Annabelle Adams and the Lost Sword of Avalon

By J.E. Turnbull

Annabelle Adams is a typical teenager burdened with the uncertainties of life after high school before she finds herself lost in a realm where the myths and legends of her world are alive, magic is real, and monsters haunt her every step. Scared and alone, Annabelle is befriended by a young Druid named Tristan who pledges to help her find a way home, but it won’t be easy. The boy’s magical realm is in turmoil. The Druid's ancient enemies, the Wiccan, are on the move. Annabelle entangles herself in the conflict when she draws a fabled blade, the one source of power that could hinder the Wiccan covens. Annabelle fights her own insecurities as she finds herself caught up in Tristan's quest against the forces that threaten his people. For every triumph, a new obstacle arises, and Annabelle wonders if she will ever discover a way back to her family and the 'normal life' she failed to value before it was stripped away.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781365859120

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Annabelle Adams and the Lost Sword of Avalon

Annabelle Adams         and the                  Lost Sword of Avalon

A novel by:

J.E.Turnbull

Follow the Adventure

www.jeturnbull.com

To Jena, Eric, Gregg, and Clayton. Thank you.

Annabelle Adams and the Lost Sword of Avalon

Copyright © 2017 Joshua Evan Turnbull

All rights reserved.

Published by LULU

ISBN 978-1-365-85912-0

No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Under no circumstances may any part of this book be photocopied for resale.

This is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is unintentional and co-incidental.

Cover Art by Joshua Evan Turnbull.

www.jeturnbull.com

Contents

Prologue: A Window into the World

Chapter 1: A Portrait of the Past

Chapter 2: Lost in the Dream

Chapter 3: Highguard

Chapter 4: The Storyteller

Interlude I: The Conspirator

Chapter 5: Kingscrown

Chapter 6: The Lost Sword of Avalon

Chapter 7: Betrayal of Blood

Chapter 8: The Dryad’s Bargain

Chapter 9: The White Cliffs

Chapter 10: The Blessed Isle

Interlude II: The Summoning

Chapter 11: The Path of a Guardian

Chapter 12: The Grey Lady

Chapter 13: Mines of Babylon

Chapter 14: A Tower Crumbles

Chapter 15: Bloodline

Epilogue: A Royal Prison

Prologue: A Window into the World

Summer had arrived. A season celebrated by young and old, filled with backyard barbecues, lake trips, and weekends outside with the family. For those lucky kids nearing the end their high school years, it was a special time. Summer was when you snuck your first sip of beer with friends, saw your first rock concert, or shared your first kiss. The adventures of summer were a rite of passage, a recess in life that molded the change from child to adult. One would have to assume summer was the perfect time to relax and enjoy the finer things, but the girl knew better. She had lived most of her life in the deserts of the southwest, and the start of summer was never a cause for celebration.

The first sign of an Arizona summer was the mass exodus of the snowbirds. The retirees would finish their margaritas, pack their golf clubs, and flee before the furnace-like temperatures took hold. The girl, confident that the heat alone was enough of a reason for most people to head for the door, wondered why they came in the first place. The additional dust storms, the drenching monsoon rains, and the harsh summer winds that felt like a blow dryer on high forced the girl to question why the city was ever built in the first place. By the end of August, the nights felt as hot as the days, and even the cold water setting in the shower rarely fell below lukewarm. While the snowbirds enjoyed their cool and comfortable days in the north, the heat that ruled the Sonoran Desert forced those who could not escape indoors.

That was where the girl was hiding now, protected from everything that summer could throw her way. Glancing out her window into a world full of promise she tried to imagine all the incredible things waiting for her away from the brutal heat and beyond the rows of dull houses. She could ride a bike through the streets of Paris, dive amongst the sharks at the Great Barrier Reef, or hang-glide in the Swiss Alps. Anything and everything was possible, at least, she hoped it was.

