Oaktree

By Suzie Parker

Long ago magical and human’ realms lived in harmony with one another. However, from the darkness creatures of Evil hungered for the lands. Balor the Red Dragon sought after the lands he planned to bewitch a young Creation Creature of magic Kin. The heartbroken Cathlion is lured into thinking she is in love with Balor. Her brother the beloved by all, the Yellow Dragon tries to defend his sister but is too evenly matched by Balor. The Old Ones want the battle to end entraps them all in water, glass and wood. The Old Ones find Halflings Kin to guard and protect the realms from them all. They are known as Healers.
Many years later, Evelyn has never known about her family she had grown up in an orphanage uncared for and unloved. The truth about how she came to the orphanage has been cloaked in magic and mystery for all of her life. The world had changed and magic was not as it once was.
As a young child, Evelyn saves a pixie from a boot of a fellow orphan. The magic world is full of wonder and danger for Evelyn. To get away from the lonely and hard work of the orphanage Evelyn happily emerges herself in her stolen moments in the magical world of the forest.
The orphanage holds its own secrets it not only is the last resort for children of the poor and hungry people of the township. The orphanage is the haven for Rebel fighters who are fighting to regain the land from the malicious ruler. The ruler of two towns had taken one town by magic and the other town by force. The Queen with her nonstop searching for anyone of magic kin and two items one the Red Dragon Eye and the Yellow Dragon Eye. These two items are needed to release Balor the Red Dragon. Her love that had enchanted her.
Evelyn meets a boy, the son of the Rebel soldiers, Liam. Evelyn strikes up her first human friendship. Liam’s father was once the proud but hairy guard to the Prince of one of the kingdoms. However, now without the Prince or the Royal Family, he has become the leader of the Rebels. Braking the rules of not leaving the orphanage Evelyn and Liam sneak out to go to see the forest and the large Oaktree. They are separated when trying to escape from the Nuns of the orphanage who had come searching for them. The Queen sensing Liam in the forest she finds him alone and hexes him because of who he will be. Once Liam had been found Evelyn finds that her new friend has been bewitched and has forgotten her. Evelyn’s pixie friend has been killed by the Queen when trying to protect Liam. The Old Ones of the forest take Evelyn’s abilities to see magic from her to keep her safe and her memory of them as well.
Evelyn grows up alone, she does not have control of her life. When Evelyn comes of age she is sent to the workhouse. Without her consent, Evelyn is sold off for marriage. After years of unhappy silence, the magical world is finally ready to tell Evelyn their secrets. However, the aim of all the secrets is to keep Liam and Evelyn safe from the Queen as children. Liam and Evelyn had been given the ancient gift of being Healers. Together they are able to combat the Red Dragon and the Queen. The Oaktree becomes Evelyn’s protector when she is awoken to her powers and to keep her safe until Liam is ready to be awoken. In the meantime, Liam becomes a valued rebel fighter beside his father.
Liam and his father are taken by the Queens’ Guards after Liam is injured. Magical creatures come together to assist to release Liam and his father. They are shown the world that the Queen had been imprisoned in her Mirror Realm when trying to escape. The Queen after a long time manages to release the Red Dragon from his watery prison with Red Dragon Eye.
Liam releases Evelyn from her amber encasement inside Oaktree. Once Evelyn is released Oaktree is transformed into his form of the Yellow Dragon, Elgin. Finally, a battle is fought to reclaim the balance to the realms. The Healers, Evelyn and Liam along with the Yellow Dragon fight the Queen and Balor to r

• Language: English
• Publisher: Suzie Parker
• Release date: Jul 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463203491

Book preview

Oaktree

by

Suzanne Parker

Apart butter Flys

Year of Publish 2018

Copyright © 2008 by Suzanne Parker

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal. Image of the front cover are from image free stock.

First Printing: 2019

ISBN 978 1090175168

Dedication

To my children.

Long ago when the Earth was young, enchanted creatures lived and worked along with humans. Evil desired and planned to take over the human realm. However, the Old One’s laws kept Evil at bay to allow the human and magic creatures to live in peace.

The Creation Creatures wanted to fashion a being, the Yellow One, who was intended for good and whose body shone brightly. He was formed of love and glory and revered by many. However, Evil did not revere the Yellow One. He was of Dragonkin, one of life, and the light was so bright he pulled the forces of good fortune and created new elemental Magical Creatures: those of the Wind, Water, and Earth. He transformed himself into knowledge and a watcher of this new realm.

