Festival of Friends and Foes: Children of the Others Collection™ - Book 2

By A. Dragonblood and Ted Kay

Festival of Friends and Foes takes us on a wild ride of good friends and strange assurances. Ethan, Camille and Jeremy plan on enjoying a fun weekend festival called Beltane with their families and other children with similar gifts. Thinking that this would give them time to share some of their stories with each other and help Ethan understand more about his family. Little did they know there was more thrills and chills waiting for them than they could have ever expected. Out witting giant animals, possessed assassins and curious kids, the three friends learn that they will all have to work together to make it out of this weekend without going crazy. If it weren't for their new friend Gretchen they would probably have been in a world of trouble with their parents too.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 26, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452085890

A. Dragonblood

A. Dragonblood is the author of several popular books for pre teens and teens, including The Whispering V, Festival of Friends and Foes and Serenity for St. Patrick's Day. Dragonblood began his career as a writer by working first as a researcher followed by learning more of the craft as a ghost writer on several popular fantasy book series. Children of The Others Collection of books has allowed him the opportunity to write fantasy/fiction from his everyday relationship with his teenage son and friends. Born in Canada then making many stops along the way, now living in the deep south with his son and wife, Dragonblood has learned to respect diversity, enjoy humor and turn everyday reality into a story of plausible fantasy.

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Contents

ONE

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

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ONE

Boy’s Banter

Thundering noise rang out from Ethan’s room. Talking, then yelling in every pitch imaginable vibrated the door and walls. If noise alone could shake down a house, this racket would have. Shrieks and screaming pierced any hidden silence. Someone or something in critical pain was being tortured, followed quickly by the disturbing laughter of the vicious attackers.

No cries for help or requests to stop could be heard amidst the shrieks. Then an eerie silence fell. Out of nowhere a loud battle call pierced the momentary silence as Ethan could be heard saying Not this time Ninjas, I have figured out your war maneuvers and will not fall for that trap again!

Another voice followed, higher-pitched and with an Asian overtone. Then you shall die with honor as we destroy you and your family and suck out your life force with our chop suey magic.

More, loud fighting followed and a muffled cry of momentary defeat by one ninja could be heard through the walls.

Ethan’s father walked briskly down the long hallway to his son’s room, apparently not too concerned about his son’s safety. Still, he was available to assist if the situation demanded it. Opening the door quickly, he stood in the doorway momentarily before stepping into the battle zone.

All right you two… Ethan’s father stopped for a moment to allow the energy to come down a little. Shaking his head, he watched Ethan and his accomplice still bouncing around as he turned the sound down a few decibels on the game monitor.

I think the battle is a draw for now, he commented drily. "I realize it is only a game but if I didn’t know any better I would have thought that our house was under attack by Ninja warriors. We never had anything like this when I was young….

Ohh … NO comment about my age from either of you. Yes, that means you, too, my dear, as Ethan’s father looked at his wife. Ethan’s accomplice was his mother, the guilty ninja warrior that was party to half the battle.

Now to some kids that might seem a little odd, but she had held a secret fascination with video games for many years, even before Ethan was born. She would often go out to arcades and play against the boys and beat them over and over again. She confessed that she was better because she was patient enough to let them make mistakes and then she would attack.

She looked over at Ethan with a half-sheepish grin, then looked in the direction of her husband. You know, you could use a distraction like a good game of Wii Ninja battle, she suggested. It may help with your stress level.

Staring her directly in the eyes sternly, he shook his head and replied, "I have real battles to fight.

However, if you two want to see how a real warrior would battle, then I may take you up on that challenge after we get back from the Beltane Festival weekend. You may find that my Ninja power is too strong for you, Ethan’s father boasted in his best Asian dialect.

Ethan’s mother laughed and put down her battle sticks. She gave Ethan a kiss on the forehead, then turned and bowed her way towards the door. She made a sudden Karate move at her husband as she passed him in the doorway.

Too fast for even the old vampire with my Ninja powers, I am. She threw a little punch at his chest she walked out the door. He just watched her leave, then looked at Ethan.

Hey, don’t look at me like that Dad. I am the one that just lost Ninja Battles to my mother. I can’t exactly go around bragging to my friends that my mom beats me at video games! Ethan said half -heartedly to his father.

Raising an eyebrow at Ethan, he shook his head. Son, I have lost a few battles to your mother as well over the years. They both began to laugh.

Hoping to change the subject before his father started in about battles, which could go on for some time, Ethan asked, So how were your meetings today in Atlanta?