Outside the window, the noon sun had pushed the few clouds that dared to threaten its reign toward the horizon. She could feel the heat trying to sneak past the double-paned glass. It was a slight reminder that her time of hiding from the sun, and everything else she was apprehensive about, was soon to be over. The girl had recently completed her junior year of high school. Only one more year remained before graduation and it was time to make some important decisions. She would need to shed the comfort of her parents' home, and the freedoms that came with it. Pitfalls and traps littered the world outside that window. Some would test her strengths, while others took advantage of her flaws. The girl did not know whether she should be excited or terrified, maybe she was a little of both.

For the moment, her bedroom was a sanctuary. The challenges that had been dancing in her head were still well into her future and while there was no need to focus too intently on them now, she could not ignore them forever. As each day passed, the girl found it harder and harder to overlook the one question that bounced around inside her head. ‘What am I going to do with my life?’

Worrying about it seemed so silly. The world outside did not appear menacing, other than the heat. Her neighborhood was dreary on its best day, and downright tedious most of the others. All the homes were the same, the only thing differentiating them were the cars parked in front, a single hint of individuality to break up the cookie cutter pattern of the suburbs.

The girl wondered if the people living in these homes aspired to be here or if they simply settled for this mundane life. She was young, and probably a little naïve, but she could think of nothing better than leaving this place behind. It was a safe little corner of the world well matched for those who valued security above adventure. She just needed to find the courage to take that first step and find her own way.

Unfortunately, that courage was a little hard to come by as of late. Now that her senior year of high school was approaching, she was beginning to second-guess herself. Maybe her feelings about the classic ‘American Dream’ were unfounded. Could she be wrong about her parent’s choices? Her mom and dad seemed content with the life they had built. Rather than following her crazy dreams perhaps, she should consider a more traditional path.

After graduation, she could enroll at the local university where she would expand her horizons and settle on a major that offered huge growth opportunities and solid earning potential. In four short years she would walk out the door with a little piece of paper stamped with the university logo, not to mention a hefty sized student loan. With a little networking and a neatly written résumé, a job would surely fall in her lap. Of course, somewhere along the way she would need to make time to find her very own 'Prince Charming'. With a little hard work, the reward of a similarly boring house, a 401k, and a minivan full of kids would surely be theirs. The young girl laughed. As tempting as 'that' fairy tale sounded, she decided to consider her alternatives.

To tell the truth neither college, nor a relationship, were anywhere on her priority list. The world right outside her window may be boring, but somewhere out there beyond those dull houses was adventure and excitement. There were so many things to look forward to in life. The thought of traveling to foreign countries, learning new languages, and mingling with the cultures of the world made her skin tingle with anticipation.

No matter what path she decided to follow, it needed to be somewhere different from her hometown. Shopping at the local fashion center or lounging around the typical weekend hangouts would not fill the empty spot in her soul. She would be whole when she stood on her own two feet. The girl needed to bask in experiences that would mean more to her than some degree. It did not matter what others thought, they could enjoy their simple lives and she would promise to visit over the holidays.

The light from the sun flashed in her eyes, forcing the girl out of her daydreams. She glanced down into the street where the mail carrier battled to finish his route while the brutal heat hammered down upon him. The girl thought, ‘If he can do it, so can I’, and with great effort pulled herself up. After a quick stretch, her stomach rumbled, signaling it was time for lunch.

Jumping out of bed, she did her best to corral her wild hair. She was a playful kind of pretty, but she would be the first to blush and deny it. The curly chestnut brown hair, along with her sapphire blue eyes and the freckles on her cheeks, came from her mother. The girl did have her father’s ears. Slightly large for her head, they gave her a pixie-like appearance. The other kids teased her incessantly about them when she was young, but they had since become her favorite feature. After throwing her hair into a ponytail, she pulled on her favorite ball cap. Combined with a pair of worn blue jeans and a comfy tee shirt she was ready to face the day. The other girls at school called her a tomboy, but Annabelle Adams would not have it any other way.

