Chrysalis: The Gathering

By M.L. Lacy

As the Chrysalis saga continues to unfold; another foe, more daunting even than Esmeralda has emerged. Haven been given a warning long ago, this enemy has remained hidden in the darkest recesses until now. With the decision to combat her newest rival, has Aubrey placed her crossing in peril?

“The lands you stole will make this right, in the Grove in the dead of night, when day and night are equal sights, only then will it be right. As the last comes of age, in the spring of the year, use the lure of rescue to draw the Chosen One near, and when your fate is seared by light, dawn will hold a future bright.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.L. Lacy
• Release date: Jun 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370309764

M.L. Lacy

M.L. Lacy is the author of the Chrysalis Series (The Awakening, Tribulations, and Trepidation) and the upcoming Starburst Series. M.L. Lacy was awarded the first place in the Rebecca's Read's 2010 Written Art Award for her book The Awakening in the Fiction: Science Fiction/Fantasy Category.

Book preview

Chapter 1

October 1975

Cassie stood in front of her cupboard staring at the diverse assortment of bottles, jars, and jugs containing dried herbs, roots, and other non-standard ingredients, which would no doubt give even the most learned Magical pause. Her pantry was not your standard everyday witch’s pantry filled with meaningless spices for recipes to create pointless magic. It had taken her years to collect what she had.

The dried pancreases of three Norwegian gnomes, they were a tricky sort to snare. The sounds of the cries they wailed as she gutted them still carry across the Voss Fiord when the cold winds blow.

The pickled left ears of the ever-elusive Himalayan Giants, known to the lesser educated as the Abominable Snowman, or to some as the Yeti, were easier to take. Giants are usually a slow lot, and the Himalayan variety even slower. All she had to do was appear, lop off an ear—always the left ear, and vanish before the Giants could even react. She could have sliced off every left ear of every Giant in the entire encampment, but that would have been a waste. She didn’t use the ingredient that often, and she always pickled the ears, so they would not go stale.

The right testicle of human males, the hands of warlocks, the teeth of human women—gums attached, of course. Entrails, hair, skin, eyes, noses, fingers, and the toes of human and Magical were kept in airtight containers. Pigeon, eel, snake eyes, mice, rats’ tails, bear claws, and wolves’ teeth to name a few of the other ingredients that graced her pantry shelves.

Any witch with a flair for evil would be pleased to have such a pantry in her home. But she wasn’t, as three jars remained empty. Three unique ingredients eluded her: the heart, the blood, and the soul of the last Chosen One.

She raised a wrinkled hand to pluck the jars, one by one, from their resting place and set each on the counter in front of her. With a dirty cloth, she wiped the dust off the lids and put the jars into her basket. The child had been born, and now it was time to collect the needed items while the blood and soul were fresh and the heart’s young beat was untainted with its loves.

Cassie donned her cloak, withdrew her wand from the ashcan, and looped the basket handle over her arm. With her free hand raised, she was about to fold space when the gray hairs on her neck alerted her to danger. With a glance toward the door as she realized quiet replaced the night sounds around her home, she cast her mind’s eyes out into the darkness but saw no one. She strained to hear any sound. It was a long few moments before she heard the snoring of the sleeping lizards and the hypnotic chirping of the poisonous Dingle Beetles coming from the marsh. She exhaled the breath she held. Just nerves. It will be over soon, and then what is rightfully mine, will be.

She repositioned the basket on her arm, and again, raised her hand to fold space when a light outside her window caught her eye. Stealthily, she placed the basket back on the counter and pointed her wand at the door. She stood in her dueling pose ready to strike down whatever or whoever was about to come through her door. But much to her bewilderment, the light vanished. Tentatively, she straightened in her stance. She kept her wand trained on the door. Her urge to call out to let the intruder know she was aware of their presence was strong, but she fought against the urge.

This was a new experience for her. No one had ever come to her home. Only four people knew her whereabouts, and they only came when she called.

She sent her thoughts into the darkness by way of her backdoor, an attempt to sneak up on her intruder. But as her thoughts rounded the corner of her ramshackle home, she saw no one. Again, she shook off the experience as nerves. Again, she picked up the basket and raised her hand to fold space when a gust of wind blew open her door, as a blinding light held her frozen in place.

The light settled and Cassie saw her intruder.

A very tiny old woman stood there, no more than 3-foot tall, with shoulder length grayish blue hair. She wore a puffy red dress and pointed a blue shafted, gold star tipped wand straight at her. The astonished look on the old woman’s face caused the little woman to laugh. You will not need what is inside that basket tonight Cassie?

The youthful sound of the woman’s voice, plus the fact she called her by name, brought confusion to her eyes. You know me?

The tiny woman laughed again. Yes, Cassie. I know you. I have been watching you.

Cassie kept her wand pointed at the little woman. I don’t know you. If you know what is good for you, you will leave.

