The Fowler's Snare: Beyond Solstice Gates

By Kimm L Reid

The Fowler's Snare is the second in an exciting new teen / junior teen Fiction supernatural fiction series.  The first, Casting Shadows, leads beautifully into this second book!

Summer Solstice has arrived and the Elliot Twins, Aunt Bella, and the others are headed back to Trilleah where the Valley of Shadows--and King Shrailzha

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ahelia Publishing LLC
• Release date: Nov 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9780994732811

Kimm L Reid

Kimm is an excellent fiction writer, bringing the story to life right in front of the reader's eyes! She began writing when her son suffered a brain injury at the age of four. As he got older Kimm noticed that he could not read the same books others his age were able to and so, after extensive tests to determine the reasons for this, the brain injury was determined. After graduating with honors with an Educational Psychology Degree (to better understand the injury and how to work with her son), she began writing books that he would be able to read. With great success, she has bloomed into more indepth fiction works and currently has a number of non-fiction projects published.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

WHISPERS OF SIMEON

Lately, it seemed Bella was stepping out of the house to do ‘errands' a lot more often than she normally did. It also seemed, at least to Jennifer, that Bella was acting a wee bit odd. Maybe just a little bit sneaky. One might even say slightly suspicious. It wasn't just Jennifer who thought so either. Just a few days ago, after Bella had left the house without any reasonable explanation whatsoever of where she was going, Judah popped into Jennifer's room and plopped himself down on her bed.

Do you know where Bella goes all the time? he asked. Judah picked up Jennifer's red blanket and started twisting the tassels the same way she often did.

No, but I wish I did Jennifer huffed. She's away a lot lately it seems, and she never tells us where she's going.

It's odd, they both said at the same time which they often did.

Whatever it was that was keeping Bella so busy these days, Jennifer had not been paying much attention. In fact, she regularly made excuses to stay at home. However, now that she was thinking about it, it came to her mind that she was never particularly invited to go along in the first place.

"Does she ever invite you to go with her?" Jennifer asked.

Nope, Judah replied. He sounded a tad annoyed as well, but she did not feel much like finding out why. She wished he'd get out of her room altogether and let her get back to whatever she was doing before he interrupted her (which was not much of anything at all). Nevertheless, Judah remained on the bed twisting the tassels on the old red tattered blanket.

Now, Jennifer didn't think much about any of this nonsense at all because she quite enjoyed staying home. Usually, Bella was there keeping a very close eye on the twins, so any new distraction that would steal her attention away, whatever it might be, was always welcomed.

The constant monitoring was becoming annoying to be perfectly truthful. Jennifer, who was twelve and one-half, after all, could not understand why Bella felt the need to watch her so closely. If the truth was told, she never got into mischief of any sort! She just liked to explore, and exploring wasn't particularly mischief! As for Judah, he rarely came up from the dungeon of a basement. Lord only knew what he found so interesting down there all the time. Jennifer thought it to be substantially smelly, and dreadfully dreary, and she nearly never ventured down the stairs.

In their little yellow house on the corner of Fairview Lane and Mitchell Avenue, there wasn't usually too much of anything exciting to explore that hadn't already been altogether, entirely explored. After all, it was just a small house with no magic doors or hidden spaces or frightening fairy tales attached to it. No secret passageways allowed her to enter one room and come out another. There were no walls that flipped around where she could disappear. No, nothing out of the ordinary existed inside of the little yellow house.

So instead, Jennifer often allowed her imagination to pick her up and carry her off to fascinating places and faraway lands. In those imaginary places, she could always find horribly frightful creatures, delightful treasures and enchanting new friends. It was the opposite of her life here in the dull little town of Westlock.

Jennifer was not very popular at school which meant she had very few friends who were not part of her imaginary adventures. Certainly it was rare that anybody would come to call on her, and she was hardly ever invited to anything exciting with her classmates. She used to have many friends--before she switched schools--but since her Mamma and Daddy had been in the accident, Jennifer never bothered making new friends. What's the use, she would often ask herself.