To counteract this, Evil formed a mighty creature fuelled by evil. Its body reeked of death and its soul burned with hate. It was named the Red One. Of Red Dragonkin, the Creature of Death and the night so dark, he pulled in the forces of corruption and created the Creatures of Evil in his realm and this, The Mirror Realm, which he would never enter.

The Red Dragon corrupted the youngest Creation Creature with the promise and fabrications of love. The Creation Creature was of old kin who were treasured for their abilities. He enchanted her to open his realm – a cold and soulless realm. She turned from her kin to be with her love. To bring her back to her kin, the Creation Creatures asked for the Yellow Dragon’s assistance. The Yellow Dragon and Red Dragon battled but they were evenly matched and the fight raged on.

The Old Ones who lived before time became angry at the upset of the battle. For corrupting a Creation Creature, they punish the Red Dragon and the Young tarnished Creation Creature, the Old Ones entrapped them. The Old Ones swore never to release the Red Dragon and sealed him in a watery prison. They placed his mate in the Red Dragon’s icy realm, where she was left to mourn him.

To keep this balance, the Old Ones created an equilibrium. Unknown to humans the Old Ones gave this ability to man. They were known as the Earth Healers, men and women who received foreknowledge of the spirit realm. When given the Understanding, they could move in both realms. Their contract was to retain harmony between the human and spirit realms. When required, they were called forth to help return the balance through their healing of the Realms. They were also known as Halfling Kin not true magical Kin.

Chapter 1

In the dark of night among the roots deep in the Old Forest lay a woman in pain, her belly swollen from the child she carried. No one – except for a small creature that hovered above her – helped the woman as her child gradually entered the human realm. The creature’s light was the only one to be seen. The woman’s eyes were wild and sweat dripped from her face.

Many tiny eyes watched the lonely woman in the smaller trees, unable to aid her. Terrified and alone, she had walked the woods, lost, searching for a safe place to give birth before she died. Her thin frame had only the strength to finish her last act of love. She had once known another realm of palaces and fine clothing – a heartfelt smile, a warm embrace, love. Now; this was her realm of loneliness and darkness.

The only place she could find was at the base of the largest tree in the woods an old oak. Its branches twisted with its age into the air, the roots of the massive tree spanned the forest floor. The smell of mist hung in the air as the haze spilled over the ground. With one last cry from its mother, the baby came forth into the realm. The spell that had protected the mother slipped away to bond to the child.

Feebly, the woman lay quietly, trying to hold onto her last gasps of life. The small child inhaled her first breath as the mother gazed at her child for the first time. Her companions were dead, she had been trying for days to get to the town of Ulkin. The fireflies came out of the trees to fly closer to the tiny baby as if to say hello. This cast a soft light over the roots of the tree. The little creatures flew close to the infant one firefly flew close to kiss the child on the nose. The mother smiled weakly. A large rabbit moved to the border of the clearing as if to guard the mother and the infant. The rabbit was larger than most rabbits it appeared to understand what was happening.

Out of the darkness and mist, the sound of crunching branches and leaves awoke the child’s mother from her dying moments. Just beyond the darkness a pair of orange-red eyes appeared to watch her. Coldness emanated from the creature and crept along the ground. It twisted among the leaves on the forest floor like snakes as it moved toward the child and her mother. The large rabbit let out a warning cry as it moved to the mother. The mother began shaking at the sense of evil that came from the darkness. The little lights flew for the yellow eyes in an attempt to stop it. The large rabbit had human-like hands, it took hold of the mother’s ragged clothing, trying to get her to her feet.

No. The word fell from the mother’s lips as she spoke to the evil creature.

The mother unsteadily but hastily hoisted herself to her feet in an effort to get away from the evil that wanted her and the new baby. She pushed off the trunk of the tree as the rabbit steadied her. The rabbit hurried her down an animal track the fireflies flew around her to protect the mother. At first, she could manage only a shuffle, as her body was still weak from childbirth. The sound of wailing filled the air.

The woman quickened her pace as the sound of a beast’s paws hit the ground behind her. The muffled thump of its padded feet hammered on the forest floor, the sound mixing with the mother’s gasping breath. She twisted around only once, as the beast was closing in on her heels. The large rabbit doubled back to run zig-zag in front of the evil creature, trying to trip it. The rabbit appeared to be speaking to the creature it was a language she had not heard before. The fireflies began thickening as they buzzed behind the woman, letting out a screech as if to protect her from the dog-like creature. The creature let out a snarling, burling growl of defiance of the small lights, which hit the ground as the creature continued chasing the mother.