The tiny woman tapped the air with her wand, and Cassie’s wand disappeared. There now, she said. When you listen to what I have to say, you may have your wand back.

Cassie raised her hand to hex the tiny woman, only to have the little woman point her wand at Cassie’s hand. Cassie struggled to move her arm all to no avail as the little woman held it frozen in the most awkward position.

Honestly Cassie. I do not have time for this. I do have others to warn, you know. It is just not all about Cassie.

Cassie cast a narrowed glance at her. Warn?

The little woman nodded.

Who are you?

She brought her wand to her side, releasing the hold she had on Cassie’s arm. I can assure you my reflexes are superior to yours, so do not even think about throwing your hex. It would not do you any good anyway, as your magic cannot touch me. And as for who I am. I would have thought that obvious by my attire.

Cassie’s brow creased, her nose wrinkled, and with a frown, she shook her head.

Oh, for the love of—I was assured this was the outfit worn by all fairy godmothers.

Cassie’s expression quickly assumed a look of stunned disbelief. Then as she stared at the little woman professing to be her fairy godmother, she gave a short chuckle, only to pause for a moment, before producing another, hardier, laugh. Then she continued to laugh until tears pooled in her eyes. As Cassie laughed, and her fairy godmother smiled at her, she thrust a spell toward the little woman professing to be her fairy godmother with such lightning speed she was sure to catch her off balance.

However, just as the fairy godmother had said, Cassie’s magic had no effect on her. The little woman simply brushed the specks of the spell off her dress.

Cassie stood stunned, and if truth be told, a little uncertain of her next move.

Right then. I will let that one pass. Everyone always has to try to beat me once. The fairy godmother arched an eyebrow as she gazed sternly at Cassie. But I will only let it pass once. I suggest you behave. Now, as I said, I have come to warn you. You need to cancel the trip you are planning tonight.

What do you know about my plans?

I know much. You are on your way to take the blood, soul, and heart of the last Chosen One, and that is a fool’s mission. Put your jars away for another day, because today is not your day. If you want what is coming to you, you will heed my words. For your time is when the child is of age. If you do not heed my words, then you will not get what you are owed. The choice is yours.

Cassie frowned.

Do you want to hear what the fates hold for you?

Reluctantly, Cassie nodded.

Very well, then listen for I will only say this once.

Cassie’s stance relaxed, and she gave a nod signaling she was ready to hear.

The fairy godmother smiled. Pay attention now. A white ball of light appeared in front of the fairy godmother, and as she spoke, the ball bounced along to the beat. The lands you stole will make this right, in the Grove in the dead of night, when day and night are equal sights, only then will it be right. As the last comes of age, in the spring of the year, use the lure of rescue to draw the Chosen One near, and when your fate is seared by light, dawn will hold a future bright.

The ball of light vanished.

Cassie’s brow creased with confusion as she stared at the little woman. And just what does that mean?

Cassie’s wand then appeared back in her hands.

The Fairy Godmother’s smile broadened. You are a smart woman. I am sure you will figure it out. Then in a blink of an eye, she disappeared.

Cassie stood in silence as she pondered her Fairy Godmother’s words. And it didn’t take her long to grasp their meaning. She waved her hand, and the door to her humble shack closed. She walked to her counter, opened the cupboard doors, and plucked the three jars out of her basket. She returned them to the shelf to collect dust until the spring of the last Chosen One’s thirty-second year.

Chapter 2

The Forbidden Forest

The old woman ambled along the trail that led to her home deep in the Forbidden Forest. She hadn’t any fear of the dangerous creatures that lived there. She hadn’t any worries that the roots would bind her feet, or the limbs of trees or branches from bushes would reach out and capture her as she traveled along the trail. Nor did she fear the dragons would take her for their nightly meal.

The forest was her home and her kingdom. She was the creator of all the evil, which dwelled within the darkness of these woods. She created the medallion the dragons honored. She was the one who told David Larson where he could find the ancient text and taught him what he needed to know to blend a demon with a Magical’s soul. Although she did the latter in disguise, it was she nonetheless. So, she walked the trail with confidence, as she searched for any herbs, roots, or berries she might have missed on her journey to help boost the magic of the black rose.

She entered the clearing where her humble home stood nestled between the briar bushes and gnarled dead trees, where the sun refused to shine, and the vilest of creatures dared not tread. From the outside, it looked as if the walls of the cabin supporting the thatched roof offered little protection from the elements. However, as with all structures in the Magical Realm, looks were deceiving.

She drew her cloak closed with one hand and kept a firm grip on the basket she carried with the other as she strolled across the clearing to her doorway with all ownership of a queen coming home to her castle. The door creaked open as she neared. Candles and a small fire in the fireplace sparked to life when she entered. She withdrew a silver wand from her cloak pocket, then the cloak disappeared from her shoulders and reappeared on the hook by the door. After placing the basket on the table, she placed the wand beside it and began her task of sorting the dried branches, wilted petals, limp herbs, shriveled berries, and poisoned thistles she had collected.

