felt the floor shake beneath my feet.
I climbed onto the bed and adjusted my quilt before looking at the tray in front of me. My stomach growled, and I felt hungry but there wasn’t anything on the plate that I could identify besides a hard, dark brown piece of what looked like bread. The woman sat again beside the bed, and a man came over and introduced himself as Professor Duncan before sitting down on another wooden stool.
I picked up the silver fork on the tray and started to poke at each item on my plate.
I rolled my shoulders and glared at the man who sat staring at me. âYou’re staring at me, why?â I asked him. The expression on his face changed instantly. At the time, I had no idea what he did but he didn’t seem so mean now. (Hint, he used a bit of glamor magic, boo to the cheater!).
My fork hovered over my plate, and I didn’t know that I was listening to him until I heard him talk about bright lights.
Apparently upon my arrival, bright lights had shot out from all the windows of this building. They were so bright that people saw them no matter where they were on the school campus.
So not only was I surprised to be here myself but once word got out that the lights were on in the Golden Palace, people began to gather outside. Thankfully the professor lady made them go away.
But that made me wonder, if the buildings had a sort of mind and this place was dark and sealed up when I got here, wouldn’t it have been lonely? It had decided to shine its lights as bright as it could so that everyone would see it. I mean, if no one came to see me, I’d be bored and very lonely.
I looked at the stuff on my plate that these people called food. The woman told me about how she was the leader of their council, the core group of power that overlooked this realm under the guidance of King Aros.
She said she would release me into the population of the school when she deemed me ready to enter the Academy and begin training.
Putting my fork down, I turned away from the plate. âProfessor lady, I’ve heard what you said and believe me, I have tons of problems with everything right now okay? I do not know this world. I did not ask to leave my world to come here, and you won’t send me back. Sounds like I’m a prisoner here with my future already set. I’m tired, and I’m hungry but I have a big problem. Could you tell me what’s on my plate? I cannot figure out what these food items are as in my world; I never saw food like this. I mean, this dark thing is bread, right? So what is the protein and what is the vegetable?â
She stood up and took looked at my tray. âLet’s see, well right here (dark gray blob) is grilled crill and this (light cream colored blob) is mashed koet. Then you have redtea cooked as a dessert. These are all the most favored items that our students ask for.â
Looking at her, I frowned. Everyone I had seen didn’t seem to be starving thin so what she was saying must be true. I warily held on to my fork and tried a bite of the dark gray blob. Then I tried a smaller taste of the light cream colored blob but as soon as I swallowed it my stomach refused to keep it down. I hastily pushed the tray away from me, jumped off the bed, ran past the startled people and straight to the toilet as it all came back up. I curled up on the cold marble floor; I knew that the water was okay and the juice too because it tasted exactly like cranberry juice but the professor lady told me it was called redtea. I was seriously missing cows and chickens and even tofu. She called out to me from her stool and told me that their animals they use for food are called dagles, crills and borinths.
I felt drained after the dry heaving passed by, and I let my mind wander as I rested my cheek on the cool tile. I thought about the last movie I had seen at the theater I favored because they showed movies on one huge screen.
The movie was about a girl who was riding in a car with her parents when they got in an accident, and she went into a coma. Is this some place she might go in her mind while in her coma? If I were in a coma, I’d dream of food I could eat!
As I walked slowly back to the bed, the professor lady told me, âDon’t worry Riona, we’ll find food that you can eat, we’ll keep trying. Now I think it has been a very busy and draining day for all of us. Please go to bed. I’ve set up a bed right over there for myself, not too far away should you need something. When we sleep, the Golden Palace will lock the doors. Please feel safe and sleep well.â
âThanks,â I told her before lying down and snuggling in my quilt. I tried to sleep but at first found it nearly impossible as my stomach growled, my head hurt, and my throat burned. I thought about the person in my head earlier and imagined myself reaching my mind out to touch someone, and the connection was made. It is very hard to describe, but I was sure someone was sharing my mind again and was now pushing me towards sleep. My mind became blank as sleep finally claimed me. Riona
Once Riona was asleep, the professor typed out a quick note to the king. She alerted him about the girl not being able to keep any of the foods she had tried down as it all seemed to make her very sick. She clicked off her memo pad that hung around her neck and went to her makeshift bed to sleep.
âGolden Palace, please close down for the night,â the professor said. âAs you wish Professor Augustorio.â It replied.
Aros stared at the memo he’d received and withdrew his mind from the girl now that she was asleep. His thoughts drifted to her world and the creatures he had seen in it. He must solve her food problem quickly as he could not dare lose her.
Journal Entry August 28, 2010:
âProfessor?â I asked the lady as she sat on that little wooden stool by my bed again on the second day. âWhy do you want me here? I have no magic, what do you need me for?â Riona
âRiona, you are very extraordinary and irreplaceable. King Aros placed his magical circles all over your world centuries ago. Let me try to explain. King Aros had a mate, Queen Riona. Yes, you share the same, unique name. They ruled Asgrove together for as long as our books date back. They first established Asgrove and later, the Asgrove Academy and this world grew from there. They were our creators, but we gain our immortality upon our fourth year here at the school. We are immortal but, in certain circumstances, we can die from magic used by the king or queen. King Aros and his queen were always together. The queen was a very delicate, caring soul, but one night he was taking care of a student who claimed that they were in distress and that only he could help them. King Aros and the queen decided together that he would go and attend to the student while she retired to bed. When he got back to their bedchamber, he found pools of blood on the floor. But no matter how hard he searched, she could not be found. He went back and questioned the student who had lied about needing help, a student from the Winterspire family. The student along with his cousin confessed to being a part a group of negative (dark) magic casters. The student went on to talk of a plan to kidnap the queen and take her to the human world, your world Riona. She was stolen away and thrown into your world where they killed her beneath a weeping willow tree. It took a tremendous amount of negative energy created by these individuals to open a portal to the human world, but they managed it. They did not care where the portal lead, merely that it opened and allowed them a means to remove the queen from our world. It seems there were members of the Winterspire family who thought they should be queen and by ridding Asgrove of Queen Riona, they could some how an in some crazy, impossible way take her place. The Winterspire family now lives in the second basement below the Golden Palace, which is one level up from the Dungeon. There is another basement above them, but they are never allowed to rise above their basement level. They have stayed there for all the centuries that the queen has been lost. At one time, the king pulled on their power for cleaning purposes and maintaining the campus grounds. Our Goddess came to King Aros and told him she had been able to save the queen’s soul in the other world. She could not bring the queens soul back here. But she said that the queen’s soul would one day be reborn as a mortal in the world she died in but that she would find her and bring her here.â
A significant silence filled the room as I processed her words.
âAre you saying that you think I’m your lost queen?â I almost stopped breathing.
âSeveral girls have come through King Aros’s circles, females that our Goddess chose to join our world but none of them turned out to be our lost queen. Our Goddess told us that we needed these females and that she would never stop looking for our queen. And to never lose hope.â
âProfessor? That’s why you told King Aros to guard his heart. Sorry, you’re not very good at whispering. Thank you for sharing that with me. That may be why your Goddess talked to me. Though I’m still trying to process exactly what happened.â
âRiona, what did she say to you?â I looked up to see the professor lady staring at me with so much intensity it scared me.
âI can’t answer that question but she did invite me to her garden.â
I turned away from the intensity that radiated from the professor lady and closed my eyes.
âGolden Palace,â I spoke in my head feeling stupid.
âYes Riona,â a voice responded in my head. Well, if you’re going to go insane, I might as well go all the way, I thought to myself.
âWhat will happen to you when I am moved to House Five?â I wasn’t prepared for the feelings I felt in my mind from the building.
âThey will close me up again.â
âI promise you that I will make sure they don’t do that okay? I will do everything I can to make sure you aren’t alone, would that help you?â
âYes it would. You will be a great witch one day and then you will be…â
âI’ll be what?â
âThat is a subject for another day and several years from now. Your soul is bright and kind,â the Golden Palace paused for a moment before continuing.
âRiona?â
âYes?â
âHouse Five believes you are strong enough to share some of your energy with me. I don’t need that much, just a one-time exchange.â I heard the yearning in its voice, and I could do nothing but comply.
âAs you wish, may it be so,â I whispered and then I felt the oddest thing. I could feel my energy leaving, but it didn’t hurt, and it didn’t make me tired. I have a mind full of questions and problems that I have enough energy for the whole world.
âThank you Riona, I won’t forget this.â I was happy to notice that its voice sounded much stronger.
âGolden Palace, can you ask House Five if it is okay for me to provide energy to you when I live there. Should you need it, that you may take it from me at any time you feel I have enough to give?â
âI shall do so now,â it replied and in my mind I felt the moment when the Golden Palace had withdrawn it’s thoughts from mine. Just like that other feeling yesterday of someone sharing my thoughts!
I stayed awake for a very long time that night after another failed day of not being able to eat the foods they enjoy here. The Golden Palace gave me extra bread and redtea, and that was good enough for me. My thoughts kept thinking of ways to ensure this building remained open even without its queen. And I kept praying for a food item I could eat. Riona
Journal Entry August 29, 2010 â January 29, 2011:
Soon after that night, my days were filled with visits from many different professors. But through every visit, the professor lady never left my side. So professor after professor would come by to see me, which was pretty annoying until I began to listen to what classes they taught.
Did they really expect me to believe what they told me? There was a lady teacher who taught potions class and wow, let me say her hair was crazy! I’m afraid I stared at her for a long time, too long, and I am certain I must have appeared rude but her hair, wow! How can hair be so springy?
One teacher, a rather weird man who taught about runes, came to see me, and I didn’t like him at all. He asked the professor lady to leave so that we could have some one on one time for divination purposes, but she refused. She told him that she was my official chaperone and that all the buildings on campus were tuned to my energy so nothing could harm me while in her care. He got so mad and stormed out, and I didn’t realize it until he left that his presence made me feel sick.
Then there was a woman who taught how to create orbs by blowing glass, and her presence made me feel sick too. My favorite teacher told me that she taught about animal care and helped match up students with their animal companions which sounded like the most typical class to me.
The third time I saw her she had just walked outside the Golden Palace, and it was empty now except for the professor lady who was in the bathroom.
I followed the animal professor because she had this huge dog with her and it looked so familiar it tore at my heart. Without knowing what I was doing I found myself outside her building, and all my focus was on watching her as she entered the building because she left it open. Everything around me was, usually, closed. I stuck my head through the open doorway just in time to see the animal that seemed like a dog but now I was sure wasn’t, disappear through a hidden door in a huge auditorium.
I shook my head and realized I was outside amongst the students and adults! I didn’t even stop to think and analyze that no one noticed me. I ran blindly back to the Golden Palace not even knowing the exact way I got there but suddenly I was standing in my bedroom.
âTimeri,â the Golden Palace whispered in my mind.
âWhat is that?â I asked it as I stood glued to the floor in terror. The Golden Palace told me it was a talent for moving from one place to another. I dived onto the bed and pulled my quilt over me a second before the professor lady came out of the bathroom. Later, the very last professor that visited me told me she taught something about awakening the talents inside a witch or wizard.
She said she used a giant labyrinth maze in her classes and though she was a very lovely woman, when she spoke about labyrinth mazes it freaked me out.
Flash backs to a famous boy wizard filled my head but that fiction couldn’t compare to my new reality. I concentrated on the building no longer feeling so sad. And I reminded myself that I needed to see the king before they sent me to House Five. That night I talked to the professor lady about my food problem.
