The Children of The Amulet: Book 1 - Fight For Chrystalina

By L. M. Quinpool

Far out in space, in another galaxy, is a planet called Chrystalina. This peaceful planet is much like Earth. It has trees, flowers and food producing plants. Its animals include relatives of our dogs, cats and birds. Its people live in houses, mostly one story dwellings, and move around their planet in wheeled vehicles, resembling our cars and buses which run on solar power.
But here the technological thirst ends. For this planet hearkens back to the earlier days of Earth, before people became too dependent on technology to run their lives. Simplicity and hard work are looked upon as virtues worth preserving.
Also in this star system is a planet called Jerico. This planet is the most advanced in this system, giving them a great advantage over the other planets. Unfortunately, the novelty of their ever advancing technology has ceased to be enough for the people of this planet. Now Jerico has become a very aggressive and power hungry planet, with only one wish...TO RULE THE GALAXY. And it has been decided that their first conquest will be the least likely to rebel against them...CHRYSTALINA.
All is not lost for there is a power on Chrystalina which could serve as a ray of hope for this planet of peaceful existence. The power comes from an emerald Amulet which has been handed down from generation to generation. Each group of chosen ones has its own specific destiny. So it has fallen to the chosen ones who now hold the Amulet to use its power and succeed in saving the planet from Jerico's clutches. This, admittedly, is a lot to believe in, for there are only eight in this small group. And the title which all guardians of the Amulet are christened with is fitting, for they are only...
Children of the Amulet

• Language: English
• Publisher: L. M. Quinpool
• Release date: May 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476027371

L. M. Quinpool

My name is Laura Regan and I write under the name L. M. Quinpool, author of two series - Children Of the Amulet and Calendrial.I'm descended from two very artistic families which include writers, actors, musicians and graphic artists. I write under the name Quinpool because my great great uncle John Regan wrote under the name John Quinpool, author of "First Things In Acadia". Re-using the name gave my grandfather and his siblings great joy and I'm proud to carry the name on.My first series Children Of the Amulet has three books already published in paperback through Ottawa publisher Baico Publishing. I hope to have my fourth book in the series I hope to put into paperback soon but for now it'll only be available with the other three on e-book. There are more already written in the series but they just aren't up to my personal standards and therefore not ready for print or digital books.The first 2 of my second, more Canadian series, Calendrial, is available through e-book only until such time as it's possible to publish in print. There are currently 10 in the series and I hope to have the remainder finalized soon.In everyday life I have an hours BA in Linguistics and a General BA in Psychology and currently work for Kumon Learning Centers. I'm also a web designer, music lover, photographer, and graphic designer. I enjoy working with children of all ages, sizes and abilities and helping them reach their fullest potential despite "lables" or "social roadblocks" they may be faced with. I write about children because I believe they are an important of the past present and future. I believe it is imporant to encourage them to shoot for the stars and I hope my books will empower them with the strength to change the world.I very much hope you like my books and will pass the name Quinpool on to your family, friends and associates.Thanks to Smashwords and Baico Publishing for making my publishing dreams come true.LoveLMQ

Book preview

Chapter 1

Mary Bradford Sr. had been a Child of the Amulet in her generation. With the Amulet came great powers, one of which was to see into the future. As she grew older she used this power and made this prediction.

The birth of her eldest great grandchild would be the first in eight of a new generation to set in motion a series of events that would reunite three branches of a long forgotten family name. These eight would be vital to Chrystalina's future and well-being. If the chosen ones fail or their secrets are discovered, Chrystalina will fall at the mercy of more aggressive and powerful planets.

This prediction was confusing to the Bradford family, and Mary Bradford had a habit of not explaining her visions. But just before she died, Mrs. Bradford called her grandson and his wife to her side.

You must make me a promise, she said. My visions of the future have become more detailed. Soon you will have a son. On the day of his birth you must go out into the middle of the backyard and bury this.

She handed her grandson the emerald Amulet.

The night of your son's first birthday, the comet that has always been in orbit around this planet, will once again come very close to our atmosphere, causing a lunar eclipse.