After stringing, what needed strung, and organizing the berries, petals, thistles, and herbs, then placing them in their proper containers, she removed the cotton cloth around a delicate rose and held the flower up for inspection.

She had been gone a little under a month in her search for the rose that bloomed only once a year and never in the same place. Her travels took her to the far reaches of the Lucerian Forest and deep into the Belzor Mountains before she found the elusive budding flower along the ridge of the Leviathan Crater. The black velvet petals of the closed bud were firm to the touch. She drew the flower to her nose and inhaled. There wasn’t a fragrance yet, which meant it hadn’t matured.

A fluted vase appeared and hung in the air in front of her. She stuck the thorny stem into the vase. With a wave of her hand, the vessel floated to its place on the window ledge for the rose to bathe in the moon’s glow.

With a glance toward the table, her collection basket disappeared, as did all the discarded trimmings. She retrieved her wand and walked toward the fireplace. A bucket filled with ash was next to the hearth. She stuck the tip of her wand into the ashes, and after a moment pulled it out again. After placing the wand into its holder on the fireplace mantel, she held her hand up and closed it in a grip. A large mug filled with dark ale appeared in her grasp. She felt ready to sit back in her comfortable chair and relax.

However, as she raised the mug to her lips and was about to take a long, refreshing drink, a hard knock struck the door to her home. Her eyes narrowed as she lifted her gaze and glared at the door, not entirely sure she’d heard what she thought she had heard. She had been alone in her forest for two centuries. Even after she had found David, and began teaching him what he needed to learn, she had kept her home a well-guarded secret from him. Not even after the dragons came to the forest, and she turned Mount Olivet into their sanctuary, did she reveal her dwellings. Not that David or Esmeralda ever asked her—they had no desire to engage her in conversation, but she took considerable pains to keep her journey to and from her home a secret.

After a long pause, she slowly raised the mug to her lips again and drank. Amid her swallow, another hard knock pounded against the door.

"Hag!"

She straightened in her stance at the sound of David’s voice.

"Open the door!"

Another round of hard knocks struck the door.

"All the demons have been destroyed!"

Her eyes widened in surprise at his announcement. Before she had left on her quest, she made sure she protected their cache of demons inside Mount Olivet. She had ensured the evil residing inside the Forbidden Forest would guard the Dragon’s Lair. She hid every entrance to the mountain with dark spells and secret words that would only allow those with evil on their minds to enter. She’d made the Forbidden Forest impenetrable, even from a Chosen One, so she had no idea how anyone could destroy the demons. The mug disappeared as she thrust her hands out in front of her causing the door to her humble home to burst open.

In rushed David and Esmeralda, their anger apparent.

"You said this place was unattainable by all!" David marched toward her.

She remained firm in her stance.

"You gave me your word! You said, ‘Trust me, David,’ and stupidly, I did!"

She kept her composure as he paced in front of her.

"You should have allowed me to use my magic. Esmeralda glared at the old woman. I told you we couldn’t rely on her. She’s old David. Hell, her mistress—what was her name?"

The old woman glared at Esmeralda. Ya do better ta watch yer tongue. ‘Er names Laythea ‘n she’d be a mighty powerful witch—more so than you. She were da best mistress, treat me right, she did. She taught me right.

Esmeralda glared back at her. Taught you, taught you what? Your spells were pointless. She sniffed the air, and with a look of disgust, she glanced around the room. And when her hard gaze fell back to the old woman, she sneered. With a tone of superiority, she said, "I stand corrected. Your spells are pointless! You thought you would be able to keep your hobble of a dwelling a secret? I had no trouble finding you. And you call yourself a witch. No wonder Aubrey managed to waltz into our mountain without one spell touching her and destroy everything."

The old woman’s top lip curled into a snarl. Impossible. She be nutting but a child.

"Well, that child managed to fill the entire mountain with lava," David said.

The old woman faced him.

The only reason you are still standing in front of me is that I need Laythea, and you are the only one who knows how to summon her. He stepped threateningly toward her, as did Esmeralda, but the old woman was unmoved by their action. "Summon her now!"

The old woman averted her gaze from him. She had never planned to resurrect her disguise of Laythea, but she had little choice now. With a flick of one finger, she knew she could easily have destroyed David and Esmeralda where they stood, but she still needed them.

Without replying, she walked to the cupboard to retrieve what remained of the potion she had used to change her appearance. As she rummaged through the bottles and jars, she heard Esmeralda’s sigh of frustration, and then David’s mumble for Esmeralda to be patient.

She took a jar from the cupboard, blew the dust from its label to confirm it held the correct residue. Once assured she selected the right container, she held the jar close to her ear and gave a gentle shake. Good, it has not gone stale.

