The Graeae

By CJ Bolyne

Goodeve is a small, simple town in the northeast USA, population 2,988. Good people, good friends, all living together in harmony. There's only one thing peculiar about Goodeve and it’s the sole reason why surrounding townspeople avoid it. You see, Goodeve is populated by witches and wizards. Suspecting three little girls are the direct evil descendants of the Graeae, someone will stop at nothing in order to save the 6 covens from them, even if it means pitting the covens against each other. The evil Graeae must not be allowed to return! In order to survive, the three cousins quickly learn they have to grow up faster than planned.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CJ Bolyne
• Release date: Oct 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781775023814

CJ Bolyne

CJ Bolyne is a first time author and Trinity is her first book. Born and raised in Southeastern Manitoba, Canada, CJ was an avid reader dreaming of the day she would write her own fantasy / sci-fi book. When she’s not writing, CJ spends her time on her farm with her husband and multiple pets. She runs a full-time pet grooming business. Her first book, Trinity, is the first in the series.

Book preview

Chapter One

Two years later.

Three little girls walked up the steps to Coven Hall, hand in hand. Teri, on the left, was the tallest of them, with poker straight, chocolate brown hair, olive colored skin, and almond shaped, deep brown eyes. Olivia was in the middle with wavy blonde hair, bright green eyes, pale skin, an inch shorter than Teri, and on the right, was Ginger. The smallest of them, she had strawberry red, curly hair, large round hazel eyes, perfect oval face and light creamy skin. One would never have known they were cousins.

They looked at each other, and then looked over their shoulders at their mothers, who put on their best ‘everything will be fine’ smiles.

I’m scared, Olivia whispered.

"It’s ok, Olivia. We’ll stick together, ‘cohaero’, remember?" Teri assured. Ginger nodded in agreement.

Two large wooden doors, that had seen better days, loomed before them. The three looked so small standing in front of them, hesitating. Deep breaths; Teri opened the doors and they stepped into a large hall, filled with long tables, dozens of chairs lined them, and fifty children mulled around, chatting excitedly. Some stressing about the exam they were about to take, others gossiping and pointing at others. Kids from all six covens gathered to take a test, the same one that Teri, Olivia, and Ginger were also going to take. The difference was, the three were younger than the rest. Three years younger, to be exact.

The girls moved slowly forward, the room went silent and fifty sets of eyes were on them. The three sat at the back table, near the back corner of the large room, not wanting to go too close to the others.

Freaks! was shouted, no one knew who the culprit was.

Jane Goodwill came in from the back office, Everyone, take a seat, she ordered, now!

Jane was a petite, middle-aged woman, no more than five feet, two inches tall, with salt and pepper hair, cut into a fashionable pixie cut. Her features were sharp, with a small pointy nose, high cheek bones and dark brown eyes that could look right into your soul.

The children found their seats, keeping as far away from the young trio as they could. Whispering was like the steady hum from a busy bee hive.

Quiet! Jane called out.

The hall went deathly silent. Olivia wished for the whispering again. Being this quiet made her nervous; her senses told her something was going to happen, ‘when all is quiet, expect a riot’.

Olivia, quit it, Teri warned.

Sorry, I can’t help it. Something is going to happen, I feel it.

So can we, Ginger said, put it out of your mind so we can concentrate. We all have to do well on our exams. It’s expected. Besides, the more you think something will happen, the more it will, remember?

Olivia nodded.

Jane scanned the room of children, who were poised to take exams for the first time. She spotted the three youngest in the very back, Teri, dear, please come and sit up front. Olivia, you will take this empty seat in the third row and Ginger, you may stay where you are, she said.

The girls did as ordered. Jane smiled at everyone, Now then, here we are, she started, As this is your first time writing exams, I will explain the rules. One, you will not talk or whisper to anyone, two, you will not make eye contact with anyone, and three, I cannot help you, you are on your own. To be sure you follow these rules, there is a spell cast to prevent any cheating. Are we clear?

