Nicole Sastasha and the City of AquaUtopia

By Emily Cooper

Anasazi was right to believe that evil would be smart enough to find its way to the kingdom he had built. It seemed that the magical wars would never end and all of the evil wizards were trying to ‘dethrone’ the most powerful wizard in the universe. What he did not anticipate, however, was the fact that he would be betrayed by his own kin. Anasazi grew desperate and thought that if he hid the fact that his son had the color black, Kafele would not become the dark wizard that he was destined to be. However, Anasazi was foolish: destiny always played out, one way or another. In the end, Kafele followed his path that would ruin everything. He would soon discover that his true color was black, not purple; hatred and jealousy of his brother would grow in him; he would kill his own brother. No matter how powerful a wizard Anasazi was, he could not take it upon himself to destroy his own first born. Instead, he gave Kafele mercy and Kafele was banished. If he should return, Kafele would immediately be executed. Years went by as Kafele plotted a way to become the omnipotent wizard in the whole universe. He spent years strategizing on how to lay waste to the Kingdom of Anasazi. Finally, after thirteen long years, he came out of hiding and started his seize . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Emily Cooper
• Release date: Aug 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781467584050

Emily Cooper

Emily Cooper became a published author at age seventeen. She has written nine manuscripts, published eight, and is in the process of publishing another; she has many more novels to follow. Born in Dahn, Germany, Emily grew up as a military brat, traveling all across the United States of America. In 2010, she wrote a poem called 'Emily Cooper?'. It was chosen and published in the Arizona Teen Zine magazine. She graduated from Queen Creek High School in 2011 and enlisted in the United States Army Reserves two years later. She was married in 2018 and now has two sons. Despite the demands of a family, she remains dedicated to school and writing. All of her novels are now available in print as well as ebooks. Magia! (Mad-GEE-uh) and Nicole Sastasha and the Kingdom of Anasazi (Suh-STAW-sha) are now available as audiobooks. She can be found on Facebook and Instagram. Emily invites all to visit her website at https//www.inspiredproductions2011.com. As for her works, you can be sure to see many more to come.

Book preview

Nicole Sastasha

and the

City of AquaUtopia

By Emily Cooper

Copyright 2013 Inspired Productions and Emily Cooper.

All Rights Reserved.

ISBN – 978-1-4675-8405-0

This is a work of fiction. None of the characters portrayed herein represent actual people, living or deceased. Reproduction or transcription of this work in any form, electrical or mechanical, other than short quotations in conformity with the Fair Use provisions of United States copyright law, is prohibited unless authorized by the publishers, Inspired Productions and Emily Cooper. To contact the publisher or the author, please visit the Inspired Productions website at http://www.inspiredproductions.wordpress.com.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

Discover other titles by Emily Cooper at Smashwords.com:

Nicole Sastasha and the Kingdom of Anasazi – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/77690.

Nicole Sastasha and the Fire Dragon Disease – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/172549

Magia! – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/44323.

Cursed Brothers I: Legend – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/100146.

The next thing Brian knew, there was a jolt and it felt as if he was falling. He awoke with a start, but it was too dark to see what was happening. Zeke realized something was wrong as well.

Boyd! What’s wrong? Boyd? called Zeke over the roar of the wind. When Boyd did not react, Zeke tapped his neck urgently.

What happened? asked Brian, fear flashing through him.

I think he’s fallen asleep. His head is drooping and his wings are not moving, replied Zeke.

What? shouted Brian. He, too, began to try and wake Boyd. However, the flying horse was not stirring. Brian saw a glimpse of ground that was getting closer and closer. He desperately wished that Nicole was with him. There was no doubt about it: they were going to crash . . .

(Back of the Book)

Things do not always turn out the way we think they will . . .