As she walked back to the table, a cup, filled with steaming water, appeared. She removed the cork stopper and held the jar to her nose for a sniff just to ensure its freshness before she poured a small portion into the cup. A spoon appeared and stirred the mixture. Esmeralda and David remain silent throughout her preparations, but she could tell by the shifting in their stances they were getting annoyed. She could have drunk the contents straight away, but she was quite content to let them stew in their childishness. She raised the cup to her lips, muttered a phrase that was more for show than anything else, before blowing a cooling breath over the steaming liquid, and then slowly, ever so slowly, she drank the brew.

As she set the cup on the table, she heard David draw a breath in frustration at her theatrics. She raised her finger to her lips to hush his sighs and then winked at him as a gray mist swirled around her. As the mist covered her form from their view, she could feel the magic working. Her rough, wrinkled skin felt soft and smooth, her crippled body straightened, and her soul became light. And when the mist disappeared, she stood before them as a beautiful young woman. The surprised look on David’s face informed her that the transformation was complete.

You summoned me. A polished voice replaced her broken English.

Laythea? David gasped.

Yes.

Is this your true…self?

She shook her head. My disguise.

Esmeralda leaned toward her and inhaled. You smell different.

She glanced at Esmeralda, then returned her gaze to David and smiled. I’m supposed to. I took on the soul of the young witch I stole it from a very long time ago. That’s why this spell works better than an ordinary transformation spell. She turned her head to face Esmeralda. With a superior stare, she said, "This spell is extremely dark magic. It had taken me many tries before I accomplished it, but by all accounts, I am that young witch." The magic began to disappear, and the old woman’s body seemed to cripple again.

Esmeralda sneered at her appearance. It doesn’t last very long.

I only used a little. I only needed to prove to you I was Laythea.

All this time, David mumbled.

Yes David, all this time. Now then, are you convinced?

I had no idea—

Then the spell worked perfectly. Now, on to the matters at hand. You say Aubrey managed to fill the mountain with lava.

She’s grown, Esmeralda said. She should not have been able…somehow my time meddle did not affect her.

The old woman’s eyes narrowed. Time meddle?

Esmeralda told her what had happened over the past weeks and explained why she’d altered time, but that the same outcome had occurred, just not as destructive as the previous time strand.

Well, that explains why I had such a hard time finding the black rose. Now, it was Esmeralda’s turn to feel confused. Never mind dear, time is a terribly complex matter when things get altered. You have to be skilled in your magic to accomplish it correctly.

Esmeralda’s lips curled in a smug smile. I altered time correctly.

The old woman chuckled. Then why the same outcome?

Esmeralda rolled her eyes at the old woman’s arrogance. "Because I told you. Aubrey’s become stronger. She’s grown."

The old woman shook her head. I have a hard time believing Aubrey acted alone.

She had to have. No one else was aware.

What about her Guardian?

I highly doubt Odessa knew, Esmeralda replied.

The old woman’s eyes narrowed at the mention of the Guardian’s name. Do not let Odessa fool you. She knows more than she lets on.

You know her?

The old woman smiled. Let’s just say we’ve had our run-ins. We need to remove Odessa, and then we can remove Aubrey.

Esmeralda laughed. "Remove her! Well, why the hell didn’t I think of that?"

The old woman gave her a scolding look.

Esmeralda gave her a gritty glare. I did think of that, you old— She clenched her jaw to stop her insult. She inhaled a deep breath to calm her tone, then slowly exhaled and continued with her explanation as to why she allowed the Guardian to live, I was warned countless times not to attack a Guardian. Everyone said the wrath of the Elders would descend upon me.

"And that is why you continually fail. Your soul is still too pure. It is still too white. If you are going to succeed, you will need to blacken your soul. You had many chances to destroy Aubrey, yet you allowed her to live."

Esmeralda flung her hands in the air in annoyance of the lecture the old woman gave her. Because if I did—

What? Your eternal soul would be damned. It is going to be damned one way, or the other. Destroying Aubrey as a child, or once transformed, you have condemned your soul. So, what did it matter if you killed the Guardian? You need to choose. What do you want Esmeralda?

I want what is rightfully mine!

Rightfully yours? What do you know about rightfully yours? The old woman laughed, which drew a riled look from Esmeralda, but the old woman held her position.

Esmeralda’s eyes hardened into a dark, menacing stare. I know I am destined for greatness. I can feel it in my bones. This Realm is mine. It belongs to me, and I want it all.

The old woman’s lips curled to sneer. Then act like it. I will teach you the dark ways.

Esmeralda straightened in her stance. I already practice the Dark Arts.

You dabble that is all, but I will teach you the craft. You may think your magic superior—

"I found your home, didn’t I?"

The old woman rolled her eyes at the childish taunt. "I will help you gain what is rightfully yours. But be prepared for your journey. There is no going back once your soul turns. I will teach you the Dark Arts so you will win. I will blacken your soul."

What are we going to do? David asked.

"Just what I said we were going to do—get rid of the Guardian—she is the key to destroying the Chosen One. Once she is gone, Aubrey will fail."