âBut your plate is always clean!â She nearly exploded, and I sat back on the bed staring at her. âNo, I only eat the bread and drink the water and redtea. I don’t know what happens to the rest of it.â She jumped up from her wooden stool and stormed out of the room leaving me feeling scared. That lady never jumped up; she elegantly stood up, and she never stormed out, she primly walked out. Curiosity consumed me but here I was left without answers yet again.
While I picked at my bread, she came gliding back into the room and sat down on her stool composed once again.
âRiona, you have grown thinner in just a few months time. I must admit that I have been worried about you, but I thought we’d finally found some food you could eat, so I thought maybe something else was wrong.â
And then she sighed! That was the first time I heard her sigh, and it bothered me so much and I can’t even figure out why. Everything I tried, no matter how it was cooked just didn’t want to stay down, and I ended up spending a lot of my time getting to know the toilet very well. I spent one whole month locked in the bathroom choosing to sleep in the bathtub with my quilt.
I’d sit in the bath full of steaming hot water only to have to jump out and get to the toilet fast. That was a horrific month for me. Some things I managed to keep down stayed down but not in and would give me terrible stomach pain. That was the worst time in my life I can safely say. I didn’t have extra weight to lose as I was naturally slender with slight curves.
But eating a diet of bread, water and redtea wasn’t giving me enough calories, and I began to feel a bit weak. So after my month in the bathroom, I stayed in bed for another month which was a long time. (I missed my smartphone! But thank goodness for indoor plumbing, imagine that!).
I apologized to the Golden Palace that my energy was too low. But it said it had extra energy in reserve and in a complete roll reversal it would send me small pulses of energy each morning that helped me get through the day.
It wasn’t until I had been in the Golden Palace for many months that I realized that I didn’t have my usual female monthly problem. I was sitting on the floor in the middle of my bedchamber putting a huge puzzle together. I looked up at the professor lady who was making some new runes for herself out of shiny black stones.
âProfessor? It just dawned on me that, while I do not miss it at all, I haven’t got my monthly visitor the whole time I’ve been here.â It was so funny because she stared at me as if I was speaking a different language. I frowned, thinking over what I had said and how it might be confusing when she gave a short laugh and drew my eyes to her.
âRiona my dear, that is one thing you do not have to worry about here. Our bodies, because we become immortal, and during our immortality we can have children if we so choose, there is no need for monthly messes. When we find our mates and are fully bonded and immortal, we can choose to have children whenever we wish. Now that is one thing you can look forward to here in this world!â She is a charming woman just a bit stuffy at times. But during our time shared in the Golden Palace she had begun to relax considerably around me though she never lost the stick that kept her posture perfect at all times.
âDo you have a mate?â I asked her before I could process my words. My eyes grew wide and I quickly covered my mouth wishing I could take back my words but she just looked at me and shook her head. âNot yet my dear. But I do not allow myself time to find one as my duties at this school fill all my time. You will find out one day that another bonus to immortality is that there is no rush for anything in our lives. You are forever frozen looking not a day over twenty unless you so choose to age like I have which of course, I can reverse at any time. But King Aros finds it much easier for his professor’s to look older than the students so we age ourselves to the desired look until we decide to change.â
After that, she went back to her work, and I sat there on the floor and thought about her words. I don’t know how I felt about living forever. It’s not a concept I grew up with.
Then that made me think about how different I am from all of the students outside these walls. They all grew up with magic, the idea of attending this school and becoming immortal, but I was busy growing up with different ideas of my future.
My days were filled with books about Asgrove’s history and its underlying social structure. There were books about animals and many different creatures of this world.
The oddest book was the slimmest one about the weather that I found odd. Why would there be a book wholly devoted to the weather? Why did I need to know about the weather? I mean, besides that one day that I snuck out, I have no idea what the weather is like nor how it affects a witch or wizards life. Everyone wears long cloaks with females wearing long skirts or dresses. You could wear that at any time of the year. I read books about plants but no matter how many times I read the books, I couldn’t retain the knowledge. I read about potions, but that information slipped quickly from my mind as well. It was like the information was bouncing off my brain instead of melting into it.
Enter King Aros (Did someone request a King in shining armor?) who came back to see me near the end of my stay. Let me start by saying that I didn’t look my best nor feel it, and I was unprepared for his anger. âWhy have you let so much time pass without telling me sooner?â His voice was so loud I turned to look at him just as the professor lady shrank back at the power of his voice. I decided now was a great time to hide under my quilt, so I pulled it around me and curled up on the floor.
Though my voice was a bit muffled, I knew they could hear me.
âIt’s not her fault. She thought I was eating everything, but I can’t eat the things you do. It just makes me sick.â Peeking my head out, my eyes caught his and his face relaxed a bit. Talk to him! My brain demanded.
âCan I tell you something without anyone around?â I asked him as I nervously glanced at the lady professor who raised her eyebrows at my question. I slowly got to my feet and walked over to my bed and sat against the wall cuddled up in my quilt. The king demanded, quite loudly that the Golden Palace be cleared of all people immediately, and the professor lady left without looking back. I watched him wait until the place was empty before he sat on a wooden stool the professor lady, usually, used.
âYou may speak freely,â he told me and his voice was soft and almost mesmerizing. I tried to look away, to break eye contact because I feared that if I didn’t, I’d get lost again in the swirling colors of his gaze.
I felt his full attention on me, and I was suddenly nervous. I realized that we were very alone and that once served as his bedchamber with his queen along with the freakishness that we shared the same name! And that he found her blood here and that he has been as lost as the Golden Palace for so many centuries. Focus girl!
âI have something I wanted to ask you and the thing is, it’s crucial to me. I think that this is important for you to know since it is after all, your world. I need to request that the Golden Palace stay open after I’m moved out of here.â Boy that was hard to say but I hoped he’d listen to me. Crossing my fingers under my quilt, I dared to look at him.
âGo on.â
âOkay. It doesn’t have to be me. But it would be great for the Golden Palace if it weren’t sealed up again and given some power. It gets lonely, and I have shared my energy with it and I can’t stand the thought of it being locked up again and alone. Maybe your queen might return faster if her place here was open.â
âYou have shared your energy with the Golden Palace?â Oh my gosh, but his voice sounded like he couldn’t breath! I looked at his lips and waited for them to turn blue, but they didn’t.
âUm, yes. Did I do something wrong? I mean, I’ve never heard of sharing energy until I spoke with the Golden Palace in my head. And I’ve never talked to a building in my head so I must sound stupid. But the Golden Palace sounded so sad, and it hurt me for it to feel that way.â I was confused at that point.
âYou talked to the Golden Palace in your head?â His voice rose several octaves!
âYes sir, I did and I do and this is very confusing yet important to me. The Golden Palace has been alone for centuries, and I think if it were open, the whole campus would benefit from it. It doesn’t mean that everyone can come in and do whatever they want, even I know that would be wrong but just don’t seal it closed. Please.â
âCan you hear me in your head Riona?â When I heard his voice in my head, my jaw dropped open.
âI see that you can. Interesting.â He spoke with his mouth that time so I knew he was testing me.
âCan you hear me?â I shot back at him mentally.
âYes I can hear you. You are using a very rare talent called Miaspa, and I wish for you not to speak of it with anyone but me with the exception of the Golden Palace and House Five. Can you do that for me?â His voice was back in my head again so, um, it was like he was whispering in my ear, and I knew my face was turning red.
âRiona, please understand that I ask this of you not because I want to hide your talents but because I want to keep you safe.â When he got off that stool and came over to talk to me, he looked at the bed for a few heartbeats before he sat on the edge of it. I bet if I blew softly he’d fall to the floor, but I wasn’t brave enough to try it.
âI need you to be safe. You have been well guarded here in the Golden Palace. You must watch out for yourself as everything is new here to you. Make good friends, ones you know in your soul you can trust. Will you agree to be very careful in the choices you make?â
âShake on it,â I whispered as I held my hand out. I wanted to see if the world fell out of balance again if we touched and how serious he was about my plan for the Golden Palace. I wanted to ask him why I would need protection, but he interrupted my thoughts when he began to speak what he called a spell for my health.
âOur Goddess Amara Vedis and Energy that is mine,
Hear me demand of you,
Bring my energy to flow to her and be true,
Sustain her body with energy in place of food,
Draw upon me to lighten her mood!â
âI promise that I will not seal the Golden Palace up again. As I have lived those centuries alone as well, I am all too familiar with the loneliness. I’ve felt it and have no wish for another to feel such pain. I will share my power with the Golden Palace as I should have been; I’m sorry Golden Palace! Keeping your energy to yourself will allow you to get stronger by learning how to store your energy. The Golden Palace will always be open to you.â
âSir, it has been a very long time since we shared energy but Riona is special. I have opened the path you asked of me,â the Golden Palace spoke to the king.
I frowned at its words at first but then the king’s agreement sunk in, and I yelled out, âPerfect!â I was so happy that I bounced on the bed causing my quilt to fall away from me. I threw my arms around the king’s neck and hugged him close.
Looking back, I can’t believe I was so bold to touch him as I did! But this stuff just sometimes happens. Before I fully realized what I had done all the hair on my arms stood up, and my body began to tingle at every spot that our bodies connected. I felt his hands wrap around my waist, and my skin there tingled too and he squeezed my body tight against his for just a second before he went poof. I mean it. Poof! He disappeared, but he had whispered something in my ear. âToo soon young one.â Too soon for what?
Now I was worried that I had offended not only the king but his queen too! Darn my impulsiveness!
How crazy was all that! Thinking about his words I remember his health spell and though I really don’t want to admit it, after that visit I felt much better and after two weeks, I gained back five pounds! And the professor lady appeared about three seconds after the king poofed away, and the usual noises of people moving around the Golden Palace returned as life continued on as it had been since my arrival.
I was once again visited by all the school’s professors who tried their best to catch me up to speed with what the other students were doing. Some brought books while others talked and talked about their classes. But the worst was again, when the runes guy came and asked to look at my hands. I had looked at the professor lady, but she shrugged her shoulders, so it was up to me.
âNo, thank you,â I told him in the most polite way I could. âExcuse me, I need to use the bathroom!â I said as nicely as I could while I slipped off my bed and walked quickly to the bathroom. I took great care to close the door quietly behind me. I checked twice that I locked the door before falling to my knees and throwing up all over the floor.
Dang it! I didn’t make it to the toilet. What a mess. The professor lady came to the door and asked if I was okay. My throat burned and my eyes watered and I asked if that runes guy was gone.
There was a slight pause before she said, “Yes he has left.” She asked if she could come in and I told her I had made a mess but didn’t have the strength to clean it up yet.
She assured me that there was a much easier way to clean things up than my way. So I crawled to the door and undid the locks before pushing myself away so that I didn’t get knocked over by the door opening.
âOh, my you really did, never mind, here let me take care of you.â The professor lady spoke in a smooth, soft voice that sounded so pretty it was almost like listening to music through my lost ear buds. At this point, any music or anything that sounded like music was good enough for me!
âA Spell I speak for cleansing the room!
Energy come from within me,
Cleanse and renew this room as it should be,
Sparkle all clean!
A Spell I speak for cleansing this girl!
From that which lives inside of you,
Mold it and change it, make it come through,
Feel it and blend it, bring forth what you know,
Your soul is bright, let it glow,
Help her share her magic with her mind,
Bring it to the front, so she is not blind!â
When the professor stopped speaking her spells, the bathroom sparkled like beautiful crystals filtering sunlight. And I felt the oddest feeling inside me like something was trying hard to get out, but it was too deeply buried within me. Very elusive, slippery and odd.