The rabbit-like creature ran level with the woman’s heels, still trying to run interference. The doglike creature snapped at the rabbit taking a mouth full of brown fur. The Rabbit spun around and smacked the creature across its nose it let out a cry. This confused the creature for few moments. The woman staggered through the woods, almost falling and dropping her baby. The large rabbit hurried to aid the woman to help her to her feet. At first the woman did not understand what the rabbit creature was doing. But then she tightened her grip, bringing the baby closer to her chest as she got to her feet. The baby lay still in her mother’s arms, as if knowing their lives were in danger. The mother looked into the rabbit’s eyes and nodded as if to know the rabbit was trying to assist.

The little winged creature darted in front of the mother. Its light had a greenish tinge. The creature moved around as if to show the mother which way to go. Another snarling sound came from behind the mother as she quickened her step as the trees began rapidly thinning out. The small winged creature swiftly darted to one side. The mother followed as the dog-like creature snapped at her and the rabbits’ heels.

The creature flew up into the air as the forest turned into marshland. The mother’s feet bogged on her first step out of the woods. After a few more sluggish steps, she turned to see her demon as the morning sun began casting its light on the ground. She saw what it was – the evil creature born from an evil magical curse, a Banshee Hound. It let out a wail that seemed like the cry of lost souls, and the mournful sound made her heartache. It sounded like the dammed. In shock, she realised it resembled a fairy she knew. The Beast of the Darkness could not pass the tree line; it was as if an unseen fence was in its way.

Chandra, the creature cried the mother could not stop she needed to make her baby safe.

Chandra pushed on through the mud to the township of Ulkin. The township’s high walls lay just beyond the marshland. The large rabbit and the lights blended back into the woods. She twisted around to find that the rabbit-like creature was gone, as were as the pixies who had been aiding her.

Chandra and the baby moved along the outer wall of the town. Her companion had told her about the hatch. In the stone wall, she found the swinging hatch that was used to deliver goods to the abbey. Chandra slowly spun the wooden device, her body trembling from the cold. She was covered in mud and blood; her body had not recovered from giving birth. In her weakened state, she took a moment to gaze at her baby for the last time. She was too frail to cry; she could manage only a weak sob. Chandra gently lay her baby down, wrapped in her shawl. With wet mud and blood, Chandra wrote on the wall next to the baby: Evelyn.

Good bye my love. She spoke as she gently kissed her baby. Chandra spun the wooden cradle around Evelyn had not cried once. With a heavy heart she rang the bell to signal that her baby was there.

Chandra leant her hand on the wall to steady herself. Her breath was shallow; life was fading away from her. She sluggishly moved away from the wall, then staggered to the long grass to lay down and take her last breath. This was when the grass pixies came to assist. Then all was quiet.

The Queen, three days ride away in Triseta castle paused, she placed her hand on the stone floor of the throne room. Her eyes turned a milky glow as if she was listening to what was happening miles away. She hissed as she could not see all, it was as if there was a blockage. All she could see was Chandra dying in the marshlands.

A Nun from Ulkin Abbey had heard the bell, the sun had not begun to shine into the Abby courtyard. She held a lantern high in the air as she made her way to the wall. The Nun let out a breath as she took in the small bundle. Evelyn lay quiet, unwashed, and unfed. With a quick glance, the Nun noted the name written above the baby. The Nun drew back the shawl to check on the child.

The Nun let out a gasp at the child’s green eyes. Halfling Child? She draped the shawl around the baby and hurried her inside.

The lands of Ulkin were poor; they had been heavily taxed and the crop yield had been insufficient. Many Ulkin children were left at the abbey because their families were unable to keep them. The Evil Queen had drained all she could from these lands then she had moved to the next town, Triseta. She had just begun to rule both.

What have we here, Sister? Mother Prioress asked as she held the door open for the sister. Any sign of our other guests?

No. This is Evelyn. She is only hours old; she still has her cord. I think she is a Halfling Child. Said the nun holding Evelyn. Mother, this is Triseta weave in this cloth. Could this be one of our guests?

No, she is just another child. Wash her, feed her, and put her in the cot near the fire to keep her warm. Burn the cloth. We do not need the Queen’s guards looking for us; it may be hexed. No more talking of Halfling Children; it could bring on more trouble. With eyes like that, the child could be of evil kin. Any issues let me know. Mother Prioress spoke with a grumble.