Chapter 3

The Hidden Forest

Odessa stood in front of the Sycamore in the Hidden Forest, a little unsure as to why she was called there. Typically, she would come to the Hall of the Elders on her own to report on her charge, Aubrey Maria Campbell, the Chosen One. However, the Elders were acutely aware of what had transpired in the past few weeks, so she had nothing to report. This time, it was Pennington Albright, the Guardian Chair and a no-nonsense, completely by the book woman, who has held the position since the sudden death of Eleanor Brentwood, who had summoned her.

It was Pennington’s responsibility to place Guardians with Chosen Ones, and Pennington was most unwilling to place her as Aubrey’s guardian from the beginning. If it were not for the Elders’ intervention, Pennington’s authority would have stayed in effect, and another Guardian would have guided Aubrey. The Elder’s mediation was entirely out of character. Never had they intruded upon any Chair’s authority since the creation of the Guardian Order. The Chair had the supreme voice over placements, but for some unexplainable reason, and the Elders refused to explain why they chose to interfere, they overruled Pennington’s authority.

With one last glance at the forest behind her in her hopes of seeing Robert, another Guardian and her longtime friend and companion, she placed her hand on the tree, and the shimmering began. Once the portal opened, she drew a calming breath to release the tension in her shoulders and stepped inside.

She followed the winding staircase to the lower level to wait.

When she entered the lobby, she saw Sebastian, a Forest Guardian whose usual form was the great owl, waiting for her. However, today he was in Guardian form and wearing counsel robes.

Well, it’s about time. We have a full house—everyone’s inside.

Odessa’s glanced at the back wall that would soon open to the Hall. Everyone?

He nodded.

Who else besides Pennington and the Elders are here? she asked.

Two of her staff have accompanied her.

Why? What’s going on?

I think Pennington wants to replace you.

This late in Aubrey’s training? We’ve never done such a thing.

"If you ask me, I think Penn is foolish. The Elders were extremely clear that you were to guide Aubrey, and you have. They gave you the most challenging charge, if I may say. But you have done extremely well with whom you’ve had to work with."

She chuckled. Thank you, but Aubrey is lovely to work with, you know that. I am honored to be her Guardian.

She has a stubborn streak.

But she has a kind soul.

Well, she does, I’ll not deny that. But Des, she is a challenge.

In the beginning maybe, but you know what she did last month. She followed my directions perfectly, and she destroyed the demons. What more can we ask? She hasn’t even crossed. But I do know one thing, if they replace me now, I fear she will struggle.

I can agree with that.

Do you have any ideas who Pennington has in mind?

He looked toward the back wall, then turned to face her again and in a quiet voice said, Cora.

Odessa laughed and then drew her hand to her mouth to muffle the sound. "Oh, my goodness. Cora? Oh my, I have grave misgivings Cora could even begin to handle Aubrey."

Sebastian grinned. So, you do believe Aubrey can be a challenge.

The back wall opened drawing Odessa and Sebastian’s gaze.

As Odessa passed him as she headed toward the Hall, she said in a low voice, "When Aubrey wants to be, yes, she can be a challenge."

Odessa held her confidence as she entered the room. The setting seemed eerily familiar to her as she remembered being in this situation before. The first time was her indoctrination into the Order. Though the faces of the members of the Guardians were different, the feeling was the same.

She remembered standing before the Guardian Chair and her staff in this very room as a young witch. They gave her a multitude of tests that showed her magical abilities and knowledge until she had demonstrated herself superior to a typical Magical. Once the Officers had accepted her, she worked as an apprentice for a hundred years before they gave her any vital tasks as a Guardian to help stay the evil until a Chosen One was born.

The Order was small but strong, seventy-five members in all who monitored the Realms, essentially putting to rest minor uprisings and skirmishes and prolonging the need for a birth of a Chosen One. As members of the Order died, another GT—Guardian in Training, would take their place among the Order, and that allowed the Order to remain strong. And for the most part, they did their jobs well in keeping the Realms safe.

Somehow though, the Celestial Heavens always knew when the powers to stay the evil was beyond the Order’s control, and a Chosen One would be born.

Odessa had taught five GTs in her tenure with the Order before she was selected for her prized assignment—the training of a Chosen One, the last Chosen One. Out of the twenty-five Chosen Ones the prophecy spoke of, only six remain. Aubrey was the last to be born.

The second time she came before this group was before they gave her that assignment. Pennington was the GC then, and she had selected another for the task, and that Guardian was in the process of making all her arrangements when the Elders summoned everyone to the Great Hall.

Odessa could still hear the conversation as if it were yesterday as Pennington told the Elders the reasons she’d decided to assign the Guardian she had for such a prestigious task. Pennington heralded the accomplishments of her chosen Guardian to the Elders.