She helped me up and out of the bathroom, and while she was helping me to my bed, I blurted out a question that kept looping through my mind.
âWhy can’t anyone take one moment to think about what they are asking of me?â I mean; all these professors come in and don’t they understand that I haven’t grown up here? That the very thought of magic is not reasonable to me? They’re trying to teach a newborn in comparison to those who have known no other world than this realm their entire lives.â
She got me to the bed, and I pulled my quilt around me, safe and sound once more.
The professor lady sat down and took an incredible amount of time to explain to me one last time that I would never be able to return to my world or my family. Ever.
The word, ever, was not something that worked for me when used like this. I’m sorry to say that I didn’t take the news well the second time either. I’m still bruised and broken inside, but I’ve never been a drama queen, so I worked hard to keep my sadness close to my heart.
I decided that if I couldn’t go home, I would share all that was home to me with her. So I told this Professor, Jordavia Augustorio (Ah-Gust-O-R-I-O), about my family and my friends and to her credit, she did listen to me. I talked about my brothers and how sporty they were and competitive and how they no longer had a sister to boss around anymore. Then I talked about my Nana, who had been in the happy (, she was happy!) process of helping me learn to bake. Professor Augustorio asked me what baking was and that made me cry. We stopped talking after that.
How am I supposed to blend with these people? The clothes they wear are going to be hard to get used to and knowing that there is no other choice will take forever to comprehend. Seriously, are you kidding me? Being surrounded by dresses and skirts, cloaks and blouses were so old-fashioned, and I’m sure we are all bound to think different too that I couldn’t process everything!
Well, I am proud to write that I did win one war. I flatly refused to remove my jeans. At night, I would wear the pink nightdress they gave me but I’d keep my jeans, T-shirt and navy blue hoodie under my pillow and put them on in the morning. After two weeks of wearing them, the professor promised me they would return my clothing if I allowed them to wash them and I agreed.
Days passed by, and I felt my time running out in the Golden Palace like sand falling from an hourglass.
A few professors admitted that they had come to visit me not to teach me something but to test my so called magical level as a witch. (But I think they’re all a bit daffy, no I know they are!) I’m a mortal; I have no witch powers. At least I kept telling myself that was the truth.
One professor came every single day to try to draw my blood and though he said they needed it to test it to see where I honestly came from I denied him. Don’t these people ever stop to think about seeing things through my eyes? Every single time he showed up I sent him away most unsatisfied. I did not trust this realm, and I was not about to let someone stick me with a needle. Riona
Journal Entry January 29, 2011:
It wasn’t very long after that strange encounter in the Golden Palace with King Aros that the lady professor told me that I had passed all the tests. I asked her what tests? She just waved my words away and told me it was now time for me to join the rest of the students.
I found this to be the most stressful day of my life. But no one treated it any different than any other day. To leave this one place I had become comfortable with and to be plunged into the general population of a huge school filled with lots of magical people was terrifying. Like my first day at kindergarten but without my mom to comfort me.
At least it was a warm day when I left for House Five. I had learned that the First Girl was Jessica Pinevale. The First Girl title meant that she was in charge of planning chores for the House, holding House meetings and keeping us up to date with the council.
I never knew that I was entering enemy territory until it hit me full in the face, literally.
Que Jessica, the bane of my existence! The mean girl whose beauty could dazzle the sun and no one denied her much at all. Unfortunately for her, I changed all that by just being me.
From the moment we met, I felt this deep ugliness radiate from her like a sickness. To me, she was like cancer that would grow into every cell of my body until she had destroyed me.
Maybe this was why King Aros was worried about my protection. Riona
CHAPTER TWO
January 29, 2011-January 30, 2011
(Taken and reworded from the
Journals of Riona Brooks, House Five
and other campus building’s records)
Professor Augustorio lead Riona out of the beautiful Golden Palace and as Riona was leaving she used her Miaspa talent to say goodbye to the Golden Palace.
âUntil I see you again very soon!â Riona said mentally, and the Golden Palace replied, âYes my golden one.â
Riona wondered what that might mean, but the professor guided her right into a stream of people just after 1:00 Nearly Dark. Probably the busiest time of the day!They walked on brick paved paths and around tall unfamiliar trees. As they passed a few marble benches, Riona wondered at the similarities between her two worlds. There was marble in her old world and marble here. So many things alike and yet so much more so very different. When they passed a lovely patch of flowers, Riona thought she might have seen them in one of the books she had read but then again, maybe not. Riona couldn’t help but notice that with each step she took, people stared at her. She looked at the clothing the students wore and wrinkled her nose at the very thought of giving up her jeans for dresses and skirts. Though one student that she passed was wearing a wicked pair of black boots she thought for sure were awesome. But when she found so many people staring at her clothing, she put on her brave face with her artificial smile hoping it wouldn’t look as bad as it felt. Finally, much to her relief they reached House Five, where Professor Augustorio approached the front door of the House and began to talk to it.
During the six months she spent in Asgrove; she had grown comfortable in the Golden Palace. But here she was now, entering a new phase of her new life without anything familiar except herself and a life with magic.
Riona had come to terms some time ago with people talking to buildings and other, usually, inanimate objects. So it came as very little surprise when Professor Augustorio asked House Five’s door to allow her entrance.
âLet her speak,â it replied and Riona felt surprised for it seemed like the House was giving an order to this high-level professor and lead council member. The professor gestured toward Riona and shrugging her shoulders; she spoke out loud to the House’s front door.
âMy name is Riona Brooks,â she said cautiously. Her eyebrows rose when it replied, âBrooks is not your bloodline. But since you have refused Professor Lyle Duncan’s requests for a sample of your blood, your bloodline will remain unknown, for now. I grant you admittance Riona Brooks, welcome to your new home.â
Riona couldn’t help but smile. She would now be around others of her age, and she wasn’t sure if she believed she possessed any magic just yet. She had never tried anything except for the temper tantrums she had when she first arrived here. And her one excursion out of the Golden Palace that she’d kept a secret. She felt far behind everyone else and knew she would have to work extra hard to keep up with the other First Year students. The beautiful door with stained glass opened and she stepped inside, and as the door closed upon the professor’s happy face, she turned away only to meet with a very unhappy face.
Riona knew something was off when she saw that she stood facing a whole foyer was filled with girls. She offered her hand to shake to the pretty blonde girl who stood in front of the group but when the girl didn’t offer her hand to shake Riona’s smile slipped. This girl stood apart from the others as if she was the Queen of Asgrove herself. The Golden Palace had told her that each House had a nickname for their Housemates, and some unthoughtful person had nicknamed House Five’s current residents, ‘Heaven’s Sword.’
âMy name is Jessica Pinevale. I am First Girl here at House Five, or you may call us, ‘Heaven’s Sword.’
âOf course, you must have come up with that nickname right?â Riona asked her with a goofy grin. But when Jessica stared at her with pure hatred she wanted to go back to the Golden Palace right away.
âDo you maybe have me mixed up with someone else because it feels like you hate me, and I have not met anyone of my age here yet.â Riona lost the grin and stared at Jessica point blank.
âNo, we have never met and yes, I hate everything about you. You may appear angelic with your golden blonde hair straight out of a glass vial, but I know you are nothing special. Don’t look at me with those baby blue eyes, I’ve heard things about you. The Golden Palace should have rejected you. King Aros could have thrown you back to your mortal world and make no mistake, I did request it! But no, he said you belonged here. And then they told me you would be joining my House Five! Let’s get this straight, I am in charge here. You have no power here. I don’t care what your name is; you will never be queen, you’re a rank zero witch with no talents. You come from none of the prominent families, and you are a human. Stay out of my way, don’t talk to me and maybe I’ll let you live here.â
âJessica do not forget that I choose who lives here,â House Five said and the girl’s cheeks turned bright red.
Riona frowned at Jessica’s words and then smiled at the House’s words, but something was bothering her more than just words that couldn’t hurt her. It seemed that Jessica’s voice was full of music and beauty but when Riona blinked several times, Jessica’s voice burned Riona’s ears and she reached up and rubbed them.
âWhy did your voice sound so pretty at first and now it hurts my ears?â Riona asked and then she saw several girls behind Jessica shake their heads, but it was too late, she had already insulted her. Dang but it was an accident!
âOh, what trouble I can get myself into without even trying!â Riona whispered. By the heavy silence that hung in the air, she knew it was a stupid thing to have said, and she wanted to apologize. The girls behind Jessica had gasped loudly and then Jessica took a big lunge toward Riona and slapped her across the face. Even though, Jessica was maybe five feet, eight inches tall, Riona herself was nearly the same with one less inch. She thought it was a good thing Jessica had a weak punch, or her slap would have really hurt instead of slightly burning. Unknown to Jessica, Riona had grown up with several brothers who loved to wrestle, and she always got knocked around but that was accidental, this was on purpose.
Riona pressed her right palm against her burning cheek. To her surprise, she felt an odd displacement of air surround her and knew at once that it was magic. She had felt similar things in the Golden Palace. The girls gasped again along with Jessica though her eyes burned with a touch of madness and loads of hate. Riona could not understand how someone could possess so much negativity before her thoughts were interrupted by House Five.
âI, House Five have set a level ten elemental personal protection weave around Riona Brooks after Jessica Pinevale struck her. I, House Five have reported this event to the Record Keeper. The Record Keeper would like Miss Pinevale to vacate House Five immediately and appear before the council and King Aros in the Astrica set before the Golden Palace. Miss Pinevale has two minutes to appear of her own accord before the council uses the Timeri talent. Miss Pinevale is also advised by the council to keep her silence until she appears before them. Countdown has begun. I, House Five, will settle Riona Brooks within her new home while Jessica Pinevale confesses her transgressions to the council and to King Aros.â
When the House’s voice stopped speaking, Jessica stared at Riona with as much hatred as she could put into a glare before tossing her long golden hair over her shoulder. Riona didn’t miss the fact that Jessica’s face was burning red.
âThis isn’t over.â Jessica mouthed at Riona before walking briskly past her. She tried to shove Riona hard with her shoulder, but Jessica’s body seemed to pass through Riona’s and Jessica nearly fell to the floor. Regaining her footing, she stomped her way out the front door, and the House closed it behind Jessica. Only then did the group of girls sigh and the House felt lighter to Riona. âOkay, so that was a great start. Jessica is a First Girl and has spent her whole life planning to come to this school. Doesn’t she understand that when protection is put around someone that they can’t be hurt? Her little shoulder push never touched me. She went through me. This magic stuff is going to take me more time than I thought it would if people like Jessica make mistakes like that. And even in my world, slapping someone is wrong. But it is something weird to do the first time you meet someone.â Riona sighed before looking at the girls, wondering what next negative thing she would have to handle.
âIt’s about time the council did something about her.â Riona looked around and found the girl who had spoken. A beautiful redhead with a twin standing next to her. Her sister grabbed her arm and scolded her.
âBe careful! We don’t want Jessica to come after us!â Though she whispered, everyone heard her. âHush! She’s not even here, and no one’s going to tell her. Chill. Sorry about Jessica’s attitude Riona. She can be a difficult person. By the way, I’m Ruby, and this is my sister Rose.â
âHey,â Riona said before smiling at them.