There was a collective nod.

Good, Jane smiled, relax children. I am sure you will all do great on your tests. Your first one will be on potions, the next, casting, and so on. I trust you all received your schedules? She didn’t wait for a reply, Let us begin and one more thing. Show your parents they taught you well. Oh, I almost forgot, after you’ve finished, bring your papers up here to me, along with your spell books. Alright, begin.

Jane took a seat behind her desk and watched as they all turned over their papers. The few with terror on their faces made her giggle inside. It reminded her of her first exams and the fear she felt, a fear unfounded, she realized, as they were easy for her. Her parents taught her well and now she was the Examiner. A position she didn’t have any interest in as a child. Her examiner was the stern Mrs. Edith Brooks, a woman who put fear in all the students. Although Mrs. Brooks was about fifty years old at the time, they’d thought she was ancient. All kids think adults are ‘old’. It was only later in her teens that Jane found out how old Mrs. Brooks really was, so in reality, the old woman looked quite good for her age.

Jane never saw any witch or wizard bent over with age, no warts and those pointy hats went out of fashion two hundred years ago. The only staple that remained was the cloak. Every witch and wizard had a long black cloak, with emblems of the coven they belonged to sewn on the back.

There were six covens in Goodeve. Greyson’s symbol was the pentagram. The reason they had such a powerful representation was they were the oldest known coven; the first of covens. Wharthall’s symbol was the hog, Crownan’s a crow, Aurana’s stars, Meadowland’s a candle and finally Blackstone’s cauldron symbol. All covens represented in the hall that morning was a sight she was happy to see. Everyone working together. Something that wasn’t always the case. Goodeve’s history was littered with feuds amongst them. The fighting got so bad they almost wiped each other out completely.

It was Edmund Preston who brought the feuds to an end. Edmund was the head of Greyson coven and judge of all. She wondered how Edmund managed to end the fighting. Did he use spells, enchantments? No matter how he did it, and she was sure he had help from someone, he did it.

Jane shook her head, ‘It was a long time ago,’ she told herself. She looked at the time on the wall, 11:45am, they’d be finished soon.

Ahem, Ms. Goodwill?

Jane jumped slightly, turned to see three little girls, exam papers and spell books in hand.

Well, she said, I see you’re finished. Well done, girls. Just set it down here and you may leave.

Teri, Olivia and Ginger did as they were told and left the hall, while Jane scanned Teri’s potions exam, ‘These three are special,’ she thought, then called out, You have ten minutes.

Now outside the hall, the trio sat on the steps for few minutes, So, how’d we do? Teri asked.

Great, Olivia and Ginger said together.

They giggled and started for home.

Chapter Two

It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday afternoon and many children played in the park situated behind Coven Hall.

Swings in motion, each child daring the other to swing higher and higher. The jungle gym filled to capacity, with kids climbing, bending through bars and hanging from the horizontal ladder. A line up the steps to the slide was full but fast moving, as each one slid down to earth only to line up and do it again. The seesaws bouncing up and down, the merry-go-round spinning faster and faster, each child hanging on and laughing. Who would be the first to fall off?

Teri made her way along the ladder, swinging to each rung like a little monkey. Two rungs from the end, Jason climbed up and blocked her, leaving her to dangle.

Where do you think you’re going, squirt? he asked, with an evil grin.

Move, please, Teri said, politely.

No.

C’mon, Jason. I can’t hang on forever.

Then let go, squirt.

Teri looked down and the ground was only three feet away but to her, it looked like twenty feet.

Jason…, she pleaded.

Jason started laughing, joined by three of his equally evil friends. All pointing, laughing and teasing, Jump, jump, jump!

A crowd started to gather around, Why don’t you get your friends to catch you? Jason called to her, You know, O and G, your freaky friends?

The growing mass of kids were laughing and pointing, encouraging Jason. Olivia and Ginger ran over.

