Serpent's Eye: Book 1: Encharta Series

By Stacey Dahmen

In time of darkness, Aura and her brother Donny go on a journey to rescue the princess from a horrible sea serpent. Accompanying them is Hawks rather shady son, Falcon. Hawk, who was the queens servant, now rules the throne with his battle sawyr, Gualdon. They are both wizards. This journey soon comes to a halt as a new wizard and a rival of Falcons comes into the picture, Ryson. Soon, Aura finds out that much more is at stake than their lives, and that she herself is changing. She gains new powers from an anonymous wizard, and gets a strange telepathy message. Falcon gets more suspicious and trouble brews between the two. In the final battle, she is suddenly thrust into a hero position that against her nature. Find out if Aura succeeds in saving her life and untimely all of Enchartas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 26, 2009
• ISBN: 9781467871846

Stacey Dahmen

Stacey Dahmen was born in Fredricksburg, VA on May 2, 1990. From an early age, she demonstrated a love of reading and writing which was fostered and supported by her mother. Currently, Stacey lives with her father and step-mom in Seymour, IN. Right now, she is attending Purdue University for Biochemistry but is planning to write the rest of this trilogy in her free time. Stacey has three sisters, Crystal, Amy, and Jennifer along with a niece, Lucy, and nephew, Jacob. Her step-sister, Diana, will have a new baby boy or girl in September giving Jacob a new brother or sister. In her free time, Stacey enjoys playing her flute and following her favorite player in the NBA. 

Book preview

Serpent’s Eye

Book 1: Encharta Series

STACEY DAHMEN

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AuthorHouse™

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© 2012 Stacey Dahmen. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 11/28/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4389-5670-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4678-7184-6 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Ch.1 The Beginning

Ch.2 A Bumpy Ride

Ch.3 Metric City

Ch.4 Coal Caves

Ch.5 Queen Aza

Ch.6 Glossy Hills

Ch.7 The Sewing Ladies

Ch.8 Ryson And The Unicorn

Ch.9 Saving Dazzle

Ch.10 Floodwall

Ch.11 Floodwall Discovered

Ch.12 Windy Valley

Ch.13 A Lake And A Forest

Ch. 14 V Mts.: The Blizzard

Ch. 15 Ryson’s Past

Ch. 16 Shattered Icebergs

Ch. 17 Magic Released

Ch.18 The Attacks

Ch. 19 Shot Desert

Ch. 20 The Probing

Ch.21 The Intersection

Ch.22 The Final Battle

Ch.23 The Ending

This book is dedicated to my mother who has always believed in me and my dreams.

Map.jpg

*Plains exist between all regions expect for Ruby Castle and Metric City, and Crystal Lake and Green Forest.

*Not included on the map is the intersection, a thin body of water connecting the seas

From the journal of Silis Kriglous

I can feel them coming now, with that child, a coldness that seeps deep inside my soul. I now put my work and the work of countless of other wizards in her hands. May she help lift this veil of deceit and restore what was and should be to Encharta, a country that I love dearly. I hope she has the strength to face the challenges that will inevitable await her.

In spirit,

Silis

CH.1 THE BEGINNING

Do you believe in fantasy?" fourteen year-old Aura asked to her sixteen year-old brother.

Both were sitting on their beds, Donny a temporary one until his room was painted all the way, in Boston, MA, having no clue that their life was about to change dramatically. Aura was a spunky, yet unsure, girl for fourteen. She had her straight brown hair whipped back in a ponytail, and her bangs did little to conceal her freckles that dotted her face. She had blue eyes as open as the sky that slept lazily above them and was average height. Aura wasn’t that brave, and the only person she was bossy to was her brother. Her bed was a perfect symbol of who she was. It was blue with soft, puffy, white clouds, which was where Aura’s head was half the time. Though fairly old, the frame was solid oak and had a heart engraved on the headboard. She loved fantasy and believed at any moment it could become reality. A book would deliver Aura anywhere she wanted to be and put her into any mood she wanted to be in: a castle and in love, the Pacific Ocean and blissfully happy, or even some unknown and unnamed tropical island her feet tingling with the feeling of a new adventure. She was reading right now Myths of the World, her all time favorite book.