Another lovely girl with raven hair stepped forward and extended her hand to Riona, âMy name is Corinne. I’m sorry to see Jessica act so mean to you. As First Girl, it is her job to welcome you into the House but honestly we think she’s scary jealous of you.â Her smile was so sweet Riona smiled in return and nodded her head.
âEver since I arrived here, I’ve struggled with people having weird reactions around me. But for the most part, they have been friendly towards me. Mostly.â Stuffing her hands in her pockets, Riona rocked back in her shoes.
âDid something terrible happen to Jessica to make her so hot tempered and mean?â Riona asked everyone.
This time, a tall brunette answered. âMy name is Elsbeth. And Jessica is jealous of you because you lived in the Golden Palace for six months, and she has never been able to gain entrance. But above all you appeared within the Golden Palace that has been sealed to all life forms save the caretaker Professor Nathaniel Lucas. It has been off limits to everyone for centuries.â Stepping closer, she shook Riona’s hand before blending back in with the group of girls.
âJessica comes from a powerful bloodline and though House Five had to give her the First Girl title, she hasn’t quite earned the privileges that come with it. Privileges like exclusive access to private sections of the library and the potions cold storage. For the most part, she sets our chore schedules and sets out our daily schedule of classes that the she discusses with House Five. She’s frustrated that she can’t use those unique buildings in the Asgrove Academy like other First Girls and First Boys. You’ll want to watch out for her and try to get on her good side though, I don’t think she has one. I guess if you keep your head down long enough you’ll blend in, and she’ll forget you. All the others who came from your world have been placed outside the Academy after their four years of training here. For Jessica, it’s out of mind and out of sight. Of course, this isn’t the first time she’s been called to see the council but it is the first time to have King Aros there. She worships him, because she thinks she is his queen.â Her dark eyes seemed to shine with empathy and sadness.
âThe mere fact that our House Five set such a strong protection weave around you angered her even further. House Five, to her, is her domain even though we all live here. Because it chose each of us, she can’t move any of us to another House. Slapping you will set her back even further from obtaining her privileges that should go hand in hand with her title. If it weren’t for her bloodline, she’d never be First Girl.â
âThank you for being so kind to. And for helping me understand what a difficult person Jessica is. Seems pretty much like my old world except you use magic here. I don’t know how I like being labeled a witch, but it would be interesting to have powers. And I’m not looking to be someone’s queen. I wanted to go home, but they won’t let me. I hate skirts, no offense you all look great, but it’s not my thing. I miss my family very much, so it’s not like I’m trying to outrace everyone and be the strongest and most powerful witch.â
Rose looked at her sister before speaking. âNot powers, talents. That’s what we call them, talents. And there is one other reason Jessica doesn’t like you. Well, I guess there are lots more but the main one that my sister and I feel is the most important to her, is that we’ve heard you’ve spent some alone time with King Aros. She, usually, takes walks with him at least once a week. So you can kind of see where she sees you as a threat to everything she thinks belongs to her? The problem is, King Aros declared about the time you got here that one of us currently attending this school, would be the reincarnation of his queen. Jessica believes it to be her, and she will stop at nothing to achieve her goal. I’m Ruby, by the way.â The redhead smiled at Riona.
âAnd I’m Rose, her twin. The thing is, no one can turn themselves into a queen. Our queen along with King Aros created our world. I don’t think the adults understand that we miss the queen too. Life, in our history books, showed that our realm started with them, and they had been together forever, so the world was a lot different to everyone when she was here. She had control over all animals, could make any potion, her divination skills using runes was out of this world, and her, glass making was gorgeous for orbs. Wherever she walked, flowers would bloom. It’s hard to believe that the Golden Palace was eight stories tall once too. But the king and queen were the perfect pair. All we know is that we lost the queen to at least one of the oldest bloodlines here, and they killed her in your world. I can’t see why anyone would want to destroy what they had; it’s so sad and tragic. Why destroy the very soul that created you? But if those people were anything like Jessica, well, you’ve met her. We just know that our queen’s soul will be reincarnated, and our Goddess has been searching all these centuries for it to return. I think King Aros would be a very different man if she were still here. But it seems the Goddess has found her soul.â All Riona could do was shake her head.
âIf one of you is the queen reincarnated, how old does that make King Aros? Isn’t he old?â Riona asked everyone and the foyer filled with giggles.
âAge matters not in our realm Riona, as you will soon see. And you must not have not met with King Aros, for if you had, trust me, you would understand. Those rumors must be wrong.â Riona turned to the voice that spoke to see a short girl with glasses and a perky smile.
âNathalie Turnbrit, it’s nice to meet you. And I like what you are wearing. What are they called?â She gestured toward Riona’s jeans.
âBlue jeans but I know I can’t wear them here.â Riona sighed.
âI have met King Aros,â Riona said at the exact time as the bell rang.
When only Riona jumped, she remembered that the bells rang in every House and was used to announce a class or a meal. That bell had rung at the same time that she had spoken about King Aros, and she saw that no one had heard her.
âI have spent the past six months studying things you all have had years learning. Professor Augustorio told me that I wasn’t scheduled for this class today,â Riona looked down at the floor, not wanting the girls to see that she was upset to miss a class.
âThe House will assign you a suite on one of the floors.â Nathalie lifted Riona’s chin gently with her fingers.
âIt’s going to be okay; we’ll help you.â
âThank you Nathalie but I don’t want that hatred turned on you. What floor is Jessica on?â
âShe has a room on the fifth floor but she doesn’t have a whole floor to herself.â
Puzzlement filled Riona, and Corinne was nice enough to speak up.
âEach of us has a suite of rooms but no one has an entire floor. It’s, usually, two girls per floor except for the twins who share a suite. We don’t mind as we like the current arrangement. The House can add rooms and floors when it wants to, and it told us that it had decided that you rank a whole floor to yourself. That is yet another thorn in Jessica’s side since she heard what House Five had said. I think it meant for her to hear. And it had just mentioned you right before your arrival so it was fresh in Jessica’s mind. Oh yeah and the fact that you saw and heard through her glamor!â Corinne laughed before apologizing that they must go. The girls began to rush towards the back of the House, and Riona watched them go.
âIt’s time for our lesson for animal care. We knew you were coming today, so I looked for your name on the schedule, and it wasn’t there. We think the House wants to settle you in your new suite, I mean floor.â Ruby shouted out to Riona before joining the rest of the girls who were quickly disappearing through the back door. A bunch of girls shouted out ‘see you later’ while a few others just said, ‘bye!’ Riona thought about the last hour and decided that all the girls in the House seemed to obey Jessica’s every wish yet behind her back they seemed free and happy. The important thing was to understand that it was out of fear and not respect. House Five began to speak interrupting Riona’s thoughts.
âJessica has always been a beautiful, elegant, lovely package on the outside but on the inside she is ugly to her core.â Riona could think of nothing nice to say after that.
âWhile the rest of the girls are out attending their lesson, could you please tell me about my placement here? I’d like to wash up a bit, please.â Riona was afraid of being placed close to Jessica’s suite.
âFear not, I have placed you in the basement,â it told her.
âThe basement?â To Riona’s great horror, her voice squeaked like a mouse!
âYou will approve of this placement while young Jessica will be delighted that you are not above ground. She seems to believe, and quite wrongly too that the higher the floor a girl lives on, the stronger the witch is.
Now if you would please walk down the hallway, yes stand right there and place your hand on the big wooden side of the clock, perfect! It will open only to your touch and to those that you may grant access to enter. Partially above your suite will be our garden so no noise from chattering girls will interfere in your studies. It is imperative that nothing impedes your learning.â
âWhy?â Riona asked the House, curiosity making her brave at that moment.
âI need you and you will need me. Now please enter the basement and descend the stairs. Ask for light, and it shall come.â When the clock moved after she placed her hand where the House advised her to, it swung open, and she looked down the dark staircase and wondered if House Five hated her too.
âIt’s a very special privilege to have such privacy as I have given you.â
âI’m sorry; I didn’t mean to appear ungrateful. It’s just that all I’ve learned in my life is that you hide what you do not want others to see in the basement. I do apologize.â
Riona touched the wooden bannister and whispered, âlightâ and the stairway leading down into the dark was suddenly bright with light. Kind of like how the Golden Palace lit up. Light was just there. No bulbs or even candles.
Once she stepped fully onto the staircase and took a step down; the clock swung closed behind her with a soft click.
âYou made that sound on purpose didn’t you? To teach me?â She asked the House as she descended down into the basement. Once she stepped off the narrow stairs, the sight that greeted her was overwhelming, and she fell to her knees.
âTruly you did this just for me?â Her voice was quiet but filled with awe as the space she had been given was huge and familiar.
âThis is your living space. You will need it.â
âYou’re going to make me cry and I don’t cry.â
âTrust in the fact that I want you to be happy. You have done so much for the Golden Palace, and we are grateful to you,â the House told her.
âThere is a door behind the stairs. If you enter that door, it will take you straight to the Golden Palace, the real one.â
Overwhelmed with emotions, she felt happy and then suddenly she felt like her energy was being drained away. She looked around and saw several doors and open spaces. The doors began to glow as symbols appeared upon them.
âIn case you’ve forgotten from this morning!â the House laughed.
âThis is amazing and I am very thankful. I hate to admit it, but I feel really tired right now. It’s probably because my emotions are all mixed up. And this is the first time I’ve been around other teenagers though Jessica hasn’t been a good experience. It’s going to be hard living with someone who hates me. Thanks for the protection weave, Has it worn off?â
âI have removed it because you are in a safe area. The only person able to access this area is King Aros and only if either you or I allow it.â
âWow, thanks, House Five. Being a replica of the space I occupied in the Golden Palace that would mean my bedchamber would be to the right. I came here with only my jeans, T-shirt and hoodie. Though I’ve been able to wear them while, at the Golden Palace, I don’t know where the clothing I’m supposed to wear is. I’d rather keep my clothing here even if I can’t wear them.â
Yawning, she covered her mouth before walking towards the bedchamber. She saw the pedestal and the familiar bed, and she kicked her shoes off on her way to it. The House started to tell her something, but she couldn’t keep her eyes open anymore, it was like all her energy was being siphoned away. As she climbed onto the bed, she collapsed on the deep blue bedspread, and a soft white pillow was her personal cloud.
Her last thoughts were about her jeans disappearing and having to wear dresses and long skirts for the rest of her life. She thought of an angry Jessica finding out about her space in the basement and its connection to the Golden Palace and of her own weary heart longing to belong. She felt movement over her, but she was too tired to keep her eyes open. She knew that something soft had been placed over her and that it smelled of vanilla and lavender.
The Golden Palace
Professor Lucas tried to close the doors to the Golden Palace, but they wouldn’t seal. âWhat is wrong with these doors?â
âYou are to keep the doors open, Professor Lucas,â the Golden Palace said.
âYou do not have that choice. I have taken care of you for centuries. I wish to lock the doors to keep unwanted visitors away. I do not want students in here ruining your beauty.â
âIf you seal me up again, I will be lost. I do not want to be lost. Riona and King Aros promised that my doors would remain open. You must talk with King Aros,â the Golden Palace sounded very sad.
âYou are a building that will always be treasured. In fact, you are the first building in the recorded history of Asgrove. I want to keep you pure for when our queen returns.â The professor started to pace inside.
âI wish for my doors to stay open so that my beauty can draw our queen home.â
âI never thought of it that way. Where did you get that thought Golden Palace?â
âRiona. She was the first, since Queen Riona to share her power with me, and now King Aros shares his energy with me. You must keep my doors open. I have seen the queen, and I want her home.â
âWhere is she?â The professor stopped pacing and looked around himself.
