Wrath of the Goddess: Book Two in the Hejate Trilogy

By Anna Brio

Floria was once a land of Kings and peace. Now it is a place of war and hate. Neutral, Darkness, and Light have been battling for control longer than they know. When two Earthlings show up mysteriously at Light and Neutral, the fate of the worlds are placed in their hands. Destiny pulls Kavey, Sam, Jayce, and Tyler into a web of mystery, death, and the smallest strand of hope. When they learn that even the Goddess wants them dead, they search ever deeper for answers. The game has been set.Can they outwit its creator?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 14, 2005
• ISBN: 9781456726287

Anna Brio

Anna Brio grew up on Long Island and is currently living there with her family and her hamster, Belle.  She worked on this story for four years until she finished.  She gets inspiration from her friends and support from her family.  She is now thirteen and working on the sequel to Tale of the Protectors.

Book preview

Table of Contents

Prologue

Part One

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Part Two

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty- Two

Chapter Twenty- Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty- Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Five

Chapter Forty-Six

Chapter Forty-Seven

Chapter Forty-Eight

Prologue

Brina named her children Lydia-‘Wind’, Destar- ‘Moon’, and Jana- ‘Sun’. Lydia was a happy child with kind blue eyes and chestnut brown hair that was wavy and long. Destar was a energetic young girl with doe-like melting brown eyes and curly blond hair that made her seem always happy, which she most usually was. Jana was a serious child with raven black hair that was straight as a pin and emerald eyes that glowed like two fire flies in the dead of the night with no moon.

One day, when she was reading a book, a little piece of yellowed parchment fluttered onto her lap. In a tiny, scribbled handwriting, a prophecy was written.

There will be five.

Five to save:

One to heal and protect: the Angelic Wings.

One to search out and destroy evil: the Night Dragon.

One to love and die for love: the Chained heart.

One to love the Chained Heart, be loved in return, and change the worlds: the Bloody Rose.

One to betray and sacrifice: the Healed Betrayer.

The five will come.

Descended from the Chosen and born from the wombs of heroines.

The five will come.

No sooner had Brina finished reading when a strange wind tugged it out of her grasp and through the open window. She told herself it was nothing but a child’s poem and to forget about it. She did but there was always a nagging feeling in the back of her mind to revive the memory.

If she had remembered, would it have saved her?

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Part One

Chapter One

Sam

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Kauey watching me. I had invited her to see me practice on the balance beam but I wasn’t doing my best today. My back walk over needed work but I just couldn’t find my balance today. I kept falling off the beam.

Sam, it’s okay. I know you can do it. Today just isn’t your day. I understand. Kauey said as I pulled myself back onto the beam.

I shook my head. Kauey, when I saw I want you to see me practice, I didn’t mean for you to see me fall on my butt every two seconds. I’ll get it. Give me three minutes. She nodded with a smile.

That was very philosophical. I didn’t think you had it in you. She sat back down on her bench. We were in gym but the place was empty, excluding the people in the offices who wouldn’t notice if a nuclear war was taking place in their gym they were that oblivious.

I balanced my arms out and then fell back in my back bend, and kicked my right foot over. I had my left foot almost coming down when there was a scream. I toppled of and landed in a cat like crouch on the blue floor padding.

Kauey was on her feet and already jogging towards me.

What was that? she asked. I looked around; the workers in the office didn’t seem to have heard. I glanced at the ceiling and furrowed my eyebrows. Sam, I don’t normally come here, can you give me a hint to where it might have come from?

There is this really old attic but we’re not allowed up there. I said as I searched for the ‘forbidden’ door.

Hey, if they didn’t hear that scream, they are not going to hear us going up some ancient stairs. Kauey pointed out. I shrugged and made sure no one was looking. We walked casually over to the door and opened it. There were steep steps going up and we gave each other a look. I’m game if you are.