Her brother Donny, on the other hand, was the exact opposite in every way. He took being practical to the very extreme. Nothing existed, besides religion that science couldn’t solve, at least in his mind. He had glasses, short blond hair, and a display of freckles too. Like his sister, he was of average height and weight. A loose cannon and a hothead could best describe Donny’s personality. He was very brave and bold, and sometimes that could be his downfall. He was infamous for getting into fights at school and being shaken up pretty bad. See, for being so courageous, Donny wasn’t very strong. Priding himself on them, his grades were genius material. Donny loved reading and had tons of books, yet you would never find one that wasn’t science based. He, unlike Aura, read books to obtain knowledge and learn more. He was currently reading The Uses of Fireworks volume 1. There were twenty volumes. Right now, the two were alone. Their mother was on a business call for her law firm and wouldn’t be back for at least another three hours, so she put Donny in charge.

Some types, he said not looking up from his book that he was buried in.

Aura looked at him completely confused which she often did when he gave answers. What do you mean some types? There’s only fantasy and fiction.

Donny rolled his eyes in frustration, which he often did when she didn’t understand, what he thought to be, simple answers. When part of the book is fantasy and part is fiction, like when King Arthur is assembling his men at the round table. Then two children go back in time to meet him. I mean really, Aura, why do you even bother asking. With you one question leads to another.

She gave her brother a mean look. Aura hated it when Donny treated her like a child, but she didn’t press the issue. There’d be time for that later. Instead, she went back to her own book trying to find a new story, but when you’ve read a book several times, it’s hard to find something unread. Then her eyes happened to land on a map. It was very wrinkly and barely legible, but she could tell it was something exciting. In a startling effort, she strained her eyes to read the title.

Encharta, she said quietly. To her, even the name sounded exotic. As she continued on, she could barely contain her joy. There were hills that had a rain cloud over it, Glossy Hills it said. There were two huge seas, but it was hard to tell what color one was. The whole map seemed faded, but she could scarcely see a speck of purple on a sea called Wavy Sea. The other sea, Golden Sea, seemed to have two dots on it that resembled eyes. Unlike its counterpoint, there was no mistaking that it shimmered like gold. There were also Metric City, Coal Caves, Windy Valley, and the V Mountains named after their shape. From what Aura could see, they were very rugged and jagged nothing that she could traverse without getting herself killed. There was also a huge mass of trees called Green Forest, and they seemed like the only ones in Encharta. There was also a lake located right next to it called Crystal Lake. Strangely named Shot Desert, a desert stretched between the hills and Golden Sea. Aura had to tell someone or she’d burst. Donny, she whispered, Come and see the map I found. It’s amazing.

Oh, I bet it is, he said in a bored tone flipping a page in his book, especially if you say it is.

She tapped her foot on the floor, impatiently. Donny Trevors, come over and see this now.

Now he looked up. Will you ever stop pestering me? I’m not asking for much, maybe a couple of minutes.

When you see this map, she said forcefully. This was one of the times she found it necessary to be bossy.

Fine, Donny said getting up sluggishly, I’ll see your stupid map just to make you happy. What he saw, though, impressed him. My word, Aura, he said readjusting his glasses, I apologize. This is remarkable, truly a fine piece of work.

Do you think the sea is really purple? Aura asked pleased that her brother was actually taking her seriously. She then pointed to Wavy Sea and the tiny spot of purple.

Donny shrugged. If the illustrator wants it to be. Then after a whiles thought he added, What an imagination!

You don’t think it’s real, Aura said not wholly shocked.

Of course not, he said with a laugh, My word, Aura, I think you’ve outdone yourself.

Why couldn’t it be, she said putting her hands on her hips.

Well, Donny said putting on his monotonic explanation voice, For one thing, there are too many different weather patterns. They can’t all exist in one centralized area, not to mention the corny names. I’ve also looked in every sort of atlas around, trust me, Aura, and I’ve never seen any Encharta. The whole idea of a land mass this big actually existing but going unchecked is absurd. Somebody would have spotted it by now.

Bewildered at how they both could come out of the same gene pool, Aura shut the book upset. All she ever heard out of Donny’s mouth was physical prove, and frankly she was sick of it. He looked amazed at Aura’s behavior. Go on. Go back to your science. I still do believe it exists. Really Donny you’re like an encyclopedia, and that’s not a compliment. He went back to his book with a shrug never really showing much concern for his sister’s rants. She had an endless imagination which fueled them, much like their father who passed away less than a year ago. There wasn’t a memory Donny had of him that didn’t involve some story-telling of some kind.