There is much going on in the world right now that is concerning. I fear that it will get worse before it gets better. However, our business is still doing well. We are going to start diversifying our products to include residential lines. Those production facilities will stay here instead of moving them out of the country….and that is probably more than you wanted to know, he replied as he watched Ethan stare blankly at him.

What are you thinking, Ethan? his father asked, recognizing his son was lost in thought.

Well, I was thinking that it is pretty funny that you started one of the largest Solar Energy Research/ Power Cell companies in the world and well, you are a vampire? You know, the vampire myth about staying away from the sun. You don’t spend much time in the sun, Ethan replied.

That’s just it, Ethan, most of the stories are myths. Now, we are not really fond of the sun for causing leathery tans and bikini lines, not to mention skin cancer. We are interested in the sun for its natural ability to provide clean pure energy so the nights can still have light and we are not dependent on a diminishing resource.

By this time, Ethan was rocking back and forth on his feet, trying to pay attention to his father’s explanation but becoming really bored.

You see, Ethan the industry also works as a very good front for our people. After all, who would ever think a vampire would own a solar product company?

Ethan, his mother yelled from downstairs. The phone, it’s for you.

"I better get that, it may be an emergency, Ethan said to his father, biting his tongue.

I suppose you will clean this gaming stuff up after you are done on the phone, Ethan’s father said. But Mom…um, yes, of course I will, I promise, Ethan hurriedly answered and ran to pick up the phone.

Hello!

Hi, Ethan, it’s Jeremy.

I know who it is, I am so glad you called. My Dad was just starting to explain the importance of our business and solar energy for the world! Ethan replied.

How are you doing? What have you been doing over the past few months? We haven’t been able to talk since when I saw you at the blessing of the Whispering V. That was a great night, I have had so much to talk to you and Camille about but my mom said that it would have to wait. Ethan couldn’t stop talking. He had so much that he wanted to say, especially since he hadn’t heard from or seen Jeremy or Camille in a few months.

Well, Camille and I got grounded for talking to you too much about, well, you know. Stuff. We are supposed to be careful about those topics and we were not. My mom told me that your parents had to have the talk with you that next day. Jeremy sound apologetic. Camille and I are really sorry if you were confused or anything. I wanted to call you but Camille said it was best if I waited. To give you time to deal with all the changes that you were going to experience. She reminded me that we were very disrespectful to you and your family for-

Ethan interrupted Jeremy. I get the whole secrecy thing but we are all friends and everything is good between us. I told my mom that I really am happy to know that I am not weird. And that some of the things that were happening to me were not because of puberty.

Ethan and Jeremy laughed.

Hey, you know, we are pretty close in age and almost pre-teens, but my mom says that this generation is reaching puberty younger than ever, Ethan confided.

Yeah, my mom says the same thing to me. Don’t talk about puberty around Camille; she is going through it now. Being a girl and thirteen months older than us, well… just don’t talk about it, Jeremy said, cringing.

I will remember that. I don’t need to get on her bad side, Ethan agreed.

My mother really appreciated the hand-written thank you note you sent to her for the tree house blessing, Jeremy remembered. She says people put more energy into writing paper letters than they do in emails. Of course she also reminded me that she could read your hand writing, and that it didn’t look messy like mine, Jeremy said.

My father told me that with something personal, you should put extra effort in showing appreciation. I had to write that letter eleven times before it passed his desk, Ethan confessed.

Good, now I don’t feel so bad about getting in trouble, Jeremy laughed, a little wickedly

Listen to this, Ethan. My family and friends are having a festival gathering next week and if it is ok….

I’ll ask my parents if I can come, Ethan interrupted Jeremy and they both laughed.

I am going to have to get used to you finishing my thoughts, Jeremy laughed again.

No, that is something that I have to work on not doing. My mother tells me I shouldn’t stop people in mid-sentence, even if I know what they are going to say. Sorry, Ethan said.

It’s alright. We are sort of cousins in a strange way, so no wonder you know my thoughts. Hey, I was going to ask you, why did you sound out of breath when you answered the phone? Jeremy asked.

My mother and I just finished playing…well, actually, my father interrupted us just after I stopped the Ninja warriors from capturing my base camp, Ethan told Jeremy.

You mean to say your mom plays video games with you? Jeremy said surprisingly.

Oh yeah, she doesn’t tell everyone that she enjoys video games, but she especially likes the ones that are interactive. She is really pretty good too. Sometimes I think she uses her magic, but she says that she wouldn’t use it against me even in a video game! Ethan replied excitedly.

"That is really awesome that your mom plays video games. My mom thinks that it is a waste of time, but my dad plays with my brother and I sometimes. He isn’t that great, except at Rock Star Metal. My mom likes to watch