Come on, Teri, let’s go, Olivia said.

Yeah, these guys are just jerks, Ginger chimed in.

Teri could feel her strength weaken and she let go, falling to the ground, Ouch!

Ha, ha, ha, only a couple of feet, you’re such a baby, Teri, ha, ha! Jason teased.

Olivia and Ginger helped her to her feet, You ok? Olivia asked.

Yeah, Teri answered.

My mom always said, ‘what goes around, comes around’. Jason will get his one day, you’ll see, Ginger said.

Teri nodded, a grin grew across her lips, How ‘bout today?

Teri.

No, Ginger. Aren’t you tired of him?

TOG! That’s what you are. Teri, Olivia and Ginger, always together. Geez, why don’t you just glue yourselves to each other. You are so weird! Jason called out as the girls walked away.

TOG, no imagination, Ginger parroted the acronym.

We’ll show him, Teri whispered.

They stood shoulder to shoulder, held hands, nodded a mutual agreement, Do it, Teri, Olivia urged.

They made eye contact with Jason, Teri pointed her tiny finger, Black eyes! she cursed. The crowd gave a collective gasp.

Teri!

They turned to find Manny Good, the town Mayor behind them.

What are you doing? he asked.

Um, Teri hesitated, Olivia and Ginger were speechless, eyes wide as saucers, nothing, Mayor Good.

Really? It sounded like a curse to me, he accused.

I, I…we gotta go, sir, bye! The three ran off, leaving Manny alone to sigh and shake his head.

He looked toward the mass of children backing away from Jason, leaving him alone in a circle, Jason’s eyes were black and blue, as if he’d been punched, Jason Hail, come here please, the Mayor said. Jason obliged, scratching his arm as he approached. Manny examined Jason’s eyes, I think you’d better go home and let your mother take care of you. I believe you have hurt yourself on the play structure, young man. Jason nodded and headed for home.

The rest of you do the same, he ordered, nothing more to see.

The crowd dispersed and the playground was empty.

Jason ran down Lunar Crescent until he reached his house and burst through the door, Mom! he yelled.

Martha Hail appeared from the kitchen, Yes, Jason, what is it? She saw his eyes, Oh no.

She inspected her son and sighed, Alright, straight to bed and I’ll bring you something for your face. Were there a lot of children in the park today?

Yes.

She sighed again, Too reckless on the monkey bars again, I see.

But mom, it was TOG.

TOG, who’s TOG?

Those three, Teri, Olivia and Ginger. They cursed me, mom. Ask anyone who was there.

Oh Jason, really.

Honest, mom!

It’s not nice to call those little girls ‘TOG’, Jason, she scolded, Now, to bed, young man.

But, mom, he protested.

Now!

Jason stomped on every step up the stairs and slammed his bedroom door shut.

Martha returned to the kitchen, grabbed the phone and dialed, Marcus, honey, it happened again. Something has to be done, she hung up.

Sunday morning was met with fists pounding on the Graydein’s front door.

Open up, Tim!

Timothy Graydein opened the door to find Marcus Hail’s angry face, inches from his own.

What’s wrong, Marcus? he asked, knowing full well this had to do with his daughter.

Your freak of a kid cursed my Jason with two black eyes, that’s what’s wrong, Marcus accused.

C’mon Marcus, she’s only seven years old and hasn’t got that kind of power.

The arguing continued as Teresa went into the den and called Jacob. She feared an all-out fight as voices grew louder. By the time he arrived, the arguing had diminished to heated discussion, with Marcus demanding something be done about Teri and her friends.

They are dangerous! he said.

Marcus, back off, Jacob ordered, and calm down.

Jacob, my Jason…

I know, I heard from Manny Good, who just happened to be there. Teri, Olivia and Ginger were playing like the rest of the children when your Jason started teasing Teri and encouraging the rest to do the same, Jacob informed.

Those three cursed Jason! Marcus yelled,