The Carimal Kids

By Anastasia Luetkens

Satan, the banished brother of God, has vowed revenge. He wants nothing more than to take rightful charge of the throne and rule over the cosmos his way. Thankfully, a galaxy called Sacred has been created to stand watch in front of the heavenly gates and ensures Satan does not enter. As Sacred evolves in its own waygood or terribleits people remain loyal to their sworn duty. But now, things are taking a dramatic turn for one family who lives there.

In a world created to fight demons, a son is born to Joseph and Reba Carimal. After he survives a valiant fight for his life, the couple names him Robin and immediately realizes he is special. Robin has been born with a soul object around his necka gift that provides him with abilities and marks him for greatness. But it is not long before Robin stirs up trouble in his family. He faces both external and internal demons, while those around him wonder if he is gifted, possessed, or simply insane. Even Robin does not know as he questions why other entities are hurting him and not his siblings, who they are, and what they want from him.

In this riveting paranormal thriller, a chosen one is led into a dark, twisted world that only he sees and feels. Now only time will tell if he can rely on the voices in his head to guide him to survivalbefore it is too late.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abbott Press
• Release date: Nov 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781458212740

Anastasia Luetkens

Anastasia Luetkens is a self-taught artist who has been writing since she was able to hold a pencil. She has been entertaining friends and family with stories of other worlds in parallel dimensions for more than a decade. Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Anastasia believes her Asperger’s is a gift that sets her apart and makes her unique.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

The birth

The pulse had flat lined. Normally Sacari’s don’t have a pulse so usually that’s good sign, a sign they’ll have their strength back, or a sign that they’re alive. But in this case, it was mortifying to see the monitor flat line. Why? Miss Reba was pregnant. When a Sacari woman is pregnant Blood flows directly to the children to keep them alive, and if the blood flow is disconnected for more than ten seconds the baby is most likely dead… and the blood flow had been off for four seconds and counting.

Two had been saved and were on respiratory, the nurses keeping a keen eye on their vital signs. The eldest, a boy, came out with virtually no harm done, his breathing just delayed, but after only a few seconds, he was fine. The second youngest was the little girl. She was trying to breath, but it was difficult for her do so. She barely could move her dainty self, but was trying to. The last three, however, weren’t as strong as their older siblings.

The last three just didn’t even have a chance. The younger two were lifeless and cold, not moving, and were light as a feather. The one right before them, it was so sad, his death came right as they delivered him. His pale skin faded to blue and he just became limp.

As the doctors hung their heads in sorrow, they walked into the depth of the hospital into the morgue ready to lay the still born babies to rest. During their descent one of the doctors thought they noticed a shallow and brief intake of air from the one who died at his delivery. Then they noticed it. His color wasn’t all gone, on his chest and stomach remained pink fleshy undertones, and the feel of it was barely and subtly warm, but fading quickly.

Not wanting to waste a second more, they left instantly to save him. Meanwhile, in the hospital room, the wife Miss Reba had regained her conciseness and was out of her groggy state. Her husband Joseph was allowed back in the room and sat by her side on the chair next to the hospital bed.

How are they? She asked weakly.

I don’t know yet. He responded, holding her hand. They said two of them are doing okay, just having a few difficulties, but two have died. The third, a boy, is as you might say, in limbo. Their doing their best, but they can’t make any guarantees.

For some reason hearing the pending fate of one their son, a name started to ring rather faintly in the back of Miss Reba’s head, as well as Josephs. They had a feeling that would be his name if he were to live, but he had lost so much time and was good enough to declare dead, they just feared that he would never make it.

A few minutes passed and a nurse had come in, bringing a little light into the now dreary day. She had given them their two children that were doing perfectly fine now, and left them in peace so they could think of a few names.

Joseph held his eldest son and Reba held her only daughter. Their children had their eyes open, and despite them being twins, their eyes where different. Sacari eyes were like snowflakes, no two were alike. They each said something, their colors and tone, it was always different, reflecting on the person they belong too.

The look inside the eldest son’s eyes was calming, gentle and understanding. They were assuring that everything was going to be all right. It seemed to sooth Joseph’s worried nerves. They were dark, navy blue, almost velvety looking. And the look in their daughters deep lavender eyes, was also assuring. Assuring that she too would make it, a look that said I’m here that she was a fighter, a look of determination that said she knew what she wanted.

