The Journey of Secrets II: Time Forgotten

By JR Robberts

Stranded in a strange world and trying to deal with the realities of human life Merk, Asalis and Megan all find themselves disconnected from each other and their former lives. With some trying to let go of the past, some not remembering the past at all and others still clinging tightly to what was once a journey of purpose find themselves conflicted with different views and emotions about what was. With the stones missing and little hope of returning home, can these friends find what they lost and remember that which was forgotten and save what can still be saved?

Only time will tell.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JR Robberts
• Release date: Jan 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370652181

JR Robberts

JR Robberts grew up in Pretoria, South Africa with his grandparents. His passion for writing and all things artistic started from a young age, earliest work was at thirteen with poems published in a special anthology called Taking Flight published by the International Library of Poetry."I'm a dreamer. What I write comes from inside, a place so deep that sometimes it is scary but at the same time exciting to see what I am capable of. I know I'm a newbie but writing to me is not about fame or fortune. I'm a story teller and what is important is my voice and how far it carries. If I can touch someone with my words then I am happy. The rest is just a bonus."

Book preview

The Journey of Secrets II: Time Forgotten

By JR Robberts

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2018 JR Robberts

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook 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 recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Contents

Chapter 1: Living a lie

Chapter 2: Joshua

Chapter 3: Megan

Chapter 4: Alison

Chapter 5: The Visit

Chapter 6: Merk

Chapter 7: The Meeting

Chapter 8: Hidden Allegiance

From the Author

Living a lie

It was a cold and dark night in the small town of Meadows. The wind had brought with it endless clouds of rain and rolling thunder. The town was quiet this time of year as many of its residences served as holiday homes during the hot summers. It was a home away from home, with its stunning waterfront and many tourist attractions in and around the area, Meadows came to life once a year bringing with it a buzz of activity and a new life but for now many seasonal shops were closed and the town lay silent, waiting to be awoken from its slumber. On the outskirts of Meadows overlooking the ocean stood a Victorian gem. A historical mansion that once housed the original founders of the small town now stood as a monument, a landmark for those who wanted to delve deeper into the town’s rich history, a gem once known for its extravagant functions and luscious décor now served as a home for only one. It was fairly late as a car entered through its black gates driving towards the main entrance where an old man was waiting patiently at the door holding an umbrella. Oswald was the only servant that stayed on after the original owners of the house passed away taking care of the property and it’s only remaining resident. It was a demanding job, one that Oswald embraced and was good at. The job came with many responsibilities but it had been years since he last welcomed a guest to the property so he knew it had to be important.

Welcome to Meadows Mansion sir, we have been expecting you, Oswald said gripping his umbrella tight as the wind pulled at it. The mystery guest, the only visitor that the owner wanted to see had finally arrived. Once inside Oswald took the young man’s coat and gave the stranger a friendly smile. It has been so long that he had almost forgotten how to receive and treat a guest to the mansion and not just a tourist hoping for a selfie with the butler.

Where is he? the man asked with a kind of urgency in his voice.

In the study sir. This way please. Oswald replied.

There was something about this stranger that seemed familiar to Oswald. To the normal eye this stranger would just be any other person with a life, maybe a job and a girlfriend but Oswald knew that it was most probably not the case. If you had been around strange people for so long you kind of notice when someone seems out of place, like they just don’t belong. Twenty years ago he witnessed the birth of a beautiful boy, a miracle birth that to this day could not be explained. The lady of the house had seen many doctors and specialists hoping to conceive but the quest seemed futile as it became clear that no son or daughter would be born to carry on the Meadows name. It came as a big shock to everyone when she announced a few months after the bad news that she was indeed pregnant. It was on a warm summer’s day that Kyle came into the world; little did Oswald know that he would end up raising this strange boy as his own after the accident that took the lives of his parents. A boy that turned out to be curious from a young age, younger than normal and asked a lot of questions. Strange questions said strange things and believed in magic.

Oswald opened the doors to the study, smiled at the young man and pointed to one of the leather couches prompting him to sit down. A fire was crackling away in the fireplace filling the large room with light and warmth, casting shadows along the walls where large paintings hung, paintings of landscapes and ancient castles, paintings the young man recognized. Rows of books lined the rest of the walls with a single staircase leading up to a second story where more books were tucked away with some forming towers on the floor.