âShe is on this campus but I can tell you no more.â
âThat is just a rumor; she’s not here.â
âShe is here. I have seen her; The Goddess has come here and blessed her. She is beautiful.â
âThe Goddess is always beautiful Golden Palace.â The professor felt frustrated.
âOf course, she is but in that sentence I was referring to our queen.â
âYou speak of nonsense. Share with me the energy Riona Brooks gave you. I want to feel her power level.â
âYou have cared for me for as long as I can remember but you ask too much of me now.â
âShare with me now Golden Palace. I need to know her energy level hasn’t damaged you.â
âPlease just take a small sample,â the Golden Palace pleaded with him. âHer magic is so pure.â
âI will decide if that is true. We do not know her bloodline, and I will let nothing harm you.â
âTake what you will but only for this one deal,â the Golden Palace whispered.
Professor Lucas drew in Riona’s energy and fell flat on his rear end. âWow,â he whispered.
âI told you. She is my friend.â
âVery well, if you feel safe with your doors open then they shall stay open. As I have told you before, I wish only the best for you and I worry. I was not allowed inside these long centuries, and I am ashamed that I didn’t think to share my energy with you. Please forgive me.â
âProfessor, you are forgiven. Thank you for taking care of me.â
Professor Lucas made a short bow before leaving the palace’s doors open.
âHouse Five,â the Golden Palace called out.
âIs Riona okay? Professor Lucas just drained a bit of my power, and I felt a thread pull at me and realized that Riona is bound to me. You will need to create a new bond to keep her magic safe.â
âShe is sleeping; that must be why she felt so tired. When she awakens, I will do as you say. Thank you Golden Palace. May you stay open and keep this world bright.â House Five turned its attention towards the sleeping girl in the basement.
House Five
January 30, 2011
She did not awaken until the next morning, and she was surprised to find that she still felt tired.
Her eyes took in the sight around her, and she smiled too at the thought of waking up in an exact copy of the rooms she stayed in at the Golden Palace.
âHouse Five?â Riona asked tentatively as she sat up on her bed. She stared at the quilt that covered her.
âTo answer your question, I thought it would be more comfortable for you to be among familiar surroundings. Everything you had at the Golden Palace you now have here including your quilt and pillow. King Aros wanted you to have the quilt. It wasn’t in the Golden Palace before you arrived. No one knows where it came from. I can bring you daylight or the stars during the night if you so wish. I ask one thing in return. For you to share your energy with me. As you grow in your talents, your life energy will expand. Sometimes you will be overfilled with energy and I would like you to share it with me when that happens. Will you do this for me?â
Because she had done it easily with the Golden Palace and knew that King Aros was now supplying the Golden Palace with his energy she readily agreed. âHouse Five, if you can bring me daylight and the stars of the night, I will gladly share my power with you.â A small chime sounded and then the voice of the Record Keeper filled her sleeping room. âSo recorded between Riona Brooks and House Five, exchange of energy for light and stars.â
âLet us exchange a spell and I will give you a blue ribbon to wear around your upper right arm. Repeat after me until we form one voice.â House Five said, and Riona nodded as a blue satin ribbon appeared on her lap.
âA spell we use to bind our agreement, of an exchange of energy for light and stars!
A blue ribbon we use to show our vow,
That energy will be given to House Five even now,
As House Five will use it for the good of all,
This witch does offer freely with her voice, like a call,
So shall we say, so shall it be!â
âYou did very well for your first spell Riona. Now please hold up your arm.â
âOh, you are tying it on my arm, thank you. House Five. How come the chime and the record keeper thing didn’t happen at the Golden Palace when I agreed to give it my energy?â
âYou didn’t need a spell or the rest. The Golden Palace has been running on very little energy for so long, and it recognized you as its own. So there was no need for a vow. I don’t need one either, but the Record Keeper wants it recorded. We have our rules and secrets too Riona.â
âThank you House Five. Please tell me, can you talk to all of the girls here at the same time or just one at a time?â
âI can hold many conversations at once. I can make changes to my inner structure or outer attributes at any time with the whole Asgrove Academy if I so wished. Or if I have been instructed to do so by the council or King Aros. I can connect you to everyone in all the other Houses too.â
âYour voice comforts me in this place that I find myself so lost in. Thank you House Five. Is there any other name I may address you?â
âNightshade,â it whispered. âNightshade. In appropriate times I will address you formerly as House Five and in our private times like this, I shall call you Nightshade. Thank you, Nightshade.â Riona smiled as she swung her legs over the side of her bed. âTell me, does the Golden Palace have a nickname?â Riona asked House Five.
âIt does. It doesn’t like it though so it won’t speak of it. You honor me as no witch or wizard has done in a very long time with your vow.â House Five seemed to sigh and then she could feel it’s energy around her. She felt her own energy settle inside, and the tiredness vanished. It was then that she realized how hungry she was and that she had to use the bathroom badly. The bathroom came first and then she wandered through the open kitchen area marveling at the use of technology and the lack of it too.
âWhy can’t they have smart phones here?â
Opening the door on a large metal box this world calls ‘cold storage,’ (refrigerator!) she found some bread and smiled. She picked out a glass container of water and a red drink that she knew wouldn’t make her sick. She was euphoric to not see the other foods this realm enjoyed as they made her terribly sick.
âAh, they told me about this. Everything in cold storage will never spoil. How interesting and convenient.â Riona rambled on out loud. It had always been a habit of hers to speak aloud or sing aloud, and she didn’t care if anyone thought it weird, wrong or otherwise.
âI’m not changing who I am just because I’m in this realm now,â she told herself as she took two slices of bread. The bread was very thick and tasted like no bread from her world yet it did have a smooth flavor she had grown to like. She grabbed two glass bottles as they didn’t seem to use plastic here. One glass was clear, and its contents looked like water while the other was red, and she knew it to be redtea, which tasted like cranberries. She liked to pour some of the redtea on the bread. Taking her morning meal, she moved to sit at the counter in her kitchen on one of the three wooden stools. After finishing off her bread, she felt better.
âRiona, King Aros has made a special drink for you. An energy drink. It is in all your cold storage units in your suite, and I see you just drank it. It doesn’t have a taste and is clear.â
âOh, I thought it was water! Thanks, House Five, that was kind of him.â
She wandered around a bit, drinking her energy drink but even though there was much to explore; she heard that bell chime and a schedule appeared on the wall right next to the cold storage box.
âLessons,â she said.
âGo to your closet, it is filled with appropriate clothing for your lessons. I promise to keep your jeans, T-shirt, hoodie and shoes available to you,â House Five said to her. Riona walked to her closet and marveled at the contents but wished there were pants.
âFree?â She whispered while her eyes soaked in every garment and all the shoes. Lots of black boots, with a heel or no heel!
âA gift from the king, he felt that since it was his magic that drew you into this realm that he, at the very least, owed you clothing to fit in. Look in the back right corner. Open the top drawer. Yes, that one. He had those made for you. You may wear them under your skirts and dresses outside of this House as long as they can’t be seen. You can wear them any time while here in your suite or anywhere in the Golden Palace.â
âOh, how thoughtful,â Riona whispered before selecting a pair of soft skin tight black leggings, a black skirt and white blouse. She looked down at the black skirt she chose and lifted up the bottom hem to see her black leggings and smiled. Then, realizing she might miss her first lesson she made a dash for the stairs.
âWhite long sleeved blouse with a long black skirt, thick socks and tall black boots. At least the boots are cool, and the leggings rock! Oh Nightshade? Could I please have a jacket? I mean a cloak?â
âYes Riona. Here is a plain black cloak, but it will keep you warm, and it has pockets inside.â
As she reached the top of the stairs, a cloak was draped over the wooden railing. Taking it, she gently tied it at her throat.
âAwesome! Thank you, now I shall go about my day and pretend I fit in here!â She said before pushing the clock open.
âA gift from the king,â House Five whispered. She could see the girls she had met the day before running down the hallway almost out of the House and she quickly followed them. She knew it was time for her first lesson of the morning, ‘Talent Training’ at the North Gate Labyrinth Maze.
âI’ve never seen a real maze before,â Riona told House Five before saying goodbye and rushing out into the dew covered, sunny morning. She stopped short right outside.
âPlease tell the king a big thank you for me and thank you to you too House Five.â Then she ran to her class.
âShe is perfect,â House Five said.
âShe is most certainly interesting. Thank you for sharing with me House Five,â King Aros sent a high pulse of energy to the House and the Golden Palace. He gave House Five the power as a reward for the information it had shared with him. Then he and the House spoke together.
âA spell to guide a young witch to be successful!
Our strengths, our rarest skills,
Within this young witch we inspire,
May she learn and work and help without tire,
In every greatest hour!â
âThank you House Five. You have chosen well to have this young witch within your walls. Let us hope with everything we have that I have predicted what truly will come to pass.â King Aros said before he left to attend the morning’s first council meeting of the day to discuss a rather sensitive project he wished to introduce this year.
âBoth the Golden Palace and I agree with your prediction King Aros,â House Five whispered happily.
âThis should prove to be a very exciting year.â
END, thank you!
My son is in the hospital for depression. It’s been hard but his father drove me to see him on Saturday and Sunday. His 72 hour hold is over and he will be discharged on Wednesday. Â It was one of the most hardest things I have ever done. To bring my son to crisis where he was taken back behind many locked doors by these very big men. Then they moved him by ambulance, totally strapped down from neck to feet more than an hour away.
Other than missing his handheld gaming system, food at home, and some other regular day comforts, he is doing quite well. I just pray that this is helping him as his life is just beginning and I need him to thrive while he survives.
On another note, our neighbors had a party last night and they turned their sound system all the way up. God says to forgive your neighbors but I found it hard because I already had a migraine and they do not care what time it is or how loud they are or to be courteous to thy neighbors. I called the police the last time they did this and they threw eggs on our cars. But on that occurrence their sound system was maxed out and on both times, the chairs we sat in vibrated from their pounding, swearing music.
My mom’s multiple sclerosis has not improved rather it is weakening her further. She couldn’t get pills down her throat without gagging so she’s wearing a cervical collar and it helps like magic! I am a caregiver to both my mom and grandma who;s leg was amputated in April of this year. I am a mom of two boys I love dearly and guardian of four cats that do not always get along and I am constantly cleaning up their messes as one overeats and up it comes while another overeats and makes a mess in both ways which can get pretty stinky, poor maine coon kitty. So furry. While our cat that overeats got bitten by another one of its siblings, I took him to the vet a week ago and he’s 21 pounds. He is doing much better now.
My happiest note is that I took my book I wrote for 2014 NaNoWriMo.org and I ordered the proof paperback and published it on Amazon! Â I want it available as free so I’m going to have to figure it out as it would not let me do that. The lowest I could go was $0.99 and I am all about free books!
I will gladly send a copy to anyone who would be willing to write a review for me. This book was written in thirty days and edited in fifteen days by myself. It is just the beginning as I have one more complete novel that is my jewel that I am editing right now.
We have super foggy nights and mornings and I hope  that people drive safely! It didn’t rain but the cars drive by making that swooshing sound from the wet pavement.
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Awakens-Colleen-Johnson-ebook/dp/B00QPRMJ60
I am going to give a paperback copy away in goodreads once I finish the proof.
I don’t know about you, but my life unraveled right at Christmas in 2013 and hasn’t settled yet and here it is May 2014. I miss being on my computer, posting reviews on great books, posting free books and reading about what everyone else is up to. Â I haven’t touched my own draft of my first book. Nothing is the same nor will it ever be.