Annabelle glanced around her room and let out a sigh. Like most teenagers, her room sheltered her hopes, dreams, and her most prized possessions; but like most teenagers, it was also a bit messy. Regardless of the general state of disorder, Annabelle loved her space. There were no monuments to teen heartthrobs littering the walls or stacks of stuffed animals piled in the corner. Instead, she proudly hung pictures of her family, her brother’s artwork, and some of her aunt’s photography. That was not to say she did not have a picture or two of her favorite athlete, what girl did not.

She did a quick pass to clean up the clutter. If her mother knew that she had wasted another afternoon daydreaming, she would never hear the end of it. Her mother, who lightheartedly referred to herself as a ‘girly-girl’, loved manicures, makeovers, and all-day shopping trips to the local mall with her gal pals; all things Annabelle detested.

Annabelle would rather be outdoors. She loved to run and hike but those activities were near impossible once the heat set in. She did enjoy swimming during the summer but her fair complexion created its own set of problems. While her friends frolicked in the pool, the sun forced her to hide under the umbrella caked with sunscreen. After ten years of living in the southwest Annabelle had concluded that summer was just not her best season. While other kids enjoyed their break from school, she stayed indoors, a slave to the air conditioner and daytime television.

Luckily there was something special happening this summer, something Annabelle had been looking forward to for a very long time. Her family was traveling back to where she was born. Her mother, a native of England, had met Annabelle’s father while he traveled abroad for his studies as an exchange student. Her parents had lived outside of London until she was seven and then moved to Arizona after her father accepted a teaching position.

Annabelle and her parents would be staying at her grandmother's estate, a huge tract of farmland, orchards, and native forest managed by her family for generations. Located in southern England, near Dartmoor National Park, the estate was nowhere near any city, or even small town for that matter. There were no big box stores, strip malls, or fast food joints littering the landscape. It was the perfect escape from her troubles. Without the static of the fast-paced life she was accustomed to, Annabelle hoped to clear her mind and better plan her future.

She threw the last of her dirty clothing into the hamper and made her way downstairs. On the kitchen countertop was a note from her parents reminding Annabelle to do her laundry and pack for the trip. Underneath the note was a packet. Annabelle did not even have to open it to know what lay inside, more college literature.

For the past year, Annabelle’s father had been pushing her to make a decision about school. At first, his guidance was subtle. She would find applications for scholarships on her desk with little post-it notes. They were colorful sticky pads of encouragement with sayings like ‘You can get this one!’ or ‘There is no day like today!’

His obsession with her future seemed to grow worse the closer she was to the start of her senior year. Her father began sneaking the topic of college into every conversation, even questioning her date to the junior prom as the nervous boy fumbled with the corsage. His efforts soon went from irritating to overbearing. He was scheduling phone interviews with admission officers, booking campus tours, and creating list of courses he thought she would enjoy. It was nauseating. Annabelle was beginning to understand why her brother chose to go to school in another city. Perhaps she would one up him and attempt to flee the state.

Annabelle flipped through the brochure before setting it to the side. She wanted to make her dad happy, what kind of daughter would not want to please her father. She knew that he loved her and she was his little girl, but no matter how many times Annabelle contemplated her future she could not settle on which direction to go. Annabelle received decent grades, had a dedicated group of friends, and was close with her family. She even managed to volunteer at an animal shelter on the weekends when not tied up with sports. During high school that made her a success, but now she was fast approaching the age where the bar moved higher and she felt ill equipped to handle the responsibilities of becoming an adult.

'Was she going to go to college? What did she want to do for a living? How was she going to take care of herself?' Her father had so many questions and Annabelle had no answers. It was all so overwhelming. No one wants to make mistakes but her father made it sound like dealing with failure was a prerequisite to becoming a successful adult. Despite her protests, the deadline to leave the nest was fast approaching. Annabelle did not know if she would take flight or crash headlong into the ground.

As she had done many times in the last few weeks since school ended, she pushed her uncertainty to the back of her mind and turned her attention to quelling her rumbling stomach. While rummaging through the fridge, she heard a series of bangs and creaks echoed from the driveway. Annabelle grinned, her brother David was home. He had been out of the house for two years but the sound of his car was impossible to forget. The hunk of junk was held together with pieces of tape and a few coat hangers, but as David often put it ‘She’s got it where it counts’.