A couple of minutes later when Aura had opened her book and was thinking about Encharta, she heard a loud noise like a volcano erupting. At first, she ignored it, because after all, Donny didn’t seem concerned. Personally, she didn’t want to give him the joy of seeing her worry over nothing, but then it got louder to the point where she couldn’t ignore it any more. Do you hear that sound? she said to him. Donny lifted his head rather calmly and nodded. What do you suppose it is? she asked, an earthquake.

Donny shook his head. Not here, he said trying to think of a logical explanation in his head. Then another shake happened that was even louder. The beds shook, and the two teenagers had to stop the bookcases from falling by leaning up against them. At the same time, they plugged their ears trying to drown out the noise. Then Aura laughed, and he looked at her as if she was crazy.

Think about if mom was here, she said voicing her thoughts aloud, She’d panic. Come to think about it, she’d probably tell whoever was making the racket to keep it down.

As a picture on the wall crashed down and specks from the ceiling floated to the floor Donny said, I think we’d better worry about what we’d do if the house fell down. As the shaking finally lessened, Aura’s eyes were directed on the window.

Glad something major didn’t happen, said Donny surveying what little damage there was. Then he noticed the spark of fear in his sister’s eyes. He followed her gaze to the window and at the thing she was looking at. Both of the Trevors froze and became like statues after Donny slowly crept towards Aura’s bed. A big eye was now looking through their window at the two of them in curiosity.

Aura couldn’t really tell you, at that moment; to what or whom exactly the eye belonged. It was a creature that she knew nothing about and was too big to be a bird. It had feathers, which led Aura to believe it was some sort of a bird. It had white talons each one as big as a dagger that looked remarkably sharp. The creature’s beak was orange, and its head white. Oddly, it also seemed to have no wings. It feathers were royal purple and its belly brown. The tips of the feathers were multi-color and she could see, after closer examination, that its eyes, or at least the one looking at them, were blue. Its chin was tipped up, and its head leaned towards the sky gracefully. The creature stood with a proud, yet majestic stance. He also had, what Aura considered, a friendly smile. Standing about the height of their house, she automatically felt an enormous amount of respect for this creature; but, as expected, Donny’s feelings were not mutual. He was still in total shock.

Donny walked up and started poking it in the side. Ouch, the creature said, Stop that. How would you like it if I did that to you? Donny backed up hurriedly fear in his eyes. That’s better. Listen up, I don’t have much time.

What are you? Donny said in awe. Aura looked at her brother disgusted at just how rude he was. To her it was slightly understandable because he meant no harm, but this thing was a complete stranger, and he was staring at it as if it were an ancient artifact suddenly uncovered.

Not what, but whom, Gualdon to be exact, he said, And I can’t explain it to you right now. Aura could tell there was a sense of urgency in his voice.

Try, said Donny crossly.

Donny, Aura said appalled.

It’s quite all right, Gualdon said, As long as it gets him to shut up. I am a battle sawyr.

What’s a sawyr? (Pronounced sour) Donny said as if he had just tasted something awful.

Not a sawyr, Gualdon said impatiently, a sawyr (pronounced sa- war), and well it’s... it’s...me.

Donny laughed loosening up a bit, Can you be a little more specific?

Gualdon sighed, A full-grown battle sawyr, which is about twenty sawyr years, is about my height, though babies are no bigger than your palm. Aura couldn’t imagine something as big as him being that little. All Sawyrs look about the same. They have white feathers on the top of their head. Sawyr’s have orange talons, and their feathers can be any color though most are purple or green. Their tips can be any arrangement of colors as their tail. Our faces’ are always brown, and our beaks are always orange. Most of our bellies are a light brown though I’ve seen some whose are white. Ugly if you ask me. A spitting image of a ghost all that white. Our wings are always the same color as the sides, and the battle sawyr’s are fairly large. Now if you want the history....

Hold on, Donny objected being his usually obnoxious self, What wings? Unless their invisible, you have no wings.

Donny, Aura said absolutely fuming, If for one second you’d be nice, it’d be a miracle.

It’s all right... um... Gualdon begun.

