The Destructors: Chronicles of the Guild, Book Two

By Beverly Adair

Draw the words, and all will be revealed

Believe in the image, and all will be Created

Destroy the Creation, and all will be controlled

Sarah and Este as two young prodigies, entered the mysterious and often-dangerous world of the Guild School, and the Protectors. Here, Sarah as a Major Creator and Este an emerging Protector; rekindled their lost childhood friendship. But not all is well in the world.

A powerful enemy has had Este in his sights, and he will stop at nothing to lure her into the dark and dangerous world of the Destructors. With anything she could ever desire dangled within reach, is she willing to pay the price for this power? Can she even hope to resist it?

When the Guild School comes under attack, suspicions slowly focus on Jeremy, a Protector charged with its defence. But, as the legend predicted, darker forces have tainted the purest of hearts, and Este surrenders to her fate as a Destructor. Will she fulfil the destiny mapped out for her by her master, or will powers outside of her control force her to make choices that challenge not only her friendship with Sarah, but also the authority of her master?

Este and Sarah will soon discover that there is always a choice, no matter what destiny may seem to control.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: Nov 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781452511917

Beverly Adair

Beverly Adair has a passion for inspirational fantasy storytelling. The Destructors, the sequel to The Creators, her first novel, is the middle entry in a planned trilogy. She is married and the mother of three adult children; her hobbies include reading and photography. She currently lives in Australia.

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Copyright © 2013 Beverly Adair.

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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.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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.

ISBN: 978-1-4525-1190-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4525-1191-7 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 11/06/2013

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

WHAT WENT BEFORE…

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

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

CHARACTER LIST

GUILD COLOURS

PLACE NAMES

Also by Beverly Adair

The Creators

Chronicles of the Guild

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To my wonderful family—thank you. Without your love and support, I would not be in this blessed position to write and publish my novels.

My thanks go to my eldest daughter Elizabeth, who is my chief editor and major supporter of the Chronicles of the Guild stories. Thank you for encouraging me to pursue the publication of The Destructors, book two in the series. Without your love and support, I am not sure that I would have continued on this journey.

To my son Matthew, thank you for always rescuing me in the moments of word-processing or computer crises.

To you, Sarah, the inspiration for the original story—thank you for the gift of your amazing journey through life. Watching you blossom taught me that with love and support, all obstacles can be and are overcome.

And to my amazing husband, Ivan. After twenty-five years together, I still wake each day and thank God for the blessing of you in my life. You are my rock and my strength.

The journey to publish The Destructors has been one of hills and valleys. Discovering that I had cancer within weeks of the publication of my first novel was daunting and debilitating. Six months of chemotherapy, however, taught me patience and that every day is worth living. My thanks to my oncology team, friends and family whose love and support saw me through days of despair, and illness. And, once more a special thanks to my Elizabeth who walked each step with me. It is with pride and joy that I am the proud author of my second novel.

Despite new health challenges, book three is undergoing editing and will soon be on its way.

Finally, but importantly, to those who fell in love with the characters of book one, here is another part of Sarah and Este’s journey through life. I hope you are inspired to explore your gifts and live your life to the full.

The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend.

—Henry David Thoreau

WHAT WENT BEFORE…

The Guild Prophecy

In the beginning, good and evil battled

Humanity—the pieces on the scales.

Time will tell who will win.

Now is the time to begin.

Time and need will produce one of noble birth—

One born far away from angels,

One whose belief held her gifts,

One whose family loved her but never understood her,

One whose friends envied and tormented her.

The girl-child must grow into a woman.

She must be protected to grow into her powers.

The girl-child can balance the scales.

She can triumph over the Destructor.

She will carry within her the gift to end all conflict.

She will carry within her the gift to mend all rifts.

She will be the one who will make for humanity the lasting peace.

She will Create again the balance.

Beware:

To tip the scales, evil will nurture one,

One who will become the Destructor.

The Destructor will be undiscovered.

The Destructor will be all alone.

The Destructor will embrace the evil.

The Destructor must destroy the girl.

The Destructor will have the power

To Destroy humanity.

Find the hexagon and train them.

Build the pentagon to stand strong.

Keep the septagon safe.

Build a pyramid that will stand,

Stand the conflict of time.

Protect the Noble One, and protect the Protectors.

Born far away from Angel City, Sarah spent her childhood living alone in her imagination. Sarah’s hope of being chosen as a Healer was dashed at Senior Class Selection. Unknown to her, Melissa, a mysterious Selector, had other plans for her.

Melissa’s invitation for Sarah to join the mysterious Creators Guild School intrigues Sarah enough to accept the offer. Meeting her future friends and fellow Creators—Chloe, Richard, Janine, James, and Lucas—Sarah experiences friendship for the first time in years.