David was attending college in Tucson, a smaller desert city to the south. He was housesitting for the rest of the summer while Annabelle and her parents left to go abroad. It was the only way their mother would leave behind her true pride and joy, a teacup Chihuahua named Jimi. The little dog’s moniker was an homage to her parent’s favorite musician. Even though he was a scoundrel, Jimi had been Annabelle’s faithful companion during many monotonous summer days.

Her brother strolled through the door carrying a basket full of dirty clothes and their father’s old duffel bag. Seeing Annabelle standing in the kitchen, David dropped his things and opened his arms wide, but Jimi beat her to his embrace. The little dog had jumped off his leopard print bed and sprinted past her in a blur.

How's it going, sis? David asked as he scratched Jimi’s head.

She had not seen him for almost five months. Sporting long brown hair and a short beard, David was the spitting image of their father except for the blue eyes he shared with Annabelle and their mother. He was wearing the classic college student uniform: a t-shirt emblazoned with the team mascot, worn blue jeans, and a beat up pair of flip-flops.

Better now that you’re here, bud. I’ve been bored out of my mind, said Annabelle as she gave her brother a hug. I was about to get something to eat, you want anything?

You know me, I'm always hungry, David set down Jimi and nudged her out of the way, plus I don’t normally eat such fine foods. There are only so many ways you can make a meal with pocket change.

Annabelle took her normal seat at the table while David whipped up two of his trademark sandwiches. She really missed her brother and wanted him to go to England, but her wish was resoundingly denied. Her parents had explained their stance the night before.

David has responsibilities now, said her father as they had sat down for dinner. "He has a car, and an apartment to pay for, he can’t afford to drop everything and fly half way around the world with us. You will understand when you start paying your own way.

Why can’t you pay, just this once? Annabelle had begged.

David is an adult, replied her mother.

You're paying for me and I'm almost eighteen, what’s the difference?

She had pestered her parents for the greater part of the evening, but her goal of getting her brother added to the itinerary was clearly failing. After a few more futile attempts her father started to breathe loudly out his nose, a tell tale sign of him becoming frustrated.

You live under my roof, David does not, stated her father, and it's not my place to pay for him anymore. Pretty soon you're going to have to make some hard choices of your own, young lady. Maybe even give up some things you really want to pay for what you need. Remember it is not the easy times in life that make us who we are, Annabelle, it is the daily struggles and how we respond to them that define us. Your brother is making a tough choice and I respect him for that, I expect you to do the same. The finality of her father’s statement had meant an end to the dispute and Annabelle went to bed feeling miserable.

Are you excited about going back to Nana’s? David’s question snapped Annabelle back to reality. He carried two sandwiches and a bag of chips to the table. Just so you know, I’m insanely jealous.

I tried to talk Dad in to springing for your ticket, but he shot me down, lamented Annabelle.

"As the great Mick Jagger said, ‘You can’t always get what you want’. I know it sounds silly but the more time I spend on my own, the more I realize that life is not about always getting my way. I enjoy the things I can control and live with those I can’t." David sounded more like their father every day.

But don’t worry too much, sis. I have a lady friend coming up tomorrow to make sure I don’t get in any trouble. David paused before taking another bite of his sandwich, oh, and don’t tell Mom, she would totally freak if she knew I was playing house while y’all are away.

Is it still that same girl with the tattoo’s and the platinum blonde hair? asked Annabelle while she tried to keep a straight face, or have you decided to double down and bring home a girl with facial piercings?

David laughed. Not that I care what our dear mother thinks of my choice in women, but yes, I'm still with Tina. She just dyed her hair though, now it’s jet black with red streaks. Mom would love it, said her brother as he flashed a sly grin.

Annabelle had listened to her mother complain about David’s girlfriend since the news of his blossoming relationship was uncovered. Tina was almost four years older and had a wild side. She knew David hated their mother’s advice on women as much as she detested her father’s guidance on her own life choices. Regardless of what her mother thought, she was not worried. David was not the type of guy to fall head over heels for the first lady to show him some attention. This girl had to be pretty special to stick around for so long.