So let me give a bit of an update. I live with my mother who has multiple sclerosis, my grandmother, my two boys and our combined four cats.  But something went very wrong with my mother and grandmother.  My  mother’s MS overtook her and she lost the ability to walk. After bizillions of dollars later in MRIs, we can see lesions on her brain and spine. MS damage cannot be reversed.  My grandmother, after 2 angiograms later, lost her leg to an above knee amputation from PAD, puliminary aterial disease.  She is currently awaiting the removal of her staples two weeks from now.
My 15 year old son turns 16 this month but he’s not your average boy who wants a phone or car. Â He is emotionally delayed. Â My 10 year old wants to graduate school right this moment, get a great job and drive a car.
My hands no longer work as much as they did and I have no control over my fingers. Typing is excruciatingly painful and slow since not all my fingers move. Carpal tunnel nerve damage. Â I’ve lost vision in my right eye and my eyes want to cross as well as my neck, when I turn to face a bit to my right, begins to shake hard all on its own.
My kids father has had to sell his house and is looking for work. Life is so very different.
I’ve pushed depression out of my mind because it’s not an option for me. I have too many responsibilities right now, people depending on me. No more gardening though. Â Leave the depression behind and embrace each day as if it is brand new with infinite possibilities. Take the time to look at the sky, smell those flowers even with allergies!
After November I was going to concentrate on editing my first book to get it printed via createspace. But my grandmother, as of Sunday, has been in such severe pain from her foot where the veins are not delivering the right amount of blood, that the pain medication given to her has made her not herself. She hallucinates in every single way, or we find she’s walked to the front door or laundry room and things people are coming after her, or are here already to kill us all. Â Monday morning right before I was going to leave to take my younger son to school I peaked in on her and found her bed empty which scared me to death. She cannot walk, Her wheelchair was there, but no grandma, Iooked in her bathroom and closet both were empty. Â Then I saw that the small laundry room that holds one washer and one dryer and one cat litter box well the door was closed. Â My older son had left for school on the bus and my mom who has MS, was in bed. Â I went to the door and sure enough my grandmother was in there but she refused to come out. Â I got my mom up and then took my son to school. I cried all the way there and all the way back. Â All we do is help her in every single way but the medicine changes her mental state and emotionally it is draining because there are things she says to us that hurt badly. I swear we are doing the best we can but my mom’s multiple sclerosis is bad and though it has been only since Sunday that everything we know has been turned upside down, I feel drained. I yelled at God on Monday and prayed and prayed since then. Â Grandma loves her horror movies but hasn’t watched tv since Saturday. Â Early this morning there were ‘things’ in the walls and they were telling her not to tell us that they were after us. Take this moment and tweak it and you get another hour of oddness. Â And then you get 24 hours of it, then 48, then 72 etc. Â I am reading when I catch the time and will be positing reviews as soon as I can. And more free books from Amazon of course. But right now, I can barely function and I have a fifteen yr old son and a ten yr old one. Â With four cats, it can get bonkers here but now, it’s just plain crappy. Â But I won’t let my depression become stronger than me and defeat me. My grandmother has always been a super strong and stubborn woman. I’m stubborn too. Â I push the depression back and look for little things like the wet grass after it rained or listening to music on the way home from dropping my son off at school to keep me going. Nothing is impossible. Believe it, live it.
So the lovely people at Medi-cal, took our health insurance away. Even though I sent the papers in before the due date. So we spent the wee hours of Monday morning in the ER as Malik couldn’t breath. He’s very sick and now his brother is sick again too. I can’t get to a DR without health insurance and having to pay cash for things right now is terrible. My hands aren’t working, I have a fever too and I can;t get a note for the schools so I face truancy. My book must wait as I can barely type this out. I never said a bad word about our government but right now THEY SUCK and my case worker won’t return my phone calls. Thanks a lot for taking away all the DRs they need to see, appts cancelled that were so hard to get. I hate Medi-Cal but my worker, now, for the world to see, she speaks down to me, WHEN she feels like returning my phone call. never had a problem with healthy families. BOO to government workers who blame the state, there’s more to this problem but I don’t want to give her a bad name, too much anyways. They can mess with me but if someone messes with my kids? Watch out because my prayers will not be in your favor. Tell depression to take a number behind all the other things happening. I;m a survivor but I’m a pissed off one. If i was a truly nasty person I would slander my workers name but I won’t do that. She still won’t have the guts to return my phone calls. đŠ
Today is day 1 of my new life of no smoking, a gift my now ten year old asked me to give him for his birthday. Â Stop smoking. Â So I’m keeping it real and honest and posting it along with the other things I post. I’m human. Quitting cold turkey is hard but I love my children. And I will honor this promise.
Â
These were off the top 100 free POST-APOCALYPTIC BOOKS!
Please click on the LINK below the picture. Clicking on the picture will bring you to the picture. Click on the link below to go directly to the book on Amazon. Â ALL these titles were free at the time of this post.
HELP AN AUTHOR, GRAB A FREE BOOK, WRITE A REVIEW FOR FELLOW READERS AND THE AUTHOR!
http://www.amazon.com/Dawn-of-the-Mad-ebook/dp/B00EPH8XL2
Dawn of the Mad [Kindle Edition]
Brandon Huckabay (Author)
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Length: 320 pages
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Publication Date: August 21, 2013
Awakening of the MadâŠ
Lying in apathetic slumber for a thousand years, an ancient race of reclusive clairvoyants suddenly awakens. The elder leader seeks to alter the tides of war by introducing a super weapon: a soldier that can be recycled on the field of battle, negating wounds âŠand even death itself. While research is being conducted on a remote planet, the weapon escapes creating a collision between worlds.
In the path of the MadâŠ
Recently promoted police homicide detective Johnny Roman thinks he has reached the pinnacle of his law enforcement career until his investigation into a bizarre array of murders gripping the city threatens not only his career, but his life as well. Finding himself in over his head, Detective Roman attains the help of unlikely allies in the form of a timid coroner technician and an enigmatic group of elite soldiers.
Detective Roman is quickly thrust into the front lines trying to contain a spreading epidemic and a crazed alien killer in his own backyard: Earth
#2,361 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#6 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Alien Invasion
#16 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Military
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http://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Episode-Serial-ebook/dp/B00FOAEVXS
Life After: Episode 3 (A Serial Novel) [Kindle Edition]
JJ Holden (Author)
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Publication Date: October 5, 2013
Following a civil war that left the United States in ruins, the remaining few who managed to escape the Imperialistic Army and the horrors of their death camps must unite and fight to reclaim their country.
Episodes for this serial novel will be released bi-weekly.
#3,884 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#11 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure > War & Military
#33 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thriller
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http://www.amazon.com/Aftermath-Invasion-Dead-Part-ebook/dp/B00DVY58PO
Aftermath (Invasion of the Dead) – Part I [Kindle Edition]
Owen Baillie (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Publication Date: July 11, 2013
How and where did the virus begin?
For five friends returning from a month-long camping trip, there are no immediate answers. They slowly discover that the world has turned horribly wrong, that the entire east coast of Australia has been ravaged by a virus.
The dead now walk the land, seeking flesh and blood.
Armed with dwindling ammunition, they must overcome their differences, utilize their individual skills, and face horrors they never imagined… but not all zombies are the same…
Join them as they fight their way back to a country town they fear no longer exists, seeking friends and relatives that may not have survived.
#1,060 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#6 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Post-Apocalyptic
#31 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Horror
http://www.amazon.com/W-ebook/dp/B00CJ02XDQ
W [Kindle Edition]
Terry McDonald (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
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Publication Date: April 22, 2013
From the bestselling author of ‘Disaster’ and ‘Hard Road’
‘W’ is a Post Apocalyptic Short Story
In the aftermath of an apocalyptic event tough decisions have to be made. Wanda is as tough as they come. Hits the ground running from the first sentence and doesn’t let up to the end. Hard core survival.
Wanda doesn’t like people, houses or roads. What really irks her are those who think there are no repercussions for doing evil deeds. She has a sure fire way of dealing with them.
Intense Violence, Graphic Language
#1,089 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#6 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Post-Apocalyptic
http://www.amazon.com/Information-Cloud-Tales-Cinnamon-ebook/dp/B007QFWQYK/
Information Cloud (Tales of Cinnamon City) [Kindle Edition]
Peter James West (Author)
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Publication Date: March 30, 2012
Product Description: The citizens of Cinnamon City grow restless under the Dome Shield, and the Security Forces are stretched to breaking point.
Major Rachel Henson feels like something is changing inside her, but she doesn’t want to face the truth even though her strange new abilities grow stronger day by day.
In the South, the Kamari are raising an army to challenge Central Command, and the Battle of Havers Compound is about to begin.
Lord Hades knows that technology will be the end of man, but he is powerless to stop the factions of the Orange Zone from fighting each other. He knows that the race is on to create ever more disturbing machines to win yet another war.
In his dreams, Lord Hades fears the coming of the Second Black Day.
Is there any hope for the future for the Orange Zone?
Will Rachel learn to accept what she must become?
Find out now in Information Cloud, book one in the Tales of Cinnamon City.
#1,178 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#4 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Military
http://www.amazon.com/Beneath-The-Ice-ebook/dp/B00FLZW2B4
Beneath The Ice [Kindle Edition]
Josh Hilden (Author)
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Publication Date: October 2, 2013
A MYTHOS NOVELLA
Beneath the Ice is a story of creeping horror. In the dark days of WW2 a detachment of soldiers and scientists are dispatched to the Ice of Greenland. Their goal is to find the mysterious terror below them and deal with it. A tale in the vein of HP Lovecraft Beneath The Ice is a Mythos tale for a new generation … and an older one.
#1,588 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#12 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Post-Apocalyptic
#54 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Horror
http://www.amazon.com/Near-Extinction-ebook/dp/B00EVFJ7YA
Near Extinction [Kindle Edition]
Gary Loader (Author)
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Length: 294 pages (estimated)
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Publication Date: August 29, 2013
The worldâs recent economic upheavals are over, and Rich Fournier is looking forward to getting his first real job with his newly acquired degree, but at present heâs stuck working part-time at a retail warehouse on the U.S.’s West coast. Maybe once he’s earned enough money he can get himself a sub-derm implant and join the rest of the modern world immersed in the virtuality.
Meanwhile, in his palace half-a-world away, President David Jurgen of Zimbabwe unleashes a weapon against the world using the global sub-derm network that will bring humanity to its knees. His goal being to populate the entire earth with the followers of the Danvers Church (who currently make up the population of the once great African state), once he has eradicated the rest of humanity.
Will Rich and his co-workers survive the ensuing destruction….and what will the future hold for them.
#1,690 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#13 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Post-Apocalyptic
#58 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Horror
http://www.amazon.com/The-End-Visions-Apocalypse-ebook/dp/B00AVNAWSG
The End – Visions of Apocalypse [Kindle Edition]
N. E. White (Author, Editor)
3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
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Publication Date: December 31, 2012
Snap! The world didn’t end on December 21st, 2012! Oh, well, look on the bright side: You got plenty of time to read this excellent anthology of apocalyptic stories.
This compilation brings together short stories by award-winning science fiction and fantasy authors Hugh Howey, Michael J. Sullivan and Tristis Ward, with fresh, new voices selected by their peers at SFFWorld.com – all brought to you in this first-of-its-kind anthology.