Aura, she said.

Yes, thank you, he said, but, if your brother wants a full explanation, I’d be happy to oblige. My wings are camouflage. You do know what that means? Donny didn’t say anything but was clearly insulted. They are the same color as my wings and thin. That’s why you can’t see them.

You said they were big, Donny said back trying to regain his pride, How can something that big be laid against your side?

Well first off I’m surprised you were actually listening, and second they fold like a dragon’s, Gualdon said.

Do you hear this guy? A dragon, Donny said to Aura with a snort, He’s an absolute nut.

Enough! Gualdon yelled in a booming voice that echoed throughout the room causing another tile to fall. The two Trevors immediately fell quiet. No more talking till I’ve said what I came here to say! Aura could tell that he was upset, and even Donny wasn’t stupid enough to say anything. Gualdon then assumed his graceful, patient tone of voice. I have come here to ask you to perform a task. It won’t be small. See, I am from Encharta...

Encharta, Aura exclaimed overfilling with joy just at hearing the place’s name. Gualdon gave her an aggravated look and Aura said quietly, Sorry.

Wait Encharta’s real, Donny said overtaken by too much shock to stay quiet.

Of course, Gualdon said, Or weren’t you listening. Donny was about to respond when Gualdon said, Do not answer that, and no more questions. This was going to be hard for Aura to do. Ever since she heard the word Encharta, her mind raced with questions and thoughts, but she held her tongue. Our world was attacked by a sea serpent two years ago. After the attack, the royals and almost all the polyers, who are a very cultural folk, vanished. Millions of wizards, even the best, have tried to destroy the beast, but none have been victorious. As for me, I don’t even try. We would have to form a platoon of battle sawyers and some warriors too, and since sawyers hardly rally together for any cause no matter how worthy, my master has given me permission to bring you to Encharta. I felt something in you two. I can’t explain it, but somehow I know you’ll be able to kill the serpent once and for all. You’ll have to trust me, because I have no logical explanation. He cleared his throat to let Aura and Donny know he was done.

So let me get this straight, Donny said, You want me to go to an unknown place, save somebody I don’t even care about from a man-eating serpent who can eat me for dinner and spit my bones out?

Gualdon grinned at Aura, That sounds about right don’t you think so Aura.

She laughed, Yes, I believe so. As a matter of fact, I think he worded it beautifully.

Donny crossed his arms bitterly, Ha, Ha, very funny. You two should start a comedy act, and then you could tease me professionally.

Oh come on, I think it’ll be fun, Aura said not quite sure why she still felt such a strong desire to go despite what Gualdon had just said. She just knew that she did, and somehow she had to convince Donny of the same.

Donny looked at her ready to tear his own hair out, Fun? Gosh, Aura is that all you care about. Because, I don’t think any part of it sounded like fun. What makes us different from those wizards? If they didn’t succeed, two kids from Boston sure can’t. She was about to say something, but he interrupted her, Oh yeah, a feeling. Well sorry I don’t trust anybody’s feelings except my own.

Donny, I’m sure Gualdon wouldn’t let anything harm us, Aura said motioning towards him.

Donny snorted and said, In what lifetime. Gualdon then tapped him with his wing, and Donny fell over hitting his head on a bookcase. Stupid bird, he said as Aura helped him up.

Now none of that, she said in a motherly type voice. Then she talked to Donny exclusively, It’ll be an adventure and... But Aura didn’t get to finish.

No, and I mean it, Donny said.

Oh, come on you insensitive jerk. You’re the only one she trusts enough, Gualdon said.

No, you overgrown pigeon, Donny yelled back.

You emotionless robot.

You stuffed piñata with candy for brains.

You worthless waste of a human.

You...

Stop, Aura said in her bossy voice. Quit acting like little children. She pulled aside Donny to talk to him. Aren’t you the least bit interested in seeing what the Enchartans look like?

No, Donny said grumpily. She sighed. Donny had made up his mind.

Fine, I’ll just go alone, Aura said as she walked over towards Gualdon confidently.

He groaned shaking his head, I guess one is better than none, but get on, we haven’t got much time. We’re already late as it is. He was now crouched so that his back was level to the window.