Of course, there was Charles, the boy in the next row closest to the window, who chatted with her in English class about his own ridiculously far-fetched adventures. Jennifer was well convinced that he'd made most of them up even though Charles tried to make her believe he hadn't. It really happened, just like that Charles would tell her.

She did have a couple of friends that she ate lunch with most days, Tipton and Stephanie. Often their friends Olivia and Blaine Rene would sit at the same table but they weren't exactly friends with Jennifer. Just classmates who knew each others names and that wasn’t really anything at all.

Even so, Jennifer very much preferred her made-up friends. Mostly because she could make them be however she wanted them which, unlike the kids at school, or Kaitlyn and Mackenzie from down the street, didn't mind one little bit.

Judah sneezed loudly and startled Jennifer out of her thoughts. She had not realized her mind had gone wandering until she was brought straight back to this moment, and she saw that Judah still had her red blanket. She screwed up her face as she wondered if that’s where his sneeze had ended up! Oh yes. She and Judah had been discussing Bella and how odd she had been acting recently.

Now on this particular day, Bella had not gone off to the shops or the grocery store or the library or even to the cemetery. No, this particular day, Bella was not too far away at all. She was just outside the back door planting some new seeds--probably vegetable seeds--in the garden.

Jennifer seemed unusually distracted this morning, and again she had to pull her mind back from wandering to listen to Judah. Her mind seemed something of a green fog, and she could not see her way through. Her mind seemed something of a green fog, and she could not see her way through. Her imagination seemed frustrated and completely incapable of uncovering any inviting lands on which to settle. The more she tried to create an exciting venture, the more nothing of any excitement whatsoever came to her.

Now, having Judah slumped on her bed did not help her search for new imaginary adventures whatsoever. I'm going to get a drink, she said and headed down the hall.

Get me one too, Judah hollered after her.

Yup, she answered, even though she had no intention whatsoever of bringing him anything at all! Nor did she have any intention of returning to her room so long as Judah was still there. She dearly loved her twin brother but sometimes she preferred him to be far away.

Jennifer yanked opened the refrigerator door and grabbed a can of soda. She sent her mind to some of its favorite imaginary spots; the hundred story roller coaster that was mostly hidden by the black of night. Next, to her beautiful green island in the middle of the bluest of all oceans surrounded by deadly pirates with octopus limbs instead of legs and deadly venom that would shoot from their black tongues if irritated too much.

Neither of these usually remarkable places was holding her attention today however, and she slumped back, annoyed. She leaned against the kitchen doorway slurping her soda and decided instead, no matter how boring, to watch Bella for a while. Maybe something new will come to my imagination, she thought as she sipped her soda. She could hear Judah yelling for her to bring him one too, but she easily tuned him out.

How peculiar, she huffed out loud to nobody but herself. She certainly did not expect an answer and was most startled to receive one.

Not peculiar at all Jenny. The time is coming when you will return to Trilleah and begin another LIVING adventure of truth, not a silly make-believe one that stirs up only in your imagination.

Jennifer nearly toppled over, and some of her soda slopped onto the floor. She reached over and grabbed the coat rack to keep from falling over completely. Right there in the doorway of the kitchen, half-fallen and half-standing, her eyes shot open as wide as could be and for just a moment, she forgot to breathe. With wide eyes, she glanced around to find where that barely familiar voice was coming from. When she saw nothing, she remembered that the voice wasn't in the kitchen at all.

Your soul knows the time is coming quickly, even though your mind is not yet aware of it. That is why it refuses to go anywhere else today. Jennifer slid down the doorway until she was securely planted on the floor.

You must always be prepared, both in the Solstice season and when that season is far off. Get ready, for it is nearly Summer Solstice. The gates will open to you and the others again. I will be coming for you soon so open the eyes of your heart and watch for me. Be ready.