That's not hard to predict, Joseph said. It always happens that way.

But this eclipse will set powers in motion that Chrystalina will need for its survival, Mary Bradford said. Your son's birth will set the date for each future eclipse for many years to come. He must witness the eclipse on his first birthday on the spot where you bury the Amulet.

I don't understand, Gramma. What powers will this event set in motion? her grandson asked.

I will answer that question in a minute, Joseph, but I have more to tell you. Within the first three years of your son's life you will meet two more couples who are astronomers like yourselves. A daughter will also have been born to you by that time and the two couples will each be blessed with a son. On your son's fourth birthday these three children must witness the eclipse as your son did.

I'm still confused, Gramma, Joseph's wife, Emily, said.

You must do this for your children's welfare, Mary Bradford said. The powers of the Amulet combined with the power of the eclipse will bring your children great fortune and strength which will be needed in future events. Within the span of eleven years, starting after the birth of your second child, first one of the couples will be graced with a son. Then, Emily my dear, you will also give birth to a daughter. By your oldest son's thirteenth birthday you and the second couple will each be blessed with a daughter. Each of your children and the children of the other two couples must witness the eclipse, on that same spot, before the child's first birthday.

She smiling lovingly at the two confused faces.

I beg you to promise that you see these events through.

We will, Gramma, Emily promised.

Joseph, my dear, I have another promise to ask of you. Please ensure that this house never leaves the possession of our family. It has great spiritual value and there are only three families that have a right to possess it: ours and those of the two couples you will meet. For their ancestors and ours were once strongly connected.

I promise, Gramma, Joseph replied solemnly.

When the last child is born and has witnessed the eclipse you must dig up the stone once again and give it to your oldest son. Tell him the Amulet must always be in the possession of one of the chosen ones. When they come of age they will know why and what to do with it.

We will do our best, Emily said.

Thank you, Child. I have confidence in you, Mary said. Now I will answer some of your questions as best I can. The Amulet holds great powers, but has no material value. Only the chosen ones will have the strength to possess it. In the wrong hands, its powers could be abused. Now one last warning. By the time of your boy's 16th birthday, you will have discovered the secret around these eight children. This secret must be kept or this planet will suffer. For in that same year our planet will be attacked by another planet in our star system. These children are the key to Chrystalina's survival,

I'm not sure I want to believe your final predictions, but I will, Joseph said. Emily and I will follow your wishes.

Then I can sleep peacefully now I have your promise.

One last question, Emily began.

I know, you want to know which planet will threaten us. I don't know. But if you do as I have asked you'll find out in time. Now I must sleep. Good night children and good luck.

The next morning the doctor said that Mary Bradford had died peacefully in her sleep and probably without pain.

* * * * * *

All of Mary Bradford's predictions eventually came true. The next year Emily gave birth to a son whom they named Justin. On the night of his birth, the stone was buried and on his first birthday he witnessed the eclipse.

That same year the Bradfords met the Williams and the Mackensies. By the day of Justin's third birthday his sister Mary, Luke Williams and Jeremy Mackensie had been born.

As it had been described to them, Emily and Joseph explained the ritual and as predicted the Williams and the Mackensies were willing to participate.

On Justin's 14th birthday, the youngest children witnessed the lunar eclipse. There were now eight children, as Mary Bradford Sr. had predicted; Justin Bradford, age 14; Mary Bradford, age 11; Luke Williams, age 11; Jeremy Mackensie, age 11; Jason Mackensie, age 7; Amanda Bradford, age 4; Leslie Williams, age 1; and Emily Bradford, age 1.

Chapter 2

It's amazing how those children have grown, Joseph said to his wife as they watched Justin and Mary set up the chairs for the party. It seems like only yesterday Justin was born and the stone was buried and now we're about to go through the last ritual for Leslie and Emma.

And tomorrow you will have to dig up the Amulet and give it to Justin, Emily sighed. It sort of frightens me. All but one of your grandmother's predictions have come true. What if she is right about the other planet?