Each story explores a different end of the world. What is the limit of a computer virus? Can we save the world by stopping time itself, or will we just wither away in the relentless winds of the apocalypse?
Grab your copy now before the end of the world, and find out.
#2,184 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#3 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Anthologies & Short Stories
http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Day-Care-Impact-ebook/dp/B005WMLIOI
Zombie Day Care: Impact Series – Book 1 (Zombie Impact) [Kindle Edition]
Craig Halloran (Author)
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Publication Date: September 30, 2011
Flee the hills …
“He had dozed off, feeling safe and exhausted, in the middle of nowhere. He laid his head back just for a second, listening to the madness on the satellite radio. America has fallen! Russia has fallen! The Middle East has fallen! He fell asleep. His eyes snapped open. A shuffle of dirt caught his ear. He wiped the drool from his mouth. The rearview mirror showed nothing. His heart raced. Something was out there. A flicker of movement caught his eye in the side view mirror. He jerked out of the way just as a hand clutched for his neck. He scrambled through the passenger side door and rolled outside.”
The Facility is what the Washington D.C. officials call it. It is a day care for zombie children, tucked deep in the east coast hills. Is there a cure for the zombies? The children of the undead give them the best hope. There are those who think the zombie threat is harmless…and those that don’t. The World Humanitarian Society wants to protect the zombies…or do they? Friends, family and colleagues are set at odds, dealing with the deadly dilemma. What about the zombies? What rights do they have in all of this? Or are they just a means to another diabolical end?
#2,155 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#21 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Post-Apocalyptic
http://www.amazon.com/APOCALYPSE-2073-Volume-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00C7VR0GC
APOCALYPSE 2073 (Volume 1) “The Prophecy” [Kindle Edition]
Parker James (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
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Length: 105 pages (estimated)
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Publication Date: April 4, 2013
The Apocalypse – Doomsday – Armageddon. It had been called so many things, always an ever-present possibility in the back of mankind’s collective psyche. Our story begins in the far distant future, Erin Conyers suspended in animation for over 52 years, farther out in space than any had ever been. Ten years prior to the catastrophe that changed the face of the planet forever, mankind had been forewarned by an unknown intelligence of an impending disaster. One of the relatively few to survive, these are her remembrances of those very dark days, when the world collapsed in a hail of nuclear destruction occurring on an unimaginable scale.
From the Author: In a sense I suppose I should price this higher than zero, but as the first volume in a three volume set I enjoy having it read, and if those who do read it find that they enjoy the story, the omnibus edition (links at the back of the book) is available for $1.99. If not, then no harm done. In all humility, my goal is to give away 100,000 copies (perhaps a bit of a pipe dream), but I do hope you enjoy the read.
#2,406 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#17 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Military
http://www.amazon.com/Voyage-Dead-Sovereign-Spirit-ebook/dp/B006Y3XF4A/
Voyage of the Dead – Book One Sovereign Spirit Saga [Kindle Edition]
David Forsyth (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
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Length: 268 pages (Contains Real Page Numbers)
Book Description
Publication Date: January 15, 2012
Voyage of the Dead is the first book of the Sovereign Spirit Saga detailing the adventures of several groups of survivors of the Zombie Apocalypse. Most of them are aboard a ship that is well equipped to survive the end of civilization, while others struggle to survive in a world suddenly overrun by undead cannibals. This is a science fiction adventure set within a horror genre, full of blood, guts, violence and the human emotions that fuel our survival instincts. While some scenes include graphic violence, it is intended to be more exciting than disgusting and more about using your brains than eating them. Enjoy the ride!
Book length is 100,000 words. This is the edited and revised edition. The sequels, “Flotilla of the Dead” and “Deluge of the Dead” are also available on Amazon.
#2,509 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#25 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Post-Apocalyptic
#28 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure > Science Fiction
http://www.amazon.com/The-Purifiers-Tale-Post-Apocalyptic-ebook/dp/B00FNXS94I
The Purifier’s Tale: A Gothic, Post-Apocalyptic Short Story [Kindle Edition]
GB Banks (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Length: 34 pages (estimated)
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Publication Date: October 4, 2013
Breen, a werewolf-vampire hybrid, is the greatest human hunter ever to live. But when he discovers a secret kept for eons by the Emperor, it could not only change his life, but devastate his entire dark, Gothic world.
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#23 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Dystopian
http://www.amazon.com/Obsolescence-ebook/dp/B00CJM4Y86
Obsolescence [Kindle Edition]
Gregory Mattix (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
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Length: 37 pages (estimated)
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Publication Date: April 26, 2013
CorpSec officer James Mason enjoys his work for Thorne Industries. He routinely gets to kick in doors, round up dangerous criminals and terrorists, and eliminate the dregs of society. Plus, he has access to all the latest toys: weapons and equipment he could have only dreamed about in his previous job as a District cop.
Surrounded by genetically enhanced clones and augmented grunts, he wonders if he still has what it takes to keep up in a unit full of men and women who are stronger, faster, and more obedient. When his former colleagues suddenly start to get transferred, replaced, and even turn up dead under suspicious circumstances, he wonders if he will be next. With the impending doom of the approaching Cataclysm, will he be able to protect his family and stay alive?
Obsolescence is a 13,000 word short story set in the world of Extensis Vitae.
#3,072 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#7 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Hard Science Fiction
#9 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Genetic Engineering
http://www.amazon.com/Journal-Private-Yoshida-Apocalypse-ebook/dp/B005LO6K54
The Lost Journal of Private Kenji Yoshida (A Secret Apocalypse Story) [Kindle Edition]
James Harden (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
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Length: 116 pages (estimated)
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Publication Date: September 6, 2011
This is the journal of Private Kenji Yoshida of the U.S. Marine Corps. It details his experiences in the field with the Oz virus and in particular the initial outbreak at the small outback town of Woomera – the beginnings of what is now known as the Secret Apocalypse.
It also details his relationship with Rebecca Robinson, the only known survivor of the Oz virus.
The journal was recovered from deep within hositle territory by an advanced recon team. It is classified ‘Above Top Secret’.
The Lost Journal of Private Kenji Yoshida is set in the weeks leading up to the events that take place in The Secret Apocalypse.
#4,237 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#36 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Dystopian
#44 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Post-Apocalyptic
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Journal-Private-Kenji-Yoshida-ebook/dp/B008J4IPTW
The Lost Journal of Private Kenji Yoshida – Part 2 (A Secret Apocalypse Story) [Kindle Edition]
James Harden (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
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Length: 167 pages (estimated)
Book Description
Publication Date: July 8, 2012
THE LOST JOURNAL OF PRIVATE KENJI YOSHIDA – PART 2
3 WEEKS AGO
An outbreak of a deadly new virus is reported within an immigration center in the Australian outback town of Woomera.
The virus is 100% lethal.
2 WEEKS AGO
The town of Woomera is placed under an unofficial quarantine.
The residents of Woomera are tested for infection.
A military force led by the U.S. Marines enforces the quarantine.
1 WEEK AGO
The virus continues to spread.
The military lose control of operations in Woomera.
Air strikes are ordered to contain the infection.
SIX DAYS AGO
The Australian Press first report the outbreak at Woomera.
American scientists confirm the virus is multi-resistant. They have named it the âOz virusâ.
The World Health Organization has declared a phase 4 Pandemic alert. Phase 4 = multiple cases reported and human to human transmission of virus has been confirmed.
FIVE DAYS AGO
Nationwide quarantine is ordered.
All flights in and out of Australia are grounded.
Australian communication networks are shut down.
ONE DAY AGO
Military containment protocol is initiated.
Firebombing of Sydney and Melbourne commences.
A nuclear warhead is dropped on Melbourne.
SYDNEY IS NEXT…
Private Kenji Yoshida is running for his life.
He is trapped in the middle of Sydney.
He is surrounded by the infected and the military who want him dead.
He must use all his training and survival skills to stay alive.
This is his story.
Part 2 of The Lost Journal of Private Kenji Yoshida takes place between The Secret Apocalypse and Extinction Level (Book 2 in the Secret Apocalypse series.)
#6,111 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#54 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Dystopian
#60 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Post-Apocalyptic
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IIDFGI
Racing the Dark [Kindle Edition]
Alaya Dawn Johnson (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
Digital List Price: $24.00 What’s this?
Print List Price: $14.95
Kindle Price: $0.00
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Length: 352 pages
Book Description
Publication Date: September 28, 2007
A brilliant new novel from a 25-year-old debut author, Racing the Dark is set in a land of volcanoes and earthquakes, plagues and typhoons, of island nations bound by fear of the spirits they imprisoned to control their volatile environment. Lana, a teenaged girl on a nameless backwater island, finds an ominous blood-red jewel that marks her as someone with power, setting in motion events that drive her away from her family and into an apprenticeship with a mysterious one-armed witch. Lana begins to learn the spells and incantations, each of which requires some form of sacrifice from the person who employs it. As Lana becomes more powerful, she is deceived into a sacrifice she is unwilling to make â the life of her own mother. When Lana dares to use a dark, ancient spell to save her mother’s life, she is set onto a path toward becoming a creature beyond her wildest imaginings. This is an unforgettable coming-of-age story set in a world where wielding the power of magic requires understanding the true meaning of sacrifice.
#577 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#5 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teen & Young Adult > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Coming of Age
#9 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Coming of Age
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THIS PAGE WAS EDITED ON 10/9/13. BOOKS THAT WERE NO LONGER FREE HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
Thursday means bring in the garbage cans, empty the dishwasher, fold laundry, and the 3rd means get gas, go to grocery stores as not one single one has everything our house needs. Â Course with my 9 year old turning 10 next week, we stopped at GameStop after his allergy shots (HE IS AWESOME! I’M A WIMP!) and he got the game he wanted for his PS3. Then we went to Target, not our regular one but the other one in a city nearby and he wanted Zoomer, the robotic dog. Price tag? $100 on sale for $79.99. Then they happened to have the Pokemon figure he has wanted for ‘his whole life!’ Evee in regular form. So I gulped air, clenched my eyes closed as I swiped my debit card and bought early birthday presents for him. Zoomer ‘passed out’ due to no charge left in his robotic body so he is currently plugged in. Â Robotic puppy! It is super WINDY today. I drove through six or seven cities today making my rounds for my errands and I was blown everywhere and our garden,oh my goodness but the poor hummingbirds can’t land on the feeder! Â What a day and it’s barely half done. Got math homework. Now I don’t know if anyone who reads this has a 4th grader but their math is HARD. Â They are learning to do multiplication and division in a totally different way then I was taught, my mother was taught and my grandmother too. PEOPLE! Why change something that isn’t broken! Jeez. đ tired. gathering some books for you then dinner, then the dishwasher is screaming my name to put things away….at least the garbage cans are in and the gate locked or I would be blown away outside. Maybe that’s not such a bad idea, as this math looming over me is just plain freaky! Personal bubble space and hugs, Colleen
Today I decided to focus on just posting FREE ebooks from Amazon that have no reviews. Â It would be awesome if someone ‘bought’ a book for $0.00, read it, and wrote a review for the author and future readers!
HELP AN AUTHOR, WRITE A REVIEW! Remember don’t click on the PICTURE of the book, I make no money off of the image so you will just go to the image not the book. Click on the LINK below the picture! Thank you!