Recently, Jennifer had been wondering when they might return to Trilleah so she listened very carefully now to hear if Simeon may whisper to her when exactly that might be. Not one single day had passed since she first met her Shailma and had taken that first frightful ride on his back, which she did not think of her Mamma and the terrible Malleana Forest that had her trapped in its dreadful curse. Oh, how badly Jennifer longed to see her mother again. Her heart pounded hard now as she painstakingly tried to listen for her Shailma and at the same time drown out the memories of that horrible land of Trilleah and the curse that held her Mamma there.

Where's my drink? She heard Judah's impatient voice still bouncing around the hallway walls.

In the fridge, she hollered back, always happy to be given an opportunity to annoy her brother.

She quickly turned her thoughts back to Simeon and Trilleah and her Mamma and wondered exactly when Summer Solstice might be. What she had not been wondering about was when--or if--the voices in her head might return. She had nearly forgotten all about Simeon and their silent conversations but now, with his sudden return, it was all she could remember.

SIMEON! Jennifer squealed out loud. Oh, how I have missed you.

She waited excitedly for a response from Simeon, the Shailma that she had not heard from in far too long, but none came. Hmph, she huffed out loud. Typical Simeon. All sorts of thoughts began racing around in Jennifer's mind, and she was determined to settle them down and deal with each one in some sort of orderly fashion.

At the same instant she was getting ready to speak harshly to Simeon and remind him of how altogether frustrating she found him at times, Bella came bursting through the door. She startled Jennifer causing her to jump up and slop a bit more soda. Oh, good grief! Jennifer wailed. As she spun around to see what the commotion behind her was, she burst into laughter as Bella was hidden behind a bundle of something golden--almost like a kiss of the sun--which Jennifer did not recognize. Certainly, these ginormous rays of sunshine could not have come from their garden!

Jennifer set the confusing sight aside and squealed in halfhearted delight. I heard Simeon just now. Bella, Simeon's back!

Bella struggled to set down whatever the bundle was she'd carried through the door and in her usual quiet and unexcited sort of way asked, What did he say to you J?

Jennifer was so excited to repeat Simeon's message that as she opened her mouth the words nearly tumbled right out. She spoke so fast that her tongue nearly twisted itself right up into a knot! He said that Summer Solstice is nearly here, and the gates are going to open. What does that mean Bella? Why did he whisper that to my mind after not saying anything for so long? I had almost forgotten about Simeon but now today, after such a long time of silence, he just pops back into my head and starts talking about things I don't understand.

Judah must have heard the commotion in the kitchen because just about then he came bounding in, stepping right in the puddle of soda that had puddled thick and sticky on the floor. Oh crud! he shouted, peeling off his wet sock. The girls both giggled at him and Jennifer suggested that he could wipe up the other puddle with his dry sock while he was at it. Judah scowled. Jennifer turned her attention back to Bella and as usual, began rambling on and on and on with endless questions leaving no room for Bella to answer any of them.

What's going on? Judah interrupted, but Jennifer ignored him.

J. . . Jen. . . JENNIFER Bella shouted, finally getting the attention of the excited girl who had still not moved from the doorway and who was again holding onto the coat rack. Her mind was certainly having no trouble daydreaming now!

Letting out a loud sigh, Bella quieted down and said very slowly, "J when you ask a question, please give me time to answer it!"

Oops sorry Auntie, was the quiet response.

Judah again interrupted and repeated his question. What's. . .going. . . ON? he demanded to know.

Bella put her hands up in the air, one towards Judah and the other in the direction of Jennifer. OK, I know you both remember going to Trilleah a while ago, and I also know that you were told we'd be going back. Do you remember that I said twice every year there is a day called Solstice? Bella waited for a response but instead just received a glazed-over stare from Jennifer and nothing from Judah. That was enough, Bella knew she had their attention, so she continued.

When we were there last time it was in the winter--the shortest day of the winter season. Now we are in summer and the longest day of summer is nearly here. That's the same day as Summer Solstice. The only other day of the year that the gates will open to Trilleah, so we can sneak back in to collect more of the clay tablets.