Although their parents could never find a suitable name for their children no matter how much they tried before, Reba had a name coming into her mind. She didn’t expect it to be so easy, but looking into her daughters eyes the name was just coming to her.

I know we decided it would be something old fashioned something from the olden days, but I just feel like Ruth would be the perfect name for her.

Honey, Ruth is an old fashioned name. It was given to children in the winter months, the name meant relentless strength and perseverance like the season was to the citizen’s back in the day. He explained. His wife had lost out on much education, seeing as to how for fourteen years she was prisoner forced to train under his uncle’s war camp. Oddly but it was a lucky thing because that’s where she had met Joseph. Rebecca, Reba for short had overcome so much heartbreak and was still so strong and caring that Joseph fell in love with her instantly.

His family, on the other hand, was always keen on education. So much so they homeschooled their 15 kids and gave them strict courses. Their constant overbearing was what led Joseph to run away from them and join his uncle’s army as a trainer. It was Joseph that convinced his uncle to free Reba and let him marry her. Though the two of them were as opposite as could be, they made perfect sense as a couple. Joseph, calm and educated thought first then acted, Reba just re-acted following her gut feelings.

Is the name really that old? It had been so long since winter was that harsh on the citizens.

Of course Dates right before the missing era.

Oh yeah, so odd how a time line could just vanish. Anyhow, we cool on the name Ruth?

Well, she does have the look in her eyes. He replied. I’m for it. He stated as he stood up, and held his son so his wife could look at him. He thought that maybe she might find comfort in his eyes, something desperately needed in this moment with the pending fate of their other son and the loss of the other two they had so much looked forward to.

Miss Reba played right into the cards, as she looked right into her son’s eyes. Although no two are alike, they reminded her greatly of her late sister. Although she only had a few memories of her sister, she remembered the look inside those shinning, sky blue eyes that where so clear in her memory she could see them as if she just looked into them. They were so caring, so kind, so peaceful, and so powerful that even a mental image of her sister’s sweetly gazing eyes made the atmosphere calm and warm once again, just like her sister Vynyll herself.

But never the less, she was assured by both the mental image and her sons eyes. She knew better though, she had seen harsh reality. No matter how sure of eyes they could have been it still didn’t change reality, or could suddenly save their sons life. But still, it calmed worried nerves, only Reba didn’t want to live in a happily ever after fairytale. She wanted reality, and she knew she shouldn’t be calm about this, or think it should be okay. She fought against the message they sent, and yet at the same time tried to digest the worst case scenario.

So, for the boy, what should his first name be? Joseph said, looking at him. He felt as though someone was whispering a name into his head. It couldn’t be this easy, how could the names just come to them now and so suddenly. He figured it was a name being pulled off the top of his head and be a trial and error but he felt so certain about it.

Bartholomew… He said. Well, how ’bout that for a name? He was expecting her to ponder it over and reject it, so he tried not to settle to quickly on it. Her face formed that of someone heavily contemplating, with one of her eye brows far down while the other raised high, her bottom lip jutting out. She took a look at her son, still deciding.

My family had a great liking for that name a long time ago, same era as the name Ruth. It is a rather old, old family name. Her sentence surprised him. Maybe it was this easy. How ’bout Bart for short.

Sure. Now, they just need middle names… Not one of them was enthused about that. Their inspiration and quickly spurred names that were perfect then were now gone and a towering blockage drove their train of thought right off its tracks. They were grasping at anything and not one would do. Thoughts would begin forming in their head and they’d sound so ridiculous they’d switch over to a new formation of thought.

Ruth Scarlett Carimal? Miss Reba was the first to offer after awkward silence.

Blahh… Came the quick and unenthused reply from Joseph, who’s facial expression showed his content for the name.

Bartholomew Baxter Carimal?

Eh let’s see, it would be Bart Baxter- no. No, that DOES NOT sound good.

Could you be anymore rude? Joseph said, looking a little hurt.

And you’re reply to Scarlett was any better? Reba said with a smirk.

It’s a good thing we don’t have to pick out five names. Oh sweetie I’m so sorry. Are you okay? I didn’t mean it like that- I-

What an awful thing for you to say! You’re an awful husband! An awful person! Her quick temper snapped. And here you are saying you’re the sensitive one in this relation. She mumbled.

