Ceara Aquilon: Windfall, #1

By Arielle Alia

The Aquilon family believes that the wind spirit is their protector.

 

But Ceara Aquilon discovered that their ancestor, Seth Aquilon, has tricked the wind spirit to become their protector.

 

When Ceara accidentally  freed the wind spirit  from this agreement, the latter swears revenge on  the Aquilon family!

 

To stop the wind spirit's revenge, Ceara has to play and win a game the wind spirit has devised. If Ceara loses,

she will pay with her life and the wind spirit will kill everyone with Aquilon blood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arielle Alia
• Release date: Jan 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393592297

Book preview

PROLOGUE

"V ent puissant, vent puissant. Voulez-vous ecouter mon coeur ?" sang Ceara's Aunt Verance as she stood on top of a small hill. Ceara stood beside her aunt and watched her dance to an unheard music as she continued singing. Aside from her aunt's song, Ceara could also hear the sound of the wind blowing around the small hill. The wind seemed to spread her Aunt Verance's song everywhere.

Ceara couldn't understand the meaning of the words in her aunt's song. But since her aunt had a good voice, she found the song pleasant to the ears.

She had always been close to her aunt. Ceara idolized almost everything about her. From the way she dressed herself, her singing prowess and her beliefs and mottos in life.

Aunt Verance at age twenty-five remained unmarried. She never even had any boyfriend. She was also very fond of Ceara. She often borrowed Ceara from her parents to take her to the mall or go on a picnic. Ceara knew she was Aunt Verance's favorite niece because she was fun to be with unlike her younger brother, Hector, who was a handful. He couldn't stay still and he would always be talking and asking about nonsense things. He also had a habit of destroying all of his toys because of his negligence and carelessness.

There was also the fact that Aunt Verance also found Ceara very cute specially her grey eyes. Grey eyes in their family were very rare. In fact, the only one who had grey eyes in their family was her Great-Great-Great Grandfather Seth Aquilon. Ceara's parents believed she inherited those grey eyes from Seth Aquilon who was a full-blooded Frenchman.

Aunt Verance, what is that song all about? Ceara asked as they sat back on the picnic mat.

It's about a powerful wind.

A wind song?

Her aunt nodded and then laughed. She took several sandwiches from the picnic basket and gave her one. She also brought out two bottles of fruit juice for them.

Our family believes that when an unmarried woman from our family would sing this wind song, the wind will grant her wish, Aunt Verance began to explain.

Why? asked Ceara.

Because the wind spirit is our protector.

Huh? Ceara was puzzled.

According to your Grandfather Regi's story, our ancestor, Grandfather Seth, became friends with the wind spirit and the wind spirit promised to take care of him and all of his descendants. And sometimes, when the wind spirit is in a good mood, he would grant the wish of the woman who would sing this special song.

Is that why you sang that song on this windy hill?

Yes. That's one of the advice Aunt Arianne gave me.

Grandma Arianne? she clarified.

Aunt Verance nodded before continuing.

She told me that when she sang the wind song on this hill, her wish was granted. You see, Ceara, we must let the wind spirit hear our song first before he could grant us our wish. She touched the pendant of her necklace, the pendant was shaped like an outspread wings. But she also reminded me that if I am going to sing the wing song, I should also be wearing this necklace with the platinum pendant.

Platinum? I thought the pendant was made of silver.

It's platinum, Ceara. And this was made by out Great-Great-Great Grandfather Seth Aquilon. He gave this necklace to his daughter, Mirasol. And Mirasol in turn gave this necklace to Serafina, the daughter of her brother Leonardo and so forth and so on until Aunt Arianne, who is the fraternal twin of your Grandfather Reginald who is the father of your dad and me, inherited it. Aunt Arianne in turn gave me the necklace. According to tradition, only unmarried women with the surname of Aquilon could own and wear this necklace. This means I cannot give this necklace to my daughter. You will inherit this necklace from me, Ceara, once I have gotten married or you turn eighteen years old whichever would come first.

Ceara was only eight years old. That meant she still had ten more years to wait before the necklace would become hers. Unless, her Aunt Verance suddenly got married. But that seemed impossible since she didn't have any boyfriend and she always rejected the men who tried to court her.