I loved my grandmother and trusted her in her predictions, but I hope she's wrong this time too. And yet, that Amulet is more powerful than she let on. Our children have developed abilities that she never mentioned, Joseph said.

Emily Bradford was silent for a moment, then shook her head and turned her attention back to the children.

Now where did Amanda go to? she said, looking around her. Mary, Justin, have you seen Mandy?

I think she's in the house, mom, Mary replied.

Do you want me to go get her? Justin asked.

Yes please, Justin, Emily said.

Justin closed his eyes and began to disappear, but his mother stopped him.

No, no, I didn't mean like that. I want you to walk upstairs and get her. We talked about that vanishing.

Sorry, mom. I forgot. It's just that the teachers insist on it at school , Justin said.

I'll get her, Mary spoke up. I have to get something from my room anyway.

Emily shook her head again as Mary ran inside.

I wish we didn't have to keep them so isolated, she said to her husband. It's not healthy for the children. They don't get to interact with any other children apart from each other. The isolation allows them to depend too much on those powers. I swear, if they hadn't learned to walk before they developed the powers they would have never walked at all.

I know, dear, but they aren't normal children and from what grandmother told us I don't think they should be treated like normal children. If all grandmother's predictions turn out to be accurate, their abilities could be useful. They have to develop them, Joseph said.

Deep down I know they couldn't really go to a normal school. It could be dangerous if too many people know about their abilities. But it does single them out even more if they're so isolated. They must start to interact with others more frequently, Emily said.

It's a risk, but if you think they can be trusted not to show off, maybe we can see what we can do about putting them into public school, Joseph said, pulling Emily closer to him.

Thank you, Emily said and kissed him.

AGGGGG! Too much kissing, said a voice in front of them.

Emily and Joseph looked around just as Jayson appeared.

Jayson, I thought I told you not to do that, April Mackensie said as she and her husband, Alan, walked into the back of the house.

Where's Jeremy? Emily asked.

He and Luke went in to find Mary, Steven Williams said as he also entered the backyard, followed by his wife Jennifer, who was carrying their daughter Leslie.

Emily took Leslie from Jennifer.

I know someone who'll be glad to see you, she said to Leslie. Come on in, guys. Joseph, Honey, will you take drink orders? Emily added. Then she walked away with Leslie. Hey Emma, look who's here? she said to her youngest daughter as she put Leslie on the ground.

Immediately both babies gurgled and began to babble away as if they were having a real conversation.

All were present as the eclipse began and the last of the eight children witnessed it. And so it came to be all eight children fulfilled the first part of the prediction. Little did they know that in two years their ability to fulfill the second part of the prediction would determine the fate of Chrystalina.

The next day the Amulet was given to Justin.

I wish Great Grandma Bradford had been able to predict which planet was coming, Mary said when Justin was showing the Amulet to her, Luke and Jeremy.

Me too. I don't like the unknown, Luke agreed.

But you've gotta admit it is sort of exciting to think that we might be able to help fight against it, Jeremy said.

It would be a lot more exciting too if we knew who we were dealing with, Mary said.

We could try and figure it out ourselves, Luke suggested. All we have to do is find out which planet around here has the motive and the means.

It's a big galaxy, Jeremy said. We don't know enough about the planets outside of our system.

It's Jerico, Justin said as if to himself.

Could be. Jerico has the means, that's for sure, Jeremy agreed.

No, I mean it. Jerico is the one, Justin said.

How can you be sure? Mary asked.

I don't know, I just am. As soon as you guys started talking about the other planets, the first name that came into my mind was Jerico. The more I kept trying to think of other possible planets, the more Jerico flashed in my mind, Justin said.

If Justin's right, we're in for a big fight. Jerico is the most technologically advanced planet in this star system, Luke said. Chrystalina has nothing that would even remotely match their defence system.

And we're supposed to make up for that? Mary said. Somehow, I don't think so.

According to Old Mrs. Bradford, we still have two years to prepare, Jeremy said. I'm sure Chrystalina's government forces can come up with something.

"We may have two years, but it'll probably take us that long to convince the government that we're