All I know is that this trip is going to be lame without you. Dad has been pestering me about choosing a college. I was hoping you would be my buffer.

No can do, little lady, replied David. I’ve got way too much to do here and I have no motivation to get between you and dad. If you bring it up anytime later tonight I'm going to take Jimi and drive back to Tucson.

Annabelle flashed her brother a pained look. How about I come live with you? I would be a great roommate, what do you say, big brother?

You're a wonderful sister, and I love you dearly, but that is a horrible idea. If you haven’t been able to figure it out, my life isn’t all peaches and cream. In a perfect world it would be fun to have you as a roommate. Trust me, sis, I have a couple of guys that I would swap for you in a heartbeat, but the fact remains that you're just trying to dodge the issue. Use this trip to find yourself, Annabelle. I promise that with a little effort you will discover the right path, or in your case, probably stumble upon it by dumb luck.

David’s gentle smile softened the blow of his rebuttal. Although Annabelle felt a little let down, she could not fault him. Her brother was trying to keep himself above water. If she entered the mix, David would spend more time worrying about her than focusing on his school work. It was time for her to grow up and stop depending on others. ‘But why am I so worried?’

Annabelle and David spent the next few hours chatting and before long they were back in their old routine. Jokes were made and embarrassing stories were told. Annabelle was excited to hear everything about David’s new job, his studies, and of course his blossoming relationship. Annabelle vented about her frustrations with their father and her concerns about the future. David reminded her that he had gone through it and lived, she would too.

I better go and get ready. I still haven't started any laundry and you know Mom is totally going to flip, said Annabelle.

David pushed her toward the stairs. Our loving parents will be home soon and we have dinner plans. You know I can’t afford to miss out on a meal that someone else is paying for, right? Don’t think I won’t make them leave you here with the dog.

You just ate a whole sandwich and half of mine, how are even hungry? Annabelle shot back.

What can I say, I'm a growing boy, replied David as he patted his stomach.

Annabelle paused before heading to her room. Please don’t tell Dad how I'm feeling about college. I don’t want him to freak out before our trip.

Don’t worry, sis, said David as he reclined on the couch. I won’t tell dad a thing if you don’t tell anyone about my upcoming romantic rendezvous. Do we have a deal?

Deal! replied Annabelle. I love you, David, thanks for listening to my boring problems.

I love you too, curly sue.

Jimi crawled onto David’s lap while her brother flipped through the channels. Annabelle left the pair and returned to her room. She barely had enough time to put a load of clothes in the washing machine before her parents arrived home. They called her downstairs and everyone headed right out the door for a fun family evening. It had been too long since they had all been together and Annabelle had not realized how much she missed it. ‘What would I do without them?’ Annabelle thought as she laughed at one of David’s impressions of her father.

After arriving back home she begrudgingly finished her laundry and packed. She loaded her suitcase with jeans and shorts, a stack of shirts, and her favorite pair of flip flops. Her father’s old college sweatshirt was the last item to go in. Annabelle had not packed for anything fancy, but no matter the occasion, she was going to be comfortable.

After she placed her luggage in the corner Annabelle prepared for bed. Outside her bedroom window the last light of the summer’s day faded into the night. A beautiful reddish-orange sky extended from the horizon until it met the approaching stars. Annabelle brushed her hair and gazed into the sunset, daydreaming about tomorrow and wondering what it had in store.

Chapter 1: A Portrait of the Past

The song of finches welcomed the morning sun. Outside Annabelle’s bedroom window the energetic little birds floated from branch to branch. There must have been dozens of them in the tree, each one louder than the next. She pulled the covers over her head in an attempt to muffle their boisterous song, but it was to no avail. The lively birds cared little for her protest and continued to celebrate the dawn.

Annabelle sat up and stretched. Her room felt strange. The strain of the lengthy journey and the jet lag were playing tricks with her mind. It took her a moment to remember where she was, but after a long yawn, the fog lifted and a smile spread across her face. They had