Exploring the power of Ether—the life force of the universe, and identifying their abilities to control this power, inspires the skills of these young students. While Sarah and her friends developed and honed their skills, strange attacks on Sarah nearly ended her life. These attacks and the further discovery of the prophecy left no doubt that Sarah was the Noble One. Branding Sarah’s attacker Jude the Lost Cause gave the students a focus, of defence, for their Creators’ powers.

Este, Sarah’s early-childhood friend, and Jeremy Stone, both trainee Protectors, were assigned to the protection detail at the Guild School. Accidents continued to occur, despite this extra security, leading to suspicion that Jeremy could be the mysterious Jude.

His disappearance seemed to confirm his guilt, but with another attack on Sarah, Este is shown to be Sarah’s true nemesis. Their final battle reveals not only Este’s guilt but also the presence of a darker force that rivals the power of the Creators.

The Destructor is Este and the Noble One is Sarah, but who has the dark power?

CHAPTER ONE

Este

I could feel the flames licking my feet, the smoke choking me. My boots caught fire, and I ran. I didn’t know which way to go. The path that had opened before me as I chased after Sarah closed behind me. The fire-spirits, just moments ago my friends, turned dark and angry, closing in for the kill. I pulled my shields tight and called for Sarah. Help! Please, help me! I am so sorry, Sarah. I couldn’t help it.

There was, of course, no answer. I had seen Lucas pulling her away. I was alone again. This time it had gone too far, and all was lost.

The whisper tapped gently at my shield. Your time isn’t done, Este. You have much still to do. Trust in me, and I will get you out of there, but you need to open your shields to me and trust.

I knew that voice. It had trained me, taught me. That voice had given me the power to step out of Sarah’s shadow, to find my own power. I cracked my shields open a fraction, and the oily, black control slid within—a dark, serpentine power. I could not resist. My throat was burning and my eyes were streaming from the smoke around me.

Do you trust me, Este? Do you really trust me? I will help you. I will make you strong, but you have to relinquish your control to me. You have to obey, Este. Do as I say, and I will protect you!

Help me. Please, help me. I don’t want to die. I will obey. Please, just get me out of here. I used my last gasp of oxygen to call out loud. I could no longer hold my shields. They came crashing down, and I could feel his power wrap around me—a protective, black cloak. The fire reared backwards in the face of such authority. It whispered along the edges as the air around me cleared. My boots still smoked, a melted ruin, my feet inside hot and sore. I bent down and ripped them off, hurling them into the fire. The ground beneath me was cool and soothing.

Come, little one. It is time to go. We will regroup. You were not strong enough, but next time will be different. Come. It is time to go.

I looked back towards where Lucas had taken Sarah, and I longed to follow. The fire immediately roared around me. Smoke rushed towards me. I knew I was helpless. I had chosen, and if I disobeyed, he would let me die, here and now.

I turned my back and followed the path opening before me. I could hear and feel the power of the Creators stilling the fire. Time was of the essence, and I needed to get clear. The basement was still clear of smoke and fire, and I hurried up the earthen tunnel, out beyond the walls of the school. A dark car waited, windows tinted. Inside, his shadow sat. Looking back one last time, I noticed that the smoke had diminished. I reached out for Sarah to check if she had made it out alive. His shields, however, held me locked in, his control over my power now indisputable.

It is time to go, Este. She is safe. She made it out. It would have been better if you had destroyed her, but you are not ready yet. I thought you were, but we still have some work to do, don’t we? Uncle Larron’s smile did not reach his eyes, and I knew that there would be consequences for today’s failure.

"I am so sorry. There were too many of them. I could have persuaded her if she had been alone, but the school has given her friendships, a team, and a power base. She is now The One of their prophecy. We should have recruited her earlier. Now, I think it is too late."

I cringed at the anger that was roiling off him. I knew how he hated excuses, and I had just accused him of not acting soon enough. I would pay for this mistake.

Este, Este, Este. His exasperated smile was worse than his anger. You know I don’t like it when you question me. Come. We have plans to make. It is time to return to Canlyn. Our time in Angel City is at an end for now. It would have been easier if you had succeeded immediately, but your weakness has also shown us their weaknesses. This was just the first part of the plan, to test their strength and will. And, of course, yours. Now that I know whose side you are on, we will proceed to stage two.

I smiled tremulously. I had averted his anger. Exhaustion filled every fibre of my being, and I felt myself drifting towards the blackness. I knew that I was safe now. He needed me still, and he would get me home to Canlyn and Dallamoor Estate.