For every praised feat Pennington gave, Odessa countered with her accomplishments of how she had thwarted the Spirits Uprising, how she, along with two other Guardians, forged an alliance between the Dwarfs and the Leprechauns—a task everyone believed to be impossible. She reminded those present about how her endeavors were not just to their Realm, but that she had saved the Human Realm as well from Magicals meddling as the humans warred.

However, not even all her accomplishments dissuaded Pennington until the Elders voiced their opinions, and the Elders’ opinions were what mattered. They gave her the position to train Aubrey, and she had forged a strong working relationship with her. So, she actually felt at a loss for any reasons Pennington may now have to remove her from that task, although she could tell by the set of Pennington’s brow, and the frown on her lips that she intended to, once again, give it a good try.

Odessa stepped up to the podium, stood poised with her hands clasped together resting on top of the pedestal, and looked directly at Pennington. You have summoned me.

I have. It would seem you are in over your head as I had warned would happen. You have neither the will nor the want to stop Esmeralda.

With all due respect Madam Chair, that is not the case. I have the will and the want, but my instructions were to keep my hands from the punishment. This is Aubrey’s task and Aubrey’s alone. My instructions were clear. I am to guide and allow Aubrey her path.

"Hands off yes, but you are responsible for the child’s protection. Under your guidance, we almost lost her—several times in fact. She is but a Chosen Child, and as all the Chosen Children before her, they do things they should not. They believe themselves above disaster because they are a Chosen One. It was your responsibility to talk sense to her, to warn her of the dangers. You allowed her to offer herself in place of her young nephew when her enemies kidnapped him. You allowed her to marry the human Esmeralda sent to try to destroy her. You let the demons touch her mind. You allowed her to act foolishly, which caused her abduction. And last month, last month you allowed her to fight the demons on her own, without the help of her sisters, or your help."

As I have stated, I was charged to guide and allow Aubrey her path. She has learned through her actions her strengths. She did not have the same opportunities as the others before her. Her sisters grew up in our protection. Aubrey did not. Her sisters learned of our Realm long before they crossed. Aubrey did not. For her to gain her knowledge and learn her strengths in the short time given, I would say she has done extraordinarily well. She comes to me for guidance and then decides on her own the directions she must take. She accomplished much last month. It was her battle to fight. I would say she now stands far above the others that came before her.

Not far enough. And if we continue, with you as her Guardian, to stand aside while she makes foolish decisions, she may not see her crossing.

I disagree. Last month—

"You are in no position, to agree or disagree," Pennington rudely interrupted. "It is my responsibility to ensure the correct Guardian is in place to ensure the Chosen Ones make it through their crossing. I am recommending we remove you from the task. I have another, better-qualified Guardian, to take your place. My Lords. Pennington turned her attention to the Elders. Surely, you have recognized the unfortunate situation we are now facing. The child’s body is weakening, and yet I have not seen the signs indicating she is nearing her crossing. We must prepare for all scenarios. As I have said, I have another, more capable Guardian, ready to step in and take over the duties for the child’s development. And should the inevitable happen, and the child does not cross, I have constructed another course of action. The Guardians to the remaining sisters will aid them in destroying Esmeralda and her dragons. The actions they take will be swift, and the threat to the Realms will end. She gave Odessa a scolding look. You should have destroyed Esmeralda in the beginning, and we would not have the dragons now. Then you could have guided your Chosen One in a much calmer manner."

Odessa drew a deep breath to control her anger. That was not my instructions.

"Damned the instructions." Pennington slammed her hand down hard on the table. You, single handily, have placed the Realms in peril. Your heart softened from doing what you should have done in the beginning. Esmeralda showed signs the dark had taken her long before she grew into a threat to the Realms, and you did nothing.

Our Order does not give us the right to smite those we think as destructive. If we choose that path, are we any better than the ones we are fighting? There was always a chance Esmeralda would not walk the path she is now walking.

Who is this Guardian you have selected? the Elder Ezekiel asked before Pennington could respond.

Now, Odessa’s poised, confident stance slacked at his question.

Pennington, seeing the beginning of a defeated look in Odessa’s eyes, smiled in her triumph and turned her attention back to the Elders. My Lord, Cora Rosewood—she was the one I had selected in the first place. She is an accomplished Guardian with more battles won than Odessa. I am confident she will guide the child to her crossing.

"Her name, Odessa said with a gritty tone, is Aubrey, and she is not a child. And if you treat her as one, she will not listen to you. She will not learn."

And by throwing her tantrums, she shows she has much to learn. Pennington gave Odessa a stern look for her outburst.

Odessa refused to look away.

This made Pennington even madder causing her to raise her finger and warn Odessa not to interrupt again, or she would have her removed from the Hall. Once Pennington seemed satisfied she had cowed Odessa, she turned her attention back to the Elders. Should Aubrey not cross, we have plans to defeat Esmeralda and the dragons. The Sisters will then remain to rule as Head of States of the Magical Realm.