Years moved on, Evelyn grew just like every other child of the institution she knew nothing of the night when she had come to the orphanage, as no one cared to tell her. She was part of the machine of the orphanage now. The walls dripped in the rain. The stone floors were hard and cold. All the children slept in one large hall – one side for the girls, the other for the boys. The fires burned low in the fireplaces; hunger, cold, and moisture were plentiful. The abbey had been magically sealed so that no evil could find it.

Rebel skirmishes raged outside the town limits who fought the Queen’s soldiers in defiance of the Queen taking both lands. Ulkin’s orphanage was seen as a haven for the rebels. The wounded men would be sent to the Abby for them nuns to heal them. The first arrows had been fired just before Evelyn was born. Soldiers of Triseta would come to the town of Ulkin, raiding it for rebels. These guards were of magic kin under the power of the Queen. On order of the Queen, any humans seen to have the Second Sight was to be killed on the spot. Bodies hung on the walls outside the township as a warning from the Queen.

A sage named Marfran had added extra seals on the abbey before his death after the Queen battled Triseta to take its throne. Once the Queen took Triseta’s throne for added measure she beheaded Triseta’s Royal family and had their bodies hung from the town’s walls for her amusement. Many years before the Queen had bewitched the King of Ulkin who thought she was his Queen. When the King of Ulkin died the Queen set her sights on Triseta. Now she searched for the Halfling kind; it was rumoured that they would be her undoing.

All Evelyn had known was the Orphanage’s four walls by the time she was four years old. One morning she was hiding near the infirmary to stay away from the children who tormented her. One of the younger Nuns sister Leah had been nursing a rebel; her white apron was stained with blood. Evelyn overheard sister Elijah mumbling to herself as she when to fine Mother Prioress to report on the rebel’s health. There are no Earth Healers in the realm when will this stop. Sister Leah pause as she heard footsteps. Another has passed Mother. We need Healers to stop this. Sister Leah reported to Mother Prioress who appeared from the corridors Evelyn could see the fear in the Nun’s eyes.

Mother Prioress’s habit was not all white like those of the other nuns; her habit was more creamy brown in colour. The nuns rustled as they walked, which could be unnerving for some of the rebels at times. They could be heard calling out at night: I hear them. Death is not coming for me. Do not let the Evil Queen turn me. She’s a witch!!

However, Evelyn and the other children counted on it that they could hear the nuns coming and stop their mischief. Evelyn did not like listening to the Rebel soldiers the talk of witches frightened her.

Do not blaspheme sister Leah. Magic has no place in this world. This is just war. Ensure you wash your habit we do not walk around as if we do not care about our appearance. Mother Prioress snapped at the Sister.

Yes Mother. Sister Leah bowed her head as she spoke. Some people still believed in the old-realm practices, though they were now done in private.

Some years later, Evelyn stood in the food hall she was now seven years old. Her stomach rumbled as it always did. Food was dished out restrictively for all the children, so hunger was just part of their lives. Evelyn twisted in her oversized shoes. Her eyes watched the other children walking through the massive wooden doors her job was to ring the dinner bell. Lower your eyes, Mother Prioress growled at her. Evelyn quickly dropped her gaze.

Yes, Evelyn, do your job, Sister Elijah snapped at her.

Yes, Sister. Yes, Mother Prioress, Evelyn answered.

Mother Prioress found her green eyes unnerving. Your eyes were put in by demons, I’m sure, Sister Elijah had snapped at Evelyn when she was only two years old.

It’s not right they are that green and your hair is so red. A normal child would have a regular colour, not this, Mother Prioress had added.

Later, when the children and Evelyn had finished a morning meal of stale bread and weak, milky tea, Evelyn slipped outside, not wanting to go to work after Mother Prioress had spoken to her so harshly. She hoped that no one would miss her washing sheets. Amid all the children, Evelyn hoped she would be overlooked.

In the muddy courtyard of the orphanage, Evelyn scuttled along the heavy stone wall to the far corner behind the barn. Hidden by a haystack and broken, unwanted junk was a good hiding spot, where she was well concealed from view.

Standing in the sunlight was the only plant in the orphanage. This was Evelyn’s private place; none of the other children came here. It was a Pixie Bush that grew in from outside the wall. Green bugs flew in and out of the shrub. One of the bugs hovered in mid-air as if it were watching Evelyn approach.

Good morning. Evelyn bowed a little at the bug before hurrying over to the small tree. She reached out her hand for the little bug to land on. Did the princess enjoy my gift?