Anasazi was right to believe that evil would be smart enough to find its way to the Kingdom he had built. It seemed that the magical wars would never end and all of the evil wizards were trying to ‘dethrone’ the most powerful wizard in the universe. What he did not anticipate, however, was the fact that he would be betrayed by his own kin. Anasazi grew desperate and thought that if he hid the fact that his son had the color black, Kafele would not become the dark wizard that he was destined to be. However, Anasazi was foolish: destiny always played out, one way or another. In the end, Kafele followed his path that would ruin everything. He would soon discover that his true color was black, not purple; hatred and jealousy of his brother would grow in him; he would kill his own brother. No matter how powerful a wizard Anasazi was, he could not take it upon himself to destroy his own first born. Instead, he gave Kafele mercy and Kafele was banished. If he should return, Kafele would immediately be executed. Years went by as Kafele plotted a way to become the omnipotent wizard in the whole universe. He spent years strategizing on how to lay waste to the Kingdom of Anasazi. Finally, after thirteen long years, he came out of hiding and started his seize . . .

Chapter One

Another Hopeful Day

Nicole awoke to a beautiful August morning. It had been three months since their mission given to them by Anasazi. She would never forget that adventure.

After lying in bed for several minutes, she sat up, disturbing Mystie’s sleep. Grumpily, Mystie resituated herself and fell right back to sleep. Nicole silently got to her feet and started to get dressed. Before leaving her bedroom, she glanced down at the letters that Anasazi and Michael had written to her.

She then glanced at the book that Anasazi had given her and Brian so that they could start their witch and wizard training. Automatically, she looked to Mystie. Michael had given her to Nicole for Nicole’s birthday.

Lastly, Nicole scrutinized the rose that still lay on her bedside table. Nicole knew for a fact that it had magical properties because of the fact that it had not shriveled up like all other flowers did. It looked just as soft and beautiful as it did the day she got it.

Nicole could not resist picking it up. She held it to her nose and sniffed the glamorous red rose. A second later, Nicole replaced the flower, completely satisfied. The rose had not even started to lose its smell. She smiled as she exited her room.

Breakfast was unusually quiet that morning. As Nicole put her plate in the sink, she sighed. Not a day had gone by when she hoped that she would get another letter or a sign that the Kingdom of Anasazi was in danger again. Then she would be able to go back. It would be just like the good old days.

Just three months previously, Nicole, Michael, Brian and Anasazi all worked together in helping to destroy the Fire Dragon Disease, the disease that had ravaged the Kingdom of Anasazi. They had awakened Clypto, Clypso’s brother, a water god that could transform into a dragon. Clypto had destroyed the Fire Dragon and encased him in an impenetrable ice.

Nicole then remembered why they had stayed at the Kingdom in the first place. She and Brian’s parents, Janet and Jacob Sastasha, had been infected with the Fire Dragon Disease. The disease made everyone and everything that it infected go into some sort of coma. They were going to leave the Kingdom of Anasazi but, before they did, the Fire Dragon Disease found them. Nicole would never forget how frail her parents had looked when she, Brian, and Michael had discovered them. This element, alone, set the three on course to find a way to defeat the Fire Dragon Disease.

Every day, Nicole went through these memories. She remembered that, on the island, she used to think of how it was like back on Earth. They were just going to visit Mrs. Sastasha’s parents, who live in Egypt. When their airplane crashed into the ocean, Janet, Jacob, Brian, and Nicole were teleported through to the unknown world by a maelstrom. They found themselves on an island: the Island of Anasazi. As it turned out, before they woke up on the island, they had a confrontation with Mer Warriors. The Mer Warriors had saved their lives from ferocious tiger sharks. It took them several days to even reach the Kingdom of Anasazi. They had to go through sharks, Mer Warriors, were-wolves, trolls, goblins, fairies and some trixons along the way.

Besides all of that, Nicole faintly remembered that each territory had different colors, meaning: some territories had blue grass, while others had red or green. Some trees had yellow bark and some had orange or red. The sky stayed the same, however. The clouds were fluffy and white, the sky was still blue and the sun was still yellow. However, the ocean was purple. The Kingdom of Anasazi was certainly a mysterious place. So mysterious, in fact, that Nicole wrote the entire story, as best as she could remember, in her diary that she hid in Simyn. All of these thoughts flicked through Nicole’s mind in a second.

Nicole, what’s the matter? asked Janet. She had noticed that Nicole looked a little down.

After a few seconds, Nicole replied, I thought we’d be back by now.