Aura was about to slide on when Donny said despite his better judgment, Wait, Aura you can’t go alone. I guess I’ll have to go with you. She smiled, because she knew that Donny would change his mind. He would be too guilty if he didn’t. See, Donny was very protective by nature, so even when the two disagreed or were mad at each other, he still would worry about her. When he saw her big smile, he added, I’m just going along to protect you. That’s it.

He got on and Gualdon yelled, Hang on. I’m going to straighten up to take off.

Ch.2 A Bumpy Ride

Both clutched on to something, Aura to Gualdon and Donny to her. Gualdon’s back straightened up and Aura and Donny were literally sideways in the air. With powerful strokes, he took off into the sky as his wings seemed to evolve out of nothing like a magician pulling a trick. He skimmed the roofs of the houses for a little while until gaining altitude. Once Gualdon was a little higher up in what he called middle air, he slowed down giving his wings a break from hard flying.

Wow, Donny said awed at his wing span, You weren’t lying. They’re amazing.

You can reach out and touch them if you like, Gualdon said, But only slightly. If you disturb them too much, I’ll get off balance. Donny reached out and touched them as did Aura. They felt so smooth and silky. When she touched them it was like touching paper, because they were so thin. The wing’s colors were an exact copy of the side they emerged from. Donny leaned back relaxing and shutting his eyes like he was on vacation.

Gualdon then informed the Trevors to hang on once more. He was entering the top part of the sky, and the fact that the winds fought against him didn’t make it pleasant getting there. Aura held on tight, but of course, being his usual self, Donny wasn’t listening. She didn’t make sure that he was either. Then Gualdon took off, and the rebelling wind made it hard for Aura to see. Almost spontaneously, a huge gust of wind hit Donny and Aura like an army, but because Donny wasn’t holding on, it knocked him back unmercifully. He quickly grabbed on to Gualdon’s tail with all his strength while the wind threatened to pull him off.

Ouch, Gualdon said as one of his tail feathers were removed, Watch out back there. They had now entered the top air, but Gualdon kept going at a steady speed.

I’m not doing anything, Aura said to Gualdon.

Aura, Donny yelled the best he could, Help. Most of what he said was tossed into the wind and lost, but she heard enough to know that it was him. Turning around amazed and bewildered, they saw him hanging on to Gualdon’s tail and being flung around like a rag doll. He didn’t dare let go, because the wind hadn’t died down yet.

What are you doing down there? Aura said to him, Didn’t you hear Gualdon?

No, I wasn’t listening, Donny said.

Why doesn’t that surprise me? Gualdon said sarcastically.

"Well, maybe if somebody would have made sure we were holding on," Donny said.

"Maybe if somebody would have paid attention to what I said," Gualdon said back.

Oh never mind, Donny said with an aggravating sigh, Just slow down and get me back up. He stretched out his hand but quickly held back on to Gualdon’s tail when he felt the other slipping.

When Gualdon didn’t slow down, Aura said, Well.

We won’t get to Encharta on time if I do, Gualdon warned her.

Just do it, Aura said in a demanding way, You’ll live. He slowed down, and she crept closer to his tail as the wind slowed down considerably. Hold my hand, she said to Donny.

He grabbed her hand, and she pushed him up struggling to do so since Donny weighed more than her. When he was successfully up, he said, Thanks.

No problem, Aura said trying to find her breath that she had lost. Gualdon stayed at the slow speed for a while, and since they were all the way in the top air, he gave Aura permission to reach out and touch the clouds. The top air still had wind, so Gualdon told her to do so in caution. The thin puff of white from the cloud lifted up and seemed to dance around her hand weaving its own story of what it had seen. Aura felt so relaxed and calm. The blue sky, devoid of a hint of gray, seemed to lift one’s mood like clockwork. She looked down and all she saw was sky. The breeze was an old friend who was saying hello by cooling off Aura. She closed her eyes and felt, just felt. Even though it was summer and hot, up here it felt like spring was just beginning. She opened her eyes for a concise second and asked, Why do we not feel the air when we’re on the ground?

Very simple, really, Gualdon said seeing that even Donny was interested in the answer, On the ground, you only feel the wind of bottom air. This air hardly gets any, unless the wind from middle air is blowing hard enough. In your case, it wasn’t. The top air is much like bottom that is it can only receive wind from the middle air.