You came. A voice said coming from upstairs. I honestly did not think you would Asalis.

I do not go by that name anymore, Asalis replied shifting his weight nervously on the couch. I see you did well for yourself, wish I had it this easy Merk, Kyle or whatever name you go by these days.

Merk walked down the stairs going over the speech he had prepared in his head ever since he had tracked down his long lost friend. Merk recognized the face, the features, even the voice sounded vaguely familiar like it was somehow imprinted in his mind. Even though he recognized the person as his friend he soon realized that the reunion he was expecting would not go as planned. The person in front of him was a mere reflection of his friend but the soul, the color of his aura and his looks resembled nothing of his former self. The self that existed in another realm and was brought here by decisions he had made, choices that had been haunting him for so long. He sat down nervously on a chair opposite Asalis and looked him in the eyes. His expression told nothing of his real feelings as a weary smile spread across his face.

"It is good to see you, Merk. Honestly, I was surprised to hear from you after all that happened, I would have thought that you of all people would have left this alone but here I am. Your letter suggested it was urgent.’

I spent years searching for you hoping that one day we would see each other again. You have to believe me, I tried everything to find you sooner but being twenty doesn’t exactly give me free rain over the family resources. Merk blurted out. The speech he had prepared was useless now. He wanted to ease into the conversation about the past but it was too late, he knew he had ripped the bandage right off. It is my fault that we are here in the first place…

Merk I do not blame you! Asalis interrupted. We did not know where the door would take us or where we would end up. I for one never thought I would have to relive my childhood as someone new, someone different, growing up amongst humans, as a human.

It’s very weird I know. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t regret the choice we made. We were kids, we blindly believed in the vision of one man, of a King who was just as troubled as his enemies, secrets lurking around every corner. I just try and remember that it was for something bigger, I remind myself it was for family, for our people.

Merk felt the guilt he had been keeping under wraps for so long pour out like the toxic poison of the opal river that nearly took his life so long ago. The room felt darker and colder as a morbid feeling of gloom set in.

We made the choice together, all of us. I have made peace with it and to be honest Merk I think it’s time that you do too. I have a life here, a life that I was forced to build without you or Megan or any form of magic.

Do you ever think about it, home I mean?

To be honest I stopped a long time ago, Asalis replied looking at his friend. He hardly recognized the person sitting in front of him. Time on earth had done him no good. Being somewhere you don’t want to be can consume and destroy you Asalis remembered thinking of his younger self. He would never admit it to anyone mainly because he needed to keep himself in check mentally but there would be days and even nights when he would drift back to that time that place. The peace he had made came with a price.

I’m glad you can just forget, Merk replied. I have not stopped searching for answers for as long as I can remember, I don’t have a life, friends or someone to love. I guess in a way I have always hoped that we can go back and finish what we started.

It shows Merk, just by the amount of money you offered me to come here I just knew that even in this life you could not leave things be.

How could I Asalis. Is there not one part of you that still remembers what we set out to do, the intentions that we had, to do what was right.

Why did you bring me here Merk? Did you arrange all of this hoping that you would feel better after talking to me, that we would just pick up where we left off and suddenly save our world from the evil that is Leonora?

Asalis could not sit still any longer. Leave the past where it is please, I want no part of it. He said coming to a standstill in front of the fireplace.

We can still fix this Asalis!

Fix what? Asalis exclaimed turning around to face Merk. There is nothing to fix. Do you even remember how we got here? That was our chance to fix things, instead, we made things worse!

You can’t be serious. How were we supposed to know? You lead us through that door and we jumped through time like rabbits changing things that were not meant to be changed. You were outraged and went beyond all of our advice and then…then we lost each other and I have spent all my life trying to fix the wrongs of the past.

Which is what exactly? Going back? We couldn’t go back twenty years ago, how do you expect to get back now? Asalis said shaking his head in disbelief. Who says I want to go back? Does Megan want to go back? I made mistakes yes, I won’t stand here and say I am innocent. I wanted to get us home Merk but look at me now, I have a family, a child whom I can’t imagine life without. I am happy here."

You don’t belong here Asalis. We do not belong here, and to have a child with a human? Merk replied shaking his head.

"We are human you dumb idiot. Yes, I went through the same shit as what you are going through at the