Does that mean that I cannot give that necklace to my daughter and I would have to give it to Hector's daughter? Her brother, Hector, was only four years old and he was nosey, energetic, stubborn and excitable! If Hector's daughter would be like him, Ceara was afraid she would have a hard time becoming friends with her.

Her aunt nodded.

Or you could give the necklace to any one of the daughters of your cousins that still has the Aquilon surname. That is our family tradition. Because if the woman who will wear this necklace does not have the Aquilon surname, the magic of the wind song and the wing necklace will disappear.

Ceara began to muse about these facts.

Aunt Verance, if you would have a daughter even though you remain single, that daughter of yours would have the Aquilon surname, right? That is what happened to my classmate, Rita, because she has no father. If that happens, both you and your daughter will be unmarried and have the Aquilon surname. Which one of you would have the right to use the magic of the necklace?

Aunt Verance broke into laughter.

Sometimes, Ceara, you surprise me with how your mind works. Anyway, the Aquilon women in our family usually find themselves married when they reach the age of twenty-five or before that. No woman in our family has ever reached the age of twenty-six and remains single.

Are you going to get married, Aunt Verance? Ceara asked.

The moment I find the man meant for me, then I will marry him. And I have a feeling that I would soon be meeting this man. Once I get married, this necklace will be yours. Aunt Verance stared at the platinum pendant. You know what, your eyes are of the same color as this pendant. Anyway, it's about time you start learning to sing the wind song. She took Ceara's hand. Follow after me, and sing as loud as you can so the wind spirit can hear you. Aunt Verance began singing, "Vent puissant, vent puissant..."

Ceara sang after her. Her voice wasn't as good as her aunt but she could carry a tune.

"Voulez-vous écouter mon Coeur?"

What do these words mean? Ceara asked.

Her aunt gave her a smile.

It means, powerful wind, mighty wind. Will you listen to my heart?

It's a love song?! blurted Ceara.

Aunt Verance started laughing. But her laughter was cut short by a loud crash below the hill.

From where they were sitting, part of the road they used to get to the hill was visible. Ceara and her aunt immediately saw the car on the side of the road. Its front had crashed into one of the trees.

Let's go, Ceara! Aunt Verance stood up. Someone needs our help! Vehicles rarely use that road, and it's possible that we are the only ones here who could help the occupants of the car.

They quickly got into Aunt Verance car and drove to the scene of the accident. They discovered that only one person was inside the car, the driver. The driver's forehead was bleeding, as he lay slumped on the steering wheel.

Is he still alive, Aunt Verance? inquired Ceara.

Aunt Verance was a registered nurse, and she knew exactly what to do to injured people. She would also know if the man was still alive or already dead.

Yes. He is still alive, she gently tapped the shoulder of the driver. Sir? Sir?

The man stirred. He opened his eyes and stared back at Aunt Verance's face.

Ceara didn't know what happened during that moment. But her aunt suddenly gasped. The man continued staring at her aunt's face.

For several minutes, the two only kept staring at each other. Despite the blood from the wound on his forehead, the driver started to smile.

Hello, he said.

Hello, answered Aunt Verance who seemed to be in some sort of trance.

Ceara frowned. What was happening? Why wasn't her aunt helping the wounded man? And why was there a silly smile on the man's face as he kept staring at her aunt's face?

I'm Fern. Fern Medina, the man introduced himself as he kept on smiling.

Aunt Verance giggled.

You are bleeding, Fern. But don't worry, I'm a nurse, and I will bring you to a hospital.

CHAPTER 1

Awhirlwind romance ensued between Aunt Verance and Fern Medina. Two weeks after they met, they got married and Ceara found herself calling Fern, uncle. She had also become the new owner of the platinum pendant. Despite this, none of the members of the Aquilon family was surprised. It was an accepted fact that every Aquilon woman always knew when the right man had walked into her life. No Aquilon woman had ever married or gotten into a relationship with the wrong man because they only fall in love with the right one. It was an unwritten rule in her family that no Aquilon woman would ever fall in love with the wrong man.

After six years, Aunt Verance and Uncle Fern decided to have a child. They named their son Michael, and Ceara found herself becoming his godmother during his baptism.