Shutting my eyes, I heard his voice calling, but the dark call was stronger. I surrendered and floated free.

CHAPTER TWO

Este and Sarah

E steee… Esteee… Where are you, Este? Do you want to come and play at my house? Sarah’s voice echoed.

Mum, it’s Sarah. Can I go to her house to play? Please, Mum, can I go? Can I? I knew Mum would say yes, but I had to make sure. Sarah was my best friend, and we were like sisters.

Sure, but just until dinnertime. Remember your manners, young lady, and don’t be late.

Sarah, my mum says I can come over. I climbed up the ladder that stood over the fence between Sarah’s garden and ours. Our dads had put it there when we first moved in next door to Sarah. Sarah’s brother, Sam, and my brother, Justin, had climbed it before us, but now it was ours. It was much quicker than going out to the front gate and all the way around to the front of her house. Even our mums used it when they wanted to chat or needed to borrow an egg or a cup of sugar. I guess it was what made good neighbours, or at least that is what my dad always said. I pulled the leaves off the hibiscus bush that grew along the fence, wondering what was keeping Sarah.

Sarah danced across the lawn as I climbed down the ladder, her hair a bright sun around her face. I wanted Sarah’s hair. It was fire and light, power and love. She hated it, hated her white skin and freckles. She wanted to be like me—all brown and ordinary. I turned brown just by stepping outside, but she always had to wear a hat and sun cream. I wanted to look like her. She was a fairy princess, and when we played together, it always felt like magic.

What do you want to do today? Sarah asked. Do you want to play with the Barbies or dress-ups?

Can we play the Imagining game? I asked, hoping she would say yes. When we played her imagining games, it was like real. We could become whatever we wanted, and we had so much fun. Some days, Sarah didn’t want to play imagining games. She said she was too tired, and then we just played dolls or cooking with the Play-Doh. Today, I hoped she wasn’t too tired.

I guess so, but not for too long. My head is a bit sore today, and I am kind of tired, but I guess we can try for a little bit. Sarah smiled, and I grinned back at her. Today was going to be perfect.

Where do you want to go, Este? Sarah asked. She was always happy to let me choose, but it was her imagination we needed to get there.

Let’s go to the Land of Rainbows. I love it there. Everything has such pretty colours. As I spoke, Sarah began to describe the sky. She described the rainbows above our heads and started Creating our land with her words.

Can you see the Rainbow Queen, Este? Can you see her? She is waiting for us to visit. But you need to change your dress first, Este. C’mon. Tell me what your dress looks like. You can do this. You know you just have to say the words out loud.

Sarah, you know I can’t use the words. I don’t have them in my head. But here, I can draw it. I grabbed the sketchpad that I always had in my pocket, and with my pencil, I began sketching.

A floaty, soft dress appeared on the paper, and then on my skin. I drew more soft layers, and I felt them floating around me.

Este, tell me what colour it is. We need a colour. You don’t have any coloured pencils with you, Sarah whispered.

It’s green, Sarah, soft, grass green. She sighed, and I looked up at her shining eyes and the red-and-gold dress that she had Created with her words. I looked down at the skirt beneath my sketchpad and then stood up, twirling around with joy. I did it, Sarah, I did it! I made my own dress. You didn’t have to do it for me. I used my pencil this time.

Sarah’s smile was as big as mine as she reached for my hand. I dropped my sketchpad on the grass and skipped alongside my best friend, down the path towards the Rainbow Queen. Floating on clouds of pollen, we dropped into a curtsy at the feet of the queen. She held out her hands and drew us up off the ground. Her dress shifted from indigo to violet, from red to orange-yellow, and then from blue to green—all the colours of the rainbow.

Welcome, my princesses. It has been such a long time since you last visited. You are both growing so quickly. Este, you are getting so tall. How many moons have passed since we last saw you here in Rainbow Land?

Thinking hard, I counted. Your Majesty, it is nearly six moons since I last visited. I have just had my tenth birthday in our land. I felt really important and grown-up being able to tell the queen that I was now a double digit.

The queen smiled at me and turned to Sarah. And you, Sarah, how many birthdays have you had?

Your Majesty, I have only had nine. My tenth birthday is not for another four moons. Then I will also be a double digit.

We both giggled. Two double digits. It sounded so funny. The queen didn’t laugh with us. In fact, she looked sad, when she thought we weren’t looking. So are you girls staying long today? Where in our land are you going to explore?

No, Your Majesty, we can’t stay too long. It hurts Sarah’s head, you see, and she gets really tired when we come to your land, I answered. I could already see that Sarah was looking tired.

"Don’t worry, Este. Sarah will be strong enough, for a little while, today. I will help her. And while she has you as her friend,