She closed her eyes again thinking about Gualdon’s explanation. She carried the breeze on her arms and paradise was only two steps away. A little while later, she felt a tap on her shoulder, and opened her eyes. Donny was facing her with his eyes wide-open pointing straight ahead. Aura was amazed, because she’d never seen her brother this transfixed before.

What is it? Aura asked.

Look! Donny demanded. She did and could not believe her eyes. Right before her was the most glorious and extraordinary sight she had ever seen: Encharta. Gualdon grinned seeing how speechless she was.

Welcome to Encharta, he said, Quite remarkable if I do say so myself, but of course I live here.

Aura tried to imagine the map in her book; she couldn’t. Her entire focus was on the sight below. It was more than Aura ever imagined. On the far left corner was a beautiful beach and ocean, which seemed to stretch out for miles. She saw a tinge of purple in the ocean but still couldn’t tell whether it was really purple. The beach was blazing hot, and she felt the heat just flying over it.

What temperature it was she couldn’t imagine. On the far right corner was another sea, but it was no mistake that it was golden. It shimmered in the sun like a jewel. The speckled sea looked quite bare compared to the other beach, and next to the right sea was a dark cave. If Aura looked closely, she could see thousands of shining lights, like lanterns. Above that were vast hills. It was raining there. Between the hills and the left beach, there was an endless desert. Aura shuttered just thinking about going in it. Above the hills was a chain of mountains shaped like a V. It was snowing furious there as if it was getting vengeance for a wrong doing. To the left of that was a valley so steep Aura could almost reach down and touch the top. It was so windy that her hair whipped around like leaves on a corner street, but what amazed Aura so wasn’t the steep valley or freezing mountains, it was a city.

A huge city stretched out before them, with six separate suburbs each the size of Boston. A rustic yet elegant gate stood at the entrance of each suburb to let a person know when they entered. In the heart of the city, the only thing shown on a map, there were tons of houses lined up systematically. The majority was encased with rubies on the shutters; even the doorknobs seemed to be plain rubies. There was also a lot of shops, hotels, and common city buildings, most of them very tall. However, it looked so abandoned. Aura couldn’t see a single person or a sign, like lights, that anybody lived there. Despite this Aura couldn’t see how a huge and so elaborate city could be devoid of any people. Maybe, thought Aura, people inhabited it at some time, but something swallowed the town. Aura didn’t even want to think at what did cause this town to be so desolate. It had to be something huge. Somehow, she felt like this had something to do with why they were sent here. A whole town of people just couldn’t disappear. They had to be somewhere. A chill ran down Aura’s spine. She turned around towards Donny and could tell that he was just as spooked out as her. Aura then loosened her grip, because Gualdon was slowing down even more and banking into a deep dive. Next came a castle that was shining red with rubies quickly disappearing from her view, but Gualdon was landing into the city. Despite her fears, she was excited at what lay ahead.

Ch.3 Metric City

Gualdon let them off and asked, Well Aura what do you think?

She opened her mouth to answer, but before she could answer, Donny blurted out, It’s real. Gualdon looked at him and rolled his eyes. Mouth agape, Donny was going around Encharta touching the buildings softly as if they were shadows.

Of course it is, Gualdon said, How could I live in a place that isn’t real.

But it can’t be real, Donny said completely appalled, I’m never wrong.

Really, you could have fooled me.

Aura hugged her waist tightly, feeling a sudden draft, It looks like a ghost town.

Well, Gualdon said startled at her description, Sort of is. Listen, I’ve got to inform my master that we’re. Will you be okay? One look at Donny’s still dumbfounded face answered his question. Well, just stay by the well and don’t wander off. The two children’s attention was turned to a rusty well that stood in the middle of the city. It was rust-colored speckled brick, and the bucket that was held by a loose bundle of rope had a hole in the bottom. Aura was sure that it was completely dried up by now.

Who exactly is your master? she asked.

I can’t tell you his name not yet, but I can tell you that he was a servant at Ruby Castle, but was appointed to a higher position. Gualdon replied glaring at Donny, Be careful to not fall in! Donny was now observing the well with great interest, and took no notice to his warning. Instead, he leaned further into it.

So he’s a polyer? Aura asked.