Let’s do this. I muttered before leading the way. Kauey came up after me and left the door ajar so we wouldn’t have to worry about being locked in and then having to explain why we actually dared to go up.

There was a thick layer of dust on the steps so our footsteps were muffled. I hugged myself; I was in my leotard and socks. Not much warmth. The stairs ended and we saw a row of old, dust coated blue lockers on each side. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling.

Well, this is interesting. Kauey said as she ran her finger along the bench, There was silhouette of light around one of the doors. I poked Kauey’s shoulder.

Hey what was that for- oh my gosh, she whispered. I held her sleeve as we crept up to it. There was a design of some sort of the handle. It looked like a bunch of interlocking circles. I reached out and grasped the handle. Kauey caught my eyes. I turned the knob and she pushed on the door.

I held my hands up at the bright light that nearly blinded me. I could just make out Kauey doing the same thing. Firm hands grabbed the back of my leotard and pulled. I came tumbling back and fell hard on my butt.

What are you doing up here? This place is off limits to students, Jan, my instructor, said as she helped me to my feet.

Sorry, I mumbled. She wiped off my back.

You had better be sorry. Now get yourself downstairs and start stretching, she said as she gave me a little push towards the stairs. I went down but saw her looking at the door with something beyond curiosity, longing maybe?

I was down the stairs and remembered Kauey. She was still up there! I was about to run back up when Jan started to descend down. I would get in even more trouble if I went back now.

After class, I went back into the regular locker rooms and put on my pants, shirt, and sneakers. With my backpack slung onto my right shoulder, I went to get on my bike and ride home. Kauey’s bike was gone so I suspected she got home okay.

I went outside and swam in the pool for a bit before Mom called me in for dinner. Later, I was doing dreadful homework when I got a phone call. I though it would be Kauey, telling me where she went. It wasn’t.

Hello? I asked.

*Hi, this is Kauey’s mom. Is she there?*

No, I thought she went home after we left the gym. I answered. This could not be good.

*Samantha, please, I need you to tell me the last time you saw her. She never came home and this isn’t like her.*

Kauey’s mom was rally distressed and it was starting to make me freak out, too.

She came to the gymnasium with me but I had to go to class and I lost track of her, I replied.

*Well, if you see her, could you give me a call?*

All right, I will.

*Thanks, you are ever so kind.*

I hung up the phone and immediately ran to tell my mom the news,

Samantha, you don’t think she would have run away? This is always a possibility, my mom said. I goggled at her. Kauey running away means the end of the world is coming near. Kauey would never run away without good reason. I know her and she’d tell me first.

Mom, she never would have done anything that extreme. I replied before retreating into the comforts of my room. I snuggled up with my pillows and remembered that Kauey had so many pillows in her room. Whenever I went over her house, I would go and lay on her bed and we’d talk mostly.

I woke up the next morning to my mom pounding on the door for me to wake up. I rolled over and shut my eyes. There was more pounding. I dragged myself out of the comforts of my nest and slowly pulled on my school uniform. I go to a private school so I have to wear a horrible, uncomfortable uniform.

My mom was screaming at me to get going faster. Hello! I was at my fastest speed.

All right, Mom, I get it! I yelled back at her. I was just able to put on my jacket and backpack as the bus came barreling down the block. I jumped on and saw my sister come up behind me. I sat in my seat, put on my headphones, and finished studying for the test I had today.

I bounded off the bus and walked towards the school. There was a slight drizzle so we were able to go into the school without waiting outside. I threw my backpack on the floor and assumed my ‘unladylike’ way of sitting that everyone keeps telling me to stop doing. I like sitting that way, even if it cuts the circulation off to my leg.

Sam, look at these! Pictures were shoved in my face. I pushed them away.

Not now! I snapped. My friend looked offended. I don’t want to look at them right now, later!

I thought you would want to look at them, she said in a small voice that made her sound spoiled.

NO! I nearly yelled at her. I slammed my hand down on my desk. She went and trudged off with a babyish scowl. I sighed loudly and went back to my studying.