Because Aunt Verance and Uncle Fern were always busy with their jobs, they often drop off Michael in Ceara's house. Ceara became Michael's official babysitter and Hector to her shock and surprise became best buddies with Michael. The two had the same personality and got along quite well. It was also clear that Michael was suffering from hero-worship as he found everything that Hector would say and do cool and fascinating. As to why, Ceara had no idea.

Since Ceara now owned the necklace, she often found herself humming the wind song to herself. She now knew the meaning of each of the French words used in the song.

The wind song was a love song. But it wasn't a love song for the singer. It was a love song for the wind. The song was promising the wind his heart's desire if he would grant the singer's wish.

When Ceara became a teenager, she stopped believing that the song and the necklace had magical properties or that the wind had a mind and a personality. But she also discovered that whenever she was sad or stressed-out, singing the wind song always helped her get through the day. The song could sooth her worries, clear her mind and bring her peace and calm. It would also bring back her fighting spirit.

After graduating in college, she found herself working in a call center. She would often encounter irate and rude customers on the other end of the line. With such a job, the wind song proved to be of great help. All she had to do was hum or sing it silently and she would become cool and compose again. Ready to talk to whatever caller lay in wait at the other end of the line.

Thank you, ma'am, for calling. If you have any problem or inquiries, don't hesitate to call us again, Ceara said as she finished the call. She was still feeling okay, and this was her last caller for the day. Her shift was finally over!

She stretched out her hands and then she started preparing her things. She had already seen Amy who would be replacing her in the workstation.

When Amy walked toward her, Ceara smiled and gave the girl the headphone she would be using for her shift. They didn't have time to chat because the phone had started ringing again. The call center also had strict rules. Each agent was required to immediately answer any call. No agent could leave his workstation without his reliever.

All call center agents assigned in the midnight shifts like Ceara started sauntering out of the building. The day was just beginning for regular employees but to them, their day had finally ended and most were headed to their bed to sleep and regain their strength. But some, like Mon and his friends had other plans.

Do you want to join us? We are having breakfast at Mang Tasio, Mon said. Every payday, some of the call center agents often treated themselves with good food and drinks, and Mang Tasio was the favorite hang out.

I can't. There are some guys in our house waiting for me. I am required to treat them to their favorite breakfast every time I get my salary, she laughed.

Ceara saw the disappointment in Mon's face before he managed to give her a smile.

You don't know what you are missing, Ceara! he said. You shouldn't always give your time to your family. You should go out once in a while and treat yourself. Pamper yourself. You should go out with friends once in a while.

Maybe next time. Truth was, Ceara often went out with her friends. She just intentionally avoided going out with Mon. She wanted Mon to remain in the friend zone. She didn't want to give him cause or hope for any possibility of a romantic relationship between them, despite the constant teasings from their co-workers who had turned them into a love team.

She had already seen what true love was between her Aunt Verance and Uncle Fern. That true love spark never happened between her and Mon. She never felt anything for Mon except friendship, despite his obvious interest in her. And it was clear that she would never feel anything else for the guy.

From the office, she took the bus home. After getting off the bus, she was enthusiastically greeted by two guys. Ceara wasn't surprise to find her brother, Hector and her nephew, Michael eagerly waiting for her arrival. Michael as usual slept over in their house. The two guys had the habit of always staying in bed until mid morning, but they would rouse themselves from bed to greet her whenever payday arrived.

Wohooo! We are ready for a delicious breakfast, Aunt Ceara! screamed Michael with glee as he grabbed hold of one of her hands. Michael was nine years old, but he dressed and acted like a teenager already. Aunt Verance even told Ceara that he had been calling one of his classmates his girlfriend.

You are just on time, Sis, McDo is already open. We smelled the delicious fried chicken when we passed by their store a moment ago. Hector was now nineteen years old and would soon turn twenty. He had grown quite tall. Ceara often had to crane her neck to look him directly in the eye. Because of Hector's height, most people often thought he was Ceara's elder brother.

If Hector didn't

Reviews for Ceara Aquilon

[Hannah Ricafort · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

arielle alia never sease to dissapoint me. I will never find a author that can me feel excited everytime I read her books. And her books is really one of a kind. Full of twist and surprises. ❤️?