No, he comes from an ancient land of wizards which some say is above Encharta. It has, according to the legends, existed for centuries. Ordinarily the most powerful wizards come from there; one’s whose destiny is not that of a normal wizard. Gualdon could tell that a question was forming on her lips. Sorry, I can’t tell you anything else. The wizards are very...well...secretive when it comes to revealing their land. Nobody enters except those that are born there originally or have origin and lineage there. He could tell now that she was disappointed, so he added, But, don’t worry. You’ll find more out soon enough.

So is your master fulfilling his destiny, Aura asked.

Gualdon laughed, I’d say he has. After all he has one of the most respected positions a wizard can get in Encharta.

He took off and headed towards Ruby Castle after taking one more glance at the Trevors.

So, what do you say about a little exploring, Donny said with a grin after Gualdon was out of earshot.

What? Aura said figuring he was over his initial shock, But, what about what Gualdon said, and besides this place doesn’t exist according to you.

I heard what he said, Donny said as he kicked his shoe into the dirt, He said that this place was abandoned. As for this place not existing, as long as you continue to think otherwise it would be foolish not to have some fun

She rolled her eyes and said back, He also said to not wander off.

Come on, Aura. Do you think I care what that bird says?

You should. He lives here. What if there’s something dangerous? she said looking over her shoulder as if a person had manifested from her words.

Get real, this place is abandoned, he said with a snort, Unless you’re afraid of ghosts.

I’m not, she said with a slight whine, I just want to be careful that’s all.

Careful that you don’t get swiped by a ghost, Donny said with a grin. He loved teasing his sister and did so every chance he got.

You’re completely wrong. Plus I changed my mind let’s go, Aura said uncertain of the last thing she said.

No, I’d better not, he said shaking his head sadly,

"After all you are my little sister, so I should be considerate of your little fears and needs."

Stop, she practically yelled, I may be younger than you, but I can take care of myself.

So, Donny said taking advantage of Aura’s anger, Are you prepared to make a little wager? He held out his hand to shake.

Deal, she said shaking his hand without thinking letting her anger take control, something that was a genuine Trevor trait. All Aura cared about was making Donny eat his bitter words.

The wager is that we split up and go opposite ways. Whoever goes into the most ghost buildings and gets evidence that they’ve been there is the winner. Simple really, he commented.

Go opposite ways, she said startled, But isn’t that dangerous.

Aura I thought you shook hands, Donny said slyly, You’re not chickening out. Are you?

No, I just, she said quietly rubbing her arm, was wondering what do you mean evidence.

Oh, I don’t know. Didn’t Gualdon say they were cultural? A whiskey cup from an old salon, fiddle from a dancehall, that sort of stuff.

O.K, she said. Then, they were about to venture out when Aura asked, What about if you can’t find any evidence?

Then go dig up a dead body, Donny replied with a shrug. His sister gasped and he added, Just kidding. Don’t worry. You’ll find something.

Aura headed north of the well and Donny south. She secretly wished that Donny had the jail, the salon, and the cemetery. Aura shuddered to think what sort of mishaps happened there. Her first building on the left was a grocer. Easy enough, she muttered to herself as she grabbed a rotten fruit that had rolled onto the floor. The first house on her left, a gardeners, was also easy. Pots that once contained flowers had spilled on the floor, and windows were cracked. Aura grabbed a broken piece of dust-colored clay and went on her way.

Until about five houses down she had found this little hunt rather enjoyable and even had started whistling, but when Aura got there, she was standing in front of an old chipped hotel called May’s. Something about the hotel was giving her the creeps. She could tell already what part of her problem was; the hotel had an attic and a basement, and what Aura thought was a lobby floor below the actual rooms. Very carefully, she stepped through the door sneezing as soon as her sneakers hit the floor. The inside was pitiful like a child who had been abandoned. A thick layer of dust covered the whole place giving it a somber feeling. The floorboards looked rotten and the furniture was half-broken, the result of years of no use. The desk looked sturdy enough and even, by some miracle, had avoided most of the dust. Aura also saw three staircases, one leading to the downstairs and two, with the higher one leading to the attic, upstairs. One thing she was sure of was the fact that the evidence would be found on the lobby, or ground floor. This was mainly because nothing short of being chased by a deranged killer could entice her to go to a basement or attic.

She looked around for any evidence that could be taken easily, and unfortunately turned up unsuccessful. It was then that Aura noticed a piece of paper