Madam Chair, the Elder Miranda interjected. If the sisters could have defeated Esmeralda, Aubrey would not have been born. Her time is now.

"I understand that, but it is all we will have if Aubrey does not cross. We still have five strong Chosen Ones, and they have the entire Order of the Guardians at their service. We have managed this long without Aubrey. Surely, we can handle many eons more."

As you know, the Elder Herod said. The Throne Room will not open to the sisters. The castle will not remain without Aubrey as the prophecy has stated.

Pennington smiled reassuringly at him. We have managed without the castle or the Throne Room. I am sure we can survive, going forward. Our Order is strong, and we will stay strong and be able to help the remaining Chosen Ones.

After a long pause, the other Elders gave a nod of agreement to Ezekiel.

After consideration, we have agreed to allow the Guardian Cora to guide Aubrey— the Elder Ezekiel paused as Pennington slapped her hands on the table in triumph.

His stare caused her to quiet her enthusiasm.

"However, she will work with Odessa, to accomplish the guidance."

Pennington opened her mouth to protest but thought better of the idea from the looks all the other Elders gave her.

The instructions stay as they are. Aubrey is to choose her path to follow. The Guardians are there to guide. There is no room for negation. Our words are final.

With that, the ceiling above them opened, and the Elders morphed back into their forms of the great eagles and flew from the room.

Pennington’s hands gripped the table as she pushed herself away, stood, and faced Odessa. "You have your orders. I want Cora introduced to Aubrey first thing Monday morning and not one word from you to the Chosen One on what has transpired this day. Know I will be watching, and if I see any more slip-ups from you, you will not be allowed your guardianship any longer…Elders wishes or not."

Before Odessa could respond, Pennington and her staff disappeared from the room.

Chapter 4

March 2008

Bree’s story continues…

I stretched beneath the blankets as I woke. Not at all happy, it was morning. The last two weeks had taxed me to the brink, but I couldn’t complain—my exhaustion was my own doing.

The six-day cruise Steven and I took wasn’t like anything I could have ever imagined. Instead of relaxing, which was the main reason we went, I stayed up late every night and rose early every morning so as not to miss a single minute of our magical adventure.

We departed from Port Canaveral Florida just as most cruise ships disembark and from outside, the cruise liner looked like every other cruise ship, but those were the only two human aspects of the entire trip. Once on board, I saw the actual size of our seafaring vessel, as the Vegas-style gambling lounges, the twenty different themed bars, the multitude of restaurants and swimming pools, and even a mini-mall stretched beyond what the external borders of the ship eluded.

The Broadway shows were indeed magical, truly magical. Each theater we went to, and there were twelve on board, became the real setting for the play. There were no drawn curtains, no fade to dark, no backstage hands to change the scene—it just happened seamlessly in front of you.

Ghostly cruise personnel floated in and out of the rooms on the upper decks as they performed their duties, but were discreetly professional in the cabin decks below—knocking on doors to rooms before entering.

The sea air had been the perfect remedy for me. At first, it was difficult not to dwell on what had happened before we left on our vacation. Esmeralda and her horde have been a constant in my life, and trying not to focus on what she was up to was almost impossible—almost. But as I said, the sea air was quite therapeutic. I’d learned, after the first night of trying to focus my thoughts on Esmeralda that I was too far at sea to achieve much of anything. By the time my thoughts had made it onto land, it was time for me to wake. So, I had no choice but to put my problems aside and enjoyed myself. Which came easily after the second day as our cabin came with a balcony. As the ship slowly floated through folded space as we made our way toward our magical island destinations, Steven and I sat outside our room and literally watched the world go by.

Once we returned home, I turned my attention back to Esmeralda. I was quite surprised to discover no one had heard or seen her since the day she stormed out of the council building when she learned I destroyed the demons she and David harbored. And to make matters worse, I couldn’t even locate her. For seven nights, I had stretched my thoughts to their limits, with no success of even a whisper of her voice. During the day, when I wasn’t inspecting the valley with my father or in meetings with my sisters, or in security discussions regarding the castle with Greg, or finding more of my secret passageways and learning more about my castle, I tried to find her. Even when I had lunch with Billy, Richard, Gary, or Stanley, or spent time with Bradley in the mornings, or relaxed with Steven in the evenings, I tried. I applied other tactics to find Esmeralda too. My thoughts followed Nelson and Karol around for a few hours each day, but neither one of them ever visited with or spoke to her in all that time. It was as if, Esmeralda, David, Madalyn, Marcus, and Sylvia didn’t exist. Although I knew they did. I knew they were out there—somewhere.

I crept out of our bed, so I wouldn’t wake Steven from his meditation and walked to the balcony doors. I opened the glass doors without a sound, snuck outside, and closed the doors just as silently as I’d opened them. I glanced back through the glass to ensure I hadn’t disturbed him, then made my way to the railing to get a better look at my surroundings.

The sun’s morning rays were beginning to peek through the night’s purple clouds allowing me a private morning’s view of Elders’ Valley.