The green bug glanced around to see if any human was watching. With a jerking movement, the bug’s arms and legs began to change. It turned into a human-like creature with insect wings and sat cross-legged in Evelyn’s hand. The creature nodded quickly in response to her question, keeping an eye out for anyone who might be around. Evelyn settled down on a broken stool that had been thrown away.

Evelyn had found the creature one night in the sleeping dormitory. The sound of rattling had awoken her. In the bed next to her was a young girl who liked hurting flies and tormenting anyone smaller then she was, including Evelyn. The girl had hidden something in her boot under her bed. The knocking was coming from her right boot.

Evelyn had crept quietly out of bed to investigate the sound. The girl let out a loud snore as Evelyn silently eased her way under the bed. Evelyn could see, the moonlight was shining through the old, thin-paned windows, casting light on the floor. Her sight at night was better than that of the others,’ though Evelyn didn’t know why. The fire had died and she needed to be quick before the noise under the bed awoke the other children.

A child a few beds away from Evelyn started coughing. Evelyn froze. After a few deep breaths, the child stopped, then rolled over to return to sleep. The boot began clattering on the wooden floor once more. Evelyn reached over to the boot but paused as the girl above her rolled over, the rope ties of the bed narrowly missing Evelyn’s face.

Gently, Evelyn dragged the boot closer the box began rattling once again this time a lot louder. With a rapid movement, Evelyn took the tin box out of the boot and brought it back into her bed. Some of the children had awoken and begun asking what the noise was, as it was not one of the normal night-time sounds.

Evelyn pulled the cover over her head. As she gradually opened the box, a brilliant flash came from inside it, almost blinding her. She dropped the tin box. As the creature flew up into the air, it made a high-pitched noise and bounced around inside the blanket. The children began screaming at the sight of the light and at the high-pitched sound.

Mother Prioress rushed into the room tailed behind by sister Elijah. What is going on here?

Evelyn quickly reached out to grasp the little bug in her hands. Shh, please, shh, Evelyn said softly to the bug. She put the insect into the pocket of her nightdress, trying to calm it down.

Mother Prioress’s eyes locked onto Evelyn, who was sitting up in her bed, trying to pacify the bug now in her nightgown. Some of the younger children were crying, while others were calling out. Sister Elijah and another nun who had come in to aid with the other children they hurried around quietening down the other children.

Can’t we sleep, Miss? Well, I know where you can stay so everyone else can, Mother Prioress roared at Evelyn, who had been convicted without any cause. Sister Elijah took hold of the child, who was still under her thin blanket. Evelyn was dragged out of the orphanage and into the courtyard. It had poured rain that afternoon and sister Elijah slipped a little as she treaded on the muddy ground.

In to the wintery night Evelyn was taken to the barn to sleep with the animals. With bare feet and no coat, Evelyn was dragged to the cowshed. There, Missy. Now you won’t awaken the other children who want to sleep. Do you hear me?

Yes, sister Elijah.

Sister Elijah disappeared into the dark of the winter night. The bug in Evelyn’s nightdress begun to move around Evelyn opened her pocket. The bug flew out and twisted in the air it hovered for a moment before disappearing into the night.

Evelyn could just see a pile of hay on the other side of the barn she made her way over to it. She was alone in the dark a cow moved it made her jump it was not a sound she was used to. Slowly, with tears, she shifted the straw over her until she was covered. She wished that she were in her bed; it had only thin blankets but out here it was dark and scary. The straw was warm, Evelyn tried to sleep but every noise made her jump. Then everything seemed to go quiet just as a tiny light floated into the barn. It hovered over Evelyn before landing next to her.

A small creature with a mix of bug and human features smiled at her. Its wings were insect-like; they folded down behind the creature as it made itself comfortable on the straw. It had a greenish glow about it. As it lay next to her, the little creature placed straw over itself.

Are you sleeping here too? Evelyn asked, sniffing and rubbing her eyes.

The creature grinned and continued patting down straw over itself. It nodded.

My name is Evelyn. What’s yours?

The creature glanced around as if to see who was watching, then wiggled its finger at Evelyn to come closer. Its voice was soft and sweet. Hani, she answered.

Do you want to be my friend, Hani? Evelyn asked.

Hani nodded.

What are you?

Hani wiggled her insect finger at Evelyn to come closer once more. "I be of pixie kin. I be belonging to the Pixie Tree in the courtyard. You be coming and

Reviews for Oaktree

[Suzie Parker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What great read can not wait to see what's next