These books were free at the time of this post. All books here are without a review. Won’t you ‘buy’ a FREE book and write a review for other readers and the author? Feedback is wonderful!
http://www.amazon.com/Desperation-and-Decision-ebook/dp/B00E6GNNP8
Desperation and Decision [Kindle Edition]
Sophronia Belle Lyon (Author)
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Length: 67 pages (estimated)
Book Description
Publication Date: July 26, 2013
Excerpt from A Dodge, a Twist, and a Tobacconist. Steampunk Literary Tribute. Phoebe-Moore Campbell has everything: Marriage, children, worldwide acclaim as a singer. Can she use her influence to gather a team of literary crimefighters to face a menace enslaving human souls? Oliver Twist and others join her quest but can they convince the Campbell clan to back the Legacy Company?
#5,251 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#9 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Steampunk
http://www.amazon.com/The-Angellove-Society-Madness-ebook/dp/B00D3SR0HC
The Angellove Society: Magic & Madness [Kindle Edition]
Serban Andrei Mazilu (Author)
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Length: 39 pages (estimated)
Book Description
Publication Date: May 29, 2013
A short story based in the universe of “The Angellove Society: Crux”, also by author Serban Andrei Mazilu.
#14,353 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#7 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Religious & Inspirational Fiction > Christian > Futuristic
#24 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Religious & Inspirational Fiction > Christian > Fantasy
http://www.amazon.com/The-Faithless-Political-Thriller-ebook/dp/B00B85O3HW
The Faithless: A Political Thriller (Part 1) [Kindle Edition]
Allan Airish (Author)
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Length: 42 pages (estimated)
Book Description
Publication Date: January 29, 2013
How many votes does it take to become President of the United States?
The answer, as Jack Patton learned from his father at an early age, is just 270… the key is making sure theyâre the right 270 votes. When his father passes away, Jack comes up with a plan to honor the man in a way that respects his small-town, politically active legacy: by becoming one of the select few chosen as a member of the electoral college, the only people in the country whose vote directly decides the presidential election.
But someone else has a different plan in mind… one that could not only put Jack in the center of a deadly political conspiracy, but could also result in one of the most audacious thefts of all time: the stealing of the presidency.
This is Part 1 of the 5-part series
#8,524 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#3 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Elections & Political Process > Elections
#6 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Suspense > Political
9/24/13
When it comes to money, it can bring my depression to front and center of my being. Â I have to push it away, get a hug from each of my sons, hug one of our four cats (only 2 are huggable). Â Get some fresh air by going outside and watching the hummingbirds, listen to the building going on around us, which is a proof of life thing. Â I wish my children could understand that I can’t buy the world for them, build a fortress for everyone, make money appear out of nowhere for every toy they want ‘RIGHT NOW’. Â I can’t drive to Toys R Us, I don’t have the gas to go that far and still make my daily 2 trips to another city to drop off and pick up my younger son.
I am not one to follow trends. But greek yogurt is actually really good. Â I so dislike being trendy. Oh look I changed the subject, see my ADD at work.
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So here are some books that were free at the time of this post.
REMEMBER NOT TO CLICK ON THE PICTURE but the link below it!!!!
GET A FREE BOOK, WRITE A REVIEW FOR THE AUTHOR AND FELLOW READERS!
http://www.amazon.com/Terran-Realm-Vol-1-6-ebook/dp/B00B066MOQ
Terran Realm Vol 1-6 [Kindle Edition]
Bonnie Dee (Author), Jeanne Barrack (Author), Rae Morgan (Author), Keira Ramsay (Author)
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Digital List Price: $24.99 What’s this?
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Length: 1167 pages (estimated)
Book Description
Publication Date: October 1, 2012
Six full-length novels plunge you into the romance and adventures of the lusty, the willful, and the destructive! Passions explode and desires burn hot as the worlds of Terran and human collide in a battle that could destroy them all. Volume 1 takes you to a world about to be torn apart by an ages-old battle between the forces of good and evil. Discover love, seduction, and superhuman abilities that will steal your heart and sear your very soul!
http://www.amazon.com/American-Blood-Vampires-Story-ebook/dp/B002KMJSJK
American Blood: A Vampire’s Story [Kindle Edition]
Gregory Holden (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
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Print List Price: $11.95
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Length: 392 pages (Contains Real Page Numbers)
Book Description
Publication Date: August 5, 2009
She was born human, became a leper, and while a mining slave of the Roman Empire she touched a strange stone that transformed her into the world’s first vampire.
Here is the story of an administration during its eighth and final year in office looking for a way to salvage its legacy by finding and killing the world’s most wanted terrorist. For seven years America has failed to accomplish this mission and now, desperate and beset by scandal, the government hatches a covert plan to capture, and then coerce, the world’s first vampire into locating and killing the Sheikh.
http://www.amazon.com/Myriad-Prentor-Book-1-ebook/dp/B008W8P1EW
Myriad (Prentor Book 1) [Kindle Edition]
Mona Hanna (Author)
3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
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Print List Price: $5.49
Kindle Price: $0.00
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Length: 104 pages (Contains Real Page Numbers)
Book Description
Publication Date: August 10, 2012
After the tragic loss of his wife and child, Myriad Markwin began tormenting the Royal family of Prentor. For eighteen years, he’d mercilessly killed people in the castle on the Princess’ birthday. But this year, he wasn’t settling for servants or guards. He was going to kill the Royal family themselves. A group of warlocks and witches was out to stop him, but a young newcomer to them, Kalin, was proving the most trouble…
Kalin has denied his magic for years, but suddenly finds himself in a battle with one of the most powerful warlocks that has ever lived. He has to face up to things about himself he never knew, to try and save the Royal family from murder. With his new friends helping him, and a new love enchanting him, can he stop the coming bloodshed? Will he survive the fight of his life?
This is a NOVELLA of approximately 26,000 words.
http://www.amazon.com/Into-Fire-Prince-Zammar-ebook/dp/B00DTIVTO6/
Into the Fire (The Prince of Zammar; 1) [Kindle Edition]
Samantha Nolan (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Length: 45 pages (estimated)
Book Description
Publication Date: July 6, 2013
Under Zammarâs sun, passion and secrets run deep.
Prince Jalen âAnaq Al-Jameyri, oldest son and heir to the kingdom of Zammar, is an acclaimed general, a war hero, and also a man who hides dark secrets behind a mask.
http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Element-Preservers-1-ebook/dp/B006JMNQDG
Dangerous (Element Preservers, #1) [Kindle Edition]
Alycia Linwood (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
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Length: 218 pages (estimated)
Book Description
Publication Date: December 7, 2011
In the world of elemental magic, losing your heart to the wrong person might be more dangerous than having magic disease…
Ria is an 18-year-old girl who has just started going to the University of Magic, a special university for those who have one of the four elements: fire, water, air and earth. There she meets Michael, a boy whose element is different from hers, which makes their romantic involvement seem impossible because mixing of elements can have horrible consequences. She also feels threatened by Adrian, a very dangerous magic disease carrier. Ria’s best friend, Paula, is fascinated by Adrian like most of the girls at the University and wants him to help her with her research about the disease. All Ria’s beliefs are put to test when she starts having the symptoms of the disease and the only person she can turn to is Adrian.
Young Adult/New Adult Fantasy/Romance for mature teens.
http://www.amazon.com/Hotter-On-The-Edge-ebook/dp/B00757WOT6
Hotter On The Edge [Kindle Edition]
Erin Kellison (Author), KC Klein (Author), Jessa Slade (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
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Length: 339 pages (estimated)
Book Description
Publication Date: February 2, 2012
Winner of the 2012 RONE Award for Short Story/Novella
New cover! And excerpts for HOTTER ON THE EDGE 2!
Praise for the science fiction romance anthology, HOTTER ON THE EDGE!
“HOTTER ON THE EDGE is an exceptional trio of Sci-fi romance novellas… Creativity, strong characters and interesting plots make this one a winner.” 4 1/2 stars–Top Pick from Night Owl Reviews
Two young men in love
http://www.amazon.com/Erotic-Diaries-Of-Warlock-ebook/dp/B00C4HNKYA
Erotic Diaries Of A Warlock: Book 1 of 3 (I, Justin) [Kindle Edition]
Justin Kairo (Author)
3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
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Length: 71 pages (estimated)
ook Description
Publication Date: March 30, 2013
Book 1. Justin Kairo, a young man coming of age, is searching for his own identity. He cannot find his place in the world until he accepts his own magical powers and embraces his destiny as a warlock.
Juliet Paisley, his soul mate and most intimate partner, helps him discover his mission in life. Their deep love for each other leads them to perfect fulfillment.
But will unforeseen obstacles threaten their paradise?
(Books 2 & 3 available separately.)
http://www.amazon.com/Knifes-Historical-Fantasy-Romance-Short-ebook/dp/B002NU5JRY
The Knife’s Edge (Historical Fantasy Romance–Short Story) [Kindle Edition]
Stephanie Draven (Author)
3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
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Length: 42 pages (estimated)
Book Description
Publication Date: September 1, 2009
A SHORT STORY by the author of the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Nominee for Best First Series…
She’s a queen with deadly enemies and dark sexual longings. She yearns to give herself over to the hands of another, even at the point of a blade. But can she trust her sacred medallion to protect her from the royal assasin who wants to seize her throne, her body, and her heart?
A yearning for submission.
A dark need for control.
A passion that consumes two lovers.
http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Blood-Spirit-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0063N0XIM
Golden Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy) [Kindle Edition]
Melissa Pearl (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
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Print List Price: $10.99
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Length: 248 pages
Book Description
Publication Date: November 4, 2011
Gemma Hart never knows when her father is going to whisk her back in time. Her toes start tingling and she has a few minutes to find a secret haven where she can disintegrate and appear in another time and place. While âacross the line,â her training and skills are put to the test as she completes a mission that will change history for the lucky few her father has selected.
http://www.amazon.com/Never-Fall-Prophecy-Tyalbrook-ebook/dp/B00CLKOW0Q
Never Let You Fall (The Prophecy of Tyalbrook, Book One) [Kindle Edition]
Michele G Miller (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
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Length: 314 pages
Book Description
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Never Let You Fall – An Amazon Bestselling Novel
Orphaned at 7, with no memory of her past or the family she lost, 17 year old Skye Martin is tired of being alone and afraid. After a hard night of partying, Skye wakes up alone in an unfamiliar hotel. All she can remember is the deep voice of her rescuer and his promise: “I am safe.”
http://www.amazon.com/Bewitching-Embrace-1-ebook/dp/B00ERVXZHI
Bewitching Embrace 1 [Kindle Edition]
Sandra Ross (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
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Length: 46 pages (estimated)
Book Description
Publication Date: August 24, 2013
From the Publisher that brought you popular short story series Witching Call, Hostile Hearts, Earthbound Angels, The January Morrison Files Psychic Series, Ralph’s Gift, Children of Time, Chains of Darkness, Song of Teeth, Tropical Storms and Friend Zone…
She thought he’s betrayed her, only to discover the magic of his love never wanes.
http://www.amazon.com/Savage-Possession-ebook/dp/B00C6QUK3S
Savage Possession [Kindle Edition]
Moira Rogers (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
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Length: 45 pages
Book Description
Publication Date: April 3, 2013
===================================
Previously Published in 2009
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Avani is training to become a revered priestess of the Temple of Luna, with the skills and magic needed to soothe the feral warriors fighting a brutal war against human persecution. Though forbidden contact with the warriors who have come to the temple for relief, the novice can’t keep her distance from Rais, her uncle’s protĂ©gĂ©–and one of the most dangerous fighters the wolves have ever known.