Oh, sweetie. We’ll go back in time, you’ll see. Don’t worry about it, comforted Mrs. Sastasha as she went over to her daughter and gave her a reassuring hug.

"I feel terrible because I want something bad to happen to the Kingdom of Anasazi. At least then we would be able to go back. I mean, we won last time, didn’t we? What’s to say that we won’t do it again?" Nicole asked angrily. She was starting to lose hope of ever seeing that purple ocean again. She wanted to be able to see it, just one last time, so that she would know that it was real. Lately, Nicole crept closer and closer to thinking that it was all just a dream.

"Boy, and I thought I was the only one, called a voice from the door of the kitchen. Brian had obviously not learned to keep his nose out of other people’s business. He walked up to Nicole and said, Don’t worry, Nicole. I won’t let anyone forget about the Kingdom of Anasazi." Surprisingly to both Nicole and Janet, Brian leaned over and gave Nicole a quick little hug of comfort. Brian was a little bit surprised at it himself.

We should have gotten word by now. Wait . . . maybe that’s it! thought Nicole excitedly.

What? asked Janet and Brian at the same time.

"Maybe the reason we haven’t gotten word is because they are in danger after all! she tried to explain. By the blank look on their faces, Nicole continued. What if Anasazi has been captured, or something, and he couldn’t get a note to us?" asked Nicole.

"Nicole, try to be more realistic. Even if someone had miraculously captured Anasazi, they wouldn’t be able to stop him from sending out a warning," Brian pointed out. Nicole hated it whenever Brian proved her wrong. It made it look as if Brian was smarter than her. When his words finally sank in, her heart sank along with it. Would they never go back?

"Maybe we should try to send a letter to them," suggested Mr. Sastasha as he entered the room. It was obvious where Brian had learned how to eavesdrop.

"But we don’t know how to send them a letter," replied Nicole.

I wonder if the book we got from Anasazi talks about stuff like that, put in Brian, hopeful.

I doubt it, replied Nicole. "It only teaches you how to do magic and turn into your animal. As she said this, Nicole automatically touched her necklace that Anasazi had given her three months previously. Nicole’s color was green and her animal was a jaguar. Her necklace was made from green ribbon and green wood. The ribbon went around her neck, hardly noticeable, while the green wood was carved into a jaguar. Brian had the color purple and had a lion cub for his animal. Janet was an orange hummingbird and Jacob was a red ape.

Nicole remembered back to when they tried to turn into their animals for the first time. They had all been successful. She then remembered when they had received their color and animal. The most exciting part, however, was when Janet said that she was pregnant. Quickly, Nicole counted in her head and found that it was the fifth month of her pregnancy. Janet was getting really big. Nicole was roused from her thoughts by Brian.

Well, it’s worth a try, he stated. Nicole knew that it would be pointless to argue with him since it sounded like he had already made up his mind. They started up the stairs and into Nicole’s bedroom. The book was waiting for them on her bookshelf. Brian picked it up and started to scan it; he did not have time to scrutinize every single word. Nicole sat on her bed patiently and started to pet Mystie, who started to purr.

It seemed like hours had gone by and Nicole found herself dozing. In just a few short minutes, she knew that she would be out for the count. Her eyes kept drooping and when she would close them, it took her a few seconds to open them again.

I found it!

Nicole jumped so high that she slid off the bed and landed on the floor. As she stood up, heart racing, she started to rub her butt. Mystie was hissing, completely upset that her sleep had been disturbed . . . yet again. Nicole pet her and Mystie went back to sleep.

She was just about to demand what he had found when she remembered. Instead of yelling at him, she ran to his side, eager to know what he had found.

Brian did not need to be asked. Instead, he pointed to a little paragraph in the book. It read:

Water is the main thing that holds worlds together because of the fact that where there is water, there is also life. Only through water can you travel between worlds.

So, we just need to go back to the spot where we were when Anasazi opened the portal? asked Nicole.

"Nope. We just need to find any body of water, he replied. Before Nicole could say anything else, Brian continued. It goes on to say that we need some sort of spell. I haven’t found anything about a spell for the portal yet." Nicole decided to let him look on in peace. She went over and sat on her bed once more. A few minutes later, Brian gestured for her to join him.