As I looked out over the expanse, I shook my head in disbelief at all the changes around me. The day we left, snow was waist high on the valley floor, trees were bare of leaves, and the waterfalls looked more like massive walls of ice. The winter winds still had a biting chill to them. Now, green grasses replaced the snow-covered landscape, green leaves dressed the bare branches of trees. Plus, the waterfalls were flowing again, and the spring winds brought a fresh scent of floral and pine.

From my vantage point, I could see pinpoints of lights appearing in the forest and the meadows. It all reminded me of how the transformation of Elders’ Valley didn’t stop with the winter’s thaw. Those twinkling lights represented new homes of Magicals that had decided to move here. Now, there were several Hearths of Hill Dwarves and a few Gaggles of Prairie Gnomes who have built their earthen homes in the meadows to the south. Three tribes of werewolves, one being Harry’s tribe, were now living in one of the larger and denser forests to the west. Quite a few troupes of Elves and Fairies resided high in the mountains near waterfalls. The Halsings had also moved here while we were gone. Pam had selected a beautiful meadow between two mountains for their new home. It wasn’t far from her father’s, Count Wentworth, alpine estate, and there seemed to be plenty of room for expansion.

The dots of lights that appeared on the mountainside were proof that the residential growth didn’t stop with the build up around my castle.

Elders’ Valley consisted of two large mountain ranges known to the Magical Realm as the Neart Range, which meant strength, and the Cosain Range, which meant protect. There were many smaller ranges scattered between the two greater ranges. My castle marked the entrance to all of them, which my father explained to me during one of my inspection tours. Even though I already knew the vastness of Elders’ Valley—Stanley had taken me to the far reaches of my lands during my one and only folding lesson last month, it still felt overwhelming to see the number of Magicals that decided to leave the Human Realm’s trappings behind as they sought refuge here.

As more lights began appearing up the mountain, signaling more of the Valley’s residences were waking, I knew my cousin Ryan was right—Magicals would come in droves to get back to their roots of peaceful beings. This is what the valley afforded them—a place to live safely away from human lands and human eyes. A place to live as the Magicals of old, not having to hide their magic, not having to live as something they were not. But that wasn’t going to get me any closer to bringing calm to the planet. I had a feeling the Magical Realm’s views about blending with the humans weren’t in line with mine, and nothing was going to happen anytime soon to change this. I sighed heavily, knowing the two laws I needed our Magical race to embrace, the marriage and adoption laws, were at significant risk of staying as they were—forbidden.

Also, seeing all those lights from homes brought to my mind another problem I had worried about before I left on vacation—the Valley needed a government body to uphold the laws of the land. But thankfully, upon my return, I learned my sisters had instituted the old rules that had governed Elders’ Valley ages ago, and this news truly was a relief. They told me they brought the old ordinances current and assured me whenever a construction contract for a home or business came into effect, the home or business owner signed an agreement to adhere to those rules. My sisters also made it clear to me throughout our meetings these past seven days that they would handle the day-to-day governing. They would attend council meetings in my stead, as well as the monitoring of Esmeralda to allow me time to rest as I prepared for my crossing.

Usually, I would have protested at having my duties minimized. This was what I had fought for—my rightful place on the council bench, and my position to guide our Realm. But I didn’t protest, nor did I whine or pout. It would have wasted my energy, of which, I could not afford. I have refused myself these past two weeks of the jellybean-drug the Elders gave me to give me strength and energy and to stop the burning in my joints. I only have seven beans left, and I didn’t want to waste them because once they were gone, my crossing would commence whether I was ready or not. I was far from being ready, there was still much to accomplish. But even though the weakness in my body was growing daily, I looked forward to my first day back and meeting all the council members Esmeralda excluded from the bench. It was important for me to be there for the opening day ceremonies—I wanted to be there.

So, I let my sisters believe I accepted their other offerings of attending council hearings and governing over the town, and I would, on occasion, visit my office. Indeed, it’d been a seriously neat trick how I pulled that off. My sisters were experts at reading the emotional colors surrounding spoken words. It’s a talent only Chosen Ones’ possess. I too, had that ability, yet before I left on vacation, I was nowhere near as talented as my sisters were. But like all my other magical abilities that seem to pop up at the strangest times, I have managed to hide the emotional colors around my words and project truthfulness when I wanted to evade their questioning. I didn’t bother to alert them to this fact, nor did I mention it to Steven, or Bradley…or Billy, Richard, Gary, or Stanley, as I suspect that new little magic trick of mine might come in handy in the coming months.

As the light of the morning grew brighter, and the purple clouds of the night faded, I went back inside to wake Steven and enjoy a little quiet time with him before our clan arrived for our Sunday gathering.

Chapter 5

A Sunday meal with my clan was invaluable to me. Even though we’d see each other during the week, Sunday was a time for us to get together, to put our worries along with the daily interruptions aside, and just have