Oh yeah, Judah said. That! Well, I've already been there for a Summer Solstice but I didn’t realize that it was coming up already. He hid his face in the refrigerator and rummaged around for whatever looked eatable. It was clear that the news of another trip to Trilleah was not going to send Judah into a tizzy nor was it about to distract him from his constant state of being hungry.

Bella took a big breath, gazed intently at Jennifer and said, You do remember the clay tablets, right J?

It seemed like a long wait for Bella as Jennifer stumbled back through her memories to recall the tablets. How she could forget--or even misplace in her memory--the main event of their entire journey during the last Solstice, Bella could not begin to imagine. As she waited, Bella tried to picture how completely cluttered, and disorderly Jennifer's mind must be.

Finally, Jennifer blurted out, Of course I do! How could I forget the tablets? That's what we spent the whole time in Trilleah looking for.

Bella rolled her eyes and opened her mouth and started to say something but soon realized Jennifer wasn't finished, and she quickly shut her mouth.

The tablets were in a basket on the table--or stump--or whatever that was. I picked them up and tried to read the words. They were not English words; that's for sure. Oh yes, and I found the new tablet! Jennifer beamed with pride as she reminded them both that it had been her who had found the last tablet.

No, they are not English at all. They are . . . was all Bella could blurt out before Jennifer continued her rambling.

Of course, the tablet I found in the cave, that thing was hidden really well--almost impossible to find. Bella, even when I looked right at it, I didn't see it! How is it even possible to look right at something and not see it?

Judah never missed such an opportunity as the one that now lingered before him. Quicker than a wink and without pulling his head out of the refrigerator even for a second he shouted, Because you're a dimwit. Both girls ignored his comment as if they never even heard it and, well perhaps they didn't.

Bella sat for a long moment, waiting to see if Jennifer had spilled out all she had in her mind regarding the clay tablets; at least for now. When there was a reasonably long silence, Bella decided it was safe to open her mouth in another attempt to explain the upcoming events.

That's why we need to go back to Trilleah, Bella began. Jennifer's mouth opened but before she could get one peep out, Bella held her finger up and said very firmly J, hush now. She raised her eyebrows just a bit, enough to let Jennifer know that she indeed needed to hush.

Jennifer hushed.

There are a few more tablets, and we need to find them all. We need each one in proper order, whatever that might be, to figure out the right codes to break the curse of the Trows. Jennifer had clearly become lost somewhere in her head. She roused about things her memory was reminding her of in the land of Trilleah, like the caves and the red-tailed spiders wrapped in Tenglar leaves.

Bella gave up her hopes of any meaningful conversation and instead busied herself with arranging whatever that bundle of sunshine was that she'd brought in from the garden. She took down an old etched blue crystal vase from the highest shelf above the fridge and set it under running water, holding her finger underneath to make sure the temperature was just right.

Jennifer's memories paused as she noticed the vase and considered whether she should feel sad because that was, after all, her mothers' favorite vase. It was the vase that used to hold all the beautiful flowers her Daddy would bring home. As she pictured some of the flowers, her mindset off wandering on an entirely new journey. One of remembering.

No, Bella should not be using my mothers' vase, but that's as far as those thoughts went. Her mind was interrupted and overtaken again by the memories of her Mamma's soul and of Trilleah and of . . . Matt.

CHAPTER TWO

SHADOWS FROM THE NIGHT

"U m, Bella, Jennifer said it so quietly that Bella nearly didn't hear her. Auntie Bella, do you think Matt will be in Trilleah again? For the Summer Solstice I mean? Then she quickly added and Pierce and Sam?" She most certainly did not want to give Bella any indication that she was only curious about Matt. More than that she didn't want Judah to hear her asking, and as he pulled his head out of the refrigerator and slammed the door, she wished she had said nothing at all.

Without looking away from her arranging, Bella answered. "Absolutely! They will all be there J, and likely some others as well. They are on the same mission as we are--to free the souls of the ones they love who