I found it, was all he said when Nicole joined him. By the tone in his voice, it did not sound good. Before she could ask what the problem was, he said, "This spell is really, really complicated. Only a wizard with the level 18 or higher could do it. We’re only barely level 1. Anasazi could do it, but with great difficulty. And he’s a level 20, the highest level a wizard could be. There’s no way."

Nicole’s hopes had been growing since Brian had first found the little paragraph. Now, however, her hopes had been dashed to pieces. Perhaps there was no point to hope after all.

Chapter Two

Desperation

Nicole felt like she was being cornered, as if she did not have any choice. She did not like the feeling. She believed that, somehow, she had to contact them. What if they were really in trouble? She would do everything in her power to find out what was going on.

Her first thought was to train herself until she became a level 18 witch, but that would take years. She did not have that much time on her hands. She needed to know what was happening right then and there. Nicole knew that it would not work anyway. She would need green berries to keep her strength up and they did not have any. Nicole felt helpless, powerless.

Brian clearly felt the same way. He had felt similar when they were trying to find information about the Fire Dragon Disease. He did not like feeling so dumb. He had no idea what to do. He had already gone through the idea of training himself to death, but he came up with the same conclusion Nicole had.

They did not know how long they had stood there, silent. In a way, they felt like it was impossible to move, pointless. Something had to be done, but the effort would be futile.

Nicole, Brian! called Mrs. Sastasha from downstairs. Lunch is ready!

This seemed to have unfrozen them. Nicole started toward the door, as if she was walking to her doom. Brian absentmindedly followed her after replacing the book on Nicole’s bookshelf.

The next thing they knew, they were sitting at the table with sandwiches placed in front of them. Nicole found herself pushing her plate away.

Nicole, what’s wrong? asked Mr. Sastasha.

As Nicole got to her feet, she said, I’m not really hungry. She was able to get back to her bedroom without anyone demanding to know what was going on. Nicole guessed that Brian was filling them in. She was right.

Mr. and Mrs. Sastasha, however, were not as disappointed as Nicole and Brian had been about the news.

Nicole was still not hungry when dinner came around, or when she woke up the next morning. However, she was not allowed to stay in her room to sulk. Jacob and Janet were starting to get worried and they decided to force Nicole to eat, whether she wanted to or not. Surprisingly, Nicole was so hungry that she ate three servings. Nicole expected Brian to call her a fat pig, or mock her in some way. She was not disappointed.

"You know, Nicole, you should really work off some of that whale you just ate," teased Brian with a spark in his eyes.

Nicole smiled back playfully and, in one bound, she transformed into her animal and knocked Brian, who was already starting to transform, off of his feet. Their wrestling was soon put to an end, however, when they accidentally knocked over the kitchen table, sending dishes and some food that was still left on the table crashing to the floor.

They were pulled apart and they transformed back to their human selves. Grudgingly, they began to clean up. Most of the dishes that were still left on the table had been broken. Mrs. Sastasha went to throw them away when Nicole stopped her.

Are you a witch or not? asked Nicole.

"Oh . . . right. Would you . . . mind doing it for me?" asked Janet.

Nicole was not surprised. Mrs. Sastasha always disliked having to do magic. Nicole did not see why. Sure, she replied. Repairing was one of the simple charms that she had learned from the book. Nicole moved her index finger in a small circle and touched it gently to the broken plate.

This spell was so simple, in fact, that Nicole could do it without saying any words. She would normally say Repriar, but it was no longer necessary. In an instant, the plate’s missing pieces flew toward the plate that Mrs. Sastasha was still holding. The pieces fit themselves back into their original places in the plate. When the spell was complete, the plate looked just like it had before it was broken, if not better.

Tadaa, said Nicole as she gave a little bow. When she first tried to do this spell, she felt as if she was going to collapse because she felt so weak. Now, however, she hardly even felt tired.

Oh, big deal, grumbled Brian.

You’re just jealous, replied Nicole in a prissy sort of voice.

"Of you?" asked Brian. He scoffed. Nicole glared at him but before anything else was said or done, Mr. Sastasha cut in.

"Now let’s not start this again."

They continued cleaning up the kitchen in silence. Only then