Honey… He whimpered. Her family was famous for their short fused tempers and dark ancestry and she was no different. With most people in their family, the apple never fell to far the tree, and she was right up there hugging that twisted trunk, so he expected her temper to detonate at any moment and a wrath of anger overwhelm them both.

So, what do you think of the name Ruth Contessa Carimal? She said ignoring the remark, though the dryness in her voice spoke elsewise.

Whatever you want honey… He said wearily, trying to maintain her in a somewhat pleasant state of mind. Or at least a pleasurable level for the sake of everyone’s own life.

Yes or no? She said sternly, not even looking at him. And thank God she didn’t, she probably would have shot him through his soul with those brown eyes of hers.

I’m not too keen on it. He answered.

Yeah, neither I’m I. It’s a name you can only stand for a small amount of seconds. And like that she was back to normal. She looked to the door to see if anyone was here yet with an update. Damn it why do Doctors have to string you along?

Ruth Lynn Carimal.

Kind of bland. I mean I like it but it feels like it’s missing something. They pondered for a moment. It was the start of an excellent name, but Joseph was right, it was missing something. To find that thing that would role of the top of their tongue, Miss Reba had begun saying the full name aloud.

Ruth Lynn Carimal. Ruth Lynn Cro-Carimal.

Crossin! Ruth Lynn-Crossin Carimal! It slides right out of your mouth!

Yeah, you’re ri-Miss Reba began, but a sudden knocking at their door had interrupted them. They looked up to the doctor with a clipboard in his right hand.

Are you two Mrs. and Mr. Carimal? They nodded, Miss Reba’s eyes tearing up. Neither of them could read the doctors face yet, but they knew where about to receive bad news since their son wasn’t anywhere in sight. The doctor turned his head and poked it out the doorway and said something they couldn’t hear. He turned back and he seemed to be smiling. Congratulations, your son is alive. Hearing those words made everything seem better.

The name that had once rang faint, the voice of which they bear not hear rang like a siren so loudly in their heads everyone in the room could probably hear it. It was there when they heard he may or may not make it, and now that he was alive and well it was clear with zero doubt this meant to be his name. The name of which it was described the entire predicament of his birth, it meant the return of warmth, light, life, and joy which exactly was what was given to their son at this very moment.

And so, without even having to make sure the other was okay with the name, without even checking to make sure they both where thinking the same thing, without even giving any time to think, they had spoken the words:

Robin.

He was rested in his mother arms, laid next to his brother and sister and they could instantly tell he was the runt of them but they didn’t care. He was their son and they knew he was special, they could tell. Why? Well, for starters he was alive. But, that’s not why, you see, around the child’s neck was a rare item known as a soul Object. It was called that due to the fact that infants would be born already wearing them. The soul object was a necklace strung upon a golden chain, and the stone would be documented in various colors but always was in the shape of a plumb-bob, like the planets. Due all these reasons, it was believed the wearer would be bestowed with great powers from the necklace itself. They believed inside the necklace was devastating abilities, and was the marking of someone who was born for greatness.

FYI: How they grow

Once Miss Reba was feeling better they left the hospital to go home. They had a busy day tomorrow. You see, Sacari kind was constructed to fight off an entire threat much larger than any galaxy, and they needed all the strength they could get. The Heavens knew that, and knew that the children couldn’t take years to be raised and trained. So, each new born in Sacred is enabled the ability to absorb knowledge instantly through observation or by being told only once. This last’s for about a week and in that time they have to be taught the necessities. They have to learn the alphabet, numbers, basic math, writing, reading, how to eat, how to drink, basic words, family members as well as their own names and siblings, bathroom things and manners. After that you pretty much can teach them anything you want let it be weaponry, history, physics, long division, stilt walking, mechanics, anything really. You get the picture? But still, it has to be within that first week, and it starts midnight the first day, and ends directly on midnight the seventh day. It might seem intimidating but given the fact they have 100 hour days it’s pretty easy. After that, the child can use the knowledge they obtained like they’ve always known it, and have to learn the rest with time.

Anyhow, for the next week they taught their children everything they needed to know. After the necessities where out of the way, they had to focus in on preparing them for Guardian Training. They showed their children basic combat consisting of proper stance, to always cock their kicks, how to hold a proper fist, and so on until finally, their time ran out.

CHAPTER 2

A Man of Many Voices

He knew this place the