Samantha Wynder to the office please, came over the intercom. I stretched out my legs before exiting the now noisy classroom. I walked down the hall and stairs until I came to the office.

There were two police officers, Kauey’s mom, and the principal waiting for me.

Samantha, you need to tell us Kauey’s exact movements that were made yesterday, one of the officers said in a deep voice.

Sweetheart, we are just trying to find your friend, the female officer said sweetly.

We cane to school, we went through school, we rode our bikes to the gym, and then I don’t know where she went. I said simply. I didn’t want to get involved with this….questioning!

Did you do anything specific at the gym? the male officer asked as if he knew something about the attic and us disobeying the rules.

No. I replied. He raised an eyebrow and scribbled something into his little notebook.

Fine, if you hear any news, report to us immediately and vice versa. They left through the front doors and I stood there, watching them leave.

Samantha, you may go back to class now, my principal said. I nodded, turned on my heel, and went back towards the stairs I had come by.

Chapter Two

Jayce

I ducked into one of the doorways and watched the guards run past, yelling, and cursing at me. I poked my head out and saw a very angry and very overweight guard come towards me. I had nowhere to go.

Boys, I got him! I got him! Turn back, turn back! he yelled. I cursed silently in my head. I was being foolish, I could probably outrun the fat old one but where would I run? I saw a pile of barrels a few yards away. I made for them and leapt up. The obese man went right past me and fell flat on his face. I laughed as I went onto the roof tops.

Two guards helped the fat one up and two others came after me. I jogged around the square and then hurdled across to another roof. I wanted to tire them out so they would give up. It would have been a good plan if they followed it.

Come here, you mangy brat! You thief! they yelled. What was keeping them going? I was running low on juice.

I was about to jump when a hand came up and grabbed my ankle from the skylight I was darting over. I came down hard. I twisted so I didn’t break my wrists. The hand was followed by a muscular man in white. Just one of his dirt colored biceps was as thick as my whole body.

Don. It’s about time you brought this one down. What took you so long? the now pooped guards asked between breaths.

I thought you could handle yourselves, he replied simply. How long did it take?

We’ve been at this brat for a few months now, one of them said.

I knew I should have handled this one. How come it takes so long to get a child? he asked as if the guards were stupid, which they are.

Ha! I sneered. I couldn’t help myself; they deserved it. I knew I was going to be severely punished but it was going to be worth it.

Shut up! both guards snapped as each savored a kick at me. I struggled in Don’s iron grasp but only got a bruise on each of my forearms. Their frowns deepened.

You bring him to jail and I’ll go retrieve the other guards. Morissa will want a talk with you after you return. Don said before jogging away. They nodded before producing handcuffs and putting me in them. One of them jumped down through the skylight and the second threw me down. The first pretended to me and I hit the floor.

Hey! I shouted. They snickered. I tried to bite the closest one.

Watch out, it might get infected, one of them mock-warned. I snarled at him.

I eventually let the lead me to the jail. Why make things more difficult for myself? I was thrown into a cell. I held my hands up to the bars and took in the lay of the place. If I was going to escape I had to know as much as I could about my surroundings.

Planning a way to ditch this hole, right? a voice said from the cell next to me. I ignored it. All the ‘perfect’ plans never work. Take it from me. I have tried numerous times.

What have you tried? I questioned.

Everything it seems, it said.

I’m going to try anyway. I replied.

Do they hate you? it asked softer.

Hate me?

Yeah, if they don’t hate you, then you’re all right. If they do then….well….I hate to say it but you’re a goner for sure. No questions, you’re dead.

How would you know?

I was once a guard, proud, stuck up, haughty, the whole lot. I would do the same thing. If you had the power, wouldn’t you kill anyone who had crossed you? Boy, I know all the exits in this damn place and I have tried every single one of them

I let my hands drop. Great, I was stuck here with an ex-guard who told me that I had no chance of getting out of this