Daughter of Alchemy

By R. Stachowiak

Iseult has grown up learning the ancient art of Alchemy at her Grandfather’s knee.

When an eternal evil kidnaps her Grandfather, Iseult has no choice but to find and rescue him. While on her way to the legendary Library of Alexandria, Iseult gets pressed into trying to free an ancient mother goddess.

Can she stand up to the insidious darkness and save all that she holds dear? Or will chaos claim the peace she desperately desires?

• Language: English
• Publisher: R. Stachowiak
• Release date: Mar 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310636585

R. Stachowiak

R. Stachowiak lives in tropical Florida with her husband. Writing is just one of the many things that contribute to happy living.

Book preview

Daughter

Of

Alchemy

For all of us chasing our dreams.

Prologue

Mighty mother, daughter of the Nile,

we rejoice as you join us with the rays of the sun.

Sacred sister, mother of magic,

we honor you, Lover of Osiris,

she who is mother of the universe itself.

Isis, who was and is and shall ever be

daughter of the earth and sky,

I honor you and sing your praises.

Glorious goddess of magic and light,

I open my heart to your mysteries.

-A modern prayer to Mother Isis

The sand finally settled and I saw the giant silhouette in front of me. Of all the statues that I have seen none bears greater resemblance to the lofty nobility of a deity. Even in these murky depths I can see her kohl lined eyes glisten with life imploring me to break the eternal curse that trapped her in this solid state. If I close my eyes I can still feel her soft hands gently weaving through my unruly hair. She is the greatest influence in my life. She is my mother.

I haven’t had the pleasure of sitting at her side since she hid in the mortal world from Mars when the Philopater fell from grace. That was almost two millennia ago. Being the child of a goddess makes me an immortal. There are more of us in the modern world than one would think. Even the ancient Gods are here. We all have tragic stories. Such is the case with my mother, the Goddess Isis. She is the mother to us all and the invading Romans sealed her great love in this underwater statue that I have searched for since time immemorial.

I’m surprised I was able to get this close to her. The immortal children of Mars have blocked the path to my mother since the day the Aeilius family betrayed her to the Romans and their unholy ways. That was when Mars found her and laid the Roman curse on her. He trapped my great mother Isis in this living statue, withholding her love from the world.

Roughly a hundred years ago a mystic roamed the dust bowl known as the Fertile Crescent and he granted me an audience. The man told me where I could find earth’s salvation.

As I stare at my mother’s beautiful face I smile slightly as I make a solemn vow - I will break this curse and bring her love back to the world. For now though, I must protect her in this form.

I will take my mother home and surround her with the flowers she so adored when she freely loved the earth. There is an obsidian throne and crown of lapis lazuli waiting for her pleasure. They were all I could save from the sacking of her temples.

My grandchildren will search the earth for the cure to this curse. I vow that my blood will find the alchemists of today. From the ranks of the alchemist my blood will cull the most talented. Whether it be male or female, Master or Kleopatra they will break this curse or we will all suffer. This much is inscribed in the stone at my mother’s feet.

Chapter 1.

Sunlight filtered through the stained glass image of Isis in the window causing a colorful rainbow to splay across the vapors rising from an iron cauldron. The deep look of love in the kohl lined eyes of Isis caused the yellows and oranges in the window to provide a warm glow in the dimly lit room.

In the shadow of the stained glass goddess stood a fiery haired woman examining the amber colored contents of the cauldron. The rising condensation from the cauldron clung to the ornate red and gold, star shaped pendant at her neck. As she muttered to herself fiery curls bobbed in the breeze created by the boiling liquid.

A knock on the doorframe caused the flame haired woman to jump as she looked up revealing vivid violet eyes.

I don’t mean to intrude Miss Iseult, but your grandfather wants to see you.

Iseult smiled brightly and warmly replied, No problems Penny. I was just working on an experiment. Why don’t you come on in while I take this off the fire?

Penny shook her head and replied, No thanks Miss Iseult. I try to stay out of yours and your grandfather’s labs while elixirs are brewing. Isis only knows what will happen when different elixirs mix, Penny finished warily.

Iseult chuckled lightly before replying, Technically it’s not experimental. The last time anyone attempted this elixir was a hundred and twenty years ago. It’s merely out of practice.

Penny rolled her eyes and exclaimed, If it’s that old, Isis knows it’s experimental. Why has no one brewed it?

Iseult cast her eyes down and shifted her feet before answering, Because the last brewer couldn’t handle the results. Iseult finished with her violet eyes staring intently at the amber elixir before her.

Penny let out a breath before asking, Who and why?

Iseult shifted her feet before answering, "I am attempting the Elixir of Youth. References say it allows a person to see through the eyes of a future descendant. If brewed incorrectly it becomes a slow acting poison that drives the drinker insane.

"The Elixir doesn’t always show you something positive either. If a person can’t handle what they see, the consequences can be catastrophic. Such was the case with Jacinda Feldson.

Jacinda never told anyone what she saw, but in the end she committed a horrific string of grisly murders across London, Iseult explained.

Penny looked quizzical for a moment before saying, I don’t remember that one in history class.

Iseult raised an eyebrow and stated, Jack the Ripper.

Penny’s dark eyebrows rose to meet her hairline before dryly commenting, "You alchemists get all the good bits of history. Isis knows all we were ever taught was dry, boring facts that I still haven’t used.

Why would you brew that and is it safe for you to stamp out the fire? I don’t want any noxious fumes in this lab.

Iseult quirked her thin lips and nodded as she answered, Simply to see if I can. As it stands I’m at the cooling point now. According to the research I should be able to let it stabilize in the cauldron for twenty hours before the next step. As she finished Iseult slowly reached down to extinguish her fire. Quickly walking over to the counter Iseult picked up a heavy iron lid and covered her elixir so she could see what her grandfather wanted.

Iseult and Penny made their way from the third story of the old house to the ground floor and out to the greenhouse. Neither noticed the glowing eyes of Isis follow them out the door.

It took the pair ten minutes to reach the greenhouse and when they did Penny bid Iseult a fair day. Iseult smiled at Penny before turning and opening the door to the glass encased room.

Iseult took in a deep breath as she strode past shrubs and vines that gave the air an almost sweet quality. The rich air in the greenhouse left Iseult feeling lightheadedB the amount of fresh oxygen in this room was staggering. Iseult smiled at the purity and diversity of life in this greenhouse.

Purity was the first tenet of Alchemy that the Goddess Isis set forth. After purity came life. Life begat matter and matter begat life. In this way the circle continued. Iseult carefully made her way around the mosaic stepping stones until she could see her grandfather’s white hair at the bistro table. This had always been a special place for the two of them. Ever since Iseult was little they had come here for peace and celebration. When life became too complicated this was their sanctuary.

As Iseult moved closer to the little table she noticed that there was another person present. From this vantage point Iseult could tell that it was a man with hair that seemed to match hers. The closer she got, the more Iseult could pick out features of the man, such as his broad shoulders and deep baritone. Iseult also noted that he wore a vibrant blue top that matched his black slacks. Slacks that were barely visible from underneath the table.

When she was barely a foot away from the table Iseult asked, You wanted to see me, Grandfather? Iseult’s melodic voice caused the seated man to jump.

The wrinkles in the old man’s face broke out into a wide grin and his vivid blue eyes sparkled like the sun. Yes, my child, I did. It seems that your mother has been up to her usual nasty games again, Grandfather finished sagely. All the while the broad smile never left his face.

Iseult groaned as she walked around and plopped down into the other chair. Now what has Gwendolyn done?

The red haired man chuckled at the amount of sarcasm in Iseult’s voice. Grandfather just rolled his twinkling blue eyes as he responded, "She contacted your father. He is the man sitting across from you.

Brady Dara meet your daughter, Iseult. Iseult this is your father, Brady Dara, jeweler to the crown, Grandfather finished whimsically.

At the mention of father, Iseult’s dark violet eyes widened to cover the top half of her face. Really, Iseult softly exclaimed.

Have I ever lied to you before child, Grandfather asked wryly.

Iseult shook her head as Brady smiled at her. After letting the news sink in for a moment Brady explained, She never told me about you, but with that hair it’s plain as day that you are mine. I realize that you are old enough not to need me, but if you and your grandfather allow, I would like to be a part of your life, he finished calmly.

Just her hair? Isis! You ought to see the colors she tends to wear, Grandfather interjected causing Brady and Iseult to chuckle lightly. It was true that Iseult tended to wear the deepest tones she could find. For instance, today she was wearing an emerald green blouse and a pair of blue jeans.

Worry flashed through Iseult